Vile: Hey guys, Vile here with Chapter 4 of Numbershot 37. The others aren't with me this time, but that's aside the point. I'm sure all of you realize that the FanFiction admins are planning an overhaul of the site, getting rid of stories that have content they deem "unacceptable". For a site that advertises "Unleash your Imagination", nothing should be unacceptable since nothing in the imagination is unacceptable. To anyone who reads this chapter, go to my profile, follow the link on the top of it (I put the notice in bold print so you can't miss it), and sign the petition to stop the overhaul of the site. If we rally together, we can keep this site a haven for all of our ideas.
All right, that's my pep rally for the day. Enjoy the chapter!
Numbershot 37: Unhealthy Competition
Chapter 4
The school's principal had called an end to classes for the day until the incident had passed over. Everyone was told to be on the look-out for the hooded figure, and to report him in if anyone saw him. Yuma and his friends were discussing their plan of action, Astral having materialized from the Key. "All right, so that's the plan. Me, Tetsuo, and Astral will check the outside grounds, Shark, Ariel, and Sei will check the first floor, and Kotori, Takashi, and Cat-chan will check the second floor." Everyone agreed.
"Be careful, Yuma." Kotori told him. Yuma nodded, and the three groups separated.
*Two Hours Later* *With Shark's group*
Shark looked around inside one of the classrooms, checking if anyone was hiding in there. "I got zilcho in here!" He called. "Any luck with you?"
"I got nothing." Ariel called back.
"Hey guys, I think I found something that's gonna make things harder." Sei told them. Shark and Ariel left the rooms they were in to see Sei holding a black hooded sweatshirt.
"Is this the culprit's hoodie?" Ariel asked.
"I don't know, but a few witnesses said the hood was black, so this may very well be it." Sei replied.
Shark grimaced. "Great. We gotta report this in to the others." He and Ariel fished out their D-Gazers and began dialing.
*With Kotori's group*
Kotori's D-Gazer rang, and she picked up. "Kotori, there's a wrench in the plan." Ariel said on the other end. "We found a hooded sweatshirt in a garbage can. This means our culprit might have ditched the only clue we had to him. Shark-kun's already telling Yuma and Tetsuo. Please, be careful."
"All right. Arigatou, Ariel-chan." Kotori said, the transmission cutting out.
"Nya… Now what do we do?" Cathy sighed.
"Inchou! Kotori-chan! Cat-chan!" A frantic voice called. They turned and saw Taichi running at them, panting when he made it to them.
"What's wrong, Taichi-kun?" Takashi asked.
Once he got his breath back, Taichi spoke. "I heard Ariel-chan talk about the black hoodie! There's only one person in the whole school who has one!"
"Nani?" Kotori cried.
*With Yuma's group* *Five Minutes before Taichi finds the group*
"Not the news I wanted to hear." Yuma said, hanging up after Shark informed him that the culprit possibly ditched his hoodie.
"No joke. What does that leave us with? Nothing!" Tetsuo griped as the two of them walked around the grounds. However, next thing they knew, Tetsuo had bumped into someone. "Oh!"
"Watch where you're going, you lard tub." The grumpy voice was familiar, as it could only belong to Haiga.
"Haiga? What are you still doing here?" Yuma asked. "Haven't you heard about what's going on?"
"Of course I have, idiot. I'm already sick, so why should I be worried?" Haiga grumbled. "Whatever's making everyone here sick wouldn't do a thing to me."
'Yuma, perhaps he could help us in our search.' Astral said to him mentally. 'If he won't be affected by the Number's power, he could scout out the culprit.'
'It's worth a shot, I guess.' Yuma thought back. "Hey, Haiga. Since the culprit can't get you sick, maybe you could help us find him!"
Haiga raised an eyebrow. "And just why would I help you?" He asked, pointing at Yuma on the last word.
"Because people would respect you for finding him, since you apparently get no respect from people." Tetsuo said, being sarcastic on "apparently".
Haiga scoffed. "Don't get smart with me, pal. Fine, I'll help you on one condition." He pointed at Tetsuo. "Duel me. You win, I help you. I win, you bug off."
