Season 0: Theme Keycard #1 C19: EXP and Loots (3)

A/N: Almost 7K words to make up for the delay.

Judai watched in complete awe as holographic sweat beaded down a Dragon's metallic hide.

Then, a roar echoed from three blocks over, causing his heart to leap as he bounced like a hyperactive hummingbird.

Bright eyes rolling in their sockets; ears strained, Judai obssessively catalogue every Monster he saw with an almost comedic fervor while the intoxicating tang of active Duel Disk circuitry surged into his nostrils.

Domino City was even more vibrant than he could ever imagine, and its Dueling scene?

So much more innovative too; a real eye-opener for the smalltown boy who simply couldn't stop himself from gawking at, well, everything… The people of Domino City did not play Duel Monsters; they lived and breathed the game.

Feeling the vibrations of stampeding Duelists resonating through the soles of his shoes, a constant rhythm that seemed to perfectly mirror his own frantic heartbeat, he excitedly skipped down the streets Domino City, all while humming a cheerful tune, only taking a rest when his stomach couldn't take it anymore and made its hunger known.

Luckily, there's a vendor close by.

“One custard taiyaki, please!“

Grabbing a sweet treat with his meager allowance, he continued on his way, mind filled with the thoughts of the warm, chewy cake. Then, his feet led him to a quieter spot, a place where he hoped to satisfy his hunger. It was a small, tucked-away alleyway, bathed in the cold glow of street lamps, with a bench parked right besides.

Settling onto the bench, Judai inhaled the aroma of freshly-baked taiyaki enveloping him, but moments before his teeth could sink into the crisp, golden-brown exterior that promised a softer, fluffy interior, a sharp crack jolted the boy, accompanied by the shattering glass and a string of vile, frustrated curses through the deserted street.

Cautiously, Judai rounded the corner, cheerful expression replaced with a look of concern as his nose caught the sickeningly sweet scent of spilled soda.

Of black hair, with lean though decently muscular build, the stranger's green eyes appeared to shine with a malice that felt completely alien to Judai as he stomped on the broken glass and sodas like the inanimate objects owed him money.

'Have I seen him before?'

The man's by no means ugly, but the shadows cast by the streetlights really hadn't done him any favors, only accentuating the sharp angles of his face and giving him a menacing, if not to say villainous appearance as he panted.

“You could slip out of the country right now, Lenix; leave them to fend for themselves... Leave that stubborn, self-righteous bitch and her moron of a brother to their fates, Lenix… You know what, fuck this! I'm leaving. I don't give a fuck!“

His mother's words of caution briefly flashed, reminding him to stay out of things when it did not concern him.

But, being the kind-hearted, albeit pretty nosey kid he was, Judai could not find it in himself to turn his back on someone so oviously in need.

What would the Elemental Heroes think of him if he did?

And thus, with a nervous gulp and a deep breath to muster his courage, the young Duelist approached the stranger and asked. "S-Sir? Forgive me for intruding, but… Are you doing alright?"

The man stiffened and slowly turned to face Judai.

The moment their eyes locked, both froze.

Judai out of fear, and he… Surprise?

Exhaling all the tension from his body, the stranger muttered something under his breath, ran his fingers through his hair—the gesture seeming to scream agitation—then sighed. "I'm fine… Sorry to trouble you."

He's not fully relaxed, but much of the nigh feral anger earlier had been suppressed.

“No! No! It's no trouble at all!“ Judai hastily waved, finally getting a properly look at the man. And just like that, the lightbulb flashed above his head. “Wait… You're Lenix Owens, right?!“

Seeing the bewildered expression on Lenix's face, Judai hurried to explain.

Who'd want their idol to think they were some sort of stalker, after all.

"I watched you way back in the day... You were so cool! And the way your red jacket would flutter in the wind—!"

Pumping his fists, Judai's grin abruptly stiffened as awareness struck him. 'Am I beeing a bother?'

And he immediately backed off, somewhat embarrassed by his uncouth behavior.

His parents had always tried to correct this habit many times, believe him, they did, but passion and youth just came naturally to Judai, (un)fortunately.

It's difficult to discern his emotions behind that stiff, carefully constructed mask, but Judai could have sworn he saw a flicker of confusion in the man's eyes, as though Owens could not quite believe he's a fan.

"You… You look up to me?" Owens asked, eyes widening as he tilted his head like an owl.

He looked almost horrified at the thought?

"Y-Yeah? Is that weird?"

"Why?" Owens' question was so genuine that it caught Judai somewhat off guard.

"I-I don't know. I guess I can just feel your love for the game. Although, you've seemed wearier lately..."

