Boss Rush
X: Painful Choice
Surely a professional like you would be able to put up temporarily with such discomfort. The other Misawa I control is seventeen years old. Do you want a minor as your liaison? I thought not.
Koichi was, therefore, calling himself all kinds of stupid and banging his head against the nearest wall.
Tsugare watched this in mortified amusement. "Erm, well... I'm Misawa Tsugare."
"Yamamoto Koichi," Koichi relented. Dammit, if he'd known the man was a psychic... well, Setsuka would not have had this joke at his expense. "Listen, I'm a professional private eye. Therefore, right now, we're on duty, and I don't know you as the guy I slept with last night."
Tsugare's face turned blank. "Of course. If you promise not to stalk me after it."
"Me? Stalk you? Please," Koichi shook his head. "One, I'm straight. Okay? Two, I live across the world in London. Bit hard for me to do that."
"Hey, I just came back from London!"
And there was the fluttery feeling again. "Either way, you have my assurance of professional behaviour during the duration of this... job."
"That's quite reassuring," Tsugare smiled.
It sent his stomach flipping in pleasant ways. Koichi carefully began looking anywhere but at the man who was too feminine for his own good. "Right. Yes. Reassuring. Now, let's get the job done, or they'll be riding my ass about losing my touch."
"You're affiliated with the Movement, right?" Tsugare asked as they eased into the rented Honda, and he automatically took shotgun. "Boss said that you don't have powers."
"I don't," Koichi shortly answered. "I can see Duel spirits."
"That's impressive," Tsugare absently answered. "My cousin's boyfriend can see spirits, and my cousin can as well if he's in contact with his boyfriend."
"That's impressive," Koichi answered as the car peeled out. "So, my dear liaison, where do we hit? We've established that Cheryl Madison needed help to come to Neo Domino. There are only so many illegal hideouts in the city they can hide in, especially if it's a group, as Shimotsuki suspects."
"The Puzzle Area," Tsugare decided. "Plenty of seedy joints, illegal activities, and teenage gangs about to keep the police out. When it spills over the Boss just sends a team to kick heads in, but mostly they keep to themselves. Psychics found in that area tend to be hardened and rebellious, so Shimotsuki usually makes it a point to dissolve any gangs forcibly. If there's a larger area with a grudge against Shimotsuki and willing to keep them, it would be there."
"But then, the Cubic area is deserted at night," Koichi pointed out.
"There are also regular patrols there due to the numerous factories," Tsugare answered. "The Puzzle Area is almost hostile to psychics, especially the Boss. Well, each city has their bad areas, but it's improving."
"So what did Shimotsuki do?" Koichi asked. "To be hated?"
Tsugare remained quiet for a moment. "It's not Boss. It's the Madame."
"Madame Seiran Shimotsuki?" Koichi repeated in a hushed voice. The Madame was almost a legendary figure amongst all members. Well, anyone who gave birth to the ice queen would be, but the Madame even more so.
"The White Witch Massacre took place there," Tsugare dispassionately answered. "The police said that it was gang activity, but it was all the hardened gangs of the area against one woman with a DuelDisk. It was decided."
"Madame Shimotsuki won," Koichi whispered.
"Yes," Tsugare confessed. "Even after she died... well, the gangs all thought her ghost might come back to kick their asses once again. The Boss is scary enough. Even the student gangs keep away on a policy of tolerance without acceptance."
"Right," Koichi muttered. "But, I have a feeling about the Cubic Area. Should we go? We can get mugged in the Puzzle Area later."
"Not on top of my priority list, getting mugged, but I'll make an exception," Tsugare relented. "Hey... you're actually rather handsome."
Koichi coughed, wondering if this was how smokers felt when in nicotine withdrawal. "Thanks? You're really pushing the gay stereotype here."
"I'm bisexual," Tsugare cheerfully informed him. "Although most assume I'm gay right away. It's almost like the whole family is cursed to be pretty boys."
"The whole family?" Koichi swallowed.
"My younger brother, Ryokai, he's got black hair, plus that dark brooding air," Tsugare animatedly lined out. "Nowaki's got white hair and crimson eyes, he looks like an oni. And Akio... well, Akio's difficult to sum up. To me he's like a hidden psycho."
