I decided to spend the night at Cathy's place, which was more of an abandoned cat mansion. The house had cats practically everywhere, and Cathy's feline posse was very welcoming. Shadow and I felt at ease with the fact that they understood us and accepted us. It seemed that Cathy's second in command was an easy-going female Russian blue with a gold tail-ring. Cathy herself was very sweet to me, and we were sitting on the balcony having some tea. The moon was beautiful and glowed with its familiar, soothing silver light.
"Star," Cathy asked kindly, "Do you know how to sing?" I nodded, taking a small sip.
"Can you sing for us?" she asked. I nodded again, and sang a song that I thought described Cathy and me.
"I never had that many friends growing up, so I learned to be okay; with just me, just me, just me, just me; and I'll be fine on the outside.
"I like to eat in school by myself anyway; so I'll just stay right here, right here, right here, right here; and I'll be fine on the outside.
"So I just sit in my room, after hours with the moon; and think of who knows my name; would you cry if I died, would you remember my face?
"So I left home, I packed up and I moved, faraway; from my past one day; and I laughed, I laughed, I laughed, I laughed; I sound fine on the outside.
"Oh oh oh oh(5x);
"Sometimes I feel lost; sometimes I'm confused; sometimes I find that I'm not alright; and I cry, and I cry, and I cry.
"Oh oh oh oh(5x);
"So I just sit in my room, after hours with the moon; and think of who knows my name; would you cry if I died, would you remember my face?"
By the time I finished the song, all of the cats were sitting around me with flowing tails. I suppose the cats must've liked the song for them to just sit and listen to me. Cathy applauded with delight, saying and thinking, "That was a wonderful song, Star."
I smiled at her compliment, taking another sip. After we finished, we cleaned up and I slept on the couch.
The next day, Cathy and the rest of Yuma's friends had to go to school. But since I wasn't enrolled, I couldn't go with, which I was fine with. People would probably figure me to be older than I was because of my height. Truth be told, I am actually just about as tall as - if not taller than - Quattro is; pretty tall for my age.
I was out wandering the city's district area where Heartland Academy was located. I walked over to just outside the first-year's area when I saw a boy slam right into Tori. I could tell from his mind that he was a Barian named Alito. But from where I was standing, other Barians might not have been as bad as they claimed. He probably didn't even hear himself when he said, "I must be dreaming," causing me to face-palm.
After school was over, I followed Alito to this place called the BARian. He was having a chat with another much bigger Barian named Girag. Alito said "love at first sight" just happened to him, causing Girag to spit his food out in surprise. Alito added that he was going to "win her heart with my classic 'counter' strategy." My thoughts on the matter: doubtful.
The next day, I kept an eye on Alito from where he couldn't see me. He showed Tori a giant bouquet of red roses. He relayed some sort of technique in his head. Step one: start by turning up the heat. Then counter your first impression by playing it cool. Unfortunately, he was in the route of Bronk and Yuma's regular daily race to school. Bronk used his skateboard to jump over Alito, Tori, and two other girls shouting, "Heads down, dudettes! You'll never catch up to me now!"
I saw Yuma and Ray jump down the stairs, Astral close behind. Yuma crashed clear into the dark-skinned Barian, leaving him down on the floor. "Watch where you're going!" Tori scolded. Yuma got up and took off into the building calling interference on Bronk, Ray telling him to wait up. But Astral hesitated and looked at Alito suspiciously, as Alito groaned Tori's name.
During swimming class, I looked through the window to see Tori standing on the poolside. "Hey there," Alito called, fooling around on the high dive board, "How's it going?" Step two, use the unexpected to catch her off-guard.
"Quit goofing around, you could get hurt!" Tori called back. Right after she said it, Alito fake-slipped on the board and began falling into the pool.
Now that I've got her attention, I'll give her a scare. he thought as he splashed into the water. I even heard his thoughts from under the water. She'll be completely defenseless as I unleash one of my most disarming lines. Out jumped a scene of him successfully getting through to Tori, which I know wouldn't happen to save her life!
Alito got his head out of the water about to say something, but he was interrupted. Yuma was standing on the high-dive, holding Ray in a half-nelson, to which Alito and I both sweatdropped.
