About time the Author gave me a chance to do one of these!
For those of you who don't know me…I'm Cain Sonryu! Second year Obelisk Blue duelist!
After the crap I dealt with last year, with the stupid foursome, the damn Arch crap and some washed up pop star, I expected to have a relaxing year with the exception of the homework.
But no!
The damn school was bought out by that damn old coot and from what Mustang's told me…
…We're all in for some damn crap…
We wouldn't even have this stuff to deal with…if only that blue haired ninja loving freak didn't bring that stupid Steel Heart!
After my great sacrifice last year…I'm not going to let anything bad happen to my friends or to my sister. They can pull that crap on Mustang if they want to…
Anyway…I'll have to take matters into my own hands.
With my hands, I'll bring Daigo back into power…
But for right now, I'll deal with someone…
…someone who since the day I met him, I've wanted to teach him a lesson. Everyone may think he has skills, but he's just lucky! I'll show him how a real duelist works!
Watch out Garu Honzou…
…You're about to face a tortured duelist!
/-/-/-/-/-///--///-/
Chapter 18: Return of a Tortured Soul
/--//-/-/-/-/-/-/--//
The early morning sun began to rise over the new, darker looking Pacific duel academy, as beautiful classical Beethoven music began to pour from the many speakers around the academy waking up many of the students.
One in particular fell out of his blue comforter covered bed and landed on his right arm. "Dang it!"
Clawing his way to his bed, Cain leaned over his bed with a small bruise on his head where it landed on his right arm. In the extra dark room with black out curtains (Cain tries so very hard to get taller, so he went with the rumor that you get taller if you sleep in a completely dark room) Cain turned his head to the right to see the alarm clock that he had say that the time was merely five-fifteen…
…a.m.
"What the freaking hell is up with this crap!?!" Cain shouted throwing his comforter into the air then began pulling on his slightly longer white hair.
That's when the music stopped playing and then an old familiar voice began to blare out of the speakers. "Good Morning students! This is your newest headmaster, Kurro Legendz speaking. I know this is quite the change from your previous agendas, but from now on, all classes shall begin at seven a.m. every Monday through Friday. So I thought that maybe you'd all like a wake up call to get you adjusted…"
"…You've got to be kidding me…" Cain muttered to himself with a blood vessel appearing on his back.
"…Next, you've all got a schedule change with your meal times…Lunch will be at two p.m. before your last class, while dinner will be at seven p.m. and curfew will be at eight. As for breakfast…well, if you have time, then you can have it as well."
"This is insane," Cain growled looking through his drawers for his clothes. "…this can only lead to one outcome…"
"Now then, it's time for a new rule that will affect the rules of all your duels. From now on, each duel will be played with eight thousand life points, so that we can match wits with the pro league duels and with our sister academy, the Atlantic Duel Academy."
"…Eh, not that bad if you ask me," Cain sighed rubbing the back of his head.
"On a final note students…in a few days, there will be a new duel program will be implemented through out the entire academy. So with that…please prepare for class and have a nice day everyone!"
"…At least he's formal," Cain commented with a sweat drop as the Beethoven music steadily began to play once more from the speakers. Shaking his head, Cain headed towards his private shower slapping a towel over his left shoulder. "And there can only be one thing that'll come from this…so I'll have to step up to the plate and nip this in the bud…"
"But before that…I've got to find someone and teach him a lesson."
/--/-/-//--//-//-
"ACHOO!"
"Cover up when you sneeze Garu," Yae sighed narrowing her eyes at Garu who was rubbing his nose and his eyes. "It's disgusting."
"Well excuse me Yae," Garu moaned sniffing a few times with a large yawn following. "I'm not used to waking up this early…"
"Better get used to it mate," Zeff stated walking out of the bathroom fully dressed with Rox sitting on his shoulder. "Thanks to that announcement, we're now expected to wake up this early every day, and lunch and dinner have been pushed back…"
That last thing really woke Garu up, making him jump out of his bunk and onto the ground (not realizing that he was only in his red boxers). "What about breakfast?!?"
"…it's give or take with that…" Zeff answered shaking his head grimly as Rox did the same with him.
"NNNNNNNNNnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnoooooooooooooooooooo!" Garu shouted loudly…if anyone in the Slifer Red dorm wasn't awakened now, then they were now.
"GARU! PUT SOME DAMN CLOTHES ON!" Yae shouted slamming her fist in the back of Garu's head. Okay, now….everyone in the Slifer Red down was definitely awake by now.
A while later…
"Oh…this isn't fair…" Garu sobbed loudly crying loud tears that streamed down his eyes as he sat in his seat in his first early class. "I get a lump on my head and I missed breakfast…"
"I know…it's not that great either," A familiar kind voice stated from Garu's right.
Turning in that general direction, Garu's eyes brightened up and smiled as well. "A-Ami! It's great to see you!"
"Well you really changed your tune Garu," Ami giggled a little bit making Garu blush a little bit on his face.
//---//--/-///-
The clouds outside his window were a very beautiful view as Kurro sipped the black coffee from his purple mug. "…Finally…the taste of victory is Columbian style…"
"I see you're enjoying your recent victory…"
Kurro's eyes widened as he spat out the coffee that was in his mouth onto the ground. A little afraid, the old duelist slowly turned his head around to see a mysterious man standing before him.
The mysterious man chuckled as he slowly stepped forward from the shadows; showing his black overcoat that covered his entire body, save for his head. The mysterious man's dark green and black mixture of hair was combed backwards, pushing it out of his sharp, slightly tanned face. His razor sharp shark like teeth were curled up into a slight smile that seemed to chuckle slightly. "…good for you back stabber…"
"B-B-B-B-B…" Kurro stuttered stepping backwards away from the oddly familiar man.
