Hidaka Michi cut a striking figure. He was tall and handsome, and, as the scion of the powerful Hidaka family, easily projected a casual yet commanding presence. From a young age, he was effortlessly talented at whatever he turned his hand to - equally comfortable playing the violin, translating ancient texts, and analyzing trinary logic systems. So it was no surprise when, after deciding he wished to learn Rock Paper Scissors, he quickly rose to the position of captain in Kohitsuji Academy's dueling team.
From beneath the brim of his pilot's cap - featuring the Hidaka Airlines crest - he surveyed the duelists arrayed before him. They were Kohitsuji's finest, and he was proud of them.
Right now, however, they seemed to be a little distracted.
It was the end of a long day of training, analysis, planning. The Kohitsuji duelists were scattered through the spacious, two-level central lounge of the team headquarters. A slow, intricate passacaglia issued forth from the grand piano.
On the second level balcony sat Hairo Asahi, frowning in concentration at the documents and textbooks spread out on the table in front of her. Hidaka found her studiousness inspiring - she was not only a strong duelist, but also an aspiring surgeon, and her academic work took up almost as much of her time as her stringent Rock Paper Scissors regimen. And yet somehow this massive workload never seemed too much for her, as no matter how many nights in a row she spent up studying and training instead of sleeping, she always remained cheerful and friendly. As she read, compared notes, and studied anatomical diagrams, her boyfriend Yuta Daichi, sitting in the chair next to hers, bobbed his head to a private rhythm - ostensibly he was helping her study, but in reality he was mostly just keeping her company and listening to music on an expensive-looking pair of headphones. Yuta wasn't a duelist, but he was a common feature of the dueling team's lounge nonetheless, offering the occasional sarcastic comment from the sidelines.
Meanwhile, Karasu Nori was pacing about restlessly, with a dreamy, faraway look in his eye.
Hidaka smiled. "What's on your mind, Karasu-san?" Of course, he knew exactly what that look meant.
Karasu sighed blissfully. "I've finally met her - the one. She's just... perfect!"
Hairo called down from the balcony. "Isn't that what you said about what's-her-name like two months ago? And that girl you met at the tournament last year? And-"
"Ah, you don't get it!" Hairo's teasing couldn't sour Karasu's mood. "Ana-chan is different!"
Hidaka shook his head. Karasu looked like a model, with short, wavy hair, high cheekbones, and a chiseled physique. He was always dressed in the most fashionable designer wear, no matter what he was doing. At Kohitsuji, all of the girls - and a significant fraction of the boys - had a crush on "Karasu the Rogue". And yet, when it came to relationships, he was a bit... dense.
This caused no end of problems for Chiyoko Shizu. The serious-looking girl mulled over the problem, her face hidden from the other duelists by her long, straight hair, as she played the grand piano in the corner of the room. She had managed to pair every member of the dueling team up with someone, except for Karasu. Well, and herself, naturally - but that didn't count. Karasu's flighty nature was ruining her perfect record! Still, she was sure there was a solution. She just had to think of it.
It was getting late, but Chiyoko was lost in thought, so she was surprised to see when she next looked up that Hairo, Yuta, and Karasu had already left for the evening. Hidaka was looking at the profiles of the Bosatsu duelists, their opponents in the next round of the championship, while the team's fifth member was dozing on a couch. Chiyoko quickly finished her song, then quietly slipped out the back door with a private smile on her face.
The sound of the door closing snapped Hidaka out of his daze - he'd been reading the same sentence over and over for several minutes without absorbing it. Must be more tired than I thought.
He glanced over at the Kohitsuji dueling team's fifth member, sprawled on the couch by the fireplace.
Hidaka didn't understand Tetsu Karan. His mind worked differently from anyone Hidaka had ever known - he seemed lost in the clouds, but he could make connections no one else could see. He dozed all the time, in class or the team's lounge. He practiced the least of anyone on the team, but his mysterious dueling style was shockingly effective.
And no matter what, whenever their eyes met, Hidaka couldn't help but smile.
He tousled Tetsu's (goofy, flipped-out) hair. "Hey. Wake up."
The boy yawned, stretched, blinked sleepily. "Michi?"
"Come on, Karan, it's late. Everyone's gone home already."
"'Kay." Tetsu stood up, rubbed his eyes, grabbed his bag from beside the couch, and headed for the door. He paused and looked back at Hidaka. "Aren't you coming?"
"I'll catch up with you in a sec. One more thing I have to take care of."
"Okay!" Tetsu didn't leave, though. He wandered over to the table where Hidaka was standing. "Are you excited for the next round, Michi?"
"Yeah. But it's going to be a tough one."
"That's okay. I don't mind whether we win the championship, really." He tilted his head to the side. "I just enjoy dueling with you." He leaned over and kissed Hidaka on the cheek, then turned and headed for the door. "I'll give you five minutes!"
"I'll be right out!"
When Tetsu was gone, Hidaka's smile faded. He drew a card out of his pocket, then stared at it in silence for a moment. He walked over to a wall-screen, punched in a number. The video phone rang twice before the connection went through.
On the screen was a figure shrouded in black, wearing a blank white mask.
The voice was harshly distorted. "Hidaka Michi. Have you reconsidered?"
He couldn't quite meet that empty gaze. "Yes, Lacuna. I can't beat Ryoichi Kei on my own."
~
Basilisk, the silver-haired girl, stood between the two teams of duelists - Jin and the other Bosatsu duelists behind her, Kyoru and Tendou ahead, near the door.
"Basilisk," said Ryoichi. "Explain yourself."
"I'm afraid I was just taking my leave."
She started towards the exit, but in a sudden flash of movement Kotei Jin was in front of her, blocking the door.
"That's enough. I need some answers! Who are you?"
But Ryoichi was the one who responded. "This is Tsuki Masako, also called Basilisk - Kyoru Arashi's former second in command." He paused for a moment before continuing, softly. "She's the one who told us about your brother."
She glanced over her shoulder at Ryoichi as he spoke, then turned back to Jin. "Satisfied?"
But as she started to walk forward once more, Jin raised his hand to point at her with a challenging Scissors.
She stopped, faint amusement on her face. "You wish to duel me?" She gave an exaggerated sigh. "Fine. If you win, I'll answer your questions. If I win, then I leave without any further trouble. Agreed?"
Jin just raised his hand in a fist, ready to start the duel.
"We'll do a single throw, Thousand-Devil. Are you ready?"
"Rock!"
Something felt wrong to Jin.
"Paper!"
He could hear a faint humming, like a swarm of locusts on the horizon.
"Scissors!"
Tsuki took half a step towards him - and she vanished.
Jin blinked, his head suddenly foggy.
"Good try, Thousand-Devil."
He spun to face her. When did she get behind me?! "What are you doing? We're not finished!"
"Yes, we are." Her eyes dipped for a moment.
Jin followed her gaze to his outstretched hand. He was holding out Paper. When did I make that throw?
"You lost." She walked towards the exit one more time, pausing only to brush Kyoru's shoulder, lightly, with the backs of her fingers. She glanced at Tendou Hibiki. "She's my replacement, hm? She's pretty good."
She strode out, and silence fell over the room.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Episode 17 - Envenomation
Venomous Kyoru adjusted his glasses, his hand covering his face. "Jihara Akatsuki. Excellent perception and speed. A former student of the Shinku monastery -"
"Wait." Tendou Hibiki was suddenly sitting bolt upright. "This guy was raised by those damn Shinku monks?" A huge, sharklike grin spread across her face. "Now that's interesting. I almost want to switch places, Arashi."
Jihara studied her. "... I thought there was something familiar about you, Tendou-dono. Did you study there as well?"
"Did I study there? I learned everything they had to teach - and it was worthless."
There was a mild note of surprise in his voice. "Then, are you the Peregrine?"
"Tch, is that what they're calling me? Look, I don't really care, I turned my back on them and their useless methods years ago. But if you abandoned them as well, that makes you - very slightly - more interesting." She glanced over at Kyoru. "Uh, right, get back to your duel," she added, waving a hand dismissively.
Kyoru continued. "A former student of the Shinku monastery, who still uses their most powerful technique, the 'Lord of Emptiness'. You are capable of perceiving your opponent's throw in time to counter it. While you retain this advantage, you are essentially unbeatable. And yet, it makes me wonder..." He raised his hand to begin the duel. "What happens when you face an opponent who is faster than you?"
Jihara inclined his head slightly. "Shall we begin, Kyoru-dono?" They raised their hands for the first throw.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
There was a flash of movement as they made their throws with incredible speed, their hands in a blur. When they came to a stop, both were showing Scissors - a draw.
"Incredible," whispered Mizumigawa. "He matched Ji-kun's speed so effortlessly."
"In that movement," Jin whispered back, "they must have gone through half a dozen throws, each trying to shift ahead of the other. But it looks like they're evenly matched in terms of speed - it's going to come down to endurance."
The duelists raised their hands again - these two seemed comfortable remaining silent between throws.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
Another flash of movement, as Jihara and Kyoru cycled through the three signs in rapid succession - Jihara formed Scissors, but Kyoru was already making Rock, so Jihara switched to Rock, expecting that Kyoru would reflexively switch to Scissors to counter Rock's counter, but Kyoru had transitioned immediately from Rock to Paper - all of this in the fraction of a second before their throws landed.
In the end, both had thrown Rock - another tie.
The Bosatsu duelists on the sidelines watched them carefully, looking for any sign of how the stalemate would resolve.
"It must be an immense strain," said Yukimura. "There's no way either of them can maintain that kind of speed for much longer."
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
But they weren't slowing down - if anything, they were getting faster! They shifted throws in a complex pattern, fighting furiously over a vanishingly slim advantage. At the same time, they each maintained a calm, unreadable expression.
And once again, the throw ended in a tie - two throws of Paper.
"Ji-kun... you've got to win," said Mizumigawa, thinking back to their sparring matches. She'd been training her speed non-stop, and still she couldn't earn more than a single point against him. He was unbeatable - wasn't he? "Ryo-kun, can you figure out who has the advantage?" She looked over at Ryoichi.
He was breathing hard, his knuckles whitening from the strength of his grip on his chair. His eyes were wide as he watched the match unfold. "Ji-san..." he said in a choked voice.
"Jihara-san," said Kyoru suddenly, as the duelists were raising their hands for the next throw. "Do you know why they call me 'Venomous'?"
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
Again, that same flash of movement - but something was wrong.
"Gyah!" Jihara cried out in pain.
Kyoru stood silently, holding out his throw of Rock.
Jihara was clutching his arm, the hand hanging limp.
"That," said Kyoru, "is called Envenomation."
Ryoichi leapt out of his seat like a steel spring. He was at Jihara's side in a moment.
