Episode 3: 913 Kaixa

"Miss Duel Academy?" Yumi blinked.

It was another day in Duel Academy. Classes to attend, tests to pass, and duels to win. However, today was a little different.

"That's right." Yuji answered. "It's an activity cooked up by Duel Academy back in the day. Select female students are judged based on grades, popularity, beauty, and dueling skills. It's basically a beauty contest on a bigger scale."

"Wow," Yumi breathed. "So what are we waiting for, Yuji-sempai? Let's go check it out!" She took Yuji's hand and they head for the auditorium.

"Yumi! No need to run!" Yuji laughed.

In the auditorium, alls the students have gathered. Many of them are talking amongst themselves, wondering who would be this year's "Miss Duel Academy."

"So, who do you think's gonna be Miss Duel Academy?"

"No idea!"

"Oh, this is so exciting!"

Comments like these echoed through the room. At this time a male student, with an armband around his left arm saying, "Pageant Executive Committee," came to the stage with a microphone in hand.

"NOW! IT'S TIME FOR THIS YEAR'S MISS DUEL ACADEMY!" the MC announced.

The crowd cheered like thunder.

"OUT OF OUR ALL-STUDENT-VOTE, THESE FIVE HAVE MADE IT TO BE OUR FINAL NOMINEES!"

Spotlights flash upon the stage revealing a tall, red-haired girl with blue eyes, one with a blond ponytail and green eyes, Rachel, and Yuki standing side by side. Each of them wore a button numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively.

"Rachel-sempai and Yuki-sempai were nominated too?!" Yumi gasped.

"Rachel's very popular with all the students since last year," Yuji answered. "And Yuki's quiet demeanor is unique to many of the students."

"WE WILL DETERMINE, RIGHT HERE AND NOW, WHICH AMONG THESE LADIES WILL BE MISS DUEL ACADEMY! WHICH ONE OF THEM WILL OBTAIN THE QUEEN'S CROWN?!" MC then gestured to the raven-haired girl. "IF I COULD HAVE YOUR ATTENTION ON STAGE FOR OUR QUEEN FOR TWO YEARS STRAIGHT, HEBISA AKANE-SAN! WILL SHE BE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE FEAT OF SCORING A THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR?!"

The crowd erupted in cheers again.

"NOW THEN, THE POLL RESULTS ARE IN!! I'LL ANNOUNCE THE WINNER!"

The lights shut down, leaving nothing but darkness.

"WITH 198 VOTES! ENTRY NUMBER..." the light shines down on Akane. "NUMBER 1! THIRD YEAR OBELISK BLUE...HEBISA AKANE-SAN!!"

Applause rings throught the auditorium.

"HER THIRD CONSECUTIVE RUN IS CLIN..." all the lights come on. "ched. Oh wait, sorry, I've made an error!! Mercy me! There's someone else with the SAME number of votes!!"

"Huh?" Akane blinked.

"THE SECOND YEAR STUDENT OF CLASS-A!!" A light shines on an empty space on stage. "JASMINE ATLAS-SAN...HUH?"

"What did you say?!" Akane exclaimed

"Entry number 5? You have a total of 198 votes. Atlas-san?" the MC called.

Everyone in the audience, including Yumi, were baffled by this turn of events.

'Who saw this coming...' Yuji wondered sarcastically.

"Hey, hold on! Let go! Let go, I say!"

The audience turns towards the far end of the stage to see Jasmine being pulled up by a couple of girls from the committee.

"Ah! There she is," the MC said. "Atlas-san, tell us how you feel."

"To be honest," Jasmine sighed, "I don't care for this sort of thing."

Dead silence rang through the room..."EHHHH?!?!?!" everyone except Yuji, Rachel, Yuki, Shizuru, and Natsuki exclaimed.

"You can't be serious!!" Akane exclaimed.

"Note serious face," Jasmine pointed to herself. "This is just some stupid event cooked up by some fan boys way back when. Why the hell should I care about beauty in a duel school? This school is about dueling, that's it!"

"Well said, Jasmine,"Yuki nodded.

"Thanks, Yuki," Jasmine smiled.

"Well," Akane smirked. "If that's how you fell, then why don't we duel?"

"Duel?"

"That's right! This is a dueling school, after all. Why not find out who's deserving of "Miss Duel Academy" with a duel?"

"Isn't that logic a little twisted?" Yumi asked Yuji.

"Jasmine and Akane-sempai have somewhat of a heated relationship. Akane-senpai sees Jasmine as an upstart rival," Yuji explained.