"Who do you think I am? BoBoBo?" The mysterious man joked wagging his finger towards Kurro. "It's Big Boss! Say it with me now…B-I-G B-O-S-S!"
"W-W-What do you want?" Kurro spat out hiding behind his large chair while having his head peak out to watch as Big Boss sat on his desk with his back to Kurro.
"Why such hostility my old friend?" Big Boss asked combing his hair back. "Can't I greet and congratulate an old friend on his recent success?"
"Well, I ditched out on your orders last year and made five of your best duelists quit on you," Kurro answered with sweat beating down his head while slowly lowering his head behind the chair for cover.
"…Oh yeah…no hard feelings then," Big Boss chuckled with a great smile on his face.
Kurro slowly stepped from his chair with a weary look on his face and yet had a smile on his face. "R-Really?"
"NO! BOOT TO THE HEAD!" Big Boss shouted throwing one of his boots into Kurro's head, sending the old man falling onto his back. "I've been thinking of a way to get back on you for half a year…so the best way to deal with people in movie shows, those who smoke in bed, people who vote Republican, give them a boot to the head!"
"But I don't do any of those things!" Kurro shouted holding his bleeding forehead as Big Boss hopped towards the wounded Kurro.
"I know…but I just like to credit the Frantics," Big Boss chuckled grabbing his boot to immediately pull it on his right foot. "Any who…I'm actually glad that you managed to succeed with your plans, and besides, because of that, I've actually got a new group of people who are even better than you and the other five Dark Kings."
"You got people who are even better?" Kurro asked with a cold droplet of sweat running down the side of his head.
"I still managed to talk one of the formers to be apart of this new group," Big Boss chuckled shrugging his shoulders and narrowing his eyes down at Kurro. "But enough pleasantries…I'm really here to tell you that when you fail, and believe me, you will fail…"
"…one of my assassins will take you out!"
"Heh…that's not going to happen Big Loser!" Kurro laughed loudly standing up straight. "But thanks for the warning…I'll be sure to remember it!"
"Remember this, pride comes before the fall…" Big Boss scowled disappearing into the shadows.
After rubbing his head a little, Kurro pushed the button on the intercom on his desk. "Ashton…can you bring me a bandage and send the janitor up?"
"Sure sir."
"Also…can you bring Vic Vanhemer to my office immediately?" Kurro continued sitting down into his fancy chair. "I have much to discuss with him."
"Of course sir."
Leaning back in the seat, Kurro wiped some of the blood that was on his forehead away from his eyes. Then looking at his bloody hand, Kurro smirked. "Make as many threats as you like Big Loser…they won't mean a thing when I accomplish my goals…"
/-/--/-/-/-//--//-/-/
The hours of class seemed to dwell on and on, but still, Cain was able to survive this (after all, he's been talked to death before) and awaited his late lunch hour. Speaking of…Cain was currently walking through the hallways, watching the many students complain to the remaining teachers that had remained here after Kurro had taken control of the academy.
From what Cain could easily tell from the first three classes and in between, many of the students were in disagreement with Kurro's methods for the schedule change. In fact Cain had heard from some of the students who actually went to class were planning on storming in on Kurro's office and give him a piece of their minds…
…They must not have that much of minds if they're going to charge in his office…
'They're just going to be kicked out of the academy if they do that…'
Shaking that thought from his head, Cain just headed for his next class trying to ignore the growl in his stomach from making him keel over in pain. 'Stupid lousy Kurro…stupid idiotic Garu…the next time I see either of them, I'll kick their asses!'
"…Great, I guess stupidity is now contagious…" Cain sighed leaning outside the door of his next class, there were a few more minutes before he was supposed to go into the classroom.
'Damn it…if this is leading up to the crap like last year…then I guess I'll have to step in again…'
"What's up Cain? Got a little something on your mind?"
Cain's eyes shot wide open making him come face to face with a smiling Kazica…only inches away from his face, making the short duelist flush his face of all color. "Glad to see that you're still the same as last year Cain!"
"Y-yeah," Cain stuttered rubbing the side of his head slightly while taking note that Kazica certainly didn't stay the same during the summer. In fact this was the first time he had gotten a good look at the red haired colored Ra Yellow girl.
Her hair had grown somewhat longer and went past her shoulders, and her figure had become more developed than he last remember…that made him get a bright red color on his face. "Cain…are you okay?"
"Y-yeah, why wouldn't I be okay?" Cain muttered turning his head to the right slightly trying to hide his blush.
"Out of curiosity, are you still fretting about last year?" Kazica asked leaning next to Cain on the wall.
"…Could you be a little more specific?" Cain was right to ask that question, many things had happened in the previous year.
"With what happened with your sister of course," Kazica stated looking a little worried as a few of the students began to enter the classroom next to the two students. "I can tell you're worried that with Kurro taking over that something might happen to her like last year…"
"Well, not just her," Cain admitted twiddling his thumbs. Then slowly Cain lifted a small broken amulet that was wrapped around with a small chain from his neck up. "I've got to keep my eyes on another lady…"
"Aw, that's so sweet," Kazica replied with a small blush on her face looking down on Cain as she pulled her half of a broken pendant around her neck that resembled Cain's. "And its sweet of you to still have that…"
"Well why not?" Cain asked raising an eyebrow. "I mean, I gave you this as a Christmas present last year…"
//--/-/-//--/-//-/-/
"You wanted to see me?" Vic asked crossing his arms in front of (a now slightly bandaged) Kurro.
