Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duel Academia Chapter 1

Standing high above the chaos of the world below, there may almost be some measure of peace in your mind. Fresh air, compared to the stink of blood, iron, and death that come when men and monsters clash against one another. If such a thing were possible you very well might elect to never return to that mess. The sounds of battle can reach where the scents cannot however, the clashing of blades and the screams of men and beast alike. That would be enough to draw anyone out of whatever thoughts they may be trying to focus on, even if its something you've grown far too accustomed to.

"The preparations have been finished, my King," comes the words successful in breaking your thoughtful state. Cape fluttering in the wind, you turn to face the servant that had spoken. Looking just as tired and battered as the rest of your forces, yet still with the light of hope. Of belief in his eyes that spoke volumes of the faith he still had in the one pillar of strength left to rely upon.

You.

Hand upon the pommel of your blade and a nod of your head, the words are already flowing. "Then it is time we finish this." As any King should, no one else should be forced to bear such a burden but yourself. Taking your helm from another of the servants and placing it upon your head, there is nothing left to do but march towards fate. Prayers muttered under your breath towards whatever Gods may be listening to grant you the strength to finish things once and for all.

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Jolting up from your bed as the world comes rushing back, your own gasping for air is the only sound that your ears can detect within the darkened hotel room.

That dream again... or something close enough to it. The scents of it all seem so real every time and the dreams themselves get more vivid each one you have.

"Hoo boy..."

Reaching over to your phone you check what time it is, lightly groaning at the realization that five o'clock in the morning is staring at you smack in the face. Not too terribly early, but still enough to where you absolutely could have gotten some more sleep before the big event of what today is supposed to include.

You can never get back to sleep after those dreams no matter how long you might lay around for. Like it or not, you're up and have to start getting with the program. Pushing yourself up, a hand runs through your mess of blond hair as possibly one of the deepest sighs in the history of mankind flows past your lips. Sounds around you have finally started making themselves known, the whirring of the air conditioner, the buzz of electricity in the room. Outside you can just detect the engines of cars as they go by, even at this early hour where those that are of a more reasonable mind should find themselves still fast asleep.

Resting your head against the backboard of the bed, you pull open the email the same as you've done countless times before. Yet still something about it just doesn't seem quite real. The confirmation of an application to Central Academy, Duel Academia, The Duel Academy ranked highest in the world by all measures. Owned and overseen by Seto Kaiba, President of the Kaiba Corporation.

It still feels incredible as you read over the confirmation of your acceptance past the first stages of exams, and the acknowledgement that you've earned the right towards an application duel.

 

Name: Yusuke Baker

Age: 17

Deck: ??? (Decklist Not Submitted)

Tournament Wins: 4

Application Status: Accepted

Report to the testing facility at the following date and time for your admission duel...

"Just a few hours and we'll finally be facing the music, eh? Can't believe we've come this far." The words are to no one, and everyone. A blink taking your eyes from staring down at your phone, over to the deck that had been resting on your nightstand. "Work with me today, alright. This is what you've wanted, isn't it, what you've always been pushing me towards?"

Nothing else ever feels right, after all. No matter what else you try, different games, odd jobs, studying something else... it all comes back to Duel Monsters. The game that invites competition unlike any other, that crowned the King of Games.

Your hand reaches up towards the ceiling, an invisible goal just out of reach even as your fingers try to close around the thing you've been pushed towards your entire life.

"I'll be King."

The next few hours passed quickly.

Just as expected you hadn't been able to return to sleep, peaceful or otherwise. A few hours of passing time, showering, breakfast, and finally sliding on the spare pair of clothes you'd brought for the big day.

Hardly anything glamorous, but it was comfortable. An old favorite that you were comfortable dueling in and could still fit well enough under your Duel Disk. That rather important item was currently residing in the backpack thrown over one of your shoulders, with your deck resting in it's case strapped to your leg.

Just another face in the crowd of bustling young duelists all crowding around the Dueling Center. Everyone here is another applicant wanting to try for a chance at earning a spot at the prestigious academy. Every set of eyes you lock with, that's another potential rival. Only so many spots to go around... and that means that some of you absolutely won't be making it through until the end of this.

Some of the other participants you think you might just recognize, big names from a few televised tournaments. Some folks you've beaten before in duels that probably don't stand a chance of getting past the selection phase. Many and more aside that just don't stand out of the crowd at all... but are you the same to them? You have your dream, but what's to say half the folks here don't have exactly the same one? Countless people have tried to challenge Yugi Muto for the title of King, and not a single one has managed coming close to defeating him.

Shifting the bag over your shoulder and letting out a small sigh, you move towards the center of the arena. Having already registered your name it's now just a matter of waiting until you're called for your chance to duel. Your hand finds its way down to the deck at your leg, giving it a little tap on instinct. You've got faith in your cards, they've never let you down before after all, but...

"Fwah!"

Both the cry and the feeling that you just smacked right into someone is a damn good sign that you probably should have been paying more attention to your surroundings. Shaking the thoughts free from your head, you glance down and see that a rather small statured girl was the one you collided with. She wasn't knocked over so at least you didn't seem to actually hurt her, but she's, well...

That is a very unusual garb to say the least.

"Was that a deck in your pocket, or were you happy to see me?"

Okay, so maybe you might have bumped into her a little harder than you thought. An awkward silence passes over the pair of you for one heartbeat... two... before you give your deck another tap. Drawing her eyes down to see that it was indeed the cards she'd felt, rather than something else.

With how her eyes light up and her hands come together in a quick clap. "Ah, glorious day! This would be meaning you are another Duelist, yes yes? Then we are joined souls on this quest to attain our places within the Academy!" Bouncing in place while she talks, the girl is a veritable wellspring of energy. It's not exactly five in the morning anymore but... it's still kinda early in the morning for that level of excitement, isn't it? Showing off one more hop, she settles back down into place before you. Staring up with those bright, shimmering emerald eyes that meet your own golds. "I am known as Fizdis, what of you my new friend?"

Friend?

You hadn't even said a word to her yet, but now certainly counts as the opportunity to introduce yourself. Releasing a breath you didn't know you'd held in, you give her a small nod. "Yusuke, Yusuke Baker. That's right, I'm here for my entrance exam, same as you and just about everyone else that we've got around us," motioning to the collection of people filling the stands, waiting area, just about every place visible. She certainly stood out among the crowd given her unique manner of dress, and that meant you did too now by being in proximity of her.

Fizdis gives another quick clap of her hands after your introduction, that smile she's wearing only growing all the brighter. "It is good fortune we have met, Yusuke Baker. Normally I would be very cross for a boy pounding into me like you have, but I shall be making exceptions for today! We are-"

"ATTENTION DUELISTS!"

Fizdis is cut off mid-sentence and almost seems to deflate a bit because of it, but the two of you peer over towards the stage where the booming voice had come from. A man dressed in a suit with excessively pointy hair is standing with a microphone in hand, having given everyone a few moments to settle down before continuing.

"Within moments we shall begin the testing phase of your entry exams! Each and every one of you shall have a proctored duel observed by professors of the Academy and other licensed officials. You will face against another randomly chose applicant. Win or lose, your skills in how you duel will determine your acceptance and rank within Duel Academy!"

That's... strange, you don't even have to win the duel, if you show enough skill in what you're doing? Your eyes flick away from the stage back towards Fizdis, the girl's fists pumping as that smile she wore before had already returned. Stretched wide across her face as she was drinking in every word from the announcer.

Motioning behind him with a great sweep of his arm, the announcer continues. "Without further ado, it is my honor to present the Master of Ceremony for this exam and the Vice President of KaibaCorp! Mokuba Kaiba!"