"Impossible," whispered Jin. "Kyoru-san wasn't trying to beat Ji-san in speed - he was deliberately holding back, using his pattern of throws to force Ji-san into a sequence that would cause extra strain on his wrist..."
"The human body is delicate," said Kyoru philosophically. "Motions can have subtle effects on internal processes. Muscles can twist and tear, certain chemicals can be released or absorbed... if you can control someone's movements, you can make their own bodies poison them."
"You have to forfeit this match," said Ryoichi to Jihara, gripping his shoulder.
"I can still duel," replied Jihara.
"I'm your captain! That's an order!" Ryoichi spun around to face Kyoru. "We forfeit! You win!"
Kyoru was looking at Jin directly now. "Do you see, Kotei Jin? You have no hope of winning against someone who has mastered the Toxic Principles." He nodded at Tendou, who kipped up from the bank of seats she was lying on and walked over to join him. "We are done here." They turned to leave.
The Bosatsu duelists had all gathered around Jihara by this point, trying to see how serious his injury was.
Kyoru paused at the door. "There is one other thing," he said as though just realizing something. "What are you doing here, Basilisk?"
As the Bosatsu duelists looked around in surprise, she walked past them from behind, from the back of the arena where she had been watching unseen - the silver-haired girl.
Her voice was soft, melodic, yet cold. "You're as sharp as ever, Kyoru."
"Wait." Tendou Hibiki was suddenly sitting bolt upright. "This guy was raised by those damn Shinku monks?" A huge, sharklike grin spread across her face. "Now that's interesting. I almost want to switch places, Arashi."
Jihara studied her. "... I thought there was something familiar about you, Tendou-dono. Did you study there as well?"
"Did I study there? I learned everything they had to teach - and it was worthless."
There was a mild note of surprise in his voice. "Then, are you the Peregrine?"
"Tch, is that what they're calling me? Look, I don't really care, I turned my back on them and their useless methods years ago. But if you abandoned them as well, that makes you - very slightly - more interesting." She glanced over at Kyoru. "Uh, right, get back to your duel," she added, waving a hand dismissively.
Kyoru continued. "A former student of the Shinku monastery, who still uses their most powerful technique, the 'Lord of Emptiness'. You are capable of perceiving your opponent's throw in time to counter it. While you retain this advantage, you are essentially unbeatable. And yet, it makes me wonder..." He raised his hand to begin the duel. "What happens when you face an opponent who is faster than you?"
Jihara inclined his head slightly. "Shall we begin, Kyoru-dono?" They raised their hands for the first throw.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
There was a flash of movement as they made their throws with incredible speed, their hands in a blur. When they came to a stop, both were showing Scissors - a draw.
"Incredible," whispered Mizumigawa. "He matched Ji-kun's speed so effortlessly."
"In that movement," Jin whispered back, "they must have gone through half a dozen throws, each trying to shift ahead of the other. But it looks like they're evenly matched in terms of speed - it's going to come down to endurance."
The duelists raised their hands again - these two seemed comfortable remaining silent between throws.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
Another flash of movement, as Jihara and Kyoru cycled through the three signs in rapid succession - Jihara formed Scissors, but Kyoru was already making Rock, so Jihara switched to Rock, expecting that Kyoru would reflexively switch to Scissors to counter Rock's counter, but Kyoru had transitioned immediately from Rock to Paper - all of this in the fraction of a second before their throws landed.
In the end, both had thrown Rock - another tie.
The Bosatsu duelists on the sidelines watched them carefully, looking for any sign of how the stalemate would resolve.
"It must be an immense strain," said Yukimura. "There's no way either of them can maintain that kind of speed for much longer."
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
But they weren't slowing down - if anything, they were getting faster! They shifted throws in a complex pattern, fighting furiously over a vanishingly slim advantage. At the same time, they each maintained a calm, unreadable expression.
And once again, the throw ended in a tie - two throws of Paper.
"Ji-kun... you've got to win," said Mizumigawa, thinking back to their sparring matches. She'd been training her speed non-stop, and still she couldn't earn more than a single point against him. He was unbeatable - wasn't he? "Ryo-kun, can you figure out who has the advantage?" She looked over at Ryoichi.
He was breathing hard, his knuckles whitening from the strength of his grip on his chair. His eyes were wide as he watched the match unfold. "Ji-san..." he said in a choked voice.
"Jihara-san," said Kyoru suddenly, as the duelists were raising their hands for the next throw. "Do you know why they call me 'Venomous'?"
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
Again, that same flash of movement - but something was wrong.
"Gyah!" Jihara cried out in pain.
Kyoru stood silently, holding out his throw of Rock.
Jihara was clutching his arm, the hand hanging limp.
"That," said Kyoru, "is called Envenomation."
Ryoichi leapt out of his seat like a steel spring. He was at Jihara's side in a moment.
"Impossible," whispered Jin. "Kyoru-san wasn't trying to beat Ji-san in speed - he was deliberately holding back, using his pattern of throws to force Ji-san into a sequence that would cause extra strain on his wrist..."
"The human body is delicate," said Kyoru philosophically. "Motions can have subtle effects on internal processes. Muscles can twist and tear, certain chemicals can be released or absorbed... if you can control someone's movements, you can make their own bodies poison them."
"You have to forfeit this match," said Ryoichi to Jihara, gripping his shoulder.
"I can still duel," replied Jihara.
"I'm your captain! That's an order!" Ryoichi spun around to face Kyoru. "We forfeit! You win!"
Kyoru was looking at Jin directly now. "Do you see, Kotei Jin? You have no hope of winning against someone who has mastered the Toxic Principles." He nodded at Tendou, who kipped up from the bank of seats she was lying on and walked over to join him. "We are done here." They turned to leave.
The Bosatsu duelists had all gathered around Jihara by this point, trying to see how serious his injury was.
Kyoru paused at the door. "There is one other thing," he said as though just realizing something. "What are you doing here, Basilisk?"
As the Bosatsu duelists looked around in surprise, she walked past them from behind, from the back of the arena where she had been watching unseen - the silver-haired girl.
Her voice was soft, melodic, yet cold. "You're as sharp as ever, Kyoru."
Friday, February 3, 2012
Episode 16 - The Perfect Mirror
The tension in the Bosatsu dueling team's private arena was incredible. Yukimura Hisoka stood on one side, deep in thought. Tendou Hibiki stood on the other, limbering up for the duel, seemingly the only relaxed person in the room. Kyoru Arashi watched from the sidelines, silent and unreadable, opposite the Bosatsu team.
This is going to be problematic, thought Yukimura, looking down with eyes closed in concentration. I don't have much data on her. I'll have to use the opening throws to draw out her strategy, then lead her into a trap - she appears to be a physical player, so perhaps a modified Serivean Gambit, or a Sierpinski Defense. I'll start with three layers of obfuscation in my approach, but I might have to increase recursion depth depending on her first throw. My first throw should definitely be Paper, as though I'm expecting her to think I'm pretending to play into the expectations that she'll think I want her to believe she's successfully pretended to have. As soon as I see how she deals with that, I'll be able to formulate a more solid strategy.
She nodded, then looked up at her opponent, adjusting her glasses -
- and froze.
Yukimura stood motionless, her right thumb and index finger gripping one lens of her glasses. Across from her, Tendou had transformed completely - her posture, her expression, everything was different. She was holding her left thumb and index finger in front of her face, as though gripping an invisible lens - in every way, her pose was an exact mirror of Yukimura's.
When she regained her composure, Yukimura lowered her hand - but as she did so, Tendou copied her movement. She made a few meaningless gestures, to see if Tendou would follow her - and she did.
"Don't bother with some complicated strategy, Yuki-me," said Tendou, without breaking her synchronization. "My technique is unbeatable. With my Perfect Mirror, I can copy any opponent's movements exactly. It doesn't matter what strategy they use. It doesn't matter what arts they've mastered. It doesn't matter how long they've trained. The Perfect Mirror reflects it all."
"So this is her replacement," murmured Ryoichi.
Yukimura's expression remained neutral, unimpressed. "Yes, that's certainly a powerful technique. I won't be able to beat it with normal play."
The two duelists raised their hands simultaneously.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
Yukimura had thrown Paper, as she had planned - and Tendou had mirrored her exactly, throwing Paper as well.
Yukimura frowned. I was right. Her technique is strong, but it has a flaw - one that I can use to win this duel! The Perfect Mirror requires her to match her opponent's movements exactly. Therefore, she can't use it to win a throw, only tie. Her real strategy must be to force a series of ties, and then deduce her opponent's pattern. She'll be able to strike whenever she's sure of my next throw, and force a tie the rest of the time. It's a formidable strategy - but I can turn it against her. All I have to do is fake a pattern and wait for her to break her mirroring. I'll wrap a false strategy in a few layers of simulated prediction, and she should play right into my hands.
They raised their hands again.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
Another tie - both had thrown Paper again.
Yukimura eyed her opponent cautiously. She should be catching on to the false strategy by now. I'd better add a few more layers of obfuscation, to make her think I'm trying to prevent her from discovering my pattern. I need to make sure that she -
"It's over." Tendou said. "I've won the duel. When Arashi said we were going to challenge you, I thought you'd put up more of a fight, but you were easy to synchronize with. So now there's nothing you can do."
Yukimura raised her hand, and Tendou continued to mirror her. On the sidelines, Jihara leaned closer, strangely intent on Tendou's movements.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors!"
Then, at the same time, they each shouted different things - as "Shoot!" passed Yukimura's lips, Tendou instead cried -
"Shatter!"
- and brought down a throw of Rock at the last moment, defeating Yukimura's Scissors.
"This is what bores me about dueling," mused Tendou, her triumphant expression mismatched with her - or rather, Yukimura's - shocked stance. "No matter how strong a duelist is, they all fall to my Perfect Mirror. I can keep up with anyone long enough to synchronize completely, and then I can use that total awareness to shift my throw to beat theirs. It's an unstoppable technique."
Yukimura regained her composure quickly. Impossible. There has to be some weakness to her technique, some way to subvert that "mirror".
"Okay, Yuki-chan, that's enough." The duelists glanced over in unison at Mizumigawa, who was rolling her eyes at them as she interjected. "Quit playing around. She's starting to get cocky!" She lowered her sunglasses and smirked at Yukimura. "It's time for you to shut her down."
"Thanks a lot, Mizu-kun," replied Yukimura in a deliberately casual tone. "I wanted her to think she had a chance, and you just had to open your big mouth." I need a plan. Anything!
Jin looked sidelong at Mizumigawa. "Yuki-chan just needs a little encouragement," she whispered.
