Hey everyone, welcome to the next chapter and let's just hop right in! You all have waited for long enough.
Ch. 39: Round Two
Once the announcement for round two of the Friendship Cup and who was fighting was made official Reiji himself decided to help lead his younger adoptive sibling out to the D-Wheel's parking garage. Tsukikage tailed them as always, though he wasn't currently visible Akaba just knew the ninja was still there. Meanwhile Sam, one of the bellboy servants of the tournament's tower, led the way. The diminutive bellboy trying his best to stay small and quiet.
However, there was just one tinsy, itty bitty problem. Riley.
Reiji turned his gaze away from the empty hall before them as they passed by the entryway to the contestants tower to get to the tournament garage. His purple eyed gaze fell to Riley himself, and he watched as the younger child walked almost like a robot. Teddy bear held in a death grip in one hand while the other stiffly held Reiji's own. Eyes firmly on the floor as Riley took one step in front of the other.
Like a puppet dancing on its strings. There wasn't any child-like light- no, life shining in those dull eyes.
"There's no innocence left in this child." The modulated voice of Zero brushed by Akaba's thoughts like a snake. Reiji resoundly turned his gaze back up towards the empty hallway, and quickened the group's pace by a few steps that had Riley almost tripping and falling over himself to match up. "He's already lived through a war."
"I would know."
So Zero rushed through a warzone and survived as a child as well, so what? He's nothing like Riley. The two couldn't possibly be any more different. Zero was loud and charismatic, and a really annoying petty shit too when he wanted to be. Zero had heart. Riley was extremely quiet and shy. He preferred to be by himself or with his older brother.
Riley always followed orders. Even if he didn't like them. Riley never voiced objection.
Riley had no sense of self.
As mother would always say. Dolls can't have hearts. If mother was here she would no doubt tut in disapproval at Zero's behavior. Or did Zero have a heart? It was difficult to tell when he was always skulking around and hiding in the dark or behind his personas like a phantom.
For all Reiji could tell, Zero was about as fake as he was his true self. Though how the two sides varied all the time it was so difficult to tell Akaba had stopped trying to count the switches a while ago. Sometimes it was so easy to see Zero's facades, it was especially prominent when the masked man laughed or had to deal with people like the Executive High Council. Other times the switch was so minute even Reiji hadn't realized it until hours later.
Zero was a crafty one. One Reiji would rather have close by to keep watch on then out in the unknown. Though if he could toss the masked man aside for good Reiji didn't see a real reason not to. Zero could be a threat as easily as he was an ally. He was a wild card, unknown. The unknown was something the masked man thrived in where Akaba himself could not. Reiji being a man of numbers, facts, and control.
Is this really the right thing to do?
"...n-...no."
"What." I want Riley to learn to fight and protect himself. I want to see his sense of self.
"No… I don't want to go!"
"Please wait!" Sam cried out as he watched the scene before him unravel so fast he almost missed it by blinking.
So when Riley pulled away from Reiji and ran away. The CEO of L.D.S was certainly surprised to say the least.
. . .
Meanwhile, as Shinji was triple checking his deck for the incoming match the rest of the Lancers were taking a quick lunch break during the intermission. All eyes went to the huge TV screen before going back to their own things.
Yuya stabbed his chopsticks into his ramen bowl a bit too roughly, causing the egg yolk on top to break apart. The teen grumbled between bites of food. "I still can't believe that Reiji is going to make Riley participate in a riding duel, or even in this tournament in general!" Leaving his chopsticks in the bowl, Yuya gestured wildly to help vent his frustrations over the matter. "I mean, we all know what happens if we lose, and it would've been even worse if Zero didn't make that dumb deal!"
"Forced labor in an underground garbage disposal facility. I still can't believe that it's an actual reality here." Dennis mumbled around a bite of sushi, yet he didn't really look surprised or upset over said facility.
"How barbaric and disgraceful." Serena poked her classic sandwich at the thought of so many people trapped underground suffering. It was a hard pill to swallow when Tokumatsu broke the news to everyone after overhearing some envious servants gossiping about it. From there all it took was a rare duel card and a bit of bribery on one of the other servants before the truth was finally revealed in all its horrid glory.
"All those poor people trapped down there. They don't even get the luxury of seeing the sun or sky." Yuzu put her head in her hands as she pushed her own meal away from her. She didn't feel like eating when for all she knew people were right underneath her feet desperate for even a scrap. It made her feel terribly guilty, enjoying such luxuries while many others could not.
"Pssh, I'm not so surprised. Of course this would be another scheme the Tops set up for us Commons to fall." Shinji shuffled his deck faster as he spoke, before one card slipped through and fell to the floor softly. The action gained a dark growl of agitation and a fierce glare to appear on his face. A reaction to the current topic of discussion most likely.
"I'm surprised it's not worse." Crow grumbled before shoving another mouthful of rice into his mouth. Crow's eyes looking anywhere but at any of the occupants at the table. He wondered what Frank, Amanda, and Tanner were up to now. Most certainly no good since they were willing to risk Security by 'sneaking' in to watch the Friendship Cup so eagerly.
"But why would they want good competitors from the Friendship Cup like us to become trapped down there?" Sylvio asked. It was clear the brunette was so confused. Idly spinning one small blonde bang as he spoke. "I mean, I know I'm an awesome duelist, and that everyone else here is moderately okay too, but even if we lose we can at least bring more entertainment next year by trying again." Suddenly Sylvio laughed as if he had thought up a funny joke. "Try and force me to do such disgusting labor, ha! Good luck with that!"