Cheers erupt around the arena as THE face of Kaiba Corp makes his way onto the stage. Every time the company debuts a new product, every interview given from the owners, this is the Kaiba brother that does so. "Good morning and welcome everyone! The Kaiba Corporation welcomes the future Duelists that will introduce the next era of dueling! On behalf of my brother Seto, we encourage every one of you to strive to be the best you can be." A smirk shows on the man's face at that point as he points a finger towards your section of the gathered crowd. "Who knows, one of you might just end up being the future King of Games! So on that note, let's get this started, I declare that it's time to duel!"

By the time the roar of the crowd has died down you can still feel your heart pumping with excitement. Maybe it's the fact that everything is finally coming together, your chance to show what you can truly do. Or it could be the infectious energy from the girl beside you.

Bit of both, all things considered.

As Mokuba finishes his announcements the giant screen above him is starting to display names, showing the matchups that people have been given. Seconds go by as you scan for your name, through the roaring buzz of the crowd all around you all you can make out is Fizdis at your side muttering under her breath, hands clasped together in what you think has to be some kind of prayer.

It has to be by pure luck that she finishes and raises her head just in time to see your name flash on the board...

YUSUKE BAKER vs FIZDIS

And hers as well.

"Hoo boy..."

You're already instinctively rubbing at the back of your neck. Just as you were about to open your mouth to say something towards your new 'friend' the words are yanked away! She's already tugging on your arm and pushing through the crowd with a surprising amount of force and focus. Dragging you towards the main stage where Mokuba was still standing, rather than any of the designated side arenas! "Yoo-hoo! Mister Kaiba! We are here and ready to duel, yes yes!" Leaving you standing at the edge of the stage as she's clambering her way up. When the man with the pointy hair tries to stop her, you just barely catch the elbow she throws into his stomach to get him to back off... this girl might be a little scary. Beaming back to you, she motions for you to get up and join her atop the stage.

'A little late to try to back out now after you've brought me this far.'

Swinging yourself up onto the stage, you can see that she's already excitedly chirping towards the Vice-President. Letting her handle that, you sling the bag off your shoulder and fish out your Duel Disk. Strapping it to your arm and fishing out your deck from the case at your leg. Giving it a long look, the world seems to melt away as you stare at the cards. They've brought you this far... why not a little more?

"H-hey, c'mon quit it quit it! Fine!" Mokuba trying to hold the microphone away from Fizdis snaps you out of the little trance. Re-adjusting his clothing and looking rather annoyed at the girl, as she bounces in place, having put on her own duel disk at some point. "It seems for our introduction duel we'll have something a little different. To start things off, we'll have these two young Duelists face against one another on the main stage!" Throwing his arm up to point to the jumbotron, images of both you and Fizdis appear on the main screen.

"Hailing from America, we have Yusuke Baker! While his opponent, Fizdis, comes to us all the way from Egypt! Opposite sides of the globe, Ladies and Gentlemen, let's see if their Dueling styles can reflect that!"

Standing opposite of your new friend turned opponent, the smile she wears looks much more intense now. Excitement practically radiating from her body as she takes a ready stance.

One last glance towards your deck, you slam it into place in your duel disk. Life Point counter flickering into readiness as both of you stand before a crowd of hundreds.

"Duelists, at your ready... Begin!"

"Let's Duel!"

You're going first so you should...

Letting out a deep sigh, you close your eyes before even drawing your opening hand. Trying to push out the noise of the crowd around you as they cheer for the first Duel of the day. Fizdis is a nice girl, weird, but nice enough... that isn't going to stop you from fighting and pushing forward to prove you deserve a spot within Duel Academy.

'Come on, you've never steered me wrong before... I trust you. Tell me what I need to do, show me the way.'

There's no answer from the cards, no matter how long you might wait and hope to hear something. Some measure of guidance to tell you what to do.

"Duelist Yusuke, you have the first move, please begin!" Mokuba's voice draws you out of your trance. And that's your cue to draw for turn. The cards you've drawn, not the best, but not the worst either. You can manage this, you can still use these cards to the fullest and make sure that when the time comes... your deck will guide you the rest of the way.

"I summon Masked Dragon, in attack position!" You declare with a booming voice, slamming the card down onto your Duel Disk. The flickering lights of the Holograms coming to life as your monster appears on the field before you, letting out a roar as you place another card down in your spell section. "I'll place a face down as well, and end my turn. It's your move, Fizdis."

MASKED DRAGON:

ATK: 1400

DEF:1100

'Masked Dragon... is that a hint to what I'm supposed to be looking for here? You're not serious, right? This is just a practice duel to prove we can do this.'

She hasn't lost a bit of her energy as your opponent slides a card free from her deck. "Aha, Dragons, is that your game Yusuke? How very interesting, this is not what I was expecting from you!" Glancing to the card she drew, the girl snickers. "You are not a bad boy, so I will make sure your beating is swift and light. Not how I like them, but this is for you! Come forth, Soldier of Hesat!" as she places her card down, the form of a bull-headed soldier rises from the floor. A spear and shield in his hands, the beast slamming the hilt of his weapon down to the ground as it huffs and stares down your dragon. Pulling another card free from her hand, she slides it into her duel disk before throwing her hand out towards you. "Go forward and slay the dragon, my soldier! Charge!"

SOLDIER OF HESAT:

ATK:1800

DEF:1000

She's already summoned a Monster that has more than enough attack points to destroy the card you placed, and the card you put face-down can't even be used yet... damn it! You can only grit your teeth and take the damage. Your life points draining as the Masked Dragon cries out in pain as the spear takes it straight through the neck. "Right then... I activate the effect of Masked Dragon, since it was destroyed by battle, I can summon another Dragon with 1500 or less attack from my deck! I call forth Koumori Dragon in attack mode!" Ripping the card free from your deck, you placed it in the same position that Masked Dragon just held.

 

KUOMORI DRAGON:

ATK:1500

DEF:1200

It's not enough, this card isn't remotely strong enough to fight against the Soldier she played. Whatever you're going to do... you're going to have to manage to beat past that monster or get rid of it somehow!

LP TOTAL:

YUSUKE: 3600

FIZDIS: 4000

Slicing your arm across the air in front of you, you draw another card from your deck. A smirk showing as you see just what it was that you pulled from the deck, maybe it really is going to listen to you? It's just a proctored duel, this should be more than enough to beat Fizdis. Flicking the card around to show just what you've drawn now, "You might have gotten off to a good start, Fizdis, but I'm not backing down just yet!"

Snatching Kuomori Dragon off the field, you slam down the monster that you just drew to now replace it. "I sacrifice Kuomori Dragon, and in it's place I call forth Luster Dragon #2!" The shimmering, shining scales of the beast are utterly beautiful in the light as it responds to your summoning. Bigger than either of the dragons you've called before. Both in size, and in the stats it wields. While there may not be any effect to the monster it certainly has attack to beat over the monster that Fizdis has placed before you.

LUSTER DRAGON #2:

ATK: 2400

DEF: 1400

Your confidence is starting to soar now, just one attack and you'll not only have the advantage on the board but in life points as well. "Go now, Emerald Splash!" The dragon rears its head back, as green energy coalesces around it's mouth. Throwing itself forward, your monster lets out a mighty roar as the gemstones fly forth, right towards Fizdis' Soldier of Hesat!

