The non-original characters in this fanfiction are copyrighted to Kazuki Takahashi, Studio Gallup and Toei where applicable. All other characters are considered public domain by the author and may be used freely, but he does request that you ask permission as a courtesy.
The card names used are translations of the Official Card Game (OCG) names. For the TCG names, see the "Cards used" at the end of the story. And don't forget to e-mail me your thoughts (vm_postitnotes@yahoo.com). Thank you very much for reading.
--
Chiba looked at Shougo's sleeping body.
He had heard about the commotion. Someone had tried to kill Shougo. They wouldn't say who — only that it was a student. The medical office had let Chiba in to see him since they knew he was a friend, but that his visit could only be supervised.
Shougo still held a Star point, since they had been unable to confirm his wishes. Chiba had been unable to secure his final Star point before everyone else. There were seven finalists now, and Shougo had the only stray Star point left.
I brought my deck in case you wanted to have some duels here for it... but I don't know if you're up to it, Shougo-kun, Chiba lamented. Nobody expected this kind of thing to happen...
"Chiba... Chiba-kun..."
"Shougo-kun!" Chiba jumped to his feet as Shougo woke up. "Are you okay?"
Shougo stirred a bit. "I've been slipping in and out... I think... my Star point."
Chiba frowned a bit. He didn't want to bring up that issue.
"Maybe I'm not in my right mind... but I know I'm slowing up the tournament. Chiba-kun, you can have it."
"What?"
"Have my Star point, Chiba-kun. Take it along with my wishes." He then gave in and returned to sleep.
Chiba sat back down as a night attendant approached. "I'll have Tenjouin-sensei take care of the Star point," she said. "Now you should let him rest."
Chiba looked down at his feet as he walked out. Now he had ten Star points. He was in the finals. An Osiris Red was in the finals. He knew all eyes would be on him.
I'll take your Star point... and I'll represent your wishes, Shougo-kun, Chiba thought to himself. And I'll repay this debt to you. I promise!
-------------
YU-GI-OH! Negative Zero: Genex Midterms
Turn 32: "Elimination Rounds Complete! The Pitiless Duel, Tenjouin vs. Almaz"
-------------
As the sun set over Duel Academy Island, the lead teachers were convened in Kiyotaki's office discussing the events of tomorrow.
"It looks like the elimination rounds are done," Abe said, checking his PDA. "Eight students have now registered with the technological office."
"I see," Kiyotaki said. "Then there's only one matter left before we conclude this day."
Tenjouin rubbed her chin momentarily, looking down.
"Do you have a thought you'd like to share, Tenjouin-san?" Kiyotaki asked.
"Before you decide what punishment to hand down," Tenjouin said. "I'd like to see him."
Abe crossed his arms and frowned, but said nothing. Matsutani looked as though she knew this was coming.
Kiyotaki nodded. "I suppose that's fair," he said. "After all the trouble I've put you in, I guess that is the least I could do. Very well, Tenjouin-san; I'll leave Almaz-kun's fate to you."
Tenjouin blinked. She expected more of a fight on this issue, if not from Kiyotaki then from the other dorm headmasters. But she decided it best not to question the fortuitude of the situation. She headed to the detention center.
Kiyotaki nodded to Matsutani and Abe, who left to their own duties. He then took out his cell phone and called Ayukawa.
"Yes, Kiyotaki-sama?" she answered.
"Does Aoyama-kun know that an attempt on his life was made?"
"No, I've made sure of it, as you've said."
"Thank you, Ayukawa-san. It's good to know I can count on you. Tenjouin-san has decided to see the boy, as I've suspected. She will probably want to duel him. Just keep Aoyama-kun comfortable, and keep working on his case."
"Yes, Kiyotaki-sama."
Kiyotaki hung up on the phone and sat down on his chair. Despite his calm demeanor, he was starting to experience a headache.
"Your plan is going better than you had hoped," a voice in the shadows said. It was Tahuru. "Why all the stress?"
"The Illuminati are being reckless," Kiyotaki sighed. "I expected Almaz Wright to compete in the tournament and to make it to the finals, but Aoyama-kun's roommate defeated him. For Heinrich-san to go this far... it disgusts me. That's the only reason I permitted Tenjouin-san to do this."
"Disgusts you?" Tahuru seemed bemused. "Do you have the time to feel such emotions in a time of crisis like this?"
"I'm still human," Kiyotaki sighed. "Which is more than I can say of some of my so-called comrades. Present company excluded, of course."