"Okay…" Tetsuo breathed. "Are you sure you're all right enough to Duel? You being sick and all?"
"Who on Earth do you think you're asking?" The sick boy growled. "I'm perfectly capable of Dueling in my state! Now do you want my help or not?"
"Heh, fine." Tetsuo said, readying his gear.
*With Kotori's group* *Current Time*
Everyone gasped at what Taichi said. "Wait! HAIGA'S the only one with a black hoodie?" Cathy asked.
"Yeah! No one else ever wore one through the year!" Taichi replied.
"But if Haiga's the only one with a black hoodie, and the culprit wore a hood…" Takashi began before gasping. "Then to summarize, Haiga's the one who's been making everyone sick!"
"Kotori!" A voice yelled frantically that only Kotori could hear. The greenette turned and saw a panicked Astral. "Kotori, this is bad! The Number! It… It got Yuma and Tetsuo!"
Kotori gasped. "No, not Yuma!" She said suddenly, making the others look at her. "We've gotta hurry! Come on!" She ran down the halls, the other three students right behind her. 'Astral, where are they?'
'The central field outside! Hurry!' Astral told her mentally. Kotori led the group out the doors to the central field and gasped. Tetsuo was out cold on the ground, and Yuma was struggling to stay on his hands and knees, coughing and sneezing. Standing in front of him was Haiga, who stood with a sick smirk on his face, a cloud of pink particles floating around him.
"Yuma! Tetsuo-kun!" Kotori cried, fearful.
"Ahhhh, hah hah hah hah hah hah." Haiga laughed at the struggling Yuma, who finally collapsed. "Who's the sick one now? Now do you see how strong I am?"
"Haiga!" Kotori yelled angrily, making the sick boy look at her.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't this chump's friends." Haiga said. "Care to join these two on the recovery beds?" As he said this, a pink "37" glowed on his neck.
"The Number! It is him!" Sei cried.
"Why are you doing this, Haiga?" Takashi asked.
"Because I finally can, that's why." The ill boy replied. "I've been sick of you healthy scum walking around like you own the world, so with my new power, I'll strike you all with my condition and make you see who is truly strong!"
Shark and Ariel had caught up with them, and had heard what he said. "You little bastard!" Shark growled.
"Call me what you want. Sticks and stones. Now then… line up for your trip to the sick bay!"
Kotori walked over to Yuma, taking the Emperor's Key from his neck and holding it tightly. "…I won't let that happen. I'll defeat you, and make you pay for what you did to Yuma!"
"Heh! I would love to see you try!" Haiga jeered.
"Guys, get Yuma and Tetsuo to the infirmary. Now!" Kotori told them. Shark and Takashi grabbed hold of Tetsuo's arms to drag him to the infirmary, while Taichi picked up Yuma and left as well. Cathy and Sei stayed behind. "Yuma… I'll defeat this Number for you! Duel Disk, set!" Kotori's D-Pad lay ready on her arm. "D-Gazer, set!" Her lens flashed orange.
"Heh heh heh heh heh heh… Duel Disk, set!" Haiga pulled out a standard D-Gazer, placing it on his wrist. "D-Gazer, set!" The pink particles clouded around his left eye, changing his iris to the same pink and making it flash. Black tattoo lines spread out from the eye, forming a D-Gazer.
"AR VISION, LINK ESTABLISHED." Both players' D-Gazers flashed, as well as the spectators'. "ESTABLISHING LINK BETWEEN A AND B." The area morphed into the augmented reality.
"Prepare to fall sick, you healthy piece of scum!" Haiga jeered.
"DUEL!"
Vile: Yuma and Tetsuo are down with No. 37 cancer (dang, Yin-Yang Yo-Yo rubbed off on me XD), and Kotori's stepped up to battle. What could Haiga hold to cause such sickness? Find out in the next chapter. If you guys liked this chapter, leave a review for me! Make sure you go to the link of my profile and sign the petition, if you haven't already! Later!
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