Much to my surprise, no one said anything about me giving Akiru Kaiba's Blue-Eyes. That is shocking to me, considering I had a guy get mad at me for using a Blue-Eyes in general in a much older story (that I will likely never return to). Anyway, only three Heirs remain to be claimed, and I know people have been curious about the abilities Akiru will gain from his other Galaxy-Eyes, and now that he has three of them, it leaves much to theorize on.

Also, for anyone wondering about who David Cannon is that I dedicated the last chapter to, he was my elder brother. On July 28th, the house he was living in caught fire. Apparently, his air conditioner was the cause. He coded in the hospital. For those of you who think you need to have your air conditioner set to lower than 70 degrees, here's a good reason not to. Now, let's see who the next Heir is.

Chapter Nine

The Heir of Girag

"A successful woman is one who can build a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at her."

-Author Unknown

Previously...

Asuka, betrayed by her former comrades and exiled from the Shinobi, has been sent to another world with her former rival, Homura, and their new friends, Akiru and Kotori Hirasu. After several encounters with the Duelist calling himself Corwan, it has been revealed that Akiru, Homura, and two others are the Heirs to four of the seven Barian Emperors. After some meditation, Akiru has gained powers from one of his signature cards. This is their story...

(Barian wilderness, en route to Sanctuary)

The group continued their journey, taking in the sights around them with the exception of the four Emperors, who simply gave each other knowing glances at their respective Heirs' curiosity. Kotori ran up to her father, asking, "So Mom knew about all of this?" Mizar nodded. "I told her the truth years ago. She knew this time would come. I confess, I did not anticipate having to bring both of you here, but it was necessary for your protection. If the rebels had found you both, there would have been no saving either of you." The young girl looked thoughtful, then asked him, "Do I have a Barian form?" Her father replied, "It is possible, but nothing is certain yet."

While Kotori spoke with her father, Homura looked at Asuka, who seemed lost in thought. Approaching her friend, the Heir of Dumon asked, "Are you okay?" The yellow-eyed brunette looked at her friend and said, "I feel like I'm just tagging along now." Homura gently put her hand on Asuka's shoulder and said, "Your time will come, Asuka. Just give it a little more time." The yellow-eyed brunette looked thoughtful upon hearing that. The red-haired Heiress caressed Asuka's shoulder, saying, "Do you know why I let you be my rival?" Her friend shook her head. Homura looked her in the eye and said, "Because you never gave up."

The yellow-eyed girl looked at the red-haired girl, shocked by that statement. Homura continued, "Even with your back against the wall, you kept on going. You didn't let anyone or anything tell you that you'd lost. Though it annoyed me at first, eventually, I started to admire that." Dumon listened to the conversation with interest, while his daughter continued. Deforming her mask, Homura finished with, "Your heart led you to show me a better way, to help me find myself again. If you're not one of the Heirs, then I refuse to believe that you have no further part in my journey." Her friend could only stare in amazement.

In the front of the group, Akiru looked around, stopping everyone when a portal opened in front of him, already knowing who it was. "Corwan." As the rebel appeared, he said, "This ends here, boy." Forming his Duel Disk, the young man replied in an excited tone, "You got me a present?!" Continuing, Corwan laughed out, "Your screams will deafen the ears of all who hear it!" As his Duel Disk formed and the two had their stand-off, Kotori sprung into action. "Okay, everybody, let's go this way! We're going to look at hills, and mountains, which I believe are also hills! I don't know! I'm from Usaka, I'm not cultured!"

After his sister led everyone out of the way, Akiru quipped, "Umm... Well, this is awkward." The rebel replied, "Yeah, kind of a mood killer." Facing Corwan, the young man asked, "Wanna try this again some other time?" His foe replied, "Of course! Duel you later, you little heathen." The Heir of Mizar replied, "You, too, you sociopath." Facing the others, he added, "Whoops, tautology!" Everyone laughed at the joke as another portal opened, Alito grinning under his mask at who it was. "Girag, good timing!" The newcomer looked at his friend with a grin under his own mask, then turned towards Corwan. "Outta my way, rebel scum."

The rebel growled in response, before vanishing. The young man quipped, "Aw, man, I was just starting to have fun with him." Girag looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Fun?" Akiru explained, "I made a joke and he rolled with it." The Emperor laughed in response, his fellow Emperors chuckling as they approached. Looking at them, he said, "Where is she?" Looking to his left, he saw Murakumo cleaning her mask, not paying attention to the strange man now facing her. Asuka was about to speak up when Homura stopped her. "Just let it happen." It took the mask-wearing girl a few minutes to realize someone was looking at her.

