Yu-Gi-Oh GX: The American Duelists

Chapter 9 - The American Bombshell

Laughter and the sounds of cheerful chatter fill the campus grounds, where the students gather in their circles of friends. The laughter across campus cuts out as three girls wearing yellow jackets march up the stone path leading to the Duel Academia's main entrance. All eyes turn to the approaching trio.

"It's them! The American girls!" A voice breaths urgently to the nearby groups. They need not be told, as they can all see for themselves, yet many groups echo the message down the sides of the path. The silence grows into a soft steady murmur of whispered secrets, insults, and idol gossip.

As the three girls bear down on each group, some of the circles collective whispers turn to fake conversations; elaborate acts performed to give the trio the illusion that everything is business as usual and they couldn't care less that the three are there, while others watch in silent awe; not even trying to hide their dreamy gazes. A small group of young DA girls keep up their unconvincing front until the three Ra Yellow girls pass them by. Only to the trio's backs are their true feelings revealed. "Eeeee... Big sister Hannah is so cool!" One of the young girls cheers gleefully to her friends.

"And Annette-chan is sooo cute!" Another of the girl coos.

They aren't the only ones completely captivated by the two stand outs of the passing trio. All across the campus grounds, guys and girls alike, study the passing trio; each trying to absorb as much as they can before the chance to watch the girls passes.

Leading the three honorary Ra Yellow girls is Hannah Daniels. The tall fair skinned young woman cuts an ideal image of an American girl. Her long blonde hair flows down her back and between her shoulder blades to just over her waist. She wears a boy's Ra yellow school jacket wide open, as many of the DA boys do, leaving her black undershirt exposed. Her massive heaving chest stretches the tight black shirt to the brink of ripping. With the tight shirt being stretched so much up top, her sleek hard abs and belly button are left exposed. Despite wearing a standard DA skirt, Hannah's wide hips and shapely curves stretch the skirt; molding it to her form. The tight skirt captures her every shifting curve with each deliberate and calculated step she takes on her long bare legs.

The majority of the boys on campus watch her intently. Their eyes drifting up and down. Her presence leaves almost every boy drooling with their jaws on the ground. The same however, cannot be said of all of the girls on campus.

"Look at that uniform she's wearing. It's positively scandalous! She could at least try and find a uniform that fits her!" A girl bites bitterly. Her circle of friends hum in agreement. Their jealous eyes narrow as the beautiful American girl leads the other two proudly across the campus grounds.

"What a skank!" Another of the girls snaps harshly.

"She thinks she's hot stuff with those monstrous melons, but she's just a freak!" A third girl adds to the assault.

"I heard she's a real bitch in person too!" A final girl adds.

Hannah passes the four without sparing them so much as a glance. However, their nasty glares are returned tenfold by the cold doll-like eyes of the small American girl, Annette Black. The four girls wince and avert their gaze under her intense penetrating glare.

The cute tiny girl holds her silent stare until the three have passed. Even when she has passed, the four girls shutter. "What a freaky girl!" One of the bitter girls remarks in a shaky voice. The others nod as they rub their goose bumps away.

The small girl's eyes return forward. She doesn't spare the other gawking students a second's glance, even though many mutter her name nearly as much as Hannah's.

"That's her!" A boy in the bushes points out to his friends. Two other boys sneak peeks through the bushes as well. All three raise their binoculars and focus on the tiny American girl.

"Wow... Annette-chan is so precious!" One of the boys coos. "She's like a bisque doll come to life."

"She's a haunting vision of artistic intricacy." Another agrees.

"But she's impossible to approach." The three share a shiver as they all remark, "It's her eyes!"

"Hannah Daniels... and Annette Black..." One of the boys thinks thoughtfully out loud. "They are the difference between night and day, but despite their vast contrasts, they compliment each other brilliantly. Hannah-sama's mature brilliance accentuates darling Annette-chan's eerily lovely shadow."

The other two boys look impressed by his speech to himself. One of them finally croaks. "That was beautiful, man..."

They all look to each other awkwardly before turning away, red faced and silent. One of them finally speaks up. "But, if Hannah-sama is the day..."

"And Annette-chan is the night..." The other boys asks to the others.

"Then, what is Jessica-chan?" The two ask.

At their question, all three peer through the bushes once more with their binoculars in hand. The three watch Jessica Phish, the third and final honorary Ra Yellow girl. She follows along quietly at Hannah's left hand side, where she fidgets slightly under the microscope of the student body.

"Jessica Phish?" The thoughtful boy thinks. "If Hannah is the day, and Annette is the night, then what is Jessica?" The three boys ponder in silence, before sneaking another peak through their binoculars.

