Boss Rush

IV: Trust Guardian

Sunlight filtered in through the curtains of the four-poster bed as Setsuka Shimotsuki stirred awake. "It's morning already."

The tiger sleeping by the foot of the bed opened its yellow eyes. "It is, Mistress."

"He finally gave me something for White Day."

"So he did?"

"Dewloren," Setsuka changed the subject. "What do you think of her motives?"

"She is searching for the Summer monarch," the Tiger King answered."It could be a male, it could also be female. In the end, it depends. Until then, the Summer monarch will remain mortal. If we were to strike-"

"I have no interest in that, Dewloren," Setsuka answered. "In the end, no matter how the Sorciere acts, she is merely a tool to correct the balance. To find the Summer monarch who can take on the crown without undue harm would require someone of exceptional Duelling skill within my own proximity. Therefore, the exceptional Duellists of the generation will gather in Neo Domino. Whoever wins, whoever loses, she intends to make this city a bloodbath to unlock the Summer monarch. Typical of Summer. There is no need to aggravate the situation."

"Mistress, the Summer monarch will be the only one who has a chance of killing you once you have ascended. Are you certain of it?"

"A reminder of mortality is good," Setsuka answered. "Like losing one's parents, like realising how alone one truly is... the Summer monarch will be the only one amongst many who will be intimately familiar with this. What I am certain of, is that whoever it is, they will straddle two worlds like me until they choose."

"But, Mistress..."

"It won't change the contract," Setsuka gently answered. "Until I can think like a spirit, I am human. While I have this human heart, I will remain. In th end, I am not completely spirit, just like the Summer monarch is not completely spirit, nor is he completely human, just like I am no longer completely human."

"One would say that that is a paradoxical state of existence."

"There are indefinite things in this world that remain unexplained," Setsuka answered. "The manga had it right. No matter how weird it is, mankind will always observe it. It will always be so with mankind. But it is the imagination. But it is the past. People are the strangest creatures."

Dewloren looked back at her. "You are the Winter Queen, Queen of Air and Darkness, Queen of Air and Darkness, Chatelaine of Lia Fáil, and titled Great Queen of Phantoms and Lady of the Frost Moon. Regardless of whether you are human or spirit, your counterpart will be the monarch of Summer, Ruler of the Land and Light, Chatelaine of Cloch de Fáil, titled the Shining One, whether they are human or spirit."

"And lives will be lost," Setsuka noted.

"And lives will be lost," Dewloren agreed. "The cruelty of the Sorciere de Fleur is an arbitrary, random one. It is not deliberate. That makes the fates that the 'seeds' she scatters even more cruel, even if the basis is silly as it is. Because only one of those many, innumerable seeds will bloom into the one to match Winter."

Setsuka lazily stretched as she crawled out of the high-thread-count sheets. "Well, it is useless to think about such things. It would be better to think of whether locating the Summer monarch ourselves or playing along with this game is better."

"I am not aware that you are able to locate the Summer monarch."

"You said it yourself, the Summer monarch will be my counterpart," Setsuka pointed out as she lifted the curtain. "It is conceivable that they are already amongst us. In the Arcadia Movement... in that case, if 'seeds' that are beyond any psychic or normal power are introduced into the pool of talents at the Movement, what do you think will be the result?"

"They will inevitably challenge- I see! So-"

"I am being used to uncover the Summer monarch," Setsuka nodded. "In the end, for all her skill at time magic, that is the ultimate plan. What a simple plan. Simple, yet clever."

"Still, we could stop this plan. We merely need to inform the pieces we know."

"The rock, once it starts to roll down the hill, it won't stop," Setsuka answered. "It will keep rolling until the end of the road. If we stop this plan, she will try another. Spirits are nothing if not persistent, after all, and if she tries something else, this mortal world might well fall apart. On the other hand, she may find the Summer monarch. She may not. Gifting so many 'seeds' will only drain her power until there are only dregs of it when she finally finds the true Summer monarch, and knowledge is one of those things she will find difficult to pass onto him. We will have an inexperienced monarch on our hands. Thus, however you look at it, I win."

