Smoke came from a dark alley, rising from the ground between the forgotten buildings to the great heights of the sky, losing its form on the way. The night was surprisingly quiet, no being dared to wander the streets at that late hour. You could hear the flames crack as they melted the bag containing a fresh dead body, the stench of its flesh filling the already foul-smelling corner. Demon Subaru and Bochiborof watched as their little bonfire disposed of the latest victim's remains. At last, the human to whom Shishima had been bound was finally dead, and with his body also gone, their connection was forever severed. As he watched his last host wither away in the inferno, he swore to himself that he would never be bound to another human again. Sure, his current body was too weak to withstand his growing power, but at the very least he was independent again after so long.
In hindsight, Subaru had probably been the wimpiest and weakest of his hosts. There was no innate malice or hatred coming from him, so the demon had to work with whatever inner frustrations the human had from his repressed emotions. But how funny it was that through this human he had finally found a power source suited for his goals. All those centuries he had spent in the bodies of serial killers, warlords and dictators had given him no result in his quest. In the end, he was at least grateful to Subaru for making him aware of All Over The World. That hero's legacy was ultimately what would bring about Shishima's ascent to godhood. Truly fate was an ironic bitch.
A new coughing fit forced Demon Subaru to sit down between to garbage cans. He had tried to gain control of his respiratory system for the third time that night and to no avail. His lungs were betraying him and more blood jumped out of his mouth. Even as he tried to relax and get a hold of himself, the pain in the rest of his body began to resurface. He felt his bones and muscles ache and go numb. Everything around was spinning in all directions and a growing headache disturbed his thoughts. What good was an independent body when he constantly felt as if he were on the verge of death? He had to finish his little quest before that pathetic flesh vessel gave in.
"Milord, I beg you, tell me if there's anything I can do for you!" Bochiborof's desperate voice bothered him.
"Nothing…" he growled in response and pulled the cards of Bluenika, Greene and Blacko from his pocket with a shaking hand. "Come on, answer me…" he weakly demanded as he stared at the cards. "Don't you wish to be whole again?" But as always, the cards remained unresponsive. He knew the creature was well aware of his efforts to help it, but every time he asked for some aid in the form of power, he always found himself having to force it out of the cards. Was it testing him to see if he could fare on his own? He was not in the mood for such cheap tricks.
"Master, there has to be something. Please, tell me what you need!" the purple wolf plushie insisted and approached the weakened one.
"Fucking answer me already!" Demon Subaru snapped at the cards, his shriek startling Bochiborof. "I grow tired of your games." His calm demeanor returned. "If you won't give me what I need, I'll just take it again." His fingers gripped around the three cards and glowed purple as they absorbed power from them.
But this around things were different. Instead of making the pain go away, the cards amplified it. Demon Subaru sank his upper fangs into his lower lip, trying his best to suppress his screams of agony. His entire body felt as if it were on fire from the inside. Those sensations took him back to the time when he escaped the clutches of the Abyss, having fought a barrier of flames as strong as the ones that now burnt him, if not stronger. He suffered, therefore he existed.
All of a sudden, he was back on his feet as if nothing had happened. Like an addict being given his drug, he now felt well once more. But the fact that his pain was growing longer and stronger worried him. Maybe Bochiborof was right, maybe he had to put less strain on his body. It meant that his illusions had to be less elaborate and bombastic. But he could still find a way to use them for his next victim. With newfound confidence and a malicious smile on his face, he motioned for his minion to follow as he walked out of the alley. The bonfire behind them was out, leaving only a pile of ashes which scattered in the wind.
Meanwhile at the racing track, a red jet with painted yellow flames soared through the air, passing obstacle upon obstacle with a precision that newcomers found it impossible to achieve. The pilot was enjoying the thrill of his challenge so much as if it were the first time he sat on the driver's seat. Soon enough, he crossed the floating finish line, gaining the first place again. What a pity, the race was over too soon yet again. How he wished he could just go fast and not have a thing in the world stop him from that thrill. For while he was up in the air, he truly felt free. Alas, he had gone through those feelings for most of his life. After parking his vehicle, he walked out and relaxed on a bench, chugging down some water.