"Yes…thanks to your hand I was able to acquire this academy," Kurro started placing his coffee mug on his desk and smiled at Vic. "So we have to hold up our end of the bargain…"
"I see…so you'll make me the Dark World Kaiser and demote Mustang to the second rate duelist he truly is?" Vic asked with a dark smile appearing on his face as he reached into his pocket for a folded up piece of paper. "I've already written up a list of changes and students to be expelled…also a rough-sketch of my new uniform…"
"You're right about your uniform," Kurro chuckled looking at some files on his computer on the desk. "That one doesn't suit you for your level of skill…"
"Excellent we're on the same page then," Vic snickered crossing his arms and throwing the list onto Kurro's desk. "So we'll start off with Mustang and that short little alchemic pain in the ass…"
"…I'm sorry but we should first fix your position," Kurro interrupted making Vic blink a few times in confusion.
"Yeah, but we need to get Mustang out of his…" Vic replied combing his hair with his free right hand.
"You're being demoted to Ra Yellow," Kurro stated bluntly taking note of the very surprised look that crept onto Vic's face. "So please change out of that Obelisk Blue overcoat, I don't want a Ra Yellow to disgrace the Obelisk Blue Elite."
"W-W-W-WHAT!?!?" Vic shouted nearly making Kurro fall back from his chair. "W-W-Why am I getting demoted!?!?"
"Let's look at this…you've lost to both Garu Honzou, a Slifer Red," Kurro explained spinning the computer screen to show Vic the screen that had his picture on it with Vergil and Garu's pictures over his. "And Vergil Redgrave in duels…both freshmen while you're a third year…"
"…Henceforth, I'm demoting you to Ra yellow until you can defeat someone with some caliber…"
"…Fine…if that's how it works," Vic growled lifting his right hand towards Kurro. "Then how about I defeat the headmaster of the school?"
"Heh…I'm required to inform you that you can't win," Kurro warned wagging his hand in the air, a cocky smile plastered all over his face.
"You don't scare me old man," Vic snarled narrowing his eyes at Kurro lifting his deck up in his fingers.
"Well I should," Kurro chuckled reaching into his desk. With his hand, he brushed away a small dark mask that was over a rather large deck of cards. "But realize this…if you fail in defeating me, then you're going to be in need of looking for a replacement academy, you won't be staying here…"
"Heh…I'm confident that I can beat you," Vic scoffed taking a pair of spare duel disks off the wall, and throwing one to Kurro (who was able to catch it easily).
Snapping his duel disk onto his wrist, Kurro slipped his deck into it activating the life point counter. "Prepare to face the power of Kuchin…the void…"
/-/-/-//--/-/-/-/
A few hours passed and it was lunch time for the students, and a majority of the students were in the cafeteria, the tension was getting higher and higher with each passing second. Rumors were pouring in from all three of the dorms about whose fault it was that the school was under some new management…
If you asked the Blues, they would blame it on the Reds, or more specifically around a certain blue haired ninja using duelist. The rumor was that Mr. Honzou had struck a deal with Kurro and Team Legendz for information about the academy's best dueling teacher and thought that the duel was a wager for control of the academy.
The Yellows' version was quite different, they blamed the fact that since there have been a lot of strange activities going on about with other academies and had a conspiracy that the establishment of all academies were preparing tests like this to make the students on their feet and prepare them for anything. Take in account that Ra Yellow had a lot of tabloid readers instead of newspaper readers in it…and that just speaks for itself.
Slifer Red students…well, all they were complaining about was the fact that they had to wake up early once more. The food wasn't the best in Slifer Red dorm anyway…unless you had a thing for cold cereal and ramen noodles and it was a good excuse to miss out on those stomachaches what Fortanu called meals…
But back to the main cafeteria, almost all tables were divided up by the color of the dorms with the exception of one…
That table was occupied by none other than Garu, Yae, Takashi, Kara, Ami as well as Kazica and Cain who sat at the end. Zeff and Rox had a previous lunch agreement…
"Where's the rest of your fan club Takashi?" Yae asked holding a cup of tea in her hands.
"Oh you mean Victor and Iruka said that they couldn't be seen today…" Takashi answered holding a sandwich in his hands. "But if you ask me, its that they're a little bit afraid of the rumors spreading around."
Yae, Kazica, Takashi, Kara and Ami turned towards Garu who was busy eating a bowl of rice directly in front of his face, rice flying off in different directions. Cain lowered his head to have his hair cover his eyes.
"I-I-I don't think that Garu could do something like that…" Kara stuttered with everyone turning away from Garu.
"Yeah, he's not that bright," Yae sighed holding her head.
"And he's not that great at strategy…" Takashi added.
"Plus for the fact that Garu didn't even know what a duel disk was," Kazica pointed out…no one seemed to notice that Garu had stopped eating his lunch and was starting to have a large blood vessel on the back of his head. "So I doubt he would have involvement with a duel team like Team Legendz…"
"I'm sitting right here you know," Garu growled slamming the bowl he was eating from onto the table. "Don't talk about me as if I'm not here!"
"Relax Garu, its not like that," Ami stated trying to calm Garu down by waving her arms up slightly. "We're just trying to disprove the rumors that have been flying around about you being involved with Team Legendz…"
"And who are these guys saying this crap?" Garu asked jumping onto the table with his arms pumped up into the air. "I'll show them all that I've got nothing to do with Team Legendz or that old coot! Just point me in the direction of whoever's saying that and I'll show them all that I'm nothing like all those rumors depict!"
'…The guy talks as if he's a deity!' Cain's grip on the glass began to tighten, making the glass crack a little.
"Heh…I bet that I can take down anyone of those freaks on Team Legendz!" Garu laughed having his head beginning to swell.
'That cocky attitude's going to get him killed someday!' The glass began to crack even more thanks to Cain's anger.
"Bring them on!"
