Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's - 05-Dragon
by Yusei
Summary - "AU. Yusei and Jack, after years of searching, find the legendary Z-ONE, a utopia for all. However, there are other forces after the two and this paradise, ready to invade and spark an all-out war against the other world".
Disclaimer – I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's or any of the characters.
A/N – I apologise for taking so much time to finish this chapter, but I recently had a spark of motivation to move on with this once again, hope you enjoy. Please read and review.
The desert seemed endless with the sand stretching towards the horizon, nothing to break the plain land. But he knew different; after all, this was his home. The towering white man staggered forward, moving as though his body was barely fazed by the scorching heat and burning sand grains. A hood was draped over his elaborate silver hair, decorated with crimson stripes running along the three central points, two hanging either side of his face. The man also bore wide shoulders, blue glass pressed into the white uniform in a deformed pattern resembling a mangled infinity symbol. The rest of his outfit was just was white as the upper half of the suit; wide yellow cuffs hung around his hands and black gloves pulled over claw-like fingers. A metal belt constricted his waist, connecting two hanging staircases of steel plates either side of him, dark lines coursed down his legs just as they did his arms. Just like the Bishops waiting ahead, his body was shielded from the direct sunlight by a large white cloak hanging over him, the hood pulled forward enough to obscure the emerald sphere pressed into his forehead. Dark scars ran under his eyes like engraved tear streams, his eyes as bloody as the outnumbered bangs.
A faint breeze brushed past, picking up the tips of the man's robes and throwing them in the direction of the distant structure waiting below. Z-ONE was waiting. Aporia's eyes were fixed onto it, regardless of the grains of sand flying around. He had a purpose to fulfil, after all; he had been called back for a reason.
04-Nephilim
The tunnel opened up into the large terminal, greeting the young Sherry and her guardian, the towering butler, Mizoguchi, onto the grounds of their alien escape route. The blonde girl eyed the building around her, anxious to say the least; her eyes shimmered fearfully and with a sense of loss. Even if her parents were alive, she was so far from home that it no longer mattered that their blood had been spilt; it was just a reminder that she could never return home. Her father's arms would never again embrace her warmly; her mother would never kiss her cheek and stroke her head, her slender fingers running through the golden locks she had inherited from the woman.
With the gravity of her situation sinking in, chilled tears blossomed in Sherry's eyes, prompting the girl to raise a hand and wipe them away before the butler-turned-guardian could comment. The words he had offered her while they stood before the tunnel connecting the plane to the French terminal reverberated through her, remembering their pose in front of the gap, his large hand clenching her with a protective firmness, yet strangely gentle grasp at the same time.
"Do not show weakness, ouja-sama" the man had whispered. "Tears of grief are a weakness that should be preserved until privacy. If you can suppress them, you bear the most powerful kind of strength there is".
Sherry quickly brushed away the tears, leaving little evidence of their existence, the only sign was the crushed puddles at the edge of her sockets. Mizoguchi's hand fell from her own, the tanned man's sharp eyes narrow with suspicion as he surveyed the lounge around them.
"This is Japan, ouja-sama" he muttered. "Please be careful. There is a distasteful air about this building".
Sherry lifted her head, setting her eyes on the back of Mizoguchi's spiked head. The girl never had any time to inquire into the man's suspicious demeanour, the stutter of machine guns ripped through the peaceful air, squirting blood from the chests, arms and legs of victims, igniting the calm air into an uproar of shrill screams. Mizoguchi twisted his towering body to the girl in his company.
"Ouja-sama" he growled roughly. "Run!"
"But…" Sherry squeaked in terror.
"Do not fear, I will protect you" the muscular guardian whispered to the girl. "That is my duty. Your duty to your parents is to live".
Sherry shakily nodded in response to her mission and turned immediately. She darted a dozen frenzied steps, the cries and stamping of feet around her pushed her forward while her heart sobbed with guilt at leaving Mizoguchi behind. There were no steps afterwards when an explosion ripped through the terminal, launching Sherry forward amidst flames, smoke, wind and deathly screams. The girl crashed onto the ground, face-down, her body shivered with pain and horror.