Only after he said it did Judai catch the undertone of disappointment and tried to explain himself. “Which is fine, of course! We all have our bad week(s), right?“

Eyes flicking from the wrecked vending machine to him, Ownes awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. "So… An autograph, then?"

"Even better!" With a click of his Duel Disk, Judai pointed at the man; all smiles and confidence. "Lenix Owens, I challenge you to a Duel!"

Lenix's brow furrowed slightly. “A Duel… Are you sure?”

“Absolutely! Isn’t the best way to get to know someone through a Duel?”

A faint smile touched Owens’ lips as he raised his Duel Disk in response which, with a sharp snap, locked into place. “So be it.”

“”DUEL!“”

Lenix Owens: 8000 LP

Yuki Judai: 8000 LP

“I'll go first, I draw!“

Elemental Hero Prisma—two of him, in fact, Emergency Call, Elemental Hero Wildheart, and a A Hero Lives Spell card greeted Judai—it's not the best Hand he could've drawn, but it's good enough. “I'll kick things off by activating 'A Hero Lives,' which will allow me to pay half my LP to Special Summon 1 Level 4 Elemental Hero from my Deck, and I choose Elemental Hero Stratos!“

Yuki Judai: 8000 » 4000 LP

Elemental Hero Stratos

Attribute: WIND

Level: 4

[Warrior/Effect]

ATK: 1800

DEF: 300

The Hero, clad in royal blue and white, descended from the sky, the cyclone turbines behind him whirling as he struck a pose. "With his effect, I can add one 'Hero' monster from my Deck to my hand!"

With the declaration, the orb on Judai's Duel Disk shone brightly as a card slid out of the slot.

“Next, I'll Normal Summon Elemental Hero Prisma and activate his effect: By revealing 1 Necroid Shaman from my Extra Deck, I can send 1 Fusion Material from my Deck to the GY, and I choose Elemental Hero Necroshade!“

Elemental Hero Prisma » Necroshade

Attribute: LIGHT

Level: 4

[Warrior/Effect]

ATK: 1700

DEF: 1100

It appeared Mr. Owens was aware of Necroshade's effects too, given the slight widening of his eyes and the following sigh. “Not this shit again… Lemme guess, you just fucking searched Bladedge, didn't you?“

“Wow! You're really as knowledgeable about Duel Monsters as people say!“ Scratching the back of his head, Judai grinned. “Guess there's no point hiding it! But, since I've already used up my Normal Summon, I guess I will end my Turn (1) here.“

“Two Monsters in one Turn… As expected,” Lenix commented, though inwardly he was rather impressed.

It was standard fare for Elemental Heroes, but after nearly two hundred Duels against Duelists who barely grasped the concept of an Engine, this was a refreshing change.

'Wasn't Judai's Deck supposed to be utter garbage in the early seasons?' He mused.

The kid should have bricked his first Draw.

“Could've been worse…” Judai could have drawn Fusion Gate, for example.

“Unfortunately, I don't have anything as impressive as your Elemental Heroes, so I'll Set 1 card and 1 Monster face-down instead,“ His Hand wasn't much worse from the kid's with a Howling Insect, Arsenal Bug, Torrential Tribute, Meryt (Hand of Nephthys), Brain Crusher and Mimic.

It was a pretty standard 2nd Turn, but it really did seem rather lackluster in comparison to Judai's. 'Wait, why did I do that?' Lenix thought to himself.

He's already going to Torrential Tribute the entire field away, why'd he Summon Howling Insect, one of the biggest piece to his Engine?

If he hadn't, Lenix could have cheated out his Brain Crusher by Special Summoning Pinch Hopper afterwards! 'What the fuck is wrong with me?'

“Is that Mimic?!“

“That's for me to know, and for you to find out, kid.“

“Fine, I'll find out with Bladedge then!”

“Not so fast!“ The Golden Elemental Hero had just risen when Lenix's Trap flipped face-up and Summoned a, well, Torrential of Crystals which annihilated the Monsters in an instant.

“My Monsters!“

Although he'd been left wide-open, Lenix wasn't too worried. Judai had already used his Normal Summon for Bladedge; the kid would not be able to OTK him, not in this Format and certainly not with Season 1 Judai's Deck.

“You gonna do something, kid?“

“Urgh… I can't Summon another Monster, can I?“

“You can try,” Lenix smiled. “But you'll probably lose on a technicality.“

“… I end my Turn (3).“ Seeming completely listless, the boy pouted.

