Yay! I have officially reached the Field Trip Arc! Shame it isn't quite as long as I had originally planned but there is some character development for quite a few OCs (I won't name who mostly because I haven't even written these chapters yet. I only know Celina does get some more development in Chapter 23). But at least I got to it and it only took me…well, it's been about two months I would say but, hey, it's not as bad as it could be.
Bakura: GET TO THE POINT, YOU RAMBLING MORON!
I'm not a moron! Anyway, I would like to thank Guest, EndlessNight025, decode9, Kamen Rider Necrom, Team5dsforever, MagicialPrincess07, KritoKirigaya-SAO, Sorcerer of the Stories, ShadowSpirit020, The Police of FanFiction 2016, a1993, Blackwing- Balmung the Eclipse, and JD98 for reviewing the last chapter. You guys are great!
And, as usual, a huge thank you to EndlessNight025 for being an awesome (not to mention patient) beta-reader.
Bakura: yeah, yeah, whatever
Oh go blow something up
Bakura: (grins)
Not with a F.L.E.I.J.A. (Once again, I don't own Code Geass.)
Bakura: damn it
Anyway, I hope that you enjoy this chapter, even though it is rather short, and reviews, as always, are much appreciated. Since I have reached the Field Trip, for the next couple of weeks, there will be weekly updates; therefore, chapter 14 will likely come out next Friday.
13
Battle Against Steelswarms
A few days had gone by since Jaden had disappeared and Chazz's personality had done a complete one-eighty. It was worrying Arina quite a bit. She had tried talking with Chazz, tried to figure out what was going on but Chazz only started spouting off things about the Light and how it would revolutionize the world, and how he kept referring to someone named Sartorius as 'master'. The Chazz that Arina loved would never call anyone his master.
She sighed, gazing at the pale-blue sky above her head. She was currently seated outside the Slifer Red Dorm, thinking about everything that had happened the past few days, not just with Chazz. There was also the fact that the headmaster of the Ra Yellow Dorm, Professor Satyr, had tried to get the Ras to leave the dorm, by using delicious food. (1)
Hassleberry had dueled Satyr, though, while he was under the disguise of a cook named Don Simon, and beat him. He then assured Satyr that the Ras weren't staying in the Slifer Dorm permanently. They were just there to prevent it from being destroyed before Jaden got back. When Jaden got back, then they would return. Satyr had understood and they still got the food that Satyr had prepared for them.
"Hey, Arina?"
Arina looked up to find Kasumi sitting down beside her. "Yeah?" she said.
"How are you?" Kasumi asked.
"Fine. Just…worried about Chazz," Arina admitted. "He's just been acting so strange and we don't hang up…er out…nearly as much as we used to. I feel he's been avoiding me."
Kasumi placed a hand on the pale-blonde haired girl's shoulder. "He has been acting like a jerk recently," she admitted. "He's not talking to any of us and just remains in his room all the time when he's not in classes."
Arina nodded in agreement.
They remained in silence for a long moment, before Kasumi broke it with a sigh. "I'm also worried about Raiden," she said.
"What about him?"
"He's getting irritated by the littlest of things, like Hassleberry and Syrus's arguing about who is Jaden's real best friend and he's looking like he's not getting any sleep at night. I've asked him and he just says that he's been looking for Jaden," Kasumi said.
"He's probably worried. He and Jaden are really close, yes?"
"Yeah, but Raiden is acting a bit like Jaden used to act before he started seeing Dr. Nakamura. I mean, I'm not that surprised that Raiden is exhibiting signs of PTSD. I knew it was coming but it's worrying me because of his refusal to seek help," Kasumi said. "I know I can't force him to seek help but…I just wish there was something I could do."
"He doesn't think or want to admit anything's wrong so, until he sees that something is wrong, then there really isn't much you can do," Arina admitted.
"I know," Kasumi muttered, sounding frustrated.
. . .
When Jaden had woken up after passing out after his duel against that alien, he had found himself on the bank of Academy Island near the hot springs. That was the day before and Jaden was nowhere near finding the Academy. He was also hungry. He groaned as he rested his back against the tree.
"This sucks! I seriously should have brought food with me," he complained.
