Underground Pulse Chapter 2 - A Yu-Gi-Oh 5DGX Story
"Well I guess I better go see who's there... I can't just decline a job or a person in need." Yusei thought as he used his hands to lift himself from the table where he had slumbered. Yawning, the duelist/mechanic stretched his arms above his head as he walked towards the staircase. Walking up the flight of stairs the sun was brighter then he had expected making it difficult for him to see who was there, he squinted his eyes trying to figure out who was there only to soon find his hand up against his right eye rubbing sleep away. With one last step he made it up to the person who had been calling and unintentionally released an audible yawn. Yusei quickly slapped his hand on his mouth in an attempt to save his first impression from going wrong but it was already too late for that;
"Sorry did I wake you?" asked the person. Yusei still couldn't make him out from the bright sunlight.
"Sorry late night last night. Come in won't you? The sun's blinding." The stranger nodded and Yusei turned around heading down the stairs hearing footsteps tip behind him indicating that the stranger was indeed following him.
"Ooops..." Yusei heard behind him as an object came rolling in front of him. Yusei looked down to the floor;
"A helmet...?" he thought, but looking closer realized that it was no ordinary helmet. "Wait a minute... I've seen this design before. No it couldn't be... this person it can't be the same kid who..." Yusei stopped walking and slowly turned towards the person, deja vue struck him as he saw that same red motorcycle suit and same hairstyle from his adventure last night. Both Yusei and the stranger's eyes met, widening at the same time in realization. As if on cue, simultaneously the two answered each other in shock;
"No way it's you!" they shouted as they both pointed their index finger at each other. The two jumped back from each other unsure of what to do. The room was silent tension in the air neither one was sure of who should speak first.
"Look man... I really didn't mean to cut you off there... I uh I'm really so-" the stranger spoke deciding to make the first move but was soon interrupted by Yusei;
"So about that job...?" Yusei wasn't one to make an awkward situation into a big deal but it was hard to forget someone who had almost run him over. How does one forget that really? Though it was kind of him to help him up... but did he really even want to fix this guy's motorcycle? "I saw him in that race... if he's that bad of a driver just riding the streets I don't even know if I should help him fix his bike. Not to mention I did make such a minor mistake on my D-Wheel who's to say that I wouldn't screw up on his?" Yusei's thoughts caused frustration to boil over on his outer appearance causing him to groan unsure of what to do.
"Uh right sorry." the stranger answered back nervously. "Well it's about my motorcycle... it's kind of messed up. So I was just wondering if you could take a look at it? Maybe see if Yusei could fix it? There is some outer body work that would have to be done too though."
"Where is it?" Yusei asked annoyed, he didn't like to show it but he was still pretty miffed at the guy for almost running him over and he wasn't doing a very good job of keeping it hidden.
"It's outside... look I really am sorry for almost well... you know running you over." the two began to walk up the stairs out to the streets as the stranger spoke. "So are you a friend of Yusei's? Is he on another job and you just inspect the stuff to see if he would take the job?"
"No way... this guy seriously hasn't figured it out? I guess I'll just have to tell him that I'm the one who's going to fix his bike here..." Yusei thought as they made their way to the bike but he was soon at a loss for words wishing that he wasn't who he was anymore. The bike was completely mangled. The front was crushed into the back, the windshield was on the verge of shattering and to finish it off that's when the stranger said;
"So do you think he can fix it?" Yusei opened his mouth trying to speak but all that came out was a small squeak. He closed his mouth, composed himself and then began to speak;
"I don't know if I can." he answered back.
"Yeah... well you let me know and have him get back to m-... wait hold on. Your Yusei Fudo?" Yusei sighed again;
"Yes that's me... I'm the mechanic you've heard about. By the way... what is your name?"
"Oh me? I'm Judai Yuki."
"Okay. Well Judai... I have to say you've done an outstanding job of completely writing off your bike here."
"There's no way of salvaging it? I've just heard so many amazing things about you, like how you made your own motorcycle that I thought you could fix it. Look I understand if you just don't want to take this job because I almost ran you over. I get it your miffed and I do apologize."
"Well I don't know about "salvaging" it but I could re-build it. I don't imagine it even starts."
"No..."
"As I thought... but the starter is probably still salvageable. Help me drag it inside will ya?"
"Oh sure!" Judai exclaimed shocked that Yusei was actually considering helping him. Judai quickly ran over to the other side of the motorcycle opposite of Yusei helping him drag it down to the open garage door of the storage area. The two rolled the bike in and Judai soon found himself in the same room that him and Yusei had been in before. "Your work area is the same as where you live?" Judai asked.