Slowly, her head rose, finding the scene of chaos around her; thick black smoke clogged the air and obscured many of the previously bright features of the building. Sunlight pouring in through the glass wall behind her was no more; shards of glass lying scattered showed no reflection. Blood and corpses, or even just pieces of bodies, were strewn across the floor, a small splash of crimson clinging to Sherry's left cheek. The girl shuddered, touching the damp substance; her eyes widened when it all hit her at once. Her neck snapped and threw her eyes around to the scene behind her, clouded in thick smog; the direction from which the blast had come from.
"Mizoguchi!" she cried fearfully.
The stamping of feet from deep within the smog hesitated. "Did you hear that? Sounds like there're still people alive".
Clacking of footfalls followed, each sending a new wave of panic flooding through the young girl's body. The sharp claps were joined shortly by the banging of guns and clicking of bullet cases tapping against the ground. Sherry's eyes grew wide and her hair more matted from the stress and horror. The girl scrambled deeper into the thick smoke on her hands and knees, trying to avoid the deadly temptation of watching over her shoulders; if she were to die, she'd rather die with a hollow chance of escaping lingering in her mind rather than aware that reality was ripping that faint hope apart.
After a couple of moments, the bottom of the glass doors were visible, glass shards scattered across both sides, pressing themselves against Sherry's palms, a few scratching through the skin and tearing open her stockings. Tears flooded Sherry's eyes when she realised she was going to escape without any sign of Mizoguchi; she had been praying he would appear just like the night her parents were murdered and sweep her away in his arms, carrying her somewhere away from all the chaos. That wish went unfulfilled.
The young survivor reached up for the door, her hands shredded, blood streaming across the palms and slipping down across her arms. With a weak push, the door swung open and fresh air filtered into the room, battling with the choking smoke. Sherry scrambled out the narrow window offered to her and managed to crawl outside, clutching her throat with a bloodied hand and gasped for clean air.
She looked back, waiting tearfully for Mizoguchi to appear. The silhouettes that emerged through the smog weren't compatible with the man's large build and it became apparent to Sherry that if she was to survive, she would have to run for her own sake and learn of her guardian's fate at a later date. The girl picked herself up from the ground, her legs shuddered with terror and regret, throwing herself forward and across the tarmac world, ignoring the wailing sirens chasing the crime scene, the voices of distant officials racing in the opposite direction and towards the site of the attack. Tears streamed down Sherry's face, forcing her to close her eyes, hiccups of despair welled in her throat and slipped loose; her torment had begun long before and would continue for years after the devastating incident that tore apart any chance of a normal life.
José had been silent throughout the morning, waiting for the return of his colleagues and the latest squatters. Arrangements to lend them an apartment had been delayed by Yusei's peculiar condition; the three bishops had therefore agreed to house the duo in the church for the next couple of days while they awaited the return of their superior.
Previously during the morning, Lucciano had departed from the building, excusing himself with the alibi that he was going to find Rua and Ruka; the children who had also come to the attention of the trio. The duo had come from the highest-ranked class from C-INF, the girl physically frail and the brother emotionally draining himself for her sake. Not long after the pair arrived, Ruka began to experience strange episodes of catatonia, though Rua reported these instances having happened previously. The girl reported sightings of elegant monsters and a lush forest under a glowing white sky. Those accounts were what had originally led the bishops to believe that she had been chosen as Zone's avatar.
The theory, however, was quickly quashed by Ruka's insistence that Zone was nowhere to be found on the other side of her visions, leaving the three back at square one. On the other hand, there was undeniably something different about the twins; what the factors separating them from others would have to develop overtime. They were no closer to learning the answer to their wonders. The man let out a heavy sigh, his beard waved briefly with the falling of his head and his eyes sliding closed afterwards, giving him a melancholic appearance.
