Boss Rush

XII: Gambler of Legend

Every power-oriented organisation had its own nicknames for that special team gathered together for dangerous or important missions. The Arcadia Movements across the world held that as well. The European Movement used the codename of Black Roses for its alpha team, the North American one used military jargon, even the African Movement had code-names assigned to its greatest members, aside from each member's own personal code-name that was used to register files into the computer databases.

The Central Movement was no exception. However, as every Movement head held their own discretion, so did Setsuka about the name for the team; Royal Flush. Yet, for eight years until now there had been no need to form one, since the presence of the so-called White Queen was usually enough to prevent most crime already.

The first Royal Flush assault team was formed that day, beginning with the other most powerful psychic within the Central Movement.

"...which is therefore the goal of every single effort our organisation carries out..."

Briefly, Fudo Ryuusei considered yawning. That passing thought of rebellion faded as soon as it came. You yawned in front of Shimotsuki Setsuka only if you wanted that tongue fed to you, and Ryuusei was very attached to various parts of himself, including the articulator. Besides, this conversation was important as well...

"And thus, Regulus, you would do well not to embarrass your peers..."

…but it was getting repetitive. "We've been through this. Spare me the talk, please."

Setsuka paused in the middle of her perfunctory lecture to give him a look. "Fine. But, this is a highly sensitive arrangement. It will be the first time I am actually employing you in such a sensitive capacity. You realise that I cannot guarantee your life, correct?"

"I've been through enough missions you give us," Ryuusei nodded, still awake. "Basically, you're expecting a big handout from this, aren't you?"

"I am not," Setsuka answered. "Duel Academia is. Therefore, the protection detail. You'll be working with White Rose, Sylph, and Angel."

"Angel?" Ryuusei mouthed. "Who's that? And what happened to Glen and Reggie?"

"I loaned them to the police," Setsuka answered with relish as her office door opened. "Misawa Tsugare, you look as pretty as I saw you last. How many attempts was it now?"

"Boss, that's just cruel," the tall thin purple-haired man sniffed, clutching onto the shorter white-haired doppelgänger beside him for comfort. Both of them wore stylish black, Tsugare with belts and chains, and his younger cousin Misawa Nowaki, more popularly known as Youkai, wore a scarf.

"Boss," Youkai greeted, short, perfunctory, and unlike the trickster. Ryuusei knew for a fact that it was because of Rex's idea of a joke that Youkai ended up not getting into his boyfriend's room last night that had the white-haired psychic so listless. Raging hormones aside, Ryuusei then turned to the last member of the group.

"Shimotsuki-san," the girl greeted. She had extremely long blue-black hair done in a French plait, was extremely pale and skinny, with large, round indigo eyes, deep red lips, and a decidedly French air about her. She wore a red beret, a black strapless shirt, knee-length black skirt with white polka-dots on it, along with a red blazer, black Converse, and a very modest diamond ring on her engagement finger.

Ryuusei looked from Alexianna LeRouge to Setsuka. "Seriously? And Ishihara isn't throwing a fit?"

"Ishihara Takeshi does not decide how the Arcadia Movement is run," Setsuka archly replied. "Neither, in fact, can he control his fiancé's actions. If Angel was to decide to wish to contribute to our ever dwindling coffers, then obviously giving her some work is the best thing to do."

"Sherry-san...?"

"Madame LeBlanc is entirely amenable," Setsuka replied. Which could mean a lot of things. "I did, after all, offer to cover for not only her upcoming elopement, but also all subsequent overhead fees incurred. Such as the damages done in a certain-"

"Thank you very much, Boss!" Alexianna called loudly. "I'll repay you, I promise!"

Setsuka's cold gaze swept from the nervous Tsugare, to the spooked Youkai, to Alexianna, and finally to Ryuusei. "See that you do."

Ryuusei paused. "Do you hear someone laughing?"

"No," Setsuka crossed her arms. "The target is the City Hall, where the Policeman's Ball is taking place. During that time, for charity's sake, a stack of Duel Monster cards will be placed on auction for charity. This will be a five-man protection detail."

Ryuusei glanced from Tsugare to Youkai, Alexianna and then himself. "Who's number five?"

"I am," Setsuka answered shortly. "I will be attending in the crowd. Tsugare, Nowaki, you will be part of the... performance detail, if you cannot find your own way in. Ryuusei, I suspect that your grandfather will be appearing, so you will meet him there. Alexianna, you will be representing LeBlanc Gaming in this."