"It's because we lost as contestants. It's as simple as that." Tokumatsu stated plainly. The older man having eaten a fine steak prior and was now lounging back in his chair with his arms crossed. "I figured such rumors as this were no joke, mostly because the people trying and failing to escape the detention facility never returned." He sighed and shook his head. "For us, losing would be like falling from heaven down to hell."
"Speaking of the detention facility being down and out for the count, where do you think the rest of those escaped prisoners ran off to?" Yugo piped in. Although his mouth was chalk full of food, so all most people could understand the first time he asked was pure gibberish.
"My guess would have to be either down in the slums with the rest of the Commons, or if they got recaptured by Security, taken down to that garbage facility." Shun replied steely. Yellow eyes narrowed and arms crossed tight, glaring at his untouched bowl of steaming ramen like it had offended him. "Where else? If no one has managed to escape that facility then it'll probably make up as a second temporary detention facility. At least until they rebuild a new prison where the old one fell."
"Grr! It's just not right though-!" Yuya started rising up from his chair as his emotions boiled over. His intent was interrupted when all of a sudden Riley of all people comes running into the main room of the contestant's tower. The poor small boy was barely able to push the huge entrance doors open and fit his small body through the crack with his small muscle mass.
The whole room paused as they gazed down at Riley, frozen.
Riley's frantic eyes looked towards the group, before bolting it straight towards Yuya and capturing his legs and stomach in a tight, desperately shaky bear hug. His teddy bear being held in one hand in a nail biting grip. The tomato haired teen huffed out a forced breath as he was pushed back down into his chair from the force, and just barely prevented said chair from tipping over by gripping onto the table for support.
Riley was shaking as if he was crying, but no tears came rushing down his eyes. He merely gasped and shuddered like he was a leaf that was about to be blown away in the wind.
"Woah! Hey Riley-" Yuya, instantly knowing that something was wrong, returned the hug with one of his own. Placing one comforting hand on Riley's head and another against the small child's back. "What's wrong? Are you okay?" Red eyes looked over Riley's frame to check for any obvious injuries.
"Excuse me." The group's gaze snapped back up towards the main doors to see Reiji Akaba standing there stoically. It was like the co-founder of the Lancers had suddenly teleported into the room after Riley.
"Ah, Reiji!" Yuya called out, caught off guard by this sudden development.
"Where have you and Tsukikage been hiding all this time?!" Sylvio practically whined, but he refused to call it such an embarrassing word. "Why didn't you bring me along!" He demanded.
"If you must know, I've been talking to the Executive High Council this entire time while Zero speaks with Atlas. Tsukikage has been guarding us." Reiji answered calmly towards Sylvio's outburst. With the mention of the ninja's name, Tsukikage peaked his head through the door. Looking towards all of his Lancer allies, Tsukikage gave a small wave in silent greetings before returning to his stoic demeanor. "Now if you'll excuse us, Riley has a match he needs to win."
"Excuse you?" Shinji said, clearly offended by Reiji's last statement. The Synchro user stopped shuffling his deck and silently put it away.
At that, Riley proceeds to squeeze Yuya's waist tighter, a silent plea to help him.
Something which Yuya responded to tenfold. Tightening his own grip on Riley and looking down at the scared child in sympathy. Yuya never left someone hanging and in need of help when he could provide it.
"What are you thinking?" Yuya said it softly, but it couldn't hide the bitter rage of his tone. The tomato haired teen wanted to yell, rant, and scream at Reiji at how foolish this was, how dangerous it would be for Riley. But at the same time he didn't want to scare Riley further by raising his voice as if in a screaming match.
"Yeah, why are you making Riley fight too?" Crow snaps. "He's still just a kid. At least we're old enough to be classified as teenagers, or adults for some of us."
"Even at L.D.S he's still ranked in the Junior class." Yuya continued. "And yet why is he getting dragged into a tournament that even Zero and the duel King Jack Atlas are a part of?!" Fiery red eyes finally looked up to glare into emotionless purple. "Why don't you fight in this tournament like the rest of us?! Zero does! Even then you saw how that exhibition match turned out! This tournament is dangerous."
"And they call it the 'Friendship Cup'." Shinji grouched.
It was clear where all the rest of the Lancers stood on this particular argument.
"The real question should be why did you even make Riley join the Lancers in the first place?" Shun got up from his chair, walked around the table slowly, and stood eye to eye with Reiji as he spoke. "You knew something like this was going to happen. He's a kid, being scared and running is a natural response." The Raidraptor gestured to everyone else as he bared his verbal talons towards Akaba. "The rest of us here crossed Dimensions willingly because we all have a goal or motive that encourages us to do so. We all have our own reasons for joining the Lancers whether it's to save someone we care about." Yugo's hands balled up into fists, accidentally breaking his chopsticks. "To protect someone." Yuya placed one hand onto Yuzu's forearm, as if to reassure himself that she was still there by his side to which Yuzu reciprocated. "Or fight back against Academia." Yellow eyes turned molten as he glared at Reiji and asked near silently. "So, what reason does Riley have for being here?"
"I don't care."
"Riley's so young. I can't believe that he came here of his own free will." Crow insisted. His eyebrows furrowed as he stared down at the shaking boy. "Even if he wanted to, I know that if it were my kids I'd force them to stay behind." Crow's lip twitched. "Even despite the trouble they can get into they can't cross dimensions."
"So why did you bring Riley here?! Care to share such important information on why you brought a young child with us?" Shinji starts getting worked up as well. Thinking of how Amanda, Frank, and Tanner would react and feel if they were in Riley's place.
"I've told Reiji that Riley is his responsibility and that he has to watch over the child."