"What's with your family?" Koichi muttered. "All of you got it from the same place?"
Tsugare looked away. "My parents died."
"I'm sorry."
"Jii-sama is still alive, and Ryokai is taking over the family business from him," Tsugare shrugged. "With this face, I'm not cut out for the dark world, anyway."
"You'd most likely serve as someone's bitch," Koichi agreed.
Tsugare smirked, and Koichi realised with some growing horror that somehow, the seductive air had been ramped up to eleven. "Do you like this bitch, then?"
"No!" Koichi stomped on the brake a bit more forcefully than he should. "Look, I'm straight. Heterosexual. I bat for the straight team, see?"
"Kaido says that no one is hundred percent straight."
Koichi scowled. Of course Shimotsuki would put Kaido to educate about sex. "Kaido is too academically invested."
"Really? Kaido and his boyfriend have been going steady for a while."
Koichi nearly skidded again. "Kaido? Boyfriend? Seriously, the guy who spends winter hibernating in the library?"
"Yes, that Kaido," Tsugare uncrossed and crossed his legs, unconsciously getting Koichi to glance at them. "They have that... you know xxxHOLiC? Kaido is Watanuki with his flailing about, and the boyfriend is our stoic Doumeki."
"Never thought I'd be that bad," Koichi said with feeling. "How?"
"Apparently it started when Kaido was in college..."
Later, Koichi would reflect that wanting to know more about Misawa Tsugare should not be an appropriate response for a straight man to a gay man's advances. On hindsight, perhaps he should have seen the subtle hand of Shimotsuki's influence there. Or fate having a cosmic joke on him. All three looked more likely at the moment.
A ghostly puff of smoke passed through, waving to Koichi in agitation. Koichi's eyes widened as he swerved for the Cubic Area, nearly flooring the accelerator as he got to the place where the Cloudians were hovering about.
The injured forms of two girls greeted his headlights as he and Tsugare, both wearing professional façades, stepped out.
"They're alive," Tsugare quickly diagnosed as he felt for a pulse and breathing. "As far as I can tell. Get them in the car, I'm looking around for the assailant."
Koichi felt his respect go up. "How do you know about the assailant?"
Tsugare snorted. "We have Anna Shiloh down. Of course there's an assailant. But to answer, there's a patch of blood some way there," he motioned.
Sexy, beautiful, and smart. Crap. "Are you-"
Tsugare shot him a look, that meant all business. "Psychic Duellist. Shut up and load the girls in, dear."
Koichi was loading the second girl when he realised what Tsugare had called him. Somehow, that made him even more hot and bothered than anything.
Misawa Tsugare had just rounded the corner when a hand shot out for him. Being prepared for ambushes, it hit the Naturia Beast instead, who bit down and held on. There was a red flash as he tried to free him arm, to no avail.
"Ow!"
"Shinonome Kisaragi...?" Tsugare hissed as he shone the light from his cell to see the slender man.
"I got caught by Diarmuid," Kisaragi sighed, still shrugging with the beast.
Tsugare recognised the cadence. "You're Benibara?"
While the owner was stunned, Kisaragi took the chance to haul his arm back. "Dammit..."
"I thought you ran out of town!" Tsugare demanded.
"I've just been hiding for my life from the group and the NDPD, no worries." Kisaragi snarked back. "What, I don't even merit a 'how are you' right before you attack me, Tsu?"
"You killed someone, Kisaragi," Tsugare sounded tired. "You got caught."
"He was too close to you," Kisaragi defended. "Who's the other guy?"
"Some detective from out of town. London. Shimotsuki got him to look into the situation," Tsugare gave him an appraising look. "You're Gae Dearg, huh? You didn't call me by my name when you... accosted me."
"Oh, drop the fancy shit, Tsu," Kisaragi huffed. "Shimotsuki's turned you into a real sissy now? Don't worry, hon, with Shimotsuki gone we'll be together again."
"Kisaragi, you attacked my previous three boyfriends, killed one of them, and you still think it's the Movement?" Tsugare shook his head. "How did I end up with you in the first place? I'm booking you for assault, possible illegal entry, and just because you're being an idiot."
