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

[helpusduelist]

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

[fluffydeathdealer]

...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.

[helpusduelist]

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.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

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.

[helpusduelist]

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.

[fluffydeathdealer]

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

[Ryou nods firmly, happily.]

[helpusduelist]

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?

[fluffydeathdealer]

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.]

[helpusduelist]

[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.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Eheh, I've loved things like this for a while now, so it's not like I'm new to the strategy. Even if I don't duel a lot, I've still got the same attachments. Every duelist's style is unique to them, but there's specific set ups that work better than others... and I've made decks before.

Just not ones quite like this.

But both you and Judai-kun said it... that what I need is to put my trust in my cards, and let them trust in me in turn. Yugi-kun says that a duelist puts their heart into their deck, and I think that's right... if I don't trust in myself enough to choose the right cards, I'll never be able to trust my deck enough to be efficient with it. So I have to be careful... but even so...

A Duelist should have love and respect for their cards as well as for the game itself, right?

[helpusduelist]

They're both absolutely correct, yes. As I said... a duelist and their cards are as much a team as any group of duelists.

As for the game... that's correct as well. Especially when it comes to the War Duels; while they can and have been set up for simply letting off stress or otherwise, it can be a very dangerous game. Approach it without the proper respect to that, and things can turn ugly very quickly.

[fluffydeathdealer]

I feel like I'm becoming a duelist of darkness myself with all of this...

[A little bit of a smile as his fingers find another card.]

The only duelists that usually have duels that dangerous are those involved in shadow games.

[helpusduelist]

Well, you might be, in a way. The Cade Family does deal with those types of duels, and I'm certain Jack has already been working with you on your heritage, hasn't he? Even if you don't use it, it's still there.

As for the duels themselves, they aren't inherently a "live or die" situation, as what I've gathered the "duels of darkness" tend to be. Certainly, they are very dangerous, and there are some that will try to take advantage of that, but a War Duel is often times the most effective way of subduing your enemy without killing them. It's still very possible to through direct attacks, but with those whose Deck Leaders offer them a strong resistance, very difficult.

[fluffydeathdealer]

[He nods firmly, listening. He still doesn't get this Cade Family thing but it's probably on his mother's side or something. Families spread wide once open transport became easy, after all.]

Ahaha... yeah, he's been... trying to teach me a few things.

[Emphasis on 'trying'. The spark is there, but... he's such a bright soul even the taint of darkness isn't grasping so well.]

So it's better to be prepared, but hope not to have to use that preparation?

[helpusduelist]

[That bright soul is part of why Henry loves him. Hopefully, it won't take enough to change him.]

That is exactly it, Ryou. When planning for something as serious as dangerous or even life-threatening situations, you must approach it expecting the absolute worst. Prepare for that, then work your way up. Most likely, the preparations for the worst won't be used... but it's better to have them in case it does come up than have it come up and be completely off guard, isn't it?

[fluffydeathdealer]

Un. I agree. If you go through expecting everything to go as planned, you're going to lose badly. Fate doesn't like complacency.

[helpusduelist]

No, it doesn't. But on the other hand, it feels good throwing those plans away, knowing that you didn't have to use them.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Your mind must be a whirlwind of plans, Father...

[helpusduelist]

Heh... sometimes, it really is. I can get lost in them and forget the most obvious solutions to things. It's why a king never tries to plan things alone.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Eheh, it must all get mixed up, huh? But most people don't always look at the simple options anyway, so if you have someone who can help you with that, that's putting your side above everyone else.

[helpusduelist]

Yes, sometimes, it does. Even here at Campus, I've caught myself planning, examining areas and how long it takes to get to some places... old habits don't die easily, especially when they're all but necessary to survive.

Someone who can see the obvious, someone who can see beyond the obvious, one who's harsh, one who's kind, one who's neutral... it takes many to rule a kingdom properly.

[fluffydeathdealer]

It's probably good not to let those habits lapse though, right? Relaxing is fine, but if you let the habits die, then when you go home... you might not have them when you need them.

Maybe this training is helping you keep focused too. They say you need to know something three times better to teach it.

[helpusduelist]

Indeed not. It's... strange not being able to practice them seriously, though. Almost unnerving in a way of its own.

[...That, though, makes him burst out laughing, as if Ryou has suddenly calmed a fear just by that.]

Very true! Teaching you might just sharpen my skills as well...

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Huh? What was so funny? He blinks at Henry, wide-eyed and curious.]

Is it really that weird?

[helpusduelist]

I'm sorry, no. I just felt a bit relieved about that.