So before we begin, I want to explain something regarding the point of Dark Nova Dragon. It's specifically designed to interfere with Galaxy-Eyes decks, which forced Akiru on the defensive. It was done that way to give someone other than Akiru the status of VIP in the Duel, as it has occurred to me that I've been focusing a lot on Akiru and not so much on the other Heirs. It's time for me to fix that. The next several chapters will either only feature Akiru in the background or not mention him at all, focusing on Asuka and the others.
I don't want to give the impression that they're any less important to this story. Akiru is a wild card, as he is meant to be, since prior to Kotori and Ichiro, he was the only Heir that wasn't involved with the Shinobi world at all, and, though he is one of the Heirs, he wasn't supposed to be the main focus of the story in the first place, at least not the only one. Anyways, rant over. Time for a certain Shinobi team to get what they deserve.
"The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies."
-Author Unknown
Previously...
Akiru has located the second Heir of Vector, and brought him to Barian. As the new Heir settles in with everyone and gets to know his father and sister, the other Heirs watch on with happiness for their friends and comrades. However, unbeknownst to the Emperors or their Heirs, one young woman witnessed Akiru and Ichiro's departure from Earth, and has gone to report her findings to her teacher...
Chapter Fifteen
Reunion and Confrontation
(Asakusa, Hanzo National Academy, late afternoon)
A man with grey hair stood with a thoughtful expression after hearing his student's report. Facing her again, he asked, "What was the word you mentioned that you believe may be a name for their race?" His student replied, "They said the word Barian, Sensei." Raising an eyebrow, he asked, "Do you believe they may be involved with Asuka's disappearance?" She sighed. "I do not understand why the Council is so interested in her disappearance..." Taking on a stern tone, he replied, "So it was your jealousy that led you to betray her, Ikaruga?"
Stiffening from his tone, Ikaruga bowed her head. He continued. "Evidence of the Yoma's possession was found after her expulsion, evidence you would have seen." Turning away, he finished with, "Fortunately for you, there is not enough evidence to expel you for your deception, though there is certainly enough to warrant surveillance." Turning to her, the teacher said, "Your jealousy and arrogance are why Team Hanzo has been put on standby until further notice." The class representative replied, "I assume full responsibility. The others should not be punished for my misjudgment."
Narrowing his eyes, her teacher replied, "I will inform the Council. In your position, I would not expect to remain leader of Team Hanzo for long." Ikaruga nodded in understanding. "Yes, Sensei." After he left, she closed her eyes in deep thought, mentally preparing herself for what she knew what coming.
(Barian World, High Palace, Sanctuary)
Akiru and Asuka stood on the balcony overlooking the city, watching as people went about their lives. The young man sighed to himself. "I never imagined that I'd be watching people go about their lives from a balcony of all places." Smirking under her mask, Asuka replied, "It could be worse." Facing him, she added, "It could be from a prison wagon." Without missing a beat, the young man replied, "Don't jinx it." As he said that, Mizar and Nash walked over, chuckling at the two's interaction. Speaking up, Nash asked, "Akiru, when you were fetching Ichiro, did you see anyone apart from Corwan and Morris at the warehouse?"
Akiru replied, "I didn't see anyone. Did something happen?" Mizar answered, "We've received word from a scout we have on Earth that one of the Shinobi students at Hanzo National Academy witnessed your departure with Ichiro. We don't know if she saw the Duel with Corwan and Morris, but it's more than likely that she informed her teachers." Sighing to himself, Akiru muttered, "I could have sworn we were alone." Nash replied, "Regardless of how it happened, the Shinobi are now aware of our existence, and we must be prepared for any confrontation with them." Akiru nodded in understanding.
Turning to Asuka, her father said, "The Emperors have discussed it, and we've decided to send you to find out how much this student knows. However, you will need to be extra careful. Now that they know about Barians, we believe they're going to be preparing for us." She nodded and asked, "Did the scout say which student it is?" Nash replied, "No, but they did have the impression it's someone you would have known." Nodding again, Asuka opened the Overlay Network and traveled to Earth, appearing in an abandoned factory. Checking to make sure the factory was secure, she prepared one of the offices for a living space, and sat down at the desk, gathering her thoughts.