"Woah…" All eyes went towards the main doorway to see Yuto and Ruri standing beside Tsukikage and Sam. Eyes wide and a bewildered look on both of their faces. Looking from Yuya and the Lancers to Riley and then Reiji before going back again. "What on Earth did we miss?"
"Yuto, Ruri." Seeing the two people he cared about the most. Shun instantly stopped glaring up at Reiji to walk around him and towards his sister and best friend.
"What becomes of Riley and if he turns into a monster because of it will be his fault and his alone. I won't take part in it."
"Very well, I'll answer your questions." Reiji finally pipes up again, regaining everyone's attention. "First, why did I make Riley participate in the Friendship Cup? This is so that Riley can gain actual combat experience."
"Actual combat- You've got to be joking!" Yuya objected.
Reiji interrupts him however, and keeps going. "I understand Riley's true abilities. His potential." He continues, pushing his glasses back up on his nose and readjusting his red scarf. "Riley is as strong as any of you."
"Grr, even so he's still just-"
"Next, why did I make Riley a part of the Lancers?" Reiji continues onwards unheeded. Causing Yuya to shut up and listen. "While it is true that Riley did not join of his own accord. He followed my orders." At those words, Riley's shaking finally stilled. "So, why do I insist on Riley's participation? That is because Riley's presence and existence within the Lancers is an important component in the fight against Academia."
"Necessary?!" Yuto reeled back, finally understanding the point in this argument now, and he too began seething just like Yuya. "How is Riley being here important against fighting the Lancers?! You're talking about making a child soldier here-"
"Whether you believe it or not-" Reiji interjected again.
"Oh shut up!" Yuya interrupted fiercely to regain the verbal upper hand, and while it had Riley flinch lightly Yuya quickly worked to rectify that. "You don't seem to understand, but Riley has been terrified ever since we came into this City!" Yuya looked over to Crow. "Even after Crow saved us, Riley has always kept to himself, hugging his knees to his chest." Then he glared back up at Reiji. "As soon as he could, he said he'd go look for you! Even though he wanted to see you and missed you so much…" Yuya swallowed his rage down audibly to keep his voice level yet icily cold. "You brought him here because he's 'necessary' for this fight? You're a terrible brother."
The silence was all encompassing and thick.
"I won't let Riley participate in a battle where he might be hurt or even worse just to serve as an example of some sort. What if his D-Wheel malfunctions? What if he falls off and gets terribly injured?!" Yuya just barely managed to keep his voice an octave away from yelling. "If you won't protect Riley like a responsible older brother should, then I will!"
"...Damn that was a good speech." Sylvio whispered to himself as he stared down at his nearly empty bowl of ramen. Suddenly he wasn't feeling too hungry anymore.
Tokumatsu rubbed the scruff on his neck and chin. "I don't quite know the circumstances that led up to this moment, but I have to say that I am against dragging a child into a tournament like this as well."
"That should go without saying, and it's rather depressing that something like that needs to be said at all." Serena agreed with a look of disappointment on her face.
"Not to mention that if Riley loses, he's going to be forced into a room and locked inside for the remainder of the tournament. Gongenzaka already lost and has to deal with being trapped in such closed quarters." Shun turned away from Yuto and Ruri to readdress Reiji. "Leaving a child all alone in conditions like that…" Beside him, Ruri sucked in a sharp breath.
"..." Reiji looked away from Yuya and down towards Riley. "Riley." Instantly, Riley stiffened in Yuya's arms like he was going to stand at attention, but the tomato haired teen's arms prevented him from doing so. "Answer my question."
Slowly, near imperceptibly, Riley turned his head to the side to look at his older brother. It made Reiji think back to when he had first met Riley. Back when mother was practically brainwashing him like he was a toy. A doll.
"What is your reason for refusing to participate?" Reiji asked plainly.
It was a good question, while everyone was fighting over the matter. Nobody thought to ask for Riley's opinion and reasons himself.
"It's because he's scared, obviously." Yugo shrugged half heartedly as he watched the verbal spat go down. Though his aquamarine eyes gave way to how attentive he was being on the situation.
"I'm asking Riley." Reiji stated coldly towards Yugo, before focusing back on Riley again. Yugo blinked dumbly, caught off guard at Reiji's remark, before dramatically sticking his tongue out at the CEO and rolling his eyes. "Now then, answer me Riley."
"Hey, don't force the little guy." Dennis piped in carefully. Riley looked one wrong breath away from a complete and total mental breakdown.
"Answer me." Reiji pushed onwards anyway. His purple eyes narrowing just a smidge. "Why are you disobeying me? There's nothing to be afraid of."
"Back off the kid already-!" Shinji added this time.
"C-crow's friend." The whole room was silenced as Riley himself finally, finally spoke up and answered Reiji. "...H-...he." The poor boy started shaking all over again, and Yuya moved in to comfort him with soft words and reassurances. "...He…. he gave me candy…" Riley squeaked meekly. His eyes now squeezed shut and face turned away from Reiji, as if terrified he had given the wrong answer.
Suddenly, Yuya, Crow, Shinji, Serena, and Sylvio's expressions all turned into ones of realization. All five of them were thinking back towards the moment Shinji first arrived to give all of the children some candy and food.
"...oh." Shinji blinked down at Riley. It had been so natural to make the children happy he hadn't thought anything of it when he gave some to Riley. Apparently such a gesture meant the world to him after all. "All of this because of me?" If it wasn't for the circumstances, Shinji would have been touched.
"I see." Reiji readjusted his glasses again. "So you don't want to fight someone who has given you charity…" The CEO of L.D.S spun on his heel and turned to address his faithful bodyguard. "Tsukikage, duel in Riley's place."
