Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's: War of the Dragons
Chapter 3: ...The More They Stay The Same
A/N: Sorry for the wait. Summer Semester is a pain, but I caught a lucky break this past weekend, so I was able to write this up during that time. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, I don't think I'll get another chance like this, so updates will be scarce during the Summer.
As for the questions asked in the reviews; first thing I want to say is thanks for letting me know what you guys do and don't want to see, it actually helps. Second, I'm not going to spoil anything in this section, so you'll just have to read to find out.
After the reunion party ended, most of Team 5Ds' friends and families retired and returned to their own homes; leaving only the twins, Jack, Carly, Crow, Yusei, Akiza, and her parents, all of whom were residing in the now fully occupied living room. Soon, however, Hideo and Setsuko left to return to their family home, and told Akiza that she is welcome to stay, until such a time where she can look for her own place. Appreciating her parents' help, Akiza, unfortunately declined, and told them that she would be looking for a place to live as soon as she could. She had spent the last 6 months living on her own in an apartment in Germany, and though she loved her parents, she wasn't ready to move back in with them.
Understanding, her parents still left the offer open, in case she changed her mind, and with that, the oldest of the adults left the younger men and women to mingle. As she listened to Crow telling the others of a story during his time duelling with a team, she left the living room in order to refill her glass, and after getting an answer that no one else wanted a drink, she made her way to the twins' kitchen. As she placed her now empty glass of wine in the sink, she let the water run, as her thoughts drifted to what she was told only moments before she bumped into Yusei...
3 Hours Earlier…
Akiza watched from the corner of her eye, Yusei abruptly leaving the party, and headed towards the twins' pool, leaning over the rail, watching the city below. She had a half a mind to go see what was bothering him, until she heard the french blonde sigh behind her. "What is it Sherry?"
As the words left her mouth, she noticed Sherry glancing in Yusei's direction, watching as Kalin approached him from behind. When she glanced back to Sherry, the aforementioned blonde's previously sunny expression, gloomed. Once again, Akiza asked, worriedly, "Sherry, tell me. What's going on? Ever since you saw Yusei, you've been acting strangely. So, I'll ask again, what is it?"
Closing her eyes, Sherry took a deep breath, muttering something about Yusei killing her if he ever finds out. Just before Akiza asked what she meant, Sherry reopened her eyes, pulling along Akiza's wrist towards the back, where there were less witnesses. After walking a distance away from the party, Sherry let go of Akiza, before she sat down, and gestured for Akiza to do the same. Hesitantly, Akiza sat beside the blonde, as Sherry worried her hands together. For Akiza, Sherry's behaviour was both surprising and unexpected. For as long as she's known her, Akiza had never seen Sherry act like this; she was always headstrong and confident. Deciding that she's waited long enough, Akiza gently placed her hand over Sherry's, catching her attention.
When Sherry's hands stopped their shaking, Akiza, slowly let go, and gave the french blonde a knowing look. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Sherry started speaking what was bothering her; "After everything regarding Yliaster and Z-ONE, I left New Domino to return to my country, for a time. I had learned everything there was to know about my parents and why Yliaster wanted them dead, so I saw no reason to stay here." Stopping momentarily, Akiza remembered the time Sherry was referring to. Her time duelling the blonde, with Crow by her side, as they tried and successfully defeated her, and showed her that Z-ONE wasn't who he had told her he was.
Afterwards, Sherry continued; "As I said, for a time, I left, and returned home with Ellseworth, but I couldn't stay away for long. Duelling is a passion and a hobby of mine, and New Domino, back when it was just Domino City is the birthplace of the sport, and eventually, I came back. That's when I ran into Yusei again. At the time I wasn't aware that your team separated, and as he described it, each of you were chasing and pursuing your own goals and dreams." Akiza stayed silent as she listened to Sherry's story; knowing that she would get to the part that was troubling her. After mentioning Yusei again, Sherry's nerves began taking over, until she steeled herself, and calmed down, before beginning again.