(Asakusa, warehouse district)
Ikaruga walked alone, her mind replaying her conversation with the rest of Team Hanzo, how they'd been upset at her selfishness and jealousy. Since she'd been expelled by the Shinobi as punishment, and disowned by her adoptive family, she simply wandered the city, no particular destination in mind. A single backpack containing her personal Duel Disk and deck, along with basic necessities, was all she had to her name now, though she was considering selling the Deck and Duel Disk, feeling unworthy of the cards. As she considered this, she took note of a figure watching her from the shadows.
Watching them enter a nearby factory, she became curious, and followed them in. Entering the large, empty main room, she wasn't surprised when she heard the door click behind her, knowing she was locked in. "Hey, Ikaruga." Looking to her left from the shock of the greeting, she took in the sight of Asuka in casual clothing leaning against a nearby wall. Surprised, she asked, "Asuka-san..?" Chuckling, the brunette quipped, "You can still remember my name through that thick skull of yours? I'm touched." Feeling guilty, Ikaruga got on her knees and said, "I apologize for my actions against you. Your judgment was sound that day, as it usually is."
Rolling her eyes, Asuka replied, "I'm done with that life, Ikaruga, being expendable, a mere tool to be used, then discarded." Looking towards the window of the factory, she added, "I'm here to make sure you won't talk about Barians anymore." Curious, her former teammate asked, "So you are familiar with them?" Glaring at her, Asuka replied, "I am a Barian." Upon Ikaruga's startled gasp, she explained. "I found out that my father is the leader of the rulers of Barian." Shocked further, Ikaruga remarked, "That would make you a princess..." Looking at her former teammate, Asuka replied, "It's none of your concern. You won't be telling anyone anything after I'm done with you."
Swallowing in fear, Ikaruga replied, "I have been expelled from the Shinobi, and exiled from my adoptive family. There is no one for me to tell now..." Sighing to herself, Asuka replied, "In that case, I'll just settle for kicking your sorry butt." Gulping, her former teammate asked, "Do you prefer that I bend over...?" Annoyed by the question, the brunette replied, "I didn't mean literally!" Getting closer, she explained, "I saw your Duel Disk." It was then that Ikaruga understood. "A Duel? I wasn't aware that you were a Duelist..." Asuka replied, "A new friend I made taught me."
Nodding, the ravenette got up, trembling in fear. "Considering what I have done to you, I suppose honoring your request is only fair." The brunette replied, "Just to be clear, I'm not holding back. You'll face my full power." Tilting her head, Ikaruga asked, "Full power...?" Grinning, Asuka replied in a playful tone, "You'll find out." As she finished that thought, the rest of her former teammates and her former teacher came in from the same door she'd locked, and she sighed. "I hadn't counted on an audience..." The blonde of the group took notice of her and asked, "Asuka?" Her teacher watched with interest.
Facing them, Asuka said, "Stay off to the side." Turning her glare to Ikaruga, she added, "She owes me a debt." Her former teammate trembled lightly as she got up and took her position as Asuka's opponent, readying the Duel Disk. The brunette formed her own Duel Disk in response, and her left eye turned red, mildly concerning their audience. As the Duel Field materialized, the two drew their starting hands and said, "Let's Duel!"
(Ikaruga: 4000)
(Asuka: 4000)
With a small grin, Asuka said, "I'll let you have the first turn, friend." Lightly flinching at her tone, Ikaruga drew her starting card, and started thinking. 'If she really is a Barian, then I cannot hope to defeat her in this Duel. However, I might be able to quench her wrath so she doesn't harm the others.' "I will Summon Heroic Challenger- Double Lance to the field!"
(Heroic Challenger- Double Lance appeared: a level 4 EARTH monster with 1700 ATK)
Continuing, she said, "Upon his successful Summoning, I can Special Summon a second Double Lance from my hand or Graveyard, such as this one from my hand!"
