Boss Rush
XIV: Gate Guardian
Kiyomi was running. His legs did not seem to want to obey him, still acting under Geas. Shimotsuki Setsuka was obviously more proficient and cunning than he had first thought, tricking even him with his own statements and powers. Exactly how much had she touched upon during that short conversation? Was this a trait of the awakened Winter Queen, or had she always been able to twist words and play games with the mind?
His hand throbbed, the fingers white and numb with cold. His DuelDisk was frozen over, a chuck of ice that he was trying to melt with Drynwyn. Admittedly, using a Water Attribute deck against an ice-user was a juvenile move, especially against a woman with the presence of mind to not only set off the sprinklers, but also control water better than him. At least he had recovered the USB, even if his entire hand had been frozen in the attempt.
Behind him, he could hear the footfalls of the tiger Dewloren, the Queen's majordomo running after him.
"Fuck," Kisaragi was running alongside with him. Kisaragi had bruises on his face and a split lip, plus what looked like a broken nose, especially as he ran like his ribs were just that side of tender that hurt. "Tsu was here, teamed up with his flighty cousin. They're both 'seed' holders, I mean, what's the chance...?"
"Kaname follows Winter," Kiyomi groaned. "Krissy's got her answer, which means that Sandra is out of our control-"
"Out of the way!" Sandra herself was running behind them for the emergency exit. "They've got Krissy!"
"We'll need to run," Kiyomi groaned as the ice finally broke. "Caledfwlch, I spotted it in the security feed. When did you make an agreement with Marguerite?"
"Long story," Sandra countered. "Help me, Natashi, and I'll help you get to Shimotsuki."
"Victoria!" Alexianna's voice commanded as the dragon-controlling Fairy monster snapped at their heels with its staff.
"Done," Kiyomi concluded as Kisaragi broke the window. All of them ignored the warning and the alarms as they vaulted over to make their escape.
"I'm giving chase!" Youkai prepared to jump after.
"No need," Tsugare stopped him. "Let's go. Boss will need the report. Alexianna, you're capable of projection, right? Can you get a monster to follow them?"
"Nothing small enough," she replied. "I have to help Takeshi with Kaname-san as well."
"Mmm," Tsugare analysed dispassionately. "We'll go back to Boss. If we pursue them they might take hostages."
It was with great reluctance that the younger members backed away.
The Arcadia Rights Bill of 20XX was a law unique to Neo Domino City. Under the administration of Mayor Yeager, it aimed to minimise civilian casualties by permitting psychics to use force to deal with threats to their own person, and the surroundings. There were anti-psychics not above hurting a few passers-by to achieve their aim of alienating psychics, and these were the sort that Neo Domino did not tolerate. It worked, to some extent. Yet, it was rarely used for a few reasons.
Right now, Ryuusei was facing one of the biggest reasons why the Arcadia Bill was hardly used; the word 'threat' was often vaguely defined, and any use of the bill required a full report. It was easier when there were police officers to vouch for them when the law was being put into practice; when that happened, the arresting officer became the one who did the report.
The highest-ranking officer, Captain Kaname Yuuko, glanced at him past her spectacles. "And the others went to secure the rest?"
Ryuusei nodded as he directed Black Rose Dragon to unwrap a pale, shaken Krissy from the vines to be arrested. "Yes."
"You remained behind to guard the prisoner?"
"Yes. Black Rose is hardly something that can be easily transported."
Yuuko's mouth twitched as he dissolved the dragon and put away the card. "I see. Well, thanks for your work, Fudo-kun. We'll be in touch."
"It's done?" Setsuka appeared, her dress torn slightly but mostly in good shape. "The others escaped. I caught them trying to steal files from the archives. You should get an information technology specialist there to check what had been duplicated and stolen."
The Captain's eyes lingered on Setsuka for a moment. "I see. We'll start on that, Setsuka-chan."