"Not so fast Yusuke! You've fallen right into my trap, I activate Mirror Force!" The girl from Egypt wears her smile even as yours drains from your face as she reveals the face down she had placed on her turn. "Instantly halting the attack from your dragon and destroying it, leaving you completely open! Hope you can forgive me~!" Her chipper tone does nothing as you can only watch in horror as a shield is erected in front of the card that she played. The emeralds from your Dragon reflecting off of it and bouncing right back towards the producer of the attack. Roaring in pain as it too is destroyed, and your field is left entirely bare aside from the card you'd placed face down at the beginning of the duel...

'Shit, not good. This isn't good at all, what the hell am I supposed to do now?'

Grumbling under your breath, you give a nod towards Fizdis. Acknowledging that you're passing the turn over to her.

Slipping another card free from her deck, your opponent immediately lets out a whoop of excitement. Slapping the card she just drew onto her duel disk and bringing forward another monster. "Fwehehehe! The Heart of the Cards is with me today, Yusuke. It is ordained, this iswhere the legend of Fizdis shall begin! I call forth my Lord of the Sands in attack mode!"

Rising not just from the card itself, but from a sea of sand that was projected forth from the holographic system. Her Monster stands covered in head to toe in armor, wielding a great, massive spear, sand flowing around it as easily as water.

LORD OF SANDS:

ATK: 2000

DEF:1600

"If you had a monster to attack, I could use his effect! Buuuuut seeing as this is not the case, he shall now attack you directly, so go now, unleash the rage of the desert! Soldier of Hesat, Lord of the Sands, end our duel!" Fizdis strikes a pose as she points directly at you, ordering her monsters to attack your life points directly! She's got enough on the field to end you outright, ending this here and now.

It's all you can do but... "I'm not done yet, not by a damned long shot! Go, Magic Cylinder!" Declaring the face-down you'd placed before, a giant cup appears before you, absorbing the attack from the Lord of Sands. "Redirecting the attack of your Lord of Sands right back to you as damage instead!" Just as the spear from her soldier slices into you, the wave of sand that was absorbed by the cylinder shot back towards Fizdis herself. Horror washing over her face as you both flinch from the very light impact of the attacks upon both of you. Life Point totals ticking down as the crowd once again screams from the realization that the duel is set to continue! Stumbling back a step, you can see that though Fizdis is also recovering from her impact, the girl doesn't look defeated at all. "Hehe, you do not make things easy for me, Yusuke Baker. But next turn will spell your defeat my new friend. The Heart of the Cards shall guide me through to the very end! It is your move, do all you can now, for my next attack shall be the final!"

LIFE POINTS:

YUSUKE: 1800

FIZDIS: 2000

Placing your head atop your deck, you breathe in deeply once more. Closing your eyes, shutting out the world once more. All you can do is focus...

'The Heart of the Cards... is that what it is? Is that what it's called? We're on our final move, so please... answer my call!'

Every Duel you've won, it's been through some measure of having faith that your deck is going to provide what you need. That the cards you use will come to you when you need them most and that all you have to do is draw them when you need them most. Fizdis is speaking of the Heart of the Cards, is that what it is when you have faith in your deck? To put the entirety of the duel on the belief that when it matters most, your deck will provide the answers?

You've shut out the entire world, nothing exists right now. Not the cheering crowds, not the monsters before you on the field, not even Fizdis standing across the stage waiting for her chance to end this battle with her next attack.

'I believe in you, we've come this far together. So please, I want to be strong, I want to be the best Duelist I can be.'

Placing your hand on your deck, you let that breath you've held escape your lungs once again. You're putting it all on this draw right here, right now. The hope of your future as a Duelist, to take the first step towards becoming the next King of Games. Grabbing the card tightly, you rip it free from the deck, glancing what it is with just a moment of it being in your vision as you slam it down onto your duel disk!

"I activate Pot of Greed! Allowing me to draw two more cards from my deck. If you say the Heart of the Cards is what got you this far, then I'll prove I go even further!" Immediately placing your hand on your deck once again and pulling two more cards free.

'Come on, we can go further than this, we're better than losing here, losing now after all we've done! If I'm to become King then I need you!'

Flicking your eyes to see what you've drawn, you can feel your heart rising. The pieces are coming together, this is it... Tucking one of the cards into your hand, you reveal the other that you had just drawn. Showing it to Fizdis as the image of an Angel appears over your head. Droplets of water showering down upon you as the effect activates. "I activate Graceful Charity, allowing me to draw three more cards so long as I discard two afterwards!" This is the last set of draws, the ones that decide everything. Your mind is flame, your soul is screaming, your deck cries out to draw your last cards and advance towards your destiny!

Another three draws...

'This is it, come on! Do it now!'

Three cards enter your hand, but only one truly matters.

 

Just as the rest of the forest you've gone through could be said to be beautiful in all the danger it possessed, this clearing has a beauty all it's own. Exactly as you were told it to be, free from any trees crowding the area or blocking the sunlight over head sits a magnificent pure white stone the likes of which you've never seen before.

Absolutely beautiful, you almost can't draw your eyes away from the stone itself to the sword embedded atop the rock. A blade, fit for a King, buried within a stone that would only provide a weapon to the one worthy of wielding it.

Not a sound around you, even the birds in the surrounding woods seemed to have ceased their chirping and songs. The world might as well exist entirely within this clearing as you come close to the Sword in the Stone. It seems almost a shame to remove such a sight from this world. Simply looking upon the blade and the stone brings a measure of peace to your soul that you don't believe you've ever felt before.

The Wizard hadn't lied when they'd said that only a King could do what was meant to be done. Who else could have the will to destroy such a beautiful sight, if not for a worthy purpose?

Both of your gauntleted hands grasp at the hilt of the blade. Planting your feet firmly on the ground as you pull... summoning all your might, the thought of your friends, your comrades. Those that rely upon you and look up to their King. Those that have been lost, those that you can still save.

You are the King, and you will stand proud and strong for your people!

With another yank, the sword comes free from the stone that has held it for countless years. Raising high towards the heavens, the light shining off of the pure alabaster white blade.... It had found you worthy of wielding itself.

CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIICK

The stone shudders before you as your eyes flick down to it once more. Cracks running along the length of the once beautiful sight as it seemed to be at an end, now that the sword had been pulled free from within it. Yet... this was almost like...

A chip of the stone falls outwards as something stirs within. Raising your new weapon, you hold it tightly as more of the stone begins to shatter and crack. Something is hatching, and as another piece falls away, it becomes all too obvious what the child within is...

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You clench the card in your hand tightly as your sight returns to the present. Whatever that was, a vision, a dream... it's appropriate enough for what card you just drew. The second part of Graceful Charity requires that you discard two cards, and you've just found the perfect one for that.

"It's my game, Fizdis... I discard two cards from my hand. One of which is The White Stone of Legend!" Flipping the card around to show not just your opponent, but the world around you. Confusion... and then shock shows on Fizdis' face, the girl struggling to find some words but you've already cut her off again. "With the effect of The White Stone of Legend, it allows me to search my deck for one card in particular and add it to my hand. The only one I need to end this Duel!"

You don't pull the deck free to search for your card, you know that you'll be provided exactly what you need as you snatch the card from your deck! There's no need to glance at it, as you've already pulled a spell from your hand to reveal. "Next I'll activate the Spell Card, Ancient Rules! Allowing me to Special Summon one level five or higher normal monster from my hand, and I think you know just what this might be..."

"N-no... this can't be, this is impossible!" The cry from Mokuba Kaiba sounds through the arena, yet you're already slamming the card down onto your duel disk!

"THE LEGEND BECOMES REALITY, DESCEND FROM AN ERA OF MYTH! BLUE-EYES WHITE DRAGON!"