Jessica keeps pace with the other two American girls. She keeps her eyes down to avoid eye contact with the mass of on-lookers. Her timidity draws an irritated expression from Hannah, who continues to give a good show to her fans without effort. Like Annette, Jessica wears a traditional sleeveless girl's uniform, but in yellow and white. Unlike the either of the other two, Jessica is not exceptionally beautiful, nor exceptionally cute. She is average in every regard, especially in comparison to the cuteness and sexiness of the two girls on her right. Despite being so plain, she somehow also captures the attention of many DA boys and girls. Her feelings towards the situation are revealed in her contradictory actions. Even while trying not to make eye contact with her observers, her eyes give away the genuine smile in her heart. While the crowd can't pick up on it, Hannah catches it with ease and smirks.

When they finally arrive at the doors of the main building and escape the watchful gaze of the congregations of DA students outside, Hannah gently guides the two other girls with her fingers to the small of each of the girls' backs. Hannah chuckles to the girls, "Quite the turnout today?" Jessica finally looks up and finds that Hannah's gaze is on her. She quickly looks away, and Hannah immediately scolds her. "THAT! You're doing that again!"

"I'm sorry." She apologizes as she raises her head to meet Hannah face to face.

"And what did I say about that?" Hannah continues to reprimand her. To this Jessica starts to apologize once more, but stops and closes her mouth. Hannah huffs, "A lady should never apologize when she is not at fault, nor should she ever hold her head down under any set of circumstances." She nods to her own statement to reaffirm that she is right.

"You're right." Jessica admits to her face.

"And the rest!" Hannah demands without apology.

Jessica nervously complies. "Y... y... Yaw gawd damn right, biatch!" She forces herself to state despite being visibly mortified.

Hannah ignores her embarrassed red face and nods. "Yeah, that's right! To hell with the rules." Jessica laughs in nervous agreement, despite a look that says she doesn't have the slightest clue what Hannah is talking about. Again, Hannah ignores her embarssment once more, "As I was saying, how about that crowd? It gets bigger every day. They're definitely showing up just to catch a peek of us."

Jessica forces herself to meet Hannah face to face. "I feel like we're doing something bad." Jessica admits.

"Why? We're only coming to school." Hannah points out honestly.

"I know that. But... It always turns out like this... A big spectacle. I feel like we're disrupting everything." Hannah eyes the fidgeting girl with a queer smirk. Jessica quickly adds, "I mean, it's not like we have classes right now."

"So we have no right being here?" Hannah asks. After a long stern gaze, Hannah finally erupts into laughter as she shakes her head. "Oh Jessica, Jessica, Jessica..."

"She's, a lost cause." Annette states definitively.

"You're probably right." Hannah admits to the tiny girl's comment. "But, I refuse to give up. I'll break that shell of yours, if it's the last thing I do... dammit!" She adds as an afterthought to drive her point home.

Jessica can't say anything to her comment. Or more like, anything she would normally say to that comment will get her scolded by Hannah, so she doesn't bother trying to respond.

"So what do you propose we do then?" Hannah asks; catching Jessica off guard. "We could use one of the side trails each time we want to come to the main building. That would keep the majority of them from staring as we come to school." Before Jessica can agree or disagree, Hannah quickly contradicts herself, "But then we'd have to deal with those pervy little toads who hide amongst the bushes." Leaning over Jessica's shoulder, she asks, "You probably hadn't noticed them? The boys who always hide in the bushes to watch?" Standing up, Hannah shakes her head. "With boys like that, what do you think would happen to us lovely maidens if we walked along the back trails on our own?"

"Depraved deviants... Debauchery. Deflowered and defiled." Annette counts off in response, adding a feeling of dread over the conversation.

Hannah clasps her hands over her mouth. "How horrific!" She cries in melodramatic fashion.

Jessica chuckles at her blatantly bad overacting. She nervously adds to the conversation. "Inconceivable!" Her comment draws the stern glares of the other two girls.

"This is no joking matter!" Hannah states seriously. "Duel Academia is a dangerous place for us outsiders. Especially with us being young pretty girls. If we don't tread carefully..."

"Oblivion." Annette finishes.

Again, Jessica laughs nervously. "It'd never happen. If anyone tried anything, you'd... You'd kick their butts." She blushes at her own boldness.

Hannah doesn't hesitate to agree. "You're damn right I would! Lowly little horn dogs! I'd give them the thrashing of a lifetime."

"They'd probably, enjoy it." Annette points out.