"Great performance, as always." His boss who had been watching from the sidelines walked up to the bench. "With how quickly you're responding to the obstacles, this Grand Prix is surely going to be ours!"
"Thanks, sir. I may look old, but I'm still the fastest pilot that's flown this dome's tracks," Rad proudly bragged with a confident smirk.
"At the rate you bring us victories, you're going to get another raise soon," the boss promised and he placed a hand on his racer's shoulder. "But until then you're getting a day off tomorrow, you deserve it."
"Heh, not like I'd need it."
"I know, I know, but we've got to let the young ones win at least a race or two." And with that, the boss walked away. "Good night!"
With a shrug, Rad tossed the empty bottle in the trash bin and went to pack his stuff up and go home. At that late an hour, Subaru was most likely fast asleep despite the promise of waiting for him to get home. He would have to quietly enter their apartment, have a short midnight snack and discreetly slip in bed next to him. The following morning maybe the two of them could go to a restaurant or watch a movie. It had been a while since they last shared some time together. But now with this day off, he finally got the right opportunity to do so. He awoke from his trail of thought when his phone rang.
"Hello?" Rad answered as he zipped his bag closed.
"Hey there, it's me again." Subaru's melodious voice resounded through the phone.
"Glad to hear you're not asleep yet. How was the bath?"
"Warm and relaxing, but it unfortunately lacked something…"
"And how's your broken arm doing?" Silence followed on the other line. "After that fall, you've been recovering a bit slower than usual. The doctor told you to take it easy."
"Don't worry…" Subaru's voice gave a slight hint of insecurity, but it soon regained its usual playful confidence. "My arm's feeling much better already! That bath helped, but I know something that could help me more."
"Oh, and what's that?"
"I think that you could treat me better than a doctor."
Giggling at the innuendo, Rad responded in his usual boasting attitude, "How right you are, when it comes to you there's no better doctor than me!"
"Anyway, are you still busy for the rest of the night?"
"Nah, the boss told me that my performance was so awesome that I've won myself a day off."
"Wonderful! I've also finished the first draft of my latest book and now I'm also free." Another short pause followed, after which Subaru sounded even more suggestive. "Do you mind if we go out on a little date?"
"I was planning on hitting the hay, but that can wait. We haven't spent much time lately."
"Hehe, I knew you would agree. Meet me at the beach in half an hour and we'll figure it out from there."
"Ah, nothing like a late-night stroll by the sea, ey? Fine, I'll be there as fast as I can."
Rad hung up and wasted no time. With the little travel bag on his shoulder, he ran out of the racing dome and across the city's main street. He checked his watch, it was 0:30 AM. Others might have mistaken him for a late-night jogger, but he wouldn't have cared what they thought, for only one thing was on his mind. Subaru had not sounded this romantic and seductive in years! After those past months of constant racing, the best reward he could have gotten was his husband being more like when they were young.
Soon enough, he had arrived at the stairs which descended to the city's beach. The calm sounds of the sea's waves delighted him and the smell of saltwater refreshed him. But beneath them he could hear a surprisingly pleasant hum and smell a strange perfume of roses. They pulled him forward down the stairs, and very quickly he found his boots stepping on soft sand. It was almost as if he were entranced, but he did not seem to care much, for not too far ahead was the love of his life, standing with his arms crossed and with his back against a dueling table. As he approached, Rad took the time to admire Subaru with the moonlight falling upon him. Despite their old age, he still found his lover to be as beautiful and attractive as when they first met. But strangely enough, his husband wore a hooded black jacket which he had never seen before.
"Right on time as usual," Subaru acknowledged him with a little smirk.
"Was there any doubt?" Rad nodded and approached him, putting a hand under the other's chin. "I've waited so much for this…" He leaned in for a kiss, only to be stopped by a hand on his chest gently pushing him back.
"Not yet."
"Cock tease."
"You know, I'm no longer interested in us going out somewhere."
"Then why call me all the way out here if we're not going on a date anymore?"
"I'd rather we stay and enjoy ourselves right here. On the beach, by the sea, under the starry sky, where only the night will be our witness."
