Key*

"Hi." -Regular speech
Hi -Someone is thinking
"Hi" -A ghost/Duel Monster is speaking

(3rd Person PoV)

Everyone went outside and Luke took off his watch before putting his duel disk on his arm. Bakuro also placed his duel disk on.

"So Luke, how are you feeling right now?" Masaru asked and held the microphone towards him.

"I'm going to grill that eel!" Luke declared.

(A play on the word for "feeling" in Japanese, according to the Wiki)

"And what about you, Chief?" Masaru walked up to him and held the microphone up.

"I'm going to win because the truth is on our side, always," Bakuro declared.

"Gotta capture that great expression," Nico said and snapped a couple of pictures.

"They sure seem confident," Romin noted.

"Thank you for waiting! The great Kaizo is here!" The little drone came flying by and floated near Yuga.

"Oh hey Kaizo," Yuga said but then Kaizo spots Nico and exclaimed, "wow a cute girl with cute glasses!" He zoomed towards her and flew around her saying stuff like, "wow and you take pictures as well! Can you take one of me as well? Get my good side!"

"Waahh!" Nico squeaked and ran off in another direction.

"Well that's not good," Romin said, not very impressed by Kaizo.

"Yeah he's getting weirder and weirder every time I modify him," Yuga admits.

"Maybe it's something in his code that's making him behave this way? Probably clashing with your modifications," Yusei suggested.

Hmm, good idea. I'll check it out later, Yuga thought.

Luke placed his deck in his duel disk as this was going on and he said to himself, "well looks like they're having fun."

"Let's go then," Bakuro told him and he nodded.

"Let's go, Rush Duel!"

Luke - 4000 LPS

V.S.

Bakuro - 4000 LPS

"Allow me to go first," Bakuro said, drawing a card as the holographic dome appeared around them.

"I set a monster and then I place three cards face down in my spell and trap zones. Turn over," he said.

"Why would he play one monster?" Gakuto asked with Romin adding on, "he seems to be playing conservatively."

Then Kaizo floated up to Romin with glasses programmed on his screen. "Hey Romin? How about trying on glasses every once in a while?" He asked.

"Yuga do something about him!" Romin shouted and Yuga grabbed Kaizo quickly while sheepishly saying, "sorry" to her.

"Yeah I'm definitely going to do your suggestion," Yuga murmured to himself while glancing at Yusei.

"It's my turn now," Luke drew a card and said, "I summon Dragolite (ATK: 1500. DF: 0), Dragon's Prayer (ATK: 1100. DF: 100) and Dragon Bat (ATK: 1000. DF: 400)."

"His monsters are here," Gakuto said with Romin adding on, "he summoned three unlike Bakuro."

"I then activate the spell card, Pierce on Dragolite. I can inflict piercing damage this turn. I set this card down and then I'll have Dragolite attack your facedown monster!" Luke declared.

Bakuro's monster, a scooter with newspapers on it, appeared before freaking out at the sight of Dragolite who blasts it away with a blue flame from its mouth.

"Even though your monster was in defense position, I had Pierce used on Dragolite and you know what that means," Luke said.

Parts of the blue flame flew over Bakuro and he shuddered as he lost life points.

4000 —> 2700 LPS

"Oh no. It's too bad that the cute and diligent Delivery Machine Whirr (ATK: 0. DF: 200) and my life points have decreased," Bakuro sighed.

Luke motioned to Masaru and said to the microphone, "how about I change the Newspaper Club's name to Luke Newspaper if I win?"

"That's crazy!" Masaru shouted but then Bakuro chuckled at this.

"In your dreams. I activate my trap, It's an Accident! When a defense position monster is destroyed by battle, I can inflict 300 points of damage to my opponent," he explained.

"What?" Luke asked as a shockwave hit him and he fell backwards.

4000 —> 3700 LPS

"Luke! How do you feel about walking into such an easy trap?" Masaru asked and held the microphone up.

"'Tis but a scratch," Luke replied as he got up and all of his monsters turned to look at him.

"Ok, who taught Luke that?" Dragon's Prayer asked.

"Don't look at me, I didn't do it this time," Dragon Bat shook his head.