"Of course."
"Tahuru-san, your support of Tenjouin-san would be helpful on this occasion," Kiyotaki said after leaning forward on his desk. "Almaz-san's strength of will... excuse me, Heinrich-san's... is formidable."
"I would never consider not supporting her," Tahuru said, adjusting his glasses. "She's an important person in my life."
Kiyotaki smiled. "Thank you, Tahuru-san," he said. "You should return to your duties as well."
"Of course." Tahuru smiled as well, then walked out of the room.
Of course, my worst fear is that the most fanatic members may actually be correct, Kiyotaki thought as he continued to massage his temples. Is it possible that that boy's existence means the end of the world? And if that's true... am I wrong to help him?
He shook his head. No... pawn or not, that boy is still a child, and I must do my best, like Tenjouin-san, to keep him safe. I've already failed too many times... I have to carry through with my own mission now. We will find the balance this world needs to survive... I'm sure of it.
--
Toragami was walking through the Obelisk Blue campus grounds to her room. Sleep was always a tedious task to her, but after the day's events, it was required.
Katsuki ran alongside to meet her. "Toragami-sama, have you heard?" she asked.
Toragami closed her eyes. "You should know me better than that, Katsuki-san," she said. "Aino-san qualified for the finals."
"Aren't you worried?" Katsuki asked. "What if you have to fight her?"
"Let me worry about that," Toragami replied. "You have matters of your own to attend to, don't you?"
"I do?" Katsuki blinked.
"You're already thinking about it... making a new deck, that is," Toragami said. "You should stop feeling like you have duties towards me or Aino-san that you're not already fulfilling. Like Aino-san said earlier, you and her are my friends. I know you'll do your best to help me. Now is the time to help yourself."
"I..." Katsuki cast her eyes to the ground.
Toragami stopped walking and turned to Katsuki. "It's difficult for someone like you who doesn't enjoy fighting," she said. "I know this very well. But the important thing is to put your best effort into it, to stand on your own. We have so very little time."
"I don't understand your words," Katsuki admitted. "But, I'll do my best. You know what's best for yourself, Toragami-sama! I'll go back to my room, then."
She then ran off.
Toragami stifled a smile when she watched her go. I've come too far to lose control of my emotions now, she thought to herself as she returned to her room.
--
Almaz was being held in a cell at the campus' detention center. His deck and belongings were brought there, but he was on a strict observation cycle. The plan was to return him to Honshu in the morning to face juvenile manslaughter charges, and based on his testimony, charge Heinrich Wright with child endangerment.
Asuka Tenjouin arrived and was let into his cell room under observation.
"Almaz-kun," she said simply as a greeting.
"Frau Tenjouin?" Almaz said, looking up briefly. "Are you going to ask an explanation for what I've done? I already told the kind officer. I don't have anything else to say."
"I don't believe you were in control of your actions," Tenjouin replied. "I've pulled a lot of strings to get my superior to understand that. He's put your fate in my hands."
Almaz stared at Tenjouin with a morose expression, then looked back down.
"Listen, this is what I'm going to offer you," Tenjouin said. "We have to test the Duel Arena that we're having for the finals. So tonight, while the other students are asleep, you and I will duel."
Almaz gave a cursory glance to his deck. "If I win, you will forget about what I did?"
"That's not possible, Almaz-kun," Tenjouin said with a shake of his head. "I will, however, assert that you are not sound of mind, and that you require a psychological examination. In short, we won't remand you to the Japanese authorities."
"Interesting, Frau Tenjouin," Almaz said, and then gave a sigh. "If an Osiris Red like me defeats the Obelisk Blue professor, it will indicate that I'm mentally insane."
"I remember reading that during your examination, you were very nervous," Tenjouin said. "Perhaps we haven't seen your true potential. I see in your eyes the spirit of a duelist, who is very conflicted."
She paused, then leaned against the wall of the room.
"I met your father."
Almaz' eyes widened. "Heinrich-dono came here?" he asked, his voice shaky with palpable fear. "Why?"
Tenjouin blinked. "You call him 'Heinrich-dono'?" She sighed. "It's as I feared..."
"As you feared?"
Tenjouin shook her head and then called for the warden to open the door. "They'll call you when it's time and bring you to the Duel Arena," she said. "You should rest until then."
