Lulu wakes up the sun shining through the window in her room that Declan has given her. It's painted in a light blue like the sky with white trimming. She groans as she gets up from her bed. She walks over to the vanity and starts putting her hair in it's usual bow-shaped style and put on her grey leggings, brown boots, a long lilac dress that she puts a small cream colored vest, her two brown belts that keep Yuto's red scarf at her side.
She got the scarf when she got cut there and Yuto gave it to her to put pressure on it until they could get a first aid kit. Once she was treated she washed the scarf and tried to give it back to him only for him to tell her to keep it. Holding the scarf in her hands tightly Lulu whispers: "Yuto, please be with me today. Wherever you are."
She can't explain it but Sora has something about him. The blue she saw him wear in in his photo is close to the one that Obelisk Force wears in their uniforms. The blue that haunts her and gives her nightmares. Hearing a knock at her door she tells the person they can come in. She sees black hair with light green bangs. "Shay." She breathes. He walks in and closes the door and stands halfway between her and the door.
"Lulu, are you ready for your duel today?"
"Yes." Normally she would be excited for a duel, even when Duel Academy invaded Heartland she tried to keep a smile on her face no matter her opponent but ever since Yuto has been missing Lulu can't seem to smile as she used to.
Shay places a hand on her shoulder and she looks at her older brother. "I know that if Yuto was here he would be cheering you on in your duel today. Heck, win or lose he would probably beat me to you. Spinning you in the air or trying to reassure you."
"How do you know?" Lulu can feel a blush creep it's way to her cheeks.
"Because the day I introduced you two, I took him to your duel. He said you were amazing and that you were pretty."
Lulu can feel her face get even redder. "And you still introduced us?" Lulu loves her brother, but he can be a bit overprotective every now and again. Especially if a guy shows interest in her. There have been a few that Shay has scared off, not that Lulu minded. She didn't really know them and most boys only wanted to date her because she was Shay's sister, or the fact that she was the best duelist in her class., or the fact that she is just pretty. They didn't really want to know her, they wanted a trophy or bragging rights.
Heck there was this one guy who once stole her bracelet and wouldn't give it back. The guy tried to challenge Shay when she told her brother, but she accepted the challenge instead. She won and the guy then confessed to having a crush on her but she turned him down.
But Yuto was-is different. He has actually gotten to know her and treats her like an actual person. They have done tag battles together and he always lets her duel, some of the other guys have always stopped her. Never really letting her have a turn. Not to mention he is a gentleman. He once gave her his jacket when she forgot hers and they got hit by very a very harsh cold wind.
She remembers the day that they looked over each other's decks and then they dueled all day and then she layed her head on his shoulder and she remembers just listening to his heartbeat. Maybe that's why Shay introduced them. Because despite the fact that they are best friends and Shay isn't the biggest fan of guys crushing on her, Yuto has shown to be different than the others.
"Yes." He nods in confirmation. "Come on, the tournament is about to start."
Lulu remains silent and follows her brother. As they make their way to breakfast Lulu hears a little voice inside her head to make people smile during this duel.
It takes most of the day but it's finally Lulu's turn against Sora. Declan activates a field spell that makes the arena look like Heartland once did. How it did before the invasion.
"What? Don't like the scenery? I would've thought that you did." Sora smirks.
"So you were there!"
"Of course I was, but for now I summon Fluffal Bear in attack mode and end my turn."
Lulu can feel angry tears well in her eyes. Sora is here for an invasion, pretending to be a friend of the You Show school. Lulu draws from her deck and sees the card. It's Dark Rebellion. How did she draw Yuto's Dragon, she put it in her extra deck. "Alright, I summon my two Sapphire Swallows. One in attack and one in defense! I place a card face down and end my turn. Now tell me, why did you attack Xyz! Tell me-"
"Where your little friend is? Sorry to say, but even I don't know where he is. All that if he lost a duel he was most likely turned into a card. But if he won and you still haven't found him then maybe he realized that you just weren't saving."
"How dare you speak of Yuto like that! He would never abandon me or Shay. Ever since your stupid invasion it's been the three of us, we've been the only family each of us have had. Even our friends back home have no idea what to do. It's been Shay, Yuto, and I that have still given them hope. Dueling with smiles is something that I was taught back home by a friend who introduced me to her teacher, and that is something that I still believe in!"
"Oh really, and what about your friends back home? Do you know about them? Do even know if they are still humans or if they've been turned into cards? Or did you come here to try and find your crush with your brother chasing after you? And seriously? Dueling for smiles. There is no way you Xyzian can even do that, the only thing you're good at is just being a pretty a girl, that's the only reason most crowds even smile at you."
"Oh no!" Lulu can hear Shay exclaim. He may not be on the field, but she knows that is something her brother would say and the worry for her opponents safety. After all, no one has called her pretty girl and that being the only reason she even wins without getting away with it.
"I activate one overlay unit, with this I fuse my two Sapphire Swallows and my Cobalt Sparrow and Turquoise Warbler to Xyz summon Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon!" She can hear everyone in the audience gasp, whether it's because they like her dragon or didn't expect from her, she isn't sure.
"It doesn't seem like you're dueling for smiles, now. My, my, what would your teacher, friends, and Yuto say if they could see you now?"
"You don't get to speak about them! Not after what you did!" She can see the crazed look in his eyes but she can't let that distract her. "Yuto," she whispers to herself as she holds on to the scarf that is belted down to her dress. "Alright, Fluffal Bear's attack points are now cut in half thanks to Dark Rebellion's special ability. Now, Dark Rebellion, Dark Rebellion Blast!"
The dragon shoots at Fluffal Bear and destroys it, along with all of Sora's life points.
Lulu is getting ready to take a step forward towards Sora when she hears someone calling her name. She turns and sees her brother, and suddenly she can feel the exhaustion settle in and her anger leave her. She isn't sure what happened, but hearing Sora talk about Yuto like he is nothing and how fun the invasion of her home set something off in her.
"Lulu, are you alright?" Shay kneels down as he embraces her.
"I'm fine." She reassures, her natural gentle voice weak.
"What happened to you out there?" He asks as he picks her up bridal style and starts walking her off the stage.
"I don't know." She answers honestly before laying her head on her brother's shoulder and falling asleep.