Behind him, an equally large figure appeared, shoulders stretched out from his torso, arms hanging much further from his body than José's.
"It's not like you beat yourself up over something like this, José" the figure spoke with a nostalgic tone.
José's face transformed altogether and the aged man turned, his eyes widened with relief upon discovering that the man standing behind him was none other than Aporia.
"Old friend, you've come back" he gasped, taking a step towards the leader. "Why didn't you say something? We could have made preparations".
"I decided to come back a few days earlier after your message" Aporia answered with an amused smile. Even in his golden years, José was a fussy character; he wanted everything to be in order.
The bald man wrapped his hands around Aporia's, shaking it was an uncharacteristic glee about his movements, a drop of sweat built on Aporia's forehead, not entirely sure how to deal with the second-in-command's response. Automatically, he smirked calmly, permitting José to continue his grip.
"Oi, José" Lucciano's voice reverberated through the chambers, bouncing from the clear walls.
José and Aporia froze, twisting their necks in order to witness Lucciano charging into the room, coming to an unprepared stop upon finding two of his superiors in the place of one. The redheaded boy's mouth hung open in trepidation.
"A- Aporia, how are you doing, sir?" he asked shakily.
"It seems you've still yet to learn your manners" Aporia replied with a cocky smirk. "Glad to know at least my face sparks some discipline in you, Lucciano".
"Ah… Ahaha, I'm sorry" the boy giggled quietly. "I- I just meant to speak with José over something that just happened".
"What would that be?" José inquired, lifting his left eyebrow. "Has Placido done something?"
"No, no" Lucciano replied, waving his hands in front of him dismissively. "Actually, it's about Ruka".
"The twin, right?" Aporia asked for confirmation.
Lucciano answered with a series of sharp nods. "Yes sir" he added. "It's just... I met with her and Rua at the fountain. And Fudo Yusei…" at this point, he turned to Aporia, "I'm afraid you won't be familiar with him; anyway, he and Ruka introduced one another and then, they began to act strange. Like they were frozen. It was sort of like when Ruka travels to the Spirit World, only it was like Yusei had been dragged there with her".
"Fudo Yusei and Ruka?" José questioned, grasping his chin and its metallic plate thoughtfully.
"This Fudo Yusei sounds like an interesting character" Aporia murmured. "This name isn't familiar; could he be the individual you called me about, José?"
José averted his eyes, avoiding Aporia's gaze as it immediately fell onto him. The evasive reaction intrigued Aporia; it wasn't like José to shrink and keep information withheld. He was the greatest source of knowledge in all of Z-ONE, yet he appeared reluctant to respond, at least in front of Lucciano.
"José?" the man repeated calmly.
"Yeah, it's true" José sighed, bowing his head as if his hesitation had been a crime.
"I see" Aporia muttered. "Perhaps we should investigate this matter as soon as possible. If this Fudo Yusei truly does have something special about him, then there's going to be a reason he was brought here. I'd like to learn of that motive quickly. It's not often that we have such strange cases wander under our care and I don't want to bring any danger to the people who have sought refuge from a bitter world".
"Aporia, sir, if I must" José answered. "This boy, he seems frail. I have no idea of his past, but there are strong resemblances between his state and that of Ruka. I implore you, if you must tamper with the boy, please be careful. I don't know exactly what it is, but I've sensed something off about him, though I can't bring myself to believe he could be an agent for the City, his companion seems genuine and I don't want to suspect him of anything".
"They've touched you, José" Aporia uttered softly. "Though it's unlike you to feel compassion above your work, you are Zone's Knowledge, after all".
"I'm aware of that" José sighed. "But how many more days and years do I have? Will Zone grant me the honour of witnessing his form? No, that's wrong, that's selfish; I shouldn't ask for such things. Seeing Zone would require the prophecy beginning to spiral down its chaotic path; I cannot wish that on the world, or its people. Consider these babblings those of an aged man losing his mind, wanting to lecture the youngsters with stories of his youth".