"I met him at a conference he was speaking at. I don't remember how I came to see myself at something like that, but in any case, it happened. After the convention was over, I found myself standing face to face with Yusei. This was… let me think… 5 years ago, so it would have been 3 years after everyone left, and I could tell that he had changed. He seemed taller, and his hair had grown longer and thicker, but that's not what caught my attention. He was… tired, exhausted, stressed, and most notably, alone…"
When Akiza heard Sherry mention that, she felt a pang of hurt and guilt spread through her heart, and cast her eyes down in what felt like shame, but she shook away those thoughts when Sherry spoke up again. "I know what you're thinking Akiza, and it's not your fault; it's not anyone's fault, these things just sort of happen; which brings me to my next point…" Abruptly, Sherry stopped, and turned her body in Akiza's direction. When the redhead looked back up, she could see Sherry facing her. As the two stared back at one another, Sherry grabbed Akiza's hands in her own, and spoke again, staring at Akiza with all of the courage and conviction she could muster…
"After the convention ended, Yusei took me out with him as friends. Catch up for old times sake, and all that. But… we got to drinking, and one thing led to another… and…" Sherry at this point looked like she was on the verge of hyperventilating, but she stopped there, unable to continue, but the implications were enough. Akiza just stared back, eyes ready to pop out of their sockets, and mouth hung agape. Sherry released Akiza's hands, but the redhead didn't move, didn't make a sound; she just sat there, unable to think of anything.
Sherry, fearing that Akiza was going to freak, quickly explained in a hushed whisper, to avoid attracting attention, "It's not what you think! I didn't - he didn't - it was consensual, but it was just sex, I swear, Akiza! Neither of us were expecting that to have happened; it just did. Please, you have to say something… You have to believe me…" Gulping the lump in her and bile in her throat, Akiza's already pale features looked almost ghostly as she absorbed all of the information thrown at her, and understanding the implications, she nodded her head ever so slightly, casting her gaze downwards.
Sherry didn't speak again for some time, allowing the redhead to process everything she had revealed so far. As Akiza thought about it, it did clear some questions she was having, and it did explain - sort of - why Yusei and Sherry were acting strange whenever one caught the other's presence, but there was something that didn't make sense. "Okay… I-I get all that, but… you said this happened almost 5 years ago… have the two of you… never reconciled…?"
Taken aback that Akiza was able to ask that question, given how the redhead feels for the former Dragon Head Signer, Sherry was expecting her to lash out at her out of jealousy and hate. Thanking whatever deity that's watching over the french blonde beauty, Sherry reluctantly replied, "W-we did, but I-I'm so sorry, Akiza, but it wasn't the only time he - we did… well, that." This time, Akiza visibly flinched back, and only muttered an "Oh…" in response. Akiza felt tears beginning to swell in her eyes, as she had to come to realize that maybe… Yusei had moved on, but before her bitter thoughts could take over, she heard Sherry say, "But it ended, shortly afterwards."
Catching Akiza's attention, the blonde watched as Akiza wiped away the unshed tears, and faced her again, gasping, "What?" Sherry feeling worse than she had started feeling let all of her secrets regarding her "relationship" with Yusei out in the open for Akiza to hear. "After the first time; we talked… and came to an agreement. This thing between he and I, it was just for sex; something, anything to get the edge off, and I was fine with that. He wasn't using me for his own relief, no matter what he might say otherwise, and I wasn't using him, and for a little while, it worked. I left soon afterwards, and anytime I found myself back in the city, we'd indulge ourselves - which didn't happen often; most of the time I was travelling around the world - but it quickly ended soon afterwards."
