Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's: War of the Dragons

Chapter 2: The More Things Change…

A/N: Hey guys. So this chapter starts off immediately after the last one. There will be more moments of the team coming back together, and more on the repercussions of what happened at the end of the last chapter, and aftermath that follows.

After all of the members of Team 5D's had arrived, they all were just about to leave, when people in the crowd had just now noticed that New Domino's top duelists were all in one place. Immediately, everyone, including Setsuko and Hideo, were suddenly hounded by adoring fans, paparazzi, and the occasional fanatic. Quickly, everyone separated into smaller groups, and planned to meet at the twins' old apartment building for a proper welcome home return reunion. The twins, went in one direction, Akiza's parents went another, and Jack and Crow towards a different path. Which of course left…

"Yusei Fudo! Akiza Izinski!"

The said former signers were currently at their wits end. The two adults hadn't had a break since Akiza got off the plane. When they would find a place that seemed safe enough for the two to calm down, they were always found and not five minutes later, would be surrounded; forcing the two to start running again. Akiza had a half a mind to scare them away using her powers, but she knew that the turnabout wouldn't have been pretty, so she relented, even if Yusei was willing to entertain the idea.

An hour and half later, running around the entire airport seemed to have tuckered out the fans and press, and eventually, they gave up their chase, leaving the two former signers in peace, for now. Catching his breath, Yusei managed to calm his racing heart, and let out the breath he was holding in as a chuckle. When Akiza could only quirk a brow - still too tired trying to catch her breath, Yusei said, "Just like old times, huh?"

Huffing a laugh herself, after managing to calm down, Akiza grinned, and replied, "You know the saying Yusei, "The more things change, the more they stay the same." Grinning back, his only response was, "Right."

Looking into his deep blue, cerulean sapphire orbs brought back the last time they were together, before today. She could feel her heart racing, and her blood pumping all over again, but it wasn't adrenaline that was coursing through her veins. She felt her legs and knees grow weak, just as they did all those years ago. As she drew closer, she could feel his breath on her increasingly hot skin. However, before she could venture further down the rabbit hole, Yusei calling her name, broke her out from her trance.

"Huh?"

Chuckling once again, Yusei said, "I've been calling your name for the past minute now. I was asking if you're alright. You're a bit flushed." Akiza's blush only grew more intense, having realised she was daydreaming, in front of the man she was dreaming about no less. Flushing all over again, she managed to stutter, "I-I'm f-fine, Yusei. Really. It's just a little hot here is all." "That isn't the only thing that's getting hotter at the moment." Reminded Akiza's thoughts.

Mentally shaking those thoughts away, the logical part of her mind retaliated, "Stop it, Akiza. You only just got back; there will be time for that later. I need some time for myself before I start entertaining thoughts of 'me and him'.

As Akiza was shifting through her thoughts, Yusei was contemplating his own. He knew th real reason why she was flushed and all hot and bothered. Frankly, if he was honest with himself, he was the same. Had been since they were face to face again. He recognized the look she was giving him a moment ago. It was the same as it was eight years ago. Yusei wanted nothing more than to pull her close, and capture her rose, pink, full lips with his own. But Yusei was better than that, and knew it wasn't the right time, nor the right place for them to start back from where they left off.

"Calm down, Yusei. It's been a long time since we've seen each other, and she only just now got back. This isn't the time, nor the place for any of that. She needs time to get reacquainted and to readjust. I want to do this right. Eight years is a long time be a part. We've both grown, and changed over that amount of time, and a lot has happened since. There's a time and place for everything, but now isn't that time, or place."

Just like with Akiza, Yusei was broken out of his thoughts, when Akiza nudged him in the arm, asking him, "You, okay, yourself Yusei? You look like you were deep in thought?" Blushing slightly at having been caught in the same manner as she had before, Yusei replied, a bit flustered, "Guilty." Akiza's mind cooed, "Aww" when she saw Yusei's flustered face after getting caught. "Even after all the years, he's still so cute when he gets all flushed and flustered. At least some things haven't changed."

Grabbing her hand, holding it with his own, the two left their little hideaway, with Yusei, saying, "Come on. The coast should be cleared by now. And the others are probably getting a little antsy having to wait on us." Entwining her fingers with his own, she squeezed his hand for a moment, before replying, "Okay, Yusei. Let's go." Mentally, however, she was just happy that they could at least walk hand in hand. "It still too early for anything else, but this? This is a start."

"Where the hell have you two been?!"

