Chapter 12: Preparations

Inside the abandoned building that served as the Breakers' base of operations, the new leader gathered everyone around a dusty old meeting table in the conference room on the ground floor.

"As much as I didn't want this, I guess I'm the new leader of the Breakers," said Tatsumaki flatly. "I'll be honest, I don't know that I'm really cut out to be a leader. I know Enzo steered this ship for two years, and you all must have some level of loyalty to him as a person, as well as to the gang. If anyone feels that their loyalty to him supersedes their loyalty to the Breakers, this is your chance to leave with no hard feelings. I understand if anyone is unable to get behind the idea of being led by a teenager."

"You're right, Tatsumaki," said Manda. "We were loyal to Enzo, but we're Breakers at the core of it. We can't just leave now."

"Speak for yourself," retorted Ryo. "Enzo's leadership is what kept us going all this time! He's the man I chose to follow, not this kid."

"So, what, are you gonna leave now?" asked Manda. "Was losing Enzo not enough for one day?"

"I'm not sure," admitted Ryo. "I get that this is what he thought was best, but I can't help but feel like maybe this is a mistake. Don't get me wrong, Tatsumaki is an excellent Duelist, but he said himself he's not sure he's cut out to lead people."

"The entire battle against the Dustshoots was his idea," countered Manda. "I think that alone proves he's got at least some talent for it. He might have doubts now, but I think he'll grow into it."

"Then you have more faith than I do, I guess," said Ryo. "I don't know if I can still be a Breaker without Enzo leading us."

"Enzo chose to leave us in Tatsumaki's hands," said Kiri flatly, drawing surprised looks from everyone. "The best way to be loyal to him is to respect that choice."

"I guess we'll just have to disagree on that one," admitted Ryo, abruptly standing from his chair and striding towards the exit. "I think the best way to be loyal to Enzo is to continue following him, wherever he may end up. Sorry guys, I can't stay here. Enzo needs someone to back him up and I guess it's gotta be me."

"I think I have to agree with Ryo here," said Taza, getting up to leave. "I'm just not able to get past the idea of anyone but Enzo leading us. Sorry, guys."

"Same here," said Jo, who also stood and made for the door. "It looks like this is the end of my time as a Breaker."

There was silence for several moments after they left. Silence, save for the echo of the door shutting behind them.

"What about you two?" asked Manda, finally breaking the spell. He glanced towards Emi and Yoroi. "You've been silent this whole time."

"You guys have been with the gang a lot longer than us," said Emi. "I didn't feel it was my place to interrupt the discussion."

"Same here," confirmed Yoroi. "Being a Breaker means following whoever leads the gang. Besides, I don't have any particular hangups regarding loyalty to Enzo like the rest of you veterans."

"Fair enough, I guess," said Manda. "Still, today was a lot. Taking control of overtown, losing Enzo and the others at once, and new leadership? I think we could all use some rest."

"Agreed," said Tatsumaki. "I'm exhausted, so let's head back to my place."

"No, I think us vets should stay here," replied Manda. "We just secured this territory, it wouldn't be smart to immediately leave it unattended. You kids shouldn't have to slum it with us, though. You can go home."

Tatsumaki thought about it for a moment. "Sorry about that. You're right, of course. Furthermore, the leader shouldn't leave his people behind to slum it while he sleeps in a comfy bed in a three story home. We'll sleep here tonight and we'll start making plans in the morning. There's a few local tournaments coming up soon across the city, so we'll have to figure out a schedule and which ones we can attend."

"Why not all of them?" asked Manda. "We want to legitimize ourselves as contenders, right? So we should compete in as many events as possible."

"True, but a few of them are happening at the same time," replied Tatsumaki. "Unfortunately, we have to pick and choose."

"What if we split up and had a few of us compete in each one?" suggested Emi. "Having us show up and at least make top cut at each tournament would make us seem like more of a real presence on the scene."

"That's true," mused Tatsumaki. "If we top every tournament coming up and make it known that we're all part of the same group, it would make quite a big impression and put the Breakers on the map faster. Good idea, Emi."

"Thanks," she smiled.

"Alright, I have the list of upcoming events written down back home. We'll head there after breakfast tomorrow to retrieve it and discuss who goes where. For now, though, let's get some dinner and some rest. Dismissed."

Tatsumaki leaned over and whispered to Emi. "Is that right? Is 'dismissed' what I'm supposed to say?"

"Don't look at me, dumbass! You're the leader, not me!"

The rest of the Breakers laughed, except Kiri. "Don't worry about it, boss," said Manda in between chuckles. "You're doing fine, just relax and do what feels natural."

Tatsumaki sighed. This was going to take some getting used to. "Alright, I'm gonna go get us some food. I'll need some help carrying enough for seven people, so I'll need one or two of you to come with me."