I need to out-maneuver her somehow. But how can I do that if she's matching all of my movements? ... Wait. She's not matching all of them. There's a place where I can strike! Yukimura looked back at Tendou, raising her hand as light glinted off her glasses.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
As her hand descended, Yukimura formed Scissors - and immediately, as part of a single, fluid movement, switched to Paper right before the end of the throw. As Yukimura had planned, Tendou broke synchronization to throw Rock - but she just as quickly shifted her throw to Scissors in tandem with Yukimura's switch.
"My point again," said Tendou. "What did I tell you? I'm faster than you. Any counter you use against me will be returned in full force."
Think! Yukimura urged herself furiously. Where are her weaknesses? Her movements are all automatic - there has to be some way to use that against her without using...
The two duelists stared at each other for a long moment. Then, they raised their hands for the game-point throw.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
And it was over - Tendou's Scissors cut Yukimura's Paper, securing a flawless victory.
Yukimura slumped - but Tendou stayed upright. "Arashi!" she stretched and twisted, no longer mimicking her opponent. "When are you going to find someone who can challenge me? So far, everyone's the same to me - too weak to get my blood pumping." She walked over to the sidelines, then draped herself over a few seats and started examining the ceiling.
Yukimura made her way back to the other Bosatsu duelists, lost in thought, deaf to their mollifying words. As she went, Kyoru Arashi stood, then walked at a measured pace to the dueling platform Tendou had just left. "I apologize, Hibiki. But I assure you, we're almost through here." He turned his gaze on Jihara. "Jihara Akatsuki. Are you ready to duel?"
Jihara's expression had become perfectly serene, like a storm's eye. He swept to his position in the arena in a fluttering of white robes. "I am ready." He glanced over at Tendou. "But you should be aware - my technique is similar to Tendou-dono's. The Lord of Emptiness - it is invincible."
This is going to be problematic, thought Yukimura, looking down with eyes closed in concentration. I don't have much data on her. I'll have to use the opening throws to draw out her strategy, then lead her into a trap - she appears to be a physical player, so perhaps a modified Serivean Gambit, or a Sierpinski Defense. I'll start with three layers of obfuscation in my approach, but I might have to increase recursion depth depending on her first throw. My first throw should definitely be Paper, as though I'm expecting her to think I'm pretending to play into the expectations that she'll think I want her to believe she's successfully pretended to have. As soon as I see how she deals with that, I'll be able to formulate a more solid strategy.
She nodded, then looked up at her opponent, adjusting her glasses -
- and froze.
Yukimura stood motionless, her right thumb and index finger gripping one lens of her glasses. Across from her, Tendou had transformed completely - her posture, her expression, everything was different. She was holding her left thumb and index finger in front of her face, as though gripping an invisible lens - in every way, her pose was an exact mirror of Yukimura's.
When she regained her composure, Yukimura lowered her hand - but as she did so, Tendou copied her movement. She made a few meaningless gestures, to see if Tendou would follow her - and she did.
"Don't bother with some complicated strategy, Yuki-me," said Tendou, without breaking her synchronization. "My technique is unbeatable. With my Perfect Mirror, I can copy any opponent's movements exactly. It doesn't matter what strategy they use. It doesn't matter what arts they've mastered. It doesn't matter how long they've trained. The Perfect Mirror reflects it all."
"So this is her replacement," murmured Ryoichi.
Yukimura's expression remained neutral, unimpressed. "Yes, that's certainly a powerful technique. I won't be able to beat it with normal play."
The two duelists raised their hands simultaneously.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
Yukimura had thrown Paper, as she had planned - and Tendou had mirrored her exactly, throwing Paper as well.
Yukimura frowned. I was right. Her technique is strong, but it has a flaw - one that I can use to win this duel! The Perfect Mirror requires her to match her opponent's movements exactly. Therefore, she can't use it to win a throw, only tie. Her real strategy must be to force a series of ties, and then deduce her opponent's pattern. She'll be able to strike whenever she's sure of my next throw, and force a tie the rest of the time. It's a formidable strategy - but I can turn it against her. All I have to do is fake a pattern and wait for her to break her mirroring. I'll wrap a false strategy in a few layers of simulated prediction, and she should play right into my hands.
They raised their hands again.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
Another tie - both had thrown Paper again.
Yukimura eyed her opponent cautiously. She should be catching on to the false strategy by now. I'd better add a few more layers of obfuscation, to make her think I'm trying to prevent her from discovering my pattern. I need to make sure that she -
"It's over." Tendou said. "I've won the duel. When Arashi said we were going to challenge you, I thought you'd put up more of a fight, but you were easy to synchronize with. So now there's nothing you can do."
Yukimura raised her hand, and Tendou continued to mirror her. On the sidelines, Jihara leaned closer, strangely intent on Tendou's movements.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors!"
Then, at the same time, they each shouted different things - as "Shoot!" passed Yukimura's lips, Tendou instead cried -
"Shatter!"
- and brought down a throw of Rock at the last moment, defeating Yukimura's Scissors.
"This is what bores me about dueling," mused Tendou, her triumphant expression mismatched with her - or rather, Yukimura's - shocked stance. "No matter how strong a duelist is, they all fall to my Perfect Mirror. I can keep up with anyone long enough to synchronize completely, and then I can use that total awareness to shift my throw to beat theirs. It's an unstoppable technique."
Yukimura regained her composure quickly. Impossible. There has to be some weakness to her technique, some way to subvert that "mirror".
"Okay, Yuki-chan, that's enough." The duelists glanced over in unison at Mizumigawa, who was rolling her eyes at them as she interjected. "Quit playing around. She's starting to get cocky!" She lowered her sunglasses and smirked at Yukimura. "It's time for you to shut her down."
"Thanks a lot, Mizu-kun," replied Yukimura in a deliberately casual tone. "I wanted her to think she had a chance, and you just had to open your big mouth." I need a plan. Anything!
Jin looked sidelong at Mizumigawa. "Yuki-chan just needs a little encouragement," she whispered.
I need to out-maneuver her somehow. But how can I do that if she's matching all of my movements? ... Wait. She's not matching all of them. There's a place where I can strike! Yukimura looked back at Tendou, raising her hand as light glinted off her glasses.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
As her hand descended, Yukimura formed Scissors - and immediately, as part of a single, fluid movement, switched to Paper right before the end of the throw. As Yukimura had planned, Tendou broke synchronization to throw Rock - but she just as quickly shifted her throw to Scissors in tandem with Yukimura's switch.
"My point again," said Tendou. "What did I tell you? I'm faster than you. Any counter you use against me will be returned in full force."
Think! Yukimura urged herself furiously. Where are her weaknesses? Her movements are all automatic - there has to be some way to use that against her without using...
The two duelists stared at each other for a long moment. Then, they raised their hands for the game-point throw.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
And it was over - Tendou's Scissors cut Yukimura's Paper, securing a flawless victory.
Yukimura slumped - but Tendou stayed upright. "Arashi!" she stretched and twisted, no longer mimicking her opponent. "When are you going to find someone who can challenge me? So far, everyone's the same to me - too weak to get my blood pumping." She walked over to the sidelines, then draped herself over a few seats and started examining the ceiling.
Yukimura made her way back to the other Bosatsu duelists, lost in thought, deaf to their mollifying words. As she went, Kyoru Arashi stood, then walked at a measured pace to the dueling platform Tendou had just left. "I apologize, Hibiki. But I assure you, we're almost through here." He turned his gaze on Jihara. "Jihara Akatsuki. Are you ready to duel?"
Jihara's expression had become perfectly serene, like a storm's eye. He swept to his position in the arena in a fluttering of white robes. "I am ready." He glanced over at Tendou. "But you should be aware - my technique is similar to Tendou-dono's. The Lord of Emptiness - it is invincible."
Friday, January 27, 2012
Episode 15 - Challenge
"And one more announcement - this week our dueling team won a victory in the first round of the championship." The class president's voice crackled out of the PA system throughout the school. "On behalf of the student government, and all of the students of Bosatsu, we send our congratulations! Best of luck in the second round!"
~
"Did you see the first round?"
"Ryoichi-san was incredible!"
The halls and paths of Bosatsu Academy were teeming with students, abuzz with talk of the dueling team's latest exploits.
"I know! His speech about being a captain - it was so inspiring!"
"I liked Mizu-kun's duel - HWACHA! King Cobra Strike!"
Some were trying out the moves they had seen, almost smacking into other students walking past.
"Yeah! Mizu-kun is the coolest."
"I thought Kotei-kun was pretty cool..."
"I hear he was a member of Trefoil!"
"Don't be stupid, that's just a myth."
"Do you think there's something going on between him and that Chikaku girl?"
"No way! He's totally got a thing for Yuki-chan!"
"That's not what I heard..."
"I bet he's been doing some 'extra training' with Ryoichi-san."
"Oh my god, Miki! Shushh!"
"Why? Are you jealous?"
"Gah! You're such a perv!"
"Hey, Daisuke-kun, are you okay?"
A wave of silence had crept up the hall, and now the last few trickles of conversation ended as the students turned towards the two walking past. They couldn't speak if they tried.
Venomous Kyoru Arashi strode forward like the keel of a warship slicing through icy water. As he passed by, students shivered from the sheer force of his presence. To one side, glancing around more casually but with utter disdain, was Tendou Hibiki, the girl with loose, silken clothes and a shaved head who had watched Bosatsu's first round alongside Kyoru. Everywhere she looked, students flinched under her gaze.
When they passed out of sight, the gathered students mumbled muted goodbyes and slinked off to their classes.
~
"Yuki-chan?"
"Ryoichi-san."
The two gave each other a perfunctory fist-bump, then Ryoichi flung up his hand as Yukimura flicked on a display screen, gesturing at the banners and profiles that scrolled past. "Our next opponent is Kohitsuji Academy!" Pictures of each member were highlighted one after the other, each with reams of data alongside and flashy special effects. "We've got airtight strategies for beating each one - this'll be a breeze!"
Yukimura raised an eyebrow at him.
"... But don't let your guard down," he continued. "In the middle of a duel, anything can happen."
Mizumigawa raised a hand from where she was lying, dangling half off of a chair.
"Yes!" Ryoichi pointed at her triumphantly. "A question?"
"What's with the video?"
"Pretty cool, huh? Yuki-chan collected all this data, and I helped make this to show it off!"
Mizumigawa, Jihara, and Jin blinked at him for a moment.
"Cool," asserted Jihara, giving a thumbs-up.
"Okay! Yuki-chan, would you please?"
Yukimura extended a telescoping pointer and indicated the first picture - a boy with an amused expression, wearing a pilot's hat tilted at a jaunty angle. "This is Kohitsuji's captain, Hidaka Michi, the heir to the wealthy and influential Hidaka family. He's a relatively inexperienced duelist, but he's careful and thorough, and has an impressive record already. We've determined -"
She stopped suddenly, staring at the room's entrance. The other four duelists felt it just a moment later - an overwhelming presence approaching. They turned to look as well, just as Kyoru and Tendou stepped into the doorway.
