Hello and Welcome Back Ladies and Gentlemen!
Just like I mentioned before, I decided to change my mind! Instead of leaving this story as a one shot, I have decided to turn this idea into a full length story where we actually get to see Selena's plan to save Yuri in action!
I intend to update and continue with future chapters as often as I can, but I cannot give a specific schedule of how often I can update since I have another story to work on as well, my ZEXAL story, The Ice Queen Cometh. However, I will update this as often as I can and I hope to entertain you all with it!
Just like I said in the last chapter, I still don't own Arc V. If I did, the show would be Parasite Free!
Enjoy!
Chapter 2: The Bandana
Yuri:
Another day, another duel, another session of purging the Fusion Dimension of traitors and carding them like the worthless dogs they are!
Another Boring Day...
Ever since my duel with that idiot Synchro Duelist who looks like me got interrupted by that Yuzu girl, which somehow forced me to go back to the Fusion dimension, the Professor hasn't allowed me to do anything exciting as of late.
Sure I get to duel as often as I used to, and I suppose it was reasonably interesting to duel five of Yusho Sakaki's group of traitors at once. I suppose I did get some form of an adrenaline rush watching Starve Venom devour their monsters and their lifepoints one by one, but it was too easy. They sent their strongest monsters against me, but even then I had to resist the urge to yawn as their attempts to stand against me were pathetic at best.
All this hunting was becoming monotonous, just find another Xyz Scum, Lancer, or Traitor, duel them, card them, lather, rinse, repeat.
Something was missing... something to give my life more meaning, more validation, more purpose, but what could it be?
Oh well. Orders are orders, and the Professor always has something to keep me from getting bored, so I continue to follow his command.
In return I gain the respect and prestige I deserve. I used to be pathetic and weak, but now the people on this island fear me, and they know what happens if they cross me.
And that is just the way I like it, and when the Professor makes the dimensions into one, everyone will know my name, and everyone will learn to fear me, as they should.
I was actually happy for once in my life when that Synchro Duelist showed up again, but of course, YUZU just HAD to be there as well, and of course,Yuzu just HAD to use that bracelet of hers to teleport me away from the opponent who may actually give me an exciting blood hunt.
No matter though. I will find them again. The dominant predator always gets his prey.
No one dares question my status as the dominant predator of this dimension, especially when I am hunting! Not even... HER!
I loathe uttering her name, the one who coddled me like an infant out of pity all those years ago. The one time I formed an actual bond with another human being...
And just like that she betrayed me, tossed me aside like garbage all because she was jealous that the professor recognized my skills and not hers.
But in a way, I have her to thank. By betraying me all those years ago, she showed me the truth of humanity and how foolish it is to form bonds in the first place. Those who do will either get their hearts broken by being betrayed, or by watching their loved ones die a horrible death at the hands of predators like myself, and I get to watch as they realize it was these very bonds that gave them their pain, granting them a self fulfilling prophecy as their screams echo across the land once I seal them away into cards like the worthless vermin they are.
Honestly I look forward to the Lancers barging in here to rescue their precious Yuzu, especially that other lookalike of me who keeps yapping on about that nonsense of "Dueling to make people smile". I think I may have found someone who is an even bigger moron than my Synchro Counterpart when I heard my Standard Counterpart say those words. Duel Monsters is an Art of War, and no one is supposed to smile during war, they are supposed to scream as their homes are destroyed and their loved ones are slain. The only ones allowed to smile are the winners of this war who earn the right to prove their superiority over their opponents. So come into my lair, little standard dragon. I will enjoy crushing your smile and showing you the cruel truth of the world.
But enough musing about the fun I will have in the future. The Professor summoned me for another assignment, and so here I stand outside the doors to his throne room, hoping he'll send me after a worthy opponent.
However, when I opened the doors to greet the Professor, I received quite the interruption to my boring routine, a shocking new element I had never predicted.
There she was, the traitor to Academia and the traitor to me! Selena, dressed in the same purple military robes I am wearing!
The uniform was more regal looking, with the coat tails and waist area of the uniform much longer and draping downward like the dress of a queen!
The professor even gave her a cape! She can't have a cape! I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO GETS TO HAVE A CAPE AROUND HERE!
This had to be some kind of sick joke! Is it really "Let's Prank Yuri" Day? But no, the Professor is right on the throne acting like everything is normal. This is no joke!