"As expected of our monarch," Dewloren bowed his head. "Our relationship has been formed. No matter how trivial the meeting and the incidents that follow may seem, a relationship is made. Even if it is for a short amount of time, a knot that has been tied does not unravel. You will use this link, and in the end the Summer monarch is under your influence."

"That depends. If the monarch is an enemy, I will destroy them. It serves no purpose for a senseless war to continue."

Ryuusei liked class. People were usually paying attention to something else, namely the teacher. And woe betide the idiot that did not pay attention to Marufuji Ryou-sensei.

Dandylion was playing over his desk as he scribbled down the gist of the whole thing.

"Where is your sense of restraint...?" Ryuusei muttered. "Still, it's odd... you've never been this active."

"What's up, Ryuusei?" Chase asked once they settled for lunch in the cafeteria. "And what's with the sunflower?"

"What sunflower?" Rex asked.

"That's precisely it," Ryuusei answered. "It's Dandylion. He's never been this active before."

"Tanpopo," Rex muttered. "Then that's rather odd, right? That Chase thought it was a sunflower..."

"It looks like one!" Chase defended. "Anyway, why would a spirit suddenly be stirring?"

"An omen...?" Rex suggested.

"Please, no," Ryuusei muttered. "Omens usually come in the form of..."

"Yes...?" one slender hand reached over and sharp fingernails poised over equally blue eyes as cold blue-grey eyes crinkled. "Were you going to say something, Fudo Ryuusei?"

"Not if you're doing to dig out my eyes, Shimotsuki Setsuka," Ryuusei countered. "Aren't you supposed to be eating over at Queens?"

The now second-year head prefect Setsuka crossed her legs as she took a seat at the circular table. "I have an assignment only you can do."

"I refuse," Ryuusei automatically answered. "Youkai-sempai isn't acting up because of Chase-"

"Oi!" Chase protested.

"-and Kisara is dating Rex, and they're fine. As long as nothing happens in our sphere, there's nothing you can do."

"Oh?" Setsuka pointed to a spot at the table, which to the spiritually aware contained a bristling Dandylion. "Tanpopo... how cute. Your assignment is to investigate why is this acting up."

"Dewloren can't act for you?" Chase interrupted.

"A three-hundred pound tiger walking around with me leading it," Setsuka raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, good point," Ryuusei looked away. "But then, you have a whole contingent to choose from."

"Today I'm also occupied by the Queen of Queens tournament committee," Setsuka answered. "There are only three people who can see spirits, that is, me, you and Chase Princeton. There are only two in the Arcadia Movement, so it's between you and me. I'm occupied, so you're the only one left."

"And why do I have to go?" Ryuusei muttered.

"So far, no one is attacking Sanctuary," Setsuka answered. "Therefore, it may be reasonable to assume ties to our school. My Dewloren and your Tanpopo-san has been acting up since we entered the school. In short, there is something about the campus that is disrupting the spirits. Therefore, before that happens, deal with it."

"You're leaving already?" Rex asked as Setsuka stood. "He hasn't even given you an answer."

"You forget, I know your type, Fudo Ryuusei," Setsuka murmured. "You won't let these mundane people get hurt when you can afford to. That is the kindness of your heart."

"We're going to investigate this, aren't we?" Rex muttered once she left.

"Yes," Ryuusei muttered. "Yes, we are."

If the rest of Duel Academia Kings were confused as their star was wandering about the campus, they never showed.