"Yes sir." There wasn't even a second's hesitation before the blue ninja nodded and turned to head towards the duel field. Though there was the miniscule slump of the ninja's shoulders. It seemed he too was relieved that Riley didn't have to duel in the tournament anymore.
Once that was all said and done. Reiji gave one final look towards the group and Riley, before turning and leaving the contestant's tower. Most likely heading back to speak with the Executive High Council.
Maybe there was a reason why Reiji disliked Zero. The masked man reflected Reiji himself, but he also reflected Riley at times. He had bits of both worlds and could understand them while Reiji could only understand one.
Just as Reiji's footsteps were about to fade out completely, Riley's shaking grew uncontrollable, and he released his hold on Yuya and turned around. "Brother! Brother! Brother!" Riley cried, running past everyone else and out the door after his older brother.
"Ah- Riley!" Yuya jumped out of his chair and moved to give chase, but Riley's words soon entered the room from the hallway.
"P-please don't be angry big brother! I'll- I'll do as you say!" The poor child sounded so distraught. "I'll always do as you say! I'll always do as you say!" He sobbed.
It was heartbreaking for everyone to hear.
"...Riley." Yuya's hand slowly lowered, his expression looking absolutely crushed.
"Poor kid." Yugo looked down towards the floor, before redirecting his gaze back towards his cold food.
"I'm not angry." Reiji's voice was nearly mute as he spoke down the hallway. "I'm actually pleased." Riley's crying suddenly stopped. "Your sense of self has undoubtedly begun to grow and bud within you. The development of one's sense of self contributes significantly to a duelist's growth. It is the foundation for thinking of your own strategies and utilizing tactics." There was another pause for a moment. "... I'm proud of you, Riley."
A little after that, the sounds of two pairs of footsteps fading away was practically like thunder in the silence of the contestant tower.
"...grrr." Yuya turned away from the doors as two High Executive guards began to close them. "I swear, Reiji doesn't deserve to be around Riley. He can't just force him to duel like that! It's horrible."
"Now, now Yuya, just think for a moment." Tokumatsu said consolingly as he leaned across the table to have his point be made. "Now I know it might be tough for you to accept this Yuya, but that kid probably likes Reiji a whole lot more than he does you." He leaned back and crossed his arms as Yuya flinched at the stated fact. "Forcing those two apart would just be even crueler towards the poor boy."
"...Umm, excuse me." The bell boy Sam piped up once again. His presence was finally being noted once more seeing as he didn't leave with Reiji or Tsukikage. "But um, Mr. Weber sir, it's time for your match. Could you please follow me towards the D-Wheel garage? If we don't make it soon we'll start to run behind schedule."
"Ah, right." Shinji pushed his chair in and walked over towards Sam. The Synchro user gave one last look towards the rest of the Lancers before giving a thumbs up and a smirk. A fire burning bright in his green eyes. "Well, wish me luck guys."
. . .
"Sorry for the long wait!" Melissa called out to the audience. The commentator tipped her hat back as she held her mic up to her face. "Looks like there was some trouble, so our participants' entrance was delayed." She raises her mic up into the air. "Now then! Let's reintroduce our participants for today's second match! For this match we have the Common's Shinji Weber vs the Lancer's Riley Akaba!"
On the holographic screens both Shinji's and Riley's pictures were introduced, but instead of a young child, the picture actually showed Tsukikage. Unlike before when the first introductions in the Friendship Cup began.
Seconds after her announcement, Melissa clearly caught on to the fact that something was wrong. Her eyes widened comically as her gaze landed on the holographic picture of Tsukikage.
"Uhh what?!" She cried, before looking back off camera to what had to be one of her fellow employees. "Wait a second, a ninja?! Riley's a ninja?" She was so confused, and it was obvious from her voice. "So the youngest in our tournament is also a ninja?... That's wrong? Then what's going on!" She looked back out towards the track as if that would give her the answers she needed. "What's with the ninja!? I have no idea, folks!"
The poor woman never got the answers to those questions, but even when she was uninformed of this sudden change Melissa rolled with it like always. Being a commentator and news reporter always had her adapting and going with the flow.
. . .
After a while some time had passed. All was silent except for the clinking of chess pieces and the occasional outburst of verbal violence. That silence was soon interrupted when the throne room's doors opened up. Both Jack and Zero looked up from their current stalemate on the chess board to see Crow Hogan half stumbling half being pulled into the room by three other smaller humans.
"O-okay you three cut it out! Slow down!" Crow stumbled, his foot twisting awkwardly and suddenly he was falling over. "Hey watch- oof!" The three children forcing Crow forward were fast enough to rush out of the way, and watched as the orange haired teen fell flat on his face.
"Oh jeez, sorry Crow." Amanda hissed between her teeth as her face was set into a grimace. "You okay?" In response, Crow merely groaned miserably. Seeing his dramatic response, the three children laughed.
"Dogpile!" Frank suddenly declared, and seconds later Crow was wheezing as the three children all playfully piled on top of him. Their voices full of laughter and joy.
Both Zero and Jack blinked at the display, stunned. "Umm." Zero not so subtly cleared his throat to get the sudden audience's attention. All three children froze and looked over to Zero while Crow barely managed to poke his head out from the pile to take in a deep desperate breath. "Hi. What are you four doing here exactly?"
Crow blinked, and the children grew rather sheepish suddenly at the sight of both Jack Atlas and Zero staring them down from the otherside of the room. The children all jumped off of Crow and helped him onto his feet before trying to hide behind him. Crow merely took it all in stride as if he had done this all before. "You don't know? Yuto and Ruri switched with me since I passed the first round of the Friendship Cup."