As soon as the two former signers entered the twins' former home, they were immediately questioned by the more hyperactive of the twins. Raising his hands in calm manner, Yusei explained, "Relax, Leo. We're here now. It just took us a longer time to lose all the fans and paparazzi. Long story short, we had to the wait them out." Leering his gold eyes at the for a moment, Leo finally crossed his arms over his chest, and gave them a nod, then replied, "Ok, then."

After Leo left to rejoin the party, Luna came over, and asked them, "Are you sure you guys are okay?" Smiling at the more level headed of the twins, Akiza replied, "Don't worry, Luna. We're fine, nothing happened." Satisfied with her answer, Luna grabbed Akiza's arm and pulled her away from Yusei, rambling on about how the girls were all worried that something may have happened, and mentioning something about what the boys were thinking. Akiza had very little time to react before she was whisked away. Turning her head back towards Yusei's direction, she gave him an apologetic look. Breaking into a grin, Yusei silently worded, "Go!"; shooing her away. Akiza smiled at Yusei's antics, and before she was out of earshot, she silently asked, "Later?"; to which he replied with a light nod.

As he watched Luna pull Akiza towards where all the women were, he took notice that it wasn't just Team 5D's that was there, but all of their friends and family too. Trudge, Carly and Mina seemed to have been released from whatever meeting they were hold up in. Trudge, despite his age, looked almost like he had eight years ago. The only physical difference was the growing beard, and grey hairs. But besides that he looked just like the burly, police officer everyone had grown to know as a friend. Another thing that was different, was the arm that was wrapped around Mina's waist; her head lying on his shoulder, and hand on his chest.

After the team disbanded, Mina was promoted to Head of Security, and Trudge was promoted to Chief. Working so close together allowed the two of them to spend more time with each other, and with Mina's attention away from Jack, and her obsession over him done and gone; it allowed to Trudge to finally ask her out on a date. 7 years and 6 months later, the two were happily married. Over the years, Mina had let her hair grow out, letting it fall to her upper back. Catching Yusei's gaze, Trudge quickly nodded to in his direction, which Yusei replied with one of his own.

Looking over to the right, he saw Carly, dressed in a formal attire, of a grey, buttoned down, long sleeve shirt, with a matching grey skirt, and white undershirt beneath, with black stockings, and a matching pair of black high heeled pumps. She no longer wore those awful trifocal glasses that obscured her big, beautiful eyes. Instead, she had opted for contacts, after acquiring her new job, with New Domino News. After everything between the Dark Signers, Arcadia, Yliaster, and Ark Cradle, along with the questions that she had asked Yusei, and the team, Carly was finally able to leave her horrible job working for that small business, and pursued her lifelong dream of finding a career becoming a world renowned news caster, and reporter. After being shut down by Jack before he left, she focused all of her time and energy towards her goal.

At first, it was, admittedly, difficult, but after awhile she was able to forgive Jack, for his outburst, and understood his reasons. Looking at her now, no one would expect her to have been such the shy young woman that was head over heels in love with Jack Atlas. Speaking of which, Yusei caught a glimpse of the two, looking at each other, for a moment, before returning their attention elsewhere. "Seems like there is still something between them. Don't let her go, Jack."; thought Yusei has he watched the two bounce around the other.

Off towards the back, Yusei was able to see his old friends from Satellite speaking with friends that he made while in the Facility. Just like with Trudge, most of his friends didn't appear to be all that different from before; only growing more mature, and maybe a few grey hairs here and there. The biggest differences were Rally and Yanagi. Rally no longer looked like a girl dressed in a long gown. He had finally matured into a fine young man. Yanagi, on the other hand, looked older than dirt. His grey hair having turned stark white, and was now holding onto a cane.

Looking around again, Yusei found his foster mother, Martha conversing with Akiza's parents, speaking in hushed tones; no doubt probably telling them stories of when Yusei was younger. Shaking his head, he knew she would never let him live those embarrassing stories down. He watched as Hideo laughed while, Setsuko whispered something into Martha's ear. Probably regaling tales of when Akiza was just a girl, before her powers were revealed. It seemed like everyone was trying to set the two former signers up, now that Akiza was back. While he appreciated the effort, a part of him wished that they would let the two of them figure out everything on their own; he knew that their friends and family meant well, but it was more than a little annoying, and irritating at times.

Taking his mind away from the thought at the moment, he caught a glimpse of Crow hitting on, and failing to get the numbers of a couple of Akiza's friends from Duel Academy; Mei and Sakura. Smiling at his younger brother, Yusei knew that Crow would always be a free bird; he just didn't seem the type to settle down. Leo was currently speaking to friends of his during his time at the academy as well; specifically, Bob and Dexter, both of whom have grown into their own. Across the room, Luna, likewise was doing the same with Akiza, Patty, and to his surprise, Sherry and Misty.