Akiza just paid attention as Sherry continued; the redhead hanged onto every word the buxom, french blonde had to say. "I could tell he was still suffering from something, and after some persuasion, he told me he couldn't do this anymore. Truth be told, I didn't want it to continue anymore than he, but I had to know what was bothering him, and that's when he told me." Sherry stopped, turning her attention back to Akiza, before uttering, "It was you, Akiza." Said woman just looked back at Sherry like a deer stuck in headlights, and didn't say anything as Sherry continued her story, "He felt as if he was betraying the trust between you two every time he and I got together. Even though, as you're aware, and as far as I understood, the two of you weren't in a relationship at the time. It was then that I knew that his heart and soul belonged to you, and as for my own reasons for ending the "relationship", I could see just how much in love he was with you, and after everything the two of us remained friends, but it was awkward and tense in the beginning…"
Letting everything settle, Sherry took a deep breath, and settled back into her seat, letting her shoulders sag, as if a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders, and in a way, it had. Looking back at Akiza, Sherry hoped that she wouldn't hold a grudge against Yusei. It was a moment of weakness, and a mistake, no matter how much Sherry was willing to admit that she enjoyed it while it lasted. Watching as the gears were turning in the redhead's mind, Sherry beat her to it, "As to why Yusei and I seem to be acting differently whenever we catch a glimpse of the other, it only happens whenever I'm in your presence. I think Yusei's afraid of what might happen should you learn of what happened between us; in which case, now you have. So, let me ask, what will you do now, Akiza?"
Letting it all sink in, Akiza took a moment to collect her thoughts, and another moment to try to voice her thoughts. After a number of minutes, Akiza began spoke. "I-I don't know. I-I'm not mad. I mean, we - Yusei and me, I mean - kissed before I left for Germany, and due to our conflicting schedules and gruelling hours, we never got the chance to start a relationship, and it has been close to almost 9 years, so I can't say that I'm not surprised. I mean, I am, you know, but after you've told me everything, a part of me, is actually relieved."
That… wasn't what Sherry expected. Sure she was happy that Akiza didn't hate her, or Yusei for that matter, but relieved? There was something Akiza wasn't telling her. But before the blonde, french woman could ask, Akiza beat her to the punch; revealing her own secrets about what happened during her time in Germany. "I know how that sounds, but Yusei wasn't the only one to have a moment of weakness, Sherry. I can relate and completely understand why Yusei did what he did; I'm… guilty of it too. I was stressed out with living in a new country, the hours, the schoolwork, everything, and I just wanted it to stop, so I let some of my college friends take me to this party, and well, after a few drinks, I don't know how it happened, but I was this guy, and…"
As Akiza told Sherry her secret, the blonde's eyes widened at the revelation, but didn't comment as she listened to the redhead continue on. She could see tears begin to prick at her friend's eyes as she abruptly stopped. Sherry wanted to comfort Akiza in some way, but allowed Akiza her space, as she shakingly continued. "And… well, afterwards, when I returned to my dorm, I was disgusted with myself, and rid myself of the bile in my stomach. I wasn't just disgusted, but I was also angry and ashamed of myself afterwards. And I swore to myself to never do that again. I also never told anyone of what happened, not even my parents; I didn't want them involved. It… took me a while, but I managed to forgive myself, and found other ways to relieve my stress, like yoga. I'd go on dates that my friend's would set up, but nothing came from them. After that particular night, I didn't - I wouldn't sleep with another man that I didn't know. Once, I experimented with my "girlfriends", but…"
It was at this point, Akiza developed a light pink blush, that Sherry thought was curious. Raising a brow, she silently asked what Akiza meant; only for the redhead's blush to deepen from a light pink to a crimson red. Looking away for a moment, Akiza muttered something, that Sherry didn't hear, and when asked again Akiza nervously replied, "When I was… you know relieving myself, I couldn't… well, you know… oh, how do I say this… I couldn't become satisfied, unless I thought about… Yusei…"
It was Sherry's turn to become completely shellshocked. That was the last thing she expected to come out of Akiza's mouth. She had heard of some kind of rare medical condition that makes it where a person, but more often than not, a woman, was unable to achieve an orgasm, or a climax. Her train of thought was heading in that direction, until she heard Akiza utter Yusei's name. Now that she thought about it more clearly, it wasn't exactly surprising, but to hear Akiza admit it, and the implications that Akiza had never had an orgasm without thinking of the raven haired scientist was… astonishing. When Akiza finished, her face was as red as her hair, and Sherry would have laughed if it was in a different situation. Contemplating everything that was shared between them, Sherry, grabbed Akiza's shoulder, and squeezed it gently to catch the redhead's attention. Turning back to gaze at the blonde, Sherry smiled and said, "Thank you for telling me that, Akiza. But if you want this anxiety you feel disappear, the best thing you can do is tell him."
