Spirit Caller

Chapter Thirteen

13

An Impromtu Challenge

"I'm sorry...Duel?" Connar blinked.

"That's right!" Jaden grinned,"There's a lot duelists can find out about each other, simply by dueling." he explained,"So Connar...Get your game on!"

He quickly placed his deck in the duel disk holder, activating the machine.
"W-Wait...Jaden hld on." She stammered nervously as he tossed her a duel disk and she fumbled about to catch it,"Y-You don't understand..."

"You're right." Jaden said softly,"I don't understand..." his eyes narrowed, expressiong a softer expression to match his tone, "...But I want to." He locked eyes with her as he continued,"Don't worry, this duel is just you and me." he said to her,"No Spectators. Just us." he stated, "I didn't even tell anyone where I was going, what I was doing, who I was going to see, or why." he blinked, So don't hold anything back! Got it?"he grinned.

I already have my suspicions...

he thought to himself.

There's something I want to see Connie...and I get the feeling this is the only way you can show it to me!

Connar twitched as he made this statement. It was as if he knew she kept something hidden...despite having only seen her duel once.

"...Very well Jaden." She sighed soflty and placed the machine on her arm. Holding a deck for a moment more before sliding in to activate her disk as well, her face suddenly becoming sharp, fierce and much more serious.
"Let's Duel!"

Connar Rose K.: 4000

Jaden Yuki: 4000

xxx

They started out with 4000 life points a piece. Typical game start score at the Academy.

"Ladie's first~" Jaden beamed, granting Connar the first move.

"Awww, such a gentleman~" she smirked as she took him up on his offer and drew her first card. She took a moment to take in her hand, her blue eyes darting back and forth before finally picking one. She quickly swiped it from her hand and flipped it between all of her fingers before slapping it onto the duel disk. "For my first move, I will summon White Magician Pikeru! In attack mode!"

ATK: 1200

DEF: 0

"I KNEW IT!" Jaden blurted out suddenly, startling Connar during her move.

She blinked her blue eyes in confusion, staring at the brunette who seemed to be...dancing in excitement?

"Knew what?" she blinked, with a tone of curiosity in her question.

"I knew, from when I helped you gather your cards that day!" He beamed happily and giggled like an excited child,"You really DO run a spell caster deck! Don't you!?" he laughed.

Connar blinked with a blank face before suddenly bursting into laughter.

"Wooooooow, Jaden! How very perceptive of you!" she giggled,"You're not nervous now, are you?"

"Of course not, no way!" Jaden laughed," I always wanted to know how my deck stacked up against them!"

She stared at him blankly once more before bursting into laughter once again. Nothing really got to him did it?

His reaction gave her some much missed nostalgia...

The way he reacted just then...

she thought to herself.

It was just like you did...do you remember?

She questioned the boy in her memory space- albeit being just a memory now...he couldn't exactly give her an answer.

"Okay, so then may I finish my move please?" She gave him a teasing smile and he gasped in slight embarassment.

"Oh, right! Yeah! Sorry!" he laughed," I'm just super stoked! I've got a feeling this duel is gonna be sweet~" he beamed happily in a way that softened Connar's heart a bit and allowed her to let out a soft chuckle as she shook her head.

This guy expresses a love for dueling I haven't had for a long time...

The same kind of love Jesse did...

She gazed into her hand and smiled.

...Maybe, with his help, that can change...

She pulled one more card from her hand and placed it face down.

"I'll lay down a face down then, and end my turn."

"Then that makes it my move!" Jaden stated as he swiped a card from his deck and placed it into his hand. He gazed upon the the magician Pikeru on the field and gave a slight chuckle. Her looks reminded him of Connar in a way. With her pink hair, big blue eyes and child like face. It was cute, and the card just seemed to compliment Connar. It suited her.

"And my move's gonna be a big one!" Said Jaden with a grin," I'm summoning out the Spark Man!" he beamed.

ATK: 1600

DEF: 1400

"I see..." Connar smiled,"So..super heros, huh?"

"Got that right!" Jaden grinned,"Super Heros are awesome!"

"Can't say I disagree." Connar chuckled,"It just so happens, I have an affinity for a certain super hero too."

"Really?" Jaden smiled,"We'll have to talk about that when the duel is over." he said, "But as of right now, I'm sorry Connie, but as cute as Pikeru is, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to cut her visit short with an attack!"

"Not this time, Jaden." Connar grinned as she flipped up a trap card,"The trap I am activating is Waboku!" she claimed," And with it, Pikeru can't be destroyed,and I also take no battle damage for your attack this turn!"

"Haha, well, so much for that." Jaden laughed as he looked into his hand." Come to think...you pulled this move with Bastion too, didn't you?"

"Oh, you saw that?" Connar giggled, "My uncle gave me this trap card." she stated, "it's an old one but it's one of my favorites so...I have couple copies."

"Then I'll throw down a face down as well and end my turn."

"Then that makes it my turn again." She said with a smile as she drew from her deck. "And since it's my stand by phase, Pikeru's white magic activates,and grants me 400 life points for each monster on my field, including Pikeru herself!"

Connar: 4400

Jaden: 4000

She gave a smirk when she saw her next card and flipped it through her fingers once more before slapping it onto her duel disk to join her Pikeru.

"So you met Pikeru, now, say hello to my Ebon Magician Curran~!" She beamed as the small black magician squeaked into battle mode.

ATK: 1200

DEF: 0

I almost have everything I need for my combo...

She thought to herself.

But still, neither of my magicians are up to par with Spark Man...yet.
She blinked and pondered a moment.

"I'll place another face down and end my turn.

Jaden blinked.

"Leaving them both in attack mode, huh?" he said as he drew his next card and got quiet for a bit to ponder, "I understand, given their special effects and all." he stated, "But my attack outshines yours and you can't protect them forever!"

She placed another face down...clearly it's a trap. She must want me to attack...

He looked into his hand and thought to himself.

However, I won't get anywhere if I don't...

He thought to himself.

So it looks like I am just gonna have to take the risk, but not without a little protection!

"I'll play Elemental Hero Clay Man, in defense mode!" he stated as a round earthly being projected onto the field protectively next to Spark man.

ATK: 800

DEF: 2000

"Now prepare yourself Connie, cuz Spark Man's coming at ya again!"

"Afraid not." Connar chuckled and flipped over Negate attack.

"Aw~ Come on!" Jaden pouted,"First Waboku, now Negate Attack!? At this rate I am never gonna get a swing at your monsters!" He huffed and crossed his arms evaluating the situation.

She's built her deck with cards to protect her magicians...

He thought to himself.

Which means she probably also has it built with cards to disarm her opponent's traps...

He grinned.

She must be waiting for something special to summon up from her deck...

However, I can't risk going too long without moving forward just to find out what it is, the card I set should help protect me for atleast one more turn.

"Guess I gotta pull back now." Jaden snickered with a shrug, "But you can't hide from me forever, Connie~!" he teased," You're gonna have to attack me eventually."

"Don't worry Jaden!" she giggled as she drew her card on her turn,"I assure you there's a method to my madness~" She glanced to take a peek at the card she just drew and gasped in shock.

Kaiba Man!?

To be Continued