“Don't be too dishesrtened. That was a good play…”

“Why'd you Summon a Monster if you're just going to Torrential Tribute them?!“

“To lure you in, why else?“

If Judai was anywhere close to the fan he claimed to be, he surely knew of Lenix's adoration for the Trap card and would have anticipated it by holding back Bladedge, which Lenix simply could not allow. His only mistake was making Howling Insect the sacrifice when he could have used Arsenal Bug instead. 'Oh, well. No point crying over spilt milk.'

It didn't matter in the end, because he was winning anyway.

Judai had already sacrificed half his health, and the kid was completely open to attacks.

It was only a matter of time before he was victorious.

“I'll start my Turn (4) by Setting 1,” The Sakuretsu Armor he'd just drawn. “And Summon Arsenal Bug and Attack you directly!“

Arsenal Bug

Attribute: EARTH

Level: 3

[Insect/Effect]

Effect:

If you control no other Insect-Type monsters, this card's ATK and DEF become 1000.

ATK: 2000 » 1000

DEF: 2000 » 1000

Yuki Judai: 4000 » 3000 LP

Tanking the slashes of the extremely lame Insect-Beater, Judai quickly wiped the sweats from his brows, then hummed as he drew his second Fifth Hope.

It's an excellent tool for recycling his Heroes, but what would he even do with two copies in Hand?

“My Turn (5)! I Summon Prisma in Attack Position!“

“Don't tell me, another Bladedge?“

But it couldn't be….

Even if Judai had a copy, Necroshade's effect should only allow him to cheat out 1 Monster, and 1 Monster only.

“Not exactly, Mr. Owens! I'll reveal Thunder Giant to send Elemental Hero Sparkman to the GY, then activate the Spell card: Fifth Hope! When I have exactly 5 Elemental Heroes in the Grave, I can shuffle them back into my Deck to draw two more cards!“

His initial excitement at drawing seemed to vanish as quickly as it appeared.

“Not what you were expecting?”

“No.“ Judai sullenly replied. “Your face-down… Is it Sakuretsu Armor? I heard you play 3 copies of it.“

“Like I said—”

“That's for you to know, and for me to find out, I get it. I guess I'll Set one card and pass it to you, Mr. Owens.“

“I'm sorry, but it's over, Judai (6).“

Summoning Meryt next, Lenix Tributed her and Arsenal Bug for—”The Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys!“

Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys

Attribute: FIRE

Level: 8

[Winged-Beast/Effect]

Effect:

Once per turn, during your next Standby Phase after this card was destroyed by card effect and sent to the GY: Special Summon this card from the GY. If you do: Destroy all Spells and Traps on the field.

ATK: 2400

DEF: 1600

He did not bother with the Chant this time.

There's simply no point when Nephthys wasn't there to hear it. “Destroy his Prisma, my Phoenix!“

Yuki Judai: 3000 » 2300

The surprisingly gentle Flame bathed Judai, but the damage it had done to his LP was anything but.

“Urgh…” Shrugging off the attack, Judai set the Sparkman he’d drawn earlier, a pout forming on his lips as he glanced at the Spell card Hero Flash.

He’d only included a single copy for a reason; it wasn't all that useful with none of its Archetypal Spells in the Graveyard and was pretty much a dead-draw (7).

Luckily for Judai, Lenix had dead-drawn Level-Up as well.

Contemplating Summoning Mimic, Lenix decided it's be too wasteful without being able to trigger his effect, especially when he's facing someone known for having a thick Plot Armor. Settling for simply clearing the field, Lenix let the Phoenix have her fun with Sparkman before passing (8).

“My Turn (9)…” Finally getting the card he needed, Judai grinned. “You are right, Mr. Owens! It is over! I'll Summon Elemental Hero Bubbleman in Attack Position!“

Elemental Hero Bubbleman

Attribute: Water

Level: 4

[Warrior/Effect]

Effect:

When this is the only card in your hand, you can treat this card's Summon as a Special Summon. When it is Normal Summoned, Flip Summoned, or Special Summoned, if there are no other cards on your side of the field, draw 2 cards from your Deck. (I use the Anime Effect because the actual card sucks balls without modern Summoning Methods.)

ATK: 800

DEF: 1200

DE converging to the tips of his fingers, Judai Destiny Drew two and immediately beamed from ear-to-ear.

"First, I'll activate the Spell Card, Fusion Gate!" Judai roared.

"This Field Card lets me Special Summon a Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck, but I'll hold off on that for now to use R - Righteous Heart and destroy your Trap!"

With a flash, the Trap Card shattered into motes of light, which slowly drifted into Lenix's Graveyard, causing him to grimace.

Judai wasn't kidding.

