Being an Observer Part 1
A/N: To cut down on filler. The next three chapters will focus more on not only Red Hat, but also some bonding moments with Jaden. Observer just means, Red Hat and Jaden will be observing whats going on, but won't actually get involved. Anyway, once the observing chapters are done is when we begin various plot points. Anyway hope you enjoy.
Jaden was slowly opening his eyes while he groaned. He needed only a second to see clearly only to find out he was in the school infirmary. He wondered how he got there in the first place. Last thing he remembered was duel Aster and defeating him. He looked to his side and saw Red Hat and Bastion sitting next to him. The rest of his friends were standing there, relieved to see he had regain consciousness.
Jaden slowly sat up in his bed while rubbing his head which was hurting. He was about to ask what had happened when Syrus threw himself at him with tears runing down his cheeks. Red Hat, irritated, pulled Syrus away from him to give Jaden some space. "Jaden, we been worried. You collapsed after your duel with Aster and we weren't sure what was wrong."
Jaden gave them an apologizig smile. "Sorry for worrying you all."
Bastion smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "It's fine, since you seem to be okay. We were just confused and worried since you just lost consciousness and collapsed without warning and explaination."
"I took and carried you to the infirmary when you collapsed." Red Hat explained. "Bastion and Alexis even picked up your cards and placed them back into the duel disk." Red Hat handed him the duel disk witht the deck already placed there.
"Thanks for helping me out guys." Jaden thanked as he took the duel disk.
"Jaden, what happened back there?" Red Hat asked.
Jaden looked at the ceiling. "I don't know what happened."
Soon the door opened up and Ms. Fontaine came into the Infirmary. She saw that Jaden had woken up and gave him a relieved smile. "I'm relieved to see that you're now awake, Jaden. Your friends contacted me and in a bit of a panic, explained that you had suddenly collapsed without an explaination, after your duel against Aster Phoenix and you seemed to be in intense pain. Even I couldn't find out why you had collapsed."
Jaden smiled at her. "Sorry for worrying everyone, but except for a bit of a headache. I'm feeling pretty good now. Just one question, how long was I unconscious?"
Ms. Fontaine looked at him with a bit of concern. "Wel you have been unconscious for a few hours, and we're already halfway through the school hours."
Jaden looked at the others. "So what did I miss?"
"Other then regular classes, which you would have slept through in the first place. There wasn't much you missed." Alexis explained. "Red Hat on the other hand, didn't even bother to stay in class for a while. He left the moment the professor turned his back."
"Didn't even leave this room either, other then for one occasion. Was watching over you, Jaden." Red Hat added.
Jaden lightly chuckled a little before he looked at Red Hat. "Never knew you were that worried about me, Red Hat. Anything else I should know about? Can I go back to sleep?"
"Next up is the practical duels next. If you're not fully recovered, then you should stay here and rest. Ms. Fontaine already informed the Professors about the state you were in when I took you here."
Jaden shook his head. "Maybe a duel can help out."
Red Hat chuckled. "Thought you say that. I even asked Professor Mimicry to have you as my opponent. I'll take it easy on you, with a practice deck I made, since you're not at full strength yet."
"We'll then, let's go shawl we?" said Jaden as he got up and put on his duel disk. "Thanks a lot Bastion and you too Alexis for helping me with my cards!"
Alexis smiled. "No problem, Jaden. Glad to help you out."
The group soon left the infirmary and began making their way to the practical duels. Red Hat was concerned about all of this, but tried to remain positive. After what he was told, this is not normal. Despite that, he had no proof of anything that was going on. All he could do was hope that Jaden would be okay.
A while later at the duel was standing in front of Red Hat on one of the practice fields. Red Hat got his duel disk ready with his practice deck. Jaden activated his duel disk. However, as Jaden drew his five cards, he began to dooze off. Not even paying attention that Red Hat was about to make a play.
DUEL
Jaden: 8000 LP
Red Hat: 8000 LP
"My turn, I draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 6
"I play the ritual spell card, Hamburger Recipe! I tribute the level 6 summon skull from my hand to ritual summon Hungry Burger from my hand! (Atk: 2000 Def: 1850)" A large burger with jaws on it's buns appeared on the field. "I set a face down and end my turn." Red Hat ends his turn.
Hand 2
Jaden dozed off as Red Hat made his play. He had a depressed look on his face. As he dozed off, we woke up to see that he was in a white void. He soon heard a voice in his head.
'Your destiy has fallen right into my hands.' an image of Sartorius appeared behind Jaden with his around around him. 'No matter how much you struggle, you cannot escape!'
Winged Kuriboh appeared next to Jaden, shocked at what was happenig to him. The sound of Winged Kuriboh's voice caused Jaden to turn to face him. As he tried to reach for him, Winged Kuriboh was hit with a spark the moment Jaden touched him. Winged Kuriboh, hurt by this, disappeared from Jaden's site.
Jaden shocked tried to reach out o his duel spirit friend. "Partner! Partner!" Sartorius laughed at Jaden's feeble attempts to resist.
Red Hat noticed Jaden was in a daze. "Uh, Jaden! Are you there? It's your turn!" He called out.
Jaden woke up from his daze all shaken up. "Uh... sorry. My turn, draw." Jaden draws.
Hand 6
As Jaden drew and took a look at his hand. He immediately went into shock. Every card he hled he could not see. Each one of them to him was blank. 'I-I can't... see my cards!...' He dropped his cards and dropped to his knees, completed in shock.
Red Hat noticed this and knew something was wrong. "Jaden!" He surrendered the duel and ran up to him as he purposely surrendered.
Red Hat: 8000 - Surrendered
"Jaden what's wrong?!" Red Hat asked as he gripped Jaden's shoulders.
"I.. can't see my cards... They are all blank..." He saidsoftly.
Red Hat took a look at the cards that he dropped. He noted that none of them had changed as he claimed. This alarmed Red Hat. Jaden wouldn't be acting like this. Something was clearly wrong with him. Red Hat picked up his cards and took his deck from him. He dragged Jaden out of the test field back to the infirmary. In the meanwhile he also contacted the others via his PDA, except for two of them.
A while later, Syrus came running into the Infirmary. Ignoring the spectator's comments that been going on as he tried to enter.
"What?! The Jaden Yuki?"
"Sounds like he can't duel now!"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Out of my way!" cried out Syrus, attempting to bypass the large crowd of students. Trying to peek through the infirmary doors to see Jaden's current condition. As the doors opened up the group of Slifer's and Ra's fell forward along with Syrus, since they were leaning against the door.
"What's with you, dweebs?" snapped Chazz, glancing behind his shoulder at the crowd as he was annoyed by thrit slight interference.
The crowd of students glanced up, immeadiately stood up and ran off. "Sorry we dropped in!" Syrus, getting up, saw the rest of his friends gathered around Jaden as the school nurse, Fontaine was examining Jaden.
