Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh or any of its affliates
Warnings: Sexual terms used, violence
Chapter 4: Possibly the Worst Ninja ever
"…Champion Grey is scheduled to appear tomorrow later in the evening, along with the other 'Gems of Neo Domino!' In this rare talk, he and the others will elaborate on their feelings about the new ban list, the one just came out…"
"You know what I think of that ban list? A load of corporate crap." Shizaru snorted. "That list is the one that should`ve been released a few years ago, but now? That`s ridiculous!"
"Sir, as much as I would love to hear your speech….GET OUT OF THE WAY!" A store employee screamed at him. "You`re blocking the entire line!"
Indeed, a considerable crowd had grown behind the checkout aisle, many shoppers complaining about how this one guy had been standing in front of the cashier for 15 minutes AFTER he paid for the groceries.
"Oh…whoops. Sorry everybody!" Shizaru sheepishly said as he grabbed his food for the week. Avoiding some badly thrown cans and tomatoes, the blue haired boy quickly rushed out of the grocery store and began walking in the streets of Neo Domino.
It was still early morning but the streets were already chocked full of people. There were men in business suits, rushing and cursing at the time. There were women with shopping bags, either buying food for the coming days or simply window browsing. And of course, there were young children, running in the streets, dueling each other, and just having fun all day.
The month was August, so the heat of the sun was beginning to die down from the blazing temperatures of summer. Trees planted every few feet or so gave some shade to the city dwellers, providing a cool area to rest and chat. Birds chirped from nests within the trees, giving everyone a wonderful song to just stop and listen to.
School had just begun, so Shizaru spotted a few teens in Academy clothing busy talking with one another as they walked to Duel Academy. Their decks were always in their hands as the students talked with one another about classes, tests, whatnot. They were so busy with their lives, their everyday routines, their school lives at Duel Academy.
Duel Academy, to Shizaru, was nothing compared to the real world.
"Hey man! How`s it going?" One of the students had approached him and raised a hand in the air. Shizaru merely glared at him, something that would`ve been easier to pull off had he not been carrying two grocery bags. "Er, so what do you think of the new ban list? Crazy stuff huh?"
Blasted hipsters.
"I am simply angry at it…as I soon will be with you!" Shizaru harshly responded. The student immediately backed off in fear and nearly fell over, scurry back to his group of friends. Once the students were gone, Shizaru sighed, dropping his pissed-off-beyond-hell face. Damn those annoying students!
"Well, you handled it well. Those students normally would pester me for ages," A voice commented with on his thoughts. Shizaru flinched, but turned and saw a long haired woman standing right next to him, carrying groceries in her hands as well. She peered in the direction the students had run off to. "Nice job handling them by the way. I wouldn`t have done it any better."
"Okay?" Shizaru hesitantly responded. "And who are you?"
"…EH? You can see me?!" The woman absolutely freaked out and ran off with her groceries. Before Shizaru could react, she rounded the corner and disappeared from sight.
"Well…that was weird…that felt like a freaking anime experience…"
Sighing in confusion, Shizaru pushed the encounter out of his mind and walked onwards. Duel Runners sped down the streets, probably off to compete in some Turbo Duel somewhere. Probably an illegal one. Shizaru really wanted a Duel Runner though. It would be quite an interesting experience to duel while on a moving vehicle, dividing one`s attention between driving and dueling. And it would also be interesting to see how his own Six Samurais would adapt to the race track field.
Alas, Duel Runners were far more expensive than whatever funds his sensei gave him. And he would be pretty sure she would kill him if she ever found him on one of those "death machines" as she liked to call them. Then again, she would kill him for every single aspect of his life right now.
The activity in the streets slowly died down as he turned and walked off the main road. Now, it was a much emptier street, filled with only a few people and parked vehicles. Just the way he liked it: almost empty. Shizaru soon arrived at his apartment building and sighed, his two hidden swords feeling heavy underneath his cloak as he dropped his grocery bags.
"Shizaru? What are you doing?" A familiar female voice asked. The blue haired samurai turned and saw his cheerful neighbor looking curiously at him. It was a young girl of about 16, her hands clasped behind her back as she rocked back and forth waiting for Shizaru`s answer. She had short black hair and dark black eyes, with a red hair clip obstructing part of them. She wore a traditional black school uniform with a white tie. However, her entire neck and part of her chin was covered by a large red scarf despite the relatively cool weather.