The buildings of Kings and Queens were arranged like a flying-goose formation, Kings lying to the east of Neo Domino, and Queens to the west, with the main auditorium and administration building held in the centre. Aside from the usual buildings of classrooms, facilities and lecture rooms, the shared facilities were scattered about the rest of the campus. It was hardly as large as, say, Central, but for a Duel Academia which held an elementary school, a middle school and a university-like high school within the same general area under the banner of Duel Academia, it was plenty large for a city like Neo Domino

"Dandylion, are you sure it's here?" Ryuusei held back as a stench of flowers reached him. A familiar, familiar smell...

"Samildanach, you are here."

Ryuusei turned to be faced with the pink-robed magician. "You're... Marguerite..."

"Equally skilled in many arts, how suitable a 'seed'," she whispered as the plant-lion bristled in agitation, her expression serene. Her expression turned sour, no, angry at seeing the lion.

"What, are those chains?" she spat as the smell of flowers grew stronger.

"What are you talking about?" Ryuusei defended. "You're... wait. 'Seeds'... then, you're the one who turned Hazuki into that state?"

"Oh, you mean the Eriau," Marguerite answered absently. "Her seed was brilliant, but she wasn't ready for it to bloom. Not for a long time, but at least it's not like it was never meant to bloom."

"You injured her, and she could have died!" Ryuusei defended. "Do you even care?"

"Should I?" Marguerite inquisitively asked. "In the end, her death would have been sad, but it would have meant nothing. What is important is finding that important person. As the holder to a 'seed', you must know as well, nothing is more important for a 'seed' than to bloom, and bloom well. I must find that person."

Ryuusei looked at her for a long moment, under which she stared back. "Then... if I help you find that person, will you stop causing people to be injured?"

"E- Excuse me?" Marguerite paused, and her serene expression actually looked stunned.

"I'm sure, that this is also troublesome for you," Ryuusei pleaded. "And, if you're searching for such an important person, then surely having more people to help can't go wrong, right? I'll help you."

"You'd... do that?" Marguerite whispered. "But... I hurt your friend. Why would you do that...?"

"Why were you searching so desperately?" Ryuusei questioned. "Because you also have things precious to you, right? So precious, that you'd even hurt others for that. To pursue a thing even if the present world is lost. Even when comfort is abandoned, knowing the importance of the thing to be lost and the pain it brings though. Still yearning for it, existing for it. That is true determination, isn't it?"

"I... I don't know," Marguerite whispered. "I... I just need to find that person. But, that you'll help me... you're just a human! A human... holding a 'seed' that has yet to bloom... how can you help me?" The last part was almost mouthed in a silent scream.

Ryuusei choked on the smell of flowers. "I'll help you!"

"You... you will..." Marguerite whispered in disbelief. "You... mortal... no, human. What is your name?"

"Name?' Ryuusei started as the winds blew. "Well, this is sort of the first time we've talked face to face. I'm... wait, is this so important? I mean, I heard that you can control a person knowing their name."

"Names are very important, names have power," Marguerite nodded. "It doesn't matter if it's living or not, once you give it a name, you embodied that person or object with the same amount of power. Very well. I am the Sorciere de la Fleur Temps. I go by the name Marguerite."

"Marguerite... that's French, right?" Ryuusei nodded. "I'm Fudo Ryuusei."

"Ryuusei... the unmoving meteor," Marguerite translated. "A star... yes, my adopted name is French, a word for the flower mortals call Leucanthemum vulgare, or the daisy flower. Fudo Ryuusei... you are the first person to have offered to help me search for that person. For that... I thank you."

Ryuusei coughed, looking away. "So... who is that person?"

Many hours later, it was dark and Ryuusei was still struggling to interpret the name of the person. "Regina Titania Helena, er, what's this-"

Marguerite, still invisible, coughed delicately. "The mortal worlds would know her as Titania, Queen of the Faeries. It is her soul, that of the Summer monarch, that I seek."

"Oh," Ryuusei nodded, crossing his legs from his perch on his chair by his desk as he looked at Marguerite sprawled out on the bed he never occupied. "Do I dare ask why?"

"... I suppose it fair to answer," Marguerite nodded. "You are aware that the Winter Queen has taken mortal form in the girl, Setsuka Shimotsuki?"

