Duel 002: Peaceful Days! The Fluffiest Training Montage Commences

[fluffydeathdealer]

[It's a bit of a pain, being in a school with no teachers.

Ryou Bakura isn't the type of kid who really likes being too active; he's about on the level of most ordinary teenagers. But after being laid up for so long with the burns to his arms and leg, not only is he extremely restless, but he's sure even his metabolism won't hold up much longer, with the amount he eats. That's why, after checking to see that Henry isn't home to take him up on that training offer, he's decided to try treating this like school and taking an hour or so to do his very own gym class, all by himself. It'd be easier with teachers, but... he doesn't have a choice right now.

Most kids probably would just take the break and be lazy, but right now, Ryou's working hard. Apart from the occasional break, he can be found pretty easily in the east wing, dressed in gym clothes and doing everything from running laps on the track field to climbing ropes.

...though that last one is more like 'falling off ropes'. Stupid mats... they don't cushion that fall at all. Hopefully nobody's dumb enough to stand below him.]

Ow...

[Time for a banana and some water, he thinks.]

Ah, I'm so tired...

Comments

[hyperhero]

And that's the important part! You've got to enjoy it, otherwise, what's the point of it?

[Back into the Ryou-dorm~. Judai's heading in the kitchen with the dessert-box, both to drop it off and grab a drink. He's thirsty.]

Winged Kuriboh and I will see if we can find your Duel Disk a little later today.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Hehe, no point at all! Duel Monsters is supposed to be pleasant, win or lose.

Thank you! I'd use the Ring, but the other me seems to resist it when I try. So I've been looking on my own.

[He talks without looking at what Judai's doing, setting Malik's duel disk on his bed with an apologetic note.]

[hyperhero]

Why's that? Doesn't he want it too?

[Bah, the soda's not cold. Doot dee doo, gonna just check the freezer for ice...]

1/2

[fluffydeathdealer]

I don't know! You'd think he'd want it back, since he got it for us after all.

2/2

[fluffydeathdealer]

[And this would be the Ring flying out right into Judai's face.]

[hyperhero]

[This is Judai.

This is Judai who was not even remotely expecting a freezing cold metal Egyptian artifact to come flying out of the freezer at his face once he opened it.

CLONG, and right when his mouth was open mid-reply to Ryou... meaning the metal is now stuck very firmly to his tongue.]

AHUGHUGHU!

1/2

[fluffydeathdealer]

Eh-?! Judai-kun, why are you licking the Ring?!

[Sad thing is, he could believe it was intentional considering the guy existed on junk food for weeks.]

2/2

[fluffydeathdealer]

[And there is suddenly a voice inside of Judai's head... A little more intense than Ryou's normal voice, but still close enough to it to be recognizable...

The hell are you doing?]

[hyperhero]

Ihuh whushn't hihcking iht!

[And then suddenly there's a voice in his head and wtf?

Getting ice?]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[I wasn't expecting to hit you in the face. Is there a reason you're stuck to me, Judai Yuki?]

[hyperhero]

['Cuz you're metal, you were in the freezer, and you hit me in the tongue?]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[...great. Guess we're going to have to stick together until I thaw down. Mind if I take a look in that empty head of yours? I get bored easily.]

[hyperhero]

[He wants to what now?

...Sure?

Beat.

Hey! It's not empty!]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Relax... it's a joke. While my host tries to help you, I'll be in your soul room for a little while, then.]

[hyperhero]

[My what?

Judai's soul room is... about as simple as he is. The entire area is like some sort of professional game room with a light, playful air that fits his happy-go-lucky nature. Despite the design, there are toys of all kinds scattered around, both for children and older teens, alongside loose cards here and there that don't seem to be underfoot no matter where one steps. The carpet looks about as soft as you can imagine, with the solid walls almost seeming to glow with a cheerful color. There's a bed in one corner (well, this kid did like to sleep), along with various larger toys or statues of Duel Monsters scattered around. Surprisingly, on the walls are lined pictures of what appear to be duels, ones that likely meant something special to Judai for one reason or another. The most prominent one seems to feature Judai dueling a young man in a uniform similar to his, just in a shade of yellow.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Your soul room.

It's the room where your soul resides inside of your mind. Everyone has one... it's a room that reflects your true nature. You'd like my host's, I'm sure.

How cute. It's like a room made out of pure happiness. How sickening...

Who's the guy in yellow?]

[hyperhero]

[That's Daichi! The two of us were dueling to see who'd represent the Academy!]

[fluffydeathdealer]

['Daichi.' He seems to be important to you.

Such an innocent mind... He explores it almost thoughtlessly.]

[hyperhero]

[He's one of my friends and one of my best rivals! Of course he is!

Childish and innocent... almost down to the letter. And yet, there's a weird feeling here, some sort of presence almost...]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Strange... something here doesn't feel right. It's uncomfortable, in a way. Like there's something hidden.

...hey, Judai. Did you ever try a game of darkness before?]

[hyperhero]

[Game of darkness? ...Yeah, I was in one of those once. Why?]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[I was wondering if you'd play one against me sometime. Not for any high stakes... I just want to see how you handle it.]

[hyperhero]

[Uh... last time I did it, a whole bunch of ghosts got angry and tried eating me and the guy I was dueling. Can we not do that?]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[No ghosts. I promise. Except myself, that is...

No one gets eaten... I'm not doing this to hurt anyone. Consider it adding another 'dimension' to the battle... that's all.]

[hyperhero]

[Sure thing, then! I won't turn down a challenge like that!

He really has no idea what it entails, it seems.]