Out of all the people to have shown up, he didn't expect the french blonde to be here. After the team disbanded, Yusei spent nearly all of his time either working on the Fortune Mainframe, or doing handy work around the city. And anytime, he had time for himself, he spent either studying, or upgrading his duel runner. During that time, the stress of everything going on around him, finally got to Yusei, and he couldn't take it anymore. One day, he met Sherry at some conference he was speaking at, and after catching up a bit, one thing led to another, and the next morning he found himself waking up next to her, naked in a hotel room.

For awhile, things were like that between them. They both were stressing out over their lives, and needed something to take the edge off. And for a time, "this thing" between them worked. It wasn't romantic, and neither of them were in love with the other; it was just sex. No strings attached sex. But shortly after it started, Yusei called it off. He felt sick, like he was betraying Akiza's trust. Logically, he knew that he and Akiza weren't a couple at the time, but the emotional half of his brain wouldn't let the guilt go, and frankly, Yusei knew he had made a mistake. Understanding, from where Yusei was coming from, Sherry too, agreed, and the two ended whatever was between them, and remained friends afterwards.

But catching a glimpse of her now, speaking with Akiza, had Yusei feeling sick and disgusted with himself all over again. As far as Yusei was aware, that "thing" with Sherry was just between the two of them, and though he hated lying to others, and keeping secrets from people, Yusei wanted to keep that away from the woman he loved. It would destroy him, if she ever came to have found out what happened between himself and Sherry, and have Akiza hate him and loathe him for the rest of his life. Bitterly, Yusei knew he deserved whatever hate that Akiza would have for him, if she were to find out, and he also knew that if he wanted to truly be with her, he'd have to tell her the truth. "Easier said than done."

Quickly, before Sherry spotted him, Yusei maneuvered through the building, and headed towards the pool outside on the balcony. Leaning his arms over the rail, looking over at the city below him; Yusei allowed his mind to ease, and calm his racing heart. As he watched the sun begin to set, and the early signs of the stars to reveal themselves, he was broken from his thoughts, an all too familiar voice called out to him, one he hadn't from in a long time. "I figured you would be out here all by yourself. You were never the 'party' type."

Turning his head in the direction of the voice, Yusei watched as his best friend, Kalin Kessler leaned on the rail next to him. Looking at his friend now, he seemed a lot happier, and lighter than he had felt all those years ago after the Dark Signers. Beyond the change in his personality and tone, he was the spitting image of when Yusei had seen him during his time in Satisfaction Town. "Kalin… it's been a long time." Humming in response, Kalin cut straight to the point, "You look exhausted and on edge, Yusei. You should be celebrating, and yet here you are, all by yourself, looking as gloomy as I used to feel."

Stunned at first, Yusei just smirked at his old friend, smiling a small smile that didn't reach the emptiness Yusei felt in his heart, he replied; "I was never able to keep those things away from you, for too long." Kalin, nodded in agreement, and asked, "So? What's got you down?" Yusei turned away from Kalin for a moment, looking up at the stars beginning to shine through the sky, contemplating whether or not he should tell Kalin what was currently on his mind. After deliberating that it wouldn't do any good to keep this a secret any longer, Yusei reluctantly, told Kalin what happened between himself and the french blonde currently inside.

When the tale was over, Kalin simply replied, "Ah." Looking over at his friend with a raised brow, Yusei repeated, "Ah? That's it? Ah?" Kalin shrugged, and looked back to his friend, and responded, "What would you like me to say?" Yusei continued to look at Kalin quizzically before sighing, and replying, "I-I don't know… I thought if I told you what was on my mind, and what the potential fallout could be, I'd feel something, but… I don't feel any different. I thought you'd be angry, upset, pissed off by what I did, and I deserve whatever-"

Grasping his friend's shoulder, Kalin reassuringly said, "Yusei, don't beat yourself up over like that, you don't deserve any kind of hate, so stop. And I'm not mad. You're a strong person, Yusei; stronger than most, but you're still human, and you're still going to make mistakes. The only advise, I could give you that could alleviate what you're feeling right now, is talk to her; tell her what happened. She's a smart woman, Yusei; she knows that you two weren't together at the time, and she may even sympathize, and understand."