"What's going on? I heard big bro can't duel now." Syrus asked.
"Jaden says, he can't see his cards. To him, they're all just white paper to him. He also said, he can't hear the voices of spirits now, either." Red Hat handed Jaden's deck to Syrus.
Checking the cards for himself. Syrus saw that not one of them had a single dent spot on them and that they were perfectly fine. "I can see them fine, though. So, why?"
"I wouldn't worry about his body." explained Fontaine. "It's just the duel he had with Aster seems to have been quite the shock."
"That's an understatement." Red Hat replied, before facing Jaden.
Chuckling, Jaden shook his head. "He really got me." Standing up from hsi seat, Jaden walked over to Syrus, who handed his deck back, before beginning to leave the infirmary.
"Where are you going Jaden?" asked Red Hat.
Stopping, Jaden sadly glanced back at him. "Sorry, I just want to be alone."
As soon as he left, Jaden's friends grew more concered about Jaden. Lately, he's been more depressed and low on energy, which was very unlike his usual energetic and cheerful self. Red Hat not wanting to stay here any longer, closely followed Jaden, leaving the others behind.
As Jaden was walking throught the hall, with Red Hat following close behind him. Crowler shows up at the other side of the hall as he saw Jaden and Red Hat walk away.
"So, the damage that Signore Jaden took was that substantial, was it?" He grinned. "Now is our chance to attack the Red Dormn is it not?" Crowler though began to have doubts. "But still, this is the first time I have seen Signore Jaden with that espressione..." Corlwer shook his head in irritation. "No! No! No! No! N-N-No! Compassion is a tabo, is it not?!"
What Crowler didn't realize. Red Hat was listening in to his muttering. 'I dispise you, Crowler. Sheppard made a mistake putting you in charge. Wish I can get rid of you and Bonaparte, but I can't do anything about it. The most I can do is spite you clowns.' He thought as he quickly left before Crolwer noticed him.
Meanwhile in Chazz's room. Red Hat stayed standing near the door. Not wanting to be near the obnoxious Ojama yelling at his partner. He held back from laughing at Chazz, for being stuck with Ojamas as duel spirit partners.
'Jaden can't communicate with his cards or spirits. I don't know the cause of such a phenominon. I'll have to look into this. I can't help otherwise.' His duel spirit friend Aussa explained to him.
"Any info you find would be very helpful, Aussa." He whispered. "I can't stand Jaden acting like this. This isn't like him. And..." He paused as he lowered his hat. "I don't want to lose my friend to something so trivial."
Aussa chuckled at his reaction. 'Who knew you could be a big softie. I wonder how you feel about her.' She teased.
"Not know, please." He said, with slight irritation. What was it with his duel spirit friend constantly teasing him on this matter? He doesn't feel that way and never will!
"Now that Jaden, our anchor, is unable to duel, the academy will probably take the chance to wage an assault on us..." Bastion explained.
Red Hat walked in to the center of the room. "If everyone tries to assault our dorm. I'll destroy them all at once. I'll make everyone remember who they're dealing with." He readied his duel disk and summoned his two chaos monsters and two of his monarchs.
The rest of the group sweat dropped at his actions. Was he actually serious?
"Soldier, do you want to start a revolutionary war with the entire Academy?" Hassleberry asked.
"Wouldn'they hate you even more?" Syrus questioned.
"After that fiasco he pulled earlier this morning. I doubt many would even come close to him." Alexis doubted, remembering what Red Hat did that morning.
"I'll just have to do this myself then, if you guys won't do it." Red Hat glared at them.
"Calm down, slacker! We're defending this dorm, not starting a fight!" exclaimed Chazz. "Besides, we'll defend this dorm. All six of us! They'll have to come through us!"
"We'll stick together!" agreed Alexis.
"Alright!" Syrus cheered.
"This is our further-evolved platoon!" Hassleberry cheered.
"So long as we stick together, well stop whatever comes our way!" Bastion said.
"I'll blow them all away." Red Hat finished as he deactivaed his duel disk.
After they were done. They then heard a guitar playing in the distance. "What is that tune?" wondered Chazz. Everyone grew silent, and confirmed Chazz was right. It was faint, but they could hear someone singing from outside before heading out to check things out.
Following the sounds of singing, it took the group a short while, but soon, they were glancing down from a bridge, hanging onto railings of the iron bridge as the singing grew closer. In fact, the singing came from someone very familiar.
Standind on top of a small boat, Atticus was singing and playing a guitar, about to pass through the bridge when he noticed the gang on top of said bridge. "Hey there, everyone!"
"Atticus?" wondered Alexis.
"No way!" gasped Chazz.
"Nice song!" called out Syrus.
"Who's that guy boating through here?" Hassleberry asked.
"He's one of the seniors. Alexis' older brother, Atticus." Red Hat replied.
About a few more minutes later, everyone managed to meet up with Atticus on land, where they could finally have a chat with him. Red Hat raised an eye brow at this ordeal. Why would he show up now of all instances? Where was he all this time? Was he just growing his fan club while other things were going on? He had so many questions and he couldn't find an answer for any of them.
"Brother, why are you..." Alexis said, before she was interrupted.
"I came to get you. Let's return to Blue, Alexis." Atticus stated.
"Brother, you're not saying..." Alexis said, before she was interrupted again.
"Oh, but he is saying, is he not?" grunted Crowler, struggling to climb up the cliff while wearing a wetsuit with a boat strapped to his back.
"Temporary Chancellor Crowler?" Alexis wondered.
Red Hat was baffled by the implications. 'Was he Atticus boat the entire time? How strong is he, if he's able to handle Atticus weight while swimming with that?' He thought with a confused look.
"Signora Alexis, you will kindly return to Blue's Idol training course, won't you?" replied Crowler.
"I will refuse." Alexis rejected. "We have decided on protecting the Red Dorm."
Sighing, Aticus shook his head, knowing how stubborn she can be. "Why? Would it be that unpleasant for you to become an adorable idol?"
"What does he mean?" asked Syrus as he and the others were lost.
"Temporary Chancellor Crowler is trying to put together a unit between my brother and I." spoke Alexis, embarrassed by the suggested idea Crowler and Atticus keep pestering her about.
Crowler stepped forward as he finally got to land safely with the price of being the loss of the boat that was previously strapped to his back. "And it will be the birth of a fresh Sibling Duo, right from the Academy, will it not?"
"This is pathetic." Red Hat dead panned at all this stupidity. "This idea is a guarentee failure."
"What makes you say that?" questioned Atticus, now focusing his attention to Red Hat. "Come on now, surely you think this is a great opportunity."
Red Hat fumed of Atticus' stupidity. "One; this Academy is to train duelists and new technicians, this is not a wannabe idol training institution. Two; you don't have a clue how competetive the Idol Industry actually is, and no you dumb fan club is not going to get you started. Three; Alexis has no interest in this idol crap, and you trying to force shows you are a pathetic excuse of a brother, you don't actually care about dueling and you're wasting your time here."
