Chapter 15.5

"Table for Two"

'Boy, all this rule enforcement can make a girl hungry. I mean, I already caught some kid playing with a fixed deck, halted a deck heist, and stopped someone from destroying someone else's Duel Disk. I think it's time I grab a bite to eat.' Rainbow thought as she walked through town. "If you're hungry, I happen to know of a place. But to eat there, it'll cost you your rarest card." said a voice. "Who's there? Show yourself!" Rainbow demanded before the speaker showed themself, it was a Rare Hunter.

"Well, Domino's most wanted, one of the Rare Hunters." Rainbow said, clearly more annoyed than anything. "You said you wanted bite to eat, no? Well, I can accomodate. Follow me, if you please." the Rare Hunter said as he walked toward a giant hotel. The two boarded the elevator. Their destination; the roof. "Just who are you? And why are we going up to the roof?" Rainbow asked. "The name's Ryo, and you'll soon see." the Rare Hunter answered.

Soon, they reached the roof, and to Rainbow's surprise, there was an entire restaurant open and operational on the roof. "This is the place; Firey Heights. One of the few, if not the only, restaurant open on the roof of an already successful hotel, that being Domino Heights." Ryo said. "You said it costs my rarest card to eat here." Rainbow pointed out. "Correct, if you win, you get my rarest card and a table for one. Same with me." Ryo confirmed. "But there's an extra stipulation. If you lose, you head off to the Iron Bar Inn!" Rainbow stated.

"Of course, but the likelyhood of me going to prison is the same as making a 100 crepe tower, slim to none." Ryo said confidently as the patrons took a look as they were about to eat lunch. "Well, it appears we have an audience. Including one Miss Miranda Osborne." Rainbow said as she looked over and saw the popular American music star enjoying a salad. "Nevermind the popularity of the patrons, imagine their shock when I defeat a Battle City rule enforcer and take her rarest card!" Ryo declared as his took his position.

"Oh, don't worry. My head's in the game, and I play to win!" Rainbow responded as both their Duel Disks activated and their life points set to 4000. And with an equally determined 'Let's duel!' from both players, the game was on. "Ladies first." Rainbow said as she drew. "I'll set a monster in defense mode, and then activate Polymerization to fuse my Takuhee and Temple of Skulls in my hand to fusion summon the Skullbird in attack mode!" she continued as she made her move and her monster of choice, a level six, Wind attribute winged beast/fusion monster with 1900 attack points and 1700 defense points, took to the wing.

"Well, since you're a rule enforcer, you know that your winged beast can't attack once its fusion summoned, so therefore that leads to the end of your turn, yes?" Ryo asked. "Whatever." Rainbow responded, annoyed. "Patience, now. The dish takes time to prepare, and I have a five star meal ready for you. Fowl's on the menu, and the kitchen is open!" Ryo declared as he drew. "First of all, meet one of the cooks in my kitchen. Darkfire Soldier #1!" he added as his monster, a level four, Fire attribute Pyro monster with 1700 attack points and 1150 defense points, took to the field.

"Let's see what's under the mystery card, shall we? Darkfire Soldier, attack her facedown!" he commanded before the fiery warrior darted in and struck down the creature, Rainbow's Niwatori, with one slash. "Ah, fried chicken, a classic if done right." Ryo said with a smile. "I'll set this card face down and end my turn." he added as his card appeared. "Not bad. But I can do better." Rainbow responded as she drew her next card. "Now to really heat things up! I summon the Koumori Dragon in attack mode!" she declared as her dragon appeared. "Now, Skullbird, attack the Darkfire Soldier!" she commanded as, in moments, the warrior was destroyed and Ryo's life points lowered to 3800.

"A small price to pay." Ryo said, confidently. "You say that now, but the appetizer isn't even finished! Koumori Dragon, attack his life points directly!" Rainbow responded before her dragon's fire breath lowered his life points decreased his life points from 3800 to 2300. "Not bad, but every good chef prepares for anything. Including this, so I reveal my trap! Numinous Healer!" Ryo responded before his life points increased to 3300. "As you can see, I got a thousand life points after that small mishap. But I can assure you that your little stunt won't happen again." he continued. "If you're so sure, make your move." Rainbow responded.

"With pleasure." Ryo replied before drawing. "I think it's time for a change of scenery for our audience, don't you think? I play the field spell, Molten Destruction!" he continued before activating said card. In moments, even Miranda Osborne was surprised as the landscape turned into a holographic projection of a volcanic area. "I know some like it hot, but this is ridiculous." she said as her waiter brought out her entrée. "This extra heat will boost my fire monsters' attack power by 500 points. Allow me to demonstrate with my UFO Turtle!" Roy explained as his monster, a level four, Fire attribute machine/effect monster with 1400 attack points, now increased to 1900, and 1200 defense points, now decreased to 800, appeared.