The cry of the Dragon shakes the arena as it rises before you, wings outstretched and wider than the entirety of the stage that you've stood upon this entire time. Jacket fluttering behind you as the most powerful monster in your deck finally makes itself known.

BLUE-EYES WHITE DRAGON:

ATK: 3000

DEF:2500

The fear on Fizdis' is palpable, yet still you continue on as you present another card. "I activate another spell card, Megamorph! Seeing as I have less Life Points than you do, it doubles the attack of my Blue-Eyes, giving it an attacking power of six thousand!"

Blue-Eyes grows even larger as the spell takes effect, the already massive monster truly appearing as a Dragon of ancient times. And now...

BLUE-EYES WHITE DRAGON:

ATK:6000

DEF:2500

 

"GO FORTH, BLUE-EYES WHITE DRAGON! FINISH THIS DUEL WITH WHITE LIGHTNING!"

The cry of your attack is immediately followed by the crackling of electricity as the Dragon gathers it's energy. Releasing it all in a singular burst directed at Fizdis' monsters! Both the Soldier of Hesat and the Lord of Sands being vaporized underneath the attack of your dragon, while the girl tries to shield her eyes from the overwhelming light. Screaming out from the intensity of Blue-Eyes unleashing such an almighty blow! Falling down to her knees as the stream of lightning ends... as well as the duel.

LIFE POINTS:

YUSUKE: 1800

FIZDIS: 0

Stepping off the boat that had brought you to the Academy's Island, you give your neck a roll. It'd gotten really, really tight inside that damned dingy below the decks. Frankly it was a bit of a surprise that the entire trip you were stuck down there considering the ride had lasted hours... but that was just one of the perks you guess you've got going for you now, given the rank you were given after the Duel with Fizdis.

"Hooo boy..."

That really, really hadn't been a fun conversation.

==============================

With the Duel finished, you made your way over to Fizdis and offered her a hand. The girl looked up to you with awe in her eyes, no hatred or anger at having been defeated but utter surprise and shock. Grasping your offered hand, she pulled herself up with just a little help on your part. "You dueled great, you know? There's no doubt in my mind you'll get into the Academy." Hefting her up the rest of the way back to her feet, you give her a bit of help in brushing off the dust that got kicked up.

The crowd is still completely silent, Mokuba Kaiba as well. He's standing there in some mixture of horror and surprise, eyes following every movement you'd made as you walked across the arena after finishing the duel. Anyone could have heard a needle drop in the building as moments pass, until finally, if shakily, Mokuba motions towards you.

"O-Our winner, ladies and gentlemen, Yusuke Baker!"

On cue, the deafening roar of the crowd overwhelms you. Louder than anything you've heard before, any tournament you might have conquered in the past, this is the moment that is near enough to bring you to your knees with the sheer overwhelming volume of everyone exploding with cheers!

"It was an excellent duel, Yusuke. I knew very much that you were to be someone worth watching. Duel me again before too long, and I shall surprise you too!"

She doesn't seem to hold grudge over the loss, thankfully.

As the cheer of the gathered crowd washes over you, you have to wonder... is this what it's like to be the King? Lifting your arm high, in victory, that only seems to rile them into more of a frenzy. The spotlight is on you, and the smile that comes to your face is perhaps the most genuine one you've ever worn in your life.

==============================

Not that the good times there exactly lasted for very long. The proof of that is shown on the color of the jacket you're wearing. Peering down at it once again, you pluck at the colored clothing you've changed into. All that work and effort, putting on the Duel of your life, and this is the reward that you get?

At first you'd thought when you were being escorted into the back after the Duel to talk about your placements. Or maybe there was some kind of reward they wanted to offer?

==============================

You double over as the fist of the man with the sharp pointed hair hits you in your gut again. Wheezing as the air is forced from your lungs and your legs nearly fall out from under you as you slump over onto his arm. "Answer the Vice President's question, boy."

"Fu-fucking asshole... I did!" you growl back to the suit. Hair a mess in front of your eyes as you stare up at him, utterly seething with rage. They'd been questioning you for a good half hour in this back room. It'd started off as innocent enough stuff. Who you were, how long you'd been dueling, what decks you'd used in the past. "I told you how I got the damned cards, what more do you want!?"

"The truth!" Mokuba shouted back at you, slamming his fist down on the table. "And until you tell us the truth, my associates are going to continue to encourage you! Seto Kaiba is the only one alive in possession of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, all three of them! It's impossible for you to have one in your deck without it being a counterfeit."

Just as you're about to bark out another bit of snark towards the KaibaCorp VP, a ringing sounds through the room. Coming from the man himself, Mokuba looks annoyed as can be as he tugs a phone from his jacket answers. "What is it, I-... Y-yes of course. I was just having a discussion with him right now about it. I figured you would see it before too long so I... You're not serious, are you? But there isn't any chance it could- Yes... yes of course."

Who in the hell could he even be talking to if he was put on the back foot like this?

"If that's what you want... Seto."

Oh... Oh shit.

Putting his phone away again, Mokuba looks at you across the table. The anger quelled from telling his goons to work you over, but the man still visibly seething under the hood.

"You'll be allowed into the Academy, Yusuke Baker. Pending investigation into your acquisition of that card. During this time you shall be placed in the lowest ranked dorm, Slifer Red. We take accusations of fraud very seriously at KaibaCorp... and Ra Yellow let alone Obelisk Blue are far too prestigious to allow a suspected fraudster within their ranks."

==============================

Your stomach still fucking hurts a bit after all that.

No matter how long you stare at the red jacket you're wearing, that isn't going to will it to another color. Someone that called forth the power of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, and here you are, stuck in the lowest of the rankings at Duel Academy.

Still, you're in the Academy so that accounts for a damned good bit, doesn't it? You've made it to the big leagues, the-

"Move it, Slifer Slacker!"

And so quickly you've already gotten someone in a blue jacket shoving past you on the docks. Very nearly knocking you off your feet and sending you down to the water. Oh if you hadn't just gotten worked over by some corporate flunkies...

'Tables sure did turn pretty damn quick, didn't they? I just wanna find my dorm and go to bed at this point. I've heard how great the Obelisk dorms are, like a damn castle, and Ra is like a fancy hotel. So Slifer can't really be that bad, can it?'

Walking along the bend and following the signs towards where the Slifer Red dorm is supposed to be, you're trying to be hopeful that maybe, just maybe...

"...Fuck"

This is really where you're meant to be staying at THE Legendary Duel Academy? It looks like it's nothing more than a damned shed for storage, how is this even possible? An out-house with a dock slung to the back of it from you can see just from the front. The strangest notion makes you feel like it isn't remotely going to look any better on the inside either.

Honestly that's gonna be something to complain about later when you've actually got enough energy in you to raise a fuss about it. Right now you want nothing more than to just collapse face first onto a bed and catch some shut-eye with how long you've been awake now.

Fishing out the note you were given, it shows what room number you're going to be staying in, listing as well that you'll have a roommate to share with. That's... less than amazing, but considering you heard on the boat over that some poor bastards are stuck with three people all in one tiny room. You're just going to be silently praying to the Blue-Eyes White Dragon itself that whoever you might be rooming with won't be too much of a jackass.

Marching your way up the stairs, you're already slinging your bag down from over your shoulder and fishing out the key to your room. Opening the door after finagling with the lock, you can see that the light is already on inside. So, might be quick introductions to your new roommate it seems. Quickly shutting the door behind you, finally take a look and see what your new home has to offer.

An incredibly small TV off to the side atop a dresser, a little table in the center of the room so close to the floor there wouldn't be room for chairs even if you had them. A little study desk off to the side with some cards strewn about the top of it... oh, and bunk beds, that's pretty nifty. Especially since there's already a half-naked girl staring at you like a deer caught in the headlights.

