Boss Rush
XX: Vestige of the War
All stories began with 'a long, long time ago...', so it was said.
Light. Darkness. Polar opposites that had begun since the beginning of time, longer than mere records and human memory can take. There are battles that have been continuing even before the invention of records, stretching millennia with only periods of intermittent fighting between centuries of relative peace.
How did it begin?
Well, perhaps it began with the first person to use a hunting knife against another person. Or a fist-fight. Sooner or later, when humanity grew advanced enough to gang up, gangs fought against gangs, groups against groups over land, food, maybe even conflicting ideas.
There are indefinite things in this world that remain unexplained. 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. They have perfected the art of killing through civilisations and centuries, millennia of history and art and culture built upon the blood-soaked bodies and souls of yet more generations, the cycle of pain echoing throughout by which necessity becomes prevalent to birth creation. Death begets life, and life begets death... and everything becomes like the paradoxical question of chicken versus egg.
Bellum omnium contra omnes. All against all. People are the world's strangest creatures.
Tenjouin Michiru was enjoying life in the Arcadia Movement.
Born as the first daughter born to Tenjouin Fubuki, she used to smile with her clown of a father, being Daddy's little girl. She had been the envy of everyone once she entered school.
It got worse when her so-called friends tried to integrate her, and she never felt herself. Personality, clothing, make-up, she hardly felt herself wearing their choices. Being called the Ice Queen and always acting like it just like Aunt Asuka had been bad, and Duelling was her only solace, though her so-called 'friends' only made things worse... being unused to boys, and ill-treated by the girls who used her to just see Fubuki or get some popularity, reacting immediately into violence without thinking only led them to hospitals and rehabilitation to recover from her mental instability.
Although, after being released, they were all terrified of her, as rumours spread out that she had cursed people just to get some fame. Rehab barely done any good to her values and ethics as someone pointed out that Fubuki was unlucky to have a daughter possessed by a demon... whether it was meant to be a joke or an observation, she had no idea. She had been lucky enough to have even graduated from school and was forcefully placed into Duel Academia Queens, though it did not help that she often skipped classes to avoid any gazes, signs of pity or meeting with anyone at her old school.
She would hang out around Neo Domino City, either duelling, chilling out, or trying to kick people's butts in fights – though that didn't help when it came to bruises. If it were not for constantly skipping, she would have been in Obelisk Blue, though her poor decision almost got her expelled and luckily transferred to Red due to the situation and the insistence of her father. She was good at Duelling, but disliked showing off her skills to others.
She knew how lucky she had been. She had met Shimotsuki Setsuka, after all.
"Mental Sphere Demon, direct attack!"
The examiner had been finished in a single turn by a beautiful dark-haired girl who had worn her hair loose, something in her eyes enough to terrify the teacher into submission even without the snowflake locket on display around her neck. Michiru had heard of the Arcadia Movement and its limiters, but never seen one until then.
"That's not her deck," Fudo Ryuusei had mentioned by the sidelines, looking mildly insulted. "That's a mid-range training deck used by the Arcadia Movement. Maybe she doesn't want anyone to know her real deck."
That had been enough to pique her interest. Having seen the Duellist titled Prince of Duel fend off a few robbers with a dragon, she had been curious; exactly how powerful was her real deck if this Psychic deck was only mid-range? She had even failed to finish off the examiner in two turns, though not from lack of trying.
"Tenjouin Michiru, why are you following me around? Only Discipline are allowed to remain outside of school grounds during this time."
"You... You're Shimotsuki Setsuka... no, Polaris. That great power...Duel me! You're different from those blind humans... that's why, ally with me!"
"I refuse. If you have nothing worth my time, then please see yourself back to school."
"True... of course... someone like you won't be an underling. That's why... I challenge you! For the Discipline Committee... if you win, I guarantee perfect behaviour for a month, after which we challenge again. If I win, then... for a month, be mine!"
"...very well."
What had driven her to name that challenge, she hardly knew, but she had lost. Beaten to the ground, incapable of fighting back, and having realised pain... Shimotsuki Setsuka had become her goal.
"You have much to learn, Tenjouin Michiru," Shimotsuki flicked a loose lock of hair out. "If you want to act cool, then keep that temper in. Frozen Tundra."
Dewloren roared, and the world rumbled along with the sheer elemental power behind it as Michiru screamed, tumbling back as her monster shattered.
"How...? How... can I gain power...?"