Atticus dead panned and dropped to his knees. "That last part was totally unnecessary..."
"You really are cold, aren't you soldier?" Hasslebery asked, sweat dropping.
"How do you know about the Idol Industry anyway, Red Hat?" asked Bastion.
Syrus grinned. "Maybe he's interested in someone else becoming an Idol, like that one..." Syrus immeadiately felt pain to his stomach and held it and dropped to his knees. He looked up, only to see Red Hat's fury as he punched him right in the stomach.
"Finish that sentence, I'll make sure you spend a week in the infirmary." Red Hat snapped, holding his fist infront of him.
"And you accuse me of having a short temper..." Chazz muttered.
"And Crowler, the fact you said there was a Blue Idol training course." Red Hat smirked. "It's almost like you're self admiting you don't actually have any faith for the Female Obelisks becoming duelists or their dueling skills. And Obelisk Blue on the girls side is just to give girls special privlages."
"What's that's supposed to mean?!" Alexis asked, offended.
"Don't look at me, that's what Crowler said and is implying, not me." defended Red Hat, shaking his head.
"You two are very stubborn." sighed Atticus. "You don't have to be so rude ad cruel to others, Red Hat. Violence is never the answer."
Red Hat rolled his eyes at that statement.
"Anyway, would you be persuaded by Chazzy-boy?" asked Atticus.
At the mention of all of this. Chazz recalled that she did bring in a dress before coming to live with him in his dorm room. The sight of her wearing a cute dress to match her beauty excited Chazz, which caused him to fluster. Only to realize right now he was being called.
"Alexis is the golden egg in the Idol World! You think so, as well, don't you, Chazz?" questioned Atticus.
More excited and happy at the thought of seeing Alexis in more sexy outfits, Chazz nearly agreed. "M-Master... and how I'd be you groupie?!"
"Come on, Chazz! You have to tell my brother that we can't let anyone destroy our unity!" shouted Alexis.
"I-I was getting there!" assured Chazz.
Atticus seeed to disagree and cared more about the whole pop idol situation. "Come on, Chazz! Don't listen to her!"
"Tell him Chazz!"
Pressured by the twosiblings, Chazz didn't know what to do. He wanted to go along Atticus' idea because he wanted to see Alexis in cute outfits, but at the same time, he didn't want to anger and disappoint Alexis.
"GAH! I CAN'T TAKE IT! DON'T MAKE ME CHOOSE BETWEEN YOU TWO! THE PRESSURE'S JUST TOO MUCH! WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS?"
Seeing Chazz fall to his knees only made Red Hat scoff. "You are pathetic, Chazz. This proves you throw anything and anyone under the bus, if it means you personally benefit from it."
Seeing Chazz was out of commission and Red Hat wasn't willing to budge. Atticus turned to Alexis. "Looks like we'll have to settle this the old fashion way. We're going to have to duel for this."
"In the end, a duel is the only way we'll come to a conclusion." Alexis agreed.
'This won't end well...' He thought as he walked back to his room. His thoughts being more focused on Jaden's well being. 'What's happening to you, Jaden?' He layed down on his bed, waiting for the nect dreadful day to come. He didn't even care that he was feeling hungry. He doesn't want to see anyone right now.
The Next Day
Everyone was at the Duel Arena waitng for the so called duel to begin. While everyone was there, Red Hat walked down the area until he sat down above Chazz.
"Jaden didn't come with you?" pondered Bastion.
"I even came to his room and asked him if he wants to come..." He lowered his hat. "He never responded. That meant, he's not coming. I don't understand, he would never turn down watching a duel."
The lights went out in the Duel Arena, with colorful spotlights emiting different sort of light colors as the main spotlight shined onto Crowler. "Signore and Signori! C'est show-duel-time!"
Soon, Atticus leapt off from above with ropes tight around his waist to keep him airborne and safe as he swung around the crowd as through he could fly, blowing air kisses to his fan girls before arriving in the middle of the dueling platform.
"I dedicate this duel to the ladies in the house!" announced Atticus, proudly and smoothly. "Now, who loves you, girls?!"
All of Atticus' fan girls, which happened to be a large majority of the female students in Duel Academy, squealed and screamed as they chanted Atticus' name over and over while holding banners of him.
However, one´paticular Obelisk Blue girl wasn't so please. If anything, she had a look of disgust on her face. "Okay, I'm not putting up with this clown show." She got up from her seat and began to leave the arena.
A couple other girls noticed her leaving and stood up from their seats. "Where are you going?"
"Away from here!" She left the duel arena with two other girls folowing close behind her.
Red Hat noticed the comotion which the audience was completely oblivious to. He wondered what was going on between those girls? Still, since everyone else was busy with this wannabe idol show. He slowly walked away from the stands to follow the girls and observe the situation. He really didn't care about the duel. He somewhat knew in his gut, Alexis will win. She wouldn't dare loose to someone like Atticus.
He slowly made exited the duel arena from the top area, much like how the other girls left the arena. Once he knew he was in the clear, he quickly ran off to search for the girls. He had to know what was on their mind? Although, one of them looked very familiar. He wouldn't know until he caught up to them.
As he excited the building he noticed the four girls were at one of the stone structures. He hid behind one of the pillars to eavesdrop at their conversation.
"Mind teling me why you left the duel arena, Maki?" asked the oranged haired Obelisk girl.
The girl with short bluish-green haired hair tied into two pigtails, named Maki scofted. "To think Zane Truesdale would be replaced by that clown you call a duelist. Rie, you know dang well, no one in Obelisk Blue is worth my time."
The oranage haired girl, named Rie, took a step back at her comment. "What do you mean? Surely there's other great duellist in Obelisk Blue?"
Maki scoft at her. "Please, everyone guy in Obelisk Blue is either boring or just terrible. Ever since Zane left, Obelisk Blue dorm has become boring."
"You're a huge fan of Zane, aren't you?" A short brown haired girl questioned. "Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of Zane too, but aren't you being a little too harsh, Maki?"
"Zane was the best, he was such an inspiration to many duelists, and he made every duel entertaining and interesting. To think he was replaced by a clown who cares more about being a wannabe idol."
"Doesn't his younger sister, Alexis Rhodes spend most of her time in Slifer Red?" Rie asked. "Wonder what caught her interest to stay there? What do you think Anca?"
The short brown haired girl, name Anca tilted her head in confusion and crossed her arms. "I don't really know. Surely there has to be a reason."
While Maki tried to calm herself down. She then noticed something behind one of the pillars. She narrowed her eyes. "Hey! Come out here now! Who ever you are?! Are you eavesdropping?!"
Red Hat, knowing that he blew his cover, revealed himself to the trio of Obelisk Blue girls. Unceremoniously, Rie and Anca had questionable looks on their faces. Maki however, had a scowl on her face. Clearly angry that he was eavesdropping on them.