(Same as before)
Asuka let out a breath. "Big whoop." Though surprised by her former leader's dismissal of her monster, Ikaruga said, "I wouldn't underestimate them. I Overlay my two level 4 Heroic Challenger- Double Lances!" As the two monsters were enveloped in energy and spiraled upwards, a triple-ringed portal opened in front of Ikaruga, who called out, "With these two monsters, I build the Overlay Network, and Xyz Summon Heroic Champion- Claivesolish!" As she spoke, a massive warrior in golden armor rose from the portal, holding his sword at the ready.
(Heroic Champion- Claivesolish appeared: a Rank 4 LIGHT Xyz monster with 2500 ATK and 2 Overlay Units)
While her former teammates stared in awe, Asuka was less then impressed. "That's it?" Upon hearing that, her former teammate could only reply with, "That's it?! I performed an Xyz Summon on my first turn, and all you can say is that's it?!" The brunette replied, "I'll do you one better." Upon Ikaruga's stunned expression, Asuka announced, "Let me show you my power!" Her body became enveloped in green energy, as she entered her Barian form, everyone present gasping in shock and fear. While the ravenette could only backstep in fear, the Heir of Nash declared, "Don't even try to run. You won't make it." Gathering energy into her hand, she called out, "Chaos Draw!"
Grinning at the sight of the card she drew, she said, "First, since you control a monster, and I don't, I can Special Summon Earth Armor Ninja from my hand!"
(Earth Armor Ninja appeared: a level 5 EARTH monster with 1600 ATK)
Ikaruga now understood why Asuka let her go first. "You were planning this from the start..." Continuing, her opponent replied, "You'll be begging for mercy when I'm done with you! I Normal Summon Upstart Golden Ninja!"
(Upstart Golden Ninja appeared: a level 4 LIGHT monster with 500 ATK)
With a grin under her mask, she added, "Through Upstart Golden Ninja's ability, by discarding a card from my hand to the Graveyard, I can Summon a Ninja monster right from my Deck, in either Face-Up Defense Mode, or Face-Down Defense Mode. It's coming Face-Up, obviously, but I digress. I'm bringing out a second Upstart Golden Ninja!"
(Same as before)
Ikaruga stared in shock at the sight of that. "What kind of sorcery is this...?" Asuka replied, "Not sorcery, Ikaruga. Skill! I'll activate the second Upstart Golden Ninja's ability, discarding another Trap to Summon another Ninja from my Deck! Say hello to Flame Armor Ninja!"
(Flame Armor Ninja appeared: a level 4 FIRE monster with 1700 ATK)
Without letting Ikaruga remark, the Heir of Nash explained, "When he's Summoned, I can have one of my Ninjas go up by one level, like one of my Upstart Golden Ninjas!"
(Upstart Golden Ninja's level: 5)
As Kiriya and the others stared in shock, the ravenette paled in fear. "Two level 5 monsters, and two level 4 monsters?!" With a grin, Asuka announced, "I Overlay my level 5 Earth Armor Ninja and Upstart Golden Ninja!" As the two monsters rose in spirals of energy, a familiar galaxy portal opened in front of her. "With these two monsters, I build the Overlay Network, and Xyz Summon Number 12: Crimson Shadow Armor Ninja!" A massive shuriken rose from the portal before becoming a ninja garbed in red, his Number Crest on the right side of his chest, holding his blade in a reverse handgrip.
(Number 12: Crimson Shadow Armor Ninja appeared: a Rank 5 EARTH monster with 2400 ATK and 2 Overlay Units)
Ikaruga's eyes widened further. "You have a Number Card?!" Thinking back to when Akiru first gave it to her, Asuka replied, "It was given to me by the same guy that taught me how to Duel. But I'm still not done. I Overlay my level 4 Upstart Golden Ninja and Flame Armor Ninja!" The two monsters spiraled upwards as another galaxy portal appeared before her, the ravenette's mouth dropping at the sight. "Two Xyz Summons in one turn?!" Ignoring Ikaruga's shocked reaction, Asuka continued, "With these two monsters, I build the Overlay Network, and Xyz Summon my other self!"