'Jaden, if you do not stop complaining about your lack of food, I will make you,' Haou snarled irritably. Jaden's complaining, which had been going on for hours, was really getting on the King's nerves.
"But I am," Jaden whined. "And I am positive I smelled curry yesterday."
Haou growled in irritation.
Jaden looked around, trying to decide where to go and ignoring his growling dark counterpart in the back of his head. He spotted a path and, shrugging, made his way down it, still looking around for anything to eat. He wished he had paid attention to his mom's lesson on which plants were safe to eat that one time he, his siblings, and his parents had gone camping a few years ago. Then again, he was too busy laughing at Raiden for having dropped his tent on the fire.
He smiled a little at the memory before it faded as he continued walking. He knew he was starting to get better, thanks to the therapy session with Dr. Nakamura even if he did miss one because of Haou taking control and his time in Neo Space, and thinking about the happier memories of his past actually did help.
He walked around a tree, only to find himself in sight of the beach again. He moved to the edge of the forest and groaned when he saw that he was only a few yards from where he had first entered the forest. Argh! This is so frustrating, he thought.
. . .
Raven skated around the halls, swerving around a corner and completely ignoring those that were shouting at her to watch where she was going. She waved briefly at Steven as she skated past him and then hopped off her skateboard when she neared the doors leading out of the main building. The last thing she wanted to do was skate down the stairs; the last time she had done something like that, she had broken her wrist.
Walking down the stairs, she stretched and gazed up at the sky above her head. Things had been pretty quiet this year and Raven was thankful, even if she did wonder if the other missing students from the Abandoned Dorm would return as she, Steven, Raiden, and Atticus had. She sighed and pushed the thoughts away as she hopped onto her skateboard, once she was at the bottom of the steps, and skated away, nearly crashing into a tall, burly man in the process.
"Hey, watch where you're going, blackbird!" the burly man shouted.
Raven skidded to a halt and whirled around. "What did you call me?" she demanded.
"Blackbird. What? What are you gonna do about it?" the burly man that Raven recognized as Reese Sanders. Though Raven had only had the misfortune of running into him a few times since the year began, she already knew more things about him than she would have liked. Despite being a first-year from Ra Yellow, his ego could give any stuck-up Obelisk a run for their money, and he would constantly gripe about how he thought he was good enough to be one. Talk about having a superiority complex.
Raven growled. She hated it when people called her 'blackbird'. That was one of the things the kids at her old school used to call her all the time once they found out that she hated that nickname. It even extended to the Duel Academy students who called her that at the start of the year, which was how Reese knew it.
"I'm still wondering how the hell you got into Duel Academy as an Obelisk anyway, stupid birdbrain," Reese sneered.
"Who are you calling a birdbrain?" Raven said through gritted teeth. Normally, she wouldn't let this teasing get to her.
"You, you stupid dodo," Reese sneered.
Don't hit him…don't hit him…don't hit him… Raven chanted to herself as she fought to reign in her temper. She turned and started to walk away.
"Weakling," Reese shouted.
Raven stopped.
"You're nothing but a weakling who has to hold another's hand just to win anything!"
Raven gritted her teeth.
A group of students who had been walking nearby stopped what they were doing and turned to watch them, the tension was almost tangible in the air as everyone waited to see how Raven would react to that.
"I can prove you're too weak to stand on your own, birdbrain," Reese sneered, activating his duel disk.
Raven turned around and activated her own duel disk. "Fine. We'll see who the weak one is here," she said.
"Duel!"
. . .
Kasumi had decided to take a walk after her talk with Arina and found herself near the main building. She paused when she noticed that a duel had started and, as she moved forward, she recognized the first of the participants; the former Shadow Rider Raven Johnson. Across from her was the obnoxious Ra Yellow student that Kasumi just could not stand, and not just because he liked flirting with her every chance he got.
As if on cue, Reese caught sight of her and winked, a smug smirk on his face.
Kasumi found herself hoping Raven would wipe that smug smirk off Reese's face.
Raven and Reese drew their opening hands.
Raven: 8000
Reese: 8000
"I'm going first," Raven said, drawing her sixth card and glancing at her hand. She then picked a card and inserted it into her Field Spell slot. "I activate Divine Wind of Mist Valley."