"It has nothing to do with psychic powers," Shimotsuki Setsuka had answered as she turned her back on the other girl. "I just have stronger ideals than you to fight for. Our bet has been concluded... with an additional stipend."
"Huh?"
"You will be assisting me for the one month until our challenge," she clarified. "Well?"
Michiru scowled, but accepted the proffered hand. "Fine."
She had learned of the tragic past of Shimotsuki Setsuka, had slowly approached her, and, amazingly, Setsuka had not cared. Not about the records, not about her social awkwardness, not even as her powers had begun to manifest...
Perhaps it would be better, Mr Tenjouin, if Michiru were to pursue an alternate living arrangement with the Arcadia Movement...
When Setsuka had proposed that, Michiru had celebrated. Sure, it meant that there were still people who checked her homework, but there was a whole building to do so, and the other psychics that lived within the Movement's dormitories were hardly bad, though none of them were as awesome as her friend, Setsuka.
Friend. It was unusual, seeing as Michiru considered the distant young head of the Arcadia Movement the closest that she had to a friend, but that was life.
She giggled, glowing motes of light surrounding her. Claíomh Solais... the wish she had made to the Sorciere then had been worth it...
"Michiru," Hinamori Seiran crossed her arms, sitting on the chair opposite her. They and two others were in the archives room of the Arcadia Movement building, halfway through homework for Monster Effects (Intermediate). "Are you even listening to me?"
"No," Michiru drawled, smirking as the blonde seemed to swell in indignation. Though, Michiru's eyes kept flickering towards the corner where a large armchair was positioned. It was never a good idea to annoy Seiran without someone to hold her back...
"Both of you, please stop," Himemiya Hazuki sighed. "Seiran, what's the application for the effect of Endymion?"
"Later, Hazuki," Seiran growled as she seemingly pulled a sword out of thin air, through Michiru recognised it as the Sword of Sparkles. "I have to cleave Michiru for now."
"Bleh!" Michiru giggled as she dodged the sword. "Oi, no swords in the library!"
"This isn't a library!" Seiran countered.
"Well, to Ariyashi it might as well be!"
A book flew from the armchair and hit Seiran on the back of the head. Michiru chuckled before another tome flew and hit her on the forehead.
"Both of you, shut up." Setsuka was up, awake, and clearly a bear. "Or you're all on duty for the next week."
All three gulped. "Sorry..."
"What were you staring at?" Hazuki enquired as Setsuka joined the main table. Her own homework had been completed and put aside much earlier, enabling the cold-eyed psychic to take a nap while the other three slaved away. It was surprising; usually Setsuka would spend this time handling the business of the Arcadia Movement, the everyday tasks required to keep an extensive organisation running and helping people day by day. Even so, none of then begrudged her the time to sleep, especially at Nakamura-san's request that the Missy was undisturbed. Still, seeing someone sleep with their eyes open was surprising until they realised that their almighty leader was staring at nothing in particular.
"Who knows," Setsuka gave a careless shrug, though Michiru guessed that there was some deeper meaning. "There is an armistice at hand..."
"Was there a war?" Hazuki commented.
"Perhaps," Setsuka answered. "When has there not been one since the Movement was formed?"
It was a good answer as they were going to get, and yet Michiru felt that whatever it was, it was Setsuka's private business. She did not question it even when Setsuka declared an hour later that it was late and they should turn in.
She could wait for the boss to tell her, after all.
Kaname was laughing at him, Takeshi could guess. She was his sister, after all.
"Nee-chan," he frowned as Kaname stuffed her bread roll into her mouth. "Please stop with the jokes at my expense."
"B- But... breakfast in bed..." Kaname gave up any semblance of dignity in favour of hooting at him. "Whoo! My baby brother scored big!"
"Nee-chan!"
"I'm supposed to make fun of you at your expense," Kaname sniggered from her perch on the couch. "Isn't it written in some guidebook somewhere?"
"Nee-chan, please... close your legs."
Kaname pouted but did so anyway. "Not anything you haven't seen before."
Takeshi's face turned beet red as he turned away. "Lexy is sleeping in today from yesterday's torture with the Arcadia Movement."
"Ah, yes," Kaname had a dreamy expression. "I've done my visit of Krissy and Sandra, and today I'm just going to leave you love-birds to nest. Or did you not think that I didn't spot the leave of absence you took for today?"
If possible, Takeshi looked even more embarrassed as he turned away from her sly expression. "I- It's Harald-shishou! I was going to greet him at the airport like any apprentice would!"