There was a long silence.
Ryoichi was the first to react - his expression going from shocked to smoothly pleasant in a moment. "Kyoru-san. What brings you to our humble academy?"
"It's good to see you again, Ryoichi."
In the next instant, Jin covered half the distance to Kyoru, and Mizumigawa leapt just in front of him, holding him back. She tried to catch his gaze, but he was staring with unrestrained hate at the gleaming surfaces of Kyoru's mirrored shades. She took his head in her hands, turned him towards her. She silently mouthed, "not yet."
Kyoru and Tendou walked past them as Jin was looking at her with a helpless expression. Yukimura and Jihara were standing, stiffly, off to the side, as Ryoichi moved to meet the unexpected guests.
"We wanted to congratulate you on your triumph in the first round," said Kyoru. "But... that wasn't really a challenge, was it? Chikaku was never a contender."
Ryoichi smiled disarmingly. "You're right, it's only going to get harder from -"
"We want to see how good you really are," sneered Tendou.
They turned to survey the Bosatsu duelists. Jin stared defiantly at Kyoru, who raised his hand in the air. The faintest smile crossed his lips as he lowered it in Scissors, the gesture of challenge.
"Not today, Kotei Jin."
Kyoru was pointing at Jihara. Beside him, Tendou was pointing at Yukimura with the same gesture.
"We challenge you. Show us your strength."
~
A dozen executives filed into the dimly-lit boardroom that dominated the hundred-and-eighth floor of the Auxesis Corporation skyscraper. They took their places around the octagonal table, rustling papers and files.
"We have a report on the status of the Arhat Laboratory project. Lacuna has promised completion by the date of the invitational tournament." The board member pressed a button on a remote.
After a moment, screens descended from the ceiling around the table, then flickered on. They all displayed the same video feed - a nondescript room with the Auxesis Corp logo, a stylized lotus, on a banner on the far wall. Standing before it was a figure shrouded in dark clothes, wearing a mask - blank white, with dark eye holes but otherwise featureless.
"Good evening, gentlemen." Lacuna's voice was disguised, distorted and computerized - the same voice the silver-haired girl had spoken to before Bosatsu's first round. "I trust you are well."
~
"Did you see the first round?"
"Ryoichi-san was incredible!"
The halls and paths of Bosatsu Academy were teeming with students, abuzz with talk of the dueling team's latest exploits.
"I know! His speech about being a captain - it was so inspiring!"
"I liked Mizu-kun's duel - HWACHA! King Cobra Strike!"
Some were trying out the moves they had seen, almost smacking into other students walking past.
"Yeah! Mizu-kun is the coolest."
"I thought Kotei-kun was pretty cool..."
"I hear he was a member of Trefoil!"
"Don't be stupid, that's just a myth."
"Do you think there's something going on between him and that Chikaku girl?"
"No way! He's totally got a thing for Yuki-chan!"
"That's not what I heard..."
"I bet he's been doing some 'extra training' with Ryoichi-san."
"Oh my god, Miki! Shushh!"
"Why? Are you jealous?"
"Gah! You're such a perv!"
"Hey, Daisuke-kun, are you okay?"
A wave of silence had crept up the hall, and now the last few trickles of conversation ended as the students turned towards the two walking past. They couldn't speak if they tried.
Venomous Kyoru Arashi strode forward like the keel of a warship slicing through icy water. As he passed by, students shivered from the sheer force of his presence. To one side, glancing around more casually but with utter disdain, was Tendou Hibiki, the girl with loose, silken clothes and a shaved head who had watched Bosatsu's first round alongside Kyoru. Everywhere she looked, students flinched under her gaze.
When they passed out of sight, the gathered students mumbled muted goodbyes and slinked off to their classes.
~
"Yuki-chan?"
"Ryoichi-san."
The two gave each other a perfunctory fist-bump, then Ryoichi flung up his hand as Yukimura flicked on a display screen, gesturing at the banners and profiles that scrolled past. "Our next opponent is Kohitsuji Academy!" Pictures of each member were highlighted one after the other, each with reams of data alongside and flashy special effects. "We've got airtight strategies for beating each one - this'll be a breeze!"
Yukimura raised an eyebrow at him.
"... But don't let your guard down," he continued. "In the middle of a duel, anything can happen."
Mizumigawa raised a hand from where she was lying, dangling half off of a chair.
"Yes!" Ryoichi pointed at her triumphantly. "A question?"
"What's with the video?"
"Pretty cool, huh? Yuki-chan collected all this data, and I helped make this to show it off!"
Mizumigawa, Jihara, and Jin blinked at him for a moment.
"Cool," asserted Jihara, giving a thumbs-up.
"Okay! Yuki-chan, would you please?"
Yukimura extended a telescoping pointer and indicated the first picture - a boy with an amused expression, wearing a pilot's hat tilted at a jaunty angle. "This is Kohitsuji's captain, Hidaka Michi, the heir to the wealthy and influential Hidaka family. He's a relatively inexperienced duelist, but he's careful and thorough, and has an impressive record already. We've determined -"
She stopped suddenly, staring at the room's entrance. The other four duelists felt it just a moment later - an overwhelming presence approaching. They turned to look as well, just as Kyoru and Tendou stepped into the doorway.
There was a long silence.
Ryoichi was the first to react - his expression going from shocked to smoothly pleasant in a moment. "Kyoru-san. What brings you to our humble academy?"
"It's good to see you again, Ryoichi."
In the next instant, Jin covered half the distance to Kyoru, and Mizumigawa leapt just in front of him, holding him back. She tried to catch his gaze, but he was staring with unrestrained hate at the gleaming surfaces of Kyoru's mirrored shades. She took his head in her hands, turned him towards her. She silently mouthed, "not yet."
Kyoru and Tendou walked past them as Jin was looking at her with a helpless expression. Yukimura and Jihara were standing, stiffly, off to the side, as Ryoichi moved to meet the unexpected guests.
"We wanted to congratulate you on your triumph in the first round," said Kyoru. "But... that wasn't really a challenge, was it? Chikaku was never a contender."
Ryoichi smiled disarmingly. "You're right, it's only going to get harder from -"
"We want to see how good you really are," sneered Tendou.
They turned to survey the Bosatsu duelists. Jin stared defiantly at Kyoru, who raised his hand in the air. The faintest smile crossed his lips as he lowered it in Scissors, the gesture of challenge.
"Not today, Kotei Jin."
Kyoru was pointing at Jihara. Beside him, Tendou was pointing at Yukimura with the same gesture.
"We challenge you. Show us your strength."
~
A dozen executives filed into the dimly-lit boardroom that dominated the hundred-and-eighth floor of the Auxesis Corporation skyscraper. They took their places around the octagonal table, rustling papers and files.
"We have a report on the status of the Arhat Laboratory project. Lacuna has promised completion by the date of the invitational tournament." The board member pressed a button on a remote.
After a moment, screens descended from the ceiling around the table, then flickered on. They all displayed the same video feed - a nondescript room with the Auxesis Corp logo, a stylized lotus, on a banner on the far wall. Standing before it was a figure shrouded in dark clothes, wearing a mask - blank white, with dark eye holes but otherwise featureless.
"Good evening, gentlemen." Lacuna's voice was disguised, distorted and computerized - the same voice the silver-haired girl had spoken to before Bosatsu's first round. "I trust you are well."
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Episode 14 - A Captain's Duty
Yukimura Hisoka sighed, shrugged. "Sorry, Jihara-san. Maybe next time."
Jihara and Mizumigawa looked over at her.
"The captain's up next," she explained. "We're not going to have a chance to duel today."
Mizumigawa smirked. "You just figured that out now?" She hopped up on the railing and tousled Jin's hair vigorously. "I knew Kotei-kun had things under control!" Yukimura just raised an eyebrow.
Jin ducked to get away. "He's that good, is he?" The others looked surprised.
"Oh, that's right," said Yukimura, adjusting her glasses. "You haven't seen Ryoichi-san play a real match yet, have you?"
"Ryoichi-dono is a very powerful duelist," said Jihara. "He's been looking forward to this duel - I expect he has an unbeatable strategy prepared."
"He's also, ah," added Yukimura, "something of a performer."
"You don't say," muttered Jin, watching Ryoichi - who was ostentatiously waving around his folded paper fan as cherry blossoms, tossed by a member of his fanclub, fluttered by.
~
"So, Yosai-san! Are you looking forward to this duel?" Ryoichi gestured grandly.
Yosai Akio closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. What a trivial person, he thought.
"I should warn you, though," said Ryoichi conspiratorially, "you shouldn't take me lightly. I'm pretty clever." He winked to punctuate his boast.
"Enough." Yosai glared across the arena at Ryoichi. "You are wasting my time with this foolishness." Besides, I've already discerned your throw. He raised his hand.
Ryoichi raised his own hand in turn, smirking.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
Yosai's glare only became more intense. "Rock crushes Scissors! Point to Ryoichi!"
"Don't get cocky, Ryoichi-san. Your strategy is completely obvious now. I'm going to -"
"It's useless, Yosai-san." Ryoichi's smile hadn't changed, but his eyes had gone cold. "You entered this arena convinced that you're smarter than me. That certainty - it's a fatal mistake for a duelist. It was simple to lead your throw with a fake tell."
Yosai didn't make a sound.
"And yet - every moment I watch you duel, I can read more of your heart. You're still determined to win, even though your team is so far behind. Why, I wonder...?"
"Don't be a fool. There's no point in giving up before the end." He raised his hand again, and Ryoichi followed suit.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
As Yosai made his throw, he slid his thumb down slightly - releasing the two fingers that had been pressing against it. His hand unfolded into a lightning-fast Scissors!
And Ryoichi was waiting for him already with another throw of Rock.
"Rock crushes Scissors! Point to Ryoichi! Game point!"
"I told you, Yosai. I can read your heart. I knew you'd try a trick throw like that, so it was easy to see the extra pressure you were putting on your thumb." Ryoichi waved his hand dismissively. "And you're not really trying to win this round, are you?"
Yosai froze. "But you just said -"
"You want to win this match. That's much more important to you than winning this round of the tournament, isn't it?" Ryoichi spread his hands. "And it's not even me you're angry at." Nanafushi Kazue and the rest of Chikaku were watching him closely now. "You're playing as hard as you can - because you want to prove you're better than your teammates."
Yosai's voice was frigid. "I am better than them."
"THAT'S NOT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CAPTAIN!" Ryoichi's sudden shout sent Yosai stumbling back a step. "A captain can't think of himself! He has to fight for his teammates! As a captain, you have to help them get stronger - their strength is your strength! If they lose, you lose! If they win, you win! That's a captain's duty!" He raised his fist as he shouted.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
Yosai was almost too stunned to make a throw. He had no chance - Ryoichi's Scissors effortlessly swept his Paper aside.