"What?" Alexianna protested. "But... does Aunt Sherry know?"

"Of course," Setsuka answered. "LeBlanc Gaming is already looking into expanding into Neo Domino anyway. Anyway, Mayor Yeager himself asked, no, begged for additional protection."

"What kind of cards are being sold?" Ryuusei asked.

"I know for a fact that a first edition of Witch of the Black Forest is amongst the pile," Setsuka murmured to much amazement from the other members. "There is also an edition of Blizzard Princess, and possibly a Five God Dragon, on top of the Pyrorex the Elemental Lord I am eyeing."

There was a collective hiss at the list's rarity. Ryuusei quickly calculated, and realised that since James Cook's return to Australia, Setsuka had been getting more irritated.

Setsuka continued. "Now, for the purposes of this mission I will have new code-names assigned. Alexianna, Ten. Tsugare, Ace. Nowaki, Jack. Ryuusei, King. Myself, I will take Queen. Any questions?"

"Why poker?" Ryuusei asked.

She smirked. "This is a gamble. Why ever not poker?"

Koichi stared. "I have to act stuck up."

"Yes, you do," Tsugare shrugged.

"Why one week?"

"City Hall is publicly open, otherwise there's a lot of problems associated with entering the building for the party."

"Then, shouldn't we watch the catering people?" Koichi pointed out.

"Too many associated catering companies," Tsugare waved. "It's not that important of a gathering anyway, not like there's anyone being gunned for. Besides, can you think of any other job than bus-boy that lets you get into the main area?"

Koichi touched his own ice-blue hair. "Okay, you have a point. But a suit is going to look weird."

"Suck it up or dye your hair," Tsugare pointed out. "I can't believe Boss suggested this disguise..."

"Yes," the white-haired Youkai sneaked up on his older cousin. "You're going as an escort, Tsu-nii."

A vein throbbed in his temple. "Say it again and I'll strangle you, Nowaki..."

"I can see the family resemblance," Koichi glanced from Youkai to Tsugare. "What horrifying blood."

Youkai glanced from a nervous Tsugare to Koichi, before breaking out in a grin. "Oh. So you're-"

"Absolutely not!" Tsugare broke out. "He's straight!"

Youkai gave him a look that plainly communicated: nice try. "So, a private dick."

Tsugare groaned at the horrible joke. "Shut up, Nowaki."

Youkai glanced at Koichi with glimmering crimson eyes. "Well, I'll trust Tsu-nii to you. But, break his heart and you'll suffer from Ryo-nii."

"Nowaki!" Tsugare growled as the younger Misawa laughed. "Geez, younger cousins..."

"Well, someone's got to look out for this useless teaser for sexual predators," Youkai pointed out. "By the way, did you see the costume you need?"

Tsugare and Koichi glanced at the boy.

"A dress," Youkai cheerfully dropped the bombshell.

Granite seemed to ring as Tsugare gently let his head fall on the nearest wall. "I have to go in drag...?"

"There's no difference between you and a woman when you put your mind to it," Youkai remarked.

"I don't want to hear it from you," Tsugare snapped back in answer. "Anyway, why do I have to go in drag...?"

"Shinonome Kisaragi's seen you as a guy," Youkai countered. "Unless you two played bedroom games or something, I don't think he's ever seen you as a girl."

Tsugare flushed red. "No, he's never seen me as a girl, and it's going to remain that way."

"'Kay. Then he won't recognise you," Youkai pointed. "Work on that falsetto."

"Hang on, who am I accompanying?" Tsugare swallowed. "If it's-"

"You'll be accompanying Kaido," Youkai scoffed. "He's been called in as an authentication expert for that day, and Shinamori isn't around."

"What a relief," Tsugare sighed. "For a moment I thought Boss had to call in a favour..."

"In drag?" Koichi coughed. Somehow, he found that Tsugare as a girl was really convincing, from personal experience... "Really?"

"Boss is a true sadist," Tsugare complained.

"You're a useless uke, so you might as well tolerate this," Youkai smirked. "Honey-trap."

"You're a honey-trap as well!" Tsugare hardly sounded convinced.

"Well, I don't look so feminine like you. Besides, my speciality is in pursuit," Youkai argued. "So, I'll leave you two love-birds alone."

"We're not love-birds!" Tsugare and Koichi yelled as the white-haired boy laughed and left.

An awkward silence fell.