"Eep!" Putting her mask on, she donned her deeper voice and said, "I'm sorry you had to see that." Girag chuckled and entered his human form, catching Murakumo off-guard. "You really shouldn't hide such a beautiful face, Murakumo." The girl's mask fell off, but she was too surprised to pick it up. "D-Daddy?" Her father gently put his hand on her shoulder and said, "I'm sorry I had to leave you behind." The girl burst into tears in his shoulder, the others watching with warm smiles, Akiru facing his father. "That accounts for five Heirs now." Mizar nodded. "She hasn't awakened to her Barian form yet, so we must protect her now that we know." The young man nodded.

As his sister approached them, Akiru quipped, "Nice job back there. I never would have thought of that." Kotori looked at Girag as he hugged his daughter, the rest of Team Gessen watching with smiles. Asuka and Homura watched as well, with Dumon and Alito near them. After father and daughter separated from their hug, Girag shifted back into his Barian form, looking at his fellow Emperors. "We should keep moving. I doubt that rebel was the only one nearby." They all nodded in agreement. As they walked, Yumi turned towards Asuka and asked, "Do you believe that you might be an Heir as well?" The brunette shrugged. "Mizar and Dumon think it might be possible, but we're not sure."

As they continued, Murakumo looked at Shiki, and made a decision. "Shiki." As the former valley blonde looked at her friend, the mask-loving girl stated, "I want to Duel you." Her eyes widening upon hearing her say that, Shiki asked, "Now?" Murakumo nodded. Girag and Vector faced each other with nervous glances, both knowing the danger of this. Akiru spoke up. "Murakumo, you know that if Shiki gets her Number out, you'll be in for a lot of pain." Facing him, she replied, "I know. I just want to test a thought I had." Tilting his head in confusion, the young man asked, "Have you prepared your last will and testament, just in case?" She laughed in response.

The two took their positions opposite each other while Akiru stood off to the side, acting as a referee. "All right, I'm looking for a nice clean Duel. If at any point, Murakumo is put through too much pain for her father's liking, I will discontinue the Duel on his behalf. Is that understood?" Both girls nodded. Shrugging, he stated, "All right, ready your Duel Disks." As Shiki's formed on her left arm, with her left eye glowing red, Murakumo's Duel Disk activated, and she took a stance, ready. Drawing their starting hands, they both declared, "Let's Duel!"

(Shiki: 4000)

(Murakumo: 4000)

Grinning under her mask, the pale Barian Heir declared, "I'll take the first move. I Draw!" Looking over her options, she said, "I'll put a monster Face-Down first thing, then back 'em up with a Face-Down in the back!" As the two Face-Down cards formed in front of her, she chose another card. "I'll top that off by activating Card Trader!" As a masked figure in a black cloak appeared, the Heir of Vector revealed, "During my Standby Phase, I can put a card in my hand back into my Deck, shuffle, and draw a new card. With that, I'll end my turn."

Murakumo narrowed her eyes in suspicion as she drew her card, already disliking what Shiki was up to. Looking over her options, she said, "I'll put a Face-Down monster of my own, no more, no less." As the Face-Down monster appeared, Murakumo added, "With that, my turn is done." Drawing her next card, Shiki drew her next card, laughing maniacally as she looked at it. Hearing her made Akiru concerned. The pale Heir declared, "I Flip Summon my Ghostrick Stein!"

(Ghostrick Stein appeared: a level 3 DARK monster with 1600 ATK)

Upon seeing the card, the young man tilted his head. "You're laughing about Frankenstein's monster?" Shiki replied, "Nope. I'm just excited to Xyz Summon already! I Summon Ghostrick Mummy!"

(Ghostrick Mummy appeared: a level 3 DARK monster with 1500 ATK)

Murakumo narrowed her eyes upon seeing the monster. "Two level 3 monsters..." The Heir of Vector called out, "I'll also activate Double Summon, allowing me to Summon again! So I'll bring out this little guy! He goes by Ghostrick Warwolf!"

