…I can't believe it…a good friend of mine just disappeared out of nowhere…
…he was the first new friend I made in the real world.
He helped me when I was bummed about my deck and got my groove back with his weird dueling abilities…was that just me, or did that sound weird?
Back to what I was saying…I just can't believe he's gone. I'll miss his antics, his weird behavior, his obvious crush on Taylor (even though Rox seems to be getting the upper hand in that department), and most of all…
…I'll miss his friendship…now that was corny.
But, I swear, on my will of a ninja, I'll find a way to get him back, even if I have to break every rule in the book.
Of course, if I did that, then I may face the wrath of Yae's fist to the back of my head…
//--/-//-/-/--/-//
Chapter 21
Students Unite and Divide
/--//-/-/-/-/-/-/
The harsh wind blew over the island's night covered sky…a single week had passed since Fomalhaut defeated Zeff in the Duel Out Program, many other students had fallen to the same program, being kicked out of the academy.
Most of the students who were involved in the program weren't even in trouble; they were just low in the grades and in the duelist accounts. Red, yellow, blue…
…it didn't matter what color, Kurro was on a rampage with excluding students from the academy. With fewer students, the grade point average was increasing immediately to high levels.
This wasn't important to a certain red student…
…all he did was sit on the roof of the Red Dorm looking up into the star decorated sky, his deck in his right hand, and a familiar headband in the left hand. No matter what he saw, he could only see the stars forming into a familiar smirking face…
…the face had a star like scar over his right eye that raced down with that sadistic smile on his face.
"…Fomalhaut…"
Turning his enraged gaze from the sky, Garu looked down at the headband/eye patch that was left when Zeff left. He didn't even say goodbye, all that was left was his head band, a rare beast card (one that Garu decided to keep in his side deck just for remembering Zeff), and…
Garu didn't get this…Zeff left Rox here for some reason. Knowing absolutely nothing about wolves, Garu had give Rox over to Taylor (no complaints on Rox's part on that, perverted little wolf).
Under the roof, Yae, Takashi, and Kara were looking up without letting Garu know that they were watching him. Yae shook her head and looked at Garu with a sad look in her eyes. "…I can't believe he's been like this for an entire week…"
"Understandable really," Takashi replied flipping the next page in his book, not looking up from his literature. "His best friend here at the academy is long gone…and with all the rumors flying around, Garu could be thinking that it was his fault in the beginning that Zeff is long gone."
"T-that can't be good…" Kara muttered holding her hands up to her face, her fingers intertwined.
"Maybe we should do something to help him," Yae suggested raising her hand up with the good idea. "Maybe just remind him that he has some other friends that care about him like Zeff did…"
"W-well, tomorrow's Saturday…maybe we could just take him around…i-include him in our usual activities…" Kara added getting Takashi and Yae to look over to her immediately. "I, uh, well; I just thought it would be nice…"
"Sounds like a plan," Takashi stated snapping his book shut.
Unknown to the group of three, Ashton stood on the ground floor with his arms crossed, his back leaning onto the wall as he listened in on the conversation. Shaking his head, the Steel Heart Duelist lifted his right fist up…
…and immediately slammed it into the wall behind him, creating large cracks in the cheap wall that cracked up and down as long as his fist was kept into the indent of the building. With his eyes covered up by his wild red hair, Ashton pulled his fist back, taking a few cracks of the wall along with it flying into the air.
He had done many things in his life he wasn't proud of…there were so many people he had hurt (quite literally with the cards he used in his duels), so many people that were in emotional pain due to his duels. Kurro had once told him to not let those kind of things get to him…
"…no more…" Ashton muttered under his breath slowly walking away from dorm quietly. "I can't take this anymore…I won't let anyone suffer by Kurro's actions…even if I have to take him out myself."
/-/-//-/-/-/-/-/-/
Speaking of Kurro…
"Excellent…now that we've gotten the grades to increase," Kurro chuckled intertwining his fingers with his arms on his desk as he watched the picture on his computer light up. "I've gotten more people interested in this academy…more investors to pour more money into it…soon; very soon, I'll have more than enough to purchase my next academy…"
"Yeah, this is still really weird to me," Tao admitted scratching the back of his head in confusion. "Could you explain it to me again?"
"For the last time," Natalie sighed lowering her head and slapping her forehead. "I'm not explaining it! I swear you're worse than Chinto!"
"Hey! I take offense to that!" Chinto shouted stomping his foot into the ground.
"Shut up! All of you!" Zaku shouted getting everyone's attention drawn to him. "…Thank you…now then, Kurro, please continue."
"Uh, sure, thanks…" Kurro muttered a little confused as to how forceful Zaku was…a little out of his character. "Anyway, now that we're…damn it, I forgot what I was talking about."
Before anyone could get a word in, the doors to the office immediately opened up to reveal Ashton, his hair covering his eyes. "Kurro…we need to talk…"
A large smile appeared on Kurro's face as he stood up from behind his desk. "Why Ashton…why so dark today?"
"Kurro…you've used me," Ashton stated walking slowly towards Kurro's desk, cracking his fist and neck a few times. "I was okay with helping you to gain control of this academy…but what you told me a lie."
"I forgot what I talked about when I asked you to duel," Kurro admitted waving his hand in front of Ashton's face. "So…what do you want with that anyway?"
Lifting his left arm, Ashton activated his duel disk immediately, snapping it to activate. Then lifting up his dueling deck, Ashton lifted his head up to glare at Kurro. "I'll issue my challenge with my half of this academy's stock…"
"Since when did he have the stock of this academy?" Tao asked whispering to Chinto as Kurro began to search his desk.
"You're asking the wrong person," Chinto growled pushing Tao over to the side.
"Its quite simple really, after the first duel out program, Kurro had given a half of the stock for this academy," Zaku answered getting everyone to look at him as Kurro lifted up a duel disk to slip onto his arm and began to shuffle his deck. "Kurro still has half of the stock so he has a small joint ownership with Ashton. So Ashton is wagering his half in order to take over."
"I see…" Tao commented nodding slowly getting weird looks from everyone.
"You don't understand any of that do you?" Natalie asked with Tao looking straight forward.
"Yep!"
"Very well Ashton," Kurro chuckled slowly stepping in front of his desk, the smile never leaving his face. "I'll accept your little wager…however, if I win this little challenge, I'll only take one percent of your stock and you'll have to do one thing for me, no questions asked…"
"Fine…but not even you," Ashton growled nearly ripping his six cards off the top of his deck. "Will be able to calm my wrath!"
