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]

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.

[fluffydeathdealer]

It's fine! It's good to see you laugh.

[helpusduelist]

And it's good to see you smile. So it seems we have a nice effect on each other, don't we?

[fluffydeathdealer]

Un! We definitely do. I'm glad. It's how good relationships work, right?

[helpusduelist]

Yes, it is. There may be some conflicts at times, but any relationship has those strains. It's a matter of if you enjoy each other's company and can stand tough through those bad times that truly define it, I think.

[Henry's eyes draw across the cards Ryou's picking, and he laughs.]

You have a certain draw towards types, I see...

[fluffydeathdealer]

...eh? What are you talking about?

[Silent Magician... Level 0? He's never heard of that card before. But something's calling him towards it. An instinct. Adding it to the pile.]

[helpusduelist]

For all their differences, there's definitely a feel of gentleness among quite a few of these. I think your own innocent soul is calling to what part of them is still innocent... or calling to that part of them that wants to protect it.

[fluffydeathdealer]

...'Innocent'?!

[He stares at Henry with more than a little bit of a wide-eyed look. He never thought of himself as innocent. More ordinary than anything else.]

[helpusduelist]

Mmm. You've suffered a lot, Ryou... and yet, you can still smile so softly, give out such warmth.

Innocence is rarely unscarred... I would go as far to say that true innocence is what persists even with those scars. And yours certainly has.

[fluffydeathdealer]

I've never been called innocent before. But I don't see any reason to be cold. I don't want anyone to be unhappy if they can be helped. Even if it's painful, people can almost always recover from their suffering.

[helpusduelist]

And that's what makes you innocent. That you can still hold such care deeply. You want to learn the best ways to handle things so you don't have to cause others to suffer... even if it's that much harder on you.

Even I can't boast to that.

[fluffydeathdealer]

But, it's natural, right? You've been hardened by war, so it's natural to see things like that. It isn't bad, but it isn't good either. It just is.

[helpusduelist]

Heh... I suppose it is, isn't it?

[He leans on his arm, closing his eyes and smiling contently, almost peacefully. Ryou... just being around you his heart and soul both feel at ease.]