"Let's do a double-dive! Come on Ray, let's high-five the sky!" Ray, on the other hand, looked rather nervous, trying to pry off Yuma's hand.
"Don't make me! Heads up!" he shouted in warning as he and Yuma jumped off the board. They were headed straight for Alito, who was calling, "Hey, look out!" But Yuma didn't pay attention and Alito got knocked out by the splash; someone had to fish the poor guy out of the water.
Some time after, Tori was casually walking down the outer halls, when Alito approached her.
"Excuse me, Tori?" he asked, showing Tori a white feather, "I believe you dropped this."
Tori blinked, "That doesn't belong to me."
Alito relayed the final step in his strategy in his head with a glint in his eye. Step three, win her heart with the perfect compliment. He imagined saying that Tori was an angel, making her fall for him. But his hopes were dashed when he realized the feather was tickling Yuma's nose.
Alito gasped, looking and feeling super undignified in front of Tori as I stifled a laugh. Things didn't get much better after Yuma sneezed. The shock of it made Tori, Ray, and Alito flinch, and the poor guy dropped his feather off the side.
"Cover your mouth!" Tori scolded, only getting a "Sorry" as an apology. Then Yuma and Ray took off, Tori chasing them calling, "Get back here, you hear me?!"
Alito just stood there, glumly watching the falling feather with me shaking my head in disappointment.
I followed him back to the BARian, hiding just outside the broken window to hear their conversation. "So your strategy didn't work?" Girag guessed.
"No!" Alito snapped to answer after taking a drink.
"Maybe you need to come up with a different strategy, Alito."
Alito growled, "No, I'm sure that it would've worked if that other kid hadn't kept interfering. It was like he was trying to sabotage me every step of the way!"
"Sounds like you got a rival," Girag smirked and offered, "In that case, there's only one thing you can do. You gotta prove to her that you're better than this other guy. Challenge him to a no-holds-barred, one-on-one duel. Show her that you're a winner and she'll fall for you."
"Hmm... you may be onto something, Girag."
"Your problem is solved if you do one thing... Win! Now fuel up for your duel!"
Alito told himself, "I will duel, and win!" before devouring his food.
The next day, Alito left a note on Yuma's desk before heading up to the roof. I sat on the roof of a nearby building to spectate out of sight. Within a few minutes, Yuma rushed up to the roof to confront him. Yuma asked him if it was a joke that he was challenging to duel over Tori, but I knew he was serious. Alito said he was dead serious and demanded his response to the challenge. And added his refusal would mean "Tori would realize that I am the only one who is truly worthy of her." Yuma just told him he didn't understand, but he accepted the challenge anyway.
The two boys fired up their d-pads and duel-gazers. Without thinking about it, I concentrated energy to focus around my right eye. Light flashed in and around my eye, searing a deep, dark blue tattoo. My eye flashed a deep indigo for a split second, and instantly I knew it was now the Shadow Realm's signature color. I looked at the reflective metal surface of my spot, seeing the tattoo was like a misty swirl, a single curve trailing to somewhat away from my mouth. As unusual as the shape was, it looked as if it suited me. Turning my attention back to the rivaling boys, I was ready to watch how their duel went.
Alito was starting them off and was first to draw. Whatever card I pick should help me take charge of this duel right from the start. He summoned lvl 4 Battlin' Boxer Headgeared. Then he activated the spell Ring Announcer, allowing him to special summon lvl 4 Battlin' Boxer Glassjaw. He overlaid the two of them to Xyz summon rank 4 Battlin Boxer Lead Yoke. Yuma said he handled tougher Xyz monsters than ones with 2200 Atk. But Astral chided him to be extra cautious, for he sensed something different about their opponent. Alito apparently also noticed the sky-blue spirit that appeared on Yuma's left. No, I can't believe it. That must be... Astral. He's the one who came from Astral World. And that can only mean one thing. That kid is Yuma Tsukumo. He set two facedowns and ended his turn. This duel should be more interesting than I expected.