"Yes... we're not the richest people, my friends and I." Yusei answered back. Yusei walked over to the red and black helmet on the floor, picking it up he walked back over to Judai and handed it to him. "I believe this is yours." he said.
"Oh right... thank you." Judai said as he took the helmet from Yusei. Judai walked around the room as Yusei looked at his motorcycle. Soon something sparkled, catching his eye he looked towards the glimmer to see a red and white futuristic looking motorcycle. "Woah! No way!" he shouted bringing Yusei's attention over to him as he lifted his head up from Judai's bike. He yelled over;
"What's wrong?"
"Is this your motorcycle?"
"Yeah it's my D-Wheel."
"D-Wheel?" Judai hollered back. Yusei sighed getting up from his knees and walking over to where Judai stood so the two wouldn't have to shout back and forth anymore.
"Yeah my D-Wheel... you know a Duel Runner?"
"What's a Duel Runner?" Judai asked.
Yusei sighed figuring that showing would be easier than explaining. He took his keys out of his back pants pocket and stuck them in the ignition. Starting the contraption, he revved the engine and started up the computer. The inside screen lit up showing a duel field for the Duel Monsters game. He took his deck out of his holster which was on one of the belt loops to the right of him. He placed the deck in the "shuffler" and the machine shuffled the deck. He laid some cards on the duel disk which had appeared with start up to show Judai the game. Judai whistled;
"Wow got to say that's pretty fancy. So you can just duel wherever you want if someone challenges you?" Yusei detached the duel disk from the D-Wheel showing that he could walk around with the disk if needed as well.
"Yes pretty much... but the D-Wheel is mostly used for riding duels."
"Riding duels?" Judai pushed on.
"We duel as we race on our D-Wheels... it's complicated I can't just explain it quickly."
"That is so cool! Can you teach me how? Can you make my motorcycle into a D-Wheel?"
"Are you serious?"
"Of course I'm serious! I use to be a Duel Academy student!"
"Oh... so you do know how to duel. What do people in your town not riding duel at all?"
"Nope we just race."
"I saw that..."
"You saw what?"
"I saw your race in that underground arena. I don't know if you can handle a riding duel."
"What do you mean "I can't handle it"?"
"Riding duels are intense they involve controlling your speed and D-wheel while you have to think of a strategy of how to defeat your opponent in a duel. It's no easy task and you could quite easily loose control of everything. I saw how you drove you can't even control your speed during just a race. I saw how your bike got trashed."
"Come on! Why are you chickening out of my job here? What's your deal?"
"My deal is that someone could get hurt with you roaming the streets."
"Then let me go for a test run! Come on let me try out your D-Wheel and see if I'd be any good! It looks so sweet can't I just take it for a quick spin?"
"Oh no you don't my D-Wheel is on a whole other level than your motorcycle! Do you know how much speed I've amped into this thing? You wouldn't know what hit you. Which is another thing I forgot to mention. D-Wheels are made to accelerate and go much faster than just a regular motorcycle."
"That's awesome Yusei then I could beat anyone in a race at the underground ring!"
"Your not understanding! This is a dangerous game!"
"And underground racing isn't dangerous? Come on I can handle it."
"I'm tired of this kid arguing with me he has no idea what he's getting into. But is he right... am I just "chickening out" of this job? I am still shaken by my simple mistake... and what if I'm the cause of the problem again... what if people get hurt or what if he get's hurt from a mistake that I could make? I have to get my confidence back somehow... Crow did say he would take care of the money for now... but I can't just back out and come off in the wrong way." Yusei pondered coming to a dramatic conclusion;
"Look I'll make you a deal."
"A deal?"
"Yes a deal. I'll fix your motorcycle and consider making it into a D-Wheel free of charge in exchange you let me give you riding lessons."
"Hey sounds fine to me I don't have to pay? Alright then... but how are you going to give me riding lessons when my bike's out of commission?"
"Crap I never thought of that... well I guess as long as I'm riding with him..." "We'll use my D-Wheel. BUT I will always be riding with you I don't want my D-Wheel to come to the same fate as your motorcycle did."
"Alright! So I do get to ride your D-Wheel!"
"Well how else are you going to get use to the speed if I tune yours up to one?"
"True, true. But why are you not charging me anything Yusei?"
"It's just something that I have to prove to myself."
"Okay..."
"When I fix your bike and if I do make it into a Duel Runner... if anything should go wrong with it bring it back to me and I'll fix it. Just remember that you must be careful..."
"Sure thing teach!"
"Teach?"
"Well you are going to be teaching me how to ride better right? So when do we start?"