"Yeah. They probably would." Hannah agrees with a sickened expression.

Again, Jessica laughs uncomfortably. "So, what's the real problem with avoiding the main entrance?"

"No problem." Hannah answers bluntly. "I just don't feel like putting forth an effort to try and avoid the unavoidable. Sure we'd avoid everyone's prying eyes for a day or two, but once the rumors make their rounds, they'll find us on whatever route we take. It's not worth the hassle. Besides, we have as much right to go where we please when we please, as anyone else."

"Yeah. I guess..." Jessica concedes.

"Face it kid, as long as you're here, people are going to watch you. You're one of us!"

The comment rings oddly in her ears. Jessica can't imagine being grouped in the same class as Hannah and Anette. Annette doesn't say anything to Hannah's comment, which Jessica would normally see as a sign of disagreement from anyone else. But from Annette, she has no idea.

At that moment, Sho comes shooting out of a classroom... "Ahhh! I'm so late!" As he whips around the corner, he slams face first into Hannah's chest and springs back; landing on his butt. Hannah is knocked off balance, but manages to stay on her feet.

"Excuse you!" she barks irritably

"What?" Sho asks as he rubs his face. His eyes nearly pop out of his skull when he looks up. He's met with the sight of two long sleek white legs and the silhouette of a girl's huge chest against the ceiling light. He can't even see her face beyond her chest at his vantage point. Hannah finally leans down to scold him, since he isn't paying attention to her otherwise. But even with her leaning over, his eyes are stuck on her chest. She must call attention to her face to get him to snap out of his day dreaming.

"Mind actually looking at me, and not at parts of me?" She snips.

"Oh!" Sho scrambles to his feet and apologizes with a deep bow. Hannah doesn't smile at his apology, though. Annette shares Hannah's cold uninviting glower. As the red faced little boy continues to apologize, Hannah turns away in disgust.

"I've already had a shower today, thanks!" She snaps sarcastically. She continues onwards telling the girls to come along.

Sho is left watching, slack jawed and distant, as the girls leave. Before following, Annette leers at Sho; effectively drawing him back to reality.

"Perv." She utters, before joining at Hannah's side once more.

It takes Sho a moment to recover from her glare, but when he does, he asks, "Perv? Me?" As he points to himself, he realizes he has drool running down the side of his face. He quickly wipes it away on his jacket sleeve. A few students in the hall watch him with amused and curious expressions. Sho takes it as his cue to move, and he hurries back on his way.

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Sho and Kenzan sit around a small table in the middle of the dorm room floor, while Misawa sits at his desk examining a book. "What's wrong, Sho-kun?" Kenzan asks to Sho.

"Huh? Oh..." Sho suddenly snaps back to the present.

"You've been distant the whole time." Kenzan points out.

"Yeah." Sho agrees hesitantly. He recalls the earlier confrontation he had with the American girls. It was short, but sweet. He fondly rubs his face. "I ran into them earlier." He explains in a dreamy state.

"Who don?" Kenzan asks curiously.

"The American girls." Sho replies.

"No kidding? That's unexpected saurus." Kenzan admits. Sho nods while still touching his face.

"So warm." He utters.

"Huh?" Kenzan grunts. Misawa's eyes drift over his book at the two.

Realizing that he said that out loud, he quickly waves his hands with a laugh. "No, no. It's nothing. I was just thinking how incredible they are."

Kenzan nods. "Yeah, they are something else don. But even the best of them is no Alice-chan." At the sound of her name, he sighs nostalgically into his arms, "Alice-chan."

Misawa watches the two with an embarrassed expression in the background. "Hey, hey. Didn't you come here to study?"

The two boys both sigh into their arms. "I suppose so." They both agree.

"But..." Sho asks, "Should we really be studying with so much happening?" Resting his head on his book, Sho asks, "I wonder what big brother is doing right now?"

"I don't know, but I bet he's not studying." Kenzan answers.

Misawa decides to chime in on the conversation as well. "I suppose he is still trying to get a rematch with Kyle." All three sigh into their arms.

"I can't concentrate." Sho complains.

"I hear what you're saying don. My dino DNA is calling for freedom, too don." Kenzan agrees. "We should put off studying and go see what big brother is doing."

Misawa slides a card between the pages he was reading as a book mark. "There's no point in trying to force this." He concurs. He blushes and grunts in surprise as he realizes which card he grabbed for a book mark. The little White Magician Pikeru watches him from the scientific theory book. He slams the book shut and cautiously checks to see if anyone noticed. He is stunned as he sees the door close, and the room is vacant. "Hey, wait up!" He calls out to the others.