Although he was disappointed at first by the sudden denial of physical intimacy, his husband's poetic talk was always a turn on. There was something about Subaru's brainy side that Rad found very appealing, both on an intellectual and romantic level.
"Fine by me, then what do you suggest we do?"
"How about a duel?" Subaru pulled out a deck from his coat. "If you win, I'll let you do anything to me."
A spark ignited in Rad's eyes. He immediately fetched his deck out of the travel bag and went to the opposing table. They were both quick to set up their cards and soon enough their shields materialized, indicating the beginning of their match.
"I summon BloodRayne, Start Dash," Subaru said and the cowboy humanoid with a skeletal serpent on his arm appeared.
"I cast Mendelssohn." Rad revealed the top two cards of his deck which were GENJI Triple Cross, Passion Dragon and Mettagils, Passion Dragon, both of which went into his mana zone tapped.
"I summon Jenny, the Dismantling Doll." A white-haired red eyed puppet wearing a black and red dress and wielding a large cutter appeared, forcing the opponent to reveal his hand – Zark Taiser, Passion Admiral, Eternal Ryusei Kaiser, Batocross Battle, Passion Dragon and Mitsurugi Boost, Matchless Dragon Demon. "How lovely, you've still got Madness cards."
"What else should I do when I'm facing a discard heavy deck?"
"Heh, I guess you're right. Discard Mitsurugi Boost and your move."
"Very well, I charge mana and end here."
"Lovely. Then I summon Ninjariban, Dragon Edge, who will bring out Greene, Dragon Soul Ruins." A blue ninja themed plushie appeared alongside a pair of green ruins, causing Subaru to put the top card of his deck into his mana zone.
Rad was quick to take notice, "Wait a minute, is that Sora's dragheart?"
"Why yes, she lent it to me for a little while. You see, I'm testing a new deck."
That was strange, since when was Sora on such good terms with Subaru? The last time he recalled them meeting, they had had an argument over her finding Subaru's latest book as being too nihilistic for her tastes. But he had been so busy over the past few months, who knew, maybe they had made up during his absence.
"Alright then, but you're not the only one who can ramp – I cast Child Festival of Faerie Fire! With its effect I check the top two cards of my deck and put Glenmalt "Head", Dimension Dragon Edge to my mana zone and the other at the bottom of my deck. Then since I put a Fire card with its effect, I return the spell back to my hand. Now I cast Child Festival of Faerie Fire again and put Hero Mystery, Burning Galaxy to my mana zone. I return the spell once more and your turn."
Subaru smiled slyly and licked his lips. "Time to make things more fun – I summon Hellborof, Supreme Dragon Edge, mill the top 2 cards of my deck and bring out Welcome Hell, Supreme Devil King Palace!" The horned and winged wolf plushie appeared alongside the winged dark palace as Vader, Dark Armor and Duenyan Emperor landed in their owner's graveyard. "With Welcome Hell's effect I evolve Hellborof into Duenyan Emperor!" The wolf was surrounded by a purple aura and grew into a fat black cat plushie wearing an emperor's crown and cape as well as wielding a golden staff shaped like a fish's skeleton. "Ninjariban, attack and Welcome Hell shall revive Vader, Dark Armor as well. Now go, break his shield!" The shielded gray-armored knight appeared as the ninja plushie jumped in the air and broke one of Rad's shields. "Duenyan Emperor, double break his shields!" The cat plushie rushed at the opposing shields and took them down with his staff. "BloodRayne, break his shield!" The cowboy humanoid was next to take down a shield, using the skeletal serpent on his arm, but this time around the opponent had gained an answer.
"Shield trigger, I cast Hero Mystery, Burning Galaxy and destroy Vader! Then Mana Arms 7, I also destroy Welcome Hell!" A powerful draconic flame quickly enveloped both the gray knight and the winged palace, making them vanish.
"Jenny, break his final shield!" Subaru ordered and the puppet cut it down with her blade.
