Boss Rush

I: Buried Destiny

A few days earlier, it was spring break, and a flower-viewing party was going on in the Mutou Memorial Park. On the orders of Shimotsuki Setsuka, no less.

"Why are we here?" Rex Atlas groaned as the group spotted the picnic blanket laid out. Across the blond son of Jack Atlas himself, Setsuka knelt. She actually wore a yukata, and with her were two other girls.

Kujaku Satsuki was easy to summarise as blonde, beautiful and a bombshell. Tenjouin Michiru was much less easy to summarise; her ominously cold glares gave them chills with her smirk, though her graceful beauty could easily trick people enough to actually match Setsuka. She was learning, but much had to be done to actually compare to the head of the Arcadia Movement.

"Because I said so," Shimotsuki lightly answered. That single answer quieted further protests.

"Watching flowers with the ones you love is also a good thing," Jimmy Cook sighed beside her, the two of them close-knit.

"Here you go, Rex-san," Kaiba Kisara handed him a cup, lingering slightly longer than necessary even though it was like they were love-birds.

"Thanks, Kisara."

"There's a deeper reason for inviting us here, right?" Ryuusei asked.

"There... should be," Youkai agreed. "Otherwise, why is Tsu-nii here...?"

"What excellent tea," Tsugare mentioned, wearing the most elaborate kimono of all of us. Somehow it just made him seem more feminine, even for his ridiculous height.

"Because he's fun to torture," Shimotsuki replied as Tsugare was beginning to be harassed by a few men.

"Missy, it is not good to leave Misawa Tsugare to his own devices," Nakamura Iemitsu murmured, pouring out more tea and setting out more snacks, menial tasks he performed even despite the suit he wore. "The plum blossoms are in bloom now."

"You guys..." A black-haired, black-clothed, and grey-eyed man sighed. This was the third of the triumvirate of Team Black Knights, Chase Princeton.

"Aww, poor baby," Youkai hissed to him. "I heard from Akio-nii about the restructuring. Is it bad?"

"Could be worse," Chase sighed. "Gokaido really did a number for Uncle Chosaku. I guess I should be relieved that Uncle Jun is handling most of the things."

"It's bad when you can't trust family," Setsuka agreed. "I have fond memories of flower-viewing. Today will just be us teenagers, and later in spring the Arcadia Movement could hold a pot-luck flower-viewing."

"Shimotsuki, you've really had it all planned out..." Ryuusei joked.

"And, no, this is not the only reason," Setsuka waved. "Tsugare. Don't you think a dance would be suitable for such clement weather?"

"...You're trying to make me look like a girl, aren't you?"

"If you don't want to, then too bad," Setsuka mentioned. "In that case, when you bring your next boyfriend to any hotel, I will be sure to casually mention that time with the underground auctions-"

"Okay, okay!" Tsugare sighed, standing up.

"He dances?" Chase hissed to Youkai.

"Yes, Tsu-nii is the only guy who can actually pull off the traditional dances," Youkai agreed. "However... he can only do onnagata dances."

There was a collective look, and an agreement that his features were capable of sweeping a woman's heart at a glance. The bold features of his face are the high bridge of his nose and a delicate eyebrow, a hard-cut mouth marking him with a stoic air though his eyes seem to hide a quiet grief. With his droopy eyes and button of a mouth, if he were to lift his left bang those oddly matched eyes would only serve to make his gaze even more brilliant.

Overall, his elegant air of beauty is somewhat... unnatural.

"Even though his features were conventionally handsome, if a man is too beautifully formed, his life would become truly miserable," Nakamura nodded in wisdom as Tsugare performed. The butler was occasionally capable of bouts of wisdom, after all.

"In a way, the Misawa curse struck," Setsuka murmured in comment. "Still, cold iced tea is better." The cup in her hand froze over and she cracked the ice, chewing slowly.

"Don't show off," Jimmy warned. "Who knows what's the result of meddling about."