The door opened, and the professor walked out. She felt a sick feeling grow in her stomach as she refected on the conversation she just had. 'Heinrich-dono'? I knew it... his father had been pressuring him. Perhaps Almaz-kun only came here to get close to Aoyama-kun? If that's the case... this 'Illuminati' must have known Aoyama-kun was Darkness from the beginning.
What exactly have I stumbled upon?
--
In her room at the Ra Yellow dorms, Isabel Suárez was dwelling on restless thoughts.
She looked at the deck she had used during the Genex tournament. It was the same deck she'd used against Shougo that fateful day — the Flame Spirit Ignis deck. It'd served her well during the Genex elimination rounds; or perhaps it was just Isabel's luck that favored her? After all, she knew that her deck wasn't all that strong, and nobody else was exactly playing to lose.
In any case, I've been preparing for this day...
Isabel walked up to her drawer and Isabel walked up to her dresser and opened the bottom drawer to take what was enshrined there; the comingling scents of leather and silk greeting her. Taking up the deck case, the arm band dangling, she opened it and checked the cloth-wrapped deck inside it, before closing the case again and strapping it to her right upper arm.
Mamá, it's been too long since I felt this serious.
She took the card off the top of the deck and looked at it, then replaced it in its original location, and returned the deck to its proper place.
In another room, Mark was examining his own deck. He'd pondered if he'd made a mistake revealing his trumps in the elimination rounds, but a voice in his head reassured him this was for the best. After all, hiding your strongest moves was not behavior befitting a champion, right?
Still, as Mark glanced over his cards, he was hit with the realization that he hadn't used his true ace yet. That card that I worked hard to obtain... I haven't seen its true potential yet, he said. I guess it's kind of a miracle that I've been able to get this far without having to. That should make the finals interesting.
He knew Isabel was in the finals, and there was no way that Toragami would not be there, either. But he wondered who else would be potential opponents...
--
"Almaz Wright is here," the Duel Academy student guards said.
Tenjouin nodded. "Just watch him as he gets on the platform," she said.
Kiyotaki, Abe and Matsutani observed the duel from a one-way window. "I wonder if Tenjouin-san has prepared herself for this duel," Abe said. "Certainly she knows what she's up against."
"I don't know," Matsutani responded. "She seems to be the type to stick with her deck no matter what."
"In any case, we'll get a good test of this Duel Arena before the finals tomorrow evening," Kiyotaki said. "It was a good opportunity, as Tenjouin-san said."
And perhaps I can get to the bottom of Heinrich Wright's insubordination through Almaz-kun's duel, he thought to himself, but he showed no visible signs of having a separate thought.
Tenjouin paused to regard the technology of the Duel Arena as she stepped onto the platform.
It was a throwback to the Duelist Kingdom era of dueling, when Duel Disks were not common. The players set their decks onto a computerized table, and placed their cards on an image generator. The hologram would then appear on the large field between them.
"Duel!"
Tenjouin - 4000 LP
Almaz - 4000 LP
"'Dice Roll'," a background voice called. The flashing lights of the image of dice blinked rapidly on the monitor behind them. The final result: Almaz rolled a 2, while Tenjouin's result was a 3.
Tenjouin took in a breath. "The advantage goes to the one who starts," she said. "I don't want to put you at a disadvantage, Almaz-kun, but it would be an insult to underestimate you, so I'll start." She put a hand on her wrist, but forgot she wasn't wearing a Duel Disk. It's going to be interesting to get used to dueling this way again.
But as she put her hand on her deck to draw a card, Almaz said something which surprised her.
"Don't bother with pleasantries, Frau Tenjouin," he said, drawing his hand. "We both know I'm a terrible duelist."
Tenjouin's eyes widened. "Almaz-kun, please," she said as she drew her own six cards. "Don't put yourself down like that."
"It's the truth," Almaz replied. "Do you think I'd believe you would let me get away with my crime? I am prepared for the worst."
"In that case, why agree to this duel?" Tenjouin asked as her eyes drifted from her opponent to her hand.
"Perhaps I wanted one moment doing something I enjoy before my life ends." Almaz' face looked so downtrodden, eyes not even on his hand, just to the ground.
"Your life isn't over yet," Tenjouin said. "It hasn't even begun... other people have toyed with your mind, but that ends now! For my turn, I'll summon 'Blade Skater' in defense mode."
Tenjouin placed the card on the table in front of her. The image of the card appeared on the field as a large hologram and, amid sparks of light, Blade Skater twirled onto the field, larger than she'd ever appeared before. She placed her bladed arms in front of her in a defensive posture.