In an instant, the area changed and they were now standing in a colorful windy canyon.
"Next, I discard Lightning, Dragon Ruler of Drafts and Mist Valley Watcher from my hand in order to Special Summon Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms in Attack Mode," Raven added, discarding the two cards.
In a cyclone of powerful wind, the large blue dragon with wind cycling around its legs and tail and large blue wings (A: 2400/D: 2200).
"Next, I'll summon Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds in Defense Mode and, as long as this card is face-up on the field, no monsters, except Wind monsters, can be Special Summoned," Raven added as a large statue of a green winged beast appeared (A: 1000/D: 1000). "And, with that, I end my turn."
"Not a bad start, Raven," Kasumi murmured.
"Hmph. That's all you can do? Fine. I draw," Reese said, drawing a card and glancing at it before looking at his hand. "I summon Steelswarm Sting in Attack Mode."
A large black wasp with amber wings appeared on the field (A: 1850/D: 0).
"Now, Sting, take out that Barrier."
Buzzing through the air, the black wasp crashed into the Barrier Statue, destroying it.
"I place these two cards facedown and end my turn," Reese added, inserting two cards into his duel disk.
"Also, during your End Phase, Tempest's effect activates," Raven said. "Since it was Special Summoned, it returns to my hand now. This also activates Divine Wind of Mist Valley's effect. Since a Wind monster I control returned to my hand, I can Special Summon one Level 4 or lower Wind monster from my Deck and I choose Mist Valley Thunderbird in Defense Mode."
Tempest vanished and then a green bird with a lightning-bolt shaped tail feather appeared on the field (A: 1100/D: 700).
"Whatever," Reese said.
Raven drew a card. "I summon Mist Valley Falcon in Attack Mode," she said and a white-haired young man with brown wings wielding a glowing sword appeared on the field (A: 2000/D: 1200). "And I also banish Mist Valley Watcher and Lightning from my Graveyard in order to Special Summon Tempest back to my field."
She pocketed the two cards and her large blue wind dragon returned to the field (A: 2400/D: 2200).
"I also return Mist Valley Thunderbird to my hand to Special Summon Mist Condor in Attack Mode," Raven added, adding Thunderbird back to her hand and a large blue condor appeared on the field (A: 1400-1700/D: 400).
"Why'd its Attack change?" Reese asked, confused.
"His effect," Raven said. "If he's Special Summoned by returning a Mist Valley monster I control to my hand, his Attack becomes 1700. Also, I activate the effect of Mist Valley Thunderbird and Divine Wind of Mist Valley. First, due to Divine Wind, I can Special Summon Hunter Owl in Attack Mode."
The creepy owl with the scythe in his hand appeared on the field (A: 1000/D: 900).
"Next, since Mist Valley Thunderbird returned to my hand while face-up, I can Special Summon it back to the field, though it can't attack this turn."
Thunderbird returned to the field (A: 1100/D: 700).
"Hunter Owl gains 500 Attack for each face-up Wind monster I control," Raven added and Hunter Owl's power jumped up (A: 1000-3500). "Now, Hunter Owl, attack Steelswarm Sting!"
Hunter Owl charged forward and sank it into the black wasp, cutting it in half.
Raven: 8000
Reese: 6350
"Tempest, attack Reese directly," Raven ordered and Tempest roared.
"I activate my facedown, Infestation Ripples, paying 500 Life Points to Special Summon Steelswarm Sting in Attack Mode," Reese said.
Raven: 8000
Reese: 5850
The black wasp returned to the field.
"Fine, Tempest, take out that wasp again," Raven ordered and Tempest unleashed a powerful cyclone of wind blast from its maw.
"I also activate Infestation Tool and send Steelswarm Scout from my Deck to the Graveyard to target Steelswarm Sting and have it gain 800 Attack," Reese said, removing the card from his deck and inserting it into his Graveyard slot and Sting's power increased (A: 1850-2650). "Sting, counterattack!"
The black wasp shot forward, flying around the cyclone and sank its stinger into Tempest, destroying the large dragon.
Raven: 7750
Reese: 5850
Hunter Owl also weakened (A: 3500-3000).