Oh....

Sitting on the lower of the two bunks, shirt tugged open without a bra to be seen. The beautiful, pale alabaster skin of the girl on display even with her breasts not entirely out in the open. The swell of her chest enough to where let the blouse she'd unbuttoned be pulled away from clinging to her slim form. She's breathtaking, and was midway through rolling down a legging which only exposed more of the blemish free length of her soft looking thigh. Even the pair of panties she's wearing look to be an eye-catching red the same as your jacket, and the one resting next to her on the bed.

Silence overtakes the room, your eyes quickly flicking back towards her own once the moment of checking her out passes. Already you can feel some measure of heat coming towards your cheeks. Yet find yourself unable to turn away, while the girl has perked her brow in your direction. Finally, you think you might have found some way to break the silence here.

"...Hey?"

"...Hey."

Oh.

An air of awkward silence fills the air while your eyes stay locked with hers. It can't be for more than a heartbeat, maybe two, but by God does it feel like an eternity. You can't even think of a way to try to smooth this out beyond just laying the truth out there as plain as can be. Mom and Dad did at least raise you to understand manners, and ogling a girl while she's getting dressed probably isn't something that they'd encourage behavior wise.

"I'm just gonna..." you thumb back towards the door you just came through while finally tugging your gaze away from the girl. Her movements have been effectively frozen since the moment you barged in, but finally a nod comes. Grabbing at the handle behind you, a bit of awkward fumbling gets the door tugged open just enough to where you can slip back out while not just flinging the room open to the world at large.

Again the door is closed with you now on the opposite side of the wood. Putting your head back against the frame, yet another deep sigh is added to the counter. That wasn't exactly the best way to make a first impression on a girl, was it? "So uh... sorry about that. I must have the wrong room or something, just got to the island and they told me I had room 202 with a roommate."

You're trying to clear the air at least a little here, to make it not so goddamned awkward considering you were checking her out for the few moments you could. "It was an accident, I get that. You didn't know anyone was going to be inside, let alone a girl. Hang on." Her voice sounds rather melancholy, even through the door that separates the two of you. That kinda counts as a start to a conversation, maybe? You're willing to let it rock and keep going at least.

"Name's Yusuke, I uh... I guess I'm in Slifer Red? Not too sure how exactly the rankings work here if I'm being honest. Seems like we got the short end of the stick as far as dorms go, eh?"

It isn't until you notice the thick mane of wine-red leaning out of the door frame do you realize that the girl must have been looking at you for a few moments.

As she steps out fully, you can get a good look at her fully dressed now.

It's effectively the female version of your uniform, short skirt, leggings, the whole nine yards really. But while yours is well ironed and new, her outfit looks kind of... well there really isn't a way to say it other than the girl's outfit is sloppy. Her tie is barely holding together, the skirt is ruffled, both the jacket and her blouse seem to be wrinkled as well. Being this close to her you can also see the deep bags under her eyes. She's got an aura of tiredness around her, but for all you know that could just be because she had a poor night of sleep. Overall, despite how late it is in the evening she looks as though she just now managed to roll out of bed when you were barging into the room.

She's a good bit shorter than you are as well, so while the two of you are looking at one another there is a bit of neck craning on either side. "They told me I was finally getting a roommate, but this is out there even by Duel Academy standards," the girl with deep red hair sighs. Giving a shrug before heading back into the room, motioning for you to follow.

Now that your eyes aren't near immediately drawn to the half-naked girl that was in the room the first time, you've got a chance to look around a bit more. At first glance you had thought it to be a pretty standard dorm room, but now... Crumpled and discarded clothes can be found here and there. Little tools to tinker with a duel disk, spare cards strewn haphazardly, even some garbage that looked as though it'd spilled over from the can she'd been tossing things in. Shredded papers mostly from the looks of it, maybe a wrapper in there too.

"So they're seriously having us room together, like... for real? Gotta be some sorta rule about having a guy and girl be in a dorm right?" it seems an obvious question to ask as you step back inside with her. She doesn't bother peering over her shoulder when she lets you have another shrug, "Only one in Slifer Red without a roommate means it was my turn eventually. I don't really care, so long as you don't act like a creep."

She's a rather nonchalant one, isn't she? Those deep, rich eyes finally return to gazing at you as she takes a seat on the bed again, just as she had been doing when you barged in a minute ago. "Yusuke you said, right? I'm Aki, Aki Izayoi, the sole female student of the Slifer Red dorm. We're probably stuck together until you get promoted or drop out, whichever happens first."

With how late in the day it is, and since you haven't had a chance at eating since this morning your stomach is finally starting to betray you. Grabbing the chair from the desk and sitting opposite of Aki, the rumbling of your belly is announcing what you're feeling before anything else might have the chance to. Aki either didn't hear it, or didn't care though. She's leaning forward with her chin planted on both of her palms with her elbows on her bare thighs. Strands of the girl's hair falling down in front of her face after she shifted forward into this possibly more comfortable position for her.

Glancing towards the clock on the wall, you're wondering just what the hours for the cafeteria might be. "It's a little late, I can run down to the cafeteria and get us some dinner if y'want. We could talk over dinner and get to know each other?"

Aki looks as though she zones out for a moment, looking down at her fingers as they unfurl and she silently mouths something out. " 'Kay, just be warned. Food here is trash, one of the benefits of our amazing, spectacular, wonderful Slifer Slacker life, Yusuke." With a grunt, she swings her legs over and onto the bottom bunk, laying out in front of you and reaching over to the night stand beside the set of beds. Snatching the cards off of it and slowly starting to thumb through them. With the way she was counting... and it almost looked like she was mouthing out the days of the week, what the hell could that mean?

Getting up, you give her a little nod and push off from the chair to go see what you might be able to scrounge up from the downstairs levels.

==========================

The answer to that as you've quickly found out, is frankly nothing short of utterly pathetic. Carrying back up two servings of what they're counting as dinner, you're already almost regretting playing Blue-Eyes and winning your duel against Fizdis. Dinner today, you've learned is plain white rice and the scrawniest, pathetic looking 'fish' that you've ever seen. If there is actually a sliver of meat on the damned things you'd be surprised. Two bowls, one for you and one for Aki but the quantity, let alone the lack of quality... hell it might just be enough for you if you devoured both of the portions.

Holding one bowl in the crook of your arm, you manage to get the door opened and slide back into the room. Turning around just in time to see a card fall onto Aki's face... weird, had she'd tossed it up? Because her hands were down at her sides when you entered.

"God you weren't kidding, this is the celebration dinner welcoming new students? The hell kinda scam is this where we're getting food this trashy?" Normally you're not one to grumble and argue too much, but this sort of thing is on an entirely different level that isn't remotely okay.

"Told you, and that's not celebration welcome dinner. That's dinner, every day." Aki snatches the card off her face and pushes herself back up. "Place sucks, Academy sucks, people suck, food just happens to suck the most," the grumbles come as she puts her deck aside and grabs the bowl of rice and fish from you. "Thanks..."

Breaking apart your chopsticks at the same time she does, there really isn't much of an option aside from trying to work this down. Bland and tasteless as it is... maybe some conversation can help you work through this?

Swallowing the mouthful you've got, you point your chopsticks towards the deck she just put aside. "So whatcha play? Run just a single deck or you got a few you're working on with the cards I've seen around?"