"Guys, come on," Luke huffed before flinching at the loud clicking that Nico's camera made. "Gotta take the look of his "pretending to be strong face," for the headline," she said.

"Enough of that. I'll attack you directly with Dragon's Prayer!" Luke commanded. As his monster began to pray, Bakuro sent a card from his hand to the graveyard.

"I activate another trap to inflict 300 more points of damage," he said.

"Ack!" Luke fell again and Dragon's Prayer stopped her attack to race towards his side.

"Luke, are you ok?" She asked, concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just lost life points again," he assured her.

3700 —> 3400 LPS

"Hmmm."

Something wrong? Yuga asked.

"The way his monsters are behaving, they almost seem alive and Luke seems to be communicating with them," Yusei said.

Now that I think about it, Luke does seem like he's talking to someone but no one is there but his monsters but why is that? Yuga asked.

"I'll tell you later. Right now, cheer on Luke in his duel," Yusei told him.

You better remember, Yuga wagged a finger at him. "I will," Yusei gave him a nod.

Back at the duel, Luke suddenly realized something important.

"Dragon's Prayer, why did you stop attacking?" He asked.

"Huh? What happened?" Even Dragon's Prayer seemed confused. But then, Bakuro spoke up, "because of my trap, That's All from the Scene. It also ends your Battle Phase."

"What?!" Romin cried with Gakuto saying, "that's a strong trap effect!"

"Yeah...looks like you've been doing research on Rush Duels," Yuga noted.

"Indeed I have," Bakuro said but then Gakuto pointed out, "then why did you write that article?"

"Clearly you don't get it. One must investigate thoroughly about the other party before writing an article! It's an important approach to a reporter after all!" Bakuro said.

He added, "Thus, Rush Duels are very shallow since even someone who forgets things easily, is easily able to remember the rules."

"Turn over," Luke murmured.

"Oh? Is it my turn now? Guess I'll draw," Bakuro drew five cards.

"I summon two Delivery Machine Whirr and then I'll release them to Advance Summon! There it is! You did it! I got the Scoop! Print! Print! Print in the Printing Press! Bring out the newspaper extra! News Flash Machine Toughroid (ATK: 2300. DF: 1600)!" He shouted and a large printing machine on wheels appeared.

Luke stared at it, feeling the power and pressure from the monster and asked, "is that your Ace?"

"It is. News Flash Machine Toughroid, in other words, a scoop is the main essence of a newspaper. I won't let you escape my overwhelming reporter attack!" Bakuro shouted.

"Tch!" Luke gritted his teeth at this.

"I activate a spell, Duplicate Newspaper," Bakuro said before going on to explain, "this allows me to special summon a monster from my graveyard with the same name as a machine monster on my field. So come back, my second News Flash Machine Toughroid!"

Luke gasped in surprise at this and Gakuto said, "now he has two of his Ace monsters on the field."

"Is this the "reporter attack" that he's talking about?" Romin asked. "Luke needs to brace himself against this," Yusei said and Yuga nodded.

"I now activate the effect of my News Flash Machine Toughroid. By sending the top card of my deck to my graveyard, I can force you to excavate the top five cards of your deck and if there's any monster revealed there, my monster gains 100 attack points for each of them," Bakuro explained.

"This is my Scandal Break!" He declared as Luke took the top five cards from his deck and revealed them.

"Next you'll have to place them at the bottom of your deck," Bakuro explained while grinning because one of those monsters was Dragears.

Luke did so and asked, "is that all?"

"For now," Bakuro said before adding on, "since three monsters were revealed, my News Flash Machine Toughroid gains 100 attack points for each of them!"

2300 —> 2600  ATK

As if things couldn't get worse for Luke, Bakuro flipped over a face down card. "Here's a second Duplicate Newspaper which revives a third News Flash Machine Toughroid!" He shouted.

"Th-three of his Aces?!" Gakuto cried.

"Can Luke win this?" Romin asked while Yuga and Yusei just watched.

"Battle! My first News Flash Machine Toughroid attacks your Dragon Bat! Scoop Shot!" Bakuro shouted.

His monster slammed itself against Luke's, absorbing it and turning it into a picture which later disintegrates.

"Dragon Bat!" Luke cried out.