It took every ounce of restraint I had in my body to not fly off the handle and start yelling at the Professor. I would not be foolish enough to initiate a death sentence by doing that. What made it even worse was the profound silence in the room. It was a crushing and sickening silence, made even worse by the fact that Selena was staring right at me! Staring at me with a look of...
What was that look? I could not put my finger on it. Pity? Remorse? Sorrow?
That made no sense at all. She made it quite clear that she hated me all those years ago!
Enough of this! Finally I decided to break the silence.
"Professor, what is she doing here, out of her cell? And why in the name of all that is holy is she wearing a uniform of MY RANK? Is this supposed to be a joke?!"
"Not that it should be any concern of yours, Yuri." The Professor spoke to me. "But she did the one thing you could not do. Thanks to her efforts, she has captured Yuzu and brought her here to Duel Academy. Now that we have the final piece of her counterparts, the Arc Area Project can soon begin. She asked to be promoted for her deed, and seeing as I am a man of my word, I rewarded her for her reaffirmed loyalty as such."
That hurt. That hurt a lot! The way he said it, doing the one thing I could not do, as if she had the audacity to try to do something better than me! It was infuriating! Did this little traitor really think she could just waltz right back into my life and undermine everything I have worked for?! Who did she think she was?!
She was just... so...so...so...
Beautiful
DECEITFUL
She's just as beautiful as you remember...
And just as much of a manipulative liar! Betraying the Lancers for power! Doesn't that remind you of anything?
It was true. While it was impressive that she actually proved to be a better double agent than that idiot, Dennis, and it was commendable that she managed to successfully capture Yuzu, seeing her unleash her ability to betray once again just brought up bad memories.
I am afraid, Selena, that the professor ONLY wants Yuri for this special training session, not you!"
I wanted to speak up. I wanted to protest and insist that Selena joins me. Part of me wanted to put my foot down and say either both of us go to the special training program, or neither of us go, but that would doom me! Sanders took nonsense and defiance from no one, and worse, if I did that then the Professor would be angry with me, and then I would never get to be a soldier! Maybe Selena would understand! Maybe she would just be patient! She is strong! I know she is! Maybe it was just that the training program was only for one person. Surely Sanders and the Professor will pick her soon! Right? And it could still be the same! We could still train together and duel together just like before when I had the time?
It had to be this way... After all the time we shared together, being separated from Selena would make everything empty...
And then she shattered my world...
"What did you do behind my back to suddenly make yourself look so special?! How could you do this to me?! I thought you said you wanted to be my friend, but now I see you were just using me to climb up to the Professor's side! Did you make up the story about the bandana belonging to your mother too?!"
I was shocked! Terrified! Traumatized! How could she say that to me?! How could she think I would betray her like that!
That WAS my mother's bandana, and she has the nerve to call me a liar?!
"N-N-N-N-No! I would never do anything like that!" I manage to stammer out after being stunned. Surely she would believe me, right?
Wrong!
"JUST GO! I see how it is! You thought you could just use me to help you get better at Fusion Summoning and now that the Professor noticed you, you don't need me anymore! I wasn't your friend at all! I was just a stepping stone so you could climb the totem pole up to being the professor's favorite! WELL TAKE IT THEN! Take that offer and go! I never want to see you again!"
She... what?! She never wants to see me again?! She didn't mean that! She couldn't mean that! How could you, Selena?! I thought all the time we spent together meant something and here you are slapping me in the face telling me you want to end it out of jealousy?!
"S-S-S-Selena..." I was too stunned to say anything other than her name...
"LEAVE ME ALONE! I HATE YOU!"
All it took were those six poisonous words to destroy me.
She hated me... Selena hated me... My only friend I ever had in my entire life...
Hated me...
I tried to speak again but my throat was too dry, too dry from holding back the urge to cry. I can't cry in front of Sanders. Weakness is not tolerated on Academia.
And then it hit me! Weakness!
That is what allowed her to hurt me, my weakness! This bond we shared allowed her to hurt me through her betrayal!
If I had been smarter, if I had been stronger, I would never had been hurt at all. I would have seen this betrayal coming!
I would have entered the special training course sooner if I hadn't wasted my time allowing Selena to weasel her way into my heart and then break it!
I could feel it now! My sadness turning into anger and rage, a rage that would protect me and make me stronger!
How dare she?! How dare she do this to me?! If you think you hate me, Selena, you have no idea how much I hate you for what you did to me!