The glass shattered into many shards that jumped through the air, getting everyone's attention towards Cain who was now standing up with his right hand open, to show the black glove that covered his hand was now covered with the liquid that he was drinking…
Garu noticed that even though there was some parts of the glove that had glass in it, there wasn't any blood dripping where the glass was. 'Whoa…talk about intense…'
"Look you cocky freshmen!" Cain growled pulling Garu down to the ground with his left hand. "I realize this might be difficult for you to grasp this around your blue dyed brain, but if you go shooting your mouth off like that then you're just going to get your ass handed to you in more ways than one!"
"And what makes you an expert on that you little shrimp?" Garu growled jumping to his feet to narrow his eyes down at Cain.
"…that doesn't matter," Cain replied crossing his arms. "You're talking awful almighty for a guy who only started dueling with a duel disk since the beginning of the school year. You even freaked out when you saw the Red Eyes Black Dragon…just to let you know…there are scarier monsters in this game than that."
"So? I've been in a duel that sent me into a weird place that had eyes and mouths in the sky!" Garu shoot back sending sparks between him and Cain.
"That was against Vic correct?" Cain asked making Garu's eyes widened from the fact that there were other people watching his match with that pompous Blue student. "…I'll admit that there was some luck in that…but do you honestly think that your luck will continue to help you through out the year if a real challenge appears?"
"Those two are getting together like water and oil," Kazica pointed out raising an eyebrow as Cain and Garu continued to argue fiercely and attract attention with the rest of the student body in the cafeteria.
"Well, I have to admit that this Cain guy is good at deflating Garu's ego," Yae stated before sipping her tea.
"You act just like a savaged and dumb animal!" Cain roared stomping his foot into the ground. "You dumb monkey!"
"MONKEY!?!?" Garu shouted a little taken back from the comment. "Well…its better than being a shrimp!"
"This bickering is getting us no where…" Cain sighed rubbing the side of his head with his left hand.
"I'm just getting started!" Garu shouted stomping his foot on the ground.
"…Think before you speak," Cain sighed even louder reaching for his deck case. Then lifting his dueling deck up, Cain's look was devoid of anger, but was still serious. "If you think that you're that great of a duelist…then why not try your luck against me?"
"Fine by me!" Garu growled pulling his own deck out and lifted up towards Cain. "Just wait till after school…"
"No, skipping one class isn't going to kill you," Cain replied pulling his deck back. "We'll duel right now in one of the empty classrooms, and we'll use the new life point score that was set up this very morning."
"…When was that?" Garu asked getting everyone at the table to sweat drop.
/--/-/--///--//--//
With every other student (with the exception of the group at the table of course) in their classes, Cain and Garu were able to execute their duel in the quiet sanctity of one of the empty classrooms that wasn't currently used by any of the duelists…
…However, in the shadows of the room, a familiar red haired Steel Heart duelist was watching as Cain and Garu readied their duel disks.
"Last chance to back out shorty," Garu warned snapping his newly shuffled deck into his duel disk, activating the life point counter. (GLP: 8000)
Trying to ignore the short comment (not really working), Cain just crossed his arms over his chest and activated his own duel disk that seemed to be a bit big for his arm. "I said that I'd take your challenge, and I'll stand by that…" (CLP: 8000)
"Wow…shorty versus Garu…" Takashi commented rubbing his chin. "Sure there's the fact the little guy's in Obelisk blue…"
"But Garu was able to keep his own with Blues," Yae replied starring at the front of the class where Garu and Cain were about to duel it out. "So, I'm sure that he shouldn't have any trouble with…"
"I really wouldn't say that," Kazica commented getting Takashi, Yae and Kara to look over to her and Ami (both whom were smiling brightly). "Cain's no slouch when it comes to dueling…"
"And his strategy is wicked as well!" Ami added waving her arms slightly.
"Well, then let's du…" Garu started lifting up his duel disk up to draw his card.
"Hold it!" Cain stopped lifting up his hand of five cards. "I've got my own start…if you don't mind…"
"Ready…"
"…Steady…"
"DUEL!"
Garu, Yae, Takashi, and Kara blinked a few times at Cain's choice of opening. But shaking it off, Garu drew his sixth card into his hand. "Yeah…okay…I'll start off then…"
Slapping his sixth card onto his duel disk, a shadow fell from the sky and landed directly in front of Garu forming into the Strike Ninja (1700/1200) lifting up two shuriken in his hands and struck a stealthy pose. "I'll summon my good friend Strike Ninja in attack mode…and I'll set two cards in the back row and give it to you once more little guy."
"…stay calm…take deep breaths…" Cain heaved slowly lifting up his next card up to his face. Then with a quick nod, Cain took another card from his hand and slid it into his duel disk, creating a back card. "I'll start off with a face down card in the back…and then I'll summon a monster known as…Flame Alchemist!"
From Cain's duel disk a large red transmutation circle appeared over the short duelist's head with multiple flame indents on it. Then with a powerful explosion of flames, a strange monster leapt onto the field. The monster stood up to show a handsome man in his early thirties with short black hair, allowing his blue uniform to flow on his body and in the air dramatically.
Then with a stern look on his face, the alchemist raised one of his arms up into the air and pointed it towards Garu's face down cards, showing that his hands were covered with white gloves with transmutation circles on them (1600/1400). With a quick snap of his fingers, two powerful exploded underneath Garu's two cards incinerating them immediately.
The ashes flew past Garu making him lift his arm up in front of his face to prevent them from flying into his eyes. "W-What the hell?!?"
"My Flame Alchemist must destroy two spell or trap cards on the field when he's summoned," Cain explained crossing his arms over his chest.