"Match, Ryoichi! Bosatsu wins!"
The cheer from the crowd was deafening. Ryoichi stood in silence for a moment.
Yosai didn't turn back towards the bench. "You're wrong, Ryoichi-san. Without me, they would be worthless. It's only my strength that brought them here today. You have to look out for yourself!"
"No, Yosai-san. You're the one who's wrong." He turned to see Nanafushi Kazue standing behind him, her face determined, her eyes gleaming.
"How dare you talk to me like that. I'm the only one who-"
"You're fired."
Yosai sputtered, his composure gone entirely. "Worthless! You're nothing! You can't fire me - I'm the captain!"
But the other three duelists from Chikaku were standing beside her now, Kumoru's hand on her shoulder. Yosai just stared at them, then Ryoichi, then back at his team, his mouth hanging open.
"Get lost," hissed Kumoru.
If anything, the crowd cheered even louder than before.
~
As the triumphant Bosatsu duelists were leaving the arena, Jin walked alongside Ryoichi.
"So, your technique... it lets you see the weakness in your opponent's heart. There's something a little sinister about that, Ryoichi-san," smirked Jin.
Ryoichi raised an eyebrow. "You don't say, 'Thousand-Devil'?"
"I'm just wondering - what do you do if your opponent isn't screwed up?"
Ryoichi smiled softly and shook his head. "We're duelists, Jin. We're all damaged."
~
Kyoru watched the Bosatsu team exit the arena, then stood and turned for the door. He adjusted his mirrored shades with his thumb and forefinger on opposite sides, as though covering his face.
"Hibiki, I think perhaps we should pay Bosatsu a visit."
She stood and turned to follow him - then mimicked his gesture, even though she wasn't wearing glasses.
"Whatever."
~
Captain Nanafushi Kazue slumped against the wall, just beyond the exit from the arena, physically and emotionally exhausted.
"Next time, Kotei Jin - I'll be ready."
~
Kono Sayuri walked with the crowd, her head in a whirl. She had no idea how intense these Championship matches would be! And Kotei-kun... he was so...
"What are you doing here?"
She looked around - who was that?
"Over here."
She turned towards the voice - it was Mizumigawa Shin, Kotei-kun's teammate. She had been leaning against the wall outside the audience's exit doors.
"Mi... Mizumigawa-san?"
Mizumigawa sauntered up to her. "Yep, that's me. What are you doing here?"
"I... I came to watch the matches? I wanted to support our duelists -"
"Word of advice. I know his kind." Kono blinked. "He's never going to notice someone cheering from the sidelines. To people like him, unless you're a duelist, you might as well not exist." Mizumigawa shrugged. "Just something to think about."
She sprang into a cartwheel, then dashed off towards the team's bus.
Kono watched her leave, wide-eyed.
Jihara and Mizumigawa looked over at her.
"The captain's up next," she explained. "We're not going to have a chance to duel today."
Mizumigawa smirked. "You just figured that out now?" She hopped up on the railing and tousled Jin's hair vigorously. "I knew Kotei-kun had things under control!" Yukimura just raised an eyebrow.
Jin ducked to get away. "He's that good, is he?" The others looked surprised.
"Oh, that's right," said Yukimura, adjusting her glasses. "You haven't seen Ryoichi-san play a real match yet, have you?"
"Ryoichi-dono is a very powerful duelist," said Jihara. "He's been looking forward to this duel - I expect he has an unbeatable strategy prepared."
"He's also, ah," added Yukimura, "something of a performer."
"You don't say," muttered Jin, watching Ryoichi - who was ostentatiously waving around his folded paper fan as cherry blossoms, tossed by a member of his fanclub, fluttered by.
~
"So, Yosai-san! Are you looking forward to this duel?" Ryoichi gestured grandly.
Yosai Akio closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. What a trivial person, he thought.
"I should warn you, though," said Ryoichi conspiratorially, "you shouldn't take me lightly. I'm pretty clever." He winked to punctuate his boast.
"Enough." Yosai glared across the arena at Ryoichi. "You are wasting my time with this foolishness." Besides, I've already discerned your throw. He raised his hand.
Ryoichi raised his own hand in turn, smirking.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
Yosai's glare only became more intense. "Rock crushes Scissors! Point to Ryoichi!"
"Don't get cocky, Ryoichi-san. Your strategy is completely obvious now. I'm going to -"
"It's useless, Yosai-san." Ryoichi's smile hadn't changed, but his eyes had gone cold. "You entered this arena convinced that you're smarter than me. That certainty - it's a fatal mistake for a duelist. It was simple to lead your throw with a fake tell."
Yosai didn't make a sound.
"And yet - every moment I watch you duel, I can read more of your heart. You're still determined to win, even though your team is so far behind. Why, I wonder...?"
"Don't be a fool. There's no point in giving up before the end." He raised his hand again, and Ryoichi followed suit.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
As Yosai made his throw, he slid his thumb down slightly - releasing the two fingers that had been pressing against it. His hand unfolded into a lightning-fast Scissors!
And Ryoichi was waiting for him already with another throw of Rock.
"Rock crushes Scissors! Point to Ryoichi! Game point!"
"I told you, Yosai. I can read your heart. I knew you'd try a trick throw like that, so it was easy to see the extra pressure you were putting on your thumb." Ryoichi waved his hand dismissively. "And you're not really trying to win this round, are you?"
Yosai froze. "But you just said -"
"You want to win this match. That's much more important to you than winning this round of the tournament, isn't it?" Ryoichi spread his hands. "And it's not even me you're angry at." Nanafushi Kazue and the rest of Chikaku were watching him closely now. "You're playing as hard as you can - because you want to prove you're better than your teammates."
Yosai's voice was frigid. "I am better than them."
"THAT'S NOT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CAPTAIN!" Ryoichi's sudden shout sent Yosai stumbling back a step. "A captain can't think of himself! He has to fight for his teammates! As a captain, you have to help them get stronger - their strength is your strength! If they lose, you lose! If they win, you win! That's a captain's duty!" He raised his fist as he shouted.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
Yosai was almost too stunned to make a throw. He had no chance - Ryoichi's Scissors effortlessly swept his Paper aside.
"Match, Ryoichi! Bosatsu wins!"
The cheer from the crowd was deafening. Ryoichi stood in silence for a moment.
Yosai didn't turn back towards the bench. "You're wrong, Ryoichi-san. Without me, they would be worthless. It's only my strength that brought them here today. You have to look out for yourself!"
"No, Yosai-san. You're the one who's wrong." He turned to see Nanafushi Kazue standing behind him, her face determined, her eyes gleaming.
"How dare you talk to me like that. I'm the only one who-"
"You're fired."
Yosai sputtered, his composure gone entirely. "Worthless! You're nothing! You can't fire me - I'm the captain!"
But the other three duelists from Chikaku were standing beside her now, Kumoru's hand on her shoulder. Yosai just stared at them, then Ryoichi, then back at his team, his mouth hanging open.
"Get lost," hissed Kumoru.
If anything, the crowd cheered even louder than before.
~
As the triumphant Bosatsu duelists were leaving the arena, Jin walked alongside Ryoichi.
"So, your technique... it lets you see the weakness in your opponent's heart. There's something a little sinister about that, Ryoichi-san," smirked Jin.
Ryoichi raised an eyebrow. "You don't say, 'Thousand-Devil'?"
"I'm just wondering - what do you do if your opponent isn't screwed up?"
Ryoichi smiled softly and shook his head. "We're duelists, Jin. We're all damaged."
~
Kyoru watched the Bosatsu team exit the arena, then stood and turned for the door. He adjusted his mirrored shades with his thumb and forefinger on opposite sides, as though covering his face.
"Hibiki, I think perhaps we should pay Bosatsu a visit."
She stood and turned to follow him - then mimicked his gesture, even though she wasn't wearing glasses.
"Whatever."
~
Captain Nanafushi Kazue slumped against the wall, just beyond the exit from the arena, physically and emotionally exhausted.
"Next time, Kotei Jin - I'll be ready."
~
Kono Sayuri walked with the crowd, her head in a whirl. She had no idea how intense these Championship matches would be! And Kotei-kun... he was so...
"What are you doing here?"
She looked around - who was that?
"Over here."
She turned towards the voice - it was Mizumigawa Shin, Kotei-kun's teammate. She had been leaning against the wall outside the audience's exit doors.
"Mi... Mizumigawa-san?"
Mizumigawa sauntered up to her. "Yep, that's me. What are you doing here?"
"I... I came to watch the matches? I wanted to support our duelists -"
"Word of advice. I know his kind." Kono blinked. "He's never going to notice someone cheering from the sidelines. To people like him, unless you're a duelist, you might as well not exist." Mizumigawa shrugged. "Just something to think about."
She sprang into a cartwheel, then dashed off towards the team's bus.
Kono watched her leave, wide-eyed.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Episode 13 - The Return of Thousand-Devil Kotei
The two duelists faced each other across the arena - on one side, Kotei Jin of Bosatsu Academy, and on the other, Nanafushi Kazue of Chikaku. She smiled at Jin warmly. It was hard to imagine that she was the dreaded 'Chikaku's Demon'.
"Hey there - 'Thousand-Devil'."
Jin felt a chill. Until not too long ago, he had thought he'd never again stand in a dueling arena, before the gathered crowds, facing down a determined warrior. And now, here he was - and she called him by his old nickname.
He'd thought his days as 'Thousand-Devil Kotei' were over forever.
"Want to know something? I'm really glad I get to duel you."
Jin flexed his fingers, stretching his muscles. "Yeah? Why's that?"
Nanafushi giggled. "I was a big fan, you know. Back when you were in the Junior leagues." She looked off to the side, as though seeing his duels play out before her eyes. "Everyone was transparent to you. Their training and hard work, their strategies and techniques - these meant nothing. You could always see their weaknesses - and crush them." She looked back at him, her eyes gleaming. "You were ruthless."
He looked away, suddenly uncomfortable. "I was -"
"They say the same thing about me. Ruthless." She raised a hand towards him. "But you and I know what that means - we never back down. We're here to duel, so we fight to crush our opponents! To do any less would be the worst insult imaginable!"
Jin's hand shot out to the side, first two fingers pressed together - in preparation for his Thousand Devil Eye. "Then you know the full power of my technique. There's no reason for me to hold back -"
"That's right, Kotei-chan. Because I've watched you for so long, I know the full extent of your Thousand Devil Eye." She put one hand up to her chin, folding the other arm across her chest. She tapped one finger against her lips thoughtfully. "But that also means... I know its weak points. I've seen every misstep you've made - so I know how to seal the Thousand Devil Eye completely!"
