A Jewel of Love fiction based on my Forum's 'Jewels of Love' collection/challenge (for more information you can follow the link to my forum that's at my profile). About time to write one with Yusei and Aki.

This is a co-written story, written with Scarletleaf66! So every credit for me is for her too!

Post-canon (some years after Aki left to study abroad)

Disclaimer: We don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's. We own the title and the plot of this story, while I own the 'Jewels of Love' idea. Also we don't own the cover image; ObsessiveCompulsiveValkyrie does. She made it so the credit goes to her as the original artist! This is non-profit story and we are not making any money from it.


If dreams were true

Aki's POV

It was night. A bright full moon was shining between the clouds and a cool breeze was blowing, making everything sweep into a gentle dance. I was standing alone in the middle of the room, thinking. Thousands of thoughts were passing through my mind with great speed, but I wasn't able to follow them.

I closed my eyes and tried, taking deep breaths. For a reason which is still unknown to me, my heart was beating fast and started to intensify with every passing minute... My mind became blank as my thoughts traveled back into my memories… And they revolved around one specific man. I smiled at this thought and now my heart started beating with a different rhythm. My entire being changed form and my feelings blossomed in a way that my chest filled with something strong and uncontrollable… The highest feeling of all.

...

My eyes burst open as I began to breathe hard and tried desperately to control my heartbeat. I failed of course, so I focused my thoughts elsewhere. I spent only one minute to remember where I was and what I was doing here. I was waiting in the dark, refusing to open up any light source within the room. I don't need light to think of why I'm standing here, in fact I work better in the dark, and there is nothing to distract me. My heart suddenly raced and I began feeling all those bottled up emotions… all at once.

My whole life is about to change any time soon –in fact in some hours. I didn't bother to count them. The future is waiting and I'm more than willing to run and throw myself into its adventurous embrace.

But a choice like the one I made not long ago sure has its disadvantages, and some always left a bitter taste in my mouth. But still… I won't give up. I won't stay behind. I will run forward to chase my dream, but… I will miss him. I know I will and I can't leave like that… not before I tell him… not before I confess to him…

I shook my head. It's not exactly the reason of why I came here. I felt heat spreading across my face and I bit my lips hard. My heart suddenly lurched as I heard the garage door opening... Someone was lifting in up. My breath suddenly got stuck in my throat.

'Only one man could be opening that door,' I thought. 'After all, only he is living in the garage now.'

"Aki?" I heard him calling.

I placed my hands behind my back. Even his voice was deep… and so strong. I gripped my right wrist tightly and refused to show my face as I was trying to gain my self control. It's hard since I know why I came here tonight, knowing that it will be a long time until I see his face again.

I sensed him moving nearby the wall and guessing his thoughts I stopped him calmly. "Leave the lights off."

I knew he stopped himself from pressing the switch at the last minute and I practically sensed his confusion too. I forced myself to talk.

"Once I started waiting here, I remembered all sorts of things…" I started, trying hard to find the perfect words to say. "I can't show you my face right now."

I knew that if I was laying my eyes on him, I would just lose all of my confidence and ruin everything.

So I continued, still refusing to meet his eyes, those beautiful cobalt blue eyes. "So you're the only one, who'll be here now, Yusei…"

He came closer and it took every inch of my inner strength to stay still in my position.

"Yeah… So what's wrong?" he asked with wonder.

Wrong? I wanted to chuckle –there's nothing wrong. It's just so painful, but also comforting knowing that he always be here and I can come to him anytime I want. After all, I'm not leaving forever. I will come back one day. Neo Domino is my home –my true home, because here is where my heart will always be. Here… With him! I smiled and finally found the will to turn around and stand in front of him. But I was afraid and ashamed to peer into his blue orbs. Aw well! Baby steps I suppose. I'm here tonight and that was already a hard decision to make.

"I was hoping to give you a proper goodbye, Yusei…" I don't know why but I wanted to say his name as many times as I can. Maybe because I won't pronounce it for a long time.