"Erm, sorry about him," Tsugare muttered. "He's just snippy and in love."

"Oh?" Koichi noted. "Must be a lucky girl."

"Guy."

"...oops."

"Dammit," Tsugare muttered. "I hate drag."

"Then tell her," Koichi pointed out.

"Well..." Tsugare muttered. "It's necessary. Have you ever tried arguing with Shimotsuki's pure rationality?"

Koichi shivered. "No, but I've seen the result. Reduced to a puddle of crying man... terrible... Do you do this often? Dress up in drag?"

"Well," Tsugare sighed, and Koichi found himself drawn to the man again. "It's just one more time. Besides, there are some people who mistake me as a girl even when I'm not in drag..."

Koichi coughed, deciding to change the subject before the image of Tsugare in a dress was permanently seared into his head. "So, you were in London, right...?"

Ishihara Takeshi put his face into his hands later. "Why?"

Alexianna stood nervously in front of the dark-haired boy. "Because... we need to find Kaname-san."

"But..." Takeshi groaned. "You placed yourself in debt to Shimotsuki! Do you know what that means!"

"I'm going to the Policeman's Ball," Alexianna answered. "I'm going to watch a stack of rare cards sold off in a raffle. With that, my agreement is finished."

"It's never so simple where Shimotsuki is concerned," Takeshi scowled. "I... Nee-chan lost herself in the work just because... I don't want to lose you either..."

"Takeshi..." Alexianna whispered as she pulled him into her embrace. "It's going to be fine. I'm going to be alright. I did this with the European Movement before..."

"Yes, I know," Takeshi shortly answered as his own arms wrapped around her. "You got revenge against the guys who introduced Jean to drugs. But... you know that there's a very good reason why working for the Movement in Neo Domino is somehow always more complex, because that girl is the lynch-pin of everything."

"I know, Takeshi," Alexianna tried to smile. "Don't worry. I'm not going down so easily. I'm not one of the Black Roses for nothing."

Takeshi's hand stilled. "I know. I know."

"You can touch spirits now," Marguerite said. It was an observation, not a suggestion.

Ryuusei looked up from where some of the spirits had been sitting on his desk. "Ah. Yes, I can. I don't know when it started, but I can."

Three more chains bound... if we assume that each chain correspond to a sense, then, Sight, Listening, and Touch has been unbound... only Smell, Taste, and Understanding remain. If that is so, then spirits would be able to sense him on these three levels, because if you can sense something, something can sense you. By the laws of the sense...

"You know, I think my psychic powers are growing stronger," Ryuusei remarked. "The plum blossoms are blooming already."

"Ah," Marguerite answered. "Because you think that you can, hence they obey you."

The sprites tittered. "Marguerite... what do you think Shimotsuki is doing?"

"It can be something innocent, or it could be something else," she answered dutifully. "What do you think?"

"I think that group with Cheryl might be hitting the City Hall," Ryuusei answered. "Otherwise, why would Shimotsuki herself even participate? Wouldn't this mean that the leaders of both groups might cross here?"

"Oh, but there you have it wrong," Marguerite pointed. "Is there only two groups? Activities might suggest so, but, can there be more than one group? Never assume that there is only one enemy. All spirits are following their own agenda. It is even possible that I may be the puppet-master."

The boy and the magician exchanged a long, level look before Marguerite looked away. "Never forget that. There may be another traitor like Alector that is supporting the other side. Well, either way all parties will gather there. So... dress well."

"Of course, Marguerite."

"That's good..."...only three more chains...

Kiyomi glanced from the three girls, to Kaname, and to Kisaragi. "I'm sad to say... that Cheryl never made it."

There was a collective gasp from Kaname and Kisaragi.

"What do you mean, never made it?" Lulta protested, her caramel eyes glimmering. "She's..."

"Cheryl was a wanted felon who ran afoul of the Arcadia Movement," Kiyomi answered with a dead tone. "It is not unusual to suspect that she may have already been disposed of."

"Disposed of?" the fiery one of the trio, Sandra, demanded. "How can you speak so coldly of her... even though she wasn't nice-"

"Cheryl Madison is nothing to Shimotsuki Setsuka," Kiyomi cut in. "Do you know what happens to people who oppose the Movement by violent means?"

"They..." Kaname drew in on herself. "They die."

All eyes flicked to her as Kiyomi nodded in affirmation. "They die. And there is no record of them, because they disappear. The only one who might actually know what happened is Shimotsuki Setsuka herself."