Blade Skater - LV4 Earth Warrior (1500 DEF)
"And I'll set a card to end my turn," Tenjouin said, as another holographic image of a card appeared on the field.
"It is my turn, then," Almaz said.
"Wait," Tenjouin said as Almaz took his card. "Before you start your turn, I have a question."
"I do not have to answer any of your questions," Almaz said. His tone sounded different from his usual form of speech.
"You don't have to answer if you don't want to," Tenjouin said. "But just listen to it at least."
Almaz took the drawn card into his hand and then nodded without saying anything.
Tenjouin closed her eyes. She knew Kiyotaki, Matsutani and Abe were watching, and what she was risking. She then opened them again.
"Did you know that Aoyama Shougo was Darkness?"
Kiyotaki's eyes widened. Tenjouin-san...
"'Darkness'?" Abe asked. "What is she talking about?"
Matsutani scratched her ear. "I'm curious as to his response in any case," she said.
Almaz clenched his free hand, making his knuckles white. He then let go, and proceeded with his turn as if he had not heard her. "I activate 'Hand Obliteration'," Almaz said. "I apologize, Frau Tenjouin, but you have to discard your hand and draw the same number of cards you send to the cemetery. I must do the same."
Tenjouin sighed. I talked so much of underestimating him, and yet here I am doing it, forgetting I'm up against an undead deck user. She placed her cards into the cemetery: "Fusion Recovery", "Hail Cyber", "Instant Freezing" and "Blue Ice White Nights Dragon". "Instant Freezing" could have been helpful to her; she wished she had placed it face-down.
Tenjouin then drew four cards, and hit a button on her terminal to confirm the cards Almaz discarded: 2 "Wights", "Reward of Rebirth", "Magical Thorn" and "Necro Gardna". "Necro Gardna" in the cemetery is hard for me, but those two "Wight"s may be more troublesome. And "Magical Thorn" and "Reward of Rebirth"? Why didn't he play that card first? Unless he's digging for something...
"I activate 'Foolish Burial' now," Almaz declared. "I select any monster in my deck and send it to the cemetery, and I choose 'Wight'!"
As I thought, Tenjouin said. He's planning to play "Wight King". But did he draw it?
Almaz answered Tenjouin's thought. "I summon 'Wight King' in attack mode!"
A smoke filled the field where the card came from, and out of it came a cloak. When the cloak rose to its full height, skeletal arms emerged from its side and a skull came out of its top. The black smoke cleared away from the bottom of the field to reveal a pile of bones.
Wight King - LV1 Dark Undead (? ATK)
"Certainly an old fashioned technique," Abe said. "But Osiris duelists do well with cards like that, isn't that right, Matsutani-san?"
"Yes, but I'm afraid for what that means for Tenjouin-san," Matsutani said. "Because Wight King's power is a fearsome one, and her assault may be constrained."
"Wight King's attack power is equal to the number of 'Wight' cards in my cemetery times one thousand, Frau Tenjouin," Almaz said. "And I have three."
The skeletal figure roared as it seemed to draw on the power of the Wight cards.
Wight King - ? ATK = 3000 ATK
"Wight King, destroy Frau Tenjouin's Blade Skater!" Almaz commanded.
Wight King raised its arm and fired a blast of dark energy at Blade Skater. She resisted it for a moment, but it quickly overwhelmed her.
"As for your question, Frau Tenjouin, I learned a long time ago that this world was doomed," Almaz said after the Wight King ceased his attack. "Heinrich-dono sent me here as an agent to find the one who would lead this world to doom, and to draw out all of his power in a duel, so that there would be no question of who he was. But I failed in that mission!"
"You are not an agent!" Tenjouin shouted. "You're a child, and you're free to choose your path in life."
"You are wrong, Frau Tenjouin," Almaz said, with a shake of his head. "Children are the slaves of their parents. We are created by them to achieve their legacies. And we have a duty to hold the memory of God as a banner to all who would stand against Him! But I failed in that task."
He looked off to the side. "Aoyama-kun had a friend. A friend. He defeated me. How could the source of all evil in the world have a friend? I did not understand this. As I did not understand the impulse that forced me to Aoyama-kun's bedside."
"Almaz-kun..."
"Still... as a duelist, I can at least do my best here, as you request," Almaz said, finally looking his teacher in the eye. "And I'll demonstrate that memory by defeating you. Then perhaps, you can understand that Heinrich-dono was trying to save you all! I set one card and end my turn."