Akiza was broken from her thoughts, when she heard an all too familiar, deep voice from behind her, "You okay there Akiza?" Jumping slightly, nor having known that Yusei was behind her, when she turned around to face him, she was breathing hard, and put a hand to her chest, to try to calm her racing heart. Flipping off the faucet, she turned back towards Yusei to acknowledge his presence; "Oh my-! Yusei! You scared me!"
Chuckling, Yusei replied, "A little jumpy, are we?" Squinting her eyes at him, Akiza playfully slapped his muscled chest, muttering under her breath, "Jerk." His grin spreading into a smile, Yusei's expression changed suddenly to worry as he looked Akiza over. She looked paler than normal, slightly flushed, and more than a "little jumpy". When Akiza removed her hand from his chest, her gaze lifted back to his face. Noticing the way he was looking at her, Akiza could see the question forming in his head, and tried to alleviate the problem. "Don't worry about me, Yusei. Really, I'm fine. I was just caught up in my own thoughts. We should head back to the living room before anyone gets any ideas."
As she tried to walk past Yusei, he stopped her, and when she tried to ask him what he was doing, he interrupted her; informing her that she's been "caught up in her own thoughts" longer than she thought. "That's the thing, everyone has already either gone to bed, or has left to go home. Must have been pretty serious; whatever it was you were thinking about." Shocked that she was gone long enough for the others to leave; Akiza's curiosity won over, and though she knew Yusei wouldn't lie about something as trivial as their friends going to sleep - here or in their own homes - she had to check for herself. True enough, when the two came back to the living room, they were the only two that were left.
As she looked about the now empty room, Akiza couldn't help, but ask, "How long was I in there?" Coming up alongside her, Yusei replied, "Not as long as you might think. Everyone is still pretty tired and exhausted from the travelling and the jetlag. Jack was invited to stay in one of New Domino's hotels, while Crow left to return to Martha's; wanting to catch up with the kids that were left in her care after he left. Carly left for her own apartment, and the twins are up in their rooms, and has a couple of guest rooms for you to choose from, should you want to stay here for the night. I was going to head on home, but you were still missing in the kitchen, so I came to check if you were all right."
As Akiza took this all in, she was contemplating what she should do now. She hadn't had the opportunity to book a stay at a hotel when she came back, not that she needed to. She had other options, like saying with the twins, or going back to her parents' home. She could have asked Carly, but looking at how late it was in the night, the reporter was probably asleep. As she thought about where she might be staying for the time being, she heard Yusei make a suggestion, "If you want, you're welcome to stay with me." Believing she must have misheard him, Akiza asked, "What?" Blushing ever so slightly, Yusei repeated, "I said you could stay with me, if you want to. I know it's a little odd, since we're supposed to be going out tomorrow night, but I was thinking, since everyone else has gone to their own homes, and after you told your parents you didn't want to move back in with them, for the time being…"
At first, Akiza was stock still silent. Then, she was all giddy and excited, on the inside. Actually, she ecstatic. Yusei was asking her to stay with him! She felt like she was 18 all over again. Looking back at him, Akiza saw that Yusei - though he tried to hide it - was uncharacteristically nervous and had a faint pink blush dusting his cheeks. In that moment, Akiza never thought of Yusei as any more cute than he was now. Getting an idea, she slyly gazed back into his eyes, watching his reaction, when she said in a sultry, flirty tone, "Yusei, you're not just saying this so you can take advantage of me later, are you?"
Immediately, the light pink blush, transformed into a scarlet red, his face colored like that of a tomato. His expression caused Akiza's facade to shift from flirty to hilarious, unable to keep herself from laughing hysterically. When Yusei finally understood that she was just teasing him, he deadpanned and muttered under his breath, looking away from her, "Ha ha, very funny. And you call me a jerk." Wiping a tear from her eye, Akiza finally managed to calm down. Grasping Yusei's hand in her own, catching his attention, she answered his previous question, "I'd love to, Yusei."