"I place this facedown and end my turn," Raven said, inserting the card into her duel disk and Sting's power dropped back to normal (A: 2650-1850).
Reese drew a card. "Since I control no Spell or Trap cards, I can Special Summon Steelswarm Scout from my Graveyard in Defense Mode," he said and a small black fly appeared on the field (A: 200/D: 0). "But, due to Scout's effect, I won't be able to Special Summon another monster this turn but, now, I tribute Steelswarms Sting and Scout to Tribute Summon Steelswarm Caucastag in Attack Mode."
Scout and Sting vanished and were replaced by a giant black-and-red Cacostamus Stag-Beetle (A: 2800/D: 0).
Reese smirked. "And when Caucastag is Tribute Summoned, I can destroy all other monsters on the field or all Spell and Trap cards on the field. I'll go with the first effect. Time to empty your field, birdbrain," he said and watched as a vicious squall spun across the field and all of Raven's monsters were destroyed.
"Now, Caucastag, attack the blackbird directly," Reese shouted and the large Stag-Beetle began to fly into the air.
"Don't call me that! I activate Defense Draw. This reduces the Battle Damage I would take to zero and I can draw one card," Raven said and drew one card from her deck as Reese's monster returned to his side of the field.
"Tch, you got lucky. I place this facedown and end my turn," Reese said.
Raven drew a card. "I banish Barrier Statue of the Storm Winds and Mist Valley Thunderbird to Special Summon Tempest back to my field in Attack Mode," she said and the large blue dragon returned to the field (A: 2400/D: 2200).
"I also summon Wind Effigy in Attack Mode."
A colorful cyclone spun onto the field (A: 1800/D: 200).
"Next, I activate Blustering Winds and target Tempest. Now his Attack and Defense increase by 1000 until my next Standby Phase."
A cyclone of wind suddenly encircled Tempest (A: 2400-3400/D: 2200-3200).
"Now, Tempest, attack Steelswarm Caucastag!" Raven ordered and Tempest roared, preparing to attack.
"I activate Infestation Wave and return Steelswarm Caucastag to my hand to target one card you control and destroy it, and I choose Tempest," Reese shouted, revealing his face-down and returning Caucastag to his hand, resulting in Tempest's destruction.
"I still have one more monster. Wind Effigy, attack Reese directly," Raven ordered and Wind Effigy spun across the field and around Reese, knocking out a chunk of his Life Points.
Raven: 7750
Reese: 4050
"I end my turn," Raven said.
"Tch." Reese yanked a card out of his deck. "Since I control no Spell or Trap cards, I Special Summon Steelswarm Scout from my Graveyard in Defense Mode."
The black fly returned to the field (A: 200/D: 0).
"Next, I activate Pot of Greed." He drew two cards. "Next, I tribute Scout to Tribute Summon Steelswarm Girastag in Attack Mode!"
Scout vanished and was replaced by a large black-and-red Giraffe Stag-Beetle (A: 2600/D: 0).
Raven frowned. "That's a Level 7 monster," she said.
"Way to state the obvious, stupid dodo," Reese huffed. "Its effect allows it to be summoned using only one tribute as long as it's a Steelswarm monster. Also, since Girastag was Tribute Summoned this way, I can activate its effect to send one card you control to the Graveyard and regain 1000 Life Points. I'll go with your Wind Effigy."
Wind Effigy vanished and Reese was smirking smugly as he was surrounded by a bright aura.
Raven: 7750
Reese: 5050
"Now, Girastag, attack the airhead directly," Reese ordered and Girastag shot forward before slamming a fist into Raven.
Raven: 5150
Reese: 5050
"Grr. My draw." Raven drew a card.
"I'll start off by banishing Mist Condor and Mist Valley Falcon to Special Summon Tempest back to my field in Defense Mode," she said and the large blue dragon returned to the field (A: 2400/D: 2200).
"That again? You sure are a one-trick pony, aren't you, blackbird?" Reese sneered.
"If it ain't broke…" Raven replied. "I place this facedown and end my turn."
Reese drew a card. "I activate my face-down, Infestation Infection. Now, once per turn, I can shuffle one 'lswarm' monster from my hand or face-upon on my field into my deck to add one 'lswarm' monster from my deck to my hand, so I'll shuffle Girastag into my hand to add Steelswarm Hercules to my hand," he said and did so. "Now, I Special Summon Steelswarm Cell in Defense Mode since I control no monsters."