(Ghostrick Warwolf appeared: a level 3 DARK monster with 1400 ATK)

Akiru looked at the new monster in confusion. "What the hell do you need the third one for? None of the Ghostrick Xyz monsters need-." Then he understood the purpose of the three monsters. "You're bringing it out already?" Grinning under her mask, Shiki announced, "I Overlay level 3 Ghostricks Stein, Mummy, and Warwolf!" As the three monsters became enveloped in energy and flew into the air, a familiar galaxy portal appeared as she continued, "With these three monsters, I build the Overlay Network and Xyz Summon my newest friend!" From the portal emerged a massive skull, which transformed into a terrifying skeletal dragon, its screeching roar shaking the area as Shiki chanted, "Conqueror of the shadows and of death itself, take flight upon this world and unleash your might!" As the Number Crest formed, she finished, "Rise, Number 111: Dread Reaper Dragon!"

(Number 111: Dread Reaper Dragon appeared: a Rank 4 DARK Xyz monster with 2700 ATK and 3 Overlay Units)

Murakumo sighed in understanding. "Right, you can use any Ghostrick monster to Summon it." The young man quipped, "That card would so be banned from tournaments." Homura spoke up. "Wouldn't your Number be banned, too?" Akiru replied, "Probably, but I haven't cared about that in years." The Heir of Vector said, "Hope you're ready, Murakumo! Dread Reaper Dragon, attack that Face-Down monster! Hellfire Inferno!" Dark purple fire erupted from the skeletal dragon's jaws, disinegrating the Face-Down monster with ease. Murakumo smirked upon her monster's destruction, which did not go unnoticed by Akiru. 'What was that monster?'

Shiki grinned and said, "Your turn, Murachii!" The former mask-wearing girl drew her card with a grin, then said, "I'll put another monster Face-Down, if you don't mind." As the monster card formed, she added, "I'll also add a Face-Down to my back row, and end my turn!" The Heir of Vector drew her card, and said, "I'll activate Ghostrick Shot! This lets me Summon a Ghostrick monster from my hand, like another Ghostrick Stein!"

(Same as before)

With her target in sight, Shiki declared, "Ghostrick Stein, attack that Face-Down monster!" As her monster lunged and ripped the Face-Down card to shreds, Murakumo called out, "Big mistake, Shiki! The monster you just destroyed was a Mystic Tomato!" Akiru grinned under his mouthguard upon hearing that. "Nice!" As the pale-skinned girl stared in confusion, Murakumo explained, "When he's destroyed and sent to my Graveyard by battle, I get to Summon a new DARK monster from my Deck in Attack Mode, provided its Attack Points are 1500 or less! So let's welcome Prometheus, King of the Shadows!"

(Prometheus, King of the Shadows appeared: a level 4 DARK monster with 1200 ATK)

Upon seeing the monster, Shiki tilted her head. "Um, Murachii? He only has 1200 Attack Points." Her friend replied, "I know." Akiru looked over in interest. 'That card's ability only works when it's Normal Summoned. What's she up to?' Shrugging, the Heir of Vector said, "Your funeral. Dread Reaper Dragon, attack Prometheus! Hellfire-!" The side ponytailed girl called out, "Sorry to interrupt, but you triggered the effect of a monster in my Graveyard!" Shiki asked, "Huh?" while the young man thought it over, then realized what she was talking about. "Shiki destroyed a Necro Gardna earlier, didn't she?" Murakumo grinned as she nodded. "You know your cards. I can respect that."

As the pale-skinned girl tilted her head in confusion, her opponent explained. "When my opponent declares an attack, I can Banish Necro Gardna from my Graveyard to negate that attack!" As she pocketed the card, Dread Reaper Dragon was forced back, Shiki's eye twitching in surprise." Girag laughed from where he was standing. "Very good!" Mizar walked over to Akiru and asked, "How did you know it was Necro Gardna?" His son replied, "She was grinning when it was destroyed, and when she interrupted Shiki when she tried to attack, it clicked." His father tilted his head, impressed. "You can predict your opponent's strategies by reading their body language."

The Heir of Vector could only sigh. "I end my turn..." As her opponent drew her card, she stated, "I don't care how powerful your monster is. It is not invincible. I will overcome it!" As she made that declaration, a demonic voice entered her mind. "Do you truly believe that you are strong enough to overcome this?" She cried out as she gripped her head, the voice continuing. "Do you yearn for my power that badly? Then why do you kneel on your knees when your conquest has only begun? Arise, young warrior and embrace who you really are. Let the heavens hear your war cry, though your soul be chained to hell itself!"

Getting up, a red glow in her eyes, she said, "First, I'll activate the ability of Dark Grepher in my hand! By discarding a level 5 or higher DARK monster, I can Summon him to my field!" Tossing her Legendary Fiend, which Akiru noticed, she slapped the new monster in the card slot.