Setsuka's face twitched as Ryuusei gaped at the police Captain. "Captain Kaname, I know that we knew each other, but it is highly unethical to address people so informally, especially in the middle of an investigation of this magnitude."
The Captain flinched as if she had been slapped. "I... see. Thank you, Shimotsuki-san. Do you require assistance?"
"I am fine," Setsuka groaned as she headed for the double doors. "Kindly keep any and all involvement concerning the Movement's psychics out of the news. Most of the parties involved are underage."
Yuuko nodded, her silver hair bouncing slightly. "We'll do what we can. Do you have any idea who did this?"
"I have suspicions," Setsuka shortly answered. "If you have further questions, you may contact the Movement. Ryuusei, with me. The rest of us are assembling."
Tiredly, Ryuusei still followed her command to get to the waiting car, where the boss actually handed him a bottle of water. He cracked the seal and downed the entire thing in two minutes flat when Tsugare and Youkai slipped in, followed by Alexianna, a tired Kaname and a relieved Takeshi. It was a bit of a squeeze, but the car was large and spacious, and soon enough it was moving and on the highway, the progression smoother than anything he had expected.
"Truthfully, it was quite a success," Setsuka began the debrief. "We found out the members involved, we have a location due to the coincidence that Kaname-san was involved, and no one died or was severely injured."
"Speak for yourself," Youkai grumbled, nursing his scratches.
She ignored him. "Welcome back, Kaname-san. It seems that we were lucky to have you."
"Nee-chan," Takeshi slowly spoke. "Why did you leave?"
Kaname gave a tired sigh. "Instinct. Sorry, Takeshi, but the instinct was all-consuming."
"Yet, the plans for the Arcadia Movement building were stolen," Setsuka outlined, ignoring the siblings. "It may be assumed that we need to step up security about, but the cards were safely raffled off. Good job everyone, especially Ryuusei, who managed to net an arrest."
"Who was it?" Ryuusei quietly asked. "The people responsible?"
"The whole thing will be pieced together tomorrow," Setsuka replied as the car door opened and Ryuusei realised that it was outside his house.
Feeling less creeped out, he got out and watched the extra-large vehicle drive off before he turned to the house. It was with some difficulty that he snuck through back into the sanctuary of his room before he crashed on the bed, not caring.
"You have awoken the Samildanach," Marguerite intoned tiredly.
"Yeah," Ryuusei muttered. "It's... very scary."
"How surprising," Marguerite whispered. "That you believe your own potential to be terrifying."
"Isn't it?" Ryuusei asked. "I could copy even the Geas, or maybe Shimotsuki's power."
"Yet, think of it this way," Marguerite suggested. "It is a weapon that will only harm the enemy, but not your allies. Is that not useful?"
"Yes, but..." Ryuusei stilled at the memory of Krissy's scream and Sandra's rage. "I don't like to hurt people. What's the point? They... just wanted answers."
"Answers do not come easily," Marguerite replied. "They must be wrenched from screaming spirits. That is what makes them valuable, enough to maybe even kill for. But, it is because this is pointless, that it has a hidden purpose."
Ryuusei remained silent. "Did you sense Titania?"
"Yes," her answer had the mortal taken aback. "In the hallway, in the great hall with the girl-boy, the one of the Fallen and the sylph, with the Winter Queen. Can you look at my hand?"
Ryuusei did so, blinking at the two chains trailing from it. Both looked like ivy vines, but wasted and emaciated like having dried out in summer. "What's that?"
"Taste, and Understanding," Marguerite whispered. "There were six chains to begin with; Sight, Hearing, Touch, Smell, Taste, and Understanding, each locking away a sense that communicates with spirits. Sight was shattered the day we made the contract, Hearing soon after, Touch after that, and this night Smell. Now, on four levels you are recognised by spirits; sight, hearing, touch and smell."
Slowly, Ryuusei nodded. "So... how do I smell to you?"
"Like sunlight," Marguerite answered. "A sense of warmth, choking heat, so much that it presses and sets aflame."
