Author's Note: Okay, this time...Over fifty days and about twenty-five chapters of Legendary Shadows separated the last chapter and this one! I'm sorry! Legendary Shadows is just more important...and it only has about forty chapters left. (Smiles.)

After Legendary Shadows is over, this story will be top priority! I swear! Well...Ishi Shihai's story is also kind of important...

Chapter Four:

Magic and Fire! Mirror Image!

I feel like we've been waiting in a standstill for almost three months... thought Kazuha.

Aka smiled. It seemed like his magic had only begun to overcome Kazuha's fire...

Kazuha: 3550

Aka: 3700

"My move, then." said Aka. "Let's see..."

He looked at his hand. It held five cards, after his draw. He smiled.

"No matter the outcome, I'll make sure this duel is quick! I summon forth Magical Samurai (1500/1500) in attack mode!"

"What's that monster?" asked Kazuha.

The monster held a blade at its right side of the waist, and a wand on the left.

"My favourite monster, and the core of my "Ultimate Magic" strategy, offensive part. The Magical Mirror Man (400/400) is the core of the defensive part."

"I see." said Kazuha. "So if I break that strategy...

"Victory's door will open!"

"Maybe." said Aka. "But you still have to get past my monsters! I set one card face-down, and end my turn!"

"I draw!" said Kazuha. "And I attack that Samurai, which you left in attack mode!"

Aka grinned. "I'm not stupid, you know! I activate the permanent spell, Room of Mirrors!"

The entire field was suddenly covered in mirrors, making the Soldier (1800) confused. He randomly struck at a mirror, attacking the Magical Mirror Man!

"Urg..." said Kazuha. (KLP: 3100)

"And now for part two!" said Aka.

The Magical Samurai's wand glowed, transferring light to the sword. The Samurai grinned (1950/1500).

"What just...happened?" asked Kazuha.

"Whenever one of my cards negates one of your attacks..." said Aka. "Magical Samurai gains a quarter of the negated monster's attack points."

"So that's his strategy..." said Yuki. "But if Kazuha doesn't attack...it's not full-proof..."

"It's not complete." said Aka. "Beware, though...soon it will be!"

"Hmph." said Kazuha. "This is annoying. I end my turn."

"I draw!" said Aka. "And now I'll attack your Blackfire Soldier with my Magical Samurai!"

"Again, damn." said Kazuha (KLP: 2950). "Getting me bit by bit..."

"Now Magical Mirror Man will attack you directly!" exclaimed Aka.

Kazuha: 2550

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"Look at that!" said Haku. "She's almost down to half-health, while Aka is still at thirty-seven hundred!"

"...Does that mean he's better than you?" asked Seiji.

"Fool." said Haku. "I wasn't using my full strength. Plus, I didn't know what her deck was."

"Well...neither did Aka..." said Seiji, receiving a glare from Haku.

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"Heh, you're a decent duelist, Aka Murasaki." said Kazuha. "Let's see now..."

She drew another card. Looking at it, she smiled. "Sorry to destroy your strategy only a few turns after starting...but I'm going to! I play Blackfire Burn!"

Aka smiled. "Interesting, but my monsters still stand." (ALP: 3400)

"That's not all!" exclaimed Kazuha. "I now play Pot of Greed...drawing two cards!"

She swiped two cards from the top of her deck, and looked at them. Smiling, she placed on into the spell and trap zone. "I play Polymerization! Now I'll fuse two of my monsters!"

She showed a second Blackfire Soldier, as well as the Blackfire Hawk (700/400). "I fuse these two monsters in order to form...

"Blackfire Hawk-Warrior (2000/1500)!"

The monster was, as usual, made of blackfire...but this time it was in the form of a half-human, half-hawk.

"Interesting." said Aka. "Stronger than my Magical Samurai...but you still can't beat the Magical Mirror Man!"

"Unless I use a card so simple, you didn't think up a defense for it." said Kazuha.

"Oh, crap..." said Aka.

"I play Block Attack!" exclaimed Kazuha.

"..." Yuki didn't know what to say.

The Magical Mirror Man switched into defense mode, frowning.

"Now my Blackfire Hawk-Warrior will use its power of double attack!" exclaimed Kazuha. "Go!"

Aka frowned as his monsters were destroyed, although his Life Points didn't suffer much (ALP: 3350). "Now it's my turn to say damn...oh well."

He smiled again. "To have my strategy destroyed by such a pretty lady isn't bad! Now, what's your next move?"

Kazuha sighed. "I don't know what to say."

She revealed one of her face-down cards. "I guess I'll just play my face-down card...Blackfire Relight! Now I pay five hundred Life Points in order to conduct a second battle phase! Now, deal with the double attack!"

"Ouch..." said Aka. "That was...a good one..."

Kazuha: 2050

Aka: 0

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Haku slapped his head. "The fool was weak after all."

Seiji sighed. "So, Haku...what's your next plan?"

Haku smiled. His fingers moved to show a glaring left eye. "Operation Knight Baron."

Seiji smiled. "Alright. Knight Baron can't lose."

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"So." said Kazuha. "Why did you challenge me?"

She, Yuki, and Aka were sitting in her room. Aka smiled.

"Sorry, I can't tell you. It's all a part of my job."

"I see." said Kazuha. "What is your job?"

"I get paid to duel people." said Aka. "Although..."

He looked at Kazuha and Yuki each. "If you wanted me to...I guess I wouldn't mind quitting...for you two."

Kazuha and Yuki both blushed. "Umm..."

Aka laughed. "I'm joking, I'll quit. Even though...I did meet two good friends out of this!"

Kazuha and Yuki stared at him, and both said, "Good friends? Who?"

"..." Aka was shocked. Then he saw them both laughing, and let out a sigh of relief.

"Joking, Aka." said Kazuha. "You're our friend...now."

They all smiled together.

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Next Time:

Hidden in the Shadows, Knight Baron!

Haku and the Harashima triplets now have a second duelist planned, the mysterious 'Knight Baron'. When Knight Baron challenges Yuki to a duel, can Kazuha simply sit back and watch? If Yuki loses, what will Knight Baron do to her?

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Author's Note: Indeed, it's been a while. And yet I have nothing to say.

Please R&R! I hope I'll get the next chapter up sooner!