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The trio of Ra Yellow boys wander around the campus grounds; in search of Judai. What they find instead are the three honorary Ra Yellow girls eating outside on a stone bench. A crowd of boys and girls have collected around them at various distances. "Looks like they're having lunch." Kenzan points out.

"Yeah." Sho agrees absent mindedly. He follows along on his tip toes, trying to get a better view of the trio as they pass. Unable to see around or over the taller kids and larger groups, Sho suggests, "We should get closer, and take a look."

Kenzan, who was following a similar strategy to spy Annette, quickly agrees. The two begin their stealthy approach, only to find that the scattered groups have formed a tough defensive line. As Sho inches closer, he is pushed back by a group of younger DA girls who scold him for not observing the hierarchy or social structure. He's forced to retreat to the edge of the campus grounds; much farther away than from where he started. Annoyed by being ousted out of sight of the girls, Sho climbs onto one of the far stone flower boxes on the fringe of the paved pathway. The extra height lets him see the three girls once more, but he is certain he can get a better view still. He edges along the flower box until, without realizing it, he steps over the ledge and falls on someone; a girl, who lets out a short shriek.

"I'm sorry." He apologizes from where he landed. The girl quickly pulls her legs out from under him, sending Sho tumbling backwards against the flower box. "Ow, ow, ow..." He complains, as he rubs the newly created bump at the back of his head. The girl shouts angrily at him. She quickly stops when she realizes who he is. Her voice sounds familiar to Sho, but he doesn't place it to a face until he has readjusted his small glasses over his nose and taken another look. Seeing her face clearly for the first time, Sho points his finger at the girl and shouts, "That bug girl, Ran Koucho!"

The lovely girl cringes as she slaps his extended hand away from her. "You nasty little paracide! What's a dismal insect like you doing scurrying around here?"

"I wasn't doing anything." Sho states firmly; obviously more irritated by her insults than her vague insinuations.

"Yeah, right." She snorts sarcastically. It's obvious Ran doesn't like Sho, and with good reason. He's the reason she is still stuck at Duel Academia instead of traveling the world in the pro circuit, along with her beloved. "You're full of it." She continues. "You're trying to get a good look at the American girls, but you're too short to see over the crowds."

Sho winces with annoyance. "And what about you?" He snaps. Her feelings for him are mutual, as Sho doesn't even try to hide his animosity towards her.

To his comment, Ran laughs haughtily. "Hmmph!" She huffs. "It should be obvious?" Ran crosses her arms over her chest, before continuing. "There's nowhere to go on this island to avoid all this idol fandom over... the Americans." The words roll off her tongue like a nasty childish curse. Then, she becomes serious and gravely irritated once more. "These American boys can't hold a candle to Kaiser Ryo-sama." At the sound of his name, Ran has a momentary lapse into a dreamy state. It doesn't last too long though. She snaps out of her fantasies and shouts at Sho, "I'm furious with you!"

"Me? Why?" He asks.

"You're HIS little brother, aren't you? It's your duty to uphold the memory of your brother, the duel king of the school, but instead, you hang around back here behind the crowds, creeping around in the shadows like the little perverted disappointment that you are."

Sho resents her remark and reminds her, "I beat you, didn't I?"

"HA! A fluke." She scoffs.

To her comment, Sho arms his duel disk. "Let's see." He demands.

Rather than a duel, all Sho gets from Ran is a punch in the head. "Now's not the time for games!" Ran points to the three American girls. "It's your duty to confront these idol wannabes, and put them in their places!"

Sho apprehensively replies, "That doesn't make any sense," as he rubs his head. "If I'm suppose to be defending my brother's honor, shouldn't I challenge the boys." Again, Ran clobbers him.

"Who do you think you are, you arrogant little nothing? You're not good enough to beat them. The best you can hope to accomplish is to defeat these saucy tarts." She confidently declares, "I'll handle the boys."

"I'm no push over." Sho grumbles. Ran's eyes narrow as she looks at Sho. He expects her to hit him again, but instead, her irritated look melts away to a look of compassion. Ran kneels in front of Sho, to stand at his level, and she rests her hands firmly on his shoulder.

In a soft voice, she replies, "I know you'll be great someday, just like your big brother."

"Huh? Sho coughs in disbelief. He can't help but blush slightly with her hands on his shoulders, and her lovely face only a few inches from his.

In a kind sisterly voice, she explains, "I have faith in my little bother, and as your big sister, I'll support you to avenge and preserve the memory of your big brother."

