(GS3) Field: Train Station

[Beryl]

Satoshi stared at him, saying nothing. Of course Haruka would be able to tell who he was. Smart guy who knew his friends, he guessed. Even so, he didn't really have much to say to him. He could go on and on about how he messed up, how his feelings got in the way, how he failed, and so on...even though Hana and Haruka obviously succeeded. She seemed better than ever, actually. Did something happen? Did Hana learn how to let go? He somewhat wondered what this meant for Yukino...and yet...

He kept staring emptily at Haruka and said the only word that could come to mind of one with such a loss of heart.

"Nothing."

[[R.T] SpiderHunterMD]

The fight had ended, his opponent had pulled a critical trigger, thus ending the game. As the male gathered up his cards. Kurai began to speak without thought...

"Why didn't you use it?"

The person looked at Kurai with a strange look. He continued

"Phantom Blaster Dragon. A unit with a powerful skill which you refused to use. You... are too busy looking at the past. Those who look only to the past are certain to miss the future. It is true that you are missing this "Blaster Dark" however look not to what you don't have but what you do have, cherish that...evolve...then fight me once more again at your true self."

Kurai walked out of the train, and headed straight towards the local card-shop, Card Capital in search for a card that could surpass his avatar, Demon World Marquis, Amon

+1 respect towards cardfighter, Shin'en

[Jello]

Haruka would normally give off some sort of smug ass grin at this point, had the circumstances 12 hours ago been different.

He stared at him, ready to assault him with some sort of mortar attack of penalties and mistakes he made the night before. However, none of that came. Haruka took a deep breath, and sighed, and sat next to him.

Too out of steam. That fight took a bit out of him still, The End was not exactly 100% in sync with him just yet. But they were super close. He could feel it.

There was no point in yelling at him. In the end, what did he intend to accomplish? Venting was never Haruka's strong-suit.

"No really. What are you doing? Isn't it your job to protect the Princess and Queen, Royal Guard?" Haruka asked, jokingly. Well, it may have come off a bit more condescending, but he believes his point got across from the message in general. "So why are you sitting here staring at me and Hana from afar in a trench coat. This is... sort of pathetic." Haruka messes up Satoshi's hair for playful effect.

[Beryl]

Satoshi sighed and took off his sunglasses, staring down at his lap. Who was he kidding? Haruka would see right through him. In fact, it was amazing he had the tolerance to not bust him a new one after last night, given the fact that he ran off like that.

'I let my feelings get in the way," he finally said, shaking his head. "If I let my emotions get in the way of work, then I shouldn't have that job in the first place. Even if it's important, there will always be someone more capable to replace." He looked up at Haruka, eyes still a bit cold. "Like you for instance. You're much more capable than me, and hell, you've managed to push yourself further down your path of being a champion. You and Hana both...you're more than enough for Yukino." He closed his eyes and gave a weak smile.

"Don't worry about me, okay? I have to find myself again."

[Hope]

Hana walked out of the shelter, having just signed off on the papers, she hugged her puppy in her arms. She named the dog Pr❤ism... so Pr❤ism the female white Labrador puppy! They wouldn't let her add the heart into the name as they said that symbols weren't allowed. It was easy for her to convince them to make an exception. All she had to do was call dad-san and his persuasion skills made quick work.

"Geodude?" She noticed the guy who has just removed his sunglasses, but still in his trenchcoat.

"Um... hello are ... you ok?.." She asked, hesitantly as she walked closer to the bench where he was sitting. The hesitation came from the fact that she thought that he was rejected by Yukinee just last night, and it seems that its had such a big effect on him. Hana feared that the rejection had turned him into something like a pervert, using the trench coat to flash people... and the sunglasses to hide his shameful face."You haven't... done anything you'd regret since... last night have you??" She asked furthermore, worried. 

[Jello]

Haruka's mouth gaped a little, attempting to put words out but the only thing escaping was air. "Satoshi...I.." C'mon, say something dammit!