"Go, my intergalactic turtle, and destroy the Koumori Dragon!" he commanded before, in mere moments, energy beams fired from the UFO-like shell on the turtle's back, destroying the dragon and dropping Rainbow's life points to 3600. "Now you see what a little heat can do for a dish?" he asked. "Funny, cause I know how to take the heat." Rainbow answered as she wiped the sweat off her brow and drew. "I play the spell card, Ancient Rules! This allows me to summon a level five or higher monster from my hand without having to sacrifice another monster. And I choose the Parrot Dragon!" she continued as her monster-sized parrot appeared.

"I hate to do this to my favorite animal, but it has to be done. Parrot Dragon, turn that UFO Turtle into soup with Bombarding Beak!" she said before the Parrot Dragon struck and destroyed the UFO Turtle, lowering Ryo's life points to 3200. "Looks like you get to experience the flavor of the secret ingredient for this entrée. When UFO Turtle is destroyed, it allows me to summon a fire monster with 1500 attack points or less to the field. And I select another UFO Turtle!" Ryo declared before his second UFO Turtle appeared where the first one once stood.

"You did say turtles are your favorite animal." he added. "If you think that'll prevent me from winning this duel, think again! I end my turn." Rainbow retorted. "Well, time to show you a bit more spice from my cabinet." Ryo said as he made his next draw. "I activate the Tremendous Fire spell card! This deals 1000 points of damage directly to your life points!" he declared as Rainbow's life points drop to 2600. "Of course, this is a dangerous spice to handle, since I also lose life points, but only 500 of them." he added as his own life points dropped to 2700. "A small price to pay, but worth it to get to the main course. I set a monster in defense mode and switch my UFO Turtle to defense mode and end my turn." he concluded as his face down monster appeared and his turtle curled up into its shell.

"Guess turtles don't like birds all that great." Rainbow said as she drew her next card. 'Okay, if I destroy his UFO Turtle, he'll just bring out his third one, but it won't be able to ruffle the feathers of either my Skullbird or my Parrot Dragon. And as for his set monster, I best be careful since I have no idea what it is or what it could do. So first things first.' she thought. "Skullbird, attack the UFO Turtle!" she declared before the turtle was destroyed.

"A lot of good that will do you, you're just allowing me to bring out my third and final UFO Turtle!" Ryo stated as his last UFO Turtle appeared. "But that's not all! Parrot Dragon, attack his set monster!" Rainbow shouted as she attacked his monster, which was a level three, Fire attribute pyro/effect monster with 500 attack points and 1500 defense points called Burning Algae.

"Ah, you discovered one of my spicier vegetables, the Burning Algae. But it's rather healthy, for me at least, because it increases my life points by 1000!" Ryo declared as his life points jumped from 2700 to 3700. "At least I thinned out the plate a bit, so I end my turn." Rainbow said, pleased with herself. "Oh, the algae was just garnishing. The main course is coming up!" Ryo stated. "I may be the chef of this kitchen, but it's time for you to meet my sous chef! I tribute my UFO Turtle to summon Mr. Volcano!" he declared as his new monster, a level five, Fire attribute Pyro monster with 2100 attack points, now increased to 2600, and 1300 defense points, now decreased to 900, appeared.

"Dashing, isn't he? Well, he's about to serve the main course! Attack the Parrot Dragon!" he continued before Mr. Volcano snapped his fingers and set the Parrot Dragon on fire, burning it to a crisp and lowering Rainbow's life points to 2000. "Today's main course, Parrot en Flambé." he concluded, ending his turn. "Alright, time to air out this kitchen!" Rainbow declared as she drew her next card. "I think I'm enjoying this, dinner and a duel." Miranda said with a smile as her main course was brought out.

"I play the field spell, Rising Air Current!" Rainbow declared, shocking Ryo. "NO! That means my Molten Destruction Field spell is..." he began to say. "Destroyed! Now the wind rules up here, and that means my wind monster gain 500 extra attack points!" Rainbow interrupted before the volcanic landscape disappeared and wind started to blow around both players. 'It may by holographs, but at least this wind is cooling my hot lunch down.' Miranda thought with a smile as Mr. Volcano's attack power lowered back to its original value and its defense points went back up to their own original value while Skullbird's attack points increased to 2400 while its defense points lowered to 1300.

"Okay, Skullbird, attack Mr. Volcano!" Rainbow commanded before Ryo's hot shot sous chef was destroyed, lowering his life points to 3400. "That's for roasting my Parrot Dragon." she concluded before ending her turn. 'She's ruined my tremendous five star lunch! She'll pay for that.' Ryo thought before drawing his next card. "Looks like all I can do is set one monster face down and end my turn." he said aloud as he card was set.

"Running out of ingredients, eh? Well, guess my real lunch will be served momentarily." Rainbow said with a confident smile before drawing. "I summon Birdface!" she declared before her next monster, a level four, Wind attribute winged beast/effect monster with 1600 attack and defense points, now increased to 2100 and decreased to 1200, respectively, appeared. "Attack his face down!" she commanded before the attack revealed Ryo's facedown monster, Lady Assailant of Flames.