"…fool…" Kurro snickered looking at his hand…
/--//-/-/--//--/-//
The morning sun slowly pierced through the darkness that had a keen hold on the island. Slowly sitting up, Garu rubbed the back of his head. Sleeping on the room wasn't the brightest thing he's done so far…but, it was the dumbest thing in his opinion.
Looking in his right hand, Garu sighed at the sight of Zeff eye patch/headband and shook his head. "…I'm sorry…"
Slowly standing up, Garu didn't take in account the dew that had appeared on the roof, making him slip slightly. "WHOA!"
With a loud crash, Garu landed on his back on the rough ground, his face covered with a look of pain with his deck of cards and Zeff's headband scattered all about. "OW! My back! I landed on a rock!"
After a little screaming bloody murder, Garu had managed to stand up and gather all of the materials that had scattered about. With that arduous task out of the way, Garu slowly made his way to the unusually quiet cafeteria.
Looking left and right as he slowly sat down at his usual table, just to slam his head into the table. Garu couldn't even stand to eat, even though his stomach felt the exact opposite…
'GROWL'
"Please, shut up…" Garu moaned turning his head to the side with his eyes closed. "I know you've hardly eaten in the last week, but come on…cut me some slack…"
That's when a familiar aroma floated into his nostrils, making Garu's eyes snap open to see a bowl of ramen noodles being held in front of his face. Following the arm that held onto the bowl, Garu saw that none other than Yae was standing in front of him with a serious look on her face. "Here…you need to eat something…"
Sitting up straight, Garu turned his head to the opposite side, ignoring the growling stomach that kept tuning on him. "No thanks…not hungry…"
"Your stomach says otherwise," Yae replied sliding the bowl in front of Garu with a few chopsticks placed in the noodles. "Now eat it…"
"Oh yeah, and who's going to make me?" Garu asked forgetting who he was talking to…
"That's it!" Yae growled grabbing Garu by the back of his head and making him turn his head towards the noodles. "You're going to enjoy these now!"
"What the!?!"
"Stop squirming!"
"Let go of my head!"
"Why? You're not using it!"
After a couple of minutes and a few bruises applied to Garu's head, the ninja duelist was slowly enjoying the ramen noodles to his displeasure.
"Don't try to hide that pleasure," Yae commanded poking Garu in the side of his head.
"Maybe I wouldn't, if you didn't poke me in the head!" Garu spat out turning away from his noodles to look directly at Yae with a little peeved look written in his eyes.
"Yeesh, you two bicker like an old married couple…"
That little comment got both Garu and Yae to turn towards the side to see none other than Ayame standing in front of both of them with her arms crossed over her chest. She seemed to be standing on something that was an inch or more.
"What in the world?" Garu questioned looking down to see two circle-like machines that Ayame was standing on.
"What are you blathering on about?" Yae asked with a slight blush on her face.
"Oh, nothing," Ayame giggled covering her face slightly.
"Hey, can you tell me what those things are?" Garu asked pointing towards the two machines that Ayame was standing on with his chopsticks.
"Oh, these?" Ayame chuckled stepping off the machines and lifted them up. "These are robot vacuums…slash smart phones and mp3 players."
"…I have no idea what any of those things are," Garu admitted holding his head with a huge headache. "Technology and I don't get along so well…"
"Why are you riding them?" Yae asked, unlike Garu, she actually tried to keep up with the latest technological advances with the magazines that Takashi usually bought. "Aren't they just used for cleaning…or in this case, answering phones or listening to music?"
"Yeah, but it's more fun to ride them," Ayame answered placing the weird combined machines back on the floor. "Anyone want to give it a try? They also work as skates."
"Technology is getting weirder every single day," Garu muttered turning back to his ramen noodles.
"Garu will try it!" Yae announced making Garu spit out all of the noodles he had in his mouth.
"W-what!?!" Garu shouted standing up, only to be grabbed by both Ayame and Yae by the arms and get dragged onto the weird machines. "H-hey! Let me go!"
As soon as Garu's feet were planted onto the machines, Yae and Ayame released their grips making the machines react to his weight, going at a fast speed. "ARGH!!"
"Ayame…how do you stop those things?" Yae asked as Garu began to get out of control, slamming into the tables, chairs, any students that were in the cafeteria and the walls.
"…oh, that might be a little hard for Garu to do…" Ayame realized scratching the back of her head until a large crashing sound caught the to red girls' attention. "Garu! No! Not the kitchen!"
"I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE IN THE MATTER!" Garu screamed with the vacuum cleaners taking him into the kitchen.
Yae and Ayame cringed a few times with all of the crashes and screams that erupted from the kitchen. Then with a final crash and splash of some sort of liquid, a loud scream erupted from the kitchen. "AW CRAP! The ramen noodles burn!"
"…Okay…let's slowly walk away and not look back," Yae suggested walking backwards with Ayame following her in the same fashion.
/-/-//---//-/-/-//
"Now then …you've managed to entertain me for quite some time today," The winner yawned standing in front of the Loser. Everyone else was gone; the duel had lasted over many hours and had taken a toll over the two duelists.
…but in the end…
…Only one could remain standing…
Slowly, he fell backwards…his eyes dulling over with weariness and with the fact that he was immediately cut down from the duel.
"Its too bad…you could've been a lot better…"
Cracking his head a few times, the winner combed his hand through his graying white hair and chuckled slightly. "Hehe…too bad you had to do this Ashton…you would've earned this island as a gift for your hard work. Maybe if you redeem yourself, I'll return it to you…"
The sunlight catching his attention, Kurro yawned loudly and sat behind his desk to press the many buttons on his keyboard. "Well, no rest for the weary…I need to select who's getting to be sent into today's Duel Out Program..."
That's when a picture of a Slifer Red with spiky blue hair appeared on the screen with a goofy look on his face. "Hmm…I believe this is the guy that, um, what was his name again?"
Shaking his head a few times Kurro just chuckled a little bit. "Oh well…it's of no consequence. According to this duelist's stats, he's only lost to a few higher up duelists…but has won in quite a few matches…"
"Depending on his next duel, I may or may not enact duel out program with this punk…so I'll just have the computer watch for his duels. Hopefully…he'll duel soon."