Jin didn't respond - instead he swept his hand forward and pressed his fingers to his third eye, a determined look on his face.
"... Of course, you're still going to use it. That's another thing I know about you, Kotei-chan. You're arrogant." A cruel smile spread behind the finger resting on her lips. "This is going to be interesting."
~
"This is going to be boring." Up in the box seats, a bald-headed girl in a loose-fitting burgundy robe popped a grape into her mouth. "Nanafushi-me has studied all of his techniques, and Kotei-me has been rotting for years." She rubbed the back of her neck. On this hand, tattoos on her knuckles spelled out "1 C O R", on the other, "1 3 1 2".
"I disagree, Hibiki," replied Venomous Kyoru from the seat beside her. "I expect the return of Thousand Devil Kotei to be quite illuminating."
~
Jin's mind flooded with information. Nanafushi clearly had already chosen her first throw - the way she was watching him, with that dark smile, she was looking for reactions. But did she have a sequence planned, or was she coming up with her throws one at a time? She said she could seal away his Thousand Devil Eye - but she wasn't doing anything directly against it. So did she think her strategy was immune to analysis?
He needed to watch her carefully as she prepared her next throw. Until then, he'd have to come up with a plan for the first round.
She just looked back at him with a predatorial stare.
~
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
The first throw was a tie - both of them had thrown Scissors.
"What's Kotei-kun doing?" Mizumigawa was hanging off the edge of her seat, leaning on the railing in front of her. "She said she could seal the Eye, but she hasn't done anything yet! So why isn't he winning?"
Yukimura narrowed her eyes, watching the duelists prepare for their next throw. "I'm not so sure she hasn't done something, Mizu-kun." Mizumigawa looked back at her. "His perception is so great - I think the real duel may be invisible to us."
~
There - a flicker in Nanafushi's eyes.
She's picking a new throw. That's the weakness of the Thousand Devil Eye she's exploiting - if she picks her throws at random, there isn't an underlying strategy for me to counter. But even if she executes it perfectly, random play leaves us each with a fifty percent chance of victory. There's no way she'd accept that. So she plans to play randomly and watch me to determine what pattern I'll fall into as a reaction.
Which means -
Jin raised his fist.
~
Throws fell in rapid succession.
Rock and Rock.
The two duelists were silent. They watched each other, unblinking.
Paper and Scissors - a point for Nanafushi.
Nanafushi's face was twisted into a wicked grin, her eyes narrowed.
Scissors and Paper - a point for Jin.
Jin stared her down. A single drop of sweat beaded on his brow.
Rock and Rock.
Then, Scissors and Rock, another point for Nanafushi.
She was leading, two points to one.
Game point.
~
Kono Sayuri clutched her hands to her chest. Kotei-kun looked so bold, so confident, just like when he had saved her from those two thugs on the tennis courts at Bosatsu Academy. When she had heard he was joining the dueling team, she knew she wanted to be there to support him. She just hadn't realized how intense these duelists could be.
She hadn't been able to muster a proper cheer, but as they prepared for the next throw, she whispered, "You can do it, Kotei-kun."
~
"Shoot!"
Their hands fell once more. This time, Jin's Paper won out over Nanafushi's Rock. They were tied at two points each. Nanafushi frowned, began to raise her hand for the next game-point throw.
Then she drew in a breath, sharply.
"Damn you," she said, her cunning smile returning. "How long?!"
"Tch. I was hoping you wouldn't notice." Jin smiled back. "I started back on the second throw."
She shook her head. "How the hell did you break it?"
"I guess there's no point in hiding it any more." He swept his hand out to the side, as though to encompass the entire duel. "By the second throw I realized you were using random throws to block my technique. I watched you when you were selecting your throw, and saw that your eyes flicked to the side - you weren't using the clock, or performing any complex mental arithmetic to pick your throw." He pointed to where she had been looking. "You were using those advertisement banners."
As he spoke, one of the electronic banners shifted - from "Auxesis Corp" to "Shin-Ra Beverage Concern".
"They're changing throughout the match - each advertisement could correspond to a different throw." He tapped his forehead. "But you've seen me duel before. There's no way you'd use such a simple method, right? So I deduced that you were using both of the banners that were in your field of view when you glanced over there - each pair of advertisements would correspond to a throw, because these two signs were changing at different rates. When you were picking your second throw, only one of the signs was different. That meant it was unlikely you'd throw Scissors a second time."
She shook her head. "Wait. Why'd you throw Rock, then?"
"Ah!" he said, holding up one finger. "I picked the throw that I predicted would be worst - because if I was right, I'd get confirmation of my theory, and if I was wrong, I'd get a point. Either way, I win."
He clenched his fist. "From there, it was easy to predict all of your throws! I gave you a few points to let you think you had successfully sealed my Eye - but I was controlling the whole game."
There was a brief silence.
"Spectacular! Somehow I underestimated you, Kotei-chan." Nanafushi stepped into a wider stance, narrowed her eyes at Jin. "But this duel isn't over!" She swept her arms out, swirling her dress around as though blasted by a sudden wind. Her grin widened to frightening proportions, and there seemed almost to be a flicker of heat haze around her. "It's time to go into overdrive!"
They raised their hands for the game point.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors!"
~
Jihara spoke softly to Ryoichi. "You feel it, don't you?" Ryoichi said nothing, his entire focus on Kotei Jin. "His battle aura... it's already so strong."
~
"Shoot!"
~
Kyoru glanced at Hibiki.
"Tch. Whatever." She folded her arms contemptuously. "A scythe can't tell the difference in strength between two stalks of wheat."
~
"Match, Kotei! Three points to two!"
Nanafushi stared at Jin, her hand still outstretched, forming Paper.
"You want to know how I knew to throw Scissors? I'll explain. Your previous two throws were both Rock. The amateur would avoid throwing Rock three times in a row. You're no amateur, but you know that I know that you'd be aware of that. You expected I'd predict that you would avoid the throw that would be least expected - and therefore, I'd throw Rock to counter your Scissors, with you thinking I'd throw Paper to counter your Rock. You were counting on me outsmarting you and predicting all that, so you threw Paper." He spread his hands. "I was one step ahead of you."
A slow smile crept across her face. "Incredible." She dropped her hand to her side. "Ha ha ha ha ha! That was incredible! You're even stronger than I thought!"
Jin bowed his head slightly.
"Kotei Jin!" She pointed at him. "I'm definitely going to get stronger! The next time we meet, I'm going to destroy you utterly!" She winked. "Deal?"
Jin opened his mouth to speak, but-
"Worthless people shouldn't talk like that."
Jin and Nanafushi turned, struck silent, towards Chikaku's bench, where Captain Yosai Akio was slowly standing. His face was fixed in an expression of cold scorn.
He walked over to the dueling platform, sneered at Nanafushi. "Get out of my way."
She tensed up, but didn't speak - just walked back to the bench with her head low. Jin reached forward, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.
Ryoichi stood there, a serene look on his face. "I'll handle this one, Kotei-kun." Cherry blossoms wafted through the air around him.
Wait, thought Jin, cherry blossoms? He glanced behind Ryoichi, to see one of the girls from Ryoichi's personal fanclub cheerfully tossing handfuls of petals. Really?
"Hey there - 'Thousand-Devil'."
Jin felt a chill. Until not too long ago, he had thought he'd never again stand in a dueling arena, before the gathered crowds, facing down a determined warrior. And now, here he was - and she called him by his old nickname.
He'd thought his days as 'Thousand-Devil Kotei' were over forever.
"Want to know something? I'm really glad I get to duel you."
Jin flexed his fingers, stretching his muscles. "Yeah? Why's that?"
Nanafushi giggled. "I was a big fan, you know. Back when you were in the Junior leagues." She looked off to the side, as though seeing his duels play out before her eyes. "Everyone was transparent to you. Their training and hard work, their strategies and techniques - these meant nothing. You could always see their weaknesses - and crush them." She looked back at him, her eyes gleaming. "You were ruthless."
He looked away, suddenly uncomfortable. "I was -"
"They say the same thing about me. Ruthless." She raised a hand towards him. "But you and I know what that means - we never back down. We're here to duel, so we fight to crush our opponents! To do any less would be the worst insult imaginable!"
Jin's hand shot out to the side, first two fingers pressed together - in preparation for his Thousand Devil Eye. "Then you know the full power of my technique. There's no reason for me to hold back -"
"That's right, Kotei-chan. Because I've watched you for so long, I know the full extent of your Thousand Devil Eye." She put one hand up to her chin, folding the other arm across her chest. She tapped one finger against her lips thoughtfully. "But that also means... I know its weak points. I've seen every misstep you've made - so I know how to seal the Thousand Devil Eye completely!"
Jin didn't respond - instead he swept his hand forward and pressed his fingers to his third eye, a determined look on his face.
"... Of course, you're still going to use it. That's another thing I know about you, Kotei-chan. You're arrogant." A cruel smile spread behind the finger resting on her lips. "This is going to be interesting."
~
"This is going to be boring." Up in the box seats, a bald-headed girl in a loose-fitting burgundy robe popped a grape into her mouth. "Nanafushi-me has studied all of his techniques, and Kotei-me has been rotting for years." She rubbed the back of her neck. On this hand, tattoos on her knuckles spelled out "1 C O R", on the other, "1 3 1 2".
"I disagree, Hibiki," replied Venomous Kyoru from the seat beside her. "I expect the return of Thousand Devil Kotei to be quite illuminating."
~
Jin's mind flooded with information. Nanafushi clearly had already chosen her first throw - the way she was watching him, with that dark smile, she was looking for reactions. But did she have a sequence planned, or was she coming up with her throws one at a time? She said she could seal away his Thousand Devil Eye - but she wasn't doing anything directly against it. So did she think her strategy was immune to analysis?
He needed to watch her carefully as she prepared her next throw. Until then, he'd have to come up with a plan for the first round.
She just looked back at him with a predatorial stare.
~
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
The first throw was a tie - both of them had thrown Scissors.
"What's Kotei-kun doing?" Mizumigawa was hanging off the edge of her seat, leaning on the railing in front of her. "She said she could seal the Eye, but she hasn't done anything yet! So why isn't he winning?"
Yukimura narrowed her eyes, watching the duelists prepare for their next throw. "I'm not so sure she hasn't done something, Mizu-kun." Mizumigawa looked back at her. "His perception is so great - I think the real duel may be invisible to us."
~
There - a flicker in Nanafushi's eyes.
She's picking a new throw. That's the weakness of the Thousand Devil Eye she's exploiting - if she picks her throws at random, there isn't an underlying strategy for me to counter. But even if she executes it perfectly, random play leaves us each with a fifty percent chance of victory. There's no way she'd accept that. So she plans to play randomly and watch me to determine what pattern I'll fall into as a reaction.