Tsugare moved, and the cluster of plum blossoms seemed to burst into colour right around him, a beautiful illusion...

"Brava," Kisara pronounced, clapping. "The flowers are rather conspicuous, though."

"You're too relaxed," Chase muttered.

"Thank you," Tsugare smiled. "Well, Boss, could I not dance in the future-?"

"No, we need your face."

"Shouldn't it be 'you need my skills'...?" Tsugare looked depressed.

"If I said that, then wouldn't that mean that I need a tasty piece of bait?" Setsuka answered.

"I'm sorry..."

"It's almost March already," Satsuki commented. "I'm looking forward to that one spectacle."

"Spectacle?" Michiru asked.

"March fourteenth," Shimotsuki answered. "So, Satsuki, you're expecting chocolate, are you?"

"Well, Shimotsuki-san, you read my mind," Satsuki laughed. "So, is the blockhead preparing anything?"

"What are you talking about?" Jimmy innocently asked.

It was as if a pallor had descended over the party as Setsuka set down her cup with more force than necessary. "Nakamura-san, more tea."

"Please figure it out in time, Master James," Nakamura-san murmured in sympathy.

"Idiot," Chase nodded.

"Idiot," Youkai agreed. "I've already prepared a lot of plans for escape on that day."

"Which day?" Rex asked.

"Idiot," Youkai and Chase agreed as Kisara began to give Rex the cold shoulder.

"Uh, March fourteenth..." Ryuusei shuddered.

"Oh, right," Chase commented. "Both men and women troubles from you."

"The phenomenon of fan-boys will never be understood," Setsuka agreed.

"Bully," Tsugare agreed. "I hate White Day the most."

"All the girls give him expecting looks and all the guys glare," Youkai explained. "When Tsu-nii was in high school, we had to get the entire troop out just to hold them back."

"However, the only use anyone has for this guy is his face," Setsuka pointed.

"It hurts, Boss..."

"Er, Setsuka, you might be accused of abuse if you continue..." Jimmy sweat-dropped at the sight of Setsuka poking Tsugare's cheek.

"Still, we shall have quite some fun..." Setsuka whispered. The look she had there automatically garnered shudders. Never did they expect for her prediction to come through... just not in the sense everyone was thinking.

The fourteenth of March, on day before the Ides, came and dawned on a mass Duel between DA Kings and Queens.

"Ryuusei-sama!"

"Where's Rex-sama?"

Chase tried not to laugh. "Oh kami, Sama..."

Ryuusei and Rex glared at him. "You're being completely overlooked!"

"Troublesome," he yawned. "Besides, that's great, right?"

Beside him, a shade of a great dragon appeared, visible only to Ryuusei and Chase. ...I do not understand your human mating rituals.

Chase merely sighed.

"White Day is similar to Valentine's Day, but for the opposites," Setsuka appeared, explaining as she stood beside them to watch the mob run around the Duel fields.

"Shimotsuki, there's no one there," Rex pointed out.

"No," Ryuusei squinted. "There's something, a shade, maybe. It's stuck to Chase."

"As expected of the Samildanach," a musical voice laugh as Chase spun around.

"Who's there!" he accused.

"Ah!" Rex started.

"You can see her?" Ryuusei demanded at him. "Then-!"

"Oh, I'm quite sure the 'seed' I implanted into the boy is working," the woman remarked. "After all, the Winter Queen is here, aren't you?"

"Marguerite, what are you aiming for?" Setsuka murmured, hardly fazed by the appearance of a spirit.

"How cruel, Your Majesty," Marguerite laughed. "I just want to play a game. By planting 'seeds' in this world where humans must struggle to survive and spirits are few, I will find your counterpart, the Summer monarch."

"My... counterpart," Setsuka echoed.

"These unwitting pawns that came after you all have a 'seed' in them that only those Duel spirits with time magic can access, and I am one of the masters of time," Marguerite laughed. "Given time, I shall make 'seeds' bloom, but... some seeds are never meant to bloom, you know."