/--//--/-/--/-/-/-/-/
After escaping the weird torture of Yae and Ayame, Garu was now quite a few yards away from the red dorm with towel around his shoulders. Now, he smelt exactly like chicken ramen noodles (not that he was complaining about that).
He was really complaining about his first degree burns he had to deal with and the change of clothes he had. Now Garu was wearing the original uniform that the academy provided. "Damn it…I really hate sleeves…"
"Now what's wrong with sleeves?"
Turning to the side, Garu noticed that he was in front of the Ra Yellow dorm, and as luck would have it for the ninja duelist Takashi and the T-Team were standing near the doors to the dorm building. "They're just so confining…you should know this better than anyone Takashi…"
"Ah, touché," Takashi chuckled lifting up his book. Then turning slightly away from his book, Takashi smiled at his T-Team. "You guys mind doing me a favor?"
"Sorry sir," Iruka and Vector answered at the same time lifting up picket signs up. "But we've got some plans to rebel with the top Ra Yellow student today!"
"…am I not the top?" Takashi asked raising an eyebrow at the two guys.
"You are, but we're talking about," Iruka started only to get jabbed in the ribs by Vector.
"You don't need to tell him that," Vector whispered while lifting his picket sign in front of him and Iruka's faces.
"Oh, right…" Iruka whispered back, getting a weird look from Gary, Takashi, and Kara. "So…we'll be seeing you guys later!"
After watching Iruka and Vector walk away into the distance, Takashi just blinked in confusion a few before looking down in his book. "Okay then…whatever…Kara, you mind taking Garu with you today?"
"Um, hello? Don't I get a choice in the matter?" Garu asked raising his hand up along with his eyebrow.
"No…" Takashi bluntly said crossing his arms. "If you don't, then I'll be forced to reveal the picture of you when you got…"
"OKAY!" Garu shouted jumping in front of Takashi to slap his hand over Takashi's smiling mouth. "Don't say anything more! I'll do anything!"
Kara just blinked in confusion, and was now curious what Garu could be trying to hide that he didn't want anyone else to know about it.
"Good…" Takashi chuckled evilly pulling back his head to look down into his book.
"Okay, I'll go with Kara," Garu sighed, making a sweatdrop appearing on the back of Kara's head. "Just get rid of the photo you have…"
"Nope, I've got previous blackmail for you and…well, a certain someone you know," Takashi snickered raising the book up a little higher to cover his face.
'They make it seem like spending time with me is a punishment,' Kara thought as the sweatdrop on the back of her head seemed to grow a little bigger.
"Well…its not like I'll be riding weird cleaning machines into a pot of Ramen noodles," Garu admitted getting weird looks from both Takashi and Kara.
"Huh?" Kara and Takashi questioned at the same time.
/-/-/-/-///-/-/--//
Back in Kurro's office, the head honcho was leaning back in his comfortable chair, his arms behind his head, feet up on his desk…
…and in the corner was none other than Ashton knocked out on the ground, his light snoring echoing through out the room.
"Sir!"
Kurro's reddened eyes; he immediately narrowed down at Chinto who had just closed the door behind him. "Chinto! I was up all night! All I asked was that people not bug me in my office today!"
"Well…better me than the angry mob charging down the halls to here," Chinto pointed out getting a puzzled look from Kurro.
"Angry mob?" Kurro questioned raising an eyebrow…his question was soon answered by the large slams made on the door to get both his and Chinto's attention. "Hmm…violent don't you think?"
"Sir…what exactly are we going to do about this?" Chinto asked stepping away from the door that was starting to show where it was getting hit.
"Hmm…I want you to get the ringleader…" Kurro answered sitting back in his chair again, slowly placing his arms behind his head. "Maybe I can use this to my advantage to determine something…"
"Wait…you want me to go out there?" Chinto asked turning his head towards the door. "But they'll rip me to shreds!"
"That's a risk I'm willing to take!" Kurro shouted glaring daggers at Chinto. "So if you don't want to wear your ass as a hat…I suggest you hurry up!"
"Ass hat…or pummeled?" Chinto questioned lifting his hands up like a scale, weighing both of his options. "Well…I don't want my hair to get messed up…fine. But, if I die, I'm going to haunt you for the rest of your life!"
Yeah, too bad I'm not skeptical about those kinds of things," Kurro sighed closing his eyes.
A few minutes later, Kurro was back awake and starring at the leader of the mob glaring at him. "Well this is a surprise…I didn't know we had people from your…culture, in this school…"
"Is that supposed to be a shot?"
"Oh, not at all miss," Kurro chuckled waving his hands in front of his head. "It just that this is a Japanese school and not an American…"
"It's a small world."
"Indeed," Kurro added with a smile on his face. "Anyway…you're the leader of that little mob that my beaten up friend over there says…"
Both Kurro and his guest turned over to the side to see Chinto rubbing the many bruises on his face. "That had to be illegal…"
"You're the one who tried attacking us."
"She got ya there Chinto," Kurro laughed turning back to his guest. "Anyway…Celine was it? I'll make you a deal…if you face a certain duelist and duel him, depending on how you duel…I'll may be willing to listen to your demands…"
"…sure. What's the unlucky sap's name?"
"…Honzou, Garu…"
/-/-//-/-/-///-/
"I didn't even know this place had a library," Garu stated in amazement carrying quite a few books in his arms. Apparently in the large fancy library, Kara had volunteered to organize some of the borrowed books, and now Garu was now.
"W-Well yeah, it's q-quite nice if you're looking for some a-alone time," Kara replied leading Garu while carrying even more books than the ninja duelist.
"I'll have to remember that," Garu whispered to himself. Maybe the next time that he wanted to skip out on another one of Satoshi's speeches or lectures, Garu could hide in here. It'd be perfect; no one would be able to connect that the ninja duelist would be hiding in a library.
"You sure you don't need any help carrying those books?"
Slowing down, Kara turned her head back to show a small smile on her face. "N-No, I've got it…we just need to watch out for the stairs…"
"Right…stairs…" Garu muttered trying to see by the side of the books to look forward just in time to see the stairs that Kara just mentioned. "Uh, not to be a bring down, but, you shouldn't carry that many books. I mean, couldn't you get off balanced…"
"I-its fine," Kara answered back as she started to descend the stairs.
Shrugging his shoulders, Garu slowly followed Kara down the stairs. When the two of them were halfway down the stairs…
"A-AH!"