Ryuusei nodded. "I saw you, at that castle with the parapet of Lia Fáil when we went to get Shimotsuki."

"Yes, I remember now," Marguerite confessed. "At the time when you came, Night Rose Knight, Tytannial was merely serving as regent queen, in place of the true queen and king consort Titania and Oberon, hence the name corruption and the title of Princess of Camellias. Although Tytannial has finally regrown herself, she has proven to be an incompetent monarch. Winter grows stronger in these dark and cold days, and the balance of powers remained threatened.

"The rivalry of the then-Queen of Summer Titania and the Winter Queen Maeve was legendary, but the balance was kept and everyone was happy... until Queen Titania was killed. Then, King Oberon marched into battle and killed Maeve in a fight to the death. Neither survived, and they entered the cycle of rebirth. Now, the Winter Queen is back, but the Summer monarch is nowhere to be found. I must therefore find the one who holds the soul of Titania and restore them to the Ivory Throne of Cloch de Fáil. The Warm Monarch is the only one who can face the Cold Queen."

"Did you know Titania...?" Ryuusei trailed off.

"...I was her handmaiden," Marguerite confessed. "We spirits do not make friends easily. I was a new spirit then, born from the Necro Fleur. Titania took me in and raised me, and thereafter I owe my everything to her. Even my mastery of time magic. It is because I wish to meet Titania, or whoever she may be now, that I am here..."

"Oi, are you alright?" Ryuusei asked as Marguerite doubled over suddenly.

"Duel spirits like me are physically incapable of staying in the mortal worlds for so long without a mortal shell to bind to," Marguerite coughed, her body wrecking. "I... I have power, but not enough to remain for so long a stretch of time."

"You just need a mortal shell, right?" Ryuusei asked. "Then...?"

"You... if you do so, we shall form a contract," Marguerite nodded. "If we do... you are far too kind, did you know that, Samildanach?"

"Well, it's obviously causing you discomfort!" Ryuusei snapped even as the Dandylion vibrated in agitation. "You still have to search for Titania, right? You can't continue like this! Someone who took you in wouldn't want you to be in pain!"

"I..." Marguerite shivered. "You are far too kind, Samildanach... no, Ryuusei. I have never granted you a 'seed', nor have I caused your 'seed' to bloom. If you would serve as my anchor to this world, then a debt is incurred. I will repay it."

"So... how do we form a contract?" Ryuusei asked. "There's no funny ritual involved, is there?"

"Ha!" Marguerite coughed. "The ritual is an agreement. If you would take me in, three services I render to you. Do we have an agreement? Answer yes or no. I will promise to obey the laws of your world to the best of my understanding."

"Agreed." Ryuusei nodded even as the Dandylion became frantic.

"Then, contract sealed," Marguerite murmured as a rope of light formed between their wrist and a transparent fleur-de-lis bearing three petals blinked onto his forearm, before disappearing. Right at the same time, the breathing of the Duel spirit seemed to ease some more. "I... should make your 'seed' bloom, shouldn't I? You wish for power, don't you?"

"...power isn't bad," Ryuusei admitted. "But, what I really wish for is something you can't give me, or something that's easy to get. I already have two constant companions, who remain even with my psychic powers being the thing that isolate me from them. They try, they do try. I don't regret having friends. I have relative wealth, a good family, good health and I can control my not-inconsiderable psychic powers. There's nothing wrong with my life right now. That's why, there's nothing you could give for me that I already have, but thank you, anyway."

"...you are a man of relatively simple wants, then," Marguerite whispered, closing her eyes. "I have met many humans in my quest to find the perfect 'seeds' that Titania-sama may hold. Some are greedy, some are desperate, some are pitiful. All of them, when faced with the promise of power, immediately reach for it, without knowing the consequences of their actions or the responsibility of their power..."

"...you're crying," Ryuusei whispered.