"Hey, isn't that the Slifer who wears the red cap?" Rie asked.
"I'm more surprised many even acknowledge my existance. Thought I would just be ignored." Red Hat responded.
"You stick out like a sore thumb." Anca pointed out. "Slifer Red, the fact you're the only one to wear a cap, the duelist that dueled alongside Zane in a tag duel, and you are known for your very lone wolf type of dueling style."
"I wouldn't call it, lone wolf style. I just don't use the same deck every time, and I run a lot of counters." Red Hat clarified. "What brings you girls out here? Normally, all of you would go gaga over Atticus."
Maki, immediately fumed at the comment. "As if! I dispise that clown! Zane is the real number 1 duelist! Not his terrible replacement! Ever since Zane left, Obelisk Blue has become boring and uninteresting. No one there is worth their salt!"
"I can agree with that sentiment." agreed Red Hat.
"Maki has been a huge fan of Zane since she first came here. To try and impress him, she's been dueling hard and been getting better. She was the first one to cry, when she was unable to score a date with Zane." Rie explained.
"Hey! Who gave you permission to tell him that?!" Maki snapped.
Red Hat sweat dropped at her attitude. 'Tsundere? I can't stand these types.' He sighed. 'To think she's Zane's biggest fan. She finds everyone else, unworthy. Not like I care about her opinions on the others though.'
"Um, question. Why does Alexis Rhodes stay at the Slifer Red dorm?" Anca sked. "Before, she normally never bothers going to that dorm, unless theres a special event."
"It's a long story, and I rather not go into it." Red Hat replied.
"I think you should tell us. Why else would Alexis Rhodes, queen of Obelisk Blue be staying at the Slifer Red Dorm?" Anca persisted.
Red Hat sighed, knowing it was pointless to deflect the question at hand. "Your choice if you believe me or not. Bonaparte and Crowler want to destroy the Slifer Red Dorm. Alexis and a few of us, who aren't Slifers, besides Jaden and I, are staying a Slifer Red to keep them away and to prevent them from tearing it down." He took out his duel disk and glared. "If any of you approve of this, then I will show no mercy to this entire school!"
The three girls, except Maki, took a cuple steps back. "Calm down now. Who said we approve of this behavior!" Anca defended.
"We don't want to start a fight. Especially not with you." Rie siad, shaking her hands.
"You aren't some kind of punk, are you?" Maki questioned, glaring at him.
"Spare me the unoriginal insults." He flattly said. "Speaking of which, the reason Atticus and Alexis are dueling is because, Atticus wants Alexis to become an idol along side himself. Ignoring the fact, this idea is a failure from the start." He sighed. "Crowler even started a idol training course, which is him indirectly saying he has no faith in the Obelisk Blue girls dorm dueling abilities."
"This that why I've been hearing about this idol course? Many of us don't want to be idols." Anca replied. "And what do you mean Chancellor Crowler has no faith in the Obelisk Blue girls dueling abilities?"
"Don't look at me. Crowler indirectly said that himself. Why else would he start an idol training course despite this Academy doesn't benefit from and it, and idol training requires to be part of the Idol Industry, which is not a good place." He then thought about something. "You woundn't mind helping me find more informationon this matter in the schools computers in the library, would you?"
"Before we do so, how about you duel Maki here." Rie suggested. "You're strong, but we want to show you we aren't push overs. Besides, this should be so cool seeing an intense duel!"
Maki was not to pleased by this. "Don't get the wrong idea you two. It's not like I want to duel him! I pitty him, if he's that desperate for an opponent!" She said irritably as she got her duel disk ready.
"May as well pass the time. No one is here anyway." Red Hat readied his duel disk. "I do wish to know more, actually."
Red Hat: 8000 LP
Maki: 8000 LP
"Ladies first! I draw!" Maki draws.
Hand 6
"I set a monster and I set one card facedown. I end my turn." Maki ends her turn.
Hand 4
"Very well, my turn. I draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 6
'Not a great start, but I'll manage.' He thought when he checked his hand. "I summon Familiar Possessed - Aussa! (Atk: 1850 Def: 1500)" His spirit charmer friend appeard on the field. "Battle, Aussa attack her facedown monster!" Aussa did as he commanded and launched a brown energy orb from her staff at the facedown, revealing to be Mystic Tomato. (Atk: 1400 Def: 1100)
"You destroyed Mystic Tomato in battle, now I get to special summon a dark monster from my deck with 1500 or fewer attack points in attack position. Appear, Sangan! (Atk: 1000 Def: 600)" Maki explained as Sangan appeared on her field.
"Very well. I set a facedown and end my turn." Red Hat ends his turn.
Hand 4
"My turn, I draw!" Maki draws.
Hand 5
"I activate my trap card, Crush Card Virus!" Maki revealed her trap soon dark pollen began to spread onto Sangan. "By tributing a dark monster with 1000 or less attack points, all monsters on your field and in your with 1500 or more attack are destroyed!" Sangan turned into dark particles and soo spread to Red Hat's field. Aussa was destroyed, being effected by the virus card. Three of Red Hat's monsters, Zaborg, D.D. Warrior Lady, and Chaos Sorcerer were destroyed by the virus. His last card in his hand was Apprentice Magician.
'Not good. Thanks to Crush Card, I lost a lot of hand advantage. Who knew, she had a card like that.' He thought.
"Don't forget Sangan's effect. I can add a monster with 1500 or fewer attack points from my deck. I choose this card, Wall of Illusion!" Maki explained as she added her card. "I summon Slate Warrior in attack mode! (Atk: 1900 Def: 400)" A blue fiend, wraped in mostly orange and gold armor, and green arms and legs appeared. It also carried a staff that was colored green. "Battle, Slate Warrior attack him directly!" Slate Warrior made a mad dash towards the Red Hat, as it twirled its staff and slammed it directly at his head. Red Hat staggered by the recoil of the attack.
Red Hat: 8000 - 6100 LP
'I can't take too many hits. With Crush Card being active for three turns. I better hope I don't draw to many monsters with high attack points.' He thought.
"I set one card facedown and end my turn." Maki ends her turn.
Hand 4
"Maki has him cornered huh?" Anca asked.
"Maki never takes it easy on her opponents. She always weighs them down before she strikes back hard and fast!" Rie explained with glee. "Whoo hoo, can't wait to see how he gets out of this mess!"
"It's my turn, I draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 2
"Let me see what you drew!" Maki gestured him to reveal his card he just drew.
Red Hat revealed his card and it was shown to be Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive. "I set a monster and call it a turn." Red Hat ends his turn, with no further moves to make.
Hand 1
Crush Card Turn Count 1
"My turn, I draw!" Maki draws.