Meanwhile, in the Director's building, Lazar was just filing away the last of his reports, ready to head home, when a security officer burst through the door panting and heaving as if he had just come back from running a marathon. Leering at the officer, Lazar was just about to question the young man what was so important that he needed to run straight to his office, when the officer blurted out, "Director Lazar, sir! We have an emergency, someone's escaped from the Facility!"
This caught Lazar's immediate attention. There hasn't been an escape not since Yusei's brief time inside the structure. "What?! Who?! How did this happen?!" Catching his breath for a moment, the officer replied, "I don't know sir. One minute everything was fine, and then the next…" Listening in, Lazar could hear the fear resonating within the young man's voice. He could also tell that the young man was shaking, almost uncontrollably. Whatever it was that happened in the last couple of hours had really shaken the man. Trying to ease the man down, Lazar raised his hand, motioning for the officer to stop. Then, moving from his desk, Lazar stood in front of the officer, with his hands behind his back, before nodding to himself, and walking past the officer, calling out to him, "Right. I'd like to see for myself. Come with me, and call Mr. and Mrs. Trudge; they would like to know too, how this could have happened."
Silently, Lazar was speaking to himself as he heard the young officer follow behind him, as he followed Lazar's orders. "This should have been impossible… How did this happen? And who escaped? It couldn't have been a lowly grunt. They're not smart enough to come up with an escape plan all on their own, and even if there was a possibility that one did escape; it would never had caused an officer to come straight to me, especially one shaken with fear. That means that it had to have been someone dangerous enough for maximum security, but there is only one occupant that-!" When realization hit Lazar, the little man abruptly stopped in his tracks. The officer behind him almost bumping into him. When asked what happened, Lazar just stared, wide eyed, off in the distance. Gulping his own fear down, the clown, hurried his pace, mentally voicing to his thoughts, "No… that-that's not…. He shouldn't have been able… this is worse than I thought! Damn it! Why does this thing always happen at the worst possible time!?"
When the company of Lazar, Mina and Tetsu, along with Kaz and the young security officer made it to the Facility, everything looked perfectly normal, at least on the outside. It wasn't until they made it to the Facility's Maximum Security Level, did they realize something was amiss. For one, obviously, all the lights had been blown out. For another, it was unbearably cold. But the most troubling were the littered bodies of security officers lying on the floor.
The young officer, whom was informed that someone was trying to escape was lucky to have survived. The bodies that were left behind, wouldn't even be considered as bodies. They were just husks of what was once men and women. They looked mummified. Their skin dry as bone, eyes gone, leaving behind black gaping holes of their eye sockets. Their teeth black as ink. It was as if their souls-their very life force was sucked from within. The young officer that somehow managed to escape, couldn't hold his dinner, and abruptly left the room before before vomiting away from the crime scene. The other members of their party didn't look any better, but pressed on.
When they finally reached the sole door inside the wing, nothing looked out of place, and when both Kaz, then Trudge tried to open the door, they found that the locks were still in place. Typing in the right set of combinations, and using two keys to unlock the door, when the party walked inside, the room was bare of anything. As if, the prisoner and whoever helped him escape just disappeared. After a long moment, Kaz spoke first, "What do we do now? Inform the general populace that Sayer's escaped?" Trudge, shook his head, and replied, "No. That'll just cause mass hysteria and panic; it would do more harm than good." Kaz, though he disagreed that not telling the public wouldn't be of any help, he reluctantly knew that it would only hinder their investigation, and nodded to his superior. Mina, however, knew that they had to tell at least one family, "That's not entirely true, Tetsu. There is someone we should tell."