I saw him smiling from the corner of my eyes. "I see…"

I felt my nervousness taking the best of me and I tightly gripped my right wrist again. I knew what I had to do. All I need to do now is have the courage to spill it out. My heart was beating like crazy, as if ready to jump out of my body. Trying to ignore it and focus, I took a deep breath, and prepared myself. It's now or never.

My face flushed as I lifted my head, trying to keep my voice steady. "I've always lov-"

…But I couldn't.

I simply couldn't. Because when my eyes met his, I felt something wasn't right. His calm face, his warm smile… made my very words stuck in the back of my throat and I found myself almost naked. Yusei is not dense. I'm sure he knew what I wanted to tell him, even if I was too much of a coward to say it.

I pulled my eyes off him shaking my head. I can't say it to him. Everything looked perfect …We were alone in the dark, with only the moonlight around us, but maybe it's not the proper time. Not yet.

Now that there is no chance to speak those specific words to him I felt less tense, but still my heart was dancing inside my chest. I tried to smile.

"I love that I met you," I ended up saying, but tried hard to keep myself from tearing. The emotions were starting to get overwhelming and I felt like I would burst. Especially when looking straight into his eyes. Those beautiful cobalt blue eyes…

Not that it wasn't true. I love everything about him. I'm standing here tonight because of him. My parents are on my side cheering for me to do my best, because of him. I'm not even wearing my old hairclip that I use to have, simply because I'm capable enough to control my power and still… I owe it to him. I owe everything because of him. No wonder why my heart is beating only for him.

He made a concert smile, which lighted up his face. "Me too Aki."

His words brought a smile on my face. A pure, genuine smile along with a pinch of excitement. I said I love that I met him, but back there at the Daimon Area I wasn't so glad to see him. In fact I was more than angry and sacred. And here now, standing in front of him feeling that my heart is ready to explode. Is he the same Fudo Yusei I first met? And I felt the need to share with him this.

I turned to my side, taking my eyes off him again –I can't think straight otherwise. "When I first met you, Yusei I really thought you were an awfully scary person."

He released a chuckle with turned into a laugh. His reaction made me smile again. That's good, because for a split of second I thought he would get mad at me.

"The same applies for me. After all, you were really frightening when I first laid eyes on you Aki. I was really worried about what you'd do to us if we lost during our team's battle."

I guess it was my time to laugh, but to be honest his words upset me. Actually his words made me angry. I'm not the same person I used to be. I made a fist. I'm not the Black Rose Witch anymore. I turned to him, my face stunned.

"You really thought that?" I asked angrily.

His answered surprised me as he came closer saying, "Aki, don't forget to smile."

He took my hand with both of his –the same hand I made into a fist, and gave me his one-of-a-kind smile. Looking at me in a strange way, he continued.

"There's no one in the world with a smile better than yours."

My heart skipped a beat hearing him saying such beautiful words. I looked at him bewildered, daring to hope that he may have some warm feelings for me. Otherwise why say something like this? But even if he is not returning my feeling I still feel happy inside. Slowly, I lifted my other hard and placed it above his, feeling my skin burn as my hand touched his.

"You are the one who put that smile on my face… Yusei," I confessed, feeling ready to cry, but out of happiness and joy.

He remained silent, smiling and staring deep into my eyes. Just like I did. I was offering to him the smile he loves the most. Staring into his eyes, I felt that I was losing myself into him. I was drunk by my own emotions, feeling dizzy, under his smoldering gaze. Everything looks so perfect… it is perfect. And I don't mind… my heart was beating like crazy, and my feet can't hold my weight anymore, but I let my heart speak this time. Chances like this are given maybe once in a lifetime.

"Yusei, I always…" my voice came out in a quiet yet gentle whisper.

I will tell him. I know I can do it this time. I do have the strength and even he doesn't return my feelings I will always keep smiling, only because he exists in my life. Actually, I do have a life because of him. I can't leave without letting him know. I don't know when I'm going to see him again but he deserves to know.