Sho's delusions of a kinder gentler Ran vanish, as he analyzes the word,. "Sister?" He envisions his big brother and Ran getting married. She wears a white wedding dress, while his brother stands beside her in a black tuxedo. Sho suddenly bursts into laughter. "There's no way in hell you'll ever be my sister!" Ran is enraged by his comment and begins pounding on him.

Kenzan scans the crowd. "Did you see where Sho-kun went?" He asks Misawa.

"Uh, no." He replies. Under his breath, Misawa mumbles, "He's probably pulling a Misawa." They walk around the crowd in search fo Sho; both oblivious to the sight of Sho being beaten to a pulp behind the flower box by a stomping mad Ran.

With their differences eventually resolved, and without killing each other, Ran states, "I'll acknowledge you as a duelist worthy of being his little brother if you can defeat that cocky American girl."

"Fine!" Sho agrees. "But once I prove myself, I'll beat you down and show you, I'm more than just worthy of living in my brother's shadow: I'm you're better!" Ran is annoyed by his arrogance, but agrees.

"Very well. If you're that confident in yourself, I'll accept your challenge."

Without another word, they go their separate ways. Sho grumbles under his breath, "I'll show you, Roach-Girl." Ran freezes in her tracks, and Sho trembles as he feels an evil aura at his back. He takes off after the others before she can retaliate.

After rejoining Kenzan and Misawa, Sho tells them that he agreed to challenge Hannah. They are both shocked by his boldness, but he firmly declares, "I have my reasons. It's a matter of honor."

"Whoa, that's pretty impressive, Sho!" Judai states. Everyone is shocked by his sudden appearance.

"B-b-b-Big Brother! Where'd you come from?"

Judai musses his hair as he admits, "I was looking for Kyle again, but I couldn't find him anywhere." He smiles at Sho. "But it doesn't matter now. This is more important. I'm looking forward to seeing your duel, Sho."

Sho nods. "Right. With big brother here, there's no way I can lose."

Judai and Kenzan help Sho try to plow his way through the crowd of idol chasing fans, which doesn't sit well with the various groups. Kenzan and Judai smile and count to three. On three, they shove Sho through a gap in the group. He falls through the other side of the loosely built wall and tumbles face first landing in Hannah's lap. Every guy in the crowd and bushes chimes out in shock. Judai and Kenzan cringe as Judai quips, "whoops!"

"Whoops is right, don." Kenzan agrees. A blushing Misawa looks away embarrassedly.

"You certainly are a daring one, aren't you?" Hannah states with just a hint of annoyance.

Sho leaps back. He quickly apologizes and bows. His face plops down in her cleavage. The male fans shriek in shock once more. "Wow! I never knew Marufugi could be so daring!" One of the boys in the crowd states. Kenzan and Judai look to each other with awkward smiles.

"More like bumbling under the pressures of life saurus." Kenzan utters, which draws a slight chuckle and mussing of hair from Judai.

Sho leaps back and apologizes even more. Hannah suppresses her annoyance physically, but doesn't bite her tongue. "Little boy, I don't know what you think you're doing, but I am not your mama. I know you sad little boys all long to return to your mommies wombs, but you're a long way from home. This ain't no suckling station, and I'm not coddling you just because you're the runt of your litter."

Hannah watches him fluster at her comments. He finally regains his composure, with the help of Hannah's runt comment, and he states confidently, "I want to duel you!" He is shocked that he actually said it. He laughs to himself that it sounded pretty cool too.

Hannah smiles. She stands; her massive chest jiggling as she deliberately stomps her foot. "You're quite right. We should duel, little boy. To make up for your past few intrusions, as well as groping my chest, mashing my chest, ogling my chest, and for taking that little dive into my lap just now. As reparations for your blatant perversity, when you lose, you will be my slave for a week!" She slides her duel disk on and arms it.

Sho hesitates. Then, he feels the heat of all the fan boy stares on his back. He swallows. "Go for it Sho!" Judai's shout alone penetrates the crowd.

"Yeah, you can do it buddy!" Kenzan adds. Soon, several guys in the audience are rooting for Sho as well.

Sho smiles. "Big brother..." He looks confidently to Hannah. "Alright! Let's duel!" He arms his duel disk.

Before the turn order is decided, Hannah introduces herself. "My name is Hannah Daniels."

"My name is Sho Marufugi." He replies, trying to hold his composure. He doesn't bother pointing out that they've sort of been introduced before.