"Oh, I see..." she sweat-dropped.

"Fine," Jasmine sighed heavily. "Let's get this over with."

"OK," the MC began. "This is a duel between Jasmine Atlas and Hebisa Akane! The winner of this duel shall be crowned MISS DUEL ACADEMY!!"

The crowd cheers.

"Well, if the challengers are ready...LET'S DUEL!!!!!!!!!" The crowd cheers.

"DUEL!" the girls called.

Jasmine: 4000

Akane: 4000

Music - Duel 1 (Tag Force 4)

"Watashi no turn!" Akane declared as she drew her card. "I'll Summon Venom Cobra (100/2000) in DEF Mode." She placed a card onto her Duel Disk and a giant cobra, with stone-like scales, appeared on the field and hissed at Jasmine as it coiled itself defensively. "I'll set 2 cards and end my turn."

"Watashi no turn!" Jasmine said as she drew her card. "I play the Spell Foolish Burial, twice, and send two monsters from my deck to the Graveyard. Jasmine searched through her deck and sent two "X-Saber" monsters to the Graveyard. "Next, since I have two "X-Saber" monsters in my graveyard, I'll special summon XX-Saber Gardestrike (2100/1400) from my hand!" She played her card and a tiger-like warrior emerged from a portal of light, wearing green armor and a red cape. "Battle! Gardestrike, destroy Venom Cobra! X Strike!" Gardestrike dashed toward the giant cobra and performed an X shaped slash, causing the snake to shatter.

"Trap Card, open!" Akane called. "Snake Whistle! Since you destroyed my cobra, I can special summon a Level 4 Reptile-type monster from my deck. So, say hello to Venom Snake (1200/600)!" A brown snake with bladed spikes appeared and hissed at Jasmine.

"I'll set 2 cards and end my turn." Jasmine inserted her card into her Duel Disk and the card floated above the ground.

"Draw! I'll activate my snake's monster effect, which let's me add a Venom Counter to your monster!" The snake rushed at Gardestrike and bit the beast in the arm causing a bad looking bruise. "Next I play the Spell, Snake Rain! I discard a card and send 4 Reptile-type monsters from my deck to the Graveyard." Akane discarded her card and sent more monsters to the graveyard pile. "Next I'll release my snake to Advance Summon Venom Boa!" The snake turned into an orb of multi-colored light and changed into a giant blue snake with two normal eyes and one an extra in between. The beast gave off a low growl mixed with a hiss.

Yumi shuddered, "That's just gross..."

"I take it you don't like snakes?" Yuji asked.

"I'm not much of a fan of snakes..."

Change Music - Tough Situation 2 (Tag Force 4)

"Next, comes my Boa's effect which adds 2 Venom Counters!" The boa slithered over to Gardestrike and took a bite of its leg, causing some ugly swelling. "Next comes the field spell, Venom Swamp!!" Akane set her Spell Card into her Duel Disk and and dark red liquid began oozing out of the floor, covering Jasmine and Akane's feet. Dark, dead trees also appeared on the field.

Yumi was getting nervous and held onto Yuji's arm out of fear. "OK, this is getting a little too realistic!"

"Like the scenery?" Akane grinned, "Cuz this field drops the ATK of monsters, that have Venom Counters, by 500 for each counter.

XX-Saber Gardestrike: (600/1400)

"Too bad your serpent can't attack this turn," Jasmine stated.

Akane smirked, "Who says I need my Boa to attack? I play the Spell Card, Last Will! It lets me Special Summon a monster from my Deck with 1500 ATK at most, once a monster was sent to the Graveyard this turn. So I'll summon Vennominon the King of Poisonous Snakes (0/0)!" A giant humanoid snake, with snakes for arms and dark robes, appeared before the students in all its glory. Many students gasped and others were down-right creeped out. "Check out his effect! He gains 500 ATK for each Reptile in the Graveyard!

Vennominon the King of Poisonous Snakes: 2500/0

"Battle!" Akane declared, "Vennominon will attack Gardestrike! Dark Constriction!" Vennominon obeyed his mistress and launched his snake arms at the X-Saber monster and they coiled tightly around it and it shattered into shards of light.

Jasmine: 2100

"Jasmine-senpai!" Yumi gasped.

"Don't worry, Yumi," Yuji assured.

"But..."

"OK," Rachel mumbled, "This is getting annoying... Hey, Jazzy-chan! Stop screwing around and get your ass in gear!"

