Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! 5ds

"MONSTER!". "WITCH!". "Stay away from us, freak!". "Mark-girl!". Aki was crying. Because they were right. Those children and those adults were right. They always were. That's what she was. A girl marked by the Ener-D Reactor, marked by the Zero Reverse. As long as she had the claw of the Crimson Dragon engraved in her arm, as long as she had her Psychic powers, she would always be a monster, the very incarnation of the disaster brought by a failed experiment.

Everybody knew what had happened that fateful day. The original Ener-D Reactor had gone out of control and the head researcher, Dr Fudo did not shut it down. The energy released was enough to severe Domino City in two parts, kill thousands of people, result to the birth of hundreds psychic duelists with their fearsome and dangerous to the innocent public, and mark the ones that were destined to activate that power again.

People in New Domino City were always trying to desperately to separate themselves from the curse lingering in the underground of Satellite, a curse pouring out of that wretched machine. As soon as they realized what happened, they cut all connections they had with the residents of that devastated island. They refused all help when asked; instead, they made them all suffer, so much that they would never duel again, they would never use Synchroes again, so they could never give power to that reactor. The citizens of New Domino City dumped all their Synchro monsters to Satellite, and started searching for other options. They taught their children to hate Satellite, the Reactor, the Synchro monsters and everything related to them.

So why was a girl born with the power of the wretched machine infused into her very core? Why was she born in New Domino City? And such a good family, the Izayois in top of that! What people saw in her was a dark omen signaling the coming of a disaster. All the marks of the destruction were on her, for everyone to see. A time bomb.

Those were the thoughts pondering into Aki' s head, as she was crying in the middle of the park, with her head between her knees, her despair deeming her unable to defend herself from the shoes and rocks that the other children were aiming at her. Why me, why me, "WHY ME?". This time, it was a scream.

"Freak!". "Witch!". "Why does such a creature live among us?" "You should be ashamed that your alive, demon!". She cried even harder.

"Do you have a problem with this girl?", asked a cold, calm voice. It was quiet, but demanded silence, attention. It was a voice to be obeyed. Everyone slowly turned their heads to the source of that voice, and Aki dared to look up.

All that could be heard was the distant traffic from the road, as a lone figure made its appearance. It was a boy, around eleven years old, with raven hair which would remind of a crab, if it wasn't for the fact that they were well past his shoulder blades. His hair had a gold color at the end and gold highlights. His clothing was eccentric. A royal blue, short-sleeved jacket with black trimmings and amber-colored jewels, a black T-shirt with a red design like practice target for shooting, which had its left sleeve reaching all the way down to the wrist, while the other was missing, brown leather fingerless gloves, dark grey jeans and green sneakers. His face behind his bangs was hard to make out, but one could easily see the stunning color of his eyes; an incredibly bright royal blue that was illuminating those too mature for his age eyes with determination. However, only his left eye was visible. The other one was hidden by his chin length bangs, but even if one did try to see it, they would only see bandages wrapped around that eye as well. His right arm was also wrapped with bandages, from his wrist to all the way up to the shoulder, but there was no indication of an injury. He had a Battle City-like Duel disk strapped across his back. For an eleven-years-old boy, he had quite the intimidating appearance.

The boy's gaze turned towards the small crowd currently staring at him, as they had unconsciously formed a wide circle with him and Aki in the centre. Some random passengers stopped to see what the commotion was all about.

The boy stood there for a few moments, as still as a sculpture, without making a sound. "Well?", he asked, and if it was not so quiet, he wouldn't be heard. "Why are you hurting her?". Nobody dared to breathe. Something told them that it may was not such a good idea to anger him, if the sudden pressure in the air was anything to go by.

Well, not everyone had that opinion. "Who do you think you are brat?", asked a man among the crowd. "We are going to do whatever we want to with that monster!".

"Why are you calling her a monster?".

"Are you blind?", asked an older child, probably older by three or four years. "She has-"

"…the Foot Claw of the Crimson Dragon on her right arm, which indicates that she is a Signer. She also has high-level psychic abilities. So what?".

Nobody answered.

The boy sighted. "What is your name?", he asked her.

"I-Izayoi A-Aki…".

"Aki, huh?", he murmured, not quite addressing to anyone. "Why aren't you wearing any shoes?".

"Eh!?". Aki was caught off guard by the sudden question. She flushed a little red. "Eto… Mama and Papa never let me go out, so they never bought me any shoes…". She did not notice the boy's eye narrow. So that's how they treat her…

"So you went out on your own.". A small nod. "Do you like it outside?". Another node, but this time, it was a negative one. "Why not?", he asked, continuing his efforts to make the girl open up.

"People… are yelling at me.". She looked so small there, the boy could not help but feel pity for the little girl curled on the soil.

He kneed and leaned close to her, so she wouldn't feel so intimidated. "If people weren't yelling at you, would you like it outside?".

"Y-yeah…". She took a little breath and continued. "There are many flowers here! I really like flowers!". On a split second she was on her feet jumping up and down as if she wasn't crying like half a minute ago.

"Eh, you like them!?", he asked, totally awestruck by the 180 degrees change of attitude, the crowd along with him.

"Hm!", she nodded excitedly, "And my favorites are roses!". Now, what are the chances?, thought the boy in a corner of his mind.

He searched in the hidden pocket under his jacket for a card he was very familiar with, but there was no point to put it in his deck. It didn't fit with any of his cards; and besides, he just knew that this card had just found its rightful owner. "Then how about taking this card?", he asked her, handing it over with a smile.

The little girl took the card with her two little hands and looked at it. "Black… Rose… Dragon…?".

"She's pretty, isn't she?".

"But it's a Synchro monster!". Aki was now panicking.

"You don't have to worry.", he told her reassuringly, patting her head. "Not all Synchro monsters are bad. Most of them are just cards. As for the rest, many of them are good and there are also some bad cards. But be sure that Black Rose dragon is a very good girl.".

Aki nodded, understanding. "Are you using Synchro monsters too?", she asked.

"Yeah, lots.", he admitted.

"What is your name, sir?". There was something in her voice that the boy couldn't quite put his finger into it, but he knew that she really wanted to know.

"It's Yusei."

"Yusei-nichan…", she started, slightly shocking him with her form of address, "will you take me with you? Please!?…"

There was such eagerness in her eyes, a light full of hope that was illuminating those wide chocolate brown orbs. Yusei found himself nodding. He took her an a piggy back ride. "Yeah. You can come with me.".