The Elemental Heroes with an active Fusion Gate were basically Australian spiders with wings… The Duel might really be over.

"Next, I'll activate Fusion Gate's effect, Tributing my Elemental Hero Bladedge, Elemental Hero Bubbleman, and Elemental Hero Wildheart," Judai declared, and the three Monsters immediately leaped into the air, their forms merging and swirling to create an even more powerful Hero. "Come forth, Elemental Hero Core!"

Lenix wasn't even sure why he was surprised.

If he had Mimic and Takimaru Block Dragon, why wouldn't Judai have a powerful, future Elemental Hero Fusion ready to go?

“Heh, guess my Win-Streak will end today.“

To lose to the Protagonist… Lenix supposed there were far more humiliating opponents to lose to.

“But I'm not done! I activate Fifth Hope!“

“Again?!“

“Again!“

Shuffling the Elemental Heroes back into his Deck, Judai then drew 2 cards and activate the Spell Card,"Fake Hero lets me Special Summon one 'Hero' from my hand! Come on out, Hero Prisma! And activate your effect!"

Wordlessly, the Crystal Hero morphed into a carbon-copy of Elemental Hero Clayman, but bluer and shinier.

"With Elemental Hero Clayman and Elemental Hero Burstinatrix in my Hand, I'll fuse them to bring out Elemental Hero Gaia! You know what his effects are, don't you?“

“I don't actually, so why don't you tell me?“

Grinning toothily, Judai happily explained. “His effects allow him to halve the ATK of 1 Monster you control, and gain the same amount until the End Phase!“

Elemental Hero Gaia

ATK: 2200 » 3400

The 'Hero', whose bulky form looked like it belonged more in an 'Ancient Gear' Archetype, lumbered towards the Phoenix, then with a powerful fist, it struck Nephthys, shattering the fiery Winged-Beast and sending a significant chunk of Lenix's Life Points to the GY with her.

Lenix Owens: 8000 » 5800 LP

“Elemental Hero Core! Attack Mr. Owens directly!“

Lenix Owens: 5800 » 3100 LP

“My Turn (10).“

With Torrential Tribute limited to one, his only real hope of turning things around rested on drawing a Mirror Force or Ring of Destruction – a much harder task now thanks to his earlier mistake that had prevented him from milling his Deck with his Engine.

Part of him resisted the urge to rely on [Destiny Draw] in such a personal Duel, but at the same time… He wanted to win.

Sure enough, he asked, and his Deck answered.

His Life Points were still significantly higher than Judai's; using it now would almost certainly secure him the win. 'Sorry, kid.'

Finally Setting Mimic and his Trap, Lenix passed.

On the other side, Judai's praying to his Deck as well.

"I DRAW!" Judai exclaimed, brown eyes alight.

Pot of Greed—just what he needed. Activating the Spell from his hand, he drew two more cards, a grin spreading across his face as he then excitedly Summoned Necroid Shaman with Fusion Gate to destroy Lenix's Mimicking Man-Eater.

"Time to end this!"

Judai declared, signaling the attack.

But just as Elemental Hero Core lunged forth, Lenix's Trap Card, Ring of Destruction, flipped face-up, unleashing a destructive blast which dealt 2700 damages to both Duelists.

Lenix Owens: 3100 » 400 LP

Yuki Judai: 2300 » 0 LP

It's no wonder the card was constantly circled between Limited and Banned for most of its existence… Peak card design, really. Note the sarcasm.

"That was a great Duel! You really got me there!" Judai exclaimed, a wide grin splitting his face as he bounced forward, and eagerly went for a handshake.

"It was… Something. And I wouldn't have gotten you if you hadn't used A Hero Lives so early.“

“Eh, a loss is a loss. Let's have a rematch sometime in the future!“

Nodding, grin still bright, Judai rolled his eyes at the darkening sky and mumbled, "I think I should head back to the motel soon. My mom must be worried-sick."

"Your mom?" Owens' eyebrows shot up. "You brought your mom to Domino City?"

Lenix had never seen a protagonist with involved parents outside of slice-of-life. Even if they were alive, parental figures were typically distant or comedically neglectful. One who'd travel with their child instead of sending them into a wild to catch magical creatures? That's a first.

"I didn't plan on it," Judai explained, sheepishness creeping into his tone, "But she's worried I'd get mixed up with the wrong crowd, or, you know, get kidnapped or something. Is that weird?"

“Kinda?“

A bit embarrassed, Judai muttered a soft, “Oh.“

“But it honestly shouldn't be. I know she seems real bothersome now, but you have a cool mom." Lenix's would have slippered him to death if he'd dared ask to travel to another city for a card game, all while calling it an 'useless hobby' he should give up so he could dedicate more time for schoolwork.