"Rich, handsome, and cultured, who wouldn't like him?" Kaname slyly answered.
"Anyway, Nee-chan, you're more... open these days," Takeshi chose carefully.
Her smile slid like oil off water. "I guess... there was a lot to reflect on in the Clubs House. About Satonaka, about you... a lot of things. I'm making up for lost time now, I guess."
"Nee-chan..." Takeshi sighed as he arranged the tray.
Kaname's expression then turned sly once more. "Did you really have to buy the rose?"
"Nee-chan! For your information, I got it upstairs!"
"So you're a flower thief now. Ah, young love..."
"Nee-chan!"
"Good morning," Alexianna walked out, her slender body wrapped in a terry-cloth robe tied shut, yawning politely. "Is there breakfast? Oh, Kaname-san, good morning. Takeshi, did you serve tea?"
"Busted," Kaname muttered as Takeshi turned more mortified, if even possible.
"Erm, well..." Takeshi held up the toast soldiers, half-cooked eggs set into a bowl, and a pot of tea. "I was thinking... of serving..."
Alexianna's face brightened before she, too, blushed.
"I'm going out now," Kaname's voice warbled as the older Ishihara got up. "You two love-birds spend breakfast mooning together. By the way, Takeshi, when was your master supposed to come?"
"Erm... ten o'clock..." Takeshi quickly glanced at the clock. "Crap! I'm going to be late! Sorry, Lexy, enjoy breakfast! I'm going out!"
"Takeshi, you idiot!" Alexianna's scream followed him as the younger Ishihara ran out, goggles in hand as Kaname snickered.
"Don't mind him, alright?" Kaname whispered. "He's an idiot."
"I know..." Alexianna glumly answered. "He'd immerse himself in Lord of the Rings if I didn't hide them away."
Kaname leaned forward as Alexianna got started on the soldiers. "Where did they go, anyway?"
"I put them in the big box he keeps next to his bedside table."
"Huh?" Kaname blinked. "Huh, I'd thought that he'd had found it by now, seeing as that's his stash of por-"
Alexianna choked halfway through one of the soldiers.
On the highway, Takeshi suddenly sneezed. "Huh... come to think of it, I haven't checked my stash box for my trilogy yet..."
Ryuusei had not spoken to Marguerite for the entire night throughout. Even with the Dandylion bouncing about, the three boys had been more occupied with the new arrival of Reina Atlas into the Atlas home somewhere in the middle of their customary sleepover. Rex had been more excited than anyone would have thought possible about a new addition to the household.
"She'll become Daddy and Big Brother's little girl soon," Carly cooed as Reina gurgled in Rex's hold, or more accurately Rex's death grip upon the tyke. The older brother in question looked as if he were holding some priceless treasure made of spun glass with his bare hands and had been told that it could break at any moment. Reina gave a happy laugh as she kicked her tiny feet out, a large difference from the demon baby who had kept the Atlas father, mother and later oldest son up.
Ryuusei could actually admire his friend's tenacity in not falling asleep into his cereal, having never really had baby siblings. Seika had been about eight and cooking better than his mother when he met her, after all.
"How cute," Chase muttered into his cereal. In the chair beside him, Youkai looked equally warm and sleepy. The white-haired psychic had been taken in by the Atlas family upon request by Shimotsuki Setsuka herself, and Carly had been over the moon. So had Youkai when he was told that he was moving into Chase's room when they were converting a nursery.
"Oh, hush, Rei-chan," Carly murmured to the gurgling infant. "Ryuusei, would you like to hold Reina?"
Ryuusei tried to escape, he really did, but soon his arms were filled with infant and he was staring at the gurgling babe. Tufts of blonde hair stuck up from her scalp, baby-fine and smooth, and her cheeks puffed out under a pair of grey eyes. Apparently, both siblings had inherited their mother's eyes.
Reina laughed as she smacked a tiny hand on his wrist.
"She likes you," Carly murmured.
"Thank you, Carly-san," Ryuusei awkwardly murmured as he tried to hand her back, but the baby cried until she was perched on the red-haired man's lap once more.
"Don't you dare steal my baby sister," Rex warned.
"Yes, yes," Ryuusei muttered.
"Oh, I remember when both of you were still babies," Carly cooed. "Rex was always noisy and demanding, and Ryuusei the model baby. I remember telling Aki that he was a marvel, being so quiet and not so fussy. Of course, he made up for that later."
Ryuusei flushed at Carly's reference to his troubles once of school age. "There weren't that many kidnapping cases."