"José, perhaps you should rest" Aporia said, laying one of his enormous hands onto José's wide shoulder. "I shall look into what has happened whilst I've been gone, Lucciano can assist me".
"Aporia… I'm sorry" Jose huffed disappointedly.
"Do not be" Aporia answered. "You've taken good care of the place while I've been gone; I appreciate that more than anything else".
"Then, I shall take my leave" José announced wearily.
Aporia rotated and retreated, opening up a path for José to pace down, the haggard man pacing slowly and grumbling to himself in frustration. Aporia and Lucciano exchanged nothing until the mountainous oaken doors grazed each other whilst closing, drawing the Archbishop to his minor apprentice.
"Lucciano, tell me, what has happened while I've been gone?" Aporia asked firmly.
Droplets of sweat ran down the body's forehead; despite Aporia's kind nature to the people, there was an air about him that continued to instil unease in the boy, even after their growing time as colleagues. Perhaps it was his rank, or the idea that he was technically Zone's avatar until the official one could be unearthed, but his heart quickened each time all the same.
"W- Well…"
Bommer dropped down from the machine he called his own, decorated with black paint and spikes protruding in straight lines like soldiers across the body of his jet. An iron cow skull had been beneath the windows that gave him the best view of all the vehicles in the hanger. The large man folded his arms over his chest upon noticing Kiryu standing nearby, leaning against the wall casually like a delinquent who had deliberately been spotted somewhere he wasn't supposed to be.
"Yo, Bommer" the icy-haired man chimed.
"Kiryu, what is it?" Bommer growled.
"I need to get smashed, want to come with?" Kiryu asked with a wide grin.
"I don't enjoy clogging my body with rubbish" Bommer scoffed. "Especially as that young woman appeared, it seems she has come for a particular reason. I don't wish to endanger my chances of becoming useful just so you can lick your wounds".
"What are you talking about?" Kiryu laughed. "I did great in my practice earlier".
"I'm not talking about that" Bommer replied coldly. "You know what I mean".
Kiryu's head sank, aware that his companion's thread extended well beyond just the day, not even referring to his failed attempt to woo Sherry LeBlanc, but much deeper. The very thread hanging loose from earlier. The two had known each other for approximately two years, around the length of time since the last Reverse, and yet, Bommer still knew next to nothing of Kiryu, except that his personality resembled that of a Jekyll/Hyde state. One moment, Kiryu could be pleasant, bumbling and overly-cheerful, the next he would devolve into cynical, spiteful and venomous. Ordinarily, Bommer wouldn't pry, but they were partners, he needed to know should Kiryu turn on the battlefield, just so he could find the triggers and avoid them.
"How about this?" the giant man suggested. "You tell me whilst getting yourself wasted".
Kiryu eyed his companion without any sign of either side of his personality overwhelming, as though he'd found middle ground between the two extremes. The look intrigued curiosity in Bommer, it was rare for Kiryu to be on the same wavelength as him, but it seemed as though that had become the case.
"The people brought in by Godwin were all scarred, weren't they?" the younger man questioned, eyeing the aircraft lined against each wall. "Even you, Bommer. But you act as though you've never been hurt by what happened to you in your past".
"Acting sore about losing my family will do nothing to me, but spawn more hatred and ill feelings" Bommer sighed, pressing his fist against armoured chest. "I do not wish to be consumed by bitter emotions; I've seen what it does to people".
"You're referring to me there" Kiryu spat. "I'm not some kind of demon, you know".
"I am not implying that you are" Bommer answered. "All I'm saying is that we hold different methods of dealing with our sorrow and hardship; you prefer to swing between two ends of personality, while I have done my best to lock away as much emotion as possible".
"You say that because you're fighting the force that destroyed your hometown" Kiryu scoffed.