Ah, Asian parenting… Always a blessing.

“She really is, isn't she?“ Judai agreed, smile spreading across his face once more.

The two stood around, sharing stories until they finally, inevitably, touched on the topic of cards and Booster Packs.

"Speaking of which, Mr. Owens," Judai began, tilting his head slightly, "Besides Insect, what Type do you like the most?"

"Winged-Beast. Winged Beast's my favorite, then Insect… They've got a certain… Beauty to them, you know? What 'bout you? What Type would you have played without the Elemental Heroes?"

Scratching his chin, Judai fell into deep introspection for a few seconds. He couldn't imagine world where he's without his Heroes. Never even entertained such a scenario, truth be told, but if he had to—"Machine, I guess? It seems like a fun Archetype. Lots of moving parts, powerful effects… Plus they look super cool."

"Machine? That's unex—" Trailing off, Lenix's eyes gradually widened as the gears in his brain shook off the rust and shifted. “All this time. All this time, and the solution was right in front me!“

Facepalming hard, Owens hissed a curse. “God, I'm brain-dead. I'm actually fucking daft.”

Despite the harsh adjectives aimed at himself, where lay only weariness and endless worry before, a fervent hope had taken place. "Wait… That's it! That's what I need! A Machine-Spirit! God, you're a genius, Judai!"

"Eh?" Judai blinked, completely bewildered by his idol's reaction. "What do you mean?"

“C'mon! Let's get Booster Packs! Get as many as you wish—it's on me!“

“Eh?!“

— [SK(GX)] —

Pushing through the door of Mr. Mutou's card shop, Lenix headed straight for the wall of Booster Packs where row upon row of brightly colored boxes awaited.

Urgently, he scanned the Packs, before settling on the Chrome-colored stack.

And to think this had skipped his mind…

'No!' Putting pressure against his temples, Lenix batted the thought away.

He'd have time to berate himself later; Sachi's waiting, probably scared out of her mind.

'Meryt,' Sending the thought through their Bond, Lenix allowed his fingers to hover above the Booster Packs, before grazing a box he just knew contained Dr. Cronos' infamous "Ancient Gears Golem.“

'I am here, your Eminence. How may I be of assistance?' The Handmaiden's softly whispered.

“I need you to find someone…“

Mentally running over the list of GOAT Machine-Type he remembered, Lenix hummed while the real Protagonist cluelessly wandered the shop, enthusiastically poking and prodding every and anything that happened to catch his interest at the time.

'I need a Machine Monster, but which?'

Over the seven years since the launch of Duel Monsters, KaibaCorp and Pegasus had manufactured thousands of Machine-Type Monsters. Most of these creations fell into one of two categories: Defective failures or gun-shaped artificial forces of nature. Lenix didn't need another gun, nor a cutesy mascots.

He, in fact, did not need just any Machine, only a specific one—"Jinzo. Find me Jinzo.“

'Jinzo…' Repeating the name internally, the Handmaiden immediately went to work, floating silently into the card stacks while Lenix continued his feigned interest in the Booster Packs.

“Thinking of building a Machine Deck?” An aged, yet cheerful voice inquired behind, prompting Lenix to involuntarily sigh.

'Fucking Pegasus.' The flamboyant bastard just had to go out of his way to tell him about Yugi…

How was he supposed to break the news to Sugoroku?

'Get me these Booster Packs! Oh, by the way, I heard from a reputable source that your grandson's most likely dead, you might want to do something about that.' Would that work? 'It'll probably get me banned from the shop.'

Snorting at the absurd thought, Lenix finally turned to face the old man and hesitantly offered a guilt-ridden greeting, his eyes fixed on everywhere but Sugoroku, unware that his avoidance only raised the old man's suspicion. “Hey there, Gramps.”

“… What did you do now?” Sugoroku asked, knowing tone maming Lenix’s stomach clench.

“What? I didn’t do anything.” Lenix insisted, keeping his gaze firmly fixed on a display of shiny new sleeves, and the blurring artworks at the edges of his vision.

“Is that why you’re refusing to meet my eyes?”

Clicking his tongue, he shifted his weight from one foot to the other, the worn soles of his sneakers scuffing softly against the wooden floor.

He really couldn't fathom why his feet had brought him to Kame Game Store of all places.

It's not like Domino City didn't have any other card shops where he and Judai could have aimlessly browsed.