"Bite me!" Jasmine shot back. "I know what I'm doing!"

Akane grinned, "Well I guess I'll end my turn and let you squirm a bit."

Jasmine smirked, "Good, cuz i activate Mystical Space Typhoon!" The face down card revealed itself and project a strong wind, wiping out the field spell.

"You bitch..." Akane growled.

Change Music - In Advantage 2 (Tag Force 4)

"Watashi no Turn! Draw! I summon another Gardestrike!" Another Gardestrike appeared on the field. "Next, I activate Gottoms' Emergency Call to Special Summon two "X-Saber" monsters from my Graveyard. I call forth XX-Saber Fulhelmknight (1300/1000) and XX-Saber Faultroll (2400/1800)!" Jasmine's warriors now stood by her side, their swords drawn and ready for battle.

"Yeah!" Rachel called. "That's what I'm talkin' about!"

"Looks like it's over," Yuji sighed.

"What do you mean?" Yumi blinked.

"Jasmine's going to win," Yuki pointed out.

"I tune my Level 6 Faultroll with my Level 3 Fulhelmknight!" Fulhelmknight raised his sword to the air and he turned into 3 green rigs of light the danced in the air. Faultroll leaped into the air and glided through the rings and became transparent as 6 orbs of light revealed themselves. Jasmine began to chant, "Oh noble soul in diamond clad armor, raise thy sword and crush thine enemies! Synchro Summon! Fight for justice, XX-Saber Gottoms(3100/2600)!" The orbs then became engulfed by a pillar of light. A giant warrior, covered in silver armor and wearing a red cape towered over the arena! It cast a steely glare down on Akane and she began to sweat in her stance.

(A/N: The Synchro Summon chants are in Japanese)

"That thing is HUGE!" Yumi gasped.

"That's what she said!" Rachel joked.

"That thing is HUGE!" Akane gasped.

"Don't think I'm done," Jasmine grinned. "I play the Spell Card, Soul Release and remove your five Reptiles from your Graveyard!"

"What?!" The Venom monsters popped out of Akane's Graveyard pile, causing Vennominon's ATK to drop.

Vennominon the King of Poisonous Snakes: (0/0)

"Oh shit!" Akane cursed.

"The final card," Jasmine said, "I play United We Standand equip it to Gottoms!" Gottoms became empowered by the Equip Spell his mistress bequeathed to him as his body began to glow with a violet aura.

XX-Saber Gottoms: (4700/4200)

"Battle!" Jasmine declared. "Gardestrike attacks Venom Boa! X Strike!" Gardestrike sprinted toward the boa and slashed at it its fore arm blade, slicing the snake head off and it shattered like glass.

Akane: 3500

"The finish. Gottoms, destroy Vennominon! Grand Slash!" Gottoms obeyed its mistress and raised its mighty sword. It swung down with incredible force and chopped the snake king clean in half, also causing a shock wave in the process that shook the arena.

Akane: 0

End Music

"Game over," Jasmine said as she walked away, with Gottoms following after her and fading out of view.

"AND IT"S OVER!!" the MC announced. "THIS YEAR'S MISS DUEL ACADEMY IS OUR DUELING KNIGHT, WITH AN X ON HER CHEST, JASMINE ATLAS!!!!!"

The crowd roared and applauded the duel.

"Man, that was awesome!"

"Did you see the size of that thing!?!"

"What an awesome finish!"

Jasmine left the arena and found Yuji and the others waiting for her at the arena entrance.

"An excellent performance, Jasmine," Yuji smiled.

"That was awesome, Jasmine-senpai!" Yumi beamed.

Yuki walked up to Jasmine and gave her a peck on the cheek and smiled. "That was an excellent finish, Jasmine."

Jasmine blushed, "Arigato, minna."

"Meh, I could've done better," Rachel boasted with a shrug.

"Try saying that to my face, Furry!" Jasmine.

"I already did, Templar wanna-be!" she shot back. The two girls started butting heads and began growling like animals.

"Do they always fight?" Yumi sweat-dropped.

"Ever since growing up..." Yuji replied with a sweat-drop.

"Boy, that was an awesome duel!" Yumi sighed. "Thanks for always taking me home, Yuji-senpai!"

It was getting dark and Yuji and yumi were walking to Yuji's parking space for his bike.

"It's my pleasure, Yumi," Yuji smiled.

Yumi giggled, "How did you know about my family's restaurant?"

"You own a restaurant?"

"Yeah, it's my dad's pub. It's called 'My Pleasure'."