"Kara!"
BOOM!
It would seem that Garu was right about Kara carrying too many books in her arms. She had lost her balance and that had caused her to fall down the stairs…
…As Kara opened her eyes, she was met with the floor…but she didn't have a bruise on her, just a very big blush on her face.
"Oh, my back…again…"
Garu had thrown all of his books into the air and grabbed a hold of Kara, rolling down the stairs taking the damage for Kara and ended up underneath her and on top of many books. "G-G-Garu…"
"My…what a fluffy scene…"
Both Garu and Kara turned up to meet a smirking face set directly at them both, making the blush on their faces grow larger. The person standing before them was a young girl, dressed in a more flashy Ra Yellow uniform. She had dark skin with her dark brown hair tied back in dreadlocks that went way past her shoulders. On her left arm was an axe like duel disk that had tribal markings on it.
Immediately, Kara just jumped off of Garu, holding her face to try to cover the blush that had covered her entire face. Garu on the other hand slowly stood up, rubbing his back. "Oh…what in the world happened…?"
"Hmm…I hate to ask this…" The Dreadlocked girl asked as Garu slowly stood up and dusted his clothes a little. "But wouldn't you happen to be Garu Honzou…would ya?"
"Oh…actually, I am," Garu answered cracking his neck a few times trying to relax.
"Well, this is just great," The dreadlock girl sighed crossing her arms over her chest. "I knew you were in red, but I at least thought you'd be a looker or a broad muscle man…what a disappointment…"
"What in the world are you getting at?" Garu asked narrowing his eyes at this girl who had no definition of the word politeness.
"Just as I say it…" the dreadlock girl chuckled shaking her head with her dreadlocks moving along with her head. "You're not what I was expecting at all in a red. When I was a first year, there were so many handsome men…but oh well, I can put away my petty differences to the side."
Snapping her left arm, the dreadlocked girl activated her duel disk up with the life point counter. "And get onto business! I am Celine. I'm here to duel ya."
"…uh, not that I'm not willing to duel," Garu started rubbing the side of this head trying to get rid of the bruise he received from the fall. "But why do you want to duel me?"
"…Let's just say it's for a just cause," Celine answered lifting another duel disk up from behind her and throwing it towards Garu. "If I win, then…well, I've spoken too much…"
That's when something clicked in Kara's mind, and she pointed towards Celine. "Uh, Garu, Celine happens to be…"
"Not…a…word…" Celine interrupted wagging her finger towards Kara. "Or, I'll send out that embarrassing note I found from your desk…"
Slapping her hand over her lips, Kara's blush just doubled again. Garu was just confused with how she was able to stand with so many blushes in her face as he slipped on his duel disk. "Okay…now then…I suppose I could manage a duel or two against you…"
"Excellent…soon I'll be able to keep my promise," Celine snickered lifting her duel disk up. "Ready yourself!" (CLP: 8000)
"I'm always ready!" Garu shouted snapping his new deck in. 'Now that I think about it…I never really got much of a chance to look at the cards that shorty gave me! This won't be good at all…' (GLP: 8000)
"Since you're a little hesitant…" Celine stated snapping her six cards from off her deck. "I hope you don't mind if I take the lead…I activate the spell card, Tribal Calling!"
With the spell card emerging onto the field, Garu raised an eyebrow at the picture. The card depicted a young Native American man looking up into a fiery sky. "…Okay…what in the world will this do?"
"My spell, allows me to take a certain monster from my deck," Celine answered popping out her deck out of her duel disk and fanned it out to look at all of the cards. "And I think I'll do just that…"
Taking the card from her deck, Celine didn't wait at all to slap the card onto her duel disk. From the card emerging on the field, a large dark skinned man walked from the card, his long dark hair blowing in an imaginary wind. His clothes resembled a tribal bearskin with multiple eagle feathers on his back. Over his chiseled chest, was a flowing best that had a black and blue triangle pattern on it that went past his light brown hide pants. Reaching behind his belt, the stern man lifted up two tomahawks that he immediately lifted into the air with a loud battle cry (1500/1200).
Garu was dumbfounded, he had never seen anyone like this in all his life before, but the monster did resemble Celine in skin tone and hair color. "Uh, okay…can I ask who this is?"
"I guess you wouldn't know the Tribal Guard if you saw one," Celine sighed looking at her hand and slipping it into her duel disk. "Oh well, you'll find out soon enough…I'll just set these two cards face down and end my turn."
As soon as the two cards appeared behind the stern Tribal Guard, Garu immediately snapped off his next card from his duel disk. Then looking over his six cards, Garu's eyes narrowed and widened a few times. 'Uh oh…not good at all. I don't what any of these cards can do!'
"Hey! What's the hold up over there?" Celine shouted getting Garu's attention.
"Have some patience!" Garu shouted lifting up a monster card from his hand. "…hope this works…I summon this!"
Slapping his card onto his duel disk, a small stream of dust swept onto the field allowing a new ninja to grace the field with a scowl on his face. The monster looked like drifter ninja with a small twig in his teeth, while his dark brown ninja suit had many leaves on it and multiple rips at the chest. His dirty brown hair was somewhat tied back into a small ponytail. On his back is a large saw like sword that the ninja drew with a bored look on his face (1550/1300). "My…Shikoro-Ken Shinobi! I think I said that right…"
Quickly shaking it off, Garu lifted his hand up towards the Tribal Guard. "But anyway, Shikoro-Ken! Attack the Tribal Guard!"
With a loud sigh, the saw-blade ninja ran towards the Native American warrior, spinning the blade in his hand as he jumped into the air and then immediately brought the blade down onto Tribal Guard's head…
…only to have a powerful vortex block the attack. "Sorry Ninja boy, but I get to block your attack with Negate Attack."
"Man…I really, really, REALLY, hate that trap card!" Garu growled slapping his face with his hand.
"W-w-well Garu, you could've used your monster's ability," Kara pointed out making Garu blink a few times.
Looking down at the card on his duel disk, Garu slowly read the card text and then slapped his forehead again. "Damn it!"
"Yeah, you should've used your ninja's ability to destroy a spell or trap card on the field," Celine chuckled with a large smile on her face.
Meanwhile at the second level of the library a familiar black cloaked teen with red clouds on it was watching the duel with quite a lot of interest.