"This is... a mass Duel," the other considered. "In such an environment rich in Duel energy-"

"'Seeds' would bloom faster," Marguerite winked. "Be careful, some 'seeds' that are never meant to bloom might kill their holders~!"

"And you'd be the game-master, wouldn't you?" Rex remarked as chaos began to break out from the Duel fields and Setsuka's cellphone rang.

"James," she greeted.

"It's going crazy!" Jimmy was yelling. "She's attacking the whole place!"

"Get the Berets to isolate the area," Shimotsuki ordered.

"Erm, Alexianna's already charging in-"

Setsuka hung up immediately, instead turning to walk to the Duel fields. "Marguerite, this will not be the last, will it?"

"Until the perfect 'seed' blooms~" the Sorciere blew a kiss as she faded in a cloud of petals once more.

"Crap," James swore on the edge of the field that the Blue Berets were surrounding. Vines littered the ground and crawled over, the blooms black and red. "Himemiya Hazuki."

"When did that happen- no, of course," Setsuka sighed. "Titania..."

"Titania, the Queen of the Fairies, and commonly associated with the Summer Court," Ryuusei agreed. "But, Hazuki... so many vines..."

"Black Garden," Shimotsuki determined as more vines lashed out. "I'll-"

"I'll go in," Jimmy cut in. "Setsuka, you're the best at defence. I'll handle Hazuki."

"Wait, James-!" Setsuka argued, frustrated as Jimmy threw himself through the vines. "Ah! Ryuusei, take the north side."

"It's time..."

A storm of rose petals swept through, the embers clearly apparent...

"Amaryllis!" Setsuka dived at the same time as the giant flower exploded. "Dammit..."

The silhouettes of both of them were visible as the Black Garden tore, clearly facing each other and ready to Duel.

"Duel!"

Hazuki: LP 8000

Jimmy: LP 8000

"Draw!" Hazuki barked. She was pretty in a red-headed, brown-eyed way, almost like the famous Izayoi Aki, with her hair piled up on her head like a bun but now loose and flyaway. "I summon Koa'ki Meiru Gravirose [1900/1300]! With that, I'll play the Field Spell, Black Garden and set two cards! Turn end!"

"Dammit, Himemiya, wake up!" Jimmy barked. "Draw! I'll play the Spell, One for One, to discard a monster and special summon the tuner monster, Jurrac Aeolo [200/200 → 100/200]! Then, I summon Jurrac Guaiba [1700/400 → 850/400]! Because of Black Garden, two Rose Tokens are special summoned to your field. Guaiba, attack a Rose Token!"

Hazuki: LP 8000 → LP 7950

Jimmy: LP 8000

"Due to that, I can special summon the tuner monster, Jurrac Gallim [1200/0]!" Jimmy called. "I'll then play the Spell, Double Summon and summon Jurrac Velo [1700/1000] to the field. Tuning, level four Velo, level four Guaiba and level two Gallim! Flames of life that rage with the will of the dying, burn and raze your names for the future! Synchro Summon! Raze everything, Jurrac Meteor!"

Flames crackled as the monster appeared [2800/2000 → 1400/2000].

"A level ten Synchro with only twenty-eight hundred attack?" Hazuki spoke, and her hair actually floated.

"Yep," Jimmy nodded. "And its effect is... to destroy all cards on the field."

"...what?" Hazuki spoke as the field burned, and even her monsters were gone. "Because of the activated Ivy Shackles that I activated before it was destroyed, I draw a card."

"Also, I can special summon a level four or lower tuner monster once all cards are destroyed, such as Jurrac Aeolo again, before I tribute Aeolo to special summon Jurrac Velo [1700/1000] again!" Jimmy called.

"When you normal or special summon a monster, I can special summon the tuner monster, Naturia Cosmobeet [1000/700] to the field," Hazuki interrupted.

"I'll set a card, turn end." Jimmy decided.