Which means -
Jin raised his fist.
~
Throws fell in rapid succession.
Rock and Rock.
The two duelists were silent. They watched each other, unblinking.
Paper and Scissors - a point for Nanafushi.
Nanafushi's face was twisted into a wicked grin, her eyes narrowed.
Scissors and Paper - a point for Jin.
Jin stared her down. A single drop of sweat beaded on his brow.
Rock and Rock.
Then, Scissors and Rock, another point for Nanafushi.
She was leading, two points to one.
Game point.
~
Kono Sayuri clutched her hands to her chest. Kotei-kun looked so bold, so confident, just like when he had saved her from those two thugs on the tennis courts at Bosatsu Academy. When she had heard he was joining the dueling team, she knew she wanted to be there to support him. She just hadn't realized how intense these duelists could be.
She hadn't been able to muster a proper cheer, but as they prepared for the next throw, she whispered, "You can do it, Kotei-kun."
~
"Shoot!"
Their hands fell once more. This time, Jin's Paper won out over Nanafushi's Rock. They were tied at two points each. Nanafushi frowned, began to raise her hand for the next game-point throw.
Then she drew in a breath, sharply.
"Damn you," she said, her cunning smile returning. "How long?!"
"Tch. I was hoping you wouldn't notice." Jin smiled back. "I started back on the second throw."
She shook her head. "How the hell did you break it?"
"I guess there's no point in hiding it any more." He swept his hand out to the side, as though to encompass the entire duel. "By the second throw I realized you were using random throws to block my technique. I watched you when you were selecting your throw, and saw that your eyes flicked to the side - you weren't using the clock, or performing any complex mental arithmetic to pick your throw." He pointed to where she had been looking. "You were using those advertisement banners."
As he spoke, one of the electronic banners shifted - from "Auxesis Corp" to "Shin-Ra Beverage Concern".
"They're changing throughout the match - each advertisement could correspond to a different throw." He tapped his forehead. "But you've seen me duel before. There's no way you'd use such a simple method, right? So I deduced that you were using both of the banners that were in your field of view when you glanced over there - each pair of advertisements would correspond to a throw, because these two signs were changing at different rates. When you were picking your second throw, only one of the signs was different. That meant it was unlikely you'd throw Scissors a second time."
She shook her head. "Wait. Why'd you throw Rock, then?"
"Ah!" he said, holding up one finger. "I picked the throw that I predicted would be worst - because if I was right, I'd get confirmation of my theory, and if I was wrong, I'd get a point. Either way, I win."
He clenched his fist. "From there, it was easy to predict all of your throws! I gave you a few points to let you think you had successfully sealed my Eye - but I was controlling the whole game."
There was a brief silence.
"Spectacular! Somehow I underestimated you, Kotei-chan." Nanafushi stepped into a wider stance, narrowed her eyes at Jin. "But this duel isn't over!" She swept her arms out, swirling her dress around as though blasted by a sudden wind. Her grin widened to frightening proportions, and there seemed almost to be a flicker of heat haze around her. "It's time to go into overdrive!"
They raised their hands for the game point.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors!"
~
Jihara spoke softly to Ryoichi. "You feel it, don't you?" Ryoichi said nothing, his entire focus on Kotei Jin. "His battle aura... it's already so strong."
~
"Shoot!"
~
Kyoru glanced at Hibiki.
"Tch. Whatever." She folded her arms contemptuously. "A scythe can't tell the difference in strength between two stalks of wheat."
~
"Match, Kotei! Three points to two!"
Nanafushi stared at Jin, her hand still outstretched, forming Paper.
"You want to know how I knew to throw Scissors? I'll explain. Your previous two throws were both Rock. The amateur would avoid throwing Rock three times in a row. You're no amateur, but you know that I know that you'd be aware of that. You expected I'd predict that you would avoid the throw that would be least expected - and therefore, I'd throw Rock to counter your Scissors, with you thinking I'd throw Paper to counter your Rock. You were counting on me outsmarting you and predicting all that, so you threw Paper." He spread his hands. "I was one step ahead of you."
A slow smile crept across her face. "Incredible." She dropped her hand to her side. "Ha ha ha ha ha! That was incredible! You're even stronger than I thought!"
Jin bowed his head slightly.
"Kotei Jin!" She pointed at him. "I'm definitely going to get stronger! The next time we meet, I'm going to destroy you utterly!" She winked. "Deal?"
Jin opened his mouth to speak, but-
"Worthless people shouldn't talk like that."
Jin and Nanafushi turned, struck silent, towards Chikaku's bench, where Captain Yosai Akio was slowly standing. His face was fixed in an expression of cold scorn.
He walked over to the dueling platform, sneered at Nanafushi. "Get out of my way."
She tensed up, but didn't speak - just walked back to the bench with her head low. Jin reached forward, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.
Ryoichi stood there, a serene look on his face. "I'll handle this one, Kotei-kun." Cherry blossoms wafted through the air around him.
Wait, thought Jin, cherry blossoms? He glanced behind Ryoichi, to see one of the girls from Ryoichi's personal fanclub cheerfully tossing handfuls of petals. Really?
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Episode 12 - The Demon Emerges
Jin watched as the two duelists sized each other up - Mizumigawa Shin on one side, Kumoru Yuji on the other. He thought back to the other night at the pool hall. Kumoru was unpleasant, certainly, but was he really Yosai Akio's secret weapon - "Chikaku's Demon"?
He flashed back to the image of Mizumigawa standing over Kumoru in the pool hall. And though he was the one lying on the floor, his expression of shock and pain concealed a subtle smile. He was the one in control.
"Ryoichi-san," Jin asked quietly, "are you sure about this?"
Captain Ryoichi watched Mizumigawa calmly. "Trust your teammate, Kotei-kun."
~
"So, Mizu-chan... how did a delicate thing like you become a duelist?" He paused briefly. "Normally duelists are a bit... tougher. You're just-"
"I'm going to shut you up with my first throw!" Mizumigawa clenched her fist. Kumoru, still smiling, shrugged, then raised his fist as well.
The referee, sitting high above them and to the side, chanted as they silently pumped their fists -
"Rock! Paper! Scissors!"
Mizumigawa leapt up just before the throw, twisting to put more force and speed into the arc of her fist, landing just as the referee shouted "Shoot!"
There was a short pause, then:
"Scissors cut paper! Point to Mizumigawa!"
Her smile was confident - but above all, it was calm.
"So," said Kumoru slowly, his tone controlled and flat, "you let me think that I had made you angry enough to throw rock, countering my words with an aggressive throw. Not bad."
~
Quietly, Yosai laughed to himself. "That was quick," he whispered. "You've lost so soon... Mizumigawa-san."
~
A slow grin started to creep back across Kumoru's face. "But the duel is over now. From now on, we play a much simpler game." He stretched up to his full height, and light gleamed madly off one of his eyes from amidst the tangle of his hair.
"That game is called - 'fear'."
~
"Oh, hell," said Yukimura quietly. "I don't believe it."
The others on the bench turned towards her, quizzical looks on their faces.
She shook her head. "This idiot Kumoru - he's an analytical type."
~
Kumoru seemed to loom over Mizumigawa, even from the opposite platform. A complete change had come over him - all of the amusement had left his voice, replaced with cold authority. "I'll make you an offer." His voice dripped with scorn. He raised his hand, two fingers extended, showing Scissors. "We'll both throw Scissors. A show of good faith. If you cooperate, perhaps I'll take it easy on you." He narrowed his eyes. "But if you think of throwing something else, I'll know." He made a fist, ready for the next throw.
"Mizumigawa leads, one to zero," said the announcer.
Mizumigawa looked hesitant, but raised her hand as well nonetheless. Her eyes darted across Kumoru's face from underneath her dark sunglasses, looking for a clue to his next move, but his expression was still, cold, unreadable.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
Mizumigawa's throw was less forceful this time, but Kumoru's was completely different from before - his movements were clipped and harsh, almost as though he were striking someone with his hand.
"Scissors cuts paper! Point to Kumoru!"
Kumoru stared into Mizumigawa's eyes, as though looking right through her shades. "I told you to throw Scissors."
She flinched. So this is his strength, she thought.
He brushed the hair out of his eyes. "Utterly transparent. You've been my puppet from the very moment we first met, but even I didn't expect this duel to go so perfectly." He gestured toward her. "The other night, at the pool hall, do you know what I saw? I saw what you look like when you lose your cool. And then, on the very first throw of this match..."
Mizumigawa's eyes went wide as she realized what he was saying.
"... I saw what you look like when you're faking. This is what allows me to use the full power of my technique - 'Fear Itself'."
Her mind raced. His technique is based on intimidation - and reading his opponent. He tells them to make a specific throw, then he can tell whether they'll go along with it by reading their emotional reaction. Such a technique - this is what makes him a 'Demon'!
His lips parted in a thin, cruel smile. "So you've figured it out? A terrifying technique, isn't it? And the best part - is that it works even if you know about it." He shook his head. "I've beaten you so easily. You're worthless, you know that?" He paused, as though just realizing something amusing. "Is that why you duel? To prove you're good for something? I guess that didn't quite work out."
Mizumigawa raised her hand for the third throw, and muttered through clenched teeth, "shut up."
"One all," noted the announcer.
"Fine, then," replied Kumoru, raising his hand in turn. "Now, obey me this time - or you'll regret it. Throw Rock."
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
Kumoru's eyes went wide. "Impossible!" he hissed.
Mizumigawa smirked. "I thought you wanted me to throw Rock... ?"
"Rock crushes Scissors! Point to Mizumigawa!"
~
Ryoichi chuckled softly. "You know, I almost feel sorry for him. To face Mizu-kun when he relies on a technique like that...."
Jin looked up at him.
"She has incredible control over her movements," explained Ryoichi. "While he relies on her reactions to choose his throw, she can make him do whatever she wants. I wonder what he'll do now...?"
~
Kumoru raised his head, peered down at Mizumigawa. "This changes nothing. You haven't seen the limit of my power - I've already figured out how to read you even through this-"
He was cut off by a sound like a thunderclap.
Mizumigawa's hands were pressed together, fingers interlaced, forefingers steepled. "Rin. Seal of the Thunderbolt." All the tension seemed to have left her body - she seemed once again relaxed and confident. "Let's put that to the test, then. I'll show you my 'unreadable throw'! You'd better pay close attention!"
Kumoru frowned, but raised his fist nonetheless.
"Mizumigawa leads, two to one! Match point!"
"Now, listen," she said. "I'm going to throw Rock."
The countdown began.
"Rock!"
A sneer was fixed on Kumoru's face.
"Paper!"
Arrogant. She's too arrogant! She doesn't know my true strength.
"Scissors!"