"Oh I know that." Zero said. Jack mutely gave an unamused look to Crow and the kids before turning away and sitting stiffly in his seat. Watching as the current duel between Yuzu and Tokumatsu played out with Tokumatsu reviving his Enjoy Chojiro persona to the audience. Zero meanwhile, raised a finger to point towards the little gremlins trying and failing pathetically to hide behind Crow's legs. "I'm asking about why you suddenly have three little stowaways with you."
Crow's face shifted to an agitated look, while it was mainly directly at the back of Atlas' head it soon turned to look at Zero. "They're not stowaways." He stated sternly before roughing up Amanda and Tanner's hair to which they giggled at. "Though they can certainly be called troublemakers. They're names are Amanda, Frank, and Tanner Hogan. They're my kids. I adopted off the street a long time ago." Gray eyes narrowed up towards the other two occupants of the room. "So you two better be nice. I wouldn't have even bothered coming here in the first place if they hadn't followed Yuto and Ruri over to the tower and dragged me here."
"Ah, I see now." Zero's expression was a bit sour behind his mask, but he turned back towards the duel happening on the track and merely waved the others off. "Whatever. As long as you watch them, they're your responsibility."
Zero didn't really know how to feel around children. Children always made him feel awkward, and Nunnally didn't count.
"Wow, you're as cold and aloof in person as you are on TV Mr!" Amanda stated as she was the first one to rush up to the two famous duel kings. Jack firmly kept his eyes forward and refused to even acknowledge that Amanda was right beside him. Seeing Amanda being so brave, Frank and Tanner quickly followed their sister's lead and came forward as well. The eagerness and awe they were hiding finally being shown once more.
Tanner kept towards Jack's side of the room, and resoundly refused to look Zero up in the eye.
"What is this?" Frank pointed towards the chess set, and idly poked one of the black pieces still on the board.
This got Jack to snap his gaze away from the duel happening outside over to Frank. "Don't touch that." He snapped, which had Frank flinching back like he had just jumped out of his skin.
"Hey, don't snap at my kid like that Atlas!" Crow growled as he stalked over to the taller blonde. "Just because it's been years doesn't mean I'm going to let you push myself or my kids around. Frank didn't do anything wrong."
"Oh?" Zero raised an eyebrow and placed his head in one hand. "You two actually know each other?"
"More like I knew him." Crow grumbled irritably, a dark expression on his face as he seethed at Atlas. "But he's become so much of a sellout jerk that I can't even recognize him anymore."
"Why you- How dare you!" Atlas yelled angrily and leaped out of his seat. The blonde's fiery anger showing like Crow had hit a hot button. "I haven't changed a bit! Just because I decided to join the Friendship Cup and prove myself as the better fighter. While you were sitting around on your ass I've gotten better and better! I'm king of this City now, and you'll address me as such Hogan!"
"Oh really? With the way you backstabbed Yusei like that?! I'd never call you king even if you'd threaten to cut out my tongue!" Crow hollered back. Meanwhile, Zero and the kids watched this sudden screaming match in silence. Their heads snapping back and forth in resemblance to watching a tennis match.
"You weren't even there for that!" Jack snarled back. For once Atlas' princely persona was casted to the side to show his true brash self once more. "What difference should it make for you?"
"I see now why Crow didn't want to come here." Zero stated calmly, his voice almost being drowned out by the verbal spat happening in front of them. "The two detest each other for bad blood in the past."
"Yeah." Frank nodded whilst balancing on the balls of his feet. "Crow felt bad about leaving his group behind and Jack turning on some old friend of his, so we figured we'd drag him here to try and get them to reconcile."
"Clearly it's kinda backfired." Amanda admitted sheepishly.
"Ahm." Zero hummed in agreement and sagely nodded his head. He knew of bad blood. He especially felt bad blood between a certain naive, brunette Britannian soldier.
"Well fine! Then we'll settle it in a duel!" Jack stated firmly. The tall blonde delicately moving the chess set he and Zero were in the middle of playing onto the floor to make room on the table for the incoming match. "Right here right now! No D-Wheels or duel disks, just good old fashioned dueling!" Purple eyes glared up at Crow. "Winner shows his superiority and proves that they're right."
"Tck whatever, fine you're on." Crow agreed with a huff and Zero silently traded spots with the orange haired duelist as Jack sat back down in his throne. "I could beat you any day. I've done it before."
"That was years ago back when I was still a ruffian like you. I'll show you how much I've changed Hogan." Atlas said with a determined scowl on his face.
"Bring it!" Crow raised his voice, and the two were suddenly shuffling their decks in preparation for a fight.
All was suddenly silent as Jack and Crow stewed in angered concentration as they focused solely on their duel. Completely ignoring the world around them. "...Huff. Everything just always seems to come back to dueling doesn't it?" Zero spoke to himself somewhat sarcastically before sitting in one of the foldable chairs Yuto and Ruri left behind. "Got an argument? Duel to see who's right. Have a literal war on your hands? Hey let's settle this with a children's card game! God have mercy on me."
Tanner went to go watch Jack and Crow battle. The small boy constantly speaking up and interrupting the tense flow with a million different questions for both Jack and Crow. The two older duelists answered the boy's questions to the best of their abilities. It eventually unraveled into both sides just trying to get Tanner to join their cause and find their reasoning to be the just one.
Amanda and Frank meanwhile shared the second seat and sat by Zero to watch Yuzu and Tokumatsu fight. The older Synchro user gaining a solid upper hand and Yuzu just barely being able to survive to her next turn. "... Hey, so what did you think of the second round of the tournament between Shinji and that guy called Tsukikage?" Amanda asked, trying to start a conversation to get away from the awkward silence.