Hand 5
"I summon Newdoria in attack mode! (Atk: 1200 Def: 800)" A fiend with spike green hair and green pants appeared on the field. It wore many spiked oridments around its legs, armbands, it's shoulders and lower body. "Battle, Newdoria attack his facedown monster!" Newdora charges in and slashes the facedown monster, revealing to be Apprentice Magician. (Atk: 400 Def: 800)
"Apprentice Magician effect activates. Since he was destroyed in battle, I can summon a level 2 or lower spellcaster type monster in facedown defense position from my deck. I choose another Apprentice Magician! (Atk: 400 Def: 800)" Red Hat placed another Apprentice Magician facedown on the field.
"Slate Warrior attack the second Apprentice Magician!" Slate Warrior dashes and strikes tthe facedown with his staff, destroying it.
"I'll use his effect again, this time I special summon this Hand of Nephthys facedown! (Atk: 600 Def: 600)" Red Hat placed it facedown on the field.
'Tch, he's on to something. If I destroy the Phoenix with effects, it will just come back and wipe the backrow. Better get ready.' Maki thought as she continued. "I set one card facedown and end my turn." Maki ends her turn.
Hand 3
"My turn, I draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 2
"Let me see what you drew!" Maki reminded him.
Red Hat turned his card around and revealed it to be Pot of Greed. "Since you saw it. I'll activate it to draw 2 more cards!" Red Hat draws his cards, and reveals to be Sangan and Jinzo, the latter was destroyed by the virus. "I summon Sangan in attack mode! (Atk: 1000 Def: 600)" Sangan appears on the field. "I flip over Hand of Nephthys. (Atk: 600 Def: 600)" A woman with yellow and red robes appeared on the field. She also had yellow helmet which dipicted a phoenix. "I tribute Sangan and Hand of Nephthys, to special summon Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys! (Atk: 2400 Def: 1600)" A gold phoenix appeared on the field. It released intense flames to signify it's power. "Sangan's effect. I get to add a monster from my deck with 1500 or fewer attack points. I'll add Magician of Faith! I'll end my turn." Red Hat ends his turn.
Hand 2
Crush Card Turn Count 2
"Not attacking? Very well, I draw!" Maki draws.
Hand 4
"I play the quick play spell Mystical Space Typhoon! With this, I destroy your facedown card!" A typhoon emerged and headed towards the facedown.
"Chain continous trap card, Call of the Haunted! With this, I special summon a monster from my graveyard! Come back to the field, Jinzo! (Atk: 2400 Def: 1500)" The cybernetic cyborg emerges onto the file as the Typhoon destroyed Call of the Haunted, but Jinzo remained on the field. "Since Jinzo negated Call of the Haunted since his effect is a passive effect, he wasn't destroyed."
"Oh wow, he actually abused the effect that way. Cool!" Rie cheered.
"Just because you negated my traps doesn't mean a thing! I tribute Newdoria to tribute summon, Dark Ruler Ha Des! (Atk: 2450 Def: 1600)" A powerful demonic being rose up from a pool of darkness. He wore dark brown robes whith gold markings around it, had a the imagry of a skull where his ademon was, a face in the center of his chest which signified dispair, and held a glass of blood mary.
"Maki summoned her ace monster, Ha Des. This could be troublesome for him. Now, her fiend type monsters can negate every monster effect she destroys by battle." Anca pointed out.
"It also has 50 more attack points. That destroys most monsters with effects." Rie added.
"I'm not done yet! I play the equip spell Snatch Steal! With this I equip Jinzo with it and I take control of it!" With the equip spell, Jinzo now heads over to Maki's field. "Battle, Ha Des attack his Sacred Phoenix!" The Dark Ruler conjured powerful lightning and launched it directly at the Sacred Phoenix. "Don't forget his effect, all monsters that my fiends destroy have their effects negated." The Dark Ruler unleashed a wave of darkness as it destroyed the Sacred Phoenix.
Red Hat: 6100 - 6050 LP
"Slate Warrior attack him direclty!" Slate Warrior dashed towards him and slammed him with his staff.
Red Hat: 6050 - 4150 LP
"Jinzo, attack your former master! Cyber Energy Shock!" Jinzo conjured a ball of energy and launches it directly at Red Hat.
Red Hat: 4150 - 1750 LP
Red Hat got on one knee after the onslaught. 'Getting a sense of deja vu, here. If I don't turn this around. Then, this will be embarrassing.'
"I end my turn." Maki ends her turn.
Hand 1
"Wow, he's been put to a corner!" Anca pointed out.
"Not only that, Maki has yet to take damage. Guess she's taking her anger out on him." Rie added.
Red Hat slowly gets up. Laughing at all the damage he's taken and the current state of the duel.
"What's so funny?!" Maki asked with an irriated look.
"Never thought I'd be put into a corner by an Obelisk Blue girl." He replied. 'To be fair, this deck I have was one of my decks that I used on my first day, minus a few cards I took out. It's very unbalanced right now.' He thought, not admiting this varient of his deck constructed in a rush. "Tell me, how many of you girls are actually strong duelists?"
"If you beat me, maybe I'd tell you. Good luck, though." Maki replied with a scowl.
"Fine then, My turn. I draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 3
"Let me see what you drew! Also you gain 1000 LP thanks to Snatch Steals side effect." Maki gestured him to show his card.
Red Hat: 1750 - 2750 LP
Red Hat revealed the card to be Pot of Averice. "Alright, I'll activate it right away! I shuffle back 5 monsters from my graveyard into my deck, then I draw 2 cards." Red Hat shuffles back Zaborg, Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys, Sangan, Apprentice Magician, and lastly Familiar Possessed - Aussa. 'Okay, if i don't draw a good card, then it's over.' He hesitated for a moment. As he drew his cards, he revealed them to Maki. His drawn cards was Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys and Dark Hole, the former was destroyed.
"Lucky draw!" Maki gasped as she saw the spell. "Not only that, but Sacred Phoenix was destroyed by an effect!"
"The luck of the draw, is what my pal Jaden always tells me." He lightly chuckled. "Never thought I be saying that same thing. I play the spell Dark Hole! Now all monsters on the field are destroyed!" A black hole appeared on top of the field and the monsters slowly were sucked into the void.
'Don't think you can escape your fate! You're a demon incarnate! Hahaha!' A demonic voice called out to him.
Red Hat eyes widened at the voice. Was that the Dark Ruler talking to him? If so, what did he want? What did he mean he can't escape his fate? Did he mean the same fate as Jaden? He shook his head at that thought. No, something about his vague threat screamed something else, unrelated to what was going on at the moment.
Maki glared at him for hesitating. "Hey! What's the hold up?! We don't have all day!" She called out.
Red Hat slapped his face with both his palms. "Sorry, zoned out there for a bit." He shook his head to regain his composure. "I set a monster facedown and end my turn." Red Hat ends his turn.
Hand 1
Crush Card Turn Count 3 Finished
"My turn, I draw!" Maki draws.
