The Moon [Open]

[Vahn Gale]

The tranquil evening atmosphere and jug of sake. In the mind of Vahn Gale, there was no better way to spend the end of a long day. There have been several shifts in management, not only in the Academy itself but bigger outside companies as well. None of these things were of any concern to Vahn as long he could continue to do his job without any interference or changes. As always, the troubles of the outside world had no meaning. The moon was full and bathed the ruins in a pale light. Vahn was situated at the entrance of the complex. At the bottom of a long stone stairway that led up to the main complex. Vahn took a deep breath after he put down all of the sake that was in his tray, and placed it back on the stone floor next to him. After refilling the tray, the enigmatic Red Dragon drew his duel disk from his cape. The machine was old enough as it was and after Vahn's collision with Ilythyia it was in even worse shape. He carefully unscrewed the top and began tinkering with the wiring and circuitry. There was no way Vahn was going back to Kaiba Corp for this and he was confident he could fix it on his own. In all honesty, there was really nothing better for Vahn to do at the moment anyway.

[Marvelo Namaguchi]

The Secrets to life began with one movement and one movement only......
A Step Forward.

Moonlight.

The psychological boundary of the Earth that drove humans to do things they imagined they'd do. Many things happened in the moonlight. Some dark and mysterious, while others are just unnatural. Knowing this, Marvelo decided to spend this night residing at the Academy. Unfortunately, the population number wasn't exactly enough to find "enjoyment" with.

Questions flew through his mind as he thought of a place to just stay and relax. Away from the classes, the students, and, surprisingly, dueling. Only one place came to his mind and he traveled there.

The Ruins.

After coming down, Marvelo noticed a man tinkering with a duel disk. His overall wardrobe and figure was familiar but without seeing his face Marvelo couldn't assume he knew who it was. Walking down he tried to find an answer but instead just called out.

"You know they have people in Domino City that are paid to fix those," Marvelo said. His leaned back on his right leg and folded his arms. "Just thought I'd tell you."

[Vahn Gale]

Vahn seemed to have ignored the newcomer for several moments after he spoke, not wanting to be distracted from what he was currently doing. After the moment had passed he looked at the boy who had addressed him. Interestingly enough it was one Marvelo Namaguchi of the Obelisk Blue dorm. He was one of the few students Vahn knew and was also somewhat of a rival to Matt Hirama, Vahn's former student. After raising his tray to drink again, Vahn finally decided to speak.

"This place is a faint reflection of what once was. There is something....solemn about it. Have you come here to enjoy it as well, Namaguchi?"

[Marvelo Namaguchi]

Throughout all the battles we fight, the only person who is our true enemy is ourselves.

Silence appeared to have come between the two. During this period Marvelo walked along the path to find a spot to sit behind his headmaster. Whether if the man would take the time to address him was his decision. Not to mention, Marvelo did approach with a strong, smart comment. With nothing much else to do, Marvelo looked up and around the terrain.

The Ruins were quite complex in there nature. All it was was a physical aspect of the past but left many questions. The type of people, living conditions, choice of location, duration of life, and many things were left unanswered. All that remained was a creepy location in the middle of the island and a quiet reserve from students, and apparently staff.

Finally seeing some movement, Marvelo's eyes returned to the man that finally turned to him. To his surprise the man was Vahn Gale. Only a cunning grin could appear on his mouth to hide any other signs of laughter.

"This place is a faint reflection of what once was. There is something....solemn about it. Have you come here to enjoy it as well, Namaguchi?"

"Enjoy?" Marvelo questioned. "I can't really say that I enjoy remains of what use to be. Their good things to learn from but mean nothing in the practical aspect of the present."

Marvelo stood brushing himself off. Folding his arms he began to wonder what brought someone as complex. as THE Vahn Gale, to the Ruins. Probably for the same reason as he but it was still fascinating to see here. It was like meeting a teacher outside of the working station. Unusual yet...expected and full of questions.

"I'm guessing that's why you're here?" Marvelo asked back.

[Matt Hirama]

It was only an hour after his duel with Duncan, the rampant criminal who had kidnapped several students and faculty members. The memories of how real the duel had been were still fresh in his memories, and he had only realized on his way to follow Vahn to some ruins that the D.D. Dynamite trap had burned a few holes into his blazer's sleeves. His hair was windblown from the explosion as well, so his overall appearance looked as if he had just exited a battlefield, which he indeed had.

Even so, despite how real the duel was, he could not get what happened afterward out of his mind. His opponent had committed suicide by falling from the lighthouse. He had not been able to find a body, so Matt had assumed Duncan had fallen into the sea. Matt hadn't even bothered looking. It had been too dark for a search, and Duncan had hurt enough people that Matt didn't think he deserved to be found. Still, one thing had been burned into his memory deeper than the other things.

See you in hell, boy!

The last words Duncan had spoken to him echoed though his mind. He didn't know why it bugged him so much, but it kept gnawing at his thoughts, even as he entered the ruins Vahn had entered not a few minutes before. Had Duncan known something he did not, or was it just another mind game? Either way, it was unsettling, to have someone tell him that they'd meet in hell, and then plunging from the lighthouse.