Closing her eyes as the portal exploded in energy, she chanted, "Vessel that travels the course in the shadows, take your position and wait for my command! Join us, Number 108: Deep Shadow Ark!" A massive wooden cube rose from the portal, before taking the familiar form of the clipper ship that changed Asuka's destiny. Its Number Crest formed on the side of its hull as it hovered over its mistress.
(Number 108: Deep Shadow Ark appeared: a Rank 4 EARTH Xyz monster with 2500 ATK and 2 Overlay Units)
The white-haired girl, Yagyu, was the first to remark upon seeing this formidable monster. "A Number Over One Hundred?!" Ikaruga added, "Such Numbers should not exist..." The blonde, Katsuragi, replied, "Well, they do! And you've gotta figure out how to beat this one!" The Heir of Nash replied, "There is no beating it for any of you. I activate the Spell Rank-Up-Magic Heir's Force! This will evolve my Deep Shadow Ark into a Chaos Number!" Everyone's eyes widened at that, the pink-haired girl, Hibari, speaking up in response. "A Chaos Number?!"
Grinning under her mask, Asuka said, "Using Deep Shadow Ark, I rebuild the Overlay Network! Chaos Xyz Evolution!" As her signature card vanished into a portal in the sky, Asuka chanted, "Spirit trapped within the depths of darkness, seize your escape and annihilate our mutual enemy!" Opening her eyes, she announced, "Join us, Chaos Number 108: Deep Shadow Armor Ninja!" As she spoke, the airship reemerged, but in flames, eventually exploding before a figure leapt from the explosion, and landed in front of Asuka, a ninja woman clad in green, her Number Crest on her shoulder.
(Chaos Number 108: Deep Shadow Armor Ninja appeared: a Rank 5 EARTH Xyz monster with 2800 ATK and 3 Chaos Overlay Units)
Ikaruga began to hyperventilate upon seeing this new monster, and was even more shocked when her Heroic Champion- Claivesolish was enveloped in red energy, and converted into a Chaos Overlay Unit for Deep Shadow Armor Ninja. Asuka was quick to explain. "Through the second effect of Heir's Force, I can take a monster you control, and turn it into a Chaos Overlay Unit on my Chaos Number. Get ready, Ikaruga, 'cause this is gonna hurt! Crimson Shadow Armor Ninja, attack her directly!" The ravenette felt the ninja slice through her clothing, tearing her shirt and revealing her navel
(Ikaruga: 1600).
The Heir of Nash could only shake her head in disappointment. "I'm not impressed. Deep Shadow Armor Ninja, finish this! Chaos Cross Slash!" Her strongest weapon sliced through Ikaruga, ripping her shirt in half and leaving her belly completely exposed while she screamed upon being blasted through the air and landing on her back in defeat.
(Ikaruga: 0)
(Asuka: WIN)
Grimacing in pain, the ravenette began to crawl backwards when she saw Asuka approaching her, the red cape flowing as she walked. No one dared come to her aid. Grabbing Ikaruga by her shirt collar, Asuka picked her up, looking her in the eyes. Trying to maintain some form of composure, the ravenette stated, "Kill me. I have nothing left now." The Heir of Nash replied, "I don't know about that. I'm sure I can find a use for you." Turning to the others, she said, "You're free to leave, just don't tell anyone about what you saw today." Kiriya lingered for a moment, concerned for both of his former students, before departing.
Turning to Ikaruga, Asuka said, "You're coming with me, no ifs, ands, or buts." Trembling in fear, the ravenette could only nod in response.
A/N
Curse my laziness and focusing on other projects! Sarcasm aside, this has been the most emotional chapter I have ever written, focusing on Asuka's personal vendetta against Ikaruga for her betrayal. While not all of the chapters will be like that, I think I can still surprise you. No new OC cards to introduce this time, but we're still in the second arc. Make no mistake.