"Which begged my question earlier; the same question I've been asking you for two years now, to which I've yet to receive an answer" Bommer argued. "If you despise Godwin and his government so much for what happened in Satellite, why do you fight for him?"
"Because it's fight for him or be killed by him" Kiryu scowled. "I won't die by that man's hands, even if it means killing my own people with my own hands. Besides, Yliaster has to bear some responsibility, rumour has it they're behind his coming to power. So essentially, they're the ones who bombed S-ZERO and they're the ones who destroyed everything. So they should equally pay. If Godwin wants to fight them, then I'll go under his command for now and exact my revenge on them, then he can pay for his sins".
The man's pale fist closed tighter, shivering with frustration and rising anger. Bommer watched the scene like an outside, astonished by his partner's thought process regarding revenge and how to attain it, differing greatly to his own. But it was as Kiryu said; Bommer's quest for vengeance was much simpler; only Yliaster had links to what happened to his hometown in Peru, destroyed in what was claimed to be an attack against the Nazca Lines, the fabled enemy of the Crimson Dragon occurring to the folktale of his ancestors, Godwin played no part in the incident. But he appeared and opened up a hand to the grief-stricken man, the narrow smirk on his face suggesting that his appearance was little more than taking advantage of a situation that was best left, but he offered a man blinded by sorrow a reason to continue living.
"They say the Earthbound Gods were the Crimson Dragon's enemy; you live on their land, so you too become It's enemy. But they aren't yet dead; do you wish to fight with them?"
Bommer's gaze towards the steel floor hardened, maybe Godwin was manipulating them all as Kiryu implied, perhaps he was playing on their past torments and tying strings around their limbs in order to attain what he had been after for so long. But no-one knew Godwin well; no-one knew his motive; why would Bommer's hometown have been destroyed shortly before he entered office? Why was Satellite bombed three times in the space of six years? Why did the people accept everything that happened as Godwin's utopia growing to bring eternal paradise to all, especially when there were so many dead and dying strewn across the targeted places? The man's fist clenched tighter, defeating Kiryu's grip with ease and his expression twitched irritably.
"Kiryu" he uttered lowly. "I take back what I said. I could do with a drink".
Silence reigned in Godwin's office, despite the additional two figures in attendance. The Director tilted his body back in his large chair, the curved top squeaking whilst his temple touched the plush covering in a rare exhibition of relaxation. On the opposite side of the curved desk, Colonel Ushio and Mikage stood beside one another, highlighting the great difference in height between the two. Mikage's eyes flickered uncomfortably, it was rare for her to be called to Godwin's office without Jeager also present, and lowered her sights to the clipboard beneath her arms. It was agonising, waiting for the Director to speak or make some indication as to why she had been summoned, only to then stand in silence, seconds ticking by like minutes. She began to count the number of taps coming from her wrist.
"I apologise for this" the Director spoke after Mikage reached thirty-four. "I was simply contemplating the risks of this assignment".
"Excuse me, sir?" Ushio inquired.
"Sherry LeBlanc. She is an admirable woman, I am glad to have her on our side" Godwin answered, straightening his back and shoulders. "I assume she has been dispatched, Mikage?"
"Yes, sir" Mikage replied quickly, her heart flinched at the fact the conversation sharply moved in her direction. "Reports state that LeBlanc-san has been made her move to leave C-INF in search of the target".
"Very well" Godwin murmured, apparently satisfied with the response. "Havilah is moving as planned".
A pang of guilt hit Mikage; Sherry was a young woman - younger than her - but she had seen so much more, been damaged as a result, scorned and hateful. It was strange to see someone younger than her hold such bitterness and dark desires. Her body shifted without her thinking, catching Ushio's eye and, in turn, Godwin's attention.
"Is there something else?" the Director questioned.
"Ah, forgive me" Mikage squeaked, blushing from embarrassment. Her body shuddered, torn between curiosity and order. "B- But I was just wondering, LeBlanc-san spoke as though she had met with you before, sir, I was just wondering if that is the case?"