"Well Sho, if you don't mind, I'd like to start things. The saying is, ladies first, after all." She takes Sho's silence as his agreement. Hannah draws out her opening hand and begins by summoning a female warrior wearing a bandana and holding several kunai knives between her fingers. Sho recognizes the monster right away as Lady Assailant of Flames, and he utters her name under his breath. Sho wonders why she'd play it face up when it is a flip effect monster. Hannah laughs at his ignorance. "Silly boy. These are upgrades from the redemption series." Hannah's demeanor changes on the fly. She becomes extremely aggressive. "Now, I'll declare 1 card type. Why not Spells?" She snickers as she picks up the top 3 top cards of her deck and reveals them, including 2 spell cards. She slides the cards into a slot of the side of her custom duel disk for cards that have been removed from play. The female assassin hurls 2 kunai knives at Sho. He is shocked as they streak by his ears leaving a trail of flames that burns him and knocks his life points down by 1000 points. She smiles. "I can use my Assassin Lady of Flames's effect once per turn, and you'll continue to burn by 500 points for each card that is removed from play of the declared type." She sets 2 s/t cards and ends her turn. "Your move, little boy."

Sho huffs at her comment and draws. He starts with Pot of Greed to boost his hand size. With the extra option, he plays to his strengths using his Roid deck. "I summon Steamroid in attack position." The cute cartoony locomotive appears on the field with a charming battle cry. Sho declares his attack on the female fire monster.

"Ah, ah, ah." Hannah sings as she shakes her finger at Sho's charging train. Hannah activates a trap card. "Behold, the fiery nature of a fire attribute monster unleashed." The female monster is surrounded by a fiery battle aura. Steamroid smashes into her, but, the intense flames drive him off course. Even with Steamroid's self power-up, the female assassin is able to defend against his attack. "By this effect," Hannah explains, "I select 1 fire monster on my side of the field, and it cannot be destroyed as a result of battle or by a card effect this turn. Also, the difference in battle damage I would take by her being in battle is inflicted on my opponent instead." Hannah laughs haughtily as the fiery aura is dispersed and scatters over the field. The embers hit Sho, and his life points decrease by 800 points, to knock Sho's life points down to 2200. Sho sets 3 s/t cards, and he ends his turn.

Hannah draws. She summons a cute female fire monster in a modest black dress and bowler hat. "Isn't she the cutest thing you've ever seen? I just love her new card art. You couldn't see her properly in the original."

Sho recognizes the little girl monster. "Flame Sorcerer...?" He comments.

Hannah shakes her finger at him again with a stern motherly look. "Sorceress..." She corrects. "I'll declare 1 card type. Monsters." She smiles at Sho. "Now, you'll select up to 2 cards in my hand to be removed from play, without seeing them, of course. For each card of the declared type, you'll burn an additional 1000 points."

Sho chooses nervously. "The leftmost card." He finally states. She reveals the card, and it is a monster. The little girl in a bowler hat holds her hands up. She creates a ball of fire in her cupped hands. Sho expects her to hit him with a fireball, but it suddenly becomes a raging stream of flames. Sho screams as he is consumed in a wave of flames. His life points drop another 1000 points to 1200. Hannah continues to smile. She holds her fanned hand out to him. "That's it!" He declares, refusing to select another card.

"Hmmph. Well you're no fun." She pouts mockingly. She shrugs her shoulders. "Oh well. Monster." She reveals the 3 top cards of her deck to be removed from play. Sho is burned by an additional 500 points by the female assassin, who hurls a fiery kunai at Sho. It leaves a trail of embers that dissipate in the air. Sho raises his duel disk in defense of the kunai, which bounces off the disk with a metallic ping. The little ember trail scatter over him, knocking his life points down to 700.

"I could end this turn and play conservatively," Hannah states "but I believe in aggression to win; the true essence of fire." Hannah activates her other set trap card which depicts a bird made entirely of flames rising from ashes. "Phoenix Rising." It special summons 1 Fire monster that has been removed from play. She summons the Fire Familiar - Salamander.

"Salamandra?" Sho asks, as he envisions the equip spell card.

"Oh, come on little boy. Get with the times. You act like an old man; clinging to those relics. My fire monsters are all redemption upgrades; modern girls for modern times, and modern support to aid them on this modern battlefield. This Salamander is a union." She fuses it with her little girl. Her attack power rises by 700 points, bringing her to 1700/1500 next to her Assassin Lady of Flames at 1500/1000. The little girl is encircled by the fiery serpent which graces the picture of the original Salamandra. It roars as she attacks. Once more, she cups her hands, producing a fiery sphere. It becomes a huge flaming stream once more, but it takes the form of the fiery serpent.