"You're a cop now?" Kisaragi repeated, taking a defensive stance as he threw a spear of red light that Tsugare barely dodged. "Tsu, we were together. We wrecked the whole Puzzle Area. What changed?"
"If we recount, we'll be here until sun-up," Tsugare sighed as the Naturia Beast growled beside him again. "You're not going to make this easy for me, are you?"
In answer, a spear nearly jabbed his trainer. Tsugare stumbled back, into a warm chest and a familiar smell of cigarettes and water that could only be the Thames.
"I wouldn't do that," Koichi warned behind him.
Tsugare sniffed. "Why do you smell like you've been through a cloud?"
"How d'you know how clouds smell?" Koichi defended.
"Nowaki. Tell you later." Tsugare stood back up. "Kisaragi, I mean it."
Kisaragi gave a wan smile. "So do I. We're unstoppable together, Tsu. Come on."
"Kisaragi, was it?" Koichi muttered. "So you injured those two?"
In answer, Kisaragi threw a spear of red light that Koichi dropped to avoid.
"Beast!" Tsugare growled as the lion-plant-earth monster growled, about to make a leap.
Koichi pulled something and fired, the line flying out to connect with Kisaragi's DuelDisk.
Kisaragi frowned at the rope. "Death-match Duel Rope?"
"Let's do this," Koichi grimly informed him. "I win, you come with me. You win, you go free tonight."
Kisaragi gave a slow smirk. "Okay."
"Duel!"
Koichi: LP 8000
Kisaragi: LP 8000
"Draw!" Koichi called. "I'll play the Continuous Spell, Summon Cloud. With that, I special summon Cloudian – Poison Cloud [0/1000] in defence mode. With that, I summon Cloudian – Cirrostratus [900/0]. Cirrostratus gains two Fog Counters for each Cloudian I control, that's two. Now, I'll set a card and end my turn."
"My turn, draw!" Kisaragi announced. "I'll summon Heroic Challenger – Spartan [1600/1000] in attack mode!"
"Heroics?" Koichi felt his eyebrows rise. "Well... right, I'm not going to joke about that."
"Spartan, attack Cirrostratus!" Kisaragi called.
Koichi winced as the attack cleaved through. "Cirrostratus can't be destroyed by battle."
Koichi: LP 8000 → LP 7300
Kisaragi: LP 8000
"I'll set two cards, turn end," Kisaragi signalled.
"Draw!" Koichi called. "I'll summon Cloudian – Turbulence [800/0]. Turbulence gets three Fog Counters because I control three Cloudians. I'll then activate the Continuous Spell, Cloudian Squall. Now, I use the effect of Cirrostratus. By removing two Fog Counters, I get to destroy one monster you control."
"Oh... say what?" Kisaragi slowly blinked.
"Poof," Koichi intoned as the warrior disappeared. "With that, I use the effect of Turbulence to remove two counters to special summon two Cloudian – Smoke Ball [200/600] to the field. That's a full field of monsters that I tribute for Cloudian – Nimbusman [1000/1000]!"
"It's... not very impressive," Kisaragi pointed out.
"Nimbusman gains five Fog Counters for each Water Attribute monster tributed for him," Koichi bemusedly answered. "Each Counter gives him five hundred attack power [1000/1000 → 3500/1000]."
"... well, crud," Kisaragi admitted.
"Nimbusman, direct attack!" Koichi called.
Kisaragi: LP 8000 → LP 4500
Koichi: LP 7300
"Trap, Damage Condenser," Kisaragi signalled. "I discard a card to special summon Heroic Challenger – Extra Sword [1000/1000] to the field."
"I'll set a card, turn end," Koichi called.
"Draw!" Kisaragi called, cackling. Somehow, Koichi did not like that look. "I'll summon Heroic Challenger – Double Lance [1700/900] to the field. With that, I use his effect to special summon another Heroic Challenger – Double Lance that I discarded last turn. Overlay Extra Sword and Double Lance, Exceed Summon! Come, Heroic Champion – Excalibur [2000/2000]!"
Cymbals clashed, trumpets seemed to flare as this warrior of the ages stepped up, its red and dark armour flaring in contrast with the shining sword.
From the sidelines, Tsugare swallowed. "Oh joy."
"What?" Koichi tried not to do anything in the face of the warrior that admittedly looked fantastic but was slightly lacking. "It's a bit... short."