Ryuusei shifted uncomfortably. "And... Shimotsuki?"
"Cold, horrible and absolute, winding glacial limbs, stealing away strength," Marguerite quietly replied. "Now you can be tracked by scent amongst spirits, so I would prepare. The next day you may be quite occupied."
What that warning meant, Ryuusei had no idea.
"I mean, sleep already." Marguerite's voice was irritated with a side of laughing.
Chagrined, Ryuusei went to change and turn in for the night.
Chase Princeton woke up suddenly. He was in a cold sweat, and his head pounded like Jack in one of his building frenzies.
Overall, being sick sucked.
You mortals are weird, was the assessment of Rei the Duel spirit. Amongst spirits there are hardly such maladies.
"Yeah, yeah," Chase grumbled in answer as he heard running water and groans. "Why am I awake...?"
Is it not obvious? You are Anam Ghairm, the Spirits' Cry. You would have heard the cry of spirits across the metropolis this day.
The door opened a cracked as a dressed-down Youkai snuck in and crawled under the bedclothes. "Are you alright, Chase?"
"You should wear a mask," Chase gave a muffled reply to his boyfriend. "How was it?"
"How do you feel?" Youkai whispered.
"Horrible. Back to my question."
Youkai sighed. "We got an arrest, but the rest escaped. The plans to the Movement building were stolen. Boss expects an attack on the building itself at any time. I thought you should be asleep."
Chase nodded. "Ah. Rei woke me up. Or I woke myself up."
Youkai's night vision was slightly better than the average human. Hand in hand, he could make out the tiny outline against the windowsill of the dragon personified through Chase's gift. "You haven't told Ryuusei, have you?"
"He knows, but I get the feeling that there's more on his plate than I'm handling," Chase answered shortly.
Do you smell that? Rei suddenly whispered.
"What?" both boys looked at the eerie dragon.
Like sunlight and fire... it whispered, almost in wonder. Land and Light.
Tsugare's groans was the first thing Koichi heard once the door to the dormitory room Setsuka was putting him up at opened. "Dear god..."
"What?" Koichi gaped at that ruined gown. "Erm..."
"Help me," Tsugare panted, struggling out of his flats. "Stupid corset..."
Koichi steadily moved over. "What?"
"B- behind," Tsugare groaned as Koichi loosened the strings. "Oh, yes..."
The private detective swallowed at the breathy sound as the dark-haired Duellist struggled out of the medieval torture device, shrugging out of all the clothings and somehow retaining modesty by struggling under the blanket. "'Night?"
Koichi gaped at him. "Wait. You sleep...?"
Tsugare blinked at him, the lone amber eye surprised. "There something wrong?"
"No. Definitely not," Koichi answered quickly. Not that Tsugare's skin looked too smooth, or that he suddenly had envy for the bedclothes, or that he was now convinced that Setsuka was setting him up by putting him in the same shared room with Misawa Tsugare, the guy who could and did outclass all his previous dates...
Shimotsuki was out to get him. That he was going to remain fully convinced about, or else he would have nothing to distract him from the too-vulnerable beautiful man that slept just across his bed.
Exhaustion was something common to psychic Duellists. Having to use their powers to inflict real damage came at a cost; the law of conservation of energy was not something so easily dismissed.
On the contrary, Setsuka frequently suffered the opposite effect; her powers were based on the laws of temperature, hence the loss of heat energy usually meant that the energy was transported into her body. The average enthalpy of fusion required to freeze water was approximately three hundred kilojoules per kilogram; a lot of energy could be gotten by leeching off the sprinkler systems to replenish her stores of Duel energy, and she could probably get away without eating if not for the simple fact of nutrients. Of course, the reverse could also happen; she could freeze her own energy to make it redundant and therefore, leech off more energy, and effectively become an energy black hole. Quite a few had figured it out when she froze him into oblivion.