"Draw!" Hazuki roared."I'll then summon Phoenixian Seed [800/0] and tribute it to special summon Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis [2200/0]!"

Hazuki commanded, her hair even more flyaway and wild as she did so. "Take this pain! Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis, attack Jurrac Guaiba!"

"Trap activate, Backfire!" Jimmy called as Guaiba crashed.

"But, due to Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis, it is destroyed and you both take eight hundred damage," Hazuki pointed out.

Hazuki: LP 7950 → LP 7450

Jimmy: LP 8000 → LP 7500 → LP 6700

"Velo allows me to special summon a Jurrac with seventeen hundred or lower attack, like Jurrac Stauriko [500/400]!" Jimmy defended.

"It doesn't matter," Hazuki dismissed. "I'll banish the Fallen Angel of Roses in my hand, and the Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis in my graveyard, to special summon the strongest monster of the forest! Come, great gallant demonic one, Rosaria, the Stately Fallen Angel [2900/2400]!"

Red and black wings flared as the figure floated before her, a majestic beast even for being a monster.

"I'll set two cards, turn end," she indicated.

"Draw!" Jimmy called. "I'll activate the Spell, Card of Variation to draw two cards. Then, I tribute Stauriko to summon Super-Ancient Dinobeast [2700/1400]. I'll play Monster Reborn, to revive Jurrac Aeolo, and draw a card by the effect of Dinobeast. I tribute Aeolo to revive Guaiba, and therefore draw another card. Now here's a common card, the Continuous Spell Solidarity [2700/1400 → 3500/1400] [1700/400 → 2500/400]! Dinobeast, attack Rosaria!"

"Trap card, Impenetrable Attack!" Hazuki snapped. "This turn, Rosaria can't be destroyed!"

Hazuki: LP 7450 → LP 6850

Jimmy: LP 6700

"Turn end, and I send a card from hand to grave to avoid taking the damage from Card of Variation," Jimmy declared.

"Draw!" Hazuki called. "The effect of Rosaria activates! Once per turn, I can negate all other face-up cards on the field until my end phase!"

"What?" Jimmy mouthed as his monsters rapidly de-powered [3500/1400 → 2700/1400] [2500/400 → 1700/400].

"Rosaria, attack Dinobeast!" Hazuki commanded. "Bloom of Riot!"

Jimmy: LP 6700 → LP 6500

Hazuki: LP 6850

"Backfire won't work either," Jimmy noted. "Then... I have to finish this before she completes her hand...!"

"Turn end," Hazuki dismissed. "Well?"

"Draw!" Jimmy called. "Well, I tribute Guaiba to activate this key card, Big Evolution Pill!"

"Big Evol-" Hazuki stuttered as the remains of the vines fluttered around her in agitation. "No!"

"Yes!" Jimmy hissed even as the vines dug in around his feet. "Wake up, Himemiya! What happened?"

"You didn't care..." Hazuki was whispering. "Why... why did you have to come...?"

Huh...?

"Anyway, I summon Jurrac Titano [3000/2800 → 3800/2800]!" Jimmy called.

"Chain, I special summon Naturia Cosmobeet in defence mode," Hazuki declared.

"I'll use his effect to banish a Jurrac and have this titanic monster gains one thousand attack points [3800/2800 → 4800/2800]," Jimmy decided. "Titano, attack Rosaria with Flame Extinction!"

Hazuki: LP 6850 → LP 4950

Jimmy: LP 6500

"Turn end," Jimmy sighed. "I don't know what beef you have with me, Himemiya, but you didn't have to pick today..."

"I know... you're trying to take her away from us," Hazuki sobbed. "I won't let you, I don't want to go back to that uncertainty. I don't want my existence to not be needed... with this 'seed', Eriau, I'll return everything like it should."

"Eriau... the land," Shimotsuki whispered. "'Seeds' are merely an amplification of our natural power, after all..."