"Oh, not just them, Ryuusei," Carly's features scrunched. "Jack, what was the first trouble Ryuusei met?"
The Atlas patriarch woke up from coffee. "Huh? Ryuusei? The paedophile of a teacher or the fighting students?"
Ryuusei glared as Rex and Chase let out twin snickers. "It wasn't that bad."
"No, it wasn't," Jack sagely nodded. "Something about prompted long-dormant instincts or something."
Ryuusei was about to argue otherwise when the doorbell rang, and moments later a shock of orange hair and a wide smirk made its appearance behind. "Jack! You called all the way from Paris to be godfather! So where's brat number two?"
"Morning, Uncle Crow," all of them chorused.
"Shut up, it's morning," Jack muttered. "Reina, meet your godfather, Uncle Crow. Uncle Yusei is Rex's godfather, so I had to ask the dwarf."
Reina took one look at Crow and promptly began crying.
"O- Oi! Brat!" Crow began to panic when faced with the crying Reina, as laughed echoed about the dining room at his expense.
The peace of the morning breakfast was forgotten when Ryuusei started on the road to school and Marguerite's silhouette made itself apparent, when his anger had waned. "Why?"
"I needed you to take the throne," Marguerite confessed quietly. "Few mortals would have if it meant that they were about to become commander-in-chief of an army of spirits currently making war."
Ryuusei sighed. "You said it before, that I'm the Summer King now. I might not like it, but I feel responsible for this job, and I have no intention of cursing anyone else with it. Can we do this?"
"You can," Marguerite answered. "I cannot."
Ryuusei took a deep breath. "You were a handmaiden of Titania before, I remember."
"I was." There was pride in that confession.
"Then, we still have these," Ryuusei held up what remained of the original mark of the fleur-de-lis. "Teach me. Teach me the ways of ruling spirits, how I can help Summer."
"Even more valuable knowledge that you seek," Marguerite murmured. "I warn you, you will lose your touch upon the mortal world. It will happen. It will not be like this distant care for spirits that you will have demonstrated. And, you will have to choose one day, between our worlds of mortals and immortals, for you cannot straddle both indefinitely."
"I want to do this," Ryuusei confirmed as he took the Daedalus highway, the two others of Team Black Knights having yet to catch up. "After all, people like Aussa, Hiita... they believe that I'll bring them hope. My father was called the Shooting Star because he brought hope to many many people and Neo Domino City. More than anything, I want to help those in front of me, I want to use my mother's legacy of pain and turn it into hope for people as well rather than a harbinger of destruction. Black Rose Dragon... Night Rose Dragon... Marguerite, will you?"
"...very well, I will show you the lonely path of the ruler of Summer," the witch answered. "Twice I pay my trade in service to you. Once more you may call upon my aid. So mote it be; in one week I will teach you everything needed in time. Fleurs envoûtantes; floraison d'accord."
The smell of flowers in the wind was strong and powerful as Chase and Rex caught up.
The staff rooms of schools was a cramped office space, cubicles set aside for each teacher to mark, work or generally linger at during their free periods. Duel Academia Kings had the same system. Kevin Dunames found this system extremely lacking for the purposes that he intended, hence his continued lingering presence outside at the balcony, staring out to the view of Neo Domino.
Master, the Winter Queen is here.
Kevin quietly shushed the Ojama Blue as the black-clothed prefect approached. "Dunames-sensei. The report you requested."
"Thank you," Dunames brusquely murmured as he took the report. "You're Shimotsuki Setsuka, yes?"
"I am a mere student within the confines of this school," Setsuka carefully answered.
"Why not Sanctuary?" Kevin pressed. "They have an admirable programme, do they not?"
"Psychics must never forget that we are human," Setsuka automatically answered. "Neither must we shy away from the truth of our existence. Good day, Dunames-sensei."
"Quite harsh," Kevin remarked.
What will we do, Master? The Winter Queen is right there...!
"You are very sure that the Summer King is Fudo Ryuusei?" Kevin considered.
Of course we are! As sure as the boss of my comrades are Manjoume Jun, Red and I are only truthful in our report. The boy of sunlight and fire can only be King Summer!
"The he is the force of good that will finish off the Winter Queen," Kevin murmured. "Add that he has Marguerite on his side... Keep tracking the two of them. Inform me of any important developments."
Of course. If it will bring down the Winter Queen.