Hand 2
"I banish Dark Ruler Ha Des, Newdoria and Slate Warrior to special summon Dark Necrofear! (Atk: 2200 Def: 2800)" An ominous blue fiend, that carried a creepy doll-like child in it's arms. It wore purple armor on it's legs and on it's left arm. The creepy fiend monster stoon on one knee.
"Creepy..." Anca said, creeped out at the site of the fiend.
"Ooo, so scary. This is getting me excited!" Rie cheered.
'Dark Necrofear... why does that monsters name sound familiar?' Red Hat thought.
"Last up I set a monster facedown and end my turn!" Maki ends her turn.
Hand 0
"My turn, I draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 2
"Sacred Phoenix effect activates! Since it was destroyed by the effect of your Crush Card, he comes back to the field! Reborn, Sacred Phoenix! (Atk: 2400 Def: 1600)" The Sacred Phoenix remerged in a blazing fire. "Now his other effect, if he was revived this way, all spell and traps on the field are destroyed!" The Phoenix let out many burning feathers as possible and destroyed all spell and traps on the field. The two cards Maki had revealed to be Sakuretsu Armor and Bark of the Dark Ruler.
'I knew it! If I attacked, I'd just be walking into her trap. This is why I don't trust backrow.' He observed.
Maki covered herself from the intense heat of the phoenix's attacks. "So what? You can't attack either of my monsters! You know you can't destroy Dark Necrofear, and you are well aware my last monster is Wall of Illusion!"
"I'm well aware of that..." He replied flattly as he took a look at his hand. 'Still not the right card.' He hoped that a back up plan will come up. He can't afford to make another mistake. "I set a monster and end my turn." Red Hat ends his turn.
Hand 1
"Heh, too scared to attack? Well, you'll regret it later! I draw!" Maki draws.
Hand 1
"I play my Pot of Greed spell, now I draw 2 cards!" Maki draws her cards. "I summon Slate Warrior in attack mode! (Atk: 1900 Def: 400)" Another Slate Warrior appears o the field. "Now I play the equip card Megamorph! I'll equip it to your Sacred Phoenix! Since my LP is still higher then yours, your monster loses half of it's attack points!" The Sacred Phoenix was weaken, being unable to handle the spell card and shrunk slightly. (Atk: 2400 - 1200 Def: 1600)
'She's weighing me down... It's now or never...' He thought as he watched his Phoenix get weaker.
"I switch Dark Necrofear to attack mode. batle, Dark Necrofear attack his Sacred Phoenix! Dark Pulse Strike!" Dark Necrofear conjured powerful waves of darkness and launched them at the Sacred Pheonix, destroying it.
Red Hat: 2750 - 1750 LP
"Slate Warrior attack his facedown monster on the right!" The fiend dashed forward and slammed it's staff at the facedown monster, revealing to be Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive. (Atk: 1400 Def: 1000)
"Dekoichi effect, since it was flipped face up, I get to draw 1 card!" He explained as he drew one card.
"You'll need it! You have yet to damage me! I end my turn!" Maki ends her turn.
Hand 0
"It's getting close, isn't it?" Rie asked.
"Yeah, and he's struggling against Maki. He's playing too passively. I wonder why he's taking too long to make a play?" Anca wondered.
Red Hat panted and began to sweat. 'Critial LP. I have to turn this around now. I can't keep playing passively after the Crush Card play.' He thought, as he observed the field. Maki had no cards in her hand. He knew, he can't just attack the monsters. He had to get rid of them some other ways. He knew one way, but will he be able to do it?
"Boku no turn! Draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 3
"I flip over Magician of Faith in attack mode to activate it's effect! I'll back a spell card from my graveyard to my hand! I'll choose, Pot of Greed!" As the spellcaster was flipped, she began chanting as the spell returned from the graveyard to his hand. "Now I'll activate it again to draw 2 more cards!" He draws his cards. "I banish D.D. Warrior Lady and Dekoichi to special summon, Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning! (Atk: 3000 Def: 2500)" The chaos soldier emerged onto the field. "I tribute Magician of Faith to tribute summon, Zaborg the Thunder Monarch! (Atk: 2400 Def: 1200)" The thunder monarch appeared onto the field with an electric fury. "Zaborg effect, since he was tribute summon, one monster on the field is destroyed! so that Slate Warrior is destroyed! Go, Voltic Thunder!" Zaborg launched a lightning blast at Slate Warrior, destroying it.
"Now, he's getting started, isn't he?" Rie asked.
"Sure is!" Anca agreed. "Now he's putting pressure on Maki."
"Don't think I'm done yet! I banish Magician of Faith and my other Chaos Sorcerer from my gravyard to special summon my second Chaos Sorcerer! (Atk: 2300 Def: 2000)" Chaos Sorcerer emerges onto the field, with purple flames coming from his palms. "Now I use his effect, once per turn I can banish a face-up monster on the field! I choose your Dark Necrofear to banish!" Chaos Sorcer launched chaotic flames at the ominous fiend as banished it. "Since Dark Necrofear was banished, you can't activate it's effect. Now, Chaos Sorcer can't attack this turn!"
"You got a plan for Wall of Illusion? Cause unless you want to bounce back a monster you control, you're somewhat stuck!" Maki pointed out.
"Who said, I'm attacking it? I play the spell card Nobleman of Crossout! With this, I banish your face down Wall of Illusion!" A blonde warrior appeared and charged in at the facedown monster as it was sliced in half.
"Grr, is that all you got?!" Maki yelled, covering her face with one arm.
"No, I'm just getting started! I play the spell Monster Reborn to bring back Jinzo! (Atk. 2400 Def: 1500)" the cybernetic cyborg remerged onto the field. "Battle, Zaborg, Jinzo, and BLS attack Maki directly!" As Red hat commands his monsters to attack. Zaborg launched a lightning attack, Jinzo lauched another cybernetic energy orb, while BLS charged in and swung his sword at her.
Maki: 8000 - 5600 - 3200 - 200 LP
Maki staggered a bit after multiple direct attacks and panted. "I won't let you get the best of me!"
"We'll see about that. I end my turn." Red Hat ends his turn.
Hand 0
"It's my turn, I draw!" Maki draws.
Hand 1
"I play the spell card Dark Hole! Let's see how you like it! Now, all of your monsters are destroyed!" A dark hole appeared again above the field and all monsters were absorbed into the void.
"Woah, those two aren't giving up!" Anca said, feeling tense from the duel between the two.
"No kidding! Now it a matter of top decks! Who knows who will win!" Rie said with glee, also feeling a bit tense from the duel.
"I end my turn." Maki ends her turn.
Hand 0
"My turn, I draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 1
'Dang, Brain Control, a spell card I can't use.' He thought as he was unable to play anything. "I pass turn!"
Hand 1
"My turn, I draw!" Maki draws.
Hand 1
"I set a card facedown and end my turn." Maki ends her turn.