Aki had been poking and swirling her food rather than focusing on eating it like you had, but she still takes a few moments to actually give you a reply. "Plants, Black Rose Dragon. My deck focuses primarily around burn and control through effect monsters and bringing Black Rose Dragon out as many times as possible to clear the field from anything that might be set up against me. It's good for making sure that any move my opponent makes is something I can capitalize on and make sure that their advantage is my advantage." Her eyes actually started to light up as she spoke about her deck, motioning with her chopsticks as she started breaking down her general strategy to you. The girl has been neutral, almost uncaring or apathetic about everything you've talked about until now, but she's coming alive.

By the time she finally finishes breaking down her gameplan for a typical duel, Aki is out of breath and you've managed to power through the majority of your dinner.

You've actually managed to get her excited now.

"What about you, Yusuke, what do you play? Aggro, rituals, fusions?"

Seeing just a singular card from your deck should be more than enough to give her the general idea of what you play. She certainly didn't seem to have watched the prelim duels for the Academy on TV if she's asking. They were televised all over, which means it's absolutely not a secret that you've got Blue-Eyes White Dragon. But, you didn't reveal the rest of your cards that go along with it, so a good portion of all that... you're still running with a good bit of mystery to what you can pull out.

Unbuckling your holster and sliding your deck free you start shuffling through the cards, searching out one in particular. You barely even need to think about finding the card, or trying to draw it. The moment it touches your finger you've yanked it free from the deck.

Flicking the card around to show Aki, her eyes light up and she gasps. "That... that's impossible, only three of those cards exist in the whole world! How on Earth did you manage to get a copy of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Yusuke?!" She doesn't try to reach for the card or anything of the sort, just staring in awe at what you've presented her as though she can barely believe it.

"We'll talk about that one another time eh? It's a long story and I don't think you'd believe half of it."

'Hell I still have trouble believing most of it myself.'

Leaning forward in your chair, you start idly shuffling your deck. Sliding cards on top of cards on top of cards, you shoot a smile of your own towards Aki. "Wanna give it a go, see just what kind of deck I've got first hand with a duel of our own? We've got plenty of time before it gets too dark."

In an instant the girl is on her feet and grabbing her deck, before suddenly pausing as she stares at her cards. Gaze lingering at her own cards before her eyes flick back towards you and the deck you're still shuffling. "I... no, no we shouldn't. You don't want to duel me, Yusuke." Aki has lowered her head as she spoke, now avoiding even looking at you and trying to hide her face behind the drooping hair that falls in front of her visage.

That was a hell of a quick change in attitude from her, what could possibly be the cause behind it? She seemed so eager and excited when talking about cards and strategy, it even looked like she really wanted to duel... but something just stopped her. Already the deck she grabbed is being placed back on her night stand, like she's lost all the will and energy she had just moments before.

Aki's reaction has you tilting your head to the side, a look of confusion downright obvious. She clearly wanted to duel just a few moments ago so what possibly could have changed so quickly? Hell you're pretty eager to see just what she can manage with how she was talking about her deck a moment ago, it sounds as though she put a ton of thought into what she was building. It'd be a shame to not actually get a chance to see that...

"Hey c'mon, it'll be a fun little game before bed. We can give each other some pointers on what we might be lacking eh? If we're gonna be stuck together for a while we should be trying to put one another through the ringer to make sure we can both be getting better," you try offering her some encouragement, and even a little smile. It's the first time you've ever had to try to convince someone that a duel wouldn't be such a bad idea, but hey, what's the worst that could happen from giving it a go?

She still looks utterly reluctant and that might be putting it lightly. Aki's tired eyes flicking from her deck towards you again and again. The girl is even nibbling at her lower lip. "I'm not sure... I... when I duel, things aren't normal Yusuke. People have gotten hurt in the past, it's why I'm-"

"C'mon, I'm tough. We won't even use the duel disks or go outside, alright? We can just have an old school mat game here in our room," already you've snatched up the bag you brought with you. Fishing out your Duel Disk and putting it off to the side, next to come out is an old table-mat. Not something you've used in a long time, but it never hurts to keep something like this on hand for just such an occasion, right? Sliding down from your chair to the hard floor below, you're rolling it out to have between yourself and Aki.

It sounds like maybe she's really not a fan of the minor electrical shocks that can happen in duels if someone gets hit by a powerful attack? You've heard that some people are rather sensitive to that sort of thing, maybe she's reluctant to duel because one of her past opponents had a bad reaction to such a thing before. "Yusuke..." she mutters your name again, before letting out a sigh and sliding off of the bunk bed. Grabbing her deck on the way down, she brings herself to sit opposite of you. "Fine, fine. Maybe it won't be so bad if it's like this? But.... I'm stopping the duel if anything happens, okay?"

She looks vulnerable, worried even, but what could possibly happen in a game like this where there won't even be the solid holograms around? You're still obviously a bit confused compared to her worry, but a nod follows all the same. "Yeah, sure, if you feel like we gotta stop then we can stop." Clearly she's got a story that'd be worth listening to for all this, but you have the strangest feeling it'd be something to not force until she's ready. Maybe a duel like this can do some good in helping her out though.

Both of you place your decks down onto the mat and draw your starter hands. She's silent as she stares at the cards in her hand, while you've already got the play in mind to put your board in a state exactly as you need it. Aki doesn't seem to have any intention of making the first move, so it's on you in that case.

"Duel!"

LIFE POINTS:

YUSUKE: 4000

AKI: 4000

"I'll get us started then, you wanted to see just what my deck is capable of right Aki? My first move is summoning Maiden with Eyes of Blue in attack mode," announcing your play as the card slides from your hand and hits the mat before you. Where... nothing happens, of course, it's not like these mats have any holographic tech to make the monsters 'real' after all.

Maiden With Eyes of Blue

AK: 0

DEF: 0

Nothing else stands out in your hand at the moment, and you there's no need to fish for more cards right now... so you nod your head towards Aki, "Your move."

It might have taken Aki a few moments but she's already starting to seem a little more at ease now that the duel has officially started. Pulling a card free from her deck, your redheaded roommate hums as she mulls over her moves. "Not the greatest starting hand I've ever had, but... I think we can still make this work just fine." Aki's eyes are starting to look more serious now, like she's getting back some of the fire that had been dwelling deep within her as she slides her chosen card free from her hand.

"I'm going to summon Twilight Rose Knight from my hand in attack mode," presenting the card to you as she placed it down onto the mat. Yet Aki was already putting her fingers to another of her cards and pulling it free as well. "Thanks to the effect of Twilight Rose Knight, I can special summon another monster from my hand as well. I'll choose my Glow-Up Bulb in defense mode!"

Twilight Rose Knight

ATK: 1000

DEF: 1000

Glow-Up Bulb

ATK: 100

DEF: 100

Two Monsters down on the field on the first turn, that's not bad synergy, not in the slightest... even if their stats might not be the highest in the world. "You're the one that set this duel off, Yusuke. You asked for it, I'll attack your Maiden with my Knight now!"

A bold declaration, there isn't any doubt about that, but it's also exactly what you wanted her to do. Your hand shoots out, swapping Maiden With Eyes of Blue to defense mode just as Aki declared her attack, "That'll activate my Maiden's effect, letting me negate your attack and swap her to defense mode. But there's more still!"

Aki looks shocked, like she hadn't expected there to potentially be more that this card could do as her eyes widen in surprise. "Because of Maiden with Eyes of Blue's effect, I can special summon one card from my hand or deck. It just so happens I've got the card I need right here, so I'll special summon the Blue-Eyes White Dragon in attack mode!"

Planting the card down onto the mat, you can almost hear the cry of Blue-Eyes all over again. Just as you had earlier in the day in your match against Fizdis... You can't help the smirk that's already starting to show now.