I'll show her... I'll show them all... I will become the duelist the Professor wants me to be! I will make sure no one ever hurts or betrays me again!
Anyone who tries will meet a slow and painful death...
"Now that you are both here" The professor interrupted my trip down memory lane. Thank God. I couldn't take much more of that. "I have new assignments for both of you."
His computer monitors flashed behind him, revealing security footage of the whole island, and I took notice of one in particular.
There, on the footage of the eastern tower leading up to the cell of the Synchro Girl I kidnapped, Rin, I think her name was, I saw the same moron from before.
The same moron with that Synchro Dragon who escaped my clutches before, Yugo!
The Professor apparently took notice of my attention. "I take it you know what I am about to assign you, Yuri, but in case you don't, then let me be clear. Apollo and Diana have both failed and now the towers containing two of Selena's counterparts are at risk of being compromised. Your Synchro Counterpart has proven himself to be a very powerful duelist, and if I remember from one of the reports, you engaged him in battle before. Your orders are simple. Intercept him and defeat him. Make sure Rin stays put in her cell where she belongs.
FINALLY SOMETHING EXCITING! There must be a God after all. I was just praying for something to do just a mere seconds ago and my prayers have been answered.
Of course every answered prayer comes with a catch. I would have preferred it if Selena had stayed in her cell. I could have easily captured Yuzu myself.
"Yes Professor. It will be done." I answered, obedient as ever. Following orders brings the reward of a satisfying hunt.
"As for you, Selena." The Professor continued, pointing to another monitor, which I noticed to be the Predator Jungle where Sanders spent all those months training me...
It made me remember his pet. It was a shame too. That particular duelist was so strong in battle and yet so weak in the mind that he could not handle the intense training and eventually he snapped. Now he is more animal than human.
I shudder to think that I could have become just like him if I had not been strong enough to survive Sanders' training...
"As you can see, Selena, your former comrades have infiltrated Academia, but they have unknowingly walked right into the lion's den. Sanders is already preparing the ambush. The Battle Beast will be unleashed upon the Lancers and one by one they will fall."
I noticed a burst of angry fire light up Selena's eyes at the mention of Sanders' name, but why? What reason would she have to hate Sanders?
"However" the Professor continued. "I am afraid I am not exactly comfortable with Sanders'...eccentric methods... especially since it has reached a point where the Battle Beast cannot tell the difference between ally and enemy and seals other Academia students into cards as if they were the enemy. Therefore, I need you to provide assistance. Meet with Sanders in the Predator Jungle and observe the duel. Should the Lancers gain the upper hand against the Battle Beast, or if the Battle Beast starts to go out of control, you are to enter the duel and take care of them personally. Do you understand?"
I noticed a moment of hesitation, and I expected her to falter and at least show some form of resemblance that she still viewed the Lancers as her comrades, which would all but confirm my suspicions.
"It will be done, Professor."
But nothing happened. She gave the same obedient response I did and she even topped it off by bowing to him as if she had never rebelled against him a single time in her life. No one turns on a dime like that so quickly. She was hiding something. I knew it.
"Dismissed! Both of you! Carry out your assignments with haste and do not fail me!"
That was my cue to exit the premises and pursue my prey, but I wasn't done here yet. I still needed to have a word with my old...ugh... "friend"...
I caught her as she exited the throne room and turned left to make her way to the Predator Jungle. I was supposed to go the opposite direction to reach the tower, but I needed to test my theory out. Quiet as a mouse I stalked her from behind.
We were all alone now, just the two of us, just a predator and his prey.
"Do you have some reason why you are following me and not headed to Rin's tower to deal with Yugo?"
I studied her voice, and I was pretty sure I found what I was looking for. Her inner strength was there, but the spitefulness I expected was gone.
That all but confirmed it. This loyalty to the Professor was nothing more than an act to hide her true intentions, but I didn't have any proof. Oh but I will get that proof out of her one way or another, and then it's back to your prison cell where you belong you deceitful bitch!
I relished her cry of surprise when I pounced, grabbing her by the neck and pinning her against the wall.
"What is your game?!" I hissed at her.
"My... game?!"
"Don't play dumb with me! You were rebellious against the professor ever since we were separated, so why are you suddenly loyal to him?! You may be able to fool him with your lies but you can't fool me! You already fooled me once three years ago, and I won't let you trick me again!"