"Well, well, well, Lucian, I didn't think you'd be back so soon…"
Not turning away from the duel, Lucian turned his eyes over to see Fomalhaut walking over to him with his arms crossed over his shoulders. "Hey there, Fomalhaut, I guess you've been enjoying your small amount of fame that has crossed your path this week…"
"Yeah, yeah…I suppose so," Fomalhaut replied narrowing his eyes down at the duel. "…Hmm…looks like Celine is still trying to put on that goody two shoes act…"
"Can't really blame her now can ya?" Lucian asked dully shaking his head a few time. "She's got that admirable loyalty thing to the friends she's got here."
"Oh, and I guess she'll turn on us too?" Fomalhaut asked watching as a face down card appeared behind Garu's ninja.
"No, we've struck a deal to leave her friends out of this," Lucian answered combing his hair back with his hand only to have it flow back in front of his face. "Too bad Kurro didn't have the same sense that we had as well…"
"Ya know, I'm getting a little bored with Kurro around here," Fomalhaut growled watching as Celine drew her next card from her deck with a little spin. "Can't we just kill the old fart and get on with our plans?"
"Of course not," Lucian sighed, a little appalled with his ally's violent nature. "The boss doesn't want the old fart dead…he's got a little something planned for him. But, you're welcome to help the little resistance that Celine's got going on."
"With those losers wearing red and yellow?" Fomalhaut growled slamming his fist into nearby wall. "Ha! You couldn't get me to join them if you gave me twenty million dollars!"
"That was just a little joke Fomalhaut," Lucian snickered allowing his cloak to flow over his body. "What you should do, is find the Die Hard Kaiser…or rather, I'd like you to find him." Reaching into his pocket, Lucian lifted up a small black envelope that had a red seal on the back of it to the Zodiac Duelist. "Deliver this to him…this will speed things up for your tastes."
"And where would I find the Kaiser?" Fomalhaut asked taking the envelope, slipping it into his jacket's chest pocket.
"Around the Obelisk Blue dorm," Lucian listed tapping the side of his head, trying to get all the possible areas where the Die Hard Kaiser would be. "Near the dueling arena, Ra Yellow Dorm, sometimes around the Red dorm…"
"How about I just check the girls' locker room?" Fomalhaut suggested turning around, just in time to miss the blush to appear on Lucian's face. "Depending on his attitude I could speculate that he'd wait outside the door…or is probably sneaking around in the air vents around there."
Lucian was quiet, lowering his head to hide the growing blush on his face thinking about some dirty things. Before he left, Fomalhaut turned around and shook his head at Lucian. "Great…your weakness is back…pick up a…"
"For the last time! I'm not buying one of those perverted mangas!" Lucian growled stomping his foot onto the ground.
"Shush! You're in the library," Fomalhaut chuckled walking away.
"Now then, back to our little duel…" Celine chuckled a little bit drawing her next card. 'Perfect…' Lifting up the newest card she drew, Celine slid the card into her duel disk creating a spell card onto the field. "I activate the continuous spell card, Frontline Base! Now, I can special summon one level four or lower union monster from my hand."
"…Union monster?" Garu asked turning towards Kara.
"It's a type of monster that can combine with another," Kara answered bluntly leaving Garu still a little confused.
"Well…that's a little help I guess…" Garu muttered as Celine lifted two cards from her hand.
"True…however…there are some instances that can change that little detail," Celine stated taking two cards from her hand and placing them onto her duel disk. "So I'll normal summon Wolf Spirit and Bear Spirit with Frontline Base."
From the ground, two large totem poles shot out from the ground, one a black and red bear like totem pole and the other a brown and blue wolf like totem pole (1000/1000 x2).
"…okay, these monsters are really confusing," Garu stated with multiple question marks appearing around his head.
"Allow me to make it less confusing," Celine stated waving her hand towards the two totem poles that began to form into red and blue light that flew into the Tribal Guard, creating a large amount of beastly features onto the Tribal Guard (1500/1300 + 300/300 + 300/300). "I equip both of my monsters to Tribal Guard!"
"I-in case y-you're wondering Garu, these Union monsters don't have a limit on how many union monsters can equip to a single monster" Kara explained getting a look from Garu.
"Well…I didn't know what a union monster was until a few minutes ago," Garu stated looking at the monster that was once the Tribal Guard. "But are they this bizarre?"
"Tribal Guard! Attack the ninja!" Celine shouted making the enraged warrior charge towards the ninja, pulling out the two tomahawks that he threw at high speed into the ninja, shattering the warrior instantly. (GLP: 7450)
"Well…that could've gone better," Garu commented not noticing that the Tribal Guard was standing in front of him. "…I'm starting to think that this won't be good…"
"Thanks to my bear spirit, my monster can attack once more by cutting his attack in half," Celine explained before the Tribal Guard slammed his claw covered fist into Garu's face, sending him stepping backwards a few feet. "What do you think?" (GLP: 6300)
Rubbing his face a little bit, Garu slowly stood up with an annoyed look on his face. "I'm a little confused…what am I supposed to think?"
"Just go on with your turn," Celine sighed shaking her head. "Boys…"
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Garu asked slowly drawing his next card. Then, snapping his fingers over his face down card, Garu's card flipped up depicting multiple Ninjas shooting off powerful flames from their hands. "I activate the continuous trap card, Ninjitsu Art – Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
"And what will that accomplish?" Celine asked raising eyebrow at the card.
"Simple…I activate the spell card, Summoning Jutsu!" Garu announced showing a ninja riding on top of large red toad. "Now both of us can special summon one level four or lower monster from our decks!"
"Fine by me, hun," Celine chuckled fanning out her deck of cards and immediately selected another card from her deck. "So I think I'll special summon Eagle Spirit (1000/1000)
From the ground emerged a large green and yellow totem pole that had many eagle indentations on it. While on Garu's field, a large cloud of smoke emerged, allowing a black clothed ninja to walk from it. The ninja had dark blue skin and red eyes, with his black hair branching out from the back of his mask (700/400).
"Then, I guess I'll special summon Shinobi Genin," Garu stated while looking at the card. "And, according to this monster's effect, I can special summon the other two from my deck to the field when he's special summoned…"
In two more puffs of black smoke, two more Shinobi Genin appeared on the field, allowing all three of the ninjas to jump into the air over Celine, performing multiple hand signs. "What in the…"
Then, breathing in deeply, the three ninjas fired three blasts of fire that crashed directly into Celine's body, making her shout out in pain. (CLP: 6500)
"Sorry, but apparently my trap inflicts five hundred points of damage to you whenever I special summon a ninja," Garu read out loud looking at the trap card on his duel disk.