Yusei didn't say anything for awhile, but as Kalin clapped his friend on the shoulder, and went back inside to his date; Yusei replied without looking back, "Thanks. And give my regards to Misty." Kalin, smiling, having gotten through to his friend, didn't turn around as he waved back at his old friend, and replied, "Don't worry about it, and I will." Straightening his back, and standing at his full height, Yusei was just about to go back inside to the party, when his phone buzzed; indicating he got a text. Pulling out his phone, and unlocking the screen, he mentally read the small text:

"Yusei, It's Greiger. I know it's been a number of years since last we spoke, and I do apologize for that, but something has happened, and I need you to come back here, as soon as it's possible. Something urgent has come up, and I don't want to explain what's going on over the phone; I'll see you later."

Muttering Greiger's name, Yusei didn't realise it until a moment later, when he was approached by Akiza. "Grieger? Isn't he in Peru with his brother and sister? What could he have wanted from you?" Pocketing his phone away, Yusei looked up to Akiza, and replied, "I don't know, but something's happened over there, and he wants - needs me to go over there as soon as possible." Raising a brow, Akiza looked curious, and asked, "Really? What about?" Yusei shook his head, and responded, "I'm not sure. He said it was urgent, and that he didn't want to discuss this over the phone." Sighing, Yusei rubbed his temples in frustration, muttering, "Just when things are starting to settle down, something always comes up…"

Raising her hands, Akiza grasped Yusei's and pulled them away from his head, and said, "It's okay, Yusei. He's a friend, and he needs your help; no one would hold it against you if you left to help out a friend." Reminded of how much Akiza has changed over the years, Yusei's resolve strengthened as he squeezed her hands reassuringly, and said, "Thank you, Akiza." Akiza breathed an "Oh!" when Yusei pulled her into a hug, wrapping his arms around her. Giggling at Yusei's odd behaviour, Akiza asked, "What's gotten into you, Yusei?" Separating, but not letting go of her, Yusei, dodged her question, and instead, asked her one, "When I come back, would you do me the honor of being my date?"

Akiza's mind and breath halted at Yusei's words. Looking into his eyes, she could tell that he was serious, and wasn't playing a joke, but yet she still hesitantly asked, "What...did you...say?" Leaning down, his breath tickled her ear as he pulled her close, and repeated, "Go out with on a date, when I come back, yeah?" For a moment, everything stood still. The noise inside fell on deaf ears as she gazed into Yusei's big, blue cerulean eyes. The words she so desperately wanted to hear, and bitterly thought she would never get to, were replaying in her head. "Yusei's asking me out?! What are you doing!? Say YES damnit!" Both her emotional and logical halves of her brain melded into one; shouting at her to agree to it. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she replied breathlessly, "Yes."

Wrapping her arms around Yusei's neck, she replied again, much more strongly, "Yes!" This time the people inside the twins' apartment, finally took notice of the two missing people, and watched, as Akiza was twirled around by Yusei, before setting her down, and the two shared a kiss. Everyone inside, including Sherry, all had the same thought, watching the two; "It's about damn time."

On the other side of the city, a man was sitting in a cell, staring at the bare plate of eaten food, willing it to move, but just as it had been since he was somehow revived ten years ago, his powers had vanished, and the plate didn't move. Angerly, the red haired man picked up the plate, and threw it across the room, slamming it into the other side of his small cell.

Just then, a guard beating his nightstick against the reinforced steel of the bars, shouted, "Hey, keep it down in there!" Scoffing at the officer, the man dropped down on the very uncomfortable futon, staring at his hands, as he contemplated where everything in his life came to an abrupt end. "Damn you, Fudo! If it wasn't for your meddling, I'd have the world in the palm of my hand, and MY Akiza, MY Black Rose at MY side! Because of you, I'm nothing more than a mere, pathetic human again! Because of you, I'm trapped here like some common rat, and it's because of you, that MY Akiza is gone!"

As the night dwelled on, the man began to feel cold. Curling himself into a ball, and throwing the thin sheet blanket over himself, trying to warm up failed, as the room temperature continued to decrease. Just then, he could see the lights of the maximum security wing - which never shut off - were blown out, as what looked like a mass of pure darkness passed each cell, before stopping in front of his. Scrambling back, tripping over the blanket, and falling on his ass, the man scampered to the back end of the room's cell wall, with nowhere to go, as the darkness phased through the metal door. Stopping just in front of the once, powerful psychic, the mass of darkness, held out a hand, and ominously said, "Come…"

A/N: Another short chapter. Don't me about the whole Sherry/Yusei thing. More of it will be explained when Yusei returns, as will what happened with Akiza during her time in Germany. Everything will be revealed then. Well, everything regarding Yusei and Akiza, anyway. As for the rest of the story, it's only just begun. I know there was little interaction between Yusei and members of the team here, but don't worry more of that will come. Leave a review, if you will. I always like to hear from my people. No flames though. Or I'll send you to the shadow realm!