Zero blinked, before looking over towards the smaller girl. "Oh? The second round already happened?" He questioned casually. Honestly, he thought that this was the second round. Guess I must've been more focused on playing chess against Atlas than I thought.
"Wha- You mean you missed it?!" Frank sputtered and gestured wildly with all the energy a kid could show. "How could you miss it! Shinji was going off on the Tops at the start of the duel!" It kinda reminded Zero of the children back in the Standard Dimension. It also made Zero think that children were starting to come in pairs of threes in each Dimension.
"I think I heard a bit of that going on." Jack admitted as he finally spoke up from the intense dueling going on a few feet away with Crow. "But it's total rubbish. If he wants to make a point he'll need to do better than just win round one of the Friendship Cup." Jack scoffed and rolled his eyes before activating a trap card against Crow's incoming attack.
"Hmm, I don't know about that." Zero hummed as he pondered on the other ways to win a fight. "There are more ways to win a battle than just dueling you know."
"Zero's right. The Commons got pretty riled up after Shinji's victory and speeches. Winning the duel only seemed to amplify that." Amanda laughed as she started playing some game with Frank only the two of them knew the rules of. "It was pretty awesome watching Shinji win though. I'm so happy for him!"
"Yeah! Shinji was so awesome during that duel." Tanner finally exclaimed from his spot by Crow.
Frank shrugged, trying to play it off casual even as he was shaking with excitement. "Meh, the duel was pretty close near the end, and Tsukikage only did Advance Summons. It was a rather heated fight too."
Crow didn't feel like mentioning the verbal spat that happened between Shinji and Tsukikage. When Shinji had insulted the ninja's clan and inadvertently mocked his brother's sacrifice in the fight against Academia.
"Really?" Zero suddenly sounded much more interested in the conversation now. "Well that does sound impressive. If Tsukikage can put up so much of a fight without even using a Summoning Method like Synchro or Pendulum. He has skill. Imagine how powerful he'd be if he learned and evolved to use another Summoning Method." Zero could just imagine the potential.
"The City is one!"
"The City is one!"
"The City is one!"
"I see now, so that's what all of the chanting was for from the audience." Jack said in realization as his Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend destroyed Crow's Raikiri the Rain Shower much to Crow's rising anger. Purple eyes looked over towards Crow's frustrated form as Atlas spoke darkly. "Your bugger friend there got all the Commons riled up so much he nearly started a riot."
"Well then, if Shinji chooses to fight, then I will too!" Crow spat back as he gripped the cards in his hand. The Synchro user just barely managed to scrape by to his next turn. "Personally, I think it's about time the Tops got a lesson from us Commons. Way past time."
"I wonder what he said to get the crowd so angry…" Zero muttered in curiosity. Said curiosity proved to be too much, and a few minutes later the masked revolutionary was looking up the duel and listening to Shinji's speech from his duel disk. The Synchro user's words drowning out the background noise of Jack laughing victoriously over Crow's loss and Crow demanding a 'two out of three' rematch.
"The Tops will never change! They will always choose to do what THEY like! They never think of us Commons." Shinji shouted out to the audience that was silenced by his sudden speech. "They can only think of themselves!" He spat darkly, and actually spit on the track beside his D-Wheel in disgust. Such obvious acts of rebellion got a sharp gasp from most of the crowd. "Commons like us are only treated as worms and free labor! But us Commons are people! We are alive! We think and feel just like any other person would if they were Tops! While most of us have numbed ourselves to the cruel treatment we receive from them, myself included, I've finally come to a realization. While we outnumber the Tops a thousand to one we were the ones that had to throw away our pride a long time ago. We've become complacent, practically tamed in the eyes of those Tops who would look down on us." Shinji grit his teeth so hard it was a shocker they didn't crack.
He's actually doing a pretty good job. Zero admitted with an approving nod of his masked head. Amanda and Frank having silently leaned in to watch as well. It made the masked man a little uncomfortable at the sudden close contact to basically strangers, but they were also just children and if Crow adopted them then they had to be good kids. So Zero let it slide for now and just ignored them to focus on the video.
"Hey, excuse me. Don't provoke the audience!" Melissa's voice stated off to the side warningly.
Shinji however, merely ignored Melissa's warnings and continued speaking what he wanted to say. Tired of being told what to do and brought down so much from the Tops. "I broke out of the Detention Facility with my fellow comrades, but those higher-ups forcibly dragged us into this tournament anyway!" He revealed. "They want me to put on a show for them? Well, if they must insist then I'll show them that I won't play nice! I refuse to play by their rules! As if I was a meek lion performing in a circus." Shinji's fierce scowl suddenly turned into a confident, rebellious grin. "Let me say this! This lion still has his fangs and claws, and this lion will still fight back and roar!" He threw a fist up into the air and the Commons cheered. "I'll fight to help turn this City around! The Tops took everything from us in a stacked competition and now I want to take it back! The Tops call it a free, fair competition, but the winners only keep winning. That is the truth of this City!" Shinji threw his fist up in the air again and this time people from the crowd began to copy him. "Now stand, rise up with me and show the power of a True Commons! Let your eyes no longer look dead and without their spark! Fight with me! Raise your fists!"
The Commons screamed out their support. The sheer sound blocking out all other noise.
"What are you even saying?!" Melissa had to wait for the crowd to die down to even hope of being heard. "This is the Friendship Cup! It's called friendship for a reason. We all came here together to become one and act as friends! Not whatever you're doing. If you truly call yourself a duelist you'd fight fair and square! Focus on your duel instead of taking pot shots at the crowd."