"Madeline, I could the same thing about you. I thought you were busy finishing up that album you were working on!"
"Ah, I took a break." Madeline yawned before continuing her response. "My brother wanted to meet me for breakfast, so why not? I am beginning to regret waking up so early though…"
"Er…I was just taking a break. These bags can sometimes get heavy for one person to carry in one go."
"Oh! Let me help you then!" The girl brightly said and reached for one of the bags.
Quickly, Shizaru grabbed his bags and held them close. "No, no! It is dishonorable to let somebody else carry your own burdens. I can do it myself after a quick break."
"Hmm…but if you carry the entire burden yourself, then wouldn`t you break eventually?" The girl smiled. "Sometimes, it`s okay to ask for a little-" Without warning, Madeline began coughing violently and covered her mouth with her red scarf with one hand.
"Whoa! You okay?"
"…yeah!" Madeline removed the scarf and smiled brightly…revealing red liquid trickling out of her mouth. "Just a little cough, that`s all!"
"Are you coughing out blood?"
"Oh no, look at the time! Gotta go!" Without anything else to say, Madeline dashed into the building and disappeared, taking the elevator up to the 13th floor without any hesitation.
"…yet another anime like incident…" Shizaru muttered before tossing his bags into the lobby area and moving out to the neighboring alleyway. There was a crunching noise underneath his boot and Shizaru immediately jumped back, hands on his blades. When nothing came out of the incident, Shizaru knelt down and examined what he had stepped on.
A crushed white medical syringe with no liquid in it. No big deal.
Deciding to ignore the syringe, Shizaru took a deep breath and began walking into the alleyway walked down the dark and damp area until he reached a brick wall. Dead end. Nowhere one could hide or escape.
Perfect.
"HEY! I know you`re there! C`mon out, I spotted you a long time ago!" Shizaru turned around and shouted into the darkness. No response. "Give it up! You are seriously the WORST ninja of all time if I can detect you!"
"No I`m not!" A voice right behind him protested. Immediately, Shizaru reacted and drew a ruby red katana, slicing the area around him in a 360 slash. Something met his blade and the two weapons sparked, sending Shizaru and his unknown assailant back from one another. Just as predicted, his assailant slammed into the brick wall, groaning while Shizaru nimbly dug his heels in and turned to face the opponent.
The opponent was ninja who was a girl wearing a rather provocative outfit. Just his luck. Since when did honor and respect forsake Shizaru?
To elaborate, Shizaru`s mysterious…stalker was a girl with white hair and dark blue eyes. She was wearing a…red tank top with a rose symbol and…short black shorts with a matching black belt pockets. The white haired girl was also wearing black boots…that covered up to the knee. Her hair was held up in a ponytail by what looked like metal kazanshi with a rose base. In her black gloved hands were two red kunai blades.
"Well, let`s start out easy. Who are you?" Shizaru asked with a flat voice, his hand resting on the hilt of his sheathed red katana.
"I`m the great -" With a fluid gesture, the girl dropped the kunais and reached into her pockets, throwing two small red shruikens in a single gesture. "-ninja Rose!"
Shizaru`s eyes narrowed as he drew his scarlet blade and with two slices, deflected both shurikens in one smooth maneuver. The katana then slide back into its sheath with an ominous hissing sound. "Great Ninja? First, work on your stealth. I spotted you way before I made contact."
"What? No way! My technique is the best!"
"If your ninja skills are limited to that, then-" Shizaru dashed forward and slashed forwards with the red blade. Rose jumped and kicked off the wall easily, somersaulting and landing on both feet, facing her opponent now. "THAT is how you properly distract the opponent," Shizaru told her, feeling the brick wall right behind him as he was now the cornered one.
"I know how to distract someone!" Rose huffed in anger and crossed her arms across her…chest in frustration. "It`s just that it`s really different to do it in real life…"
"What do you want? If it`s cash, I-"
"Hell no! I`m not mugging you!" To his surprise, Rose held her hands up in a peaceful gesture. "I want to join you!"
"…what the hell?" Shizaru blinked rapidly as his mind registered the words. "Er…I`m not one for an early committed relation-"
"NOT IN THAT WAY!" Rose practically screamed in embarrassment before recomposing herself. "I mean I want to help you! You`re that outlaw guy that`s been helping out with the crime in Sattelite aren`t you?"