"Cool trick," Garu admitted lowering his arm and smirking for some reason. "Too bad you didn't realize that even though you've got a powerful effect out of it…but you got a monster with less attack points than my ninja…"
"What do you take me for?" Cain asked lifting another card up from his hand and spinning it in his fingers. "I'm not a rookie, and I'll teach you a lesson on dueling 1O1. First off, when you've got a monster with lower attack points…you need to combine it with your other cards! Combinations with your cards is the best way to win…and I'm not talking just about equip cards…"
"Man, you must really like to listen to your voice…" Garu chuckled rolling his eyes over to the side.
"Actually, I prefer not to waste my breath…but someone needs to teach you a lesson and I know Mustang isn't going to do that," Cain replied lifting a card into his duel disk, creating powerful silver sparks surging around the field. "But for right now…I'll activate the spell card, Alchemy – Silver Transmutation Circle!"
The field was immediately engulfed with what appeared to be a large silver transmutation circle that began to spark up around both the Flame Alchemist (1700/1200) and the Strike Ninja (1600/1400). That's when Garu noticed the stat change. "What the!?!"
"My spell swaps the attack and defense of one monster on each player's field," Cain explained snapping his fingers up towards his Alchemist. "And since you've got the weaker monster on the field…Flame Alchemist! Attack his Strike Ninja!"
With a great smile, the Flame Alchemist jumped into the air spinning slightly and snapping his fingers creating a powerful burst of flames that immediately engulfed the Strike Ninja, making the shinobi shatter into pixels that flew into Garu's body. (GLP: 7900)
"And that's all for me," Cain announced crossing his arms over his chest. "Where are those killer moves you said you'd show me?"
"Just watch!" Garu shouted pulling his next card from his duel disk. "And here's a favorite of mine! I summon Feral Ninja in attack mode!"
In a powerful gray spinning stream, a beastly ninja with wild brown hair that floated down in front of his face. His fanged teeth were barred and a fanged necklace hung around his tattered gray ninja clothes. His fingernails and toenails looked to more like a rabid beast (1200/0). "And when he's summoned to the field, I can special summon a second copy from my deck!"
In a second stream of wind, another Feral Ninja appeared next to the other one (1200/0) barring his claws towards the Flame Alchemist and Cain. "And when I have two of them out…I can combine their attack scores into one and attack with one of them! So, Feral Ninjas, Beast Style Taijutsu!"
Both Feral Ninjas jumped into the air, both spinning at top speeds towards the Flame Alchemist who didn't seemed worried at all…
In fact, in response, the Alchemist snapped his fingers and a large wall appeared in front of him (1600/1400 + 0/500), blocking the two Feral Ninjas' attacks making the wall fall onto the alchemist in a very funny manner. "I hate to be the barer of bad news, but my trap Transmuted Shield shifts my monster to defense mode and powers him by five hundred points…still not enough to stop your attack, but enough to protect my life points."
"Dang it…" Garu sighed slipping another card into his duel disk, creating a face down card behind his two landing Feral Ninjas. "I-I'll end my turn…"
"And then I can go on the attack!" Cain announced looking at his next card, then lifting up another card; Cain slapped the card into his duel disk, creating a bright red light to emerge from his duel disk. "And I'll start off by summoning Wandering Alchemist!"
The bright light flared up into a crimson transmutation circle that had a cross with a snake coiling around it. The circle shattered like glass allowing another alchemist to land on the field and slowly stood up. When the alchemist was standing tall, everyone sweatdropped at the very height of the monster…
…was just the same height as Cain. Unlike the last alchemist, this one was wearing a red overcoat that seemed to be a size or two too big, having his blonde hair braided in the back. The alchemist, once he got a good look at Garu, narrowed his eyes and then turned back to Cain in disbelief (1500/1300). "Yes, I know this guy's annoying…but you've got to suck it up and fight with all you've got…"
"…He's talking to his monsters…" Garu asked a little confused as a card shot out of Cain's deck and into his hand.
"When I summon this particular, I can take one of three different kinds of cards from my deck and add it to my hand," Cain explained lifting the card he had selected into his duel disk. "And why not play it right now? I activate the spell card, Alchemy Silver Pocket Watch!"
Reaching into his overcoat pocket, the Wandering Alchemist lifted up a small silver pocket watch that had a chimera etched into it. Spinning it a few times, the alchemist threw the watch into the air and clapped his hands together. When the watch was in front of him, the Alchemist slapped his hands into the watch creating a powerful light blue transmutation circle. "This spell card can only be used when I have a face up Alchemist on the field…now I can special summon another alchemist with a lower level from my hand."
The second transmutation circle shattered this time forming into what appeared to be a shorter and younger version of the wandering alchemist…with his hair shorter and his overcoat larger than his older counter part. And this one was lifting up a small book with a transmutation circle on it (500/500). "So allow me to introduce the Trainee Alchemist…"
"…Are all your monsters short?" Garu asked with a very loud snicker escaping form his lips as well as from Takashi, Yae and Kara.
"Feel free to make as many jokes as you like," Cain replied lifting one of his two cards into his duel disk. "But I'm not done by a long shot…first I'll play the continuous spell card Soul Absorption! Now whenever a card is removed from play, I gain five hundred life points."
"Now why does he have that card?" Kara asked tilting her head to the side. "From what I've seen, he doesn't have any removal cards…"
"Just wait," Ami replied with a smile along with Kazica.
"The magic behind Cain's monsters is about to made apparent," Kazica added wagging her finger.