Krissy looked at him. "So, the only one who may have an idea is Shimotsuki Setsuka?"

"Yes," Kiyomi affirmed in answer. "One way or another, we all have a goal that the Shimotsuki line is preventing us from fulfilling. Alone, there is no way we can stand up to the power she holds. Together, we may have a chance. Krissy, to find your father... Sandra, Lulta, to help her and to fight the Shimotsuki respectively. Kisaragi, to get to a certain pretty boy. Myself... I want to find knowledge and settle a score between the Natashi and the Shimotsuki, a feud that extends to the White Witch herself. To recover that knowledge, the key to knowledge... I, Fragarach the Answerer, will pledge the 'seed' of power to this cause, as well as Dyrnwyn the White Hilt to this cause."

A moment of silence before Krissy nodded.

"Well, that settles it," Lulta shrugged as Sandra just sat back. "We're in."

"I'll pledge Gae Dearg the Red Spear, and Areadbhair the Slaughterer to this," Kisaragi stepped up.

In the ensuing heavy silence, there could only be heard the echoes of their voices, the echoes of darkness.

It was not an oft-publicised thing, but the Arcadia Movement building itself functioned as a sort of dorm room for psychics with no place to go.

Being approximately fifty stories in height, it was on freehold property held by the Shimotsuki family itself, and therefore subject to the whims of Setsuka Shimotsuki. Residents paid a nominal fee in either work or services, which included cheap meals and facilities, but also with the understanding that here was a place where its residents worked for their keep with the head of the Movement, and her charity only extended so much. There were families who paid for their wayward wards for rehabilitation or isolation, but the head did not care. Outside the building, everything was not her control. Inside the building, she was queen of the castle. Before her, everyone was equal; below her, that is.

Of course, the building therefore held its own penthouse suite, which took up the entire top floor of the building. It was occupied by the one and only Shimotsuki Setsuka, and had been since the murder of the Shimotsuki master and mistress almost seven years ago. The old manor house itself was maintained on the outskirts of the city, still being cared for by paid hands...

"Your Majestyis aware of who is responsible," the voice of Dewloren spoke as Setsuka stared of the large windows towards the north, where, if one looked closely with a telescope, the old manor might be glimpsed. "For the escape and travel of the Madison girl."

"I presume then that Cheryl Madison made it safely?"

"She has faced human trial, and expected human imprisonment. Imagine her surprise when she faced us of the Ice Barrier tribe, My Queen."

"Do not let her off lightly, Dewloren. I will be sorely displeased."

"As you wish. Winter is cowed into power once more by Your Majesty's ability. Is there anything on this mortal plane that worries Your Majesty?"

"There is a group that seeks to end my life with powers caused by the 'bloom' of Marguerite's magic. I have established that there may be a link between Fudo Ryuusei and the Witch of the Time Flower. I see him with greater clarity in the spiritual sight, Dewloren, and I believe it an indication of things to come. In the days to come we may or may not clash. I believe... I believe that the Summer monarch may show itself there."

"Perhaps. Who knows the whims of Queen Titania. Even yourself, who hold the soul of Queen Maeve will not understand her occasionally. Shall I prepare a contingent, then?"

"No. I will call upon you if I require my guard. Until then, Dewloren, you may allow the lower levels rein into the mortal plane."

"But, Your Majesty, previously you have not wanted us."

"... I miss my court."

"... as you wish. Shall myself be present?"

"I do not believe that it may be necessary, but if I require my majordomo it shall certainly be done," She answered as she walked out to where the four others were waiting along with a group of her regular tailors.

"All of you are representing the Arcadia Movement," She began her lecture. "Even if you're not, you will be presenting yourselves before the upper crust of Neo Domino. You may think nothing of making fools of yourselves, but I am relied upon to ensure that at the very least, anything you may to make a pig's ear of it would be discounted as the fallacy of youth. Because, here is more than just your reputation at stake. Here..."

"Explosives?"

Kisaragi pointed to a bunch of sticks taped together. "Check."

"Cutters?"

Sandra held up the implements. "Check?"

"Reminder why are we doing this?" Krissy called.

Kiyomi looked up from his list. "Because we are doing more than breaking into Neo Domino City Hall when it's full of cops. We will be facing off against the Arcadia Movement for the first time. We will be facing our enemy for the first time. In shirt, this..."

"... will be the ultimate gamble." So the promise was made.

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