"I'm guessing that's why you're here?"

It was Marvelo's voice. Matt didn't know his fellow Obelisk personally, but he knew him well enough to know they he was around the same skill level as himself, though whether Marvelo was better or worse was questionable. They had never dueled before. Matt followed the voice, his footsteps echoing through the hallways until he came upon the two.

"Vahn likes the more... isolated places on the island. Anywhere he can go to get drunk in private." Matt said, obviously not hiding the sarcasm in his voice. If there was one thing Matt never got about Vahn was his ability to drink so much sake and stay sober.

[Vahn Gale]

The familiar sound of Vahn's one time pupil filled the air. He was still has insolent as ever. What meaning could there have been for this unexpected encounter. Vahn slowly rose and studied both of the Obelisks. What were the chances of running into them here, especially Matt. In any case it seemed as though Matt had come here with a greater purpose, the other just seemed to wander here.

""What could have possibly brought my former errant student here. Perhaps it has something to do with that card I gave to you. I can only assume that you have used it's powers, but was it justified? One would think....."

Matt was very succesful, there was no doubt about it. However, his rebellious spirit kept him from ever finish his training with Vahn. The student and teacher relationship between the two was barely ever stable and suffice it to say that Matt would never have come to see Vahn without good reason.

[Marvelo Namaguchi]

Throughout all the battles we fight, the only person who is our true enemy is ourselves.

"Vahn likes the more... isolated places on the island. Anywhere he can go to get drunk in private."

Marvelo turned to see another familiar face. Matt Hirama. Probably one of the best Obelisk here. He'd heard of his decks and even more about his dueling. How ironic that he'd show up. But Marvelo wasn't thinking this, but instead about why Matt was in his condition. Was he in a fight? Matt's overall appearance was completely different. Holes in his blazer? Wild hair? Marvelo nodded to stop himself from laughing. Quite the casual dresser.

"What could have possibly brought my former errant student here. Perhaps it has something to do with that card I gave to you. I can only assume that you have used it's powers, but was it justified? One would think....."

Student? Card? Powers?

Marvelo's eyes diverted back to Vahn. There was no doubt about his confusion as his facial expression revealed everything. The last thing he wanted to hear was that both of these top notch duelist were into the whole "Shadow" theories. It was enough to be forced to listen to it in class. However, it would make sense.

Looking back over to Matt, he did have the visual symptoms of a Shadow Duel. Except he looked to be the winner as there was no sign of a physical downturn. Or was this about of their past training motives? Or even the card?

"Uh...?" Marvelo finally spoke. "What?" Starting to feel out of place, Marvelo just resorted to simple statements. What else could he do? This was his first true appearance with both of them outside of the Academy Classes. Seeing as they were teacher and student on a more personal level, there would be more signs that he would be lost with. But staying around would help him learn more.

[Matt Hirama]

Matt remained silent for after Marvelo had voiced his confusion. The silence as they waited for his answer gave his mind time to gather everything that had happened over the past few hours. It had all been so fast, Matt hadn't really been given a chance to let it all sink in properly. Although the silence seemed almost like an eternity to Matt, since most of the attention was turned towards him, it really only lasted for a few moments.

"Well, the most simple way to put it, I used the card to stop that serial kidnapper or whatever." Matt said as he held up the D.D. Dynamite card, "Something was weird during our duel though. Everything seemed so real, and when I activated by the trap, the explosion created the damage you see. Not only that, but the damage I dealt to the opponent seemed to really cause pain."

Matt put the card back into his deck before falling silent for a moment. Everything about that duel just seemed too real, but Matt was some tricks his opponents had pulled.

"He's gone now though, the kidnapper I mean. After the duel, he jumped from the lighthouse. I couldn't find the body."

Not that he actually looked. He had only stared into the sea for several minutes before leaving. Besides, Matt doubted anyone would want him found anyways. Duncan had been completely insane when he lost the duel, and Matt doubted he would have had much of a future outside of an asylum.

"I was hoping you could tell me why that duel seemed so real." Matt finished to Vahn. His voice had been unusually serious throughout his explanation, which contradicted his normally light-hearted and carefree tone. If anything, it would show Vahn that Matt was serious about finding his answers.

[Vahn Gale]

"You abandoned my training and yet after all of this time I find you back here, before me, asking for information. There are some experiences in this world that no amount of talent will prepare you for. Incomplete as you are now, I don't blame you for coming back here."
Vahn clearly wasn't too happy with Matt. Obviously if the student ran around making poor use of what he learned it would reflect badly on the teacher as well. Luckily that wasn't exactly the case here. From what Matt has described it seemed he took part in a shadow duel, and his first one at that. It was no surprise that this distressed him enough to seek immediate answers. Vahn's thoughts drifted away from Matt for a moment. A serial kidnapper wielding shadow magic on the island? Interesting, but irrelevant since he had been taken care of.