"Alchemists! Alchemic Fusion!" Cain shouted raising his hand up into the air making a powerful black transmutation circle appear underneath his two alchemists, pulling them into it's dark light. "By simply removing them from play, I can alchemic fuse! And my Trainee can be acting as any fusion material monster!" (CLP: 9000)
The dark transmutation circle shattered upwards, this time creating allowing a new alchemist to appear on the field…only this one was a lot darker than the previous three. His face looked to be a dead ringer for the Wandering Alchemist, only his hair had white bangs that looked dyed. His red overcoat was replaced with a fancier blue one that fit better than his last. Then at his sides, the new alchemist drew two fancy, thin swords (2750/2500). "This is great for summoning the Dark Steel Alchemist!"
"Man…that took a while for a single monster," Garu stuttered blinking a few times then looking down at his face down card. 'Not that it matters…if he attacks, I'll just activate my Two-K Shuriken…destroying all of his monsters if he attacks either one of my ninjas…'
"Dark Steel Alchemist! Attack the Feral Ninja!" Cain shouted with the Dark Steel Alchemist running towards one of the two Feral Ninjas.
With a great smile on his face, Garu snapped his fingers making both of his ninjas jump into the air. "Nice try! But I have my face down card! Go Two-K Shuri…"
"Can't be helped!" Cain shouted as his alchemist jumped right in front of one of the Feral Ninjas, scaring it. "When my alchemist attacks, you can't chain any spell or trap cards!"
"I'm not 'chaining' anything!" Garu shouted narrowing his eyes at Cain. "I'm activating!"
Everyone, including the alchemist and both of Garu's Feral Ninjas fell to the ground out of embarrassment that this guy didn't know that it was the same thing. But getting to his feet first, Cain jumped up and threw his arms into the air. "Listen you retard! That's the same thing! Dark Steel Alchemist! Put one of his Ninjas out of his misery!"
Shaking off the embarrassment, the Dark Steel Alchemist raised both of his swords and stabbed them directly into the fallen Feral Ninja, making his howl in pain and shatter into millions of shards that flew into Garu's body. (GLP: 6350)
"And since you've got another monster…I've got another attack!" Cain shouted allowing the Dark Steel Alchemist to jump into the air and stab both of his swords into the final Feral Ninja, resulting in the exact same result as the previous Ninja. (GLP: 4800)
'Okay…this wasn't what I was expecting…' Garu blinked a few times as the final card in Cain's hand appeared onto his side of the field behind his Dark Steel Alchemist who had sheathed his swords and crossed his arms over his chest.
"And with that…I'll end my turn," Cain scoffed to the side with his eyes closed this time.
"Don't talk like you're better than me!" Garu roared pulling his next card up, but then slipped his other card into his duel disk, creating the grinning pot of greed in front of him. Then quickly flipping the top two cards from his disk, Garu slipped another into his duel. "I activate the spell card Double Summon! This turn I'm allowed to perform an additional normal summon! So first I'll normal summon Ninja Swordsman Masamune (1600/1000)!"
In a powerful dark tornado, a multi-bandaged ninja leapt onto the field lifting a large blade in his hands…only to disappear in a powerful cloud of smoke. "But he's not staying long! I sacrifice him in order to summon…"
The cloud of smoke dissipated allowing a new ninja to jump from the cloud and seemingly float in the air. Everyone craned their heads up to see a semi-muscular ninja float above him, wearing black baggy clothes with a zipped up gray vest grasping multiple kunai in his hands. Over the ninja's face, a white mask that resembled a wolf covered any idea who the ninja was (2400/1300). "My Masked Shinobi! And when he's summoned successfully, I can special summon three Genin Ninja Tokens!"
In three smaller clouds of smoke, three ninjas that resembled the Masked Shinobi appeared only wearing green clothing (500/500 x 3), each raising a kunai in their hands. Cain raised an eyebrow at the bold move. "Interesting…but they won't last long against my alchemist…"
"We'll see about that," Garu chuckled spinning another card in his hand, this one showing a spell card. This spell card showing a young dark haired man holding up his right arm with a dragon tattoo on it, the tattoo seemed to be glowing dark purple as it appeared on the Masked Shinobi's right arm. "Now I'll activate the spell card, Ninjitsu Art – Black Dragon! And any monster I want automatically gains 1000 attack points during this turn!"
"…I know what the card is capable of doing, and at the end of the turn, the selected monster get's returned to it's owner's deck," Cain finished as the aura around the Masked Shinobi began to grow even stronger (2400/1300 + 1000/0). "I know what the card is capable of…I faced a ninja duelist during the summer time…"
"Yeah…well then you know what's coming next!" Garu shouted throwing his arm towards the Dark Steel Alchemist. "Masked Shinobi! Attack with Shadow of the Shinobi!"
Shattering into many different shadows, the Masked Shinobi disappeared in front of the group. The Dark Steel Alchemist didn't seem scared, even when the Masked Shinobi slammed his arm right through the Alchemist's stomach. Coughing up some blood, the Dark Steel Alchemist lowered his head…deprived of life… (CLP: 8350)
"And now that you're wide open…Genin Ninja Tokens! Attack directly!"
Cain's eyes shot wide open when all three of the Genin appeared in front of him and slammed their feet directly into Cain's stomach, sending him skidding backwards. "Don't your ninjas know how to attack in different places?" (CLP: 6850)
"Where's the fun in that?" Garu asked as his Masked Shinobi disappeared in a cloud of smoke and Garu shuffled its card into his deck. "And I'll end my turn with that…"
"Then allow me to take my turn…" Cain stated drawing his next card without even looking at it.
"He only has one card in his hand and one card face down," Yae noticed as Cain looked at his newly drawn card. "Unless he's drawn something very powerful or that set card was something good…it looks like the shorty won't be able to cut it for very long."
"Don't underestimate my brother…" Ami warned with a disapproving look on her face. "If I know him…he's got a strategy!"
'Okay…my bluff didn't work…' Cain sweated looking at the single card in his hand. '…But thanks to this card, I'll be able to turn this around!'