"Satoshi, I could never replace you. We are, two, very different people, you know this, yeah?" Haruka peered into Satoshi's eyes for a moment. "You are the Royal Guard to the Espoir. I'm just a sideshow. You've been here since the very beginning, by Yukino and Hana's side. I just wanted some answers and I ended up here by accident. There is no way I could ever replace you." Haruka wanted to praise Satoshi for the good he's done, aside from last night. However that wasn't what he wanted to hear. He wanted to hear he was needed.

He needed to know, he was needed.

"Satoshi, you know just as well as I do why I can't be the guard or the Champion. I'm just, not the person cut out for it. I'm only a champion by directive, I never asked for it. I never even wanted it at first..." Haruka's point had been made.

"I won't ever be able to be what you are. Noble, and doing things for the intention of the heart. That's a good thing, no?" Haruka smiled, with his most comforting voice backing him.

"You just need to apologize. Talk to Yukino. Fix this before it can't be anymore."

Soon after his little bit to Satoshi, he notices Hana running out of the store with a white puppy. "Oh, he's cute... A Labrador?"

CALLED IT!

Haruka assumes her notion about regret is referring to what he had said to her last night and spitting in her face.

Wait, was Hana there for that part?

[Beryl]

Hana's concern...Haruka's consolation...they both meant a lot. Satoshi felt a little warmth enter his body again, knowing that these two did care. But that didn't change that he had messed up. Even if Yukino was better...what good could he even do? He hurt her last night. Her own Royal Guard hurt her. How was he supposed to live with that? No apology could ever affect that.

"I...don't know if I can talk to her," he finally said, biting his lip. He looked up at Hana. "What I regret is that I couldn't understand how to really help her. I let my own thoughts get in the way of that, and I can't have that happen. I can't face her again if I'm only going to get in her way because I don't understand." He sighed and shook his head. "It's times like these I really am a simple farmboy---"

"Oh, shut up."

Seph flicked him on the back of the head. "Sure, you're a farm boy. Sure, Cray picking you to do stuff was weird. I honestly should've probably thought things through when I connected with you and whatnot. Sure, you completely failed. Heck, this is probably one of the first times you've had real failure in your life, considering how much you adapted to farm life. But is this any way to look at it? Didn't your parents prepare you for something like this, even if it's dire?"

Satoshi's mouth opened slightly in surprise, but his thoughts instantly raced to his mother, the night before he left.

~Flashback~

Kurisu Kurosaki stood at the sink, washing dishes in a long apron. Her son was leaving tomorrow to become a man. This was truly a proud moment for her and her husband, Tetsuo. After so many years of working and teaching, he was ready to be on his own.

But he was scared. He sat at the table, picking at his food, something very unlike him. She sat down for a moment next to him, placing a hand on his arm.

"Ah know yer mighty worried, Satoshi. But don' let that keep yeh down." She gave him a warm smile. "Ah believe in you, and yer pa does, too."

"But Ma...ah...ah'm worried that ah'll let y'all down...city ain't nothin' like the farm..." The boy was clearly troubled by his thoughts and couldn't exactly get it together, even with his favorite veggies on his plate.

Kurisu shook her head. "Darlin', this may surprise yeh, but we ain't expectin' yeh to be some sorta prodigy or expert. That ain't how life works." She pat his arm a bit. "Nah, see, in a way...we kinda want yeh to disappoint us."

Satoshi looked up at her, confused. "Ma, ain't that crazy talk, though? Y'don' want me back here bein' a burden 'n' all."

She shook her head again, and this time, didn't lace any of her words with natural dialect.

"If you disappoint someone, that isn't the end of the world, Satoshi. You've learned a lot, but the most important thing to learn from is that failure. You may let some people down, but at the same time, if you learn from it, then there's nothing wrong with it happening. Forgiveness comes through demonstrating that you've learned."