Still, she had a headache from fighting. Natashi Kiyomi had quickly figured out that he was at a disadvantage even though both of them were Water Attribute users, and beat a hasty retreat before she could even destroy the plans. Shinonome Kisaragi was smarter than she had given credit, or more inclined to trust Natashi Kiyomi than get arrested by the Movement. They had recovered Ishihara Kaname to fighting strength, and Setsuka would have to test if Kaname's strategy had degraded yet. Also, Ryuusei... Alexianna had told her how Ryuusei had conjured the same power as the dancer, Sandra Torolini. Caledfwlch... Setsuka might not have had the extensive reading that was Kaido's forte, but she was familiar enough with certain aspects of mythology.
"Excalibur is a one-of-a-kind sword, and Fudo Ryuusei replicated that power," she spoke aloud in the safety of her study. Technically, it was her mother's study, but Seiran Shimotsuki had not been around to protest for nearly eight years already. "Alexianna said that Ryuusei called himself Samildanach. Master of All Arts... and he smells like sunlight and fire. Dewloren."
A shadow flickered, the Queen's majordomo appearing. "My Queen."
"Dispense with ceremony," Setsuka spoke, her cadence inhuman and otherworldly. "Fudo Ryuusei has materialised the Samildanach. I sensed the chains that broke, that was my mother's work, was it not?"
"Aye, that is," Dewloren answered.
"Why?"
"I would not know."
"Why am I the Queen of Air and Darkness that you seek, then?"
"It is one of those questions where it is perfectly safe to admit that I do not know, My Queen. You could have been a mere seer of spirits, but instead you are the Empress of the Six Domiciles and my mistress."
A moment of silence passes. "Perhaps, it is for the same reason, that we do not know why."
"But you will not be satisfied with such an answer, will you, My Queen? Many days has passed since I had last addressed you as my Mistress, but that part of you should not have changed. You will not be content with such a pedestrian answer."
"My contentment is hardly pertinent," Setsuka removed the gown to leave a sheer lace top and garters over her body. "I would not be the Queen of Winter if I could not take at least this discomfort of not knowing. How are you, Dewloren?"
"I? I am perfectly well, My Queen."
"What was Maeve thinking, giving you the gift of speech?" Setsuka mused. "I do not know."
"Queen Maeve was a reactive creature, if I must say. You would have called her... someone more prone to the short-term."
"So she was not thinking, and instead she was merely lucky and determined. There is something to be said for fools being favoured by fortune. Yet, I am glad of it that we are able to converse as equals."
"Quite. Your Majesty, have you any thoughts of the four-turn rotation?"
"The Dai-sojo is keeping an eye out, he will tell me," Setsuka yawned. "I got the Pyrorex. I should mail it to James."
"The boy will be pleased that you remember him that much."
"You do not sound jealous," Setsuka observed.
"Why ever should we? You will not bring him to Lia Fáil, you will not take him into our world of spirits, and he will pass in the brief candle-flame of mortal lifetime. As far as we are concerned he may as well not exist. Nor will you wish that existence onto him, though the pantheon knows you pledge yourself to him in those things that matter, and himself to you. He will pass soon, while you will remain until Doma comes the Winter Queen."
"James would never have been happy in that world, only with his own world," Setsuka answered. "I will not have him walk in my shadow."
Dewloren gave her a long look that she challenged. "Of course, My Queen. And the mortal, Fudo Ryuusei? He has yet to earn the curse of the spirits upon him, but he smells of sunlight and fire."
"We will know in time. We can wait, after all."
"Nii-chan, it's time to- Nii-chan!"
Ryuusei awoke with a start at her scream. "Seika? Are you alright?"
Seika pointed at him. "Nii-chan, you're covered in flowers!"
It took him a moment to realise that his sister was right, and he was buried in a mountain of earthy-smelling flowers. Groaning, he sat up and blearily watched some of the petals shake loose upon the floor. "Erm... I have an interest in flower arrangement?"