3400 —> 2100 LPS

"My second one will attack now. Aim for Dragon's Prayer!" Bakuro commanded, his monster doing the exact same things.

2100 —> 900 LPS

"No way," Luke murmured.

"This is so easy," Bakuro smirked with pride.

"He's down to 900 life points, this isn't good," Romin said with Gakuto crying out, "it's all over now!"

"So how do you feel about this turnabout?" Masaru asked and Nico said, "ooh, I want to take a picture of the moment when he loses like a plebeian!"

"Well that's expected, Rush Duels really are shallow. So now let's not delay the inevitable and have me finish this with my powered up News Flash Machine Toughroid!" Bakuro shouted.

But then Luke smiled at this and said, "well I can't have that happened."

"Huh?"

"I activate my trap, Dragon's Fortitude! By returning a Dragon monster from my graveyard to my deck and shuffling, I can reduce the attack of an opponent's monster by the level of the monster I return times 100," Luke explained and pulled out a card from his graveyard.

"Th-the attack points?" Bakuro asked and Luke held out the card.

"I choose Dragon's Prayer and she's level 3 which means your monster is no longer powered up!" He declared.

2600 —> 2300 ATK

"So when your monster attacks, I take less damage," Luke added as the attack still went through and he placed Dragon's Prayer back in his deck.

900 —> 100 LPS

"O-oh, haha, I'll admit that you got me nervous for a second. Even so, you only have a handful of life points left," Bakuro said.

"Phew, he survived," Romin sighed.

"Just barely. Was it a good idea to let Luke duel?" Gakuto asked.

"Yes it was. Luke isn't one to be underestimated like that, he won't lose that easily," Yuga told him.

Masaru turned to Bakuro and said, "well it was too bad that you couldn't finish him off but there's always the next turn."

"True. He will lose soon so Nico, be sure to capture that moment," Bakuro said and she nodded. "Turn over," he added.

"Alright then," Luke said and he drew his cards. He felt a warm and welcoming feeling from them.

"So Bakuro, you call Rush Duel rules shallow?" Luke asked.

"Am I wrong?" Bakuro asked and Luke merely smiled at this.

"Well I can change your mind with this. I send three Dragon type monsters from my hand to my grave to activate the Spell card, Dragonic Pressure. This allows me to destroy all of your monsters!" Luke declared.

"Say what?!" Bakuro cried as cracks from the ground appeared and all three of his monsters fell in the cracks.

"And then I can special summon a level 4 or lower Dragon monster from my graveyard so I'm choosing Dragon's Setupper (ATK: 0. DF: 1000)," Luke added and a small dragon with a baseball glove appeared.

"Alrigh' coach! Ya put me in!" Dragon's Setupper cheered and Luke gave him a thumbs up.

"Tch! I still have an angle to play though. Since my Machine monster was destroyed, I can play my trap, Soul of a Reporter. I can special summon a Machine monster from my graveyard so I'm bringing back News Flash Machine Toughroid!" Bakuro said

"That's only step one of my plan. I can activate Dragon's Setupper's effect which brings Dragon's Upsetter (ATK: 1000. DF: 0) from my graveyard," Luke said.

"Thanks for that, coach! Oh, are you bringing the MVP?" Dragon's Upsetter asked. "You know it!" Luke declared.

"Umm, no we don't," Romin sweatdropped while Gakuto asked, "you think he's giving himself a pep talk?"

"More reason to believe about Luke's ability," Yusei said and Yuga asked, Can you tell me already? "Be patient," Yusei scolded him, quietly.

"I release Dragon's Setupper and Upsetter to Advance summon! Now, within my galaxy, the seven supernovas unleash a gamma-ray burst! Even if you tell me to stop, it's too late! Even if you tell me to stop, it's too late! There's a reason I say this twice. Now, come on out! Rush Dragon Dragears (ATK: 2500. DF: 1500)!" Luke shouted.

His blue dragon appeared and roared.

"What?! Impossible! I sent that monster to the bottom of your deck! ...unless," Bakuro suddenly remembered about Luke's trap.

"You shuffled your deck, right? That's how you were able to get Dragears back!" He shouted and Luke nodded.

"If you're trying to report the truth, then allow me to show you the real truth!" Luke declared and Bakuro flinched backwards.

