User blog:Guardian Fira/Fighters Unite! Chapter 5: Dangerous Rumors

Friday (1 week until the regional qualifiers), Sanbuki Academy, Lunchroom, 12:14

The lunchroom was loud with all the students shouting. Some were talking about recent schoolwork, while most of them were talking about the upcoming tournament next week. Among those shouting were Chain and his friends. Each of them conversing with another about different things. Some talking about their decks, some talking about teams, others talking about the challenge. Chain was so busy talking that he hadn't eaten as fast as normal. In fact his plate was still full and going cold. Though so was everyone elses. The tournament was next friday so everyone was getting ready for it. Chain was discussing with Serena, Berith and Yuki about being on a team together, until Yuki spoke out. "Actually, I'm going to be on Fira and Sorins team", she announced.

Serena was the one to question her, "How come, Yuki?". Yuki turned her head away from the others, looking upset by it. "Well, they need a 3rd player and I volunteered. I thought that way, we all get to play instead of someone sitting on the sidelines". Yuki was speaking some sense into the situation. The teams could have any number of players, although the minimum was 3. Before Yuki chose to be a part of their team, Sorin and Fira had no 3rd member, so they wouldn't have been even able to play. Chain knew it was for the best, but was still upset to hear that Yuki would be against him. Chain wasnt sure what kind of team name they could go for, but decided to make an announcement to the rest of his team. "Ok, Serena, Berith, were going to be a team for this tournament then, and while we don't have a team name, we'll still do our best out there, right?", Chain said, holding his hand out to signify a team gesture. Berith was the first to put his hand on top, followed by Serena. "YEAH!", everyone shouted.

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Berith pulled his hand out from between Chain and Serenas. He had not been part of a team and was more than willing to put all his efforts towards helping his teammates win the tournament. Of course, this was after he had sorted out something important. He had also took notice of the rumours going around about a fighter attacking other fighters at night. Berith knew that this was a job for the police, but he couldn't help himself, he needed to know more. "So you hear the latest about that night fighter?", a student gossiped to another student behind Berith. Berith turned his attention to the students, hoping to hear something new. "Yeah, apparently all the attacks happen at this club downtown, and all the targets are males", one student said. "It's so weird, you think its a Succubus or something like that?", the other student questioned. "Don't be an idiot, its obviously just some weirdo trying to get famous", the other student reasoned.

Berith thought a similar thing, as the rumours started a day or two ago and yet they were already common knowledge. "So, you know which club I heard it was?", the first student asked. "No, where?", said the other one. "Club-Um, Damn!, I cant remember it's name". Berith sighed in dissappointment, not getting anymore information than he already knew. "But i do remember that it has a huge pink sign out front, Sh-Sh- something, along those lines", the first student said. Berith smiled a little, not paying attention to Chian wolfing down his food and Serena preventing him from choking. He knew what he was doing tonight.

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Friday (1 week until the regional qualifiers), Downtown, 9:48

Berith walked down the street late at night. The street was littered with discarded items and lots of drunken people stumbling around. He knew this area was very dodgy, but it didn't stop him. "Your sure about this?", Abend asked him, telepathically inside his deck case. "Yeah, I want to get to the bottom of this", Berith replied. He could feel how Abend felt about being out in a strange area at a late hour. But he needed to find out the truth about this mystery fighter.

He stopped outside a club matching the description he overheard from the students. It was a large building, having a pink sign and lighting on the front. A list of bands were listed on the sign. The club was called Shirleys, though Berith couldn't help but wonder how the student forgot a name like that. He looked around and noticed that there wasn't anyone waiting to get inside and in fact, there wasn't anyone around the club at all. Most people seemed to be steering clear of it. Berith knew he was in the right place, and stepped inside. Abend was still feeling anxious about the whole idea, but stuck by Berith through it, being the way of Wild Dragons.

The inside of the club was a little more active than its outside would make it look. There was a band of some sort playing on a stage on the left side of the room, with a few people stood in front of them, cheering them on. A lot more people were sat in booths around the club, simply watching from their seats. Berith could see a bar on the right side of the room, with a single person being sat there. He walked over to the bar and started to make out the person. It was a young woman, wearing a red dress. Berith thought she was quite alluring, but something about the way she simply sat there, staring at an empty glass in front of her, made him feel a little nervous.

He could see her long black hair against her dress, waving slowly in the draft of the wind. He took a seat next to her, and asked her, "So, you enjoying the music?". The girl didn't move an inch, but responded, "Not my thing". Berith looked towards her, thinking something was off with her. "Heard any good rumours or anything?", he questioned. The girl lifted her head, only slightly and said, "Only someones been attacking other fighters". Berith though he could see her smile, only just. "Strange, isn't it?", he questioned again. This time the girl looked over towards him a little, enough for Berith to make out her blue eyes. "Not really, it served them right, they tried to take whats not theirs, from what I heard", she replied. Berith thought he could feel something coming from her, something dangerous. Abend was also feeling worried, but trusted Berith's judgement.

"Excuse me, but I must be going", the girl quickly stated, hastily standing up. "Why the rush?", Berith questioned. "None of your buisness, pipsquek!", the girl shouted, drawing the attention of a few people in the club. The girl started to walk out, until Berith grabbed hold of her wrist. "You don't want to do that", the girl stated. "I'm looking for information about a fighter whos attacking other fighters, and from the way you seem reluctant to talk about it, and how quickly you want to leave, I can only assume you know something", Berith explained. The girl, still not looking at Berith, grinned and turned to face him. Berith could make out her face in the faint glow of the club, before the girl spoke again. "If you really want to know, then I'll make you a deal". Berith stared at her before saying, "What kind of deal?". The girl then produced a deck case from beneath her dress and proposed, "We fight, here and now. If you win, I'll tell you more about those 'rumours' you've heard, but if you lose". The girls grin grew larger as she said, "I get your Buddy Monster!". Berith had never played with such high stakes, and Abend wasn't too happy about the proposition. What Berith said surprised everyone listening, even the girl, "Deal".

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