Tenjouin frowned deeply as she prepared to draw her next card.
I see a boy with conflicted allegiances. He wants to achieve the goals of his father, but he's starting to see how flawed they are. Can this duel really convey my emotions to him? I cannot pity this boy, though... otherwise I will not duel my best. That's what I must do, right?
But he is so fragile, though... Tenjouin shook her head. No! I cannot make the same mistake as I did with Aoyama-kun! I will not pity the boy. I will do my best in this duel, and have faith in the future, just like Judai-kun. And then... surely...
--
TODAY'S FEATURED CARD: "Wight King"
Level 1 dark undead, attack power unknown, defense power 0. This card's attack points are equal to the number of "Wight" and "Wight King" cards in your cemetery. If it's destroyed in battle, remove another "Wight" card to revive it. Its power can be raised quicky by intentionally sending "Wight" cards to your cemetery. It represents both the power and the horror of tradition.
--
Aino: "The duel between Tenjouin-sensei and Almaz-kun is underway."
Chiba: "I can't believe it. Almaz-san would do such a thing? Not on his own..."
Shougo: "So I'm supposed to not know about any of this, right?"
Aino: "Tenjouin-sensei duels her best, and as the path to victory becomes clearer, she is forced to ask herself difficult questions."
Tenjouin: "Duels are just combat, aren't they? Maybe it's a world like this... perhaps he and I are not so different."
Aino: "Faith and belief is shaken, and the virtue of victory is tested, next time on Yu-Gi-Oh! Negative Zero: 'The Sins of the Fathers, Even Unto the Seventh Generation'. Please enjoy."
Toragami: "This world of the relative is based upon victory and defeat. Tenjouin-sama, please carry through to victory! Don't let that organization shake that ideal."
--
CARDS USED BY ASUKA TENJOUIN:
BLADE SKATER
Normal Monster (LV4 Earth Warrior, 1400/1500)
An image of beauty on the ice, this gorgeous warrior rips her opponents into pieces with her stylish Accel Slicer attack.
FUSION RECOVERY
Normal Magic
Add 1 "Fusion" and 1 Fusion Material Monster that was used for a Fusion Summon to your hand from the cemetery.
HAIL CYBER (note: manga exclusive card. Its English name is "Cyber Valkyrie".)
Effect Monster (LV4 Water Warrior, 1300/1500)
Decrease the Attack points of a monster attacking this card by 300.
INSTANT FREEZING (note: manga exclusive card. Its English name is "Instant Freeze".)
Instant Magic
Negate the activation of a Magic or Trap Card and flip it facedown. That card cannot be activated until the third End Phase after the activation of this card.
BLUE ICE WHITE NIGHTS DRAGON (TCG name: White Night Dragon)
Effect Monster (LV8 Water Dragon, 3000/2500)
Negate the activation of a Magic or Trap Card that targets this card and destroy it. When a face-up Monster you control is selected as an attack target, by sending one face-up Magic or Trap card you control to the cemetery, change the attack target to this card.
--
CARDS USED BY ALMAZ WRIGHT:
HAND OBLITERATION (TCG name: Card Destruction)
Normal Magic
Each player discards their hand and draws the same number of cards they discarded.
WIGHT (TCG name: Skull Servant)
Normal Monster (LV1 Dark Undead, 300/200)
A skeletal ghost that isn't very strong, but can get serious in large numbers.
REWARD OF REBIRTH (TCG name: Card of Safe Return)
Continuous Magic
When a monster is Special Summoned to the field from your cemetery, you can draw 1 card.
MAGICAL THORN
Normal Trap
Each time your opponent's card(s) are discarded to the cemetery, inflict 500 points of damage to their Life Points for each card that was discarded.
NECRO GARDNA
Effect Monster (LV3 Dark Warrior, 600/1300)
Remove this card in your cemetery from play to negate 1 attack this turn from a monster your opponent controls.
FOOLISH BURIAL
Normal Magic
Send 1 Monster Card from your deck to the cemetery.
WIGHT KING (TCG name: King of the Skull Servants)
Effect Monster (LV1 Dark Undead, ?/0)
The original attack points of this card becomes the number of "Wight"s and "Wight King"s in your cemetery x 1000. When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the cemetery, by removing in your cemetery 1 "Wight" or "Wight King" other than this card from play, Special Summon this card.