"I'll go!" offered Emi enthusiastically. "I could use the walk anyways."

"Same here," said Manda. "I could go for a relaxing walk in some fresh air after everything today."

"Thanks for that," replied Tatsumaki with a smile. "I'm thinking sushi tonight, so everyone tell me your preferences and I'll write them down. There's a spot I really like about five blocks away."

After taking everyone's order down, Tatsumaki, Emi, and Manda all headed out. After they left, Kiri turned to Yoroi.

"Why didn't you go with them?" he asked in monotone.

"Just didn't feel like it," replied Yoroi flatly.

"Hmmm."

Meanwhile, en route to the sushi restaurant, Manda was bothering Tatsumaki with questions as they walked.

"So how did you end up owning a copy of Dimension Fusion, huh? That card is, like, RIDICULOUSLY rare."

"It was the only card he took from his mom's deck after she died," cut in Emi. "You told me that the other day, but you didn't tell me what card it was. That had to be it, right?"

Nope, I actually got it on my own. In fact, I have three of them. I kinda built my deck around it."

"So does that mean the card you got from your mom's deck is even more rare than Dimension Fusion?" asked Manda.

You'll just have to wait and see," laughed Tatsumaki. "Let me keep some things close to the chest. At any rate, we're here."

The shop itself was your typical brick and mortar hole-in-the-wall place. A simple sign that read "Harusaki!" hung over the door, with a neon "Open" sign flashing in the front window. When the trio stepped inside, a short, elderly woman greeted them from behind the counter, recognizing the black-clad teen.

"Welcome to Harusaki! Oh, Tatsumaki, welcome back! Shall I put in your usual?"

"For me, yes, Mrs. Tami. But I also have a bit more for you," replied Tatsumaki, handing her the list of orders from his pocket. She looked it over for a moment, her eyes widening as she went.

"My, this is quite a lot! Are you entertaining guests tonight?"

Tatsumaki shrugged. "Something like that. I've got some friends over and I felt like sushi, so naturally it had to be from you guys."

Mrs. Tami rang the order up on her old register, and Tatsumaki paid in cash. "Normally I'd tell you ten minutes, but with this much food, it might take awhile for my husband to finish. Give us half an hour, okay?"

"Sure thing, Mrs. Tami. Tell your husband thank you, and sorry for the trouble."

"So, your husband is the sushi master here?" asked Emi.

"Oh, yes, this place is run by just us," replied Mrs. Tami. "It used to be our son as well, but he's in college now."

"Next time you talk to Kariya, tell him I said 'hi', will you? I hope his studies are going well," said Tatsumaki.

"Oh, of course! He doesn't call as much nowadays, ever since he got a new girlfriend, but that's how boys his age are, I suppose."

"Well, let's hope he doesn't forget where he came from," replied Tatsumaki, jerking his thumb towards the door behind him. "I'm gonna step out a bit while we wait, okay?"

"Of course. If you're not back by the time it's ready, I'll come find you next door."

"Next door?" asked Manda.

"Of course. There's more than one reason I decided to come here for food," said Tatsumaki with a grin. "The shop next door is one of the larger card shops in the city, and they're hosting one of the upcoming local tournaments I mentioned earlier. They have a thirty two-entrant cap though, so I wanted to pop in and see how many spots were still open."

"See? Accomplishing two things at once. You're already thinking like a leader," remarked Emi.

"I guess? I just figured I could do some scouting while we waited for our food, so let's go."

"Leader of what?" asked Mrs. Tami. "Did you finally join that Duel Gang you told us about?"

"Yeah, the Breakers. But things didn't quite go as planned and now I'm apparently the leader, even though I didn't really want to be."

"Well, the way I see it, you're helping people escape from a life on the streets and trying to propel them into real careers. It doesn't surprise me one bit that your ambition ended up getting you a leadership role. Whether you wanted it or not, someone offering that much of themselves for others' sake naturally ends up leading them."

"I guess you're right about that. Thanks, Mrs. Tami."

"Anytime, dear. Now, go check on your tournament. Your food will be ready soon."

The trio exited Harusaki, then turned right and entered the shop next door, called EZ Gaming, after its founders, American immigrants named Erik and Zack. At the same time, a boy who appeared to be roughly twelve years old arrived at the door. Tatsumaki got the door, allowing the boy in first before entering himself, with Emi and Jo following behind.

"Hey guys, welcome to EZ!" greeted Erik enthusiastically from behind the counter.

"Hello," greeted Tatsumaki. "I came to inquire about your tournament this weekend."

"Me, too," said the boy. "I was wanting to enter."