Kisaragi's face set. "The effect of Excalibur – I detach both its materials, and its original attack doubles. Because I used Extra Sword, Excalibur gains one thousand attack [2000/2000 → 3000/2000] and then, now, it gains two thousand more until your next end phase [3000/2000 → 5000/2000]."
"...okay," Koichi acknowledged. "But Nimbusman can't be destroyed by battle, so I just have to wait, right?"
"Wrong," Kisaragi smirked. "I activate the Spell, Heroic Chance, which doubles the attack of Excalibur until my end phase [5000/2000 → 10000/2000]."
Koichi gaped. He blinked, and gaped some more. "Erm... I have no words."
"I'm not done," Kisaragi informed him with much glee. "Activate the Spell, Mini-Guts. I'll tribute my last Double Lance, and the attack of your Nimbusman drops to zero [3500/1000 → 0/1000]. Heroic Champion Excalibur, attack with Finishing Move of the True Blade!"
"Trap card, Spirit Barrier!" Koichi called desperately.
"Like I'd let you!" Kisaragi countered. "Trap card, Dark Bribe!"
"...I am so dead," Koichi admitted as the attack went through.
Koichi: LP 7300 → LP 0
Kisaragi: LP 4500
The attack carried through to land Koichi in a wall across the street as the Death-match Duel Rope crackled, electrocuting the DuelDisk.
"Bye, Tsu!" Kisaragi waved as he ran to disappear into the dark.
Tsugare groaned, bound to follow the law of the Duel. Boss was going to kill them.
Cheryl glanced at her new vacant-eyed flunkies. They were weak, unwashed, and nothing notable, whether mentally, on the face, or on the duelling field. Basically, pawns. However, pawns were certainly useful for grunt work and general threats, she was recalling to her delight.
"So, how did it go?" Cheryl innocently asked as the door opened and Kiyomi and Kisaragi staggered in.
"Bitches fought harder than expected," Kisaragi groaned. "We got two 'seeds', though. You owe me, Fragarach."
"I'll dispatch the details of Diarmuid with all haste," Kiyomi answered.
"Excellent," Kisaragi licked his lips as he headed for the nearest couch. "Wake me up for dinner."
Cheryl fumed as Sandra walked in. "What's with him?"
"He got caught in two Duels," Kiyomi groaned. "And both of them were affiliated with the Movement."
"So what happened to them?" Cheryl asked.
"We dropped them somewhere," Kiyomi shrugged. "Any leads?"
"Well, the Shimotsuki bitch is onto us," Cheryl confessed. "I think. She might have gotten to one of my flunkies, but I always order them to forget."
"Diarmuid would manage to loosen their tongues, sooner or later," Kiyomi groaned. "Fudo Ryuusei?"
"Regular schedule, but too public," Cheryl shrugged. "I thought I saw Marguerite about him sometimes, but, why would she hang around him? And she's always fiddling with a chain of some sort. Is it attached to this Summer monarch?"
"The Summer monarch is said to have a 'seed' far superior to any other," Kiyomi growled. "Equal to the Winter Queen's. Since the Winter Queen has other 'seed' holders on her side, we either get more holders, or get more 'seeds'. The latter is more preferable, though three people can't break into the Movement alone."
"Why him?" Cheryl pointed to Kisaragi. "I don't trust him."
"I don't trust him as far as I can throw him either," Kiyomi admitted. "Neither do I trust you as well, but his I trust even less. But, he's relatively easy to control, he's got something about Shimotsuki as well, and he's got an abnormal fixation on a certain pretty boy. That makes him predictable and controllable, to some extent."
"And me?"
Kiyomi looked at her. "You're incapable of taking orders, you wish for power to hold power, and basically, you're an independent agent who can get flunkies everywhere. You're more difficult to control."
"I'm so glad you know your place," Cheryl dismissed. "How long more? I don't think you can pay indefinitely."
"Doesn't make a difference," Kiyomi shrugged. "I estimate about three days before we have to make a choice, either hide out or strike the Movement first."
"So what do you recommend?" Cheryl curled in on herself.
"...hide out."
"What?" The green-haired Alien Duellist spat. "No!"