"How did you find out who I was?"
"I saw your work at the store the other day and trailed you back to the city before losing you. Then I just had to follow you again today and find out where you live!"
"That sounds…wrong." Shizaru paused as he thought about what she was proposing. "So you want to help me serve justice?"
"Heck yeah! I`ll be your shinobi! Think about it: all good samurais have a good ninja behind them!" Rose grinned as she held her hand out. "So what do you say? Partners?"
There was no response, but Shizaru placed his head down, his dark blue hair covering his eyes. "…hehe…hehe…"
"Huh? What`s wrong?"
"Hehe…HAHAHA!" Shizaru laughed manically for a minute, just completely befuddling Rose entirely. Soon, he calmed down, but Rose did NOT like the dark look in his eyes. "No. I`m not going to accept your help."
"What?! But…but…"
"I work alone. You`re just an arrogant poorly trained girl with a childish dream." Shizaru`s voice had a dark and menacing tone to it, slightly scaring Rose. Okay, maybe terrifying the crap out of her might the proper phrase. "You have neither street smarts nor experience under your belt! Why, I`m willing to bet that you wouldn`t last against me in a duel tipped in your favor!"
"Why, you-" Rose`s eyes burned with smoldering anger as she held her left arm out and used her right hand to take out a familiarly shaped item from her belt pockets: a deck. She placed her deck onto the glove on her left arm and it hovered in mid-air. The glove lit up with various lights and a vague ghostly outline of a duel disk was created, with the deck at its center much like a normal duel disk. "I`ll prove you wrong! I challenge you to a duel!"
"A holographic duel disk…interesting. I accept." Shizaru held out his scabbard and twisted the hilt inside, unfolding his custom circular duel disk. "What are you waiting for? Let`s begin."
"DUEL!"
Shizaru: 8000
Rose: 8000
"I`ll go first. Draw!' Shizaru examined his hand and picked out four cards. "I`m going to kick this duel off with two Six Samurai United! Also, I summon Legendary Six Samurai- Kageki and use his effect to special summon Kagemusha of the Six Samurai!"
The field in front of Shizaru shimmered as two separate areas of mist appeared, barely concealing the figures crouched within them. One of those figures was a bulky samurai with two robotic arms and four katanas (ATK/200 DEF/2000). The other monster was a kneeling foot soldier, waiting to be sacrificed for any reason (ATK/400 DEF/1800).
"Now witness this! Kagemusah, give Kageki a tune up!" The kneeling man nodded and disappeared along with Kageki as the field darkened in anticipation of what was coming. "With the power and honor of your brethren, arise! Syncro Summon, Legendary Six Samurai Shi-En!"
Legendary Six Samurai- Shi-En
Syncro LV 5 monster
1 Warrior-Type Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner "Six Samurai" monsters
Once per turn, during either player's turn, when your opponent activates a Spell/Trap Card: You can negate the activation, and if you do, destroy it. If this card would be destroyed, you can destroy another face-up "Six Samurai" monster you control instead.
A samurai with red armor slammed down from the heavens onto the field, its demon mask glaring angrily at Rose (ATK/2500 DEF/1400). However, to her credit, Rose did not flinch at all. "That`s a big monster, but it better fit the bill with my deck!"
"Since I summoned three Six Samurais, my Six Samurai United spells gain bushido counters. However, they can only hold two bushido counters at a time before the power begins to overwhelm them." The mist shifted and swirled until there were two distinct Ni symbols on the field, drawn by the mist. "I send them both two the graveyard to draw four cards!"
"What! You just…replenished your entire hand!" Rose huffed. "Now I see why it was necessary to nerf the deck a bit."
"I set two facedown cards and end my turn!"
"About time! My draw!" Rose took a card from her floating deck and smiled. "Check this out! Dark Hole! All monsters on the field are now destroyed!"
"Negate it Shi-En," Shizaru calmly ordered and Shi-En obeyed, blasting the spell with its royal powers. The power in the devastating spell card dissipated as Shi-En`s additional power overloaded the entire act of casting it.
"Ah, crap, forgot about that….okay then, check this monster out! Lonefire Blossom!" Rose placed the card where the monster slot was normally located and the card hovered in the air in the proper position.