In one lightning-fast motion, Mizumigawa tore her sunglasses off with her free hand and threw them straight up.
A distraction, thought Kumoru. But if I just manage to keep watching her face, then I'll definitely be able to read her!
But... what's that noise?
"Shoot!"
A harsh hiss escaping her lips, Mizumigawa whipped her hand forward.
There was dead silence. Time seemed to stand still. She held her hand forward, fist clenched. She had thrown Rock. And Kumoru... he stood there with his mouth open.
He hadn't made a throw at all.
Time caught up with them, and Mizumigawa's sunglasses fell back down towards her. She snatched them out of the air, then slid them back over her eyes.
"That... was my King Cobra Strike!"
~
"King Cobra...?" Jin wasn't quite sure what he had just seen.
"King Cobra Strike," said Yukimura, adjusting her glasses. "An esoteric technique, and not an easy one to use. It only works if the opponent isn't expecting it, and is paying careful attention to the duelist's eyes. Essentially, it's a glare of intense, focused intimidation - designed to make the opponent flinch at the exact moment of the throw. It was never meant to be an 'unreadable throw' - she just needed him to watch her as closely as possible."
"This is Mizumigawa-dono's hidden strength," added Jihara. "She has an exceptional talent for learning and executing complex esoteric techniques."
Ryoichi nodded. "You see, Kotei-kun? Trust in your teammates." He watched Mizumigawa with a smile of quiet pride.
~
"Match, Mizumigawa! Thee points to one!" A cheer rose up from the crowd and the Bosatsu bench.
"Sorry, Kumoru-chan. But your technique - it really is despicable. There's no way you could win against me with something like that!"
Kumoru remained silent. He gritted his teeth, then turned and started to leave.
Mizumigawa grinned, seeming once again to be her usual, lighthearted self. She turned to the Chikaku bench, where Captain Yosai was watching in scornful disappointment as Kumoru walked away. "Yosai!" He looked over at her. "I really wasn't impressed with your 'Demon'!"
"... Heh heh heh."
She turned back towards Kumoru, who had frozen in place.
"Heh heh heh heh... ha ha ha ha HA HA HA HA!" Kumoru bent over backwards with angry laughter, as though this were the stupidest thing he had ever heard. "AHAHAHAHA!!"
After a short time, he caught his breath, then turned back towards Mizumigawa.
"You though I was Chikaku's Demon?"
She drew in a breath sharply.
Kumoru shook his head condescendingly. "No. Our 'Demon' is going to play in the next round."
Jin stared at Kumoru intently. I'm playing the next round - so I'll be facing this 'Demon'. But if it's not him, then...
Kumoru raised a hand and gestured towards the Chikaku bench, where Nanafushi Kazue stood smiling brightly in her floral dress.
"That's her right there."
He flashed back to the image of Mizumigawa standing over Kumoru in the pool hall. And though he was the one lying on the floor, his expression of shock and pain concealed a subtle smile. He was the one in control.
"Ryoichi-san," Jin asked quietly, "are you sure about this?"
Captain Ryoichi watched Mizumigawa calmly. "Trust your teammate, Kotei-kun."
~
"So, Mizu-chan... how did a delicate thing like you become a duelist?" He paused briefly. "Normally duelists are a bit... tougher. You're just-"
"I'm going to shut you up with my first throw!" Mizumigawa clenched her fist. Kumoru, still smiling, shrugged, then raised his fist as well.
The referee, sitting high above them and to the side, chanted as they silently pumped their fists -
"Rock! Paper! Scissors!"
Mizumigawa leapt up just before the throw, twisting to put more force and speed into the arc of her fist, landing just as the referee shouted "Shoot!"
There was a short pause, then:
"Scissors cut paper! Point to Mizumigawa!"
Her smile was confident - but above all, it was calm.
"So," said Kumoru slowly, his tone controlled and flat, "you let me think that I had made you angry enough to throw rock, countering my words with an aggressive throw. Not bad."
~
Quietly, Yosai laughed to himself. "That was quick," he whispered. "You've lost so soon... Mizumigawa-san."
~
A slow grin started to creep back across Kumoru's face. "But the duel is over now. From now on, we play a much simpler game." He stretched up to his full height, and light gleamed madly off one of his eyes from amidst the tangle of his hair.
"That game is called - 'fear'."
~
"Oh, hell," said Yukimura quietly. "I don't believe it."
The others on the bench turned towards her, quizzical looks on their faces.
She shook her head. "This idiot Kumoru - he's an analytical type."
~
Kumoru seemed to loom over Mizumigawa, even from the opposite platform. A complete change had come over him - all of the amusement had left his voice, replaced with cold authority. "I'll make you an offer." His voice dripped with scorn. He raised his hand, two fingers extended, showing Scissors. "We'll both throw Scissors. A show of good faith. If you cooperate, perhaps I'll take it easy on you." He narrowed his eyes. "But if you think of throwing something else, I'll know." He made a fist, ready for the next throw.
"Mizumigawa leads, one to zero," said the announcer.
Mizumigawa looked hesitant, but raised her hand as well nonetheless. Her eyes darted across Kumoru's face from underneath her dark sunglasses, looking for a clue to his next move, but his expression was still, cold, unreadable.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
Mizumigawa's throw was less forceful this time, but Kumoru's was completely different from before - his movements were clipped and harsh, almost as though he were striking someone with his hand.
"Scissors cuts paper! Point to Kumoru!"
Kumoru stared into Mizumigawa's eyes, as though looking right through her shades. "I told you to throw Scissors."
She flinched. So this is his strength, she thought.
He brushed the hair out of his eyes. "Utterly transparent. You've been my puppet from the very moment we first met, but even I didn't expect this duel to go so perfectly." He gestured toward her. "The other night, at the pool hall, do you know what I saw? I saw what you look like when you lose your cool. And then, on the very first throw of this match..."
Mizumigawa's eyes went wide as she realized what he was saying.
"... I saw what you look like when you're faking. This is what allows me to use the full power of my technique - 'Fear Itself'."
Her mind raced. His technique is based on intimidation - and reading his opponent. He tells them to make a specific throw, then he can tell whether they'll go along with it by reading their emotional reaction. Such a technique - this is what makes him a 'Demon'!
His lips parted in a thin, cruel smile. "So you've figured it out? A terrifying technique, isn't it? And the best part - is that it works even if you know about it." He shook his head. "I've beaten you so easily. You're worthless, you know that?" He paused, as though just realizing something amusing. "Is that why you duel? To prove you're good for something? I guess that didn't quite work out."
Mizumigawa raised her hand for the third throw, and muttered through clenched teeth, "shut up."
"One all," noted the announcer.
"Fine, then," replied Kumoru, raising his hand in turn. "Now, obey me this time - or you'll regret it. Throw Rock."
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
Kumoru's eyes went wide. "Impossible!" he hissed.
Mizumigawa smirked. "I thought you wanted me to throw Rock... ?"
"Rock crushes Scissors! Point to Mizumigawa!"
~
Ryoichi chuckled softly. "You know, I almost feel sorry for him. To face Mizu-kun when he relies on a technique like that...."
Jin looked up at him.
"She has incredible control over her movements," explained Ryoichi. "While he relies on her reactions to choose his throw, she can make him do whatever she wants. I wonder what he'll do now...?"
~
Kumoru raised his head, peered down at Mizumigawa. "This changes nothing. You haven't seen the limit of my power - I've already figured out how to read you even through this-"
He was cut off by a sound like a thunderclap.
Mizumigawa's hands were pressed together, fingers interlaced, forefingers steepled. "Rin. Seal of the Thunderbolt." All the tension seemed to have left her body - she seemed once again relaxed and confident. "Let's put that to the test, then. I'll show you my 'unreadable throw'! You'd better pay close attention!"
Kumoru frowned, but raised his fist nonetheless.
"Mizumigawa leads, two to one! Match point!"
"Now, listen," she said. "I'm going to throw Rock."
The countdown began.
"Rock!"
A sneer was fixed on Kumoru's face.
"Paper!"
Arrogant. She's too arrogant! She doesn't know my true strength.
"Scissors!"
In one lightning-fast motion, Mizumigawa tore her sunglasses off with her free hand and threw them straight up.
A distraction, thought Kumoru. But if I just manage to keep watching her face, then I'll definitely be able to read her!
But... what's that noise?
"Shoot!"
A harsh hiss escaping her lips, Mizumigawa whipped her hand forward.
There was dead silence. Time seemed to stand still. She held her hand forward, fist clenched. She had thrown Rock. And Kumoru... he stood there with his mouth open.
He hadn't made a throw at all.
Time caught up with them, and Mizumigawa's sunglasses fell back down towards her. She snatched them out of the air, then slid them back over her eyes.
"That... was my King Cobra Strike!"
~
"King Cobra...?" Jin wasn't quite sure what he had just seen.
"King Cobra Strike," said Yukimura, adjusting her glasses. "An esoteric technique, and not an easy one to use. It only works if the opponent isn't expecting it, and is paying careful attention to the duelist's eyes. Essentially, it's a glare of intense, focused intimidation - designed to make the opponent flinch at the exact moment of the throw. It was never meant to be an 'unreadable throw' - she just needed him to watch her as closely as possible."
"This is Mizumigawa-dono's hidden strength," added Jihara. "She has an exceptional talent for learning and executing complex esoteric techniques."
Ryoichi nodded. "You see, Kotei-kun? Trust in your teammates." He watched Mizumigawa with a smile of quiet pride.
~
"Match, Mizumigawa! Thee points to one!" A cheer rose up from the crowd and the Bosatsu bench.
"Sorry, Kumoru-chan. But your technique - it really is despicable. There's no way you could win against me with something like that!"
Kumoru remained silent. He gritted his teeth, then turned and started to leave.
Mizumigawa grinned, seeming once again to be her usual, lighthearted self. She turned to the Chikaku bench, where Captain Yosai was watching in scornful disappointment as Kumoru walked away. "Yosai!" He looked over at her. "I really wasn't impressed with your 'Demon'!"
"... Heh heh heh."
She turned back towards Kumoru, who had frozen in place.
"Heh heh heh heh... ha ha ha ha HA HA HA HA!" Kumoru bent over backwards with angry laughter, as though this were the stupidest thing he had ever heard. "AHAHAHAHA!!"
After a short time, he caught his breath, then turned back towards Mizumigawa.
"You though I was Chikaku's Demon?"
She drew in a breath sharply.
Kumoru shook his head condescendingly. "No. Our 'Demon' is going to play in the next round."
Jin stared at Kumoru intently. I'm playing the next round - so I'll be facing this 'Demon'. But if it's not him, then...
Kumoru raised a hand and gestured towards the Chikaku bench, where Nanafushi Kazue stood smiling brightly in her floral dress.
"That's her right there."
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