"The more those Tops enjoy their luxuries. The more shocked they'll be when they take damage." Shinji finally finished with that, like he had sworn a vow. It had the Common's resoundly supporting Shinji during his fight while the Tops were stiffly against him.
Otherwise, the rest of the duel focused on the actual battle between him and Tsukikage. Zero noticed the ninja had managed to grab an Action Card at the end, but he ended up not using it. Whether the ninja lost on purpose or not wasn't clear, but Zero had a feeling Tsukikage definitely didn't support how the City ran itself or treated most of its people. Yet, he didn't necessarily like the way Shinji acted and mocked his clan or the methods used to get the crowd on the Common's side.
"Huh, he actually did a good job there." Zero was surprised to say the least. "If he hadn't put his heart and soul into dueling Shinji would've actually made a good speaker." A shame, but perhaps I can use that to my advantage and tip the scales. The masked revolutionary was sure Shinji wouldn't mind a few tips and tricks for the trade.
The literal crow of Jack winning the second dueling match and making the score final was loud even for Zero and his masked ears. Moments after that Crow was demanding another rematch stating that Atlas had cheated, to which Jack was deeply offended by and promptly denied by accepting a third match.
"I'm gonna wipe the floor with you." Atlas promised darkly.
"Just try it." Crow growled and glared over at Jack.
Jack's response was to simply smirk smugly down at Crow, using his taller height to his advantage. "Why, I already have you buffon. Two times actually." He stated haughtily.
"WHY YOU-!"
Zero groaned loudly to stop another screaming match from happening. This was going to be a long two hours.
. . .
"Ahhhh! Man!" Sylvio put his head in his hands as he groaned. "I can't believe Crow and even Yuzu got to battle before me!"
"Yeah, talk about no fair." Yugo agreed beside the Pendulum user as he stretched lazily along the couch. "They didn't even want to participate in this tournament in the first place." The banana banged duelist silently turned the volume up on the TV to almost blasting.
"Go Yuzu! You've got this in the bag!" Dennis cheered as he watched the TV whilst also doing a few card tricks at the same time. "Nice comeback!" The Performage user silently flipped over the top card of the standard deck he had which revealed the queen of clubs.
"Awesome, not only did Yuzu seal away Tokumatsu's effect but she avoided taking the 1500 Life Points of damage as well." Serena looked closely towards the TV. Her main focus on Yuzu's newly summoned Fusion monster Bloom Diva. Such a beautiful Fusion monster. "She's actually pretty good at Fusion Summoning as well."
"I'm surprised she actually learned how to Fusion Summon after what you all told us about Academia." Yugo scratched the side of his head, before reaching into the bowl he placed beside him on the floor to pop a blueberry into his mouth.
"She learned that before knowing about what Academia was." Yuto said, as if he was justifying Yuzu's reasons for learning that method in the first place. He still couldn't believe Yuzu chose to actually learn Fusion Summoning sometimes.
"Hey, even with what Academia is doing Yuzu can learn whatever Summoning Method she chooses." Yuya stated firmly whilst his hands clenched the cushions on the sofa beneath him. "I know how to Fusion Summon too ya know? So does Serena, Reiji, and Zero. Don't go bad mouthing a Summoning Method because of how some people who know it use it."
Yuto looked off to the side and rubbed one of his arms as he grumbled guilty. "...I know, I'm sorry… It's Academia themselves that are to blame."
Thankfully, the final blow in the duel between Yuzu and Tokumatsu stopped the awkward conversation short.
"Bloom Diva! Reflect Shout!" Yuzu ordered as she stretched her hand out towards Tokumatsu and his level ten Synchro monster. The small, dainty Fusion monster took a deep breath, and unleashed a bright green ray of beautiful melodies. The blast of music struck the Synchro monster dead on, and blasted it into a million pieces which lead to Tokumatsu's demise.
TOKUMATSU LP- 2800 - 0 LOSER
YUZU LP- 700 WINNER
"It's settled!" Melissa screamed and cheered alongside most of the audience in the stands. "What a suspenseful duel that had us in white-knuckled suspense! Whoo ya! You go girl! Show them what us female duelists are made of!" Clearly, Melissa held a bit of a bias when it came to this duel. The cowgirl reporter pointed her mic down towards Yuzu who was rolling to a shaky stop on her D-Wheel. "The winner is Yuzu Hiragi!"
"Yeah! Way to go, Yuzu!" Yuya suddenly launched himself from his seat and did a fist bump towards the ceiling. Hearing some of the other Lancers snicker at his actions, Yuya's cheeks suddenly blushed in embarrassment and he quickly sat back down trying to act as if nothing had happened.
"Dueling is a way of life!" Tokumatsu suddenly spoke to the crowd. "You only live once! If there are days you win, there will also be days where you will lose! Do not be ashamed of defeat. Do not be proud of victory. All in all, let's enjoy!" With Enjoy Chojiro giving his nostalgic speech after every duel, the entire stadium roared and cheered.
"What a perfect way to end such an amazing duel." Ruri clapped her hands happily as she smiled over to the TV.
"Agreed." Yuya nodded sharply, a happy smile on his face.
. . .
"... Hey, Yuzu." Tokumatsu suddenly spoke as he and Yuzu began to head back towards the contestant's tower. One heading to reunite with her fellow friends while the other would be sent to his room for the remainder of the tournament.
At the very least, being locked inside a nice room was a thousand times better than being forced underground into a labor facility. A win win either way in Tokumatsu's book.
"Yeah?" Yuzu's periwinkle eyes looked up towards the taller older man in curiosity. "What's up?"
