Blueorange: So I have a new project. It's not a one-shot and it's a little serious. This is kinda AU since I will change some flow in the events in the anime. This happens after Fortune Cup and before Yusei leaves for Satellite. Let's just say that he knew Rally and his friends are safe and that his D-wheel can wait and all that stuff. I'll elaborate more as the story goes on. The point is that, Yusei did not leave right away after the Fortune Cup.

Aki: And I thought you weren't into serious and dramatic plots.

Blueorange: Well I'm inspired to write a serious plot this time.

Yusei: I think you'll abandon this idea by tomorrow.

Blueorange: No I won't! Anyways, I don't own YGO 5ds.

Masquerade

Black Rose Witch's POV

I'm standing in the rain. I feel cold but it's not because of the rain but because of the empty feeling in me. I hide myself behind this cold, emotionless mask. I wear it so much that I've forgotten who I am. Maybe I didn't know myself from the start. Maybe I have no need for this 'identity' thing. Yusei Fudo was wrong. I don't need emotions. I don't need to think. I don't need to love myself. I only need Divine. But, why do I feel so shunned? So alone, so cold....Why doesn't the thought of Divine make the pain go away? I was angry at myself. I pounded my fists on the brick walls in the dark alley I was in. After that duel in Fortune Cup, I couldn't forgive myself. How could I lose to that crab headed duelist?! I cursed underneath my mask. My breath is getting heavy and cold due to the rain. That Yusei Fudo, he defeated me at the semi-finals. I was so close...but he took it away. It was the only way I would please Divine by winning, by being the best duelist there is. But he took it away. Divine wasn't angry at me after the battle, but still I felt as if I let him down. So I decided to have a rematch with Yusei Fudo. I tracked him down to a mansion he was staying at. I was about to attack them but I stopped. I don't know why, but I did. I could see them from where I'm standing. They could probably see me too but they were looking at my direction. They were in the living room. They were celebrating. Happy faces everywhere, this seems familiar, Yusei was inside with his friends, laughing along with them. I was outside, getting soaked by the rain. My mask seems colder now. Just then Yusei looked at the windows, did he see me? Does he see through me like before? Tell me Fudo, what do you see, I want to know, is there someone here or am I just a witch? I decided to turn around and leave, what use is it anyways? Fighting with Yusei at this state? I'll just lose again. I'm too distracted by my thoughts. Wait; did I just say my thoughts? I never thought for myself, I never questioned myself or reflected. Damn, this was his doing. I ran away as far as I could I don't know where I'm heading but as long as I get away from him. I kept running till I reached an alley. I decided to hide there till the rain stopped.

I didn't notice it but I was being chased by no other than Yusei Fudo. He was chasing after me. He was running under the rain, why? Why is he chasing me? Does he want to battle? Can't he see that I'm retreating? I ran into a dead end. Damn, I'm trapped. I backed away slowly from him I can't duel now. Not now, please just go away, my head hurts, my chest hurts, I can't concentrate, I feel like crying. Why do I feel this way? Yusei slowly approaches me, I back away from him trying to find an exit. The rain made it difficult, my foot slipped and I lost balance. I was falling, just like always. But instead of the cold, wet ground that I was suppose to crash on, it was someone's arms. Some had caught me and it was Yusei. He broke my fall and caught me in his arms. He held me closely to himself in case I would trip again.

"Are you alright, Izayoi?" He asked me. Why do I even bother with the mask? Everyone knows who I am anyways, but is it really me they see?

"Izayoi" He repeated, waiting for my response.

"Get...get away from me!" I pushed him away from me. He let go of me and I fell on the ground. My cloak and mask got a little mud on them but I didn't care. I just wanted to disappear now. Yusei Fudo made me think of things, question a lot of things, and re-evaluate my life. I remember what he said before, he said that he'll take all the pain, but why do I feel more when he's around? I didn't bother to get up. I just sat there on the ground, rain falling on me. Yusei was still there, he was looking at me. I just looked down, trying hide my filthy self. Just go away. Minutes later the rain drops that kept falling on my head stopped. I looked up and I saw an umbrella, it was Yusei's perhaps. Yusei squat down in front of me holding up the umbrella for both of us.

"You'll catch cold if you stay out in the rain." He said to me.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked.

"Because, I understand your pain. I want to help in anyway I can. Not just because we have the same marks on our arms."

"But, I'm your enemy. I nearly killed you. Aren't you scared I might do it again?"

"I don't think of you as an enemy. Like I said, we're connected by our marks, and even if we didn't have our marks, I would still help you. I just can't ignore someone who needs help."

"This mark...is my curse." I silently whispered to myself.

"No it isn't. Don't think your power is a curse, people may see it that way but it doesn't matter what they think. Only you know what your power really is. Don't let people judge you for who you aren't."

"But how do I know how do I know who I really am? I hid behind this mask for so long that I can't remember anymore. All I remember is The Black Rose Witch."

Yusei Fudo stood up. I looked up into his eyes. They were blue like the ocean. They were really bright, even in this dark alley I can see them. There was something there in his eyes that I couldn't recognize. Was it trust? The only person I ever gave my trust to was Divine. I never felt the feeling of someone giving me their trust, except for Divine. But this feeling was different, the trust was from someone who I barely met yet it's like he knows everything about me. He offered his hand to me as if asking me to trust him, I was scared, and I didn't know what to do. Some part of me says to accept it but the other half says no.

I grabbed onto Yusei's hand and he pulled me up. We were face to face. Yusei brought his right hand up to my mask and he gently removed it from my face.

"You don't need to hide your face, your true emotions and your true self. Underneath that mask, there is someone, you have to look deep into yourself. Think. Decide for yourself, Izayoi."

"But I don't know, I don't know anything. I feel so empty." Tears start flowing out from my eyes. "I don't know what to do with this pain in me, I can't contain it hurts. I hate it, I hate everything, my powers, my parents, everything! And everything and everyone seems to hate me back. I only have Divine and the Arcadia Movement but I still feel like something's missing." I couldn't stop my tears I wished he hadn't taken off my mask so that he wouldn't see me like this. He looked at me in the eyes. I try to look away but I can't, as if I'm stuck. Slowly he leans in and rests his forehead on mine. I was surprised by his actions; his face was so close to mine. He held my face with both of his hands; he dropped the umbrella to his side.

"Don't be scared, I'm here for you." Then the rain stopped. The coldness inside me seems to fade away and so does my consciousness.

Blueorange: DUN DUN DUN. Yusei drugged her!

Yusei: No I didn't.

Blueorange: I was just kidding. She probably fainted from lack of food.

Aki: I have you know that I eat right, unlike you, Mister Chubby Mac Chubkins.

Blueorange: *gasps* You did not just call me chubby!

Yusei: *sighs* Please do ignore the author and leave a review. Comment on her grammar and use of Aki's POV. Was she in character? Was I in character? Was the story boring, detailed, or whatever? Commet so Chubby here will improve.