"Draw!" Hazuki bellowed. "I activate the Continuous Trap, Ivy Shackles! Now all your monsters are treated as Plants!"

"Huh?" Jimmy blinked as vines covered Titano.

"Traps and monster effects may not target it, but Ivy Shackles does not target," Hazuki explained. "Also, the Spell, Fragrance Storm!"

"So that's your aim!" Jimmy mouthed. "But the damage from Backfire will still happen!"

Hazuki: LP 4950 → 4450

Jimmy: LP 6500

"I got this, Rose Tentacles," Hazuki revealed. "So, I'll draw again. Then, I summon Revival Rose [1300/300] to the field. Tuning, level four Revival Rose to level two Naturia Cosmobeet! When the leaves dance, flames burn. The fire's shadow will illuminate, and a new leaf sprouts. Synchro Summon! Propagate, Queen of Thorns!"

In a flash, the bramble-dressed monster appeared with a curtsey [2200/1400]

"Crap," Jimmy succinctly swore.

"Battle!" Hazuki called. Queen of Thorns, direct attack with Reign Thorn!"

Jimmy: LP 6500 → LP 4300

Hazuki: LP 4450

"Turn end," Hazuki indicated.

"Draw!" Jimmy anxiously called. "I'll play the Spell, Card of Demise and draw until I have five cards! I'll set two cards, turn end!"

"Draw!" Hazuki called. "I summon the tuner monster, Twilight Rose Knight [1000/1000]! With his effect, I special summon Rose Fairy [600/1200]. Tuning, level three Knight with level three Fairy! Flames of life that dances like leaves in the wind, arise to resolve this injustice within the sacred garden. Synchro Summon! Appear now, Splendid Rose!"

The green-costumed monster [2200/2000] appeared quickly.

"Splendid Rose, direct attack!" Hazuki called as Jimmy was lashed at.

Jimmy: LP 4300 → LP 2100

Hazuki: LP 4450

"Activate the effect of Splendid Rose, I'll banish Rose Fairy to halve the attack of Splendid Rose to attack again!" Hazuki called. "Cyclone Blader!"

Jimmy: LP 2100 → LP 1000

Hazuki: LP 4450

"This is the end!" Hazuki called. "Queen of Thorns, attack directly!"

"Trap card, Survival Instinct!" Jimmy called. "I'll banish seven Dinosaurs in my graveyard to gain four hundred life points per monster!"

"Go anyway!" Hazuki ordered.

Jimmy: LP 1000 → LP 3800 → LP 1600

Hazuki: LP 4450

"T- Turn end," Hazuki was panting. "What...?"

"Come on, don't fail me... draw!" Jimmy called. "Yes! I summon Tyranno Infinity [?/0 → 8000/0]!"

"E- Eight thousand attack power?" Hazuki stared in wonder. "But, Queen of Thorns' effect..."

"Tyranno Infinity, destroy Queen of Thorns!" Jimmy called. "Go!"

Chomp, the monster was destroyed, as well as the spell over Hazuki of the falling leaves...

Hazuki: LP 4450 → LP 0

Jimmy: LP 1600 → LP 600

"N- No..." Hazuki seemed to physically recoil on herself. "What... what happened...?"

"Oh, guess the Titania's 'seed' wasn't it," Marguerite's voice echoed nearby as well as the stench of decapitated flowers. "Well, there are so many 'seeds' that can challenge the Morrigan..."

"Ambulance!" Jimmy called out to the Berets. "Ambulance!"

Hazuki was taken to the Arcadia Movement in the end. IN the infirmary's darker shadows, Setsuka was pale, drawn and Hazuki was unconscious in a gurney.

"Dr Erik stated that her body showed signs of great physical stress," Shimotsuki whispered as Rex, Ryuusei, Chase and Jimmy came in. "That she showed every sign of fighting the 'seed', Eriau... it took a lot of effort. Hazuki... she's always wanted to be close, closer than what I would allow to the dark heart of the Arcadia Movement."