"I've got a question for you that's been on my mind ever since finally getting to meet you." Seeing Yuzu's curious look not faltering, Tokumatsu continued. "Yuya has talked about you so much back when I first met him in the Detention Facility, and I've noticed the way you two act around each other." Suddenly, Tokumatsu leaned down to whisper this last part into Yuzu's ear so that nobody else could possibly catch it. "So, when are you two going to confess that you love each other?"
That caused Yuzu's mind to screech to a halt like a train getting in a wreck.
"EH?! WHAT!" Reacting instinctively to such a prying personal question, Yuzu brought out her dreaded fan and slapped the older man right on his face. Watching as Tokumatsu fell back at the sudden assault, Yuzu snapped back into her senses with a sharp horrified gasp. The teen quickly put her fan away and helped Tokumatsu back up as she spoke hurriedly and nervously. An obvious blush stuck on her cheeks as she did so. "Oh my gosh I'm so sorry! I just didn't expect you of all people to ask a question like THAT!"
Tokumatsu merely laughed wholeheartedly and rubbed the pain off with one hand. "Ah it's nothing young lady. I probably deserved it for asking a question so personal anyway." He casually waved a hand off as he continued walking over towards the contestant tower's double doors. "Just forget I even asked."
"I- but-" Yuzu choked on her words, before just deciding to go along with Tokumatsu as the older man opened the doors and announced their return. Most of the Lancers were in the main lounge, but a couple of people like Crow were currently missing. Probably off to do their own thing.
"Hey guys!" Yuzu greeted happily as Yuya practically launched himself out of his chair and over towards the pink haired girl.
"Yuzu!" Yuya greeted her happily and immediately enveloped Yuzu into a big hug. Most of the others currently present gave their own forms of hello.
"Hey, you two did great out there. Yuzu. Tokumatsu." Serena's mouth twitched into a small smile as she nodded towards the two.
"It was a great battle." Tokumatsu agreed with a nod of his head before he held a hand out to Yuzu. The pink haired girl looked at it in bewildered shock for a moment, before eagerly shaking it. "And no matter how it turned out, no hard feelings."
"Right! Thank you for such an entertaining battle, Tokumatsu!" Yuzu said happily as she smiled up at the older man who returned it with a grin.
"Thank you as well Yuzu." The older man released his hold, before looking over the room to see a few Executive guards giving him the stink eye. Seeing this, Tokumatsu merely gave a tired sigh before waving to the rest of the Lancers. "Well, it looks like my time is up. I'll see you all again at the end of the tournament."
"Don't enjoy that bed too much Chojiro!" Sylvio remarked with a sloppy wave as the old man vanished up the stairs to be locked in his own chambers for the remainder of the Friendship Cup like Gongenzaka.
"Nice to see you two are back in one piece." Yugo nodded sagely as he sat up and crossed his arms. "Because it certainly wasn't looking like you were gonna come back in one piece at the start of that duel." The D-Wheel expert threw his arms up high in the air as he criticized Yuzu. "You both sucked at riding your D-Wheels!"
"Hey, it's my first time driving one okay?" Yuzu reprimanded with a light pout on her face. Her hands placed on her hips as she tutted and looked off to the side. "Give me a break."
"I mean, I know it's not easy to fall off of a D-Wheel, but man you both sucked at driving so bad I wouldn't be surprised if that duel became an exception." Yugo continued running his mouth.
"Ah, don't SAY that-!" Yuya started, but was interrupted when Yuzu unleashed the fury of her fan upon Yugo. The Standard female counterpart doing herself justice against Yugo's motor mouth.
"Oww!" Yugo whined as he rubbed his poor abused head. Tears watering his eyes at the pain as he glared weakly up at Yuzu. "What did I do THIS time?!"
Yuzu merely decided to ignore Yugo's obvious question, and returned her focus to Yuya after he regained her attention.
"You did it Yuzu. Really, you were great." Yuya himself shed a few tears in happy pride. Brushing his red and green hair away from his face to wipe at his eyes. "And I just wanted to say, thank you. Yuzu, thank you so much. With that duel you and Tokumatsu gave your all in I saw your feelings. You've helped me start to see a better way in my dueling, and I'll give it my all to try and be the best just like you are!" The Pendulum user swore.
"Oh thank goodness." Yuzu breathed a heavy sigh of relief. One hand going up to her chest as she looked back towards Yuya. "I'm so glad." She reached forward to wrap Yuya in another tight hug which Yuya reciprocated eagerly. "I've noticed that you've been feeling a bit down since the start of this tournament. I was hoping this duel would help lift your spirits." She smiled. "I'm glad it worked."
"Just kiss already for God's sake!" Sylvio stated bluntly as he watched the next round of the tournament get announced on the TV. The brunette's words had Yuya and Yuzu blushing like mad before Yuzu slowly reached behind her and silently pulled out her fan once more.
This time, Yugo decided to abandon ship and literally leap off of the couch and scramble all the way back up towards his room. His bowl of blueberries being left behind in the dust.
I love Tsukikage's character and character design. He's hardly even there and just quiet most of the time but I think he's just great. Otherwise, I still find it hard Reiji brought Riley in the first place. I mean, not even Kaiba would do that to Mokuba! He loves Mokuba! At least we've got some character development from him now.
Also, you thought I was done with those three kids? Ha, think again. Yes, Frank, Amanda, and Tanner followed Yuto and Ruri to find Crow. The poor lad. Such mischievous children he has to keep a watch over. :3
If you have enjoyed the story so far leave a REVIEW, Follow, and Favorite the story so you can keep track of when chapters pop up. Because FYI, I don't have a posting schedule and I just post whenever I feel like it.
Until the next chapter everyone! -MoonlightWright