"I activate the spell card, Water Stone of the wise!" Cain's spell card materialized onto the field, showing two statue maidens lifting up a large orb that had a large amount of water in it. "So by removing my Flame Alchemist and Dark Steel Alchemist from the game, I can draw three cards from my deck! And thanks to Soul Absorption…I gain an additional thousand life points!" (CLP: 7850)
Swiftly, Cain drew his next three cards and nodded to himself. "Next…I'll activate my face down card! Go! Return from the Different Dimension!"
The entire field began to warp wildly around the two duelists as many sparks began to erupt from Cain's duel disk. "So…for a mere cost of half my life points…I can special summon monsters that have been removed from play! So my alchemists…return!" (CLP: 3925)
In four large transmutation circles appearing around the short alchemic duelist, only to shatter into the Wandering Alchemist (1500/1300), Flame Alchemist (1600/1400), Dark Steel Alchemist (2750/2500), and the Trainee Alchemist (500/500), all of whom glared at Garu with cold daggers…
…Until the Flame Alchemist snapped his fingers, creating a powerful explosion under the only set card on the field. "And remember, when my Flame Alchemist appears on the field, two…or in this case one, spell or trap card is destroyed."
"Not good at all…" Garu gulped realizing what was coming.
"I'll skip my Wandering Alchemist's effect," Cain growled snapping his finger up towards his four Alchemists. "But enough of that! Wandering Alchemist! Flame Alchemist! Trainee Alchemist! Attack his Genin!"
All three of the lower alchemists jumped towards the three Genin, surprising the ninjas with their speed. The Wandering Alchemist slammed his left foot in the firs Genin's face, shattering the monster. (GLP: 3800)
…While the Flame Alchemist snapped his fingers into the second Genin, making the shinobi shout out in pain. (GLP: 2700)
…Although the Alchemist Trainee and Genin were slapping each other silly until they both fell to the ground out of exasperation.
That just left the Dark Steel Alchemist to stand over Garu, a superior look gleaming from his dark eyes that loomed down the Slifer Red Ninja Duelist Extraordinaire. "Uh…is it too late for any last comments?"
"…go ahead…" Cain sighed a little wary of what Garu was going to say.
"No matter what…some day…" Garu started with his eyes closed and head lowered towards the ground. Then snapping his head up, Garu revealed the large smirk on his face. "I'll ascend past you! Both in height and in duelist status! You little short grub!"
A large blood vessel appeared on Cain's forehead making him pull his hair with both of his hands. "That does it! Prepare yourself! Dark Steel Alchemist! Finish this!"
With a nod, the Dark Steel Alchemist drew his swords and spun them in a very fancy manner before slashing Garu across his chest and sent him flying off the stage in a strange manner. (GLP: 0)
"Dang…you could've at least gone a little easier on me," Garu groaned sitting back up as all four alchemists disappeared from the field as Cain turned off his duel disk.
"…I did…" Cain muttered sitting down on the higher floor with his arms crossed. "If I pulled back any further, than I would've had only a thousand life points…"
"Aw brother, you give too much credit to yourself," Ami sighed shaking her head looking at the clock. "Well…I'm going to get to class…"
"Hey! Isn't anyone going to console me?" Garu protested jumping to his feet and waving his arms in the air.
"Sorry Garu…but we've got homework…"
"I need to go sleep in my tree."
"I-I've got to prepare your next tutoring lesson…"
"I'll see ya later Cain!"
Garu threw his arms into the air as everyone but him and Cain left the room, then the Ninja duelist walked up behind the still sitting Cain and poked him the shoulder to get his attention. "…Hey, pipsqueak! How'd you get so strong?"
In a quick second, Garu was crouching down fingering a brand new bruise thanks to the haisen that was in Cain's right hand as he stood over Garu. "OW! What was that for!?!"
"Listen you little punk," Cain growled pocketing his haisen into the void while crossing his arms. "Show some respect to the older students! I know a few of them can be jerks…or perverted…or have plans for taking down fellow students and are somewhat sadistic…Huh, I forgot what I was saying…"
"Look, I don't care about that stuff!" Garu shouted standing up moving his hands away from his head bruise and then looked down slightly. "…I know what you're saying about shooting my mouth off…but this isn't the first loss I've been handed…"
Vergil…Mustang…and now the little shorty Cain…all three of them of different years, and yet of the same dorm managed to defeat Garu easily and as if he was nothing. "…I just…I mean…well, this is harder than I thought…"
Cain rolled his eyes and sighed loudly, slowly turning towards Garu. "I think I know exactly what you're asking for…"
"…I went through the exact same thing…"
"Wait, you don't even know what I'm asking for…" Garu asked before Cain slammed his foot into Garu's chest, sending him to the ground. "WHAT THE HELL!?!?"
Cracking his knuckles in his hands, Cain seemed to look very demonic. "I've heard what Professor Satoshi said to you…from what I can gather, you want to be able to back up that tough guy act you monkey…and what you're getting at, I'm thinking that you want to get stronger so you're trying to get another teacher!"
"W-well, yeah," Garu gasped…due to the fact that Cain still had his foot on his chest.
"Since Mustang isn't a fan of male followers…Vic would probably rip your guts out when he got the chance," Cain muttered under his breath while rubbing his chin. "Goliath's somewhere in the world and god knows where…so, I guess this will fall on me…great…"
"C-Could you get your foot off me?" Garu wheezed, the little guy was a lot heavier than he looked, he weighed a ton!
"Shut up down there," Cain scoffed narrowing his eyes down at Garu. "And here's how this is going down…I will help you in your dueling…I will help you with your deck strategy, actually give you a strategy…"
"C-can't breathe…losing consciousness," Garu moaned lowering his head back with his face losing color.