Scrunching his face, and pinching his brows together, he knew who she was talking about, and knew that she was right. "She just got back, and then something like this happens. It's not my decision to make, but you're right she needs to know, as does her parents. Director, you've been quiet so far, is there anything you want to add?" Lazar, for a moment, just stared back at the barren cell, then turned his gaze back to the mangled husks and shells of what was once men and women. Closing his eyes, he sighed exasperated, before looking back up to Trudge. "There's nothing we can do right now. Let the Akiza girl and her family rest for now, we'll tell them in a few days. I'd also like for Yusei Fudo to be notified as well. He will also most likely be a target, but we won't inform him until Akiza and her family are notified first."
Though Mina and Trudge wanted to argue, they knew that this was for the best, and reluctantly kept their opinions to themselves. It wouldn't do any good for Akiza to have to look over her shoulder 24/7 after she had just arrived, and wouldn't do any good to have her parents, or her friends worrying over her, especially Yusei. Silently, the party mentally did agree on one thing, "Why did this have to happen now?"
When the pair, consisting of Yusei and Akiza made it to Yusei's home, Akiza was awed by the place. Along the trip, Yusei informed her that after saving up enough money, he moved out of Poppo Time Garage, and bought a home close to Tops. When asked why, Yusei told her that while Poppo Time holds many memories that precious and dear to him, mentally recalling the last time he and Akiza were in his garage together, he too, had to move on, but he always hold those memories close to his heart.
After parking in his duel runner in his garage, and taking what little luggage Akiza brought with her - the rest was currently in her parents' car - the first thing she noticed immediately was a tan wrapping covering what looked like to be some sort of vehicle, most likely a car of some kind. Catching Akiza's gaze, Yusei watched as she lightly touched the fabric, swiping her hand across the surface. As she continued to do this, Yusei spoke, "It's a project of mine that I do in my spare time. When Martha first found it, it was just a bunch of scrap metal and a hunk of junk. Work was stressful, so was the schooling I had to do, and on top of that, I still have the occasional fans and paparazzi to deal with. And I needed an outlet to focus on."
Akiza continued to admire the unseen finished product, knowing that Yusei omitted the bit about his brief "relationship" with Sherry - she knew that as far as he knew, she didn't know about that, and was probably going to bring it up during their date (which was also when she was planning on telling Yusei about her own little secret) - she didn't say anything as he continued with his tale. "I started exercising more, running mostly. Sometimes I'd hit the gym, but with all the fans and reporters, I decided to make my own little weight training system in my basement. It's not as 'pretty' or 'grand' like an official gym, but it's all the same really. Anyway, between the exercise and fixing and upgrading my duel runner, it eased the stress, but I needed something else, something long term, so that's when Martha suggested this. After having some of my old friends help me tow it back here, I stripped it down to its bare parts, and restarted from scratch."
At this point, Akiza had finished admiring Yusei's handiwork, and sat herself down at his makeshift workshop, listening to his voice. When he stopped for a moment, and turned his head back to his "project", Akiza's gaze followed his own, and she was once again reminded of his intelligence and ingenuity. The tale reminding her that Yusei built, not just one, but two duel runners from scratch, practically by himself. It also reminded her how Yusei was able to finish making her her very own duel runner. Feeling a familiar warming sensation spread throughout her body at the memory, she nonchalantly asked offhandedly, "How long did it take you to get to where you are now?"
Turning her attention back at Yusei, she noticed that look whenever someone complimented his work. He would fidget from time to time, a slight blush adorning his cheeks, and the way he would rub and scratch the back of his head; to do anything to distract someone from looking at him in the eye. Yusei wasn't shy by nature, nor did he feel as if he didn't deserve the praise. But he also wasn't someone that bragged about anything he accomplished; preferring his actions speak for themselves. But there was always that little part of him, that little kid that would shy away whenever someone gave him even the slightest bit of attention.
Over the years, Yusei got a better handle of it as he grew older, and for the most part, he wouldn't react whenever someone would mention or make a comment about something he did; however, Akiza had noticed that whenever she was the one to initiate such a response, he was never able to keep his nerves in check. Honestly, she found it to be cute, and just another thing about him that intrigued her. Yusei noticed that Akiza was staring at him fondly, not put off, nor fooled by his act, and just decided to drop it, informing her, "Well, it's not exactly finished yet, but I'd say approximately, a week's time. Maybe less."