“Fine. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," Sugoroku continued, his voice softening slightly, "But I need you to know I see you as surrogate. If you're ever in trouble and need someone to confide in—”

“Please stop,” Lenix cut him off, a knot tightening in his chest as he lifted his gaze. "Has Yugi contacted you?“

Maybe Pegasus was overblowing it… Maybe the King of Games was just stuck somewhere KaibaCorp couldn't locate.

It was a slim fucking maybe, but Yugi was the Destined One; his Plot Armor was as thick as the Great Walls of China, if not thicker…

How could he have fallen to Skullie?

“That unfilial grandson of mine hadn't called in weeks. I'd ring him tonight.”

Leaning in, amethyst eyes flicking from Lenix to Judai, who's choosing his Booster Packs, Sugoroku asked in a low voice, “Why? Are your troubles… Supernatural? Not to toot my own horn, but I have had… Experiences.“

“It’s-It's nothing like that.” Lenix replied, turning left.

“Are you sure? When Yugi’s back, I can ask him to help you.”

Bitting on the inside of his cheek, Lenix's shaky hand hovered above a random Chrome Pack.

'I need to leave.' He told himself, grabbed the pack and headed straight towards the register. “I'll get this.“

'Your Eminence, I’ve found a copy of Jinzo, but his Spirit isn't here.' Meryt’s voice just as.

'That's fine.'

There were plent of ways to draw a Spirit into the open so long as he had the physical copy. “On second thought, I think I will get these as well.“

Reaching for another Pack, then the one Meryt's pointing to, Lenix called out to his overexcited companion. “Hey, kid! You done?“

A few meters over, Judai responded.

“Gimme a sec!“

Caught between three Packs, he ruffled his hair and decided to eeny, meeny, miny, moe it, only for Lenix to interrupt with an impatient shout. “Get all three!”

“Wha–But!” Judai had seen his dad's brow furrow countless times at the prices when he asked for new Booster Packs.

It partly contributed to the reasons he wanted to join Duel Academy; he'd heard they sold Packs to students at half-price, which would ease his parents' financial burden and, at the same time, allow him to pursue his dream of becoming a pro Duelist.

Packs were expensive, especially the stamped ones guaranteed to have new at least a Fusion or two, and they had only just met. “Re-Really?”

“It’s alright. Think of it as a gift to a fan.”

After paying, they left the store and found a bench to open their Packs.

Peeling away the packages, Judai practically swooned at the sight of his new Fusions, eyes sparkling with delight. “Elemental Hero Shining Flare Wingman… Rampart Blaster, Sunrise, and Miracle Fusion?! Lucky! What did you get, Mr. Owens?“

“Barrel Dragons and Jinzo.“

“They're so cool!“

They weren't just cool.

Jinzo and Barrel Dragon were timeless masterpieces.

All the way from their designs to their power, chef's kiss.

“Judai, can I trust you with something?” Disgusted by his own hypocrisy, Lenix turned his gaze downwards, stuttering for a good minute as he contemplated.

Was he really about to do this?

Was he going to make these threats the kid's problem?

The Protagonist he may be, Plot Armor he may have, but how old was this version of Yuki Judai?

Thirteen?

Fourteen?

'How old's 9th Grade?' Lenix wondered, momentarily distracted from his internal debate.

“No. Never mind.” Lenix shook his head, deciding against it.

Judai already had plenty on his plate, what with the Supreme King and Yubel bullshit.

“Mr. Owens, if you ever need any help, just let me know!”

Chuckling softly at the boy's nonsensical statement, Lenix fell back against the wooden board of the bench. “You will? You?”

“Of course! It’s what friends do, right?” Judai beamed.

Scoffing, Lenix followed with a chuckle, though there was no real malice in his tone, only amusement. “You’re just a fucking kid, what can you do?“

It was like watching a chihuahua trying to be protective.

“Well, I can’t do much, but I’m not alone… I have my Heroes! Plus you're not even that older than me!”

For a brief second, Lenix could have sworn he saw the silhouettes of Duel Spirits flash behind the child—Elemental Heroes—looking all prim, proper, and as fucking badass as the first time Lenix saw them through a screen.

All of them, those who currently existed and those who would come into being in the future.

“Judai… I need you to take your mother and leave Domino City tonight.”

“What?!” Judai exclaimed, his previous cheerfulness vanishing in an instant.

“I can’t explain,” He could, but that didn't mean he should.

Knowing him, the kid would charge right into the midst of danger with a smile on his face. How Lenix wished he could just leave it all to the kid, but he's self-aware enough to know the world would benefit a lot more if Lenix Owens sacrificed his life instead of Yuki Judai.

Should he fail, there'd still be one last line of defense; one last hope for this Earth, which was why the kid absolutely couldn't be allowed to stay.