"Looks like you met another of the cooks in my kitchen staff. But she comes with a twist, when Lady Assailant of Flames is flip summoned, I get to banish the top three cards of my deck from the game in order for me to deal 800 points of damage to your life points!" Ryo revealed as a fire ball struck Rainbow and decreased her life points to 1200. "You know what they say, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and in this case, you just made my desire to win a WHOLE LOT STRONGER! Skullbird, attack him directly!" Rainbow declared before the Skullbird struck and dropped Ryo's life points from 3400 to 1000.

During the whole duel, everyone sitting down and eating were clamoring, applauding and cheering for such a great show. Even Miranda was impressed. "I may not be a Duelist, but I'm just enjoying this! What a performance!" she said. "You may have the diners on your side, but you're a long way from becoming a chef like moi." Ryo stated before drawing. "I set another monster in defense mode and end my turn." he concluded.

"We'll see about that." Rainbow confidently said before drawing. "Skullbird, attack!" she commanded before it revealed Ryo's set monster, a level four, Fire attribute pyro/effect monster with 1000 attack points and 1200 defense points called The Thing in the Crater. "Ah, looks like its time for desert. By attacking and destroying The Thing in the Crater, I can now summon any pyro monster in my hand. And I choose to summon the Molten Behemoth in defense mode!" Ryo declared before his next monster, a level five, Fire attribute Pyro monster with 1000 attack points and 2200 defense points, appeared.

"I have no way to get past that thing for now, so I'll end my turn." Rainbow said. "Good. Because the kitchen is about to close." Ryo responded before drawing. "I play Monster Reborn to bring back my sous chef, Mr. Volcano!" he declared before said monster reappeared from the graveyard. "And now I play Mystik Wok! My very first culinary masterpiece was some wok, and this card reminds me of it fondly. It allows me to tribute one monster on the field, select either its attack points or defense points, and then gain that many life points! So I choose to tribute my Molten Behemoth and turn its defense points into life points!" he continued before his monster vanished and his life points increased to 3200.

"Not bad. But I don't think it would've changed the outcome of this duel." Rainbow said as she drew her next card. "I give this entire meal an A for effort, but a C for impact. And here's the reason why! I switch my facedown monster into attack mode! Meet, Hane-Hane!" she declared as her monster, a level two, Earth attribute beast/effect/flip monster with 450 attack points and 500 defense points, was revealed. "He may not look like much, but Hane-Hane allows me to select a monster on the field and send it back to its owner's hand. And I choose Mr. Volcano!" she explained as, to Ryo's shock, his sous chef left the field.

"This can't be!" he shouted. "Oh, it can, and it will. Hope you're ready for the piece de resistance, Turtle Soup a la Rainbow! And the recipe starts with this! The Turtle Oath ritual spell card!" Rainbow responded as she played said card. "The two main ingredients are my Hane-Hane from the field, and my Turtle Bird from right here in my hand. Together they allow me to summon, the Crab Turtle!" she declared as her new monster, a level eight, Water attribute aqua/ritual monster with 2550 attack points and 2500 defense points, appeared.

"This is a recipe for disaster!" Ryo shouted in worry. "Skullbird, attack him directly!" Rainbow ordered before the feathered fiend struck and dropped his life points from 3200 to 800. "And now, Crab Turtle, finish him off and end this duel!" she commanded as her mighty beast struck Ryo down while his life points plummeted to 0, ending the game. The audience cheered, with Miranda cheering the loudest, before Rainbow turned to the patrons, smile and bowed. She then activated her ring, which brought the police running.

"No need to worry, ladies and gentlemen, I'm an enforcer of the Battle City tournament, this is a joint mission between the Domino City police and KaibaCorp. They're here for my fallen opponent, the Rare Hunter I just defeated." she explained as the Rare Hunter was put in cuffs. "I may be a Rare Hunter, but I know a good duel when I see it. Congratulations. You beat me like a real chef would. Your prize is in my deck. The rare Blast Magician." Roy admitted as he was brought to his feet.

Rainbow looked through his deck and found the Blast Magician. "Well, this could come in handy in a future duel. Thanks." she said. "You know, if you weren't a Rare Hunter and an actual chef, you might actually have what it takes to be one of the best in Japan." she admitted. Hearing this made Roy smile before he was cartted off, then Miranda approached. "I have to say, thanks for the show. It really made my lunch a lot more exciting." she said. "Anytime, Miss Osborne. Now, if you'll excuse me. I have to grab me something to eat." Rainbow responded as she went towards the restaurant doors, ready to sit down and enjoy a nice lunch after an amazing duel, and a well-fought victory.

(For those of you who caught the name of the special cameo character, congratulations if you guessed it was Miranda Cosgrove. I figured it was time to give her her due, so I made side character for this special chapter after her. Thanks for reading, and Miss Cosgrove, I hope you like what I wrote)