Hand 0
"Alright, I draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 2
'This should win me the duel!' He thought as he looked at the card he drew. "I summon Breaker the Magical Warrior in attack mode! (Atk: 1600 Def: 1000)" Breaker appears on the field. "His effect, he gets a spell counter. With his spell counter, He gains 300 attack points! (Atk: 1600 - 1900 Def: 100)"
"I don't think so! Go trap card, Bottomless Trap Hole! Since you summoned a monster with 1500 attack ore more, your monster is banished!" A bottomless void opened up from underneath Breaker's feet as he fell down the endless void.
"Dang... I end my turn." Red Hat ends his turn.
Hand 1
"My turn, I draw!" Maki draws.
Hand 1
"I set one card facedown and end my turn." Maki ends her turn.
Hand 0
"My turn, I draw!" Red Hat draws.
'So you appeared, huh Aussa?' He thought as he saw what he drew. "What do I got to loose. I summon Familiar Possessed - Aussa! (Atk: 1850 Def: 1500)" His duel spirit friend appears on the field. "Let's hope I'm not wrong about this. Battle, Aussa attack her directly!" Aussa raises her staff and creates a brown energy orb.
"I'm not going down like this! Chain trap card, Ring of Destruction! I target Aussa and we both take damage equal to it's attack points!" Maki growled as her trap card activated and a ring of grenades was attached to Aussa.
'Sorry Aussa. Never wanted to see you like this.' He whispered, showing distain at the sight of his partner being attached by the deadly ring.
'I'll be fine.' She assured him.
"Fine, Aussa let's go out with a bang! Lauch the attack downwards!" Aussa listen to his command and increased the power of her orb, until it grew in massive size. She launched the orb at the ground in the center, before the ring self-destructed and destroyed her.
Red Hat: 1750 - 0 LP
Maki: 200 - 0 LP
"Woah, they tied?!" Anca stated, shocked at the outcome of the duel.
"I never thought I would see a tie game like that. That's very rare!" Rie exclaimed, not expecting the outcome from either of the two.
Red Hat panted, as he was not expecting this out come. 'Tied? And with Ring of Destruction? I must be slacking off if I was caught of guard like this?!' He thought, he refused to admit it, but he got played. Through out his entire stay at Duel Academy, his only experience with Obelisk girl duelists was Alexis, and her two friends. If Maki was able to tie him, either she's actually a tough duelist and there maybe others just as strong as she is, or he was slacking off and he needed to get his act together.
"To think I'd tie with you. I pity you, so come to me if you need an opponent." Maki said, while getting up. "Don't get any funny ideas! It's not like I WANT to duel you!" She huffed.
"Alright, that's enough, Maki." Rie said as she gripped her shoulder. "You blew enough steam for the day. Take it easy, okay?"
Maki huffed and began to walk away. "I'm headng back to the dorm. Tell me who won the duel back at the arena. Don't get the wrong idea, I don't care about that clown, Atticus Rhodes." She spat as she walked away.
"Maki can be quite the handful." Anca stated. "She's not very fond of the majority of the male duelists besides Zane. She utterly despises those who don't take dueling seriously like Zane does."
"Not many talk to her on this matter. After Zane graduated from the Academy, Maki spends less time at events and doesn't care to see duelist besides Zane." Rie explained.
"So it seems." Red Hat noted. "Still, enough about her. She'll get over this eventually." He turned around to face the two girls. "Let's head to the Library. Wanted to get some information of this whole Idol affair."
"If we hurry, we should be able to get all the information we need before the duel ends." Anca pointed out.
"Then, let's hurry." The trio began running back inside the building and made their way to the Academy Library. Red Hat wanted to get as much information as possible. That way, if Atticus or Crowler try anything like this again. He can give out the information to force them to back off.
Academy Library
As the trio made their way to the Library. They found out that the duel between Atticus and Alexis was still going. Red Hat had to wonder, how long was that duel was going? Was Atticus just wasting time? Cause from what little he saw, until he followed the trio of girls. Atticus spend more time trying to hype up himself as being the next big star. He had to scoff at that. Does he think such performances would work outside the Academy? Then again, he wouldn't really know. He never really cared for those kinds of endeavors in the first place.
As they entered the Library. There was no one around or in sight, since everyone else were watching the duel at hand in the main arena. He sat down nearby one of the many computers the Library had. With his limited knowledge, he began to search the many archives, and if not that, he searched through the internet.
"What's taking so long?" Anca said impaiently.
"I'm searching, I'm searching. This is taking longer then normal." He assured them, he knew what he was searching. 'Come on, come on!' He thought, not liking that he was being pressured by the lack of time they had.
"The Librarian will catch us if we don't hurry up!" Rie reminded him. "We normally can't use the computers here without permission. Us Obelisk Blue's have computers in our own rooms for our own purposes anyway."
"Good to know Obelisk Blues are spoiled students." He spat.
"Hey! It's not like we use them every day! Besides, it's school property." Anca defended.
"You know what I meant."
As he looked through multiple sites relating to idols. What the trio found out wasn't what they were told. According to the many news outlets they have searched. Idols have to be trained in very specific industries. They have to act in a certain manner at all times. Was extremely competitive, and many don't make even if they had fans. Many were known to go through plastic surgery for very specific appeals. Many fans are so savage they thought those fans have lost their minds.
As he looked further into it. The deeper the rabbit hole he went though. Many idols tend to live very miserable lives, and only a small fraction are happy and successful. Many experienced idols are know to bully new comers, especially those they don't like. To say the trio was speechless at the revelation was an understatement.
"I never thought the idol industry was someting like this. Granted I don't care, but know, I don't know what to make of this." Red Hat said, utterly baffled at how someone can handle this industry.
"I never knew this kind of thing." Anca agreed.
"So everything we're being told is just a lie? That's just cruel!" Rie cried out.
"My guess is two fold. Either Crowler knew this and is just using idol thing with Atticus to force her to go back to Obelisk Blue. Or he legitimently believes, breaking into the Idol Industry is easy and believes using Atticus will be a shoe in. Yeah, I don't think so." Red Hat saves as many web pages as possible that talks about the idol industry, and made sure to print said pages.
Once the pages were printed. Red Hat collected them and stored them in a folder. As he collected his made sure to deleted all evidence at what they were researching and turned off the computer. The trio followed him and ran back to the arena. Hoping the duel wasn't over just yet. That way they wouldn't be caught by not only the staff, but also the many students.
Red Hat snuck his way back to his seat, while the girls snuck their way back to where the girls were. Many were completely oblivious to them as their attention was focused on Atticus. Red Hat sat back down on his seat, the others not noticing he was even gone. He took a close look at the field. Alexis just finsihed the duel with Cyber Angel Benten's burn effect.
'Atticus, you are incompetent.' Red Hat thought with disgust. To think many thought he's the next top duelist. He had to laugh at them. With what every performance Atticus showed. He doesn't care about serious dueling. Rather, clowning around while acting like he cares.