"Trap cards, open!" Sho activates Super Charge and Magic Cylinder. The streaming fire serpent enters the cylinder and emerges from a cylinder in front of Hannah to wash over her. Hannah cringes as she is burned, but she quickly laughs it off, despite her life points dropping to 2300. Sho draws 2 cards from his deck. "You're time is up, whether you like it, or not, little boy." She attacks with the female assassin. Steamroid attempts to counter attack, but it can't build any momentum. Its attack drops by 500 points, and it is destroyed by the lady assassin. Sho's life points fall to 500. She sets her last card from her hand and ends her turn.

Sho draws, sweating nervously. "Don't give up Sho!" Judai shouts over the crowd chatter. Sho nods.

"Go Submarineroid!" The cute cartoony sub rises from the stone path. "Trap card, open!" Sho reveals his set, Ring of Vitality. Submarineroid explodes, and Sho's life points increase by 1800 points, bringing him to 2300 life points against her 2300 life points. With his life points off the ropes, he takes a deep breath. His eyes turn to Hannah with a fierce glint. "Now." Sho activates a spell card from his hand. "Helper And Roid." A cute cartoony looking human robot appears behind Sho. It dances happily, while awaiting its orders. "Retrieval option." The cute robot celebrates its orders and complies by reaching into Sho's deck. It pulls Drillroid out from his deck and holds the cute drill vehicle over his head like a trophy. "Now, destroy!"

The cute human looking robot's eyes narrow and it begins a chant accompanying its war dance. "Des troy, des troy, des troy." The human shaped machine hurls Drillroid at the lady assassin like an oversized dart. Drillroid explodes when it hits her, destroying them both. Having accomplished his mission, the robot powers down and returns to Sho's deck.

"And what exactly are you looking so proud of?" Hannah asks to Sho's wide grin.

"This." Sho answers. He holds out another spell card. "Franken Fusion!" Sho points at the field where he reveals Drillroid, Steamroid, and Submarineroid in his Graveyard. They fuse to form Super Vehicroid - Jumbo Drill. The giant Drillroid falls to the field as a battered lifeless husk. Two huge bolts screw themselves into its neck to hold the broken mess together. Sho states that when the equip card is destroyed or a piece of his monster no longer exists in the graveyard, his monster will be destroyed. He pays 1000 Life points to activate it. A bolt of Lightning falls from above, striking the bolts, and his monster comes to life. It's chipped drill bit spins menacingly. "Finally!" Sho summons Gyroid from his hand.

Sho orders Super Jumbo Drill's attack on the little girl. Salamander intercepts the attack and explodes in flames that wash over Sho and Hannah. Sho braces himself as his life points fall to 600. The little girl remains. Hannah raises her duel disk in defense of the chipped drill. Her life points fall to 1000. "Go, Gyroid!" Gyroid attacks the cute little girl. She retaliates with a fiery burst attack, but Gyroid slams into her, sending both her and her bowler hat flying. Gyroid survives the assault, leaving Hannah's field clear, and the malformed roid and gyroid holding Sho's side of the field.

"Children are so obnoxious." Hannah states with little concern for the situation.

Sho ignores her. He activates De-fusion to summon his components of Big Roid, but Hannah shouts back at him. "Not today, little boy!" She activates Mass Cremation. Every card in the grave is incinerated and removed from play, canceling out De-Fusion. She waves her finger and states strictly, "You shouldn't have gotten greedy. Now, you'll lose everything." Hannah lets out a melodramatic exasperated sigh. "Boys these days are always so impatient. They never have any concern for a woman's needs and feelings." She shakes her head deliberately to antagonize Sho. "Did you even think for a second that I might be enjoying myself? Of course you didn't!" She answers before Sho can even think about it. He sets his last card and ends his turn.

Hannah draws. "This monster is adequate, I suppose." She jokes as she summons Inferno Flame Swordsman. She smirks apprehensively and asks Sho, "Did you think I had only girl monsters because I'm a girl?" She opens her hands out wide and shakes her head. "Men aren't totally worthless." She activates her spell card, Phoenix Rising, to resurrect one of her fire monsters that has been removed from play. She selects Fire Familiar - Salamander and equips it to Inferno Flame Swordsman. He roars as his attack rises to 2500. Sho sweats. He is about to activate his only set card, but he hesitates. "What's wrong little boy? Card troubles? If you destroy my union you'll take 700 points of damage and lose, but if you don't, you'll be beaten in battle." She smiles softly at him in a very motherly expression. "What do you have set? Will it save you?" She laughs then throws her hand out as she orders her attack. "Flame Swordsman, throw your life away for your master! Prove your worth by a strategic sacrifice!"