"W-way to go G-Garu!" Kara cheered as all three of Garu's ninjas leapt back in front of him.
"Hmm…looks like that note is…" Celine moaned shaking her head to get the flames away from her.
"P-please stop!" Kara shouted with a large blush on her face.
Scratching the side of his head, Garu turned back to his hand and gazed at the cards while Celine continued to taunt Kara (who was blushing madly). "Okay…now then…I think I'll sacrifice one of the Genin for Ninja-Ken Shinobi!"
Performing a few hand signs, the ninja disappeared into a large cloud of smoke that immediately dissipated to show that the ninja had been through a drastic change. This ninja now resembled a scarred older ninja with a black cloth covering his face and samurai like ninja clothes with a dark colors on his muscular physique. His face (or what's showing) had multiple scars and his dark gray hair was tied back into a small ponytail that streamed down his back. In his right hand was a small sword that looked somewhat like a katana only longer (2200/1800). "And since he's stronger…Ninja-Ken! Attack the Tribal Guard, Blade of the Shadows!"
Lifting the sword into the air, the ninja immediately jumped into the air, disappearing into a dark shadow. Celine and Kara looked around, only to see the very katana that the Ninja-Ken Shinobi held be thrown from the shadows directly into the Guard's chest, creating a powerful surge of energy to fly from the guard's feet. (CLP: 6400)
When the ninja leapt back onto the ground, his katana returned from the energy that wrapped around his opponent's body and into his hands. "Heh, I guess that monster was only talk!"
"You'd think that wouldn't ya?" Celine asked as the energy died down to reveal an angry Tribal Guard (1800/1600).
"What the? How'd your monster…" Garu started with the same clichéd line.
"G-Garu, it was the union monster," Kara explained getting a blank stare from Garu. "By sending the Wolf Spirit to the graveyard, the Tribal Guard destruction is negated…"
"Thanks for the explanation," Celine thanked turning to Garu. "So…care to retract that overconfidence?"
Not even listening, Garu was looking over the other cards in his hand. "HEY! PAY ATTENTION TO ME!"
"…You say something?" Garu asked fitting another card into his duel disk to appear behind his three ninjas. "I'll end my turn…"
"Fine by me…" Celine stated drawing her next card. "Now then…I'll normal summon the Horse Spirit!"
The ground split open to reveal a large brown and red totem pole that extended next to the Eagle Spirit (1000/1000). "And next, I'll equip both of my spirits to my Tribal Guard!"
In two orbs of light, the two totems poles disappeared into the Tribal Guard's body, giving the young man eagle wings and a longer mane of hair (1800/1600 + 200/200 + 400/400), allowing the warrior to float gently over the field. "But he won't stay like that for long…by getting rid of the Horse Spirit; my monster can attack you directly!"
"Nani?" Garu questioned as the Tribal Guard leapt over all three of the ninjas that protected him, as well as the face down card. Then, taking another clawed fist to the face, Garu was driven to the ground with a few stars gleaming over his head. (GLP: 4100)
Then with an equally impressive back flip, the Tribal Guard (2200/2000) reappeared back on Celine's field with a back card appearing behind the tribal warrior. "Ah, is it over already? I was expecting at least a little more resistance…"
"Well…if the lady wants it…" Garu chuckled jumping back at his feet. Apparently he had just forgotten about his sorrows. "I'll show you a real meaning of resistance!"
"…y-you could have done better at that comeback…" Kara stated getting a large sweat drop to appear on the back of Garu's head.
"…It my lines, and I'll say them how I want it to," Garu replied slowly drawing his next card. "Like this! I summon Shinobi-Zue to the field!"
In a red cloud of smoke that erupted from the ground, a fiery red ninja suit wearing ninja with a white bandana covering his hair stepped from the smoke. In his hands was a long staff that seems to have blades kept inside of them that he spun in his hands (1200/900 + 300/0). The very presence of the warrior seemed to empower the other three ninjas on the field (2200/1800 + 600/0) (700/400 + 200/0 x2). "And my monster increases my other ninjas by one hundred points times their levels. But, now, it's time to unleash the dragon!"
Raising his staff up, the Shinobi-Zue revealed a large black aura flowing around his weapon that had a dragon shape on it (1500/900 + 1000/0). "The Black Dragon to be precise! And now…Shinobi-Zue! Attack the Tribal Guard!"
Jumping up into the air, the Shinobi-Zue leapt towards the Tribal Guard, slamming the end of his staff into the Guard's face, sending the monster skidding back into Celine. (CLP: 6100)
However, the Guard stood where he was (1800/1600) wiping some of the blood from his mouth. "Nice try, but my monster still stands thanks to the Eagle Spirit effect…"
"Not for long! Ninja-Ken! Finish the job!" Garu shouted as his ninja threw the long katana into the Guard's chest, making the monster shout in pain before shattering. "Hmm…I thought that last spirit would've protected him…"
"It does…only against spell or trap cards…" Celine replied pulling out her deck. "And speaking of spells…I can use the effect of Tribal Calling. Whenever my Tribal Guard bites the dust, I can take another Tribal monster and add it to my hand…"
Taking the card from her deck, Celine smiled and looked up to the second floor to see the piercing eyes that belonged to the cloak wearing Lucian who narrowed his eyes and shook his head. 'Oh you've got to be kidding me!'
"Not done by a long shot! Shinobi-Genin! Attack her directly!" Garu shouted as his two ninjas ran over to Celine's field and slammed their feet into her chest sending her to the ground. "Boo-ya!" (CLP: 4300)
"…s-still not t-that good Garu," Kara stated making Garu lowering his head a little bit with a large sweatdrop on his head.
"Why in the world do you keep doing that?" Garu asked turning his head towards Kara to narrow his eyes slightly.
"W-well, someone has to keep you in check…" Kara answered raising her hands up.
"Hello! Can I please go to my turn?" Celine asked grabbing Garu and Kara's attention.
"Sorry about that!" Garu laughed rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment as his Shinobi-Zue disappeared into his deck weakening all of his other monsters slightly. "Go right ahead!"