Marguerite's laughter echoed as Seika glanced at the pile. "Oh... Nii-chan, it's almost time for school."
"Thanks, Seika," Ryuusei sighed as she got out of the room quickly. "I think she's suspicious. Why am I buried in flowers?"
"The Dreamsprite and her fellows came again," Marguerite answered. "One day you might want to give that creature a name."
"I've noticed this, but... are names very important to you guys?" Ryuusei asked.
"Names have power," Marguerite gravely nodded. "It doesn't matter if it's living or not, once you give it a name, you embody that person or object with the same amount of power."
"Ah," Ryuusei murmured as he began tidying up the leaves again. "So names are so important... in a way, it makes sense. Because I rarely hear Duel spirits with names... names are a mark of individuality as well, right?"
"You're getting it," Marguerite nodded. "Names can be used to control people's lives, if you wish hard enough. So, always be careful with names."
"Thanks," Ryuusei nodded as he swept up all the flowers into a waiting container, frowning at the first container that still held blooms. "I changed the water yesterday... but it's been two weeks. How long do flowers usually last?"
Marguerite said nothing as he walked out.
"You're late!" Chase hollered at him through the Multi-Voice System of the D-Wheels. "You're lucky we don't have school today!"
"Because they're getting ready for the field trip, I know!" Ryuusei countered.
"Why were you late?" Rex asked, right behind them in the gold and black painted Throne. "Ryuusei, you okay?"
"Yeah, just made an arrest last night," Ryuusei yawned. "I feel pretty tired too..."
Sunlight and fire...
Ryuusei paused. "Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Rex asked as Chase stilled on Carpe Jugulum.
A bellow resounded through the highway.
Part of the road crashed. A crater seemingly appeared out of nowhere as cars scattered, and more craters were approaching.
"What the hell?" Rex swore.
Ryuusei stared at the yellow-furred creature levelling a bow at him. "Yellow-"
"Move!" Chase shouted as the three kicked their D-Wheels into high gear.
"Can they do that?" Rex asked the moment the craters appeared behind them.
"Yellow Baboon, Archer of the Forest," Ryuusei identified the moment they swerved. "It's coming after us!"
"How odd," Marguerite whispered. "Oh, my."
Ryuusei was just about to ask when suddenly the breath was stolen from his lungs. Coughing, the Meteor Stream swerved and wobbled dangerously.
"Ryuusei!"
"Cien Fleur: Closed Plant Gate!"
"Thanks," Ryuusei whispered as Marguerite blasted at the green creature which the baboon was also aiming at, the petals scattering in her wake as vines sprouted to trap them. "That was..."
"Air Eater," Marguerite identified. "Wind Attribute Fiend, most probably Winter-bound. And there's more..."
"We have to get these guys away," Ryuusei decided. "It's too far to the Cubic Area... but why are they chasing us?"
"Is it Duel spirits?" Rex took the news better than either had expected. "I can't see them at all..."
Rei appeared beside Chase, floating by the Carpe Jugulum. Shadowknight Demon...of the Demons' Den, then.
"Pandemonium?" Chase muttered as the three D-Wheels made another turn with the flying green Fiend hot on their tails. "Let's put aside how their causing real damage, and focus on the why are they chasing after us for now!"
Ryuusei had to admire his friend. Even under fire, Chase Princeton sure knew how to prioritise. "Rex, follow us!"
"Of course I am!" Rex scowled but followed anyway. "Where to?"
"Daedalus!" Ryuusei barked in answer as they arrived. "Hello?"
"Ryuusei," Setsuka's cool voice greeted from the communication on his dashboard.
"Duel spirits chasing after the three of us here," Ryuusei intervened quickly as he spotted the Air Eater. "Can you do anything?"
"...hold your ground, Regulus," Setsuka snapped back into action. "I will come, hold them off for now. Are there anyone with you?"
"Rex and Chase," Ryuusei answered. "Rex can't see them."
"Er..." Rex blinked. "There's something fuzzy, like a heat haze. What is that...?"