"Well, it's unfortunate that you both came to ask about it," replied Erik. "We cap at thirty two entrants, and as of right now, there's only one spot left. Normally, it's first come first serve, but it looks like you both got here at basically the same time."

"Well, seems to me like the obvious solution is to duel for the spot!" exclaimed the boy, turning to Tatsumaki. "I challenge you!"

Tatsumaki smiled. "Sounds fair to me. You're on!"

Outside the shop, Tatsumaki and the boy engaged their Duel Disks and set up their holo systems.

"By the way, my name's Tatsumaki. What's yours?"

"It's Eiji. Why are you trying to enter this tournament?"

"Let's just say I have people who are counting on me, and I can't let them down," replied Tatsumaki. "What about you?"

"That's more vague than I wanted, but fine, keep your secrets. I'm entering because my big sister already has a spot and I wanna prove I can beat her!"

"Well, in that case, I guess you'll have to get past me, first!"

Outside, the two duelists engaged their Duel Disks and began, with Eiji taking the opening turn.

"Draw! I activate the Ritual Spell, Doriado's Blessing! I offer Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive from my hand as Tribute to Ritual Summon the Elemental Mistress Doriado [Level 3/LIGHT/Spellcaster/ATK1200/DEF1400]!"

"A Ritual Summon?" asked Tatsumaki. "You don't see those every day. She's not all that strong stat-wise, though."

"She makes up for it with her effect," explained Eiji. "She's a LIGHT monster by default, but she also treats herself as FIRE, WATER, WIND, and EARTH all at once!"

"Interesting. I'm sure you have other cards in your deck designed to take advantage of that."

"You'll see soon enough! I Set a monster and two cards and end my turn!"

"Draw! I activate the effect of my Thunder Dragon, discarding it to add two more of it to my hand! Next, I Summon Bazoo the Soul Eater, and he'll attack Doriado!"

"Trying to get rid of her, eh? Well, too bad! I open my Trap, Fuh-Rin-Ka-Zan! Normally, this card is difficult to use, as it requires FIRE, WATER, WIND, and EARTH monsters to all be on the field, but Doriado can fulfill that requirement by herself! Now, I get to select one of four effects to activate, and I choose to destroy all monsters on your field!"

"Not bad," said Tatsumaki. "I Set one card and end my turn."

"My turn! Draw! I'll go straight to Battle! Doriado, attack him directly!"

"I activate the Trap, Call of the Haunted, allowing me to revive Bazoo!"

"I don't think so! I counter that with my own Trap, Seven Tools of the Bandit! By paying 1000 Life Points, I can negate your Trap and destroy it! That will allow my attack to go through! Next, I flip up my monster, Mask of Darkness [Level 2/DARK/Fiend/900/400]! Its Flip effect allows me to add a Trap Card from my graveyard to my hand, and I'll grab Fuh-Rin-Ka-Zan! Now, I'll Set two cards and end my turn!"

Eiji: 7000 Life Points.

Tatsumaki: 6800 Life Points.

"Draw! I Set a monster and end my turn!"

"Got you on the defensive, huh? Not surprised. At the end of your turn, I activate both by Traps, two copies of Fuh-Rin-Ka-Zan! I'll choose the effect to draw two cards for each one, meaning I draw four cards in total!"

"I see," said Tatsumaki. "That Trap allows you to protect Doriado by wiping out my monsters, or you can make up for the card disadvantage associated with Ritual Summoning but drawing more cards. That card sure is a powerful one, and Mask of Darkness recycling it for you makes it all the more difficult to deal with."

"That's basically my strategy! Now, Draw! I Summon the Spirit monster, Tsukuyomi [Level 4/DARK/Spellcaster/ATK1100/DEF1400]! When she's Summoned, I can turn any monster on the field face down, and I'll choose my Mask of Darkness! Now, I flip Mask back up again, allowing me to buy back Fuh-Rin-Ka-Zan!"

"What a nice engine you have going there," commented Tatsumaki.

"Thanks! I try! Now, it's time to battle! Tsukuyomi, attack his Set monster!"

"You're not the only one with powerful Flip effects! You've just triggered my Magical Merchant! I send cards from the top of my deck to the graveyard until I hit a Spell or Trap, and add that card to my hand!"

Merchant's effect sent Airknight Parshath, Sangan, and Tribe-Infecting Virus before netting Tatsumaki his copy of Card Destruction.

"Now, Mask of Darkness will attack you for 900 damage, and Doriado will attack for 1200! I'll Set two cards and that's it from me! At the end of my turn, Tsukuyomi returns to my hand."

Eiji: 7000 Life Points.

Tatsumaki: 4700 Life Points.

"Draw! Now, it's my turn to go on the offense! I activate Heavy Storm, destroying all Spells and Traps on the field!"