"So the 'seed'...?" Chase trailed off.

"The 'seed' was a mere teaser," Jimmy muttered, touching at his ribs where Splendid Rose had hit really hard. "Damn, if it wasn't for myself I'd be in hospital already."

"What did the school say, Shimotsuki?" Rex asked.

"For now, they'll put it as 'temporary loss of control'," Setsuka answered. "However, the Himemiya family might have more questions, and especially that girl..."

"That girl...?" we mouthed.

The door swung open. "Hi, Setsu-chan!" Kannazuki Seika greeted as she and Hazuki's little sister Uzuki walked in.

"Setsu-chan?" Rex tried not to giggle. "You let her get away with it?"

"Good afternoon, Seika-han," Shimotsuki greeted. "You're here with Uzuki to visit Hazuki, aren't you?"

"What happened to Nee-chan, Setsu-chan?" Uzuki echoed.

"Two people?" Ryuusei actually turned to stare at Shimotsuki. "I can understand Seika, but Uzuki...?"

Setsuka looked down. "They were looking so hurt..."

"Sucker for cute things," Rex muttered.

The temperature dropped. "Would you like to be the next ice statue on display, Rex Atlas...?"

"No, I'm sorry."

"Setsu-chan..." Seika turned large amethyst eyes on her. "You'll keep Hazuki-nee safe, right?"

"We'll try, Seika-han," Shimotsuki absently answered. "You stay with Uzuki. I have business to do."

"Who knew that Seika was so familiar with Shimotsuki," Chase muttered. "Setsu-chan... but we didn't see them until now..."

"That's because Setsu-chan told me to stay away," Seika quietly answered. "Because if someone not a Psychic Duellist were to approach the Arcadia Movement, then they're a target. I don't know why... Setsu-chan was so warm and happy..."

Warm? Happy? Really?

"It's hard to believe it," Jimmy bluntly confessed. Everyone else would have agreed with him.

"Even when she was talking about 'how to beat people up'..." Seika continued.

Okay... "Is she a tsundere?" Chase muttered.

"She changed when Rafael-jiisan and Seiran-baachan were murdered," Seika sniffed. "T- They were going to adopt me, as a favour to Papa..."

"To the Professor?" I blinked.

"No, to Professor Kannazuki Shiwasu," Ryuusei answered. "Seika was the daughter of one of Dad's colleagues with M.I.D.S. Her mother had already died long before, and about eight years ago Professor Kannazuki was killed by a reactor accident. Shimotsuki's parents would have adopted Seika, but..."

"The summer accident happened," Seika whispered. "Setsu-chan changed after that. She's... so cold, like ice."

"She's always been icy," Ryuusei answered. "You just never saw that side of Shimotsuki Setsuka. You only saw Setsu-chan."

"Ah, anyway, you guys know who did this to Nee-chan, right?" Uzuki puffed up her cheeks as she glared at us. "Nee-chan had a date... she was looking forward to it...! They ruined it like this... I can't forgive this!"

The group looked askance at the Uzuki trying to be strong.

"I think, Shimotsuki can't forgive this either," Rex muttered. "And, that this is only the start..."

"Missy...?" the questioning voice of Nakamura muttered. "Are you alright...?"

Shimotsuki growled. "That witch doesn't care!" Another field covered in ice. "To find my equal... what is this joke?"

Nakamura coughed uncomfortably. "I'm quite sure that what happened to Himemiya-san was not your fault, Missy."

"It's not," Setsuka shortly answered. "But I was responsible for Hazuki's safety. She took one of mine... I will make her pay it three times over. 'Seeds', was it...?"

"Seeds...? Missy, surely horticulture has nothing to do with this."

"Seeds... potential..." Setsuka whispered. "If we assume that they have some connection, however tenuous, with Duel Monsters, then... what would be her goal? To find the Summer monarch... but the Summer Court is gone..."