Yuma drew and summoned lvl 4 Gagaga Magician, and equipped him with the Blustering Winds spell to prepare to attack. But Alito activated Lead Yoke's special ability, using an OLU to protect itself from getting "KO'd" in battle. Astral and I began to notice one of Lead Yoke's restraints crack where the unit struck. Astral noticed me on the building, mentally asking what was happening, to which I shrug. But the impact of the attack still dealt damage to the young fighter, dropping LP to 3700. But he also revealed that Lead Yoke's loss of OLUs raises his Atk by 800, bringing it to 3000, and the chain breaks off. As Astral feared, it wasn't to be taken lightly, and Yuma ended his turn.
Alito drew and activated the Mano a Mano spell, increasing any battle damage by 1000. Then he orders Lead Yoke to "KO" Gagaga Magician. The poor mage takes quite a hit and disintegrates, and Alito wants Yuma "to throw in the towel." On top of the first 500 damage points Yuma took, the spell card kicks in, dropping his LP to 2500.
Yuma draws and summons lvl 6 Dododo Warrior, and by lowering its Atk, he can summon it without a tribute. Then he activates Monster Reborn to bring back Gagaga, using his ability to make his level go from 4 to 6. He overlays them to Xyz summon rank 6 Gauntlet Launcher with 2400 Atk. He activates its ability, allowing it to destroy one present monster using an OLU. Unfortunately Alito plays Xyz Block, using Lead Yoke's other OLU to stop the attack. Not only that, but the rest of the monster's restraints break away, raising Lead Yoke's Atk to 3800. Discouraged, Yuma sets two facedowns, ending his turn.
Alito draws and orders Lead Yoke to finish off Yuma and Astral by attacking Gauntlet Launcher. But then Yuma activates Battle Rush, a trap that prevents Gauntlet Launcher from being destroyed, and Alito takes the damage Yuma would have. Unfortunately, Alito's "counter strategy" had him expecting that. He activates the Fancy Footwork trap, destroying Battle Rush. Astral knows Yuma would be down to 100 LP if Yuma doesn't do something he activates Xyz Strike, and though Astral says it's too risky, Yuma hasn't a choice. If Yuma draws a monster card, the battling monsters' Atk are swapped, and the opponent's Atk is 0'd out. But if it's a spell or trap, the damage will double, and Yuma and Astral will lose! But Yuma will need to take a chance, or he doesn't deserve to win.
I was really worried at the fact that Yuma's taking such a huge risk, against a Barian, no less. But he's definitely feeling lucky this time, and he draws the final card. The card he drew was the lvl 4 monster Ganbara knight, much to our relief. Yuma shouted with glee as Gauntlet Launcher destroyed Lead Yoke with a turbo jab. Alito got thrown back by the force of the blow, his LP plummeting to 0, and Yuma was declared the victor.
I was glad that the duel was over, but Astral noticed Alito's trump card next to him. If Yuma had not used his trap card to destroy Lead Yoke, than his opponent's spell card Flaming Knockout could've been activated, and dealt him damage equal to his own monster's Atk. If that was the case, than Yuma certainly would have lost the duel. It seems that whenever Yuma finds himself backed into a corner, he always believes he will find a way to "high-five the sky." I am glad when he does not fall flat on his face.
I found that last thought rather funny as I felt my tattoo disappear and noticed Girag on another building. I used a Shadow Gateway to get over to him to talk. He turned to look at me, trying to seem menacing to me, but that was quite a failure when I saw his thoughts.
This girl's got a weird feel to her. She seems to have Dumon's composure, and Mizar's height. What does she know that we don't? Mizar and Dumon; those must've been the two boys that I saw in my vision of talking to them.
"You must be Girag," I guessed coolly, hiding my eyes, "Judging from what I've seen, you Barians don't seem to be as bad as you say."
He staggered back, stuttering, "Wh-what? Uh, of course we're as bad as we say we are."
I shook my head, "If you were evil, you would've interrupted the duel between Yuma and your little friend, Alito. And I wouldn't sense any desperation in your thoughts, as much as I would malice. And I have a strong belief that your other comrades are the same."
He looked like he'd just realized he's been spied on all this time. Afterwards he put on a straight face and disappeared into an Overlay Network. I was satisfied with my work, and opened a Shadow Gateway to prepare to go to Barian World.