I saw her eyes quiver for a second, as if my words were hurting her more than my grip around her neck. That's absurd. I know her type. She regrets nothing.
"If...you...let...go of me...I'll tell you..." She managed to wheeze out. She is lucky she is one of the bracelet counterparts, a necessary piece for the Professor's plan. Otherwise, I would have carded her a long time ago. I released my grip and she gasped for air before explaining herself. I paid attention to her words with great detail, looking for any signs of deception.
"I was rebellious because I was frustrated that after all this time, the Professor still didn't recognize my talents, so when I heard about the Lancers and how they were looking for soldiers, I decided to join forces with someone who would actually appreciate me. Oh they appreciated me alright and put my skills to good use, but then I realized just how little they valued me. I was expendable to them. If they lost me, they would not care at all, so when the Professor interrogated me after I was brought back here, I worked out a deal. If I reaffirmed my loyalty to Academia and proved it by capturing Yuzu, he would give me the respect I deserve, and so I did, and here I am. Now if you excuse me, I have a mission to carry out."
I wasn't buying it. There was something else, some hidden motivation she was keeping from me, but what was it?
I was about to resort to violence again, when I noticed something, something I should have noticed from the moment I saw her again, but I never paid much attention to it until now!
She was still wearing the yellow bandana I gave her all those years ago.
I had no answers. Every single piece of behavior she displayed to me three years ago told me she did not care about my little gift in the slightest and I thought for certain she was going to throw it away, but there it was, still tied around her shiny blue hair...
"You're still wearing it." I finally managed to speak my mind.
"What?"
"You are still wearing that bandana I gave you! Why did you keep it?"
I felt her eyes shift again, the same indication she was hiding something from me, but no answer came. She chose to dodge the question.
"Don't you have an intruder to stop? It would be a shame if Rin escaped simply because you arrived to late to intercept him."
OH THAT VILE WOMAN! That verbal barb right into my pride! If it had been anyone else who had said that I would have carded them on the spot!
But she was correct. Every second wasted was another second in which that idiot, Yugo, could break his little girlfriend out of prison and escape with her.
"Fine! Keep your secrets, but I will find out sooner or later, and when I do, you will regret ever crossing me!"
And so we parted ways to carry out our assignments, and while I relished the chance to hunt again, my mind was continuously going back to that single detail.
She kept the bandana, but what did that mean?!
She reaffirmed her loyalty to the Professor. She means you no harm. She still sees you as her friend, maybe even more than that.
She's a liar and snake! Living proof that you don't need any friends or bonds with anyone! All you need is the power and respect the Professor gave you!
But you said it yourself! Something is missing! What if that missing piece is her?
You have survived and prospered for three years without anyone, especially her! If you let her in she will only betray you again! She is a vile deceiver!
But she kept the bandana you gave her all those years ago! She kept it!
She kept it out of spite! To rub it in your face as to how foolish you were to give something so important to you to someone else!
If you truly meant nothing to her she would have thrown it away!
Why did she keep it?
The question repeated itself constantly in my mind like a broken record, and I wanted an answer so bad just so I could put the stupid question out of my head.
But the detail stayed, a detail I overlooked until now...
She kept it... She kept it...
Authors Notes:
Well! I just discovered something interesting as I wrote this chapter. Yuri is a surprisingly hard character to write!
Another part of the problem in turning this idea from a one shot into a multi chapter story was deciding how to write it in regards to the fact that the first chapter was entirely in Selena's point of view, but during the brain storming there were some things I wanted to see from Yuri's angle.
It is a HUGE pet peeve of mine when a fanfiction writer constantly jumps to different points of views too often right in the middle of the story, and sometimes switching between first person and third person out of nowhere.
So I came up with a solution. Since this is a Selena/Yuri story, I am going to be alternating between Selena chapters and Yuri chapters. Each will get time to dive into their minds and see things their way. I think seeing things from both sides of the pairing would do good for the relationship over all.
So yes! It looks like Next Chapter we are going to have our first duel of the story with Yugo vs Yuri, and this time we won't have Bracelet Ex Machina, COUGH I mean Yuzu to interrupt the duel!
And last but definitely not least, What did you all think of the start of this adventure? Did you like the chapter? Did you not like it? Whatever your opinion may be, feel free to leave a review and let me know!
Until Next Time! This is Nox Descious Signing Out!