A small black egg appeared on the field (A: 0/D: 0).
"And next I activate Inferno Reckless Summon."
Two more Steelswarm Cells appeared (A: 0/D: 0)x2.
Raven couldn't summon another monster because she only had one copy of Tempest in her deck.
"Now, I tribute all three of my Cells to Tribute Summon Steelswarm Hercules in Attack Mode!" Reese declared and all three Cells vanished to be replaced by a giant black-and-gold monster that resembled a Hercules beetle appeared on the field (A: 3200/D: 0).
"And when Hercules is summoned, I can halve my Life Points to destroy all other cards on the field," Reese added.
Raven: 5150
Reese: 2525
Hercules unleashed a powerful gale that surged across the field destroying every other card that was in play.
"Now, Hercules, attack Raven directly," Reese ordered and Hercules surged forward before slamming a fist into Raven, knocking her off her feet.
Raven: 1950
Reese: 2525
"And, with that, I end my turn," Reese said with a smug smirk.
"The duel's not over yet," Raven said, pushing herself to her feet and drawing a card. "I activate Spellbook Inside the Pot."
They both drew three cards.
"Next, I active Monster Reborn to bring back Wind Effigy."
The colorful cyclone returned to the field (A: 1800/D: 200).
"Really? You brought back that puny monster? You know you can always surrender," Reese said.
"I don't surrender," Raven said coolly. "I'm not done yet. I tribute Wind Effigy, who counts as two tributes when I use them to Tribute Summon a Wind Normal Monster, to summon Simorgh, Bird of Ancestry in Attack Mode."
"But Simorgh isn't a Normal Monster," Reese asked.
"It counts as a Normal Monster while it's in my hand," Raven said as Wind Effigy was surrounded by a large cyclone that gradually grew larger and then, out of the cyclone, emerged a large golden bird that shone brightly (A: 2900/D: 2000).
"Now, this duel's over. Since I summoned Simorgh using only Wind monsters, I can activate its effect and return up to two cards to your hand and I'll go with Steelswarm Hercules," Raven said.
Reese scowled as he added Hercules to his hand.
"Now, Simorgh, end this. Attack Reese directly," Raven ordered. Simorgh flew into the air and unleashed a powerful gale that surged across the field and slammed into Reese, knocking him off his feet.
Raven: 1950 WINNER
Reese: 0
"The stupid blackbird actually defeated me?" Reese exclaimed in shock.
"Guess I'm not as weak as you thought I was," Raven said as she shut down her duel disk. Without waiting to hear his response, she walked over to where she had left her skateboard, spotting Kasumi as she did so. "Hey, Kasumi," she greeted her.
"Hey, Raven, nice duel," Kasumi said.
Raven smiled. "Thanks," she said.
. . .
Later that day, the gang were all gathered in the Slifer Red Dorm. It was evening and they had just finished dinner and were now just talking. Raiden barely paid attention, his gaze fixed on the far wall, his thoughts straying to his brother.
Why did you leave without telling us? He thought. It just wasn't something that Jaden would normally do. Raiden knew that he had been deeply affected after losing his connection with Yubel and his other duel spirits but to just up and leave?
Sighing, he stood up, causing the gang to glance at him.
"Where are you going?" Syrus asked.
"Out to look for Judai again," Raiden said and left.
"Gees, he's been looking for Jaden every night since he went missing," Syrus said with a frown.
"And he doesn't look like he's been getting any sleep," Kira agreed.
Kasumi stood up. "I'm gonna go talk with him," she said and also left the dorm to track down her brother.
Raiden leaned tiredly against a tree at the edge of the forest near the Slifer Red Dorm. He was exhausted. Nightmares were keeping him up and the hours he was spending trying to find Judai were definitely catching up with him. He didn't want to give up hope, but…
"Rai?"
Raiden opened his eyes, having not realized he had closed them and turned to find Kasumi standing by him. "Hey," he greeted her tiredly.
"You look tired," Kasumi said.