"I am...?" Marguerite echoed as she clawed at her face. "So these are tears...? What are they? In the imaginary world, this phenomenon does not exist..."

"What kind of world is that?" Ryuusei echoed.

"It is within the forests," Marguerite whispered, as if in a dream. "A place where sickness and death did not exist. It was a place of eternal youth and beauty. Here, music, strength, life, and all pleasurable pursuits came together in a single place. Happiness lasted forever; no one wanted for food or drink. We had humans wander through it. Some call it Tír na nÓg, some Mag Mell, but I knew it as Cloch de Fáil, where the Ivory Throne resides."

"Lia Fáil," Ryuusei recalled the castle as the top of th imaginary world from which Setsuka had been torn from.

"Yes," Marguerite nodded. "Cloch de Fáil stands opposite Lia Fáil. But, here, in this mortal world... there is pain, there is sorrow, there is distrust and rage and regret. Yet the happiness, the sweetness, it is far stronger. It is... different. I... I do not understand."

Ryuusei harrumphed. "So, what do we do? To find Titania?"

"Well..." Marguerite considered. "The first criteria is a 'seed' that has bloomed, and bloomed magnificently and the wielder has an innate proficiency to use it. The second is to combat the Winter Queen."

"Shimotsuki?" Ryuusei echoed. "Then that means that they would have to face Shimotsuki sooner or later."

"Yes," Marguerite confessed. "Yes, Summer and Winter must clash sooner or later. That is why, whatever 'seed' that has bloomed must face that terrifying power, that of the Morrigan. If I have found Titania-sama, I will bring them back to Cloch de Fáil to be crowned."

"... what happens if you don't?" Ryuusei asked in curiosity.

"I will," Marguerite affirmed. "Titania-sama will exist in the same plane as Maeve. She will be in this plane."

"If you're certain," Ryuusei nodded as a card fluttered to his table. "What is...?" he trailed of as he held up the card, Marguerite's exact likeness apparent.

"A mark of our contract," Marguerite answered.

Ryuusei nodded, slotting it into his deck. "I'll try it out. So, do you eat? Well, you're a spirit, so I don't know if I should invite you or something."

"E- Excuse me?" Marguerite blinked. "No..."

"Ah, that's sad," Ryuusei answered. "Seika's cooking is good enough to die for."

"I... I am able to perceive tastes through our contract," Marguerite answered, looking away. "If you are to eat, I will be able to perceive them through you. Then..."

"Ah," Ryuusei seriously nodded. "I'll be sure to taste enough foods for you, then."

Marguerite stared at his back as he left the room.

She was still staring as Fudo Ryuusei fell asleep. The green chains around him held by the Dandylion, the fact that he could see her, a trait far less common in the mortal worlds, and his very self... mortals were unusual.

Dandylion bristled as she tried to approach.

"Oh, shush, you," she sighed as she glanced at the man, asleep on the floor despite the bed present. "Now, let's see those chains."

The plant-lion growled, actually snarling as it began to bounce out of her otherwise magical reach.

"Hold still," Marguerite growled, trying to reach for the little monster that kept the chains. "Why? Why is this man chained to such an extent? Such fine work is beyond most Spellcasters, not even Queen Maeve could have woven something like this... I said hold!"

The Dandylion snorted as it landed in Ryuusei's embrace, almost daring her to reach.

"Lions... lions like you are the sign of royalty," Marguerite whispered. "So, why are you with him?"

The plant-lion continued its passive-aggressive stance.

"Tanpopo, be quiet..." Ryuusei murmured sleepily as he took the Dandylion to hug, the plant grinning all the while.

Marguerite gazed from the oddly loyal Duel spirit associated with royalty, to the constantly blooming plum blossoms outside the room by the window in the night. For a shining star and a witch to meet like this... "You... are a very strange mortal, Fudo Ryuusei. I think this contract will be very interesting. Now, let's start on that first chain."

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