She pat his arm once more, and stood up. "Now, finish yer peas 'n' carrots so I can clean yer plate, y'hear? Need you ready bright 'n' early tomorrow for yer sendoff."

---

<...What I've learned...>

Satoshi had learned a lot. He learned that he loved having real friends. He learned that cardfighting was serious business, but also a ton of fun, no matter who he was against. He learned that there are those worth listening to, those worth supporting through troubled times. He learned he fought for what was right in his heart.

But most importantly, he had learned he was important, and that nothing stood in the way of that.

His passion, the fire in his heart, resurged, forcing him to stand up suddenly, throwing the trenchcoat away into the air. Underneath was the real Satoshi Kurosaki, a well-built farm boy now dressed in a tank top and shorts. How the hell was he going to reach his potential hindered by a huge cloak over how he really felt?

He flopped back down in his seat, looking between Hana and Haruka, half-smirk on his face. "Well, if you're looking to give me hell for yesterday, feel free to."

[Hope]

Hana really wasn't there for any of what Satoshi did so she really doesn't understand what's going on. More or less, she's most likely mis-interpreting everything. She held her little puppy and looked towards Haruka and gave out a peace sign, "Female Labrador, her name is Pr❤ism!" After that she noticed that Satoshi still sat troubled, contemplating.

With the words that Satoshi said, Hana didn't blame him for anything. Looking back at Yukinee's state the past night, she didn't seem to be in the mood for any type of confession of love or any romance at all. Maybe what Satoshi did wrong was let his own thirst get in the way of him actually seeing that Yukinee wasn't in the mood for it? Or...

She thought for a bit.

The way Yukinee was now is the old Yukinee who would probably blush over the sight of nice pecs and well toned abs. Satoshi wouldn't have a hard time apologizing and getting into good terms with her again. It would be awkward, sure, but from her efforts yesterday Hana is confident that Yukinee now appreciates all of her friends. Any and anyone who is willing to stay by her side and help her, Yukinee would appreciate, because that was also the same philosophy of her clan, the Royal Paladin.

Hana nodded, Satoshi will really be alright... All he has to do is talk to Yukinee and all will be fi-

At that moment, Satoshi threw off his trench coat.

Hana screamed, all the while covering Pr❤ism's eyes. She called the police.

[Jello]

Haruka smiled, as Satoshi went to show off his true self. Smiling. Then slightly less so. Finally, Haruka stood there, just stunned.

Hana was calling the police. Haruka just clicked his tongue and smacked Satoshi in the back of the head. "Don't flash in public, you dunce." Haruka put his hands behind his head and laid back on the bench, as onlookers got their fill of the situation. "You might wanna run. Hana just dialed 911 and you might be in cuffs soon." Haruka starts to whistle, leaning forward and putting his hand out hoping that Pr❤ism will put their paw back out, like a trick. He didn't expect it to work, but it'd be cute if it did.

Well. I still need to get candy. But I can do that later I guess.

[Beryl]

"H-Hana! I'm not naked!"

Satoshi was freaked out by the call for the police, but it did sort of occur to him that the trenchcoat really didn't help the image much. Idiot. He turned to Haruka and nodded.

"Yeah...I'm gonna grab my deck. Tell Yukino to meet me at..." He whispered a destination in his ear, then winked as he dashed off to grab his deck out of the safe. He needed to be ready for tonight.

[Hope]

Hana put down the phone as soon as he dashed away. She placed it back into her back and decided that she needed to go home and introduce the dog to her dad so that. It would be nice if they could build a little dog house in her room for Pr❤ism to play in. She walked back towards the train station area to take her route home.

"Woof."

Knowing she would see Haruka soon, "I'll see you later," was her goodbye greeting.

She waved at him and gave off her idoru-type smile along with a peace sign and headed off.

[Jello]

Given the departures from separate parties, Haruka found himself sitting on the park bench without a cause.