"Just haven't been getting much sleep, what with trying to find Jaden and classes and homework and all that," Raiden said, turning to gaze back at the forest. "How are you, Little Mist?"
"I'm fine," Kasumi said. "I've bene able to get past a lot of what happened this summer thanks to Dr. Nakamura. She really is good at what she does."
"I'm not going to talk to her," Raiden said flatly. "I don't need to."
"Rai…"
"So how's Chazz?" Raiden asked, changing the subject again, still not looking at his sister.
Kasumi was silent. "He's acting like an annoying jerk," she said finally.
"So he's still spouting off stuff about the Light and all that?"
"Pretty much. I feel sorry for Arina. It's obvious Chazz's change is upsetting her," Kasumi admitted.
"Doesn't surprise me. When someone changes like that, it's bound to upset those close to him," Raiden admitted.
Kasumi cast a sidelong glance at him. "I know what you mean," she murmured.
Raiden narrowed his eyes at the underlying tone of Kasumi's voice. "What do you mean by that?" he asked.
"I mean Chazz isn't the only one who's changed recently," Kasumi said firmly, turning to face Raiden and folding her arms across her chest. "You have, too."
"Me? No I…"
"Yes, you have! You're snapping at people you wouldn't normally snap at, and you're always tired," Kasumi said.
"I just haven't been getting enough sleep," Raiden said.
"Why not?"
"I just haven't. Don't start pestering me. I'm fine," Raiden said.
Kasumi shook her head. "I want to believe you, Rai," she said. "But I can't, not with how you've been acting. Look, can't you, at least, attend one therapy session with Dr. Nakamura? It can't hurt, right?"
"I don't need to talk to her. I'm fine," Raiden said, pushing away from the tree. "Leave me alone." He walked off.
"Rai!" Kasumi was about to go after him, only to stop when Shire materialized in front of her.
'Let him go, Kasumi,' she said softly. 'If you keep pushing him, you'll only drive him away, and that won't help at all.'
Kasumi sighed. "I know, Shire, I just…I hate being so helpless," she whispered, resting against the tree and sinking down against it, drawing her knees close to her and closing her eyes. "I really, really hate not being able to help my brother."
Shire floated over to rest on Kasumi's shoulder. 'I know, Kasumi, I know,' she said softly.
. . .
1: This isn't going to be the first duel that is cut out and simply mentioned/summarized. At the moment, there is only one other that is cut out and simply mentioned/summarized.
. . .
A/n what do you think?
Blaze: see what I mean by a short chapter?
Bakura: (sharpening machete) you could have made it longer
Blaze: eh, it's good enough. It's got a duel, it's got character development (in some places), it's got plot development, it's got Jaden being lost, so it's good
Jaden: (walks into computer room)
Lelouch: (walks into computer room)
Suzaku: (walks into computer room)
Kallen: (storms into computer room covered in pink paint) YUKI!
Jaden: (darts into city-closet)
Kallen: get back here! (Darts after Jaden)
Suzaku: wait, wait, wait (opens door to city-closet and stares at it) how the hell is this possible?
Marik: you will quickly learn that, when it comes to Blaze, it's pointless to question these kinds of things
Jesse: (walks into computer room) where's Jaden?
Lelouch: (points at entrance to city-closet)
Jesse: better go track him down. Last time he entered the city closet, we couldn't find him for three days (disappears into city-closet)
Blaze: Marik…
Marik: I'm on it (follows Jesse into city-closet)
Lelouch: (raises eyebrow)
Blaze: Jesse is just as likely to get lost as Jaden is
Lelouch: I see
Blaze: Lelouch, you and Suzaku get to end the chapter again. (Lifts up flaming machete) C'mon, Bakura, let's go hunt Jean-Michel Roger
Bakura: (lifts up newly sharpened machete and follows Blaze out of the computer room)
Suzaku: guess we're ending the chapter again
Lelouch: Blaze would like to say that she hopes that you enjoyed this chapter, even if it was short and that she would really appreciate it if you reviewed so (activates Geass)
Suzaku: (tackles Lelouch)
Lelouch: DAMN IT, SUZAKU! GET OFF ME!
Suzaku: I'm not letting you use your Geass on the new reviewers! Please review and thank you for reading!