"I always lov-" my voice faded as I was interrupted.

But not because of me. This time it was Yusei who stopped me from confessing by gently placing one finger above my lips.

I gave him a confused glance and I was surprised to see him smile, still staring at me as if he wanted to capture my face permanently into his memory.

"I know," he dropped his voice into a warm whisper, which stole the breath from my lips.

So he knows! He knows my feelings. I didn't bother to wonder how. I think my actions and behavior toward him all this time were too clear, especially when he is present. I blushed and bow my head, feeling awkward. It's not that I did something bad, and I have no reason to feel ashamed for my feelings, but still…

"Aki…" Yusei tilled my chin up so he could see into my eyes.

I was feeling totally naked under his gaze. All of my emotions… everything I was feeling was now exposed and wide open. I couldn't hide anything from him.

I hesitated, taking a moment to find my voice. "I'm sorry Yusei. I know I should have told you earlier, but…"

He stopped me again and this time he caressed my cheek with his thumb. I blushed more.

Yusei made a smile, but I sense a hint of… sadness? "You don't have to apologize, Aki. If there is someone who needs to apologize, then I'm the one."

I stared at him astonished. "You? Why?"

Why he was saying such a thing? He always had been there for me, helping me, supporting me, encouraging me… so, what is he apologizing for?

Suddenly he went tense as he whispered hoarsely, "For the same reason, you wanted to apologize."

I swallowed. Slowly I licked my dry lips to moist them. What did he just say to me?

"I should have told you long ago… when I first met you at the Daimon Area, or when I first saw your face at the Fortune Cup, or when I dueled with you for the first time, or even when I woke you up at the hospital after the Arcadia Movement went down…"

"Yusei…" Few times in my life was I absolutely dumbstruck. This is definitely one of those.

"I should have told you there and every day after. I had so many chances to tell you, but I didn't."

He cupped my face with both hands, bringing his face only an inch away from mine. I wasn't able to breathe.

"I love you Aki. I always loved you… I loved you when I first laid my eyes on you and I only loved you more day by day."

His words shocked me, as I felt them to penetrate me, and reach the depth of my being, creating an explosion of emotions.

"Yusei… I… you…"

"So I'm the one who need to apologize for not telling you. I wanted to though…" he paused for a second.

Even within the dark I saw his face turning scarlet red while he was confessing to me. And suddenly the cool breeze became too hot…

Yusei took a deep breath before continued. "I really did want to… but you see, there was always something getting in my way; the legend of Crimson Dragon, the Dark Signers, WRGP tournament…"

"You were busy saving the world, Yusei."

"I know that, but that isn't an excuse. I just felt that it wasn't the right time, but now…" his eyes fell upon my lips for a split of second.

"Now it's the right time…?" I wanted to ask but I wasn't sure if I thought the question or actually spoke.

Yusei nodded bowing his head the same time touching my lips in a tender kiss. I froze! But only for a second, because the next minute I melted under his touch. I closed my eyes and kissed him back as our lips started to dance in the same gentle yet intense dance.

I'm dreaming. This must be a dream. The man I love most in my life is holding me in his strong arms and was kissing me. I pressed my arms around his neck and my fingers continued to fumble around in his hair, tugging at the roots lightly. If it hurt him, he didn't say anything.

Now he was kissing me passionately, feeling his tongue seeking a way to my mouth, and pulling me tighter against him.

I lost myself, I lost the track of time, I lost the sensation of where I am or what my name is. I don't know how long we stayed like this, kissing and embracing each other. I knew I was dreaming. But now comes the time when all dreams come to an end, as much as I don't want it. This dream is no exception… and even if I want to stay like this forever, something disturbed my peace, dragging me violently away from this dreamy reality. Compelling me to open up my eyes and face the truth –an awful truth…

...

I was dreaming…


First chapter is over! Call me crazy but I believe that this is how this lovely scene should have ended! Really guys, not even a kiss? Aw well… here is your kiss and I hope you like it!

Please review! I love reading your thoughts! ^_^