There was no air of arrogance, or over inflated pride laced in his words, but that didn't cover Akiza's surprise. "Wow, you got this far in just a week?" Letting a smile spread across his face, and his blush deepen just a bit more, Yusei corrected her, "Thanks, but I'm not that good. I've had this thing for months now, but if you were to count the number of hours that I was able to work on it, it should total up to about a week's worth of time." Returning the smile, Akiza silently reflected back on his character and personality, "There's that modesty of his again."
After showing her his pet project, Yusei led her to the rest of the house. It was a nice place, if a little small, but then again, it was like Yusei to only need his bare essentials. And just like him, the outside was modest; not too big, nor too small, but perfect for someone living on their own. The inside, however, caught Akiza's attention. It wasn't grand, nor extravagant, but it was much nicer than what the boys had to live with in Poppo Time. It was a two story household; with a kitchen connected to a dining area, with a living room across from it. A utilities/laundry room connected to the back, with a door which most likely led to Yusei's basement. Upstairs, consisted of Yusei's bedroom, bathroom, and study, for his work that he brought home.
Unfortunately, Yusei didn't have a guest room, and Akiza was reminded of her witty little banter from earlier, and once again, teased Yusei of what his intentions might be. Coming up from behind him, she grasped onto his shoulders - which Akiza noticed were broader than she remembered, and could tell that Yusei wasn't lying about not exercising more - leaning her head next to his ear, she whispered seductively, almost licking the shell of his ear, "Yusei. Don't think I didn't notice that you don't have a guest room for me to stay in. What were you thinking of doing to me, you naughty boy?" Yusei visibly stiffened at Akiza's touch. The sensation of her breath on his neck, and the ever so slight feeling of her tongue on his ear, sent shivers down his spine.
Smirking at his response to her words and touch; she continued to play with him, slowly circling him, until they were face to face, letting her hands roam over Yusei's clothed chest. She could feel the heat radiating off of him, and when she turned her gaze up to his face, she was taken aback that his pupils had actually dilated; knowing full well what that entailed, Akiza pushed further, leaning on her toes, she brought her lips a hair's breadth from his own, and in a velvet sweet, husky and seductive tone asked, "Did you bring me here to have your way with me, Yusei? Because, if you did-"
Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she moved her lips past his own, brushing them along his jawline, and brought them to his other ear, letting her lips tickle his earlobe. The action caused her to press herself up against his body; her breasts pushed up against his muscled chest, and his groin - which she could tell was definitely aroused, turning her on as well - pressed against her own. For added effect, she brought a leg up, wrapping it around Yusei's waist, and she wasn't disappointed when his hands - which were so far, left by his sides - came up, and held her waist, holding her to him. With everything in place she finished, "-I wouldn't be opposed if you did…"
The next thing she knew, Akiza was lifted in the air, and her back pressed against a wall, with Yusei pressed against her. His leg wedged between her own, and one hand one her waist, while the other was on her thigh. Instinctively, her legs wrapped around his waist, and his free leg, while her hands were fisted into his shirt; her breath hot and heavy. Out of all the things she expected Yusei to do, this wasn't one of them. Pressing his forehead, to her own, Akiza's breath - or what's left of it - caught in her throat. He was gazing at her just like he did at the airport; just like he did 8 years ago in Poppo Time's garage. She could see her reflection in his eyes, and had come to notice that her own pupils had dilated.
Leaning ever so slightly, Yusei's lips were just a breath away, Akiza could almost taste them. However, before Akiza could try to catch them between her teeth, Yusei's lips formed a grin. Backing away from her, and letting her fall gently back to the floor, Yusei winked, and walked past her into his bedroom, but not before muttering just loud enough for her to hear, "Played like a fiddle."