On the field, a weed popped up from the ground and spat sparks out. However, the sparks were few and the plant itself looked sick (ATK/500 DEF/1400). "I use my monster`s effect and make itself bloom to reveal an even stronger monster!" Rose announced and the plant`s bud opened up, revealing a humanoid figure within, half of her body still within the plant itself (ATK/2800 DEF/2600).
"I special summon Tytannial, Princess of Camellias!" Rose took another card and placed into the holographic duel disk. "And since I don`t like those facedown cards of yours, I`ll borrow your Legendary Six Samurai Shi-En! I activate Mark of the Rose!"
"What!" Shi-En groaned as a rose tattoo appeared on its chest plate, signifying a change in houses. Shizaru watched helplessly as his loyal samurai tried to resist the power of the switch, but the power of roses was too much and Shi-En joined a smirking Tytannial on Rose`s side of the field.
"Hah! Now I can negate once per turn too! Both of you attack directly!" Rose cheerfully ordered. Tytannial struck first, creating barbed roots that shot out from the ground underneath Shizaru, causing the samurai to grunt in slight pain. However, the real pain came from his own samurai, who slashed his mid-section.
"Ngh-!"
Shizaru: 2700
Rose: 8000
"Hah! Already almost dead!" The ninja looked pleased with herself. "Told ya I could do it! Set one facedown card and end my turn!"
"Hmph! Shi-En, as per effect of your Mark of the Rose, returns back to me now!" Shizaru reminded Rose as his samurai broke free of its invisible restraints and returned back to its true master`s field…for now. "I draw and summon this monster! Legendary Six Samurai- Shinai! And with that comes another special summon, Legendary Six Samurai- Mizuho!"
On the field, to the right of Shi-En, a blue armored samurai wielding dual clubs appeared (ATK/1500 DEF/1500). On the field, to the left of Shi-En, a pink armored samurai wielding dual sickles appeared (ATK/1600 DEF/1000).
"Wow, obsessed about symmetry?"
"Shut up. I activate Asceticism of the Six Samurai on Mizuho to special summon Hand of the Six Samurai!" On the field, a jug appeared over Mizuho and poured its contents over the samurai, causing her to gleam brightly. The liquid took shape in the form of human and was scattered apart almost immediately by the flames within. A small hooded woman wielding a dagger appeared from the flames, unfazed by the fire surrounding her (ATK/1600 DEF/1000).
"Uh-oh!"
"My Hand of the Six Samurai now sacrifices Shinai to destroy your Tytannial!" The blue armored man and the princess of camellias both erupted into flames, the samurai accepting his fate silently while the woman shrieked out as fire burned her flesh into ashes. "Now, attack!"
"Hah! Mirror Force!" A shining reflective barrier was erected in front of Rose and she laughed, feeling triumphant in the duel. Who's the inexperience one now?
"Negate it Shi-En!"
"ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!?" Rose yelled in frustration and anger as her invincible shield shattered under the power of the Six Samurai. "That card is seriously- argh!"
Apparently, taking three different virtual blades to the stomach hurts a LOT.
Shizaru: 2700
Rose: 2300
"I end my turn with two facedown cards. Hand of the Six Samurai is destroyed," Shizaru calmly said as his own assassin erupted in flames and disappeared.
"Argh, you`re going to pay for that! First of all, Mark of the Rose kicks in and Shi-En is now my servant!" The powerful samurai groaned once more as the power of roses compelled it to walk away and join his opponent. "Now, prepare to witness the true face of terror! I summon Cherry Inmato!"
Shizaru held his breath, expecting some sort of giant cherry eating monster to erupt from the ground and start controlling the field. What he did NOT expect were two small cherry monsters wearing oversized pajamas appearing, running around in their monster area like headless chickens (ATK/700 DEF/400).
"What the-"
"They`re just the tuners," Rose explained before grinning sadistically. "Now here is where the fun begins! I use my Cherry Inmato to tune up Shi-En!"
"As if he needs any tuning," Shizaru grumbled, watching his prized sycro monster disappear in a flash of…roses? That`s right, instead of light, the monsters had dissolved into black rose petals. "Okay…what`s going on?"
"There`s a reason there exits only one of her in existence." Rose`s head was down, her white hair covering her face as she held her hand up. "And I own her for a good reason! I`ll show you my power Shizaru!"
"Black roses…it can`t be!"