"Thank you," Celine sighed taking her next card. "Now then…I think I'll summon Tribal Hunter!"
In a flash of light, another tribal monster emerged onto the field, this one a more experienced looking man with a large bear skin tied over his body with a large spear in his hands (1700/1000). "And next…I'll use Frontline Base to special summon Trout Spirit!"
The ground shattered upwards like with the other Totem Poles, only this one was blue and green with trout like inscriptions on it (1000/1000). The totem pole disappeared into a blue light that flew into the Tribal Hunter (1700/1000 + 300/300). "And by equipping that spirit to my Hunter, he gains three hundred attack points…"
"Still not enough to take out my Ninja-Ken," Garu pointed out with his ego growing larger.
"That's why I'm equipping my Hunter with the Tribal Tomahawks!" Celine chuckled as her Hunter's spear was replaced with two large Tomahawks (2000/1300 + 300/0). "And now…slice and dice that Ninja-Ken!"
Disappearing into a bright light, the hunter leapt forward and slammed both of the tomahawks into the surprised Ninja Ken, making the warrior scream in agony as it shattered into pixels. (GLP: 4000)
'No worries…I've still got my two Shinobi Genin out…' Garu thought with a small smile on his face.
"Thinking your other ninjas are safe?" Celine asked with a smile on her face as well noticing the surprised look that now appeared on Garu's face. "Well think again red, I can get rid of the Trout Spirit and my Hunter can attack again!"
The blue light flowed out of the hunter, as the warrior charged at one of the Shinobi Genin, slicing down straight the middle of the warrior. (GLP: 2700)
"Okay…not good at all…" Garu chuckled with the Hunter jumping back to Celine's field.
"Hmm…and with that, I'll end my turn red," Celine stated playing with her hair.
Slowly drawing his next card, Garu just gazed at the text of the weird spell card. Then with a slight raise of his eyebrow, Garu spun the card into his duel disk. "Well, I guess I'll activate the spell card Ninjas for Hire!"
Sliding the rest of his hand into his graveyard, Garu's weird spell card emerged onto the field, depicting three ninjas accepting a scroll from a civilian. Then three cards shot out of Garu's deck and onto the field, each of them forming into three clouds of red smoke…
"By discarding all cards in my hand, I can special summon three monsters with the same name and increase their attack points by five hundred points," Garu explained as the clouds of smoke dissipated to show three Shinobi-Zue Ninjas (1300/900 + 500/0 + 900/0 x3) appeared each of them spinning their staves in the air empowering the Shinobi Genin (700/400 + 600/0) as well. "And since my Shinobi-Zue Ninjas empower each other, they're even more of a match for your monster!"
"I'd like to se you try," Celine challenged as all three of Garu's ninjas leapt into the air. "Huh?"
"Seems like someone forgot about my trap card," Garu pointed out motioning over to his Ninjutsu Art – Phoenix Flower Jutsu as all three of his ninjas began to perform multiple hand signs, unleashing many flames into Celine's body. "You take five hundred points of damage right off the bat!"
As the flames died down, Celine threw her arm to the side to show the life point counter on her arm slowly dropping. "I-it'll take a lot more than that…" (CLP: 2800)
"Then allow me to continue!" Garu shouted throwing his hand towards the Tribal Hunter making all three of his Shinobi-Zue Ninjas leapt into the air. "Shinobi-Zue! Knock out the Tribal Hunter!"
The powerful ninja slammed his staff directly into two weapons of the Hunter who had them shattered into pixels instead of him (1700/1000). "Sorry, but thanks to the Tribal Tomahawks, they take the hit for my monster…" (CLP: 2100)
"You're still forgetting, that I still have a few more attacks," Garu stated with a smile on his face as his other three ninjas leapt into the air. The second Shinobi-Zue slammed his foot into the Hunter's face, sending the monster back into the ground. While the third Shinobi-Zue slammed its spinning staff into Celine's stomach sending her to the ground as her life point counter began to dwindle. (CLP: 0)
"And that's how ya win!" Garu shouted lifting his fingers up in a victory sign.
"Y-You could at least be a better sport about it," Kara stated making Garu fall to the ground out of embarrassment.
"Ah come on! Why can't I ever gloat?" Garu asked rubbing his back, it was still a little sore.
The two didn't notice that the holograms began to disappear along Celine with them, but Lucian on the other hand…he was smiling as he slowly walked down from the second flight of stairs. 'I'm sorry Celine…but, in order for BB's plan to continue, we need to draw out the best from Kurro…and this red happens to be a part of that…especially since my hidden camera in Kurro's office explained what would happen…'
Just as Lucian walked behind Garu and Kara, the two looked back to where Celine was and were completely confused. "Hey Kara…where'd Celine go?"
"I-I don't know…" Kara replied immediately noticing that Garu had his nose up in the air.
"Well now! I guess she got scared and ran away!" Garu laughed loudly with his ego and head growing with pride.
…Shaking his head, Lucian couldn't help but smile at the Ninja duelist's behavior. 'We'll see how long that attitude lasts…if everything that I have predicted comes to pass…your next match will change everything for you…'
Then with Lucian's leave, Garu smiled at Kara and laughed loudly. "Ya know Kara…I'm glad I came here today."
A slight blush emerged on Kara's face with Garu's thanks. "W-well…you did help me a lot…"
"I kinda wish that my back didn't hurt," Garu sighed lowering his head while rubbing his back. "I could've had more fun against those weird cards…"
"W-well, you should know that dueling in the library is against the rules," Kara stated getting a small surprised stare from Garu.
"…and you didn't tell me this sooner?" Garu asked with a little confusion.
"I-I tried to…" Kara replied.
"Oh well…I doubt anyone will know about it…" Garu sighed with a little relief with his breath.
Meanwhile in Kurro's office…
"He won?" Kurro read off his computer rubbing his chin. "This kid must be quite the intimidator pull that off…"
"Oh Ashton! Remember that little favor I asked you for?"
/-/--/--//-//-/-/
Card Stats
Tribal Guard / Earth / LV. 4 / ATK: 1500 / DEF: 1200 / Beast-Warrior: A young man connected to the very earth. When his family was slain, he took up his arms in order to protect the very land the spirits entrusted him and his family with.
Description: A young tanned skinned, long dark gray haired man wearing a tribal bearskin with multiple feathers on the back. His blue and black triangle vest goes down his light brown hide pants. At the back of his belt is a pair of tomahawks.