"Marguerite..." Kevin rumbled. "I will know why you did not accept my request then. And then, with or without you, I will finish it... those who cause misery and despair will never be forgiven."
Satonaka Ryuuga had had a fairly normal life as an outlaw.
Granted, he had had his share of stupid moves, such as being hired by a rich kid to simulate a kidnapping of a boy he later found out was a psychic Duellist when he was forcibly kidnapped to an audience with Shimotsuki Setsuka herself. After a lengthy explanation by which he carefully revealed nothing only to his own detriment, he had almost been killed by his own client, once with a truck off the Daedalus highway, and another with a killer card. But, he was making progress, at last...
Still, being pursued was a new one, even for him. He thought so as well when he got to the apartment door, panting.
"Nee-san," the man greeted the woman who opened it. She was a beautiful woman, with dark brown eyes and short black hair, dressed fashionably in slacks and a T-shirt.
"Ryuuga?" she exclaimed softly as she let him in.
"I saw her," Ryuuga hissed. "Ishihara Kaname. If, just maybe, I can track down that bastard..."
"Ryuuga..." she sighed. "Please, give up on that monster already..."
"Erika Nee-san," Ryuuga insisted. "I need to do this."
The woman, Erika, sighed. "Then what will you do about this Kaname?"
"Nothing," Ryuuga insisted. "My aim is Takeshi, her brother. But, I need you to find out about Ishihara Takeshi, could you?"
"I'll try," Erika sighed as Ryuuga stood up. "What will you do now?"
"I'm going back out," Ryuuga stopped for a moment. "Also, Nee-san... thanks for everything."
Erika stared down at the KC logo on her employment tag. "Ryuuga... what exactly are you doing?"
In an alleyway right by the apartment building, the tall, slightly overweight Ryuuga was caught and slammed into the brick wall. "Finally caught him. Natashi says to be careful."
Ryuuga slammed his head back, dislodging the one holding him. "Oh, you."
Kiyomi nodded. "You have a lot to answer for, Cu Sith. Hakuro told you to lie low."
Ryuuga shrugged. "Look, you gave me some fucking power, great, but as far as Hakuro is concerned he can stuff it. I mean, all I have to do is help them take care of the Arcadia queen bitch, right?"
"You're not supposed to go haring off!" Kiyomi hissed.
"What's the big deal?" Ryuuga groaned. "I'm just visiting my sister. Or do I have to cover that up as well, pretty boy?"
In answer, part of the brick next to Ryuuga caught on fire, burning blue-white.
"Be careful," Kiyomi warned. "I found a compatible power and granted it to you, Satonaka Ryuuga. I can take it away just as easily."
Ryuuga snorted as he followed the white-haired model down the alleyway. "Right, right. No need to flaunt it in my face. So, what does our boss want now?"
Behind them, the brick's flames snuffed out.
"To get as much explosive as you can get your hands on."
Ryuuga's face split into a grin. "We're going to blow the castle sky-high?"
"Shimotsuki Setsuka is an incredibly powerful individual," Kiyomi answered. "We need leverage if we are going to corner her into a trap."
"And that's where the explosives come in?"
"No, the explosives are for the actual job itself. Basically, Hakuro needs a secret from Shimotsuki that only she can provide. After that, do you really think that Shimotsuki would leave us alive?"
"Maybe," Ryuuga looked doubtful.
"This secret is equal to that dragon spirit you told Hakuro about," Kiyomi groaned. "Now do you really think Shimotsuki is going to talk about it willingly?"
"Oh. No way."
"Precisely."
"But... explosives? She's just a kid."
"You've met her."
"Okay, a scary kid, but... overkill much?"
In answer, a slash dug through the brick beside Ryuuga. "Satonaka Ryuuga, you are not being paid to question my plans. You are in fact being paid to facilitate them. That means providing explosives without question, that means using that power I risked my identity to get for you to help me break into the Arcadia Movement, and that means getting the means by which we can interrogate Shimotsuki Setsuka, who is either Wu Zetian reincarnate or a female Lord Vetinari, depending on your belief and perception of her. Either way, we are talking about the woman who had ruled the global network of psychic Duellists for approximately nine to ten years and is respected if not actively feared by them. Do you understand me? In dealing with people like Shimotsuki Setsuka, you literally have to put your life on the line, because otherwise, if she wins, you will wish you have died when she is finished with you."
Ryuuga stared at Kiyomi's wide, mad eyes, and suddenly, he was wondering if every rumour he had heard about the ice princess was true.
Please review!