Skullie had already gone after Yugi, and while he had failed to take Kaiba and Pegasus as well, his pattern indicated he was coming after the major players.

The only reason the kid hadn't been taken yet was probably due to his lack of an easily-accessible early-life biography.

All anyone knew was he had Yubel, sent the card to KaibaCorp to shoot into space, and then got shock therapy for the traumas the Nightmare Incarnate put him through which resulted in memory-loss.

Saved by a technicality… As expected of the Protagonist.

“Just know something real bad is gonna happen in Domino City in the coming days, so I need you to run and not look back. Got it?”

“I-I don't understand?”

“And I hope you will never have to.” Lenix met his gaze, trying to convey the seriousness of his warning.

Best-case scenario, he successfully killed Skullie without alerting the public, but the chances of that were so slim Lenix wouldn't bet his last Duel Point on it.

“If you trust me, you'll do as I ask.“

It was an underhanded move that even Lenix felt grossed out by, but it had to be done.

“But—”

“Promise me.“

“I-I—”

“Judai…”

Faced with Lenix's intense glare, the boy cowered, then nodded with a resigned expression.

Reassured, Lenix patted the sides of his pants, and rose to his full height, back and shoulders a bit more straightened than before.

“It was nice meeting you, but I have other matters to attend to… Oh, and ask the Elemental Heroes to teach you their abilities if possible. You might need those in the future.“

Most threats Yuki Judai faced would be Duelists, but against a foe who couldn't care less about dueling; a foe like Skullie and himself, it's best the kid got a crash course.

“Will I see you again?“

Judai blurted as the man turned on his feet.

“Let's hope.“

— [SK(GX)] —

Shoveling food in her mouth, Sachi blinked away tears as she stared at her now unshackled wrists. Angry red marks still marred her skin, but at least the circulation had returned; a small victory.

Her efforts were making a difference, though not quickly enough.

She could already feel her strength ebbing away.

If this continued, she might lack the power to escape.

'At least they haven't done anything untoward.'

Truth was, only the most jittery and naive of her captors had dared to approach her physically. Their threats, while violent in nature and utterly vile, felt hollow and were clearly meant to keep her compliant. In fact, the way they looked at her seemed to contain a trace amount of fear, which she had used to her advantages.

As for the reason? Only God knew, and as curious as Sachi was, she wasn't about to question her good fortune. Gaze drifting around the dark and damp room, choking on the scent of grime, stale air, the sticky feeling on her skin suddenly felt so unbearable that Sachi had no choice but to call out.

"Excuse me! Could you… Could you help me for a moment?"

The captor, who had been watching TV in the other room sighed, before approaching. "What is it?"

"I-I need to use the restroom."

Sachi answered, cheeks flushing red. "And, I don't know, a shower? I feel… Incredibly unclean."

"I'm supposed to.“

"Please," Pleading as she gavr him wide, upturned eyes, Sachi slowly reached for his shirt. "Just for a moment. I promise I won't try anything. It's just… It's basic human decency."

Mesmerized by her golden eyes, the captor's gaze quickly softened.

"Fine. But I'm staying right outside the door." It was like taking a candy from a baby, if said baby had access to a .45 and were almost a head taller than her.

"Of course," Sachi said, and as he helped her to the makeshift bathroom, she noticed the gun strapped to his waistband, a detail she tucked away for later.

Pushing asides the thin curtain which clearly had been hastily strung across a corner of the room and thus offered little in the way of true privacy, Sachi swallowed the nervous lump in her throat.

It's nerve-wracking enough to get naked in front of her boyfriend, it's another entirely to undress so close to a stranger, and one who had kidnapped her too. With a motion, Sachi flipped on the bare bulb, then grimaced as she saw the molds stuck in the grout lines.

'Here goes nothing.' Meanwhile, outside, her captor shifted his weight, gaze fixed on the swaying fabric as she slowly shedded each and every article of clothing on her.

The soft rustle of Sachi’s skirt hitting the floor seemed amplified in the tense silence.

The faint scent of shampoo—his, in truth—smelled so much more pleasant mixed with her scent, drifting towards him like an unspoken invitation.

Imagining the smooth curve of her shoulder, the delicate line of her spine, the way her white hair would cascade down her back, the captor had to chant to himself what was at stakes as his grip tightened on the doorframe. .

There's not be a scratch, a bruise, nor a hair out of place on her head and certainly not a touch—that's the Doctor's orders.

To lay a hand on her, even if she offered herself willingly, would be a death sentence, a slaughter as swift and brutal as any pig's.