Yuji blinked, "Wow, that's pretty cool!"

"Thanks," she beamed.

However, before they could reach the Ebon Vajin, a man stepped in their path. He was muscular and dressed like a biker, with a leather jacket to boot. He also had a mohawk.

Yuji got in front of Yumi and went into a fighting stance. "Who are you?"

The man removed his glasses to reveal wild yellow eyes and grinned, "Hey kids, wanna play?" Strange markings appeared on his face and his body began to change.

Yumi gasped, "What the...?!"

"Orphenoch..." Yuji growled.

The biker, turned Orphenoch, grew a head taller and had a grayish white body. Parts of his body was covered in armor and feathers covered his shoulders, fore arms, shins and waist. He had a collar of hair that made him look like a vulture. The Vulture Orphenoch squawked loudly as it spread it wings, trying to intimidate the teens with its large wingspan.

"I can't risk transforming with Yumi here...' Yuji thought as he stared down the Vulture Orphenoch. "Yumi, let's get out of here!"

"OK..." she said, fearfully. She took his hand and they ran in another direction.

The Vulture Orphenoch merely took flight and followed after his prey. "It's no use running," the Vulture Orphenoch squawked. "Trust me, it'll be fun being an Orphenoch...if you survive, that is!" He flapped his wings and feathers cascaded down to the ground like bullets.

Luckily, Yuji was able to guide Yumi through the barrage safely. They turned a corner and ran into an alley, but they were met with a wall.

"A dead end!" Yumi whined.

"Damn..." Yuji muttered. They turned to see the Vulture Orphenoch in front of them.

"No where to run now, little mice," the Vulture Orphenoch sneered as he stalked closer.

Yumi embraced Yuji fearfully and whispered, "Are we...gonna die...?"

Yuji grasped her shoulder comfortingly, "No, we're not gonna die, Yumi. I promise." He took a step in front of Yumi and reached behind his back and revealed a sheathed katana. He unsheathed the sword, revealing a clean steel blade, and Yuji went into a stance.

"Ooohh," te Vulture Orphenoch jeered, "Whatcha gonna do with that?"

Before Yuji could answer, a bright light flashed against the Orphenoch's back, forcing him to turn around and face the new threat. What he saw a human figure in a black bodysuit, with yellow glowing lines travelling along the suit and forming a yellow 'X' on the chest armor and the broad shoulder pads. Around the masked figure's waist was a belt with a pair of binoculars on the left side of the belt, and a black phone in the buckle. In the figure's right hand was an X-shaped gun, with a long, glowing yellow blade extending from the butt of the gun. The black helmet had a silver mouth plate, and a yellow 'X' that formed a pair of antennae and sectioned up the purple visor, forming a pair of insect-like eyes. The fighter's suit showed off some nice curves, suggesting that the wearer was female, but whatever bust she had was concealed by the chest armor.

"Who the hell are you?!" the Vulture Orphenoch demanded.

"Your death," the armored warrior answered.

The Vulture Orphenoch swiped at the fighter with his talons but the masked warrior dodged effortlessly and and slashed the Orphenoch along the chest several times, sparks flying off the Orphenoch's body. The Orphenoch flew up to get an advantage over his opponent, but was shot down quickly by blasts of yellow energy and fell to the ground. His body smoking. The Orphenoch struggled to get up as the fighter walked over.

"Weakling," she spat. She slid the phone on her buckle downward and pressed "ENTER".

"EXCEED CHARGE" a deep mechanical voice called from the phone.

A yellow light travelled from the phone up the fighter's arm, and into the gun. The warrior fired and the paralyzed the Orphenoch as the beam formed into a net pattern. She sprinted to the Orphenoch and turned into a giant yellow 'X' that launched itself into the Orphenoch causing him to shout in pain. The masked fighter reappeared in front of Yuji and Yumi before the Orphenoch burst into blue flames and crumbled to dust. A yellow glowing 'X' hovered over the Orphenoch's ashes before fading away.

"Wow..." Yumi breathed, awed by the display of power.

The masked warrior turned to the teens, "You're safe now. You'd better get home." Then she walked away.

"Who was that?" Yumi asked.

Yuji could only say, "Kaixa..."

To Be Continued...

Today's Key Card: Gottoms' Emergency Call

Bushido: And Kaixa arrives to save the day! Wonder what else does the school year have in store for Yuji and his friends? Find out next time! Please R+R! Laters!!

Next Episode: "Ambush!"