Blue-Eyes White Dragon:

ATK: 3000

DEF: 2500

Clicking her tongue, the uncertainty and worry that Aki showed earlier is now fully replaced by... annoyance, frustration. Her eyes much harsher as she lets out a small huff. "Alright then.. that will end my turn, it's your move to make, Yusuke."

She's got a much more serious look to her overall now, like the desire to duel is bubbling up from within and overtaking whatever might have been troubling her before. Is it just the way she expresses getting into a duel, or is it some annoyance in you stopping her turn dead in it's tracks like this?

All the same... now you've got your move again.

Another time to draw and... Well, as you flick to see what card it is, you're immediately placing it down onto the board in your spell zone. "I'll activate Pot of Greed, drawing two more cards from my deck." That you'd even dare explain what that card does gets a roll from Aki's eyes before that stern gaze is focused right back on you all over again.

The next two cards come easily enough just the same as the others, and you can almost feel the rise of victory in your chest again as they're also slammed down onto the mat. With Pot of Greed taken off the field, two new cards enter your spell zone as face downs, just waiting to be activated.

"Sorry to say it Aki, but even though your Knight just earned his spurs, it's already time he retired. I'll attack your Twilight Rose Knight with Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"

Declaring your attack, Aki winces as though a sharp pain just passed through her form "Puh...." the air getting knocked right out of her as she hangs her head low. Dragging her Twilight Rose Knight off the field and placing it in the Graveyard without bothering to raise her gaze again.

LIFE POINTS:

YUSUKE: 4000

AKI: 2000

That... isn't quite a normal reaction, it almost sounded like she actually got hit by something when you declared your attack?

"Hehe... you really are pretty strong to put me in a state like this so quickly, Yusuke. But that's not going to be nearly enough to win against me!" Aki's voice is shifting, the girl sounding darker, more... aggressive. "It's my move then, since you don't have any other play to make. Draw!" Swiping a card from her deck, the girl's gaze finally starts to rise after she'd lowered her head before.

Hair falling down in front of her face, half covering her eyes with the wild strands... some of them looked as though they were floating. "I'll summon Roxrose Dragon from my hand in attack mode. When Normal Summoned, this card allows me to search out another card in my deck that lists Black Rose Dragon in it's effect and add it to my hand. Which means I'll call upon Blue Rose Dragon to join me!" Without even looking, Aki snatches a card right from her deck and spins it around to reveal it to you before adding it to the rest she holds.

Roxrose Dragon:

ATK: 1600

DEF: 1200

"But that's not all, Yusuke, I'm not finished by a long shot!"

The world around the pair of you is... warping, half-melting and half-shattering like glass. Your dorm room seems to be a blur of colors and smears, and no matter how much you rub at your eyes, the things you're seeing just aren't going away.

"You aren't the only one with a Dragon in your deck, and mine is more than enough to destroy yours!"

The light is entirely gone from Aki's eyes with whatever the hell is happening now, yet still the girl is going on with her turn. As she swipes her hand before you... everything changes still. Coming into view, you can see everything before you as though you'd been playing with your Duel Disk this entire time. Your Blue-Eyes White Dragon floating in the air, with the Maiden standing beside it, her palm pressed into the flank of the great, powerful beast.

Across the field flutters a tiny dragon with flowers floating off of it's back, flowing in a wind that seems to come from nowhere and everywhere. Below it sits a plant that glows like a lightbulb... yet both are shattered into nothing as Aki holds up another card. "Using the effect of the card, by tributing two monsters I control, so long as one of them is a Rose Dragon, I can summon this!" As she slams her card down, you immediately feel a deep, horrid dread in your stomach...

"A cold flame envelops the world! Black flower, bloom! Come forth, Black Rose Dragon!"

GWAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!

The cry of her monster nearly sends you tumbling back onto your ass. Petals falling away from the beast as it'd thrown it's head back to cry out in opposite of your Blue-Eyes. How... how is this even possible, you aren't using a Duel Disk, there isn't any hologram tech in the room but... are you even in your room anymore?!

Black Rose Dragon:

ATK: 2400

DEF: 1800

"But we still aren't done, because now I'm going to activate Black Rose Dragon's effect! Whenever I special summon this card by tributing another Rose Dragon, I can destroy every card on the field, wiping out your Blue-Eyes White Dragon without even needing to battle it! Go now, Rose Gale Burst!" Those great, horrid, beautiful rose-wings pull back far beyond what they should be capable of, before throwing forward! Hundreds, thousands of rose-colored feathers fly off with cutting wind, and you find yourself throwing up your arms to try to protect yourself from it as your monsters and face down cards alike are impaled countless times. Both Blue-Eyes and Maiden crying out in pain as they're destroyed... and you yourself have to wince as one of the feathers slices across your cheek. The surprise of the pain you feel, and the warmth of the blood running down your face... when the galeforce wind finally crashes against you, you can't stand against it.

 

"Ghnk!" the only noise that you can even hope to force out as your entire body cries out in pain from the feeling of getting slammed against a wall. Even the punches from those goons didn't knock the air out of you like this, your head cracking especially hard...

Falling back down to your knees, sweat and blood pouring down from your face as you struggle to catch your breath. You can just barely find the strength to raise your head and see that the Dragon itself was shredded by the same attack that destroyed your monsters. Leaving nothing before you aside from the girl you're dueling.

"Your move, Yusuke, if you think you can make one?"

"If I... can make another move?" you repeat the question back to Aki as you force yourself up to your feet once again. Laying cards on a mat doesn't matter anymore, you know that much. This is a true Duel, not a simple little way to waste time and have a bit of fun. Whatever it is that happened here, it's unlike anything you've ever experienced before. You can still smell the roses that fluttered off of the Black Rose Dragon, and the warmth running down your cheek is proof enough that this is real. "You get a little intense when you duel, but I can work with it," shooting right back at the girl as you wipe the blood off your cheek, the red blending right in to the color of your jacket as though nothing was wrong at all.

Focusing on your deck, you yank another card free from the pile. Another smile flashing across your face as you flash it around to show Aki just what you drew. "Whatever all this is? I dig it, how else would I ever get to do this for real? Ride out, Captain with Eyes of Blue!"

Coming forth from nothing in mid-stride, the Captain's heavy armor clanks against the void of the floor below. Step after step, the utterly gigantic woman towers over you as she walks past you. Shouldering the downright massive blade that she wields as she steps forward onto the field. That weapon, lines of blue running down along the length of it... it's too big to be called a sword, massive, thick, heavy. It was less a blade and more a slab of iron that only a Knight of such immense strength could hope to wield. Her blonde hair fluttering behind her and whipped up by the sheer impact of that sword impacting the ground before her as she slams it down point first. A loyal soldier awaiting her commands.

"Thanks to the ability of Captain with Eyes of Blue, I can special summon another of my monsters with Eyes of Blue in it's name. A true Knight never rides alone, always having loyal and brave comrades to travel with her. So sally forth now, Knight with Eyes of Blue!"

Much the same as the Captain that had come forth but a moment ago, your Knight enters onto the field. The shining pristine armor would be glistening and awe inspiring if there was enough true light to reflect off of it. Drawing a blade that crackles with blue and white lightning from a sheathe at it's hip, the Knight moves forward to stand beside your Captain. Cape billowing with the wind that answers the call of a noble knight entering onto the battlefield...

Both of them tall, resolute, and awaiting the orders of the one that had brought them forth.

"Thanks to Knight with Eyes of Blue being on the field, that means that Captain with Eyes of Blue gains 500 more attack points. Bringing her total to 2250!"