"Six people," Kiyomi pointed. "Arcadia Movement. Even with the two 'seeds', unless we have one very strong psychic on the level of Shimotsuki, we have almost no chance. Kisaragi only just narrowly escaped being taken in because his opponent was playing a deck unsuited to handle Beatdown. Right now, we can't handle even the lower levels of the Movement, not even Shimotsuki."
"How do you know?" Cheryl demanded. "We might be able to make our way through."
Kiyomi gave a bitter laugh. "I did some secret research. Have you ever heard of the Elysium Circle?"
Cheryl frowned. "The ones that attacked Gotham, right?"
"Right. Setsuka Shimotsuki dealt with them alone, brought them all down and kicked heads in, and became the most bloodied head of the Arcadia Movement in its secret history," Kiyomi shook his head. "At eleven years old. They were an established group, with more funding, research and power than us. They all fell to her power. This is the Duellist who commands the Arcadia Movements across the world at her young age. This is the opponent we're facing."
Cheryl swallowed. She remembered, the icy touch, the cold eyes, the promise of pain that came even as she screamed and cried to win...
No, never again. She will win, and the face of Shimotsuki Setsuka will be staring blankly as she took over. Not a doll. Not a doll at all. "What do we do?"
Kiyomi shook his head. This was too easy. "Get Ryuusei Fudo."
Cheryl's face set. "Fine."
The monster lashed out at him as he drove past the Puzzle Area. As he swerved to narrowly skid to a stop, he gaped at the green-haired girl seated on the... creature.
"Fudo Ryuusei, come with me," she growled.
Ryuusei felt a prickling in his head again. "Why?"
She stared at him, her eyes prickling. "Come with me."
This time Ryuusei rubbed at the back of his head. "Why? Do you need something, Miss?"
She growled as her monster lashed out.
The smell of flowers intensified for a moment before the girl flew back.
"Ryuusei, my card."
Ryuusei slapped the Sorciere de Fleur card on the nearest DuelDisk, the holographic projection made real as Marguerite held her staff out. "Cheryl."
"Marguerite?" Cheryl sounded stunned.
"Another 'seed'?" Ryuusei asked quietly.
"Mmm," Marguerite affirmed. "Geas. The Obligation. Quite a desperate one, as well."
"I need your help," she muttered. "I need your power to kill Shimotsuki."
Ryuusei stared. And blinked. And stared some more. "Huh?"
"I. Need. Your Power." the girl slowly pronounced. "And I'm not asking, but challenging."
"That's... just pointless," Ryuusei made out.
"I don't care!" Cheryl snarled. "I just want to take my revenge on Shimotsuki. I'm sick of waiting." Behind her, her monster snarled in answer. "Gol'gar, attack!"
"Tytannial!" Ryuusei quickly drew and summoned, the monster coming out to deflect the tentacle with a sniff and a quick flash of red petals. "So you want a Duel."
"Yeah," Cheryl snarled. "If I win, you obey me. If you win, I leave you alone."
"Okay..." Ryuusei nodded, getting his DuelDisk.
"Duel!"
Ryuusei: LP 8000
Cheryl: LP 8000
"Draw!" Ryuusei called. "I'll summon Lonefire Blossom [500/1400], before I tribute it to special summon Dandylion [300/300] in defence more. I set a card. Turn end."
"Draw!" Cheryl snarled. "I summon Alien Warrior [1800/1300]! When I do that, I can special summon Alien Dog [1500/1000] and place two A-Counters on your Dandylion. Now, I remove both A-Counters to special summon Alien Overlord [2200/1600]!"
Ryuusei frowned as the monster hit the field.
"Alien Overlord, attack the Dandylion!" Cheryl demanded.
"Dandylion gives two Fluff Tokens when it hits the graveyard," Ryuusei informed her.
"And those two are destroyed," Cheryl pointed out. "Bad hand?"
"Who knows," Ryuusei neutrally answered.
"Sucks for you," Cheryl shrugged. "I'll play Code A Ancient Ruins and end my turn."
"Draw!" Ryuusei called. "I activate the set card, Limit Reverse. I'll revive Lonefire and use its effect to special summon Gigaplant [2400/1200]. Equip Supervise to activate its Gemini effect to revive Lonefire and special summon Copy Plant. Then, I summon Debris Dragon [1000/2000] and use its effect to special summon Dandylion. Chilling flames engulf the entire world. Pitch-dark flower, set in bloom! Synchro summon! Appear now, Black Rose Dragon!"
