the_campus | Duel 002: Peaceful Days! The Fluffiest Training Montage Commences

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Duel 002: Peaceful Days! The Fluffiest Training Montage Commences

[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...

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Hah... it's possible. He found me first, so who can say? But he's been a loyal and trusted friend, and I owe my life to him on more than one occasion.

[The Magician smiles proudly, looking back to Ryou softly.]

Mmm... yes, the Spirit mentioned that skill of his to seal souls in objects. But to seal them in cards and use those in a duel? I hadn't thought that was possible.

In a game of darkness, it's entirely possible. All of us were trapped in our favourite cards. The Change of Heart, which was mine... but the others...

The Flame Swordsman... Cyber Commander... Magician of Faith... and the Dark Magician.

[He smiles fondly at the Dark Magician in turn.]

With his power... it seems that whatever he seals can become 'alive', as long as it has the ability to move. Since a game of darkness calls the 'real' monsters from their world, the sealed souls would be using the monsters' bodies as their own.

Or, in my case, manifesting on the field when played.

Interesting... so a slight variation on our Deck Leader armor, as we borrow the armor and defense of our creatures.

[But that's something he didn't know. It can become alive if the object can move... so one sealed in something like a doll...]

I hadn't known that. Thank you for telling me.

Ahaha... yeah, actually. That's pretty much exactly it. If it hadn't been for the situation, it would have been kind of funny seeing Yugi-kun in the Dark Magician's robes... and me wearing a dress.

[His voice is softly cheerful again.]

I don't know much about his power... but I'll tell you if I remember anything more. The only thing I really remember about that duel beyond that was that the other me... seemed to lose strangely.

[That perks him up some.]

"Lose strangely?" What do you mean?

The thing is, until then, he was leading the duel. Yugi-kun had taken a lot of damage and more than once, our friends had been sent to the graveyard and had to be pulled back.

But... even though he could easily have won in that turn, he played her.

[He taps the card on his lap.]

And then me.

If he'd played me first, I would have had no choice but to take over one of my friends... because he had no other monsters on the field. Like that, it would have either broken Yugi-kun, who had no other way to return any monsters, but also left him vulnerable to attack.

Hy playing her first, he easily lost... because I just took over her instead, and let them attack me.

But he knows his own power, and he knows souls, so he had to know I was sealed in that card. And he knows me well enough to know I was willing to do it. So... I keep wondering. Why would he set himself up to lose?

The Spirit seems quite a crafty man... it could be any number of reasons, one of which could very well be that he wanted to lose. The question then becomes why? What could he have hoped to gain by losing in such a duel?

[Henry blows out a bit of air, thoughtfully.]

Now I'm curious myself. But I doubt he'd give such information out easily. Especially if it really was a simple mistake.

He sounded angry, but... he's good enough of an actor to play the role of 'Ryou Bakura' day in and day out. So I don't know his motivations at all.

It could be a mistake... but it's bugged me for a long time now. Just like the battle before I came here. It seems like strange decisions.

If I had more to offer him, I'd try to get the answers. As it is, he already has my dagger, I would never give him my monsters, and there's little else I possess here.

So I suppose it will have to remain a mystery. But look at it this way, Ryou...

Soon enough, you will be as much a mystery to him, if this training still goes well.

Un! I'll be sure to work hard toward it. It's definitely an appealing thought.

It's always been uneven, after all. That guy always knows what I'm feeling, so guarding those feelings is kind of difficult, but it seems to be working.

I've noticed. I've tried dropping hints to see if he'd pick up on them, but he hasn't reacted at all. He is quite an actor, as you said yourself... so I think we're going to have to fully test him before I teach you our War Duels.

If you still seem to be successfully hiding your deck from him after it's prepared for you, I'll give him a direct challenge. Then it will be up to you to keep your mind hidden and leave him finding nothing at all. If it works... then hopefully he'll think that I was simply messing with him. If not... then I can't risk that information with you just yet.

Edited 2013-10-01 21:22 (UTC)

Un. I understand.

[Ryou's voice is firmly serious. If the other him figured this out... it would be bad for all of them.]

I'll be patient and keep working on the defenses until then. I don't want to rush anything and put it to risk.

[Jeez, this is a lot of cards... This is actually kind of fun.]

I have absolute faith in you, Ryou. I always do it.

[It is, isn't it? Henry is moving away rejected cards and bringing out other stacks from the box, doing his best to help things piece together. It's quite a father-son bonding experience, if not the one most would think of.

Of course, there are occasional mischievous moments, like Eria leaning on Ryou's head or Aussa trying to flip the table and failing...]

[Ryou giggles, amused by the playful spirits and actually having a surprising amount of fun. Piece by piece, it goes together, the cards chosen by instinct and feel as well as logic. He's taking it seriously, but even so, there's a bright smile on his face.]

I think I'm getting the hang of finding the right cards...

I have to agree. Though I admit, I'm amused... have you noticed something about those cards you're picking?

...eh? What is it?

[Ryou looks over at him in surprise, before looking down at the cards he's chosen.]

Their type matches the type in my deck. You seemed to be picking out spellcasters without even realizing it.

...eh? You're right...

[He sounds surprised.]

I was trying to feel out the ones that felt closest to my heart... the ones I felt like I could trust. I guess my heart prefers spellcasters somehow.

Perhaps you're my son in more than just name, if they resonated with you that strongly.

[Henry's teasing, but only partly. It's an interesting coincidence, to be honest, if that's what it is. But somehow, he wonders if that's really all there is to it.]

In that case... let me add one myself.

[Henry's hand goes to his deck, fingers gently drawing along it, before he withdraws a card and places it in front of Ryou.

Magician of Faith.

With her soul already in the card, her feelings are likely clear even to Ryou. She likes this young boy that her king's adopted, very much. She wants to stay with Henry, certainly, but the ability to assist and maybe even protect someone who was so close to him... she wants just as much to do that, to ensure the duelist who's treated her so kindly can rest easier.

Hello, little one, her voice seems to float, friendly and loving.]

Ahaha... It's pretty amazing.

...?

[This card... it's Anzu's favourite. Or it was, back then. The card that bore her soul... that saved Jounouchi-kun. He has a soft fondness for it in his eyes as he reaches out to touch it.

That feeling of warmth and kindness... This is definitely Henry's card. A protective nature. A loving soul. Gentle friendliness and protectiveness. He addresses it with soft friendliness of his own, pleasure in his voice.]

Hello, onee-san. It's nice to meet you.

I'm entrusting her to you, now... and entrusting you to her.

[The Magician's warmth seems to swell with a bit of pride at that, being given such an important task. Henry's soft smile hasn't left either, the Dark Magician vanishing from behind him to leave the two to themselves.]

I know the two of you will work well together.

Un. I'll take good care of her. I promise!

[Ryou nods firmly, happily.]

I know you will. All of you can, I think.

[It's why he has so much faith. Ryou... you've got a strong will. He wants to see that will put to good use, not crushed under the heel of another.]

Now then. Where were we?

Just a few more, I think. These ones don't have the right feel to them, and they wouldn't work well with the others.

[Right now, that will is focused determinedly on the cards, a smile twisting the corner of his lips.]

[And he's loving every minute of watching this.]

Of course.

[He pulls back the rejected cards, neatly replacing them on their piles.]

It looks like you're getting a good set up, there.

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