"I send the top card of my deck to the graveyard to activate the Gias Charge of Dragears!" Luke started and did just that. After he did that, the orbs on Dragears' body and his eyes glowed red.

"If Dragears destroys a monster in battle, then he can attack once again!" Luke explained and Bakuro gasped, "No way!"

"This is...the Truth of Rush Duels!" Luke declared and Bakuro whispered, "Truth?"

"Now attack! Concussive Electrostatic Shockball!" Luke shouted and Dragears surrounded itself with electricity and then slammed itself against News Flash Machine Toughroid, destroying it.

2700 —> 2500 LPS

"Now, a direct attack! Finish this, Dragears!" Luke cheered.

"Gladly," Dragears flexed his claws before charging up a fire ball and shooting it at Bakuro.

"...ceasing publication," Bakuro whispered as his life points went down.

2500 —> 0 LPS

WINNER: Luke

The holographic dome disappeared and Bakuro was just lying on the floor. Masaru and Nico ran up to him. "Chief!" Masaru shouted. "Are you alright?" Nico asked and Bakuro sat up.

Luke deactivated his duel disk before getting nuzzled on the head by Dragears as he turned more transparent so only Luke could see him. "Yeah, we did it," Luke told him.

"Looks like he did it," Gakuto sighed in relief. "Yep!" Romin nodded. "It all turned out fine after all!" Yuga cheered.

"Still, even if Bakuro didn't special summon his monster, Luke couldn't have made that second attack with Dragears. And on the topic of Dragears, what if it hadn't been shuffled into his deck?" Gakuto asked, worried. "Chill out! Even if it's just 0.001% possible, you should always bet on it if you know you have a chance until the last moment! That's what Rush Duels are all about!" Yuga declared.

His sincerity washed over Yusei and he tilted his head to look at the child. "You're an interesting one," was all he said. Yuga didn't reply to this though.

Luke turned around with a big smile and Yuga returned it. They then high fived happily. Romin then slipped away and snatched the microphone from Masaru.

"So how did you feel about the Newspaper Club losing after such a turnaround?" She asked.

Bakuro then snatched the microphone from her and declared, "A Journalist's job is to report the truth! Now that I have experienced Rush Duels, all of the depth and fun of it, I vow that I will properly report the truth!"

This was very familiar to Yusei but it was very faint and distant.

"Please don't suspend our publications," Bakuro bowed and the other two followed.

"Don't worry, we won't!" Yuga gave them an ok sign much to the surprise of his friends. He nervously laughed and the Newspaper Club cheered, happily.

"Thank you!" Bakuro gave him a wide smile full of gratitude and sincerity.

(The next Day)

"Extra! Extra!" Nico called out as she and Masaru were passing out newspapers.

"Looks like it's very popular," Romin noted with Yuga nodding. Bakuro slid up to them and said, "all because of you so thanks for that. From now on, the Newspaper Club will try to report the truth!"

"Well we also have Luke to thank for protecting Rush Duels like that," Yuga said and turning to Luke.
 

"Of course! It's only natural for someone who is aiming to be the King of Duels to do!" Luke declared.

And then Gakuto ran up to them, crying, "it's a disaster!" He held up the newspaper to them.

"Huh? It just looks normal to me?" Yuga said. "The backside," Gakuto said and he turned the newspaper over.

Immediately Yuga, Romin and Yusei saw what was wrong.

"What on earth is that?" Romin asked, looking physically sick. If either of them could swear, they would.

It was an edited picture of Luke on a king's body with Gakuto and Romin also edited on servant's bodies. While Yuga was edited in the corner on a portrait, looking unamused which mirrored the look on his face currently.

"I asked for it," Luke notes and Bakuro laughed, "yep! It wasn't easy editing those faces on that picture." "I totally get it! But it was worth it as this is the best article ever!" Luke said.

"Hard to believe someone who can see Duel Spirits can be this self centered yet selfless at the same time," Yusei sighed and Yuga slowly turned his head towards him.

"Luke can do what now?"

A/N: idk if I ever mentioned this but I'm using a mix of sub and dub for this so some of the wording is going to be a mix.

Cya in the next one -Flare