Akiza was left dumbfounded, before her surprise quickly turned to frustration and embarrassment. Yusei was toying with her the whole time! The entire endeavor was for him to get all worked up and bothered, not her! And Yusei saw right through it, after the first time. Growling and grunting in frustration, she stomped her feet in the direction of Yusei's bedroom, ready to give him a piece of her mind, before she stopped abruptly in the doorway.
On the other side of the room, Yusei had just rid himself of his work shirt, tossing it in clothes hamper on the other side of his bed. Akiza was able to get a front row seat, unobscured, as she gazed, practically drooling at the sight before her; raking her eyes all over Yusei's muscled chest, broad shoulders, toned abdomen, and his lean muscular arms. Trailing her eyes down his body, she followed his movements as he reached his belt. Suddenly, Akiza realised just what she was doing, and immediately turned around, leaving Yusei to his privacy. Unbeknownst to her, Yusei knew she was watching him. After ridding himself of most of his clothing - left only in a pair of boxers - Yusei's thought, as he made his way to his bathroom, "Perhaps, this wasn't such a good idea… But it's too late to change that now… Either way, the next couple of days will definitely be… interesting."
When Sayer awakened again, he found himself not in a cell, but in a wide room, with a long table, and nine other chairs, one of which was occupied by the dark figure he had seen before. "So it wasn't all just a dream…" Finding himself on the floor, Sayer struggled, but managed to stand, gazing around the room. Unfortunately, the only thing that wasn't surrounded in pitch black darkness was the long table he noticed before, at the center of the room, with only a single lit candle placed in its center.
As Sayer approached the table slowly, he was able to see the dark figure from before, shrouded in shadows, but just barely visible due to the lone candlelight. Noticing his hesitation, the figure reached out a hand, motioning to one of the chairs and only said, "Sit." Sayer stood, staring at the obscured figure, before following the figures command, taking a seat to the right of the figure. Once he was settled, Sayer asked, "Who-What are you? Where are we? And why did you break me out of prison?"
The dark figure was silent for a moment, letting it spread throughout the room. Just when Sayer's already low patience was wearing thin, the shadowed figure, waved his hand around, causing the candlelight to shine brighter, thus allowing Sayer to get a good look, and what he saw shook him to his core. "Who and rather what I am is of no importance, at the moment. Where we are, is… rather complicated, and as for you… we have something in common, and you're going to help me because of what we both want…"
A/N: And done! Okay, so first things first, I know. We didn't get to see Yusei and Akiza's date, and that's for two reasons. One, there were other things that needed to be addressed first, and two; while I feel confident enough to write flirtatious banter (as you can tell in this chapter) and smut/lemons (that will come later), my knowledge on dating, and writing dating scenes is… well, non existent, but fret not, there will (probably) be one, most likely in the next chapter, and any feedback or suggestions would be helpful.
Kind of funny and weird at the same time. I don't have a problem writing sexually explicit content, but I have no idea how to write dates. Anyway, on to other matters. As those that asked can see, we get an explanation to what Akiza experienced during her time in Germany. Not all of it was pleasant, and while it was all consensual; she didn't like it. And while for some time she didn't like herself for what she did, she never thought that she was a whore, or a slut, as some have worried. I would never write Akiza ever seeing herself like that, nor would I write anyone who cares about her to name her as such.
As i mentioned before, eight years is a long time to be apart from someone, especially someone you harbor feelings for; and there's always the possibility that those feelings can change, or be focused on another, which was one of Akiza's worries when Sherry told her of her "thing" with Yusei, but as we see, in my opinion, hopefully, I was able to get across that Yusei and Akiza's love for each other didn't diminish during their time apart; if anything, hopefully I was able to convey that it grew.
Yusei and Akiza will both share their secrets with each other later on; hopefully whenever I get to writing the date chapter. Speaking of updating, as I said in the beginning, it will be scarce. Summer Semester is much shorter than the average quarter, and doesn't leave me with much time or opportunity to write, so just be patient.
As you know, let me know what you guys think, it always helps, whether it's constructive criticism, or a compliment. I haven't had anyone flame me yet, but there's always a first time for everything, so apples and oranges, I guess. Until next time. Peace.