"Crap, this is going to be a lot of work," Cain sighed combing his hair back with his right hand. "…But, if I don't do it, I'll get nagged to death, or punched in the head…or something worse…"
"So…its your lucky day, monkey boy. I'll give you a hand so we'll have to schedule a plan for you to…hey…are you okay?"
Immediately lifting his foot away, Cain looked down to see that Garu was knocked out, making the short alchemic duelist sweatdrop. "…Aw crap…"
/-//--/-//--/-/-/
"Yes…I realize that you wanted to face him again…" Kurro sighed into the phone in his office looking at some documents. "…Well, I didn't force him to duel me!"
"I know, I know, that promises were made…"
"Just relax, even though I dominated him in the duel and he lost that wager, I made sure that he's got a transfer instead…of course in order to do it I had to confiscate all three of his decks…"
"Yeah, the Dark World Prince has been permanently dethroned…"
"Any who, I believe that you and Chinto are arriving soon correct? Excellent! We'll meet in the underground dock that the cowardly Daigo used to escape…"
"See you then my dear Natalie…"
/--/-/-/-//--//--//-
Card Stats
Flame Alchemist / Fire / Level 4 / ATK: 1600/ DEF: 1400/ Warrior / Effect: When this card is Normal, Flip, or Special Summoned destroy 2 Spell or Trap cards on the field.
Description: A handsome black haired guy wearing a flame painted jacket and loose black clothes. On his two white gloves are two transmutation circles.
Trainee Alchemist / Light / LV. 2 / ATK: 500 / DEF: 500 / Warrior/Effect: You may substitute this monster for a fusion material monster written on a fusion monster with "Alchemist" in it's name.
Description: a little blonde haired boy wearing an extremely large familiar red overcoat over his shoulders. In the kid's hands was a small book with a transmutation circle on it.
Wandering Alchemist / Dark / LV 4 / ATK: 1500 / DEF: 1300 / Warrior/Effect: When this card is Normal, Flip, or Special summoned successfully, you may add one card from your deck with "Alchemy", "Alchemic" or "Transmuted" in its name and add it to your hand.
Description: A short young man with golden hair braided backwards. His long red overcoat covers the ground and his black under clothes.
The Water Stone of the Wise / Spell / Effect: Remove two monster cards in your graveyard. Then draw three cards.
Image: A large orb filled with water being held up by two statue maidens
Alchemy Silver Pocket Watch / Spell / Effect: This card can only be activated by selecting one face up 'Alchemist' on the field. You may special summon one monster from your hand that has a level less or more than the selected monster.
Image: A beautiful silver pocket watch with a chimera on the design.
Transmuted Shield / Trap / Effect: Shift 1 monster on your field with "Alchemist" in its name into defense mode and increase that monster's DEF by 500.
Image: A huge rock wall defending the Wandering Alchemist.
Dark Steel Alchemist / Dark / LV. 8 / ATK: 2750 / DEF: 2500 / Warrior/Fusion/Effect: [Wandering Alchemist + Ash Alchemist You can Fusion summon this monster by removing from play the above monsters from your side of the field. This card may attack twice in a battle phase. Your opponent cannot chain spell or trap cards to monster's attack(s).
Description: A taller version of the Wandering Alchemist with dyed white bangs, his red overcoat has been replaced with a blue one and with two thin swords strapped to the back of his waist
The preceding cards were used by Cain in 'A Tortured Duelist'
Ninjitsu Art – Black Dragon / Instant Spell / Effect: Increase the attack of one face up monster on the field by 1000 points. At the end of the turn, shuffle the selected monster into the owner's deck.
Image: A young dark haired man holding up his right arm with a dragon tattoo on it. The tattoo seems to be glowing dark purple.
Two-K Shuriken / Trap / Effect: This card can only be activated when your opponent attacks a monster on your side of the field with 'Ninja' in its name. Destroy all face up monsters on your opponent's side of field.
Image: A dark warrior surrounded by two thousand copies of the same ninja each one throwing a shuriken at the dark warrior.
Masked Shinobi / Dark / Lv. 6 / ATK: 2400 / DEF: 1300 / Warrior/Effect: This monster is considered to have 'Ninja' in the card's name. When this card is successfully Normal Summoned, special summon three 'Ninja Genin Tokens' (LV. 3 / Wind / ATK: 500/DEF: 500/Warrior) to your side of the field. As long as there are 'Ninja Genin Tokens' on your side of the field, this card cannot be targeted in battle or monster card effects.
Description: A semi muscular ninja wearing black baggy clothes with a zipped up gray vest with multiple weapons in his hands. Over his face is a white mask that resembles a wolf.
Alchemy – Silver Transmutation Circle / Spell / Effect: Select two face up monsters on the field, swap the attack and defense of the selected monsters until the end of the turn this card was activated.
Image: A statue of the Wandering Alchemist (only a little more dramatic and taller) standing in the middle of a silver transmutation circle with the original Wandering Alchemist standing to the side with an accomplished look on his face.
/--/-/-/-/-/
Garu: What the hell are we doing now?
Cain: It's called a preview, you monkey boy…
Garu: Oh…so how does this work?
Cain: You just give a vague description of what happens next…
Garu: Yeah, yeah, just give me back my deck will ya! Its not going to kill you!
Cain: Shut the hell up you monkey! I'm actually giving you a strategy…
Garu: But how am I supposed to wipe the floor with this guy? Especially since he doesn't have any intention of letting me leave…
Now back and better than ever! But you'll have to wait longer in order to see what happens next in – Chapter 19: Enforcer's Rule
??-??-??: Its been a year since I was here…and this time I don't have that dumb would be lawyer with me!