Captain with Eyes of Blue:

ATK: 2250

DEF: 1500

Knight with Eyes of Blue:

ATK: 1800

DEF: 1600

Even with the warmth of red rolling down your cheek once again, the smile you wear isn't going to be held down. You've brought forth a combo like this against an empty board where Aki doesn't even have a trap card laying down that could be used to stop you. The match is all but over, here and now!

Aki's smirk has only grown wider now, but you aren't about to hold back. Not on your first duel since coming to the Academy even if it isn't an officially sanctioned match!

"Fight on, Captain, Knight! Attack her directly and end the duel!"

Captain yanks her weapon free from the ground below, hefting it up with a single arm while Knight pulls their weapon in close to their face, as if muttering a prayer on the blade itself. A mere moment later, the both of them are charging forward, movements flowing together perfectly in synch as though they'd done this hundreds of times before. Just as the pair are about to reach Aki, your Knight leaps into the sky with both hands planted firmly on the hilt of their weapon, aiming to bring the blade down right across your foe as Captain aims to throw her sword up from below. The pair aiming to meat in the middle, to cleave the girl in twain and end the duel in a pair of decisive strikes!

Yet... just as they drew so close to making impact, the pair are completely frozen. Halted by some invisible force that they struggle against as the redheaded girl flips around a card in her hand forcing you to just barely bite back a curse.

"Battle Fader..."

"Did you really think it'd be that easy, Yusuke? I'm not in Slifer Red because I'm a terrible duelist, far from it! You'll learn the same as all the rest of them that I'm no joke!"

Your monsters are forced back by the effect of Battle Fader... Aki stopped your assault full on. But with a board state like this, your Knights prepared and ready to go again at a moments notice does she have anything in her deck that can hope to turn the tide in her favor? "Alright then... it's your move Aki, if you wanna prove yourself to me then do it! Right here and now, show me your spirit! I end my turn!"

"Draw!" In an instant she's already pulled another card free and whatever it is... with how wide that crazed smile has gotten, you're not sure you like it. "Haha...hahahahahahahaha!" Throwing her head back and cackling with laughter, it's now Aki's turn to flash Pot of Greed. "Should I tell you what this card does, Yusuke?" she asks with a smug look.

Now it became your turn to roll your eyes at the girl as she's drawing two more cards. "Maybe I should have, just to give you a few more moments of hope? Because I just drew the cards that are going to end this duel!" Again she's flashing you a card, and this time...

"Monster Reborn, to bring back my very own Black Rose Dragon from the graveyard!" As the card fades away from her hand, once more that hulking behemoth of a rose scented dragon rises from the depths. Stronger than either of your two monsters, and you don't have anything that could stand against something like this right now! Yet your summoned warriors still stand strong, brave before the beast... the Knight placing themselves before the Captain and raising it's blade in a ready stance. Prepared to give their life in a moment to protect a comrade. "But there's still more Yusuke! Another card I'll activate in my hand, and then chain an effect to it! For just such an occasion. Stop Attack! Forcing your Knight with Eyes of Blue into Defense Mode!"

Why would she... and then realization hits you like a blast of White Lightning. Aki must see it on your eyes too for how her laughing continues, "With that, I can activate the other effect of Black Rose Dragon as I banish my Glow-Up Bulb from the graveyard! Forcing one of your monsters into attack position and putting it's attack points at a total of Zero for the turn!"

"You don't stand a chance against my Dragon, Yusuke! Destroy the Knight now, Black Rose Flare!" Whipping back it's head, Aki's monsters throws itself forward and launches a great swirling ball of fire that blasts your Knight. No matter how much the brave, powerful fighter tries to resist and fight back against it... the heat, the force is too much. Overwhelming the monster and rendering it unto ash.

The attack doesn't cease at simply overwhelming your monster though. That ungodly, overbearing heat blasts through the Knight and continues onto you! Throwing your arms up and trying to block the attack from consuming you too, but the pain... the agony of feeling the burning flare is nearly taking every ounce of strength you have to not fall to it. When the attack finally ceases, smoke rises off of your form, your legs feeling like jelly as your head droops low...

Yet you haven't fallen, not yet.

LIFE POINTS:

YUSUKE: 1600

AKI: 2000

Your vision is starting to get a little hazy, and you feel like you can barely stand... yet you're not going to stop. The Duel isn't over yet, not until the Life Points hit zero. Every breath you take is a bit of a struggle, smoke still rising off of your form. Still you aim to draw another card from your deck, to make the next move once Aki finished her turn.

She's not in your view right now, nothing is beyond the cards you hold in your hand. Nothing else matters...

'Yugi wouldn't give up, why would I? If I'm aiming to be King, I can't back down from any challenge...'

Putting your hand to your deck, you close your eyes and block out everything from your mind. Everything but the cards... the card that you have to draw next is the one that decides the rest of the duel.

'Come on, you're there, aren't you? I need you... answer my call and give me the answers I gotta have. It's all on you...'

Sliding your card free from the deck, a singe glance at it is all you require. Your deck answered the call and gave you the final piece to claim victory, it's all come together, you-

"I concede the Duel."

What.

'What?'

"...What?"

Just as you were about to declare your next move, she's gone and said that? You finally raise your head once again, to see that while Aki still absolutely has a look of seriousness on her face there's a noted hint of concern on her as well. The card in your hand is clenched tightly between two fingers, ready to be summoned in a moments notice and yet... it's over now? She's placed her hand atop her deck flat, fully conceding. "You might be about to win, Yusuke. Or I could have another answer and stop you.... but either way, one of us is going to get hurt. Get hurt even worse in your state. There's no point in going anymore." Her eyes start to soften a bit as the world around you begins to return to normal. Monsters fading... the cards once again simply placed on a mat before you as you stand opposite of Aki. You could almost think, swear, that it might have all been a dream, but still the little trickle of warmth down your cheek serves as a reminder that it was all too real.

As she breathes in deeply before you, and a moment later lets it all flow back out, Aki speaks yet again this time much softer than she has been. "You dueled me and didn't run away, call me a monster, or anything else... I don't want to hurt you by going any further."

Falling back fully onto your ass, back pressed up against the wall, the full weight of everything is finally coming down to hit you all at once. You maybe took a bit more damage than you thought.

'Hurts to breathe, can't feel my legs, bleeding, tight jeans. Real mess...'

And yet despite it all, you can't help but let out a deep chuckle even though it still hurts like hell.

Aki's hair is finally falling back around her face, whatever strange powers the girl had that made all this happen finally fading away. She's the one tilting her head to the side now in a bit of confusion, worry even. "Y-Yusuke?"

"Whatever the hell that was, it was the coolest duel I've ever had in my life! Real monsters, real damage, it was like I was part of a battle and everything!" Excitement rolling off of you is downright palpable. The pain of both your beating earlier in the day and everything you just experienced with Aki pushing the discomfort right out of your mind. "Can we do that again soon? You're a great duelist and I feel like I barely got to see anything your deck can do. Let alone show ya everything I can throw out."

Aki's concern and worry slowly starts to shift to something more neutral, maybe even dull... before the girl lets out a sigh and raises both of her hands. Shrugging and shaking her head as you ramble on, "You really are a weird guy, Yusuke. Honestly, no wonder they probably put the pair of us together." But a tired smile slowly does creep onto the girl's face as she starts to gather up her cards from the mat. "We're the Slifer Slackers that'll be the exception to the rule, Yusuke Baker. This Academy sucks, the food sucks, and you don't even know how much the people suck... but maybe everything here isn't so bad."

"I'll even be nice for a change and share some of my secret stash with you since dinner was a drag... ever had a golden eggwich?"