"Tomorrow. Go home and get some rest."
"Okay will do, just let me call some friends for a ride!" Judai got out his cell phone and started dialing. Soon talking to another person on the other end but his voice began to raise indicating anger. "What do you mean you can't come? I can't believe you! Augh!" Yusei watched as Judai hung up and turned around letting out a groan;
"What's wrong?" Yusei asked.
"It's my stupid friend he decided to be an idiot and have a few too many drinks and now he can't come and pick me up."
"Isn't he the same age as you...?" Yusei asked raising a brow in suspicion.
"Yeah I know underage drinking, whatever like you've never done it."
"Yeah but I'm older than you."
"Yeah but you can't tell me that your 20."
"Well no... I'm 18 but still."
"Wait 18? Jeez I'm 17 your not that much older than I am!"
"Why are we even arguing about this? Put on your helmet."
"What why?"
"I'll give you a ride home now come on put on your helmet!"
"You don't have to do that... really."
"What are you going to do walk home? It's a 20 minute ride from here at least I know that from last night and I was speeding. Or do you have a place to stay here?" Judai was silent. "Thought so, now come on." Yusei said waving his hand over to his D-Wheel. Yusei sat in front of the controls and took his helmet from the console putting it over his head. He looked back to see Judai sit behind him and put on his helmet as well. Yusei's keys were still hanging in the ignition from when he had started the machine previously so he simply turned the keys and revved the engine. Kicking his feet off the ground he screeched out the door and without warning Judai fell into his back;
"Ooof. Ugh sorry." Judai mumbled.
"I'm going to go faster so hold on." Yusei stated, Yusei could hear Judai swallow hard he smiled to himself at the nervous reaction of the boy. He took a quick glance behind him to see Judai gripping the sides of the bike for dear life. Yusei reved the engine once more starting to increase speed. Deciding to stop "babying" the machine Yusei then with one final blow revved hard and the machine took off. Judai fell forward yelling at Yusei;
"Hey you did that on purpose!"
"Well yeah I wanted to go faster. This is how I always ride if you can't handle it then you won't be able to handle a riding duel." Judai gulped and used the sides of the D-Wheel to sit himself up once again hanging onto the sides of the machine trying to stay on the contraption as best as he could. "Are you ready?" Yusei asked;
"Ready for wh-AAAAAAAAAAA!" Judai yelled as Yusei increased speed even more causing him to fall forward again this time rocking Yusei even farther towards the console. Judai's eyes clamped closed he slowly opened his right eye as he looked to the ground which was just a huge blurry grey blob. ".god." he stated and then soon realized he had his arms wrapped around Yusei's waist. "OH MY GOD!" he screamed again releasing his grip, arms flying in the air. "I'm so sorr-EEE!" he shrieked again as Yusei took a sharp corner causing Judai to crash into the back of Yusei once more making Judai grab his waist as a safety net once more. Judai clamped his eyes shut once more and decided it would be best to keep his eyes that way until the ride was over. His whole body shook when suddenly Yusei's voice broke his movement.
"We're here... you can let go now." Yusei said. Judai nervously opened his right eye noticing that the D-Wheel was now stationary. He then opened his eyes blinking and looking around he then noticed his chin was on top of Yusei's right hand shoulder and his arms had somehow found their way around his waist yet again. He quickly shot his head up and released his arms from Yusei, hopping off of the bike only to find his legs to betray him as he fell to the ground. "Shaky legs huh?" Yusei commented.
"I'm so sorry!" Judai apologized.
"The speed was intense and your legs are probably just weak from the velocity and how tense you were." Yusei continued on as if he hadn't even heard what Judai had said. Judai tried again;
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!"
"What are you apologizing for?" Yusei asked. "It's not a big deal I gave you a ride home really I don't mind, you didn't have a ride. Sorry I went so fast but I was just giving you your first real taste of how a riding duel would be." Judai tore off his helmet panting, he was hot and felt as if he was suffocating in his helmet. Sweat dripped from his hair, he spat as some beads reached his mouth.
"I'm sorry for you know..." he spat again and heaved for air. "For hanging onto you like that and how I kept falling into you." Yusei laughed as if he had heard one of the most ludicrous things ever spoken.
"Oh that it's okay that's to be expected. I did go fast and if you hadn't hung on... well you might have fallen off and hurt yourself. It's okay Judai get some rest, clean yourself up and I'll see you tomorrow. Try to shake it off okay? Unless you just want to forget those riding lessons all together..." Yusei said as he looked down to Judai. Yusei's response from Judai: Judai looked up and then with one graceful dip of the head heaved and vomited on the pavement.