(Dark Grepher appeared: a level 4 DARK monster with 1700 ATK)

Looking Shiki in the eyes, Murakumo added, "I Normal Summon Dark Crusader!"

(Dark Crusader appeared: a level 4 DARK monster with 1600 ATK)

Counting the lineup, Shiki muttered, "Three level 4 monsters..." Murakumo declared, "I Overlay level 4 Prometheus, King of the Shadows, Dark Grepher, and Dark Crusader! With these three monsters, I build the Overlay Network!" As the three monsters sailed into the air as purple streams of light, a galaxy portal opened in front of her, and she finished, "I Xyz Summon a monster straight from the depths of Hell!" As the galaxy portal exploded, a massive heart-shaped mask with spikes rose from it. The monster's new master declared, "Noble warrior corrupted by the shadows, let the world know your endless fury! I Xyz Summon Number 113: Oni, Cursed Samurai!" The mask transformed into a muscular Japanese demon, a single katana held in its right hand, the Number 113 glowing in purple on its left shoulder, taking a battle stance with a shout.

(Number 113: Oni, Cursed Samurai appeared: a Rank 4 EARTH Xyz monster with 2800 ATK and 3 Overlay Units)

With the new Number on the field, dark flames enveloped Murakumo, vanishing to reveal her Barian form, her new appearance similar to a samurai, with her Duel Disk now taking the form of an oni mask, a mask simliar to her father's forming on her face, her eyes green with the left eye turning red. Staring down Shiki, she said, "This is gonna be fun! Oni, attack Dread Reaper Dragon! Cursed Blade!" As Shiki backstepped in fear, the Heir of Girag called out, "I also activate Oni's special ability! When he battles, I can use one Overlay Unit to have him gain Attack Points equal to that of the opposing monster, giving my Oni a 2700 Attack Point boost!"

(Oni, Cursed Samurai's ATK: 5500, Overlay Units: 2)

The oni's sword sliced through the skeletal dragon's spine, the halved monster exploding, its master flying backwards.

(Shiki: 1200)

Akiru was shocked. "Whoa..." The red-skinned girl quipped, "Good thing yours can stop that." He replied, "Right?"

The newborn Barian declared, "I end my turn." Shiki got up and drew her new card, stating, "I'll activate the effect of Card Trader, letting me return the card I just drew to my Deck to shuffle and draw again!" Upon drawing the new card, she growled in frustration. "Damn it!" Looking at her opponent, she said, "I'll put Stein in Defense Mode, and end my turn!"

(Ghostrick Stein's DEF: 0)

Murakumo drew her card and said, "I'll Summon my Giant Germ to the field!"

(Giant Germ appeared: a level 2 monster with 1000 ATK)

Seeing the monster made Akiru grimace. "I hate that card..." Ignoring his remark, Murakumo said, "Giant Germ, destroy Ghostrick Stein!" As her defense monster was consumed by Giant Germ, Shiki whimpered in fear, and Murakumo ordered, "Oni, Cursed Samurai, hit her directly! Cursed Blade!" The oni readied his blade, before vanishing and appearing behind Shiki, slowly sheathing his katana. When the weapon was fully sheathed, the Heir of Vector was knocked off her feet, landing on her back with a loud thump.

(Shiki: 0)

(Murakumo: WIN)

As the field vanished and Murakumo approached her friend to help her up, Girag grinned under his mask. "That was amazing to watch!" Akiru clapped from where he was standing. "I'm guessing your deck is built around the Dark Counterparts?" The Heir of Girag faced him in mild surprise. "How'd you know?" He explained, "I Dueled a guy using a similar strategy once. He explained to me how his Deck was made afterwards." She nodded in understanding. Alito spoke up. "That was very entertaining, but we need to move on if we're going to get to Sanctuary by sundown." They all followed behind him as he walked towards the city again, a very proud father walking beside his daughter.

A/N

As I'm sure the Senran Kagura fanbase guessed, I based Murakumo's Number off of her oni mask. I won't spoil what happens in the next chapter, but I think everyone can guess who the next Heir is going to be. Anyways, to the OC card introduced.

Number 113: Oni, Cursed Samurai

Attribute: EARTH

Rank: 4

ATK: 2800

DEF: 2100

Type: Warrior/Xyz/Effect

Summoning conditions: 3 level 4 monsters

Effect: When this card battles, you can Detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; it gains ATK equal to the ATK of the opposing monster, until the end of the turn. If this card has no Xyz Materials, destroy it during the End Phase.