Chapter 21: The Fallen Friend

The group rushed towards their fallen friend, trying to wake him up.

"Kageru!" Gai shook him by the shoulder. No response.

"Hey don't just stand there, anyone here a nurse or a doctor!?" Tetsu began to yell out for help out in the crowd. Most of them simply stood in fear, gasping at the sight of the concluded duel before them and shivering at the sight of Kageru's helpless state.

Aria stood still, looking at her defeated foe in disgust as he lay lifeless on the floor. "Don't worry. The strength of this duel was not placed at full intensity. I merely knocked him cold. He should recuperate within a few hours, maybe even quicker, considering how stubborn his type is. I do hope that this served as a wakeup call for him."

"Don't worry!?" Maira got up from being next to Kageru's fallen state. "Why did you even feel the need to completely knock him out!? I know he's stuborn, but do you seriously consider us below you just because you have better knowledge then us!? Your no better than those Worms you keep talking about that invaded the other tribes planet! You have no right to judge whether you can hurt someone or not! You're not evolved! You're more like animals compared us!"

"Maira, stop!" Riski was really worried that Maira might also challenge Aria to a duel. She quickly pulled Maira back down only for her to stand up again,

"I swear.. I WILL AVENGE MY FRIEND! DO YOU HEAR ME!? I WON'T LET YOU GET AWAY WITH THIS! THAT MEANS YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON WHO DARES TO SUGGEST THEY'RE EVOLVED!" Maira finally snapped, and there was nothing Riski or anyone could do about it.

"Maira..." Riski released her hold on her.

"Come on, Maira, let's get him to the nurse's office." Kell said, getting the boys to carry his legs while he held the upper part of him. Maira didn't listen and focused on glaring down Aria with a shaking fist close to her sides. "ARIA!" She finally snapped out of her rage, looking back at Kell and then Kageru, she helped him carry him to the nurses office, trying not to glance back at Aria.

Maira sat with Riski. Everyone stayed silent, trying to not really talk any more on the duel.

"I uh.. think we should be heading home... the nurse said it will take a while for him to heal so.." Riski began, trying to motion to the boys to leave.

"I..I think I'll stay.." Maira's head was down, shadows covering her face as she looked up to Kageru's resting body.

"...Okay, come on guys." The boys were reluctant to go, but she shoved them out, making sure none of them lingered around to spy on the two. "...Kageru..." Maira watched as he breathed slowly. "Why are you so... so... reckless..." she looked down again, softly trying to hide her crying.

*back outside*

The crowd dispersed, murmuring to themselves about the duel, and trying to avoid Aria as much as possible. Out in the midst of the crowd, a voice spoke as another person approached her. "That was quite a show you put on sister."

Aria, while still turned away and replied "Albus. I had a feeling you were watching. Have you gotten a better evaluation of your possible opponent?" Albus calmly walked towards her with a disapproved expression. "Hmph. I would have rather have a rematch with Akane. I'm sure she would could have at least cut your Lifepoints in half. In fact, I'm more interested in facing-"

"Maira Yune?"

"Indeed...So where is that girl anyway?"

"She's very much occupied- tending to that sorry excuse for a duelist."

"Heh, well don't you think you may have gone a bit too far sister? It was a bit reckless of you to quickly reveal so much to so many people even before the DT Grand Championship. Worse comes to worse, you may even slow down our plans."

Aria thought for a slight moment but was and confident that the plans of the Aoi faction are full proof. "Rest assured brother, We will succeed."

"So, what shall we do now? I still need to have a little match with Yune."

"Be patient, she'll be arriving here shortly."

The Nurse had bade Maira to leave as well, stating that most students had to go home and not linger around the school for this long, though Maira didn't like the idea of leaving her friend behind, so she thought up another plan. "Miss, Please. At least let me hang around the school grounds till he awakens. I can help take him home." she had concealed her tears well, on normal circumstances; she would never let a soul see her cry.

As the nurse noticed she wasn't going to yield, she sighed and agreed to those terms. "How's this, dear; I'll call when the boy's awake and ready to leave. Alright? So hang around the grounds till then."

"Thank you!" Maira said, relieved that she didn't have to leave him all alone, especially after that duel... As Maira walked around the back of the school grounds, she found herself walking under a grove of trees, still thinking about that duel. "...Was he even close to any chance of victory against her..? She just seemed to have a comeback for.. Well for anything!" she thought aloud. She took out her own duel disk, moving her fingers around it. "Maybe.. I should give this back... I don't really want to quit the tournament.. but I can't enter something where my friends could possibly get hurt.. How could someone even make a tournament where dueling could seriously hurt someone anyway? I know they used dueling for judgment in ancient Egypt but.. That was millions of years ago! No one has the right to hurt another person! No one!" she tried to hold in her tears again.

As Maira walked on, she eventually reached the gates. The area was now near empty and dark. She eventually reached another path nearby where both Aria and Albus awaited for her arrival.

Both duelists caught each other in a gaze. Maira wondered who the person next to Aria was.

Albus stepped in to introduce himself. "Glad to finally meet you Ms. Yune. My name is Albus L. Castelle."

"He is my older brother."Aria finished in.

Albus took a good look at Maira, but it seemed she had her eyes fixed towards Aria. "It seems you bear some sort of grudge against my sister."

Aria knew well that Maira wanted to make her pay for her actions against Kageru and argued in her defense."It's not worth the time even pondering about it brother. I only did what I had to in order put some better sense of judgment into that reckless imbecile."

"So he finally knows about the coming battles?" Asked Albus. "Has he finally realized the necessity of surpassing his current abilities?"

"I do hope so, otherwise he won't even last a round in the Red Nova Tournament."

"I see..." Albus turned to Maira, who still seemed to have a bit of animosity towards his sister. He walked in front of Aria, taking out his deck and pointing it towards Maira. "Well since you two are going to save your little quarrel until later, why don't you face me Maira Yune. I want to know what kind of strength you possess."