"Ruairi," Marguerite whispered. "If that is so, then he may be able to see them better than first thought. But, it's the other... Dreigoon..."
The Air Eater gave a piercing scream.
"Come, Black Rose Dragon!" Ryuusei called.
The magnificent red dragon appeared, brandishing its vines as it lashed at the monster to drag it down and smash it repeatedly against the asphalt.
"Oh," Rex mouthed at the green monster caught in the dragon's vines, now visible. "So that's the thing."
A louder impact, and the ground shook as they stared at the now visible monster. The Yellow Baboon was hunch-backed, monstrously large, and drawing a bow at least one and a half times larger than the average one. Odder still was the staff-wielder standing by it.
She was dressed in brown and green, a green tunic and tights under a brown outer jacket of sorts. Her leggings were of leather, and seemed to have seen much wear. Despite the bulky-rimmed glasses she wore, the crystal-topped wood staff she swung with a proficiency that could only be from years of doing so. By her side floated what looked like a fat beaver with a horn centred on its forehead and leathery wings, like a bat. "The Air Eater is destroyed... but not the demon," the Aussa, for Ryuusei was positive that she was an Aussa, if not exactly sure which one, declared.
The other demon bore a sword and shield. It wore a chest-plate like a horse's skull, and his legs resembled that of a horse. It had blue hair like a wavy mane, and was stalking towards the three with intent to kill. "Sunlight...fire...die!"
"Ryuusei!" Both yelled as the red-head threw himself out of the way of the oncoming sword. Moaning, Black Rose Dragon tried to intervene, but the Shadowknight Archfiend was shot from behind, falling due to the bolt buried through its chest.
"Made it," the Aussa panted, staring at Ryuusei. "Are you the monarch?"
Ryuusei gaped. "Excuse me?"
"The Fairy of Illusions told me," the Aussa panted. "Are you? Monarch of the Land and Light?"
Behind her, the Baboon rumbled.
"Sunlight and fire..." Her eyes seemed far away before they narrowed and the Earth Charmer danced away, right as an ice spear hit where she would have stood. "Winter Queen!"
"From that, I assume you're Summer-bound, then?" Ryuusei had never been so glad to see Setsuka arrive, seated side-saddle on the back of the White Night Dragon.
"Baboon!" Aussa clicked her fingers as the beast raged.
"None of that," Setsuka countered as she landed on her feet. "Down!"
The Yellow Baboon gave a roar as it settled.
"What...?" Aussa growled.
"Right now, that beast is debating, does it follow a spirit envoy, or does it obey the Queen of Air and Darkness," Setsuka bemusedly answered. "Well?"
Aussa growled. "That..."
"Oh my, a Shadowknight," Setsuka dispassionately observed as Black Rose growled. "And Air Eater as well... get them."
The White Night Dragon lashed out, cold energy covering both Fiends in an icy grave.
"How cold..." the Aussa whispered. "You..."
"I have no interest in Summer-bound who do not know the situation. Leave," Setsuka turned away from the Duel spirit.
After a moment, the Aussa faded.
"Fudo Ryuusei, Rex Atlas, Chase Princeton. You should be at school." Setsuka turned to them.
"Thanks..." Ryuusei answered as his friends got on the bike. "How are you going to...?"
"Cryonics," Setsuka pointed to the fallen Wind spirits. "Even a beast can be made to talk under enough aggressive interrogation. This is a good lesson for you, that even when you're dead, there is no way to escape my reach."
All of them shivered as they left. "How did they manage to cause real damage?" Rex grumbled.
To that, Ryuusei had no answer.
"I told you, once you can be smelt, you are a target," Marguerite murmured, flying like a witch on her staff by the Meteor Stream. "Sunlight and fire... I wonder how you would taste, really."
OC applications are open once more! Please include:
Name:
Age:
Occupation:
Appearance:
Personality:
History:
Deck:
Trivia:
Please review!