When the duel finished, everyone applauded and cheered for such a duel. Red Hat couldn't really judge the duel as he didn't even see how it played out. What annoyed him the most was his obnoxious fan club crying over his loss. Even Fonda Fontain was crying. He dead panned at the miserable sight that behold his sight.
'She's also head of the Obelisk Blue girls dorm and a Phys Ed teacher. Yet, she's that crazy over Attcius... How absurd...' He thought, holding back his disgust. Although, he was one to talk. Since he befriended a girl who much younger then he is.
After some congratulations from Atticus, he began to speak up. "To tell you the truth... I was hoping you'd just go back to being a normal girl by singing love songs with me once you became an idol, but.."
As Chazz tried to interrupt by going next to him. Red Hat punched Chazz, right in the stomach as he fell to his kness. "Not today lover boy. Shut up!" He kicked him down and started to drag him away.
"Why you! You'll pay for this?!" Chazz screamed, trying hard to fight off his grip.
"You think I care? Go screw yourself, Chazz!" Red Hat sneered at him.
The other ignored his actions and sweat dropped. Red Hat dropped Chazz and placed his foot on his chest, keeping him in place.
Atticus looked around and noticed someone was missing. "Jaden, where is he?"
Sadden upon hearing his name, Alexis proceeded to explain everything that happened. "Long story..."
Red Hat walked back alone to the dorm. As made his way to Jaden's room. He opened the door as he knew, he wouldn't look it. He noticed Jaden sat down on the floor next to the window, lost in thought. Red Hat removed his shoes and entered the room as he closed the door. He sat down near the bed and stared at him. Jaden glanced at him momentarily, but refused to say anything.
Red Hat didn't say anything either as he stared at Jaden. He knew it was not the time to speak up. Jaden was going through a phase ever since he was unable to see his cards. Did this mean he was unable to communicate with his duel spirits? If so, then this was troubling. Jaden loved to duel and having that enjoyment being taken away from some unknown force that can't be controlled, made him depressed.
Aussa then returned to him with some information. However, she noticed where Red Hat was and decided to disappear until Red Hat left the depressing room. Red Hat caught on and nodded slightly. He didn't want to leave Jaden alone, ut he knew he needed space. If he tried to pester him further, it could potentially cause him to lash out.
"I hope you get better soon... my friend." He said, before he put his shoes back on and left Jaden's room.
As he left the room and made his way to the back of the dorm. He looked around to see if anyone was coming. When he was assured that no one coming over, Aussa appeared next to him.
'Your friend is still troubled isn't he?' She asked.
"I wish I can help him, but it doesn't seem I can do anything." He stated.
She shook her head. 'You can't help him. I found out that a powerful force is trying to take over him. His soul and his will is strong. It's why all that happened to him was losing his ability to see his card and communicate with duel spirits.'
"So that's why? Does this mean, he's on his own?" He questioned.
'You can say that...'
As the two of them remained silent for while, Red Hat suddenly remembered something he wanted to tell her. "I just remembered something. When I dueled Maki earlier. One of her monsters, the Dark Ruler Ha Desspoke to me. I thought I was hallucinating , but no, in fact he did speak to me." He shuddered at what he was implying. "He said I was some demon incarnate. I don't take mind games seriously, but something about what he said... I don't know... distrubs me a little."
Aussa narrowed her eyes. 'The Dark Ruler himself? The Dark Ruler is a malicious fiend that rules the underworld in the spirit realm. Why would he even speak to you through an unrelated duel?'
"I don't know... but what he said was ominous. What did he mean by a demon incarnate?"
'I wouldn't read too much into it. The Dark Ruler is known for manipulating his foes. Unless there's a bad omen coming soon, you shouldn't concern yourself with what he said.'
"I see... thank for that." Still, Red Hat couldn't help but think there was something more sinister about what he said. While he never believed in relgion. If the supernatural existed, then there had to be some truth to it right?
He decided not to dwell on it and leave the backside of the dorm. Aussa smiled at him and soon disappeared back to the spirit realm. Once he head back to the open area, he noticed Alexis and the rest of the group return back to the dorm. He thought is was as good as time as any to give her the information he obtained.
"Hey, Alexis, mind if I speak to you in private behind the dorm?" He asked.
Alexis eyes widened. What he possible ask of her that needed to be private. She hoped it wasn't any of those kinds of requests. Chazz on the other hand, was not having any of that.
"Oh no you don't, Slacker! I simply won't allow you to talk to Alexis in private!" Chazz sneered.
"Shut up, what I'm going to talk to her is nothing that your filthy mind is thinking about!" He countered.
This only caused him to get enraged further. "Grr, wait until I get my hands on you!"
"Hassleberry, Bastion, hold him down while I get this over with!" He ordered.
As Chazz tried to tackle him, Hassleberry and Bastion held both of his arms, Hassleberry even going as far to knock him off his feet.
Red Hat walk towards the backside of the dorm, with Alexis following behind him. Alexis crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. "This better not be a confession."
Before she could finish, Red Hat held out a folder containing various documents. "I wanted to give this to you. I did a little research on the whole idol industry. You dodged a bullet by rejecting Atticus and Crowlers dumb requests."
"Eh? You went out of your way to research this? But why?" She asked, baffled that he would go out of his way to research this matter, when she wasn't even interested.
"These documents contain information on how the industry works. It's a horrible carrer. Atticus is too blind to realize Idol training is a waste of time. Granted I only knew a handful of this until further research. If Crowler or Atticus try this again, show them these documents and the horror stories. Maybe they'll finally stop once and for all." As he was about to leave. "Before you ask, I don't feel that way about you and never will. What I see, when I look you, is strong and determinded duelist. Dueling as hard as she can to improve and help out her friends." He waved at her as he left to return to his room.
Alexis stod in place, shocked at what just happened. Not only was he one of the very few guys that didn't actively try to get her attention, but he actually saw her as a duelist. He even went out of his way to get specific documents to make sure her brother and Crowler didn't pull this stunt again. She began to question who he actually was. Perhaps he wasn't such a bad guy after all. Sure he took dueling too seriously and is often a rebel, but maybe someday she would figure him out. If anything, she could have a conversation on dueling with him. That counts for something didn't it? She snapped out of her thoughts and decided to turn in, back to her room Chazz gave her.
Meanwhile, Red Hat returned to his room and slept away. Still deep in thought about what the spirit of the Dark Ruler sad to him. He hoped it wasn't a bad omen coming to pass.
A/N: I really do not like the whole idol gimmick the episode tries. Not only is it very dumb, it showed how little Crowler and Atticus actually know about the idol industry, which I won't go into. Interactions with the Tag Force characters will be sporadic. It's mostly just observing and keeping an eye on things. As for that small interaction with another spirit. More will come to pass much later on. Also slight symbolism, which I also will not go into. See you next time everyone.