With a roar, the monster appeared [2400/1800].
"Dandylion gives me two Fluff Tokens," Ryuusei announced. "Tuning, two level one Tokens to level one Copy Plant. Evening shades envelop the world; herald of the night, shine. Take flight, Synchro Tuner, Twilight Rose Dragon!"
The dark dragon purred as it appeared [500/1400].
"Activate the effect of Twilight Rose, I tribute Gigaplant to special summon Lonefire Blossom once more," Ryuusei announced. "Tribute Lonefire to special summon Tytannial the Princess of Camellias [2800/2600]. Because Supervise leaves the field, Gigaplant is special summoned once more."
"Four monsters already," Cheryl gaped. "I was right."
"Tuning, level seven Black Rose Dragon to level three Twilight Rose Dragon!" Ryuusei called. "Farewell, glorious sun; flower of the night, bloom! Accel Synchro! From the darkness greet me, Night Rose Dragon!"
Brilliant diamond-dust appeared as the monster did too, its wings alight and gleaming [3000/2500].
"Activate the effect of Night Rose!" Ryuusei called. "I banish any number of Plant Type monsters from my graveyard to destroy a number of cards on the field equal to the number of monsters banished. That's Dandylion, Lonefire Blossom, and Copy Plant. Now, Tytannial, Gigaplant, Night Rose. Direct attack!"
Cheryl's eyes gleamed, even as she was attacked.
Cheryl: LP 8000 → LP 0
Ryuusei: LP 8000
"What power..." she breathed as she staggered back up. "I must have that."
"I don't believe that disposing of Shimotsuki will result in anything," Ryuusei pointed out. "Please stop this. There's nothing to be gained."
"I'll feel much better," Cheryl snarled. "Now, die."
Ryuusei felt the prickle increase in volume. "You said..."
"Yes, that I'd leave you alone," Cheryl snapped. "What better way than to make sure that you're dead?"
Night Rose screamed, a horrible echoing sound that reverberated about as the red princess leapt to defend him and Gigaplant snapped its jaws in her direction, the two monsters single-minded in their determination as they fought and gnashed at her. The exotic tentacles of Night Rose Dragon snapped about like a living mass of brambles.
Cheryl screamed as one snapped at her. "Die!"
Her Gol'gar advanced, or tried to, but under the blue-black fire of Night Rose's Witching Obscurity, Ryuusei staggered back and away, dispassionately watching as Night Rose growled, driving vine after vine into Gol'gar.
He was familiar with root action. It was where plant roots dug into the cracks of rock and expanded, exerting pressure at an unbelievably constant rate to slowly break apart the rock as the root diameter expanded, growing and growing to ease apart the crack and then finally crack apart the rock. He was witnessing the year-upon-year action of roots on stone condensed into a few terminally eye-watering seconds for the luckless Alien.
There was a sickening crack as Night Rose dropped the bleeding, erm, tentacled... mess... of a monster that shattered to so much shards and pixels before Cheryl. Slowly, the angular creature of the night blooms advanced onto her. One vine snaked out to snatch out, grabbing. Another mote of light flickered, Ryuusei noted, but he was too absorbed in Night Rose's actions.
"Night Rose!" Ryuusei shouted.
The dragon was more interested in snapping out, its sharp pointed teeth growling and blue-black flames dancing as it was about to-
"Night Rose Dragon!" Ryuusei shouted. "Stop!"
The dragon gave a growl, almost like a whimper from a dog who knew full well who was its master but unwilling to give up. The vines dropped to the ground as Night Rose turned its head slightly to regard him with intelligent, bright eyes.
"Night Rose Dragon," Ryuusei repeated. "Come. It's over."
Red petals shifted as Tytannial craned her head to glance at him, and Gigaplant even seemed concerned, making noises that Ryuusei could only vaguely interpret.
"Communication," Marguerite noted. "Hearing. The second of the chains. Four more."
There was a thud, and Ryuusei whirled around to see that Cheryl had fainted.
"Oh, come on."
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