"Duels in which one of the combatants wield shadow magic can take a heavy toll on your body and spirit, whether you win or lose. I taught you that the troubles of the outside world are unending and that no matter what you do, you can't change anything. For you sake I hope you destroyed this enemy for all the right reasons. "

[Marvelo Namaguchi]

Throughout all the battles we fight, the only person who is our true enemy is ourselves.

"Well, the most simple way to put it, I used the card to stop that serial kidnapper or whatever. Something was weird during our duel though. Everything seemed so real, and when I activated by the trap, the explosion created the damage you see. Not only that, but the damage I dealt to the opponent seemed to really cause pain. He's gone now though, the kidnapper I mean. After the duel, he jumped from the lighthouse. I couldn't find the body."

Marvelo looked at the D.D. Dynamite with, surprisingly, more confusion. There was no denying that possibility of the shadow duel was real but seeing it visually would help verify. The main jog to Marvelo was the fact that he didn't even know about the serial kidnapper. Not that it mattered now but just the thought of possible destruction. Matt was a current hero, and he played it off so nicely. Then again, he could have done something to stop the guy from plunging to death. Anti-Hero then?

"I was hoping you could tell me why that duel seemed so real."

"You abandoned my training and yet after all of this time I find you back here, before me, asking for information. There are some experiences in this world that no amount of talent will prepare you for. Incomplete as you are now, I don't blame you for coming back here."

Marvelo looked over to Vahn and almost quivered. The calm, laid back nature of the headmaster had completely disappeared. His anger towards Matt was apparently a direct result of their previous training sessions. Why would Matt want to leave? Why did he leave? Something was up with this situation and Marvelo was left with questions.

Even through this he left his ears open for the answer. Hopefully Vahn could explain what happened with Matt.

"Duels in which one of the combatants wield shadow magic can take a heavy toll on your body and spirit, whether you win or lose. I taught you that the troubles of the outside world are unending and that no matter what you do, you can't change anything. For you sake I hope you destroyed this enemy for all the right reasons."

It was settled. Matt's serial kidnapper was a Shadow Duelist. But how was it possible? Everything they had learned was from past references. Recordings from the past. Five thousand years ago to be exact! How could the Shadow Duelist still exist? Marvelo rubbed his temple and tried to tie everything together. This wasn't working out.

"Shadow Magic?" Marvelo started. "Real damage? Serial kidnapper? You're telling me this crap really exist. You've got to be kidding me! How is that even possible?" Marvelo kept his cool and simply looked at the two with curiosity. This "calm" evening was officially over. Now answers were needed and some solution to them. If these "Shadow Duelist" really existed then Duel Academy wasn't as safe as everyone thought. They'd have to alert someone. Tell the police or something on that level. Get Yugi Motou. Something!

[Matt Hirama]

Normally, what Marvelo had said was what Matt would have said, word for word. He had never believed in this shadow magic or the Shadow Realm, but his encounter with Duncan had shaken this belief. Everything about the duel with the slifer - the shadow duelist - had been so real, and thinking back, his opponent seemed to feel physical pain when damaged. And when he had gained his life points from Necroface, he had actually felt rejuvenated. And he couldn't forget about the damage to his clothes. It was hours after the duel, and since the effects of the battle had not disappeared, Matt could not just leave it as mind games. The only explanation that seemed to fit was Vahn's: It had been a Shadow Duel.

After the duel with Duncan and Vahn's explanation, everything about Shadow Magic seemed to click in Matt's mind. The the sudden bursts of negative emotions, along with the migraines, were associated with Shadow Magic. So he was hyper sensitive to otherworldly magic?

If it was true, Matt had learned one thing: He was not strong enough. Relying solely on Vahn's training would not be enough to get him through whatever lay ahead of him. He'd have to learn his own strategies, build his own decks, and learn to rely on himself more than others. The Obelisk student was silent for a while, thinking of what he would do next. But in the back of his mind, he already knew, as if something, or someone, was tugging at the back of his mind and guiding his thought patterns.

"Here..." Matt said, his voice now quiet and more serious, though his voice still echoed faintly through the silence. He reached behind him and grabbed the deck box holding the cards Vahn had given him years ago. With a single, swift motion, the deck box had been tossed to Vahn, landing right in front of Vahn. His eyes shadowed by the bangs of his hair, Matt also slid his duel disk, the Rebellion, to Vahn. Until he deemed himself worthy of wielding them again, Matt would leave them in the care of the only other person he felt he could trust right now.

"Take care of them for a while. I'll be back for them when I've earned the right to wield them again..." Matt said. His old, carefree self had completely disappeared. This more serious side of his personality would not be new to Vahn, but to anyone who saw it, it would hardly be expected. After a few moments of silence, Matt turned his back to the two.

"Vahn..." He said, "You say the troubles of the outside world should be left to the own devices. But what if those troubles threatened to engulf everything around you? Surely even you could not ignore them then...

And with that, Matt left the other two to their business. He'd buy a new duel disk from the shop, a normal disc, and construct a new deck to work with. He may not have a lot of power, but he would do all he could, no matter how small, to protect those around him.