Tribal Hunter / Earth / LV. 4 / ATK: 1700 / DEF: 1000 / Beast-Warrior: A man devoted to his love of nature. He only takes what he needs…nothing more, nothing less.
Description: An experienced tanned skinned man with wild dark hair wearing a tribal bearskin with multiple arrowheads tied around his neck. With a large bearskin cloak draped over his body has a spear at his back.
Trout Spirit / Water / LV. 3 / ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1000 / Fish/Union: Once per turn, during your Main Phase, if you control this card on the field, you can equip it to a face up 'Tribal' monster on your side of the field as an equip card, OR unequip the union monster and special summon this card in face up attack position. While equipped to a monster increase the attack and defense of the equipped monster by 300. By sacrificing this card when it is equipped to a monster, the monster may attack twice during the battle phase. (If the equipped monster is destroyed as a result of battle, destroy this card instead.)
Description: A blue and green trout totem pole.
Bear Spirit / Fire / LV. 3 / ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1000 / Beast/Union: Once per turn, during your Main Phase, if you control this card on the field, you can equip it to a face up 'Tribal' monster on your side of the field as an equip card, OR unequip the union monster and special summon this card in face up attack position. While equipped to a monster increase the attack and defense of the equipped monster by 300. If the equipped monster successfully destroyed a monster as a result of battle the equipped monster may attack again with half of its attack points. (If the equipped monster is destroyed as a result of spell or trap card, destroy this card instead.)
Description: A large black and red bear totem pole.
Eagle Spirit / Wind / LV. 3 / ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1000 / Winged-Beast/Union: Once per turn, during your Main Phase, if you control this card on the field, you can equip it to a face up 'Tribal' monster on your side of the field as an equip card, OR unequip the union monster and special summon this card in face up attack position. While equipped to a monster increase the attack and defense of the equipped monster by 400. (If the equipped monster is destroyed as a result of battle, destroy this card instead.)
Description: A small green and yellow eagle totem pole.
Wolf Spirit / Earth / LV. 3 / ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1000 / Beast/Union: Once per turn, during your Main Phase, if you control this card on the field, you can equip it to a face up 'Tribal' monster on your side of the field as an equip card, OR unequip the union monster and special summon this card in face up attack position. While equipped to a monster increase the attack and defense of the equipped monster by 300. When the equipped monster destroys a monster as a result of battle, negate the effect of the destroyed monster. (If the equipped monster is destroyed as a result of battle, destroy this card instead.)
Description: A brown and blue wolf totem pole.
Horse Spirit / Earth / LV. 3 / ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1000 / Beast/Union: Once per turn, during your Main Phase, if you control this card on the field, you can equip it to a face up 'Tribal' monster on your side of the field as an equip card, OR unequip the union monster and special summon this card in face up attack position. While equipped to a monster increase the attack and defense of the equipped monster by 200. By sending this card as an equip card from the equipped monster to the graveyard, the former equipped monster may attack your opponent's life points directly this turn. (If the equipped monster is destroyed as a result of battle, destroy this card instead.)
Description: A brown and red horse Totem Pole.
Tribal Calling / Spell / Effect: Add one 'Tribal Guard' from your deck to your hand. As long as this card is in the graveyard, whenever a face up 'Tribal' monster is destroyed, you may add one level four or lower 'Tribal' monster from your deck to your hand. When this effect is used twice, remove this card from play.
Image: The Tribal Guard looking up into a fiery sky.
Shinobi Genin / Dark / LV. 2 / ATK: 700 / DEF: 400 / Warrior/Effect: This card is considered to have 'Ninja' in its name. When this card is special summoned, you may special summon two 'Shinobi Genin' from your hand, deck or graveyard.Description: A black clothed ninja with dark blue skin and red eyes, its pitch-black hair is flying wildly into the air.
Shinobi-Zue / Dark / LV. 3 / ATK: 1200 / DEF: 900 / Warrior/Effect: This monster is considered to have 'Ninja' in the card's name. As long as this card remains face up on the field, increase the attack of all face up monsters with 'Ninja' in the card's name by 100 points times the number of stars on each monster.
Description: A fiery red ninja suit wearing ninja with a white bandana covering his hair. In his hands is a long staff that seems to have blades kept inside of them.
Shikoro-Ken Shinobi / Earth / LV. 4 / ATK: 1550 / DEF: 1300 / Warrior/Effect: This monster is considered to have 'Ninja' in the card name. Once during your main phase, you may destroy one spell or trap card on the field. This monster cannot attack the turn this effect was used.
Description: A drifter like ninja with a small twig in his teeth, his dark brown ninja suit has many leaves on it and has multiple rips at the chest. His dirty brown hair is some what tied back into a small ponytail. On his back is a large saw like sword.
Ninja - Ken Shinobi / Dark / LV. 6 / ATK: 2200 / DEF: 1800 / Warrior/Effect: This monster's effect can only be used once per turn during your opponent's battle phase. Negate one monster attack against a monster with 'Ninja' in the card's name and decrease your opponent's life points by half of the attacking monster's original attack points.
Description: A scarred older ninja with a black cloth covering his face and samurai like ninja clothes with a dark colors on it. His face (or what's showing) has multiple scars and has his dark gray hair tied back into a small ponytail going down his back. In his right hand is a small sword that looks somewhat like a katana.
Ninjitsu Art – Phoenix Flower Jutsu / Continuous Trap / Effect: Whenever you special summon a monster with 'Ninja' in it's name, inflict 500 points of damage to your opponent's life points.
Image: Multiple ninjas firing off multiple flames from their hands.
Ninjas for Hire / Spell / Effect: Discard your entire hand to activate this card's effect. Special summon three level four or lower monsters from your deck with 'Ninja' in their names. Increase the attack of all monsters special summoned by 500 points. During each of your standby phases, destroy one of the monsters you special summoned with this card's effect.
Image: Three ninjas accepting a scroll from a civilian.
/--//-//--//-/
Garu: Well that was a lame duel…
Cain: Don't get cocky. You don't know what may happen…
Garu: Blah, blah, blah. I can beat anyone!
Cain: …Then how to explain Mustang, Vergil and me?
Garu: Uh…bad luck?
But will that luck strike again next time? Find out – Chapter 22: Iron Sol
??-??-??: I'm sorry…but I don't have a choice in doing this…