"Shield trigger, I cast Tenshukaku, Dragon King Keep!" Rad was quick to reveal the card he had received from his shield. "I check the top 5 cards of my deck and reveal GENJI Double Cross, Blastdragon to destroy Ninjariban! Then Mana Arms 5, I take GENJI Double Cross to my hand." He took a deep breath and wiped the sweat off of his forehead. After all this time, Subaru had remained a worthy opponent despite the advantage that Rad's aggressive decks usually had over him. But deep inside he enjoyed being cornered like that, it pushed him to the limit and motivated him to get better as a duelist. "You gave the best you've got, now it's time I did the same – I summon MaltNEXT, Super Battle Dragon Edge and bring out Heart Burn, Battle General Galaxy Fortress!"
Subaru's smile grew eerily wide as he saw the humanoid wearing a red and blue armor emerge alongside the large fortress that had a red and a blue dragon's head on its left and right. Crossing his arms, he spoke calmly, "I'm waiting, come at me."
"Heart Burn gives speed attacker to all of my creatures, so I attack with MaltNEXT, double break his shields!" The armored humanoid gave a battle cry and rushed at Rad's opponent, punching away two of his shields. "Dragon Mana Arms 5, I untap MaltNEXT. Since I untapped a Dragon, Heart Burn shall dragsolution into GuyNEXT, Super Battle Victory Dragon! Go, GuyNEXT, break his final shields!" The two heads on the fortress fused into one as the rest of the building transformed into a dragon that used its bits for armor and weaponry. GuyNEXT also gave a battle roar and rushed at the remaining shields, going through them all. "Good game, Subaru. But I'm afraid the match is all mine. MaltNEXT, todomeda!" At Rad's order, the humanoid rushed straight at the opponent, ready to deliver the final blow.
"Ninja Strike 4, I summon Hayabusamaru, Lightfang Ninja and block the attack!" A white creature shaped like a plane appeared in front of MaltNEXT and took the full force of his punches, blowing up in the process and saving its owner from losing the game.
"Ah, still got a bit of fight left in you, huh?" Rad asked, excitement in his voice, it had been a while since he had felt such a thrill from duels. "Alright, it's your move then."
"I summon Time Tripper, Shadow of Stagnation and evolve him into Deadzone, S-Rank Zombie!" A fat white ghost with four arms and a giant mouth in its belly appeared and quickly transformed into a large dark purple motorcycle robot with a wheel for one of its hands and a red cape on its back. "Deadzone's effect gives -9000 to MaltNEXT and destroys him!" The robot fired a puff of black smoke at the red and blue humanoid, making him cough and faint, disappearing from the battle zone. "Now go, Deadzone, finish him off!"
"Not so fast! Revolution 0 Trigger – Boshack Dogiragon!" Rad revealed the top card of his deck and put it into the battle zone along with the one from his hand. "I bring out Mega Magma Dragon and evolve him into Bolshack Dogiragon! Mega Magma Dragon's effect destroys BloodRayne and Jenny, then Bolshack Dogiragon shall battle Deadzone!" The red armored dragon with golden fists and long blue hair appeared in the way of the zombie robot and blocked his mechanical arms with his own hands. The two creatures struggled until they both vanished in an explosion. "It seems like I've also got a bit of fight left in me too, right?"
Much to Rad's surprise, Subaru ignored the snark this time around and continued his turn, "Duenyan Emperor, attack him now!"
"Revolution 0 Trigger – Iron Fist of Revolution!" Rad revealed his top four cards which were Mendelssohn, Mitsurugi Boost, Matchless Dragon Demon, Child Festival of Faerie Fire and Zark Taiser, Passion Admiral. "I choose Zark Taiser and destroy Duenyan Emperor!" A golden fist descended from the sky and crushed the black cat plushie.
Subaru let out a short and rather creepy giggle as his two cards fell into the graveyard. Rad raised his eyebrow at him, just what was so funny? Picking up one of the cards, Subaru continued, "Duenyan Emperor's effect, when he is destroyed, I revive all Funky Knightmares from under him, so I bring back Hellborof." The horned and winged purple wolf plushie reappeared. "Hellborof's effect, this time I equip him with Go To Hell, Annihilator Blade." A dark blue bone scythe appeared in his hands. "Go To Hell's effect, I revive a Funky Knightmare that costs 5 or less, so I evolve Hellborof into Duenyan Emperor!" The wolf once more transformed into the black cat.