Flame Swordsman lunges for Sho. He attacks, swinging his mighty sword imbued with the glowing magical symbol that holds the fiery serpent within it. Sho has no choice but to activate his set trap, Mirror Force. Flame Swordsman is consumed by the traps light, but the fiery spirit in his sword is destroyed instead. It's body breaks apart and rolls over the surface of the barrier until it washes around it and reforms into a serpent once more. Sho winces as it strikes. The serpent's body crashes over him and breaks apart in flaming embers. Sho falls to his knees, as his life points plummet to 0. Flame Swordsman vanishes as the duel ends.

Hannah snickers as she approaches Sho. "It's just punishment for trying to use that hateful card against me." Standing over him, Hannah casts a shadow on the small defeated boy. "You didn't even succeed in killing my monster. Had you focused more on only protecting yourself; a tactic more suitable for children, you might have bought that turn you needed to turn the duel around and beat me." He is defeated in spirits, but her harsh attitude gives way to a smile. She pats the small spectacled boy on the head. "Maybe next time, little boy."

Chapter 9 - End

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Chapter 9 Author Notes

I was undecided to merge this chapter and the next, but I've decided to leave them separate. It looks cleaner this way, or something.

The Japanese card for the TCG Big Burn, is also called Mass Cremation, but it failed to do the task I needed it for, thus I've given it the redemption series treatment. The TCG has no Mass Cremation, and the OCG could always use the TCG name, Big Burn... How cruel, lol.

I got to revive my favorite Fire monsters, which sadly were never playable, even in that horrfic swap control deck. They don't suck now, and they make a new fun RFG/burn/guess deck, or at least, they would if they were real. If only, if only.

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Chapter 9 Author Cards

Assassin Lady of Flames

Fire, Warrior, LV 4, 1500/1000

Effect: Once per turn, during your Main Phase, declare 1 card type (Spell, Trap, Monster). Reveal the top 3 cards of your deck to your opponent, and remove them from play. For each card of the declared type that was removed from play by this effect, inflict 500 points of damage to your opponent's Life Points.

Fire Sorceress

Fire, Magic User, LV 4, 1000/1500

Effect: Once per turn, during your Main Phase, declare 1 card type (Spell, Trap, Monster), and your opponent randomly selects up to 2 cards from your hand. (Your opponent must select at least 1). Reveal the selected cards to your opponent, and remove them from play. For each card of the declared type that was removed from play by this effect, inflict 1000 points of damage to your opponent's Life Points.

Fire Familiar - Salamandra

Fire, Fire, LV 4, 1400/700

Union/Effect: Once per turn during your Main Phase, if you control this monster on the field, you can equip it to a FIRE monster on your side of the field as an Equip Spell Card. Or unequip the Union equipment and Special Summon this card in face-up attack position. When equipped to a monster by this effect, that monster's ATK is increased by 700 points. When this card goes to the graveyard, inflict 700 points of damage to your opponent's life points. (One monster can only be equipped with 1 Union Monster at a time. If the monster that this card is equipped to is destroyed, This card is destroyed instead.)

Inferno Flame Swordsman

Fire, Warrior, LV 4, 1800/1600

Effect: This card's name is treated as "Flame Swordsman". This card may also be treated as a Pyro-Type monster.

Phoenix Rising

Quickplay Spell

Effect: Select 1 of your FIRE monsters that has been removed from play, and Special Summon it to your side of the field.

Fire Soul

Trap

Effect: Select 1 face-up FIRE monster on your side of the field. Until the End Phase of this turn, the selected monster cannot be destroyed as a result of battle or by a card effect, and battle damage to this card's controller as a result of it being in battle is dealt to your opponent instead.

Mass Cremation

Trap

Effect: Remove all cards in the Graveyards from play.

(Note: Not to be confused with Big Burn.)

Helper And Roid

Spell

Effect: After this card's effect resolves, this card is shuffled into its owner's Deck. Select and activate 1 of the following effects:

Select 1 Machine-Type "Roid" monster in your Deck and send it to the Graveyard to destroy 1 face-up monster on your opponent's side of the field with a DEF less than the ATK of your selected monster. Shuffle your Deck afterwards.

Select up to 3 Machine-Type "Roid" monsters in your Graveyard, and shuffle them into your Deck.

Select 1 Machine-Type "Roid" monster on your side of the field. Increase the ATK/DEF of the selected monster by 500 points.

(Art: A cartoony Roid-styled human shaped android. Get it?)