"The cold flame envelops the entire world," Rose chanted. "Black flower, bloom! Synchro Summon! Appear, BLACK ROSE DRAGON!"
"No!" Shizaru covered himself as a large blast of wind was sent everywhere, raising his robe up and rattling his other katana. On the field, a majestic dragon appeared on the field, rose petals making up its scales and wings. Thorns erupted all around it, corrupting the field with the power of the Black Rose (ATK/2400 DEF/1800).
Black Rose Dragon
Syncro LV 7 monster
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
When this card is Synchro Summoned: You can destroy all cards on the field. Once per turn: You can banish 1 Plant-Type monster from your Graveyard to target 1 Defense Position monster your opponent controls; change that target to face-up Attack Position, and reduce its ATK to 0 until the End Phase.
"Such power!" Shizaru gasped, actually in shock from the summoning. "The most graceful of all five legendary syncro dragons…how did you get this card?!"
"That`s a secret for another time, but right now," Rose pointed at her powerful dragon and it began to glow. "I activate her effect! I`m going to destroy all the cards on the field! Black Rose Impact!"
"Chain! Reckless Greeds!" Shizaru quickly flipped over his two last cards and drew four cards before his deck locked up from the trap card. "Now you have nothing to destroy, but my Mizuho!"
"!" Rose`s expression remained shocked as her dragon exploded on the field, scattering rose petals everywhere. Mizuho was caught in the blast and got destroyed, her twin sickles sinking into the ground amidst a floor of roses. "…well at least it looked cool…"
"My turn!" Shizaru didn`t even wait for his opponent to acknowledge her turn`s end and activated his winning card. "I summon another Legendary Six Samurai- Kageki and use his effect to special summon Spirit of the Six Samurai!"
The same figure who appeared in the beginning of the duel appeared once more, his four katanas whirling in anticipation (ATK/200 DEF/2000). However, the next monster was new. A traditional samurai armor figure appeared on the field, but the armor inside was empty, held together only by a ghostly outline (ATK/500 DEF/500).
"Well, I can probably say that I`m screwed," Rose flatly said.
"True, especially with this card: Cunning of the Six Samurai! I tribute Kageki and special summon back Legendary Six Samurai-Shi En back from the grave!"
The four armed samurai glowed red and disappeared, replaced by Shizaru`s strongest monster, eager to return for the sake of honor (ATK/2500 DEF/1400).
"Yep, definitely screwed."
"I equip Spirit to Shi-En…" The bodiless armor crumpled to the floor as the ghost within hopped into Shi-En`s armor, empowering him even further. "…and attack for game!"
"Crap."
Shizaru: 2700
Rose: 0
"Argh! Dammit all!" Rose stomped her feet in anger as Shizaru stored his duel disk. "I was so close! I just mistimed it!"
"You were close," Shizaru calmly responded. "Had you held out a bit more, you could have very well won that game."
"Dammit…" Rose fell to her knees and stared at the unscarred ground. Her cards, no longer held up by the holographic duel disk, fell to the floor without care, Rose`s prized Black Rose Dragon seemingly glaring at her. "I guess I`m just not good enough yet…"
"...on the contrary, you passed."
"What?" Rose looked up and saw Shizaru extending a hand out to her. Confused, she took the hand and saw Shizaru smile.
"It was a test. I knew that you`re probably new to dueling based off how terrible your ninja skills were-"
"Hey!"
"But based off the duel…you have the famed Black Rose Dragon." Shizaru grabbed the discarded syncro monster and placed it in her hand. "And you have spirit. Both of those combined together is a dangerous combination that I want to have on my side."
"So…I can join you?" Her eyes were now shining with happiness and anticipation as Shizaru laughed at her question
"The answer is yes. Rose, as of today, you are now a ninja with a master."
"YES!" Rose leapt up and grabbed Shizaru`s hands, shaking them up and down frantically. "Thankyouthankyouthankyou! I`ll get settled in soon!"
"Haha, I`m glad you`re- wait, what?!"
"Oops, I forgot to mention: I kinda need a place to crash out at." Rose smiled cheekily. "So I`ll live with you!"
"!" Shizaru couldn`t react as Rose bounded away happily. Soon, his nose began to bleed a waterfall of blood as some rather crude…images in his mind. Oh Ra. What has he gotten himself into now!?