'Calm down, Ayumu.' He told himself, 'She ain't worth it. Her soft, delicate skin; round eyes and—'

Trying his best to shake away the thought, Ayumu felt a burst of desire rising from his naval to his chest as the silhouette behind the curtain shifted, revealing her pale and slender arm reaching for the faucet.

A bead of sweat trickled down his temple.

He knew he shouldn't be looking, that he was pushing his luck, but both his body and heart ached for her.

“Sir… I'm done, can you fetch me the towel?“

“Ye-Yeah!“ Head poking out of the curtain, a pinkish blush dusting her cheeks, Sachi hurriedly yanked the offered item and wrapped it around her naked body. 'Alright, here goes Sachi.'

The warm water had eased the ache in her sore joints, a small comfort in the midst of her captivity. Most of the captors were scattered throughout the building, leaving only her and Ayumu—if that was even his real name—alone. And with the handcuffs gone, Sachi knew she wouldn't get a better opportunity than this.

Gathering her courage, she fixed her hair, allowing the long, wet strands to cling to her exposed shoulders.

Then, with a practiced ease, she pulled the towel down just enough to reveal the delicate curve of her cleavage and stepped out.

“Yo-You…! Why're you naked?!“

Rubbing her arms, Sachi coughed. “You didn't bring me a change of clothes.“

“Oh, fuck—wait here!“

Moments later, he burst back into the room, an oversized white t-shirt clutched in his hands. Sachi quickly slipped into it, the fabric cool against her damp skin as she trailed her nails lightly up his arm. "Thank you… I feel much better now."

Letting her gaze linger on his face, she murmured in a low, and husky voice. "You know, you're not like the others... They're so... Tense. You are different."

“Dif-Different how?"

"Gentler," Sachi breathed, her hand reaching out to lightly brush his bicep. "More... Understanding. You're not like them. You're kind. Girls dig that.“

"I... I…"

"I know," Whispering in his ear, Sachi's fingers traced a slow, tantalizing path along his collarbone. "You don't have to say it… Is it just me, or is it getting hot in here?"

He nodded dumbly at the physical contact and needily exhaled.

"Maybe... Maybe we should cool down a bit?" She suggested, her fingers now at the button of his pants.

“Oh, God, you fucking vixen.“ With a shaky hand, Ayumu set the handgun on the sink and dropped his trousers.

His boxers were still up, thankfully.

"Turn around.“

Licking his lip, the man's heated gaze impatiently ran up and down her curves. “Why?“

“It's… It's a bit embarrassing?“ It didn't take much more to convince him; not with the groundwork she had laid, and the moment his back's to her, Sachi lunged for the gun, fingers closing around the cool steel as she leveled the weapon at his head and pulled the trigger.

Click!

He whirled around, his eyes wide with disbelief, pants still pooled around his ankles.

Sachi pulled the trigger again.

Click!

And again.

Click!

Nothing.

Icy dread washed over her as she stared at the firearm. "Empty?"

“You… You bitch!“ With a roar, her captor palmed Sachi in the face, throwing her off her feet and causing her to hit her head against the sink. The collision wasn't enough to knock her unconscious, but oh how she wished it had as his fists rained on her defenseless body.

“You fucking bitch! I trusted you!“

The blows continued, each a jarring explosion of pain that threatened to extinguish Sachi’s consciousness.

Black spots dancinf before her eyes, she cowered as the sounds of Ayumu’s enraged shouts began to distance.

Then, a different voice cut through the haze. “Ayumu! What in God’s name are you doing, you moron!?”

The fists abruptly stopped. Sachi gasped, a ragged, wet sound, as the her vision swam. Through the blur, she saw two more figures standing in the doorway. They were both larger than Ayumu, and one even looked like he's on the phone

“She… She tried to shoot me!” Her captor roared a reply, just as the cheap, disposable phone crackled to life and came the oh-so familiar voice of her boyfriend echoing from its speaker.

“—What the fuck is going on over there?! If you touch her, I swear–!“

'Le-Lenix?'

Weakly reaching towards the sound, Sachi tried to blink away the blood clouding her vision as the call's ended, and she slumped on the floor, consciousness slowly slipping away, but before oblivion could fully claim her, she managed to catch the hushed, angry voices of her captors still.

“You stupid motherfucker! Which girl would throw herself at her kidnapper? Are you fucking retarded?! How am I supposed to answer to the Doctor for this?! He asked that she wasn't to be harmed!”

But Sachi couldn’t focus on their words, only on the fading echo of his voice.

“Le-Lenix…”

Then, the darkness descended, bringing with it a welcome reprieve from the agony. A small mercy, really.

“He-Help.“