"I activate my Magic Jammer Trap Card! By discarding a card from my hand, I can negate and destroy any Spell!"

"Fine by me! Now, I activate another Spell, Card Destruction! We'll both discard our hands and draw the same number of cards!"

"Well, I really don't want you getting five fresh cards, so I'll activate Fuh-Rin-Ka-Zan to discard two cards from your hand first! I'll take the middle one and the far right!"

This would turn out to be a fatal mistake. Tatsumaki discarded the indicated cards to the effect of the powerful Trap, then discarded the remaining three cards due to Card Destruction, drawing three cards instead of five. Those three, however, would be enough.

"First, I Summon another Bazoo the Soul Eater, and activate its effect! I remove from play Airknight Parsthath, Tribe-Infecting Virus, and the first Bazoo to increase its ATK by 900! Next, I'll remove from play Sangan and Thunder Dragon to Summon the mighty Chaos Sorcerer!"

"Damn, no! I should've saved my Fuh-Rin-Ka-Zan!"

"That you should've, because the final card I drew is Dimension Fusion! By paying 2000 Life Points, we both Summon all of our removed from play monsters! Welcome back, Airknight, Bazoo, and Thunder Dragon!"

"But I have no removed monsters! I don't get to Summon anything!"

"Exactly! Now, I activate the effect of my new Bazoo, removing the other two Thunder Dragons and the Magical Merchant from my grave for another 900 point boost! Now, Thunder Dragon, attack Mask of Darkness!"

"Wait! I don't have an answer for this!" exclaimed Eiji.

"No, and that means this is the end of the duel! Airknight, attack Doriado! Airknight's effect lets me draw a card when he deals damage, but it hardly matters! Now, both of my Bazoos will attack you directly, and Chaos Sorcerer will finish the job!"

Eiji: 0 Life Points.

Tatsumaki: 4700 Life Points.

"Damn, you got me!" chuckled Eiji, offering a handshake. "Good game!"

"Good game," replied Tatsumaki, taking the hand. "Doriado is weak on her own, but you managed to find a way to leverage her unique effect to control the duel. Even though I won't see you in this upcoming tournament, I'd love to see you in another bracket later down the line."

"You too! I definitely wanna duel you again when I'm stronger!"

"I'll be honest," said Emi. "I thought you'd be more upset at losing your shot to duel your sister."

"I mean, it sucks a little bit, sure," shrugged Eiji. "But at the same time, if I can't even beat you, then I'd have no chance against her anyways."

"Sounds like you think she's better than me," said Tatsumaki suspiciously.

"I don't think so; I know so. Big sis is an insanely strong duelist! If you have to duel her in the tournament, you're definitely gonna lose."

"We'll see about that," said Tatsumaki with a hint of smugness. "I don't intend on losing to anyone until I make it into the Pro Circuit."

"Well, as long as big sis is around, you're gonna have a hard time with that. Anyways, I gotta get going. I didn't plan on dueling today and now I'm late for dinner." Eiji turned and started running down the street, turning his head to call back, "Good luck this Saturday! I'll still come by to watch you and big sis!"

"See ya! Be safe getting home!" shouted Tatsumaki.

Emi smiled. "I like him. He's a good kid."

"Yeah. Honestly, I felt a little bad for him during that final turn," said Manda. "He was pretty much in control from the first turn, and you turned it around on him and won the duel in one fell swoop."

"He's a good kid, but I can't hold back when it comes to my goals," said Tatsumaki plainly. "I don't like the idea of beating up on kids, but I had to get that spot in the tournament. Speaking of which, come on. I still need to register, and there's a certain card I want to see if Erik and Zack have in stock."

A few minutes later, the trio left EZ Gaming, and went back next door to Harusaki to pick up their food order, then headed back to the hideout.

As they entered the front door, a rather peculiar scene was playing out before them.

"Oh, hey, guys," said Yoroi with a wave, cards in hand and Duel Disk engaged on his arm. "You were taking longer than we thought you would, so me and Kiri decided to duel while we waited."

"Okay, well, when you're done, we'll be in there with the food," replied Tatsumaki, walking around the two duelists towards the conference room. The other two followed his lead.

"Sounds good! Now, where was I? Oh yeah! I Summon Chaos Sorcerer by removing Blade Knight and Zombyra from my graveyard! Now, Sorcerer will remove your Element Dragon from play, freeing up my Mataza to attack you twice to end the game!"

Kiri nodded, accepting his defeat. After the holograms vanished, the two joined the rest of the gang in the conference room for sushi. After that, the Breakers retired for the evening, except for Tatsumaki, who remained awake a while longer, drawing up plans in the conference room. The coming weekend was going to be a big deal. The Breakers would make their debut in official tournaments, and they had to make it count.