"What?!" Rad's jaw dropped, that meant Duenyan Emperor could not truly die while in combo with those two other cards.
"Duenyan Emperor, todomeda!" Subaru ordered.
Rad was thrown back by the plushie's attack, crashing on the sand. But after how many duels he had played, he was used to it. As he tried to get up, to his surprise he saw that everything around them had gone pitch black with the exception of the dueling tables and Subaru, who had walked to Rad's table and took a card from it.
"Enough fooling around. What's next?" Rad asked.
"You've been such a good boy, I think you deserve a reward regardless," Subaru responded in the same seductive tone he had used while on the phone. "So why don't you make a wish and we'll see if I can fulfill it," he suggested as he slowly walked over to him.
"Heh, I like how you think."
Subaru took off the hood to reveal his full head of white hair, then he kneeled in front of him and placed a hand on the Rad's foot, rubbing it tenderly. Rad's excitement only grew stronger as he waited for his lover to make the first move that time around. Subaru leaned in closer, their lips only a few seconds apart. And then it happened fast like lightning. He shoved his other hand right into Rad's left eye socket, his index and middle fingers piercing the sight organ. He slowly and painfully ripped it out of his skull.
The shock was so great that Rad could not even scream. He just stared down at his sports suit to see a trail of blood dripping from his face onto it. Did he just lose half of his sight? Why would Subaru do this to him? It made no sense!
"I know that you wish for us to be together forever." Subaru's voice had gotten colder as he crushed the eye in his palm with ease. "I can fulfill that."
With a hand wave, he made Rad's body flow in the air. As hard as he tried, he could not break free from whatever magic had paralyzed him. And then he heard a terrible noise and turned to see Bochiborof emerge from the darkness, an electric saw blade buzzing in his gloved hands. In the spawn of a few moments, Rad's entire life flashed before him. All those moments of restraint and freedom, all those strong emotions, everything seemed like it happened only yesterday, and now they had all ended way too soon. If anything, his gut instinct should have told him that the one before him was not Subaru, his husband would have never done anything like that.
Giving him a mocking smirk, the impostor said, "Subaru loved you." Then he waved the same index and middle fingers and Rad's body fell right into the saw blade, his screams echoing in the darkness.
The smile on Bochiborof's face contorted into a wild grin as he shoved the weapon down the victim's body, the blade tearing apart organs and breaking bones. He made sure not to go for anything vital yet, he wanted to enjoy the experience as much as his master did. After finishing with the belly, he went for the groin region and only after the legs started to give signs of falling off, he moved upwards to the stomach and chest, while trying his best to avoid the heart. Once the arms also gave signs of falling off, he went for the skull, cutting the face in half and slicing the scalp open with almost surgical precision. As he felt the heartbeats grow weaker and weaker, he finished off his masterpiece by ramming the blade right into the heart. When he was done, the wolf plushie was now a bloodstained mess, but a damn happy one.
Demon Subaru reverted to his normal looks and made the illusion go away, revealing that they were still on the beach. Bochiborof pulled out a new body bag and started picking up the bloodied remains.
"Congratulations on yet another skillful kill, master. I've had so much fun this time around!"
"Keh, I figured you would."
Demon Subaru pulled out the cards of All Over The World he had acquired so far: Bluenika, Greene, Blacko and Reddull, and he admired them, pleased with how after just one day of work he had gotten rid of four chosen duelists and was left with only one last piece to claim. Truly that was a cause for celebration. Maybe he would have gone with Bochiborof on a small hunt in the city, killed some unsuspecting hobos and feasted on their flesh together. But all of a sudden, his mind went blank and he crashed face first into the sand.
"Milord?" the plushie gasped and ran to him. "Master, what's wrong?" he asked as he shook him, but to no avail. "Demon Subaru-sama, this isn't funny, please wake up!" But much to his shock and chagrin, he would not wake up. "Oh no, please don't tell me he's…"