"Many things remain even when the things holding them together is gone," Nakamura-san spoke up.

The Arcadia Movement had duelling fields. Well, for an organisation centred around special-powered individuals that pertains especially to Duel Monsters, it was to be expected, but right now the true gravity of the situation was being placed in stark truth as Setsuka iced field after field. So strong was her rage that almost everything in the great expanse of empty space was covered in ice, be it living or non-living creature.

It was at these times that you had to recall that the Black Rose Witch would only have been the forerunner of a powerful new generation. A powerful new generation of Psychics whose scope and abilities are widely expanded by this girl... no, this woman. Shimotsuki Setsuka, the cold queen and the absolute ruler of th Arcadia Movement had vision far beyond that of Divine's one that Psychics would take the Earth.

Shimotsuki would probably be a bigger monster than Divine would ever have thought of.

"Who is there...?" her voice thundered, right as something fell and Chase Princeton was sprawled out in an undignified manner on the floor.

"Urk!" was his first reaction.

Her eyes narrowed. "You better have a good explanation, cretin."

Behind Chase Princeton, there was usually acknowledged to be nothing. However, any capable of spiritual sight would have seen the large purple-scaled dragon direct green eyes at Setsuka.

Salutations to the Queen of Air and Darkness, the voice of the spirit whispered, its voice brimming with respect. Many more years may you reign.

"King Dragon of Nothingness, Dreigoon, my sincere greetings," Setsuka answered formally. "I did not know that you had... been occupied by my acquaintance."

Ah, it is a long story. How I wish to be the one to raze whole armies to the ashes and four winds by your command once more. Shall there be a war next?

"Tam Lin clause," Setsuka answered. "It is... not unfavourable. Granted, I could see quite a few violations of individual rights and the problem of bridal kidnap inherent, but on the other hand it is hardly an unwelcome situation. Certainly, not for the next century, by which your current partner shall be presumably interred."

Well, I certainly can afford to wait. Though, I hear about the Sorciere de Fleur. It is not welcome, so many 'seeds'. Things like the Millennium Items, the Items of Darkness, the marks of the Signers and Dark Signers, crests of worlds, they are things that mark transition. Change.

"Well, change is the only constant," she answered. "You may do as you see fit."

Worlds shall clash.

"Then clash they shall," Setsuka waved. "Have I told you of my latest acquisition? Exodia himself delivered two souls contracted to him as a coronation gift."

What an honour. Live sacrifices have not been given since the last hikari finally took his place.

"Live sacrifice- Shimotsuki!" Chase raged. "You-"

"Quite the pretty one you've netted yourself this time," Setsuka remarked. "I distantly recall seeing your taint around Satonaka Ryuuga."

Was that his name? It never seemed important. He was a mere pawn that was not worth taking his soul for.

"Pretty?" Chase raged.

"Oh, Satonaka was your contractor," Setsuka commented, like one would about the weather. "He broke the contract, then Marguerite delivered you to this one."

Sadly, yes. At least this one is young, malleable.

"Quit ignoring me!" Chase yelled.

Both sets of cold eyes levelled at him, their gaze implacable and unknowing, unfathomable.

"Pointless talk," Setsuka finally pronounced. "If you wish for answers, then you should ask the right questions. Surely you have a brain capable of piecing together information, Duellist of the Infernity."

"What was that about?" Chase growled. "Anyway, Rei, quit ignoring me!"

It is not ignoring if the questions are mere background noise.

"What?" He spluttered.

I do not feel like teaching you about things that you will learn yourself in the future. You said that there was a midday meal.

"They don't have it here in Japan!"

Make one. Or find some way to summon myself.

"Greedy pig," Chase muttered, but left anyway.

Dreigoon, or Rei as was his name now, looked to the blue skies. Blue... they never had this colour in the Shadow Realm. Neither was it so warm... but it is bright. Too bright.

He thought of nothing more after that, save for the approaching teatime. There were worse ways to spend time awaiting the inevitable.

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