I feel like I'm forgetting something...

Haruka strains himself just trying to remember what it is he had forgotten during that conversation.

Hmm.....

Hmmmm.........

Hmmmmmm- Candyyyy!!!!

Upon the rediscovery that Haruka has still yet to go get what he wanted from earlier today, Haruka finally heads to the shopping district to attain his grab-bag of sweets and get on his way.

Not exactly picking up on Satoshi's message fully, or Hana's all too much either, Haruka finds himself once again in a rush to buy sea-salt ice cream and strawberry soda.

[Helios]

Hazama steps off the train with his new deck, gifted by Hercules, in his hand. "Time to test this baby out," he says aloud. "Time to head to the Card Shop, to see who will be my first victim."

[Kuro]

After many long months of training with Sydney and becoming one with the justice of the Dimension Police, Haruki was finally returning home to visit his brother, Hiroki. While Haruki was out in the cardfighting world, Hiroki stayed at home breaking the world record for longest time spent at home. His brother was famous now, and while coming back, Haruki wanted to congratulate him for such a great accomplishment.

The train stopped and Haruki got off, ready to see his brother once more after all their time apart. As he searched through the crowd, he spotted his brother in the corner right away from the teddy bear still hooked around his neck. Once Hiroki saw his brother however, he immediately took out his deck, set for a cardfight. Haruki brought out his deck as well, ready to spread his justice to the world, starting with his good brother.

The battle was fierce, neither player backing down in the fight. Suddenly, Hiroki used a unit Haruki had never seen before, the Demonic Lord, Dudley Emperor. It's skill was one he'd never seen before: "Limit Break." The power that came from Hiroki's vanguard was unbelievable, not even Haruki could command that much power when he used the Spike brothers clan before. Calling two powerful Juggernaut Maximums every turn was incredible.

Even so, Haruki continued to fight with a great strength of his own. With his Enigman Storm, Haruki was fighting back with justice. Gaining a critical each turn from the power he gave to his vanguard, the young man of justice prepared to deal his final attack. As he went in for the victory, however, Haruki was stopped in his tracks by his brothers strong guarding.

The score was 5-5, but Haruki knew he couldn't block the next strike from Hiroki. A critical trigger from Dudley Emperor finished the boy off, as he couldn't check the heals he needed.

"You've gotten stronger," Hiroki said as he acknowledged his brother's ability with his new clan.

"I lost this battle, but it's only another chance to increase my strength!" Haruki said with great determination. "I'll continue to get even more powerful than before, because my strength is my justice!"

The two parted ways, as Hiroki boarded a train of his own after their fight.

Limit Break... if I could gain that ability, my justice would grow even greater for sure!

Haruki continued home while thinking about this unheard of skill.

Hiroki AF +2

[roastedtaco35]

After finally being given greater power than before, Hiroki finally decided it was time to leave the house and go avenge his younger brother, Hideki. With this in mind, he left the house for the first time in months, which he was apparently famous for, and walked to the train station. He intended to fight his way to the top, and eradicate everyone who did him wrong, no matter who it was.

When he arrived at the train station, Hiroki waited in the corner of the station, and clutched the teddy bear around his neck thinking to himself "I WILL avenge you". As these thoughts flooded his head, Haruki appeared at the station, and almost instinctively, Hiroki reached into his pocket to pull out his cardfight deck. After all, Haruki wouldn't take no for an answer.

As the fight progressed, Haruki's Enigman Justice deck faired very well against Hiroki's new deck, although he wasn't surprised by this.
The fight was a back and forth brawl and it was tied at 5 to 5 until the very end. A critical trigger ended up powering up Demonic Lord, Dudley Emperor, bringing Hiroki victory in the match.

After Praising Haruki for how strong He's become, Hiroki said his fairwells, and boarded a train. Little did Haruki know that this encounter would be the last one they would have on friendly terms...

Haruki AF +2