Godwin's eyes slid closed and a heavy breath left through his nose.
"Director?" Ushio uttered uneasily.
"It is true" Godwin answered. The response surprised both watching the man. "I first encountered Sherry LeBlanc six years ago, not long following the first Reverse".
Rain had soaked the streets of the city, but since then, the heavens had dealt with its sorrows and clouds lingered through the black skies. There were so stars, there were never any stars in the city; the lights from the ground pushed out any room for the glow of other suns. Those lights, however, were far away.
The young blonde girl moving into her mid-late teens stood alone atop the tallest building in the darkened Daimon region, the watching the lights twinkling from a distance, their warmth unable to reach out to her. Her expression showed nothing but apathy; she'd given up, they had won. Ever since the outbreak of the civil war in France, her life had spiralled out of control, losing everyone she cared about, chased from her own home, her own country and into a strange land where she barely survived each day. No-one cared, everyone continued on as normal, ignorant of the young girl who staggered through the streets, starving, her stomach moaning with each hour that ran past because she hadn't managed to find a scrap of discarded food. Seeking help would do nothing; it would invite trouble and death after those who offered a hand to her. She didn't need help, she didn't want help. Or did she?
She'd become so confused after years of running and living alone, unsure if she could even trust other people. She didn't know what to think of anything anymore. So she peered over the edge, towards the street waiting a dozen stories below; no people, no vehicles, just emptiness. Somewhere the little French girl who escaped could be forgotten and left alone.
Behind her, a shadow grew; the shaded figure of a man whose build matched that of Mizoguchi. "Do you really intend to let them defeat you? After everything your loved ones surrendered?"
Sherry's eyes slid closed. "I cannot fight back; all I am doing is prolonging the suffering of my family" she sighed. "They gave up everything, but I can't even get justice for them. I can't do anything to make their sacrifices meaningful".
"You can; take a breath" the man spoke.
Sherry's expression flinched, flickering into frustration briefly and then settled again. She obeyed and inhaled deeper than usual, followed by a heavy breath out.
"And the meaning behind their ends is complete".
"What are you saying?" Sherry growled.
"The people you loved, they surrendered themselves for you - so that you could continue to live" the man continued. "If you concede to the harsh fate handed to you, then they died for nothing. They wanted you to fight; I can give you the means by which to continue that fight and take it to the enemy; the people who stole your family away".
"Are you saying you know who killed them?" Sherry asked, twisting her upper body sharply to find the pale grey man behind her.
"You heard conspiracy theories that Psychics were behind the attack on your home" Godwin relayed. "I have reason to believe that the Psychics may have been in affiliation with a religious named Yliaster, whom I also pursue".
"So we have a common enemy" Sherry muttered.
"It appears we do, young lady" Godwin answered. "Then, perhaps an alliance of our own is necessary. You have a choice now; you can end your life and become another meaningless name engraved in the list of Yliaster's victims, or you can take my hand and together, we can tear apart the fabricated world those people are trying to forge by erasing people like your parents".
Sherry gazed at the white hand that opened up to her; a chance to turn around everything. Maybe if there was a scrap of hope that Mizoguchi was alive, Godwin could have the power to reunite them. If there was any purpose to her birth and continuing to live, it was in the man. She'd have to trust him, if just to ever take a free breath.
Mikage gaped with the tale's close, the guilt of ignorance to Sherry's predicament grew; she felt worse for all the suffering the young woman had gone through. Underneath the clipboard, she rested her hand against her chest, eyes flickering with sorrow and sympathy. All in the corner of Ushio's eye, the man showed no emotion as the woman, but awaited his dismissal before he chose to speak again.
The meeting continued for a short time, reiterating the purpose and execution of Havilah's opening stages, including Sherry's search for Z-ONE. After half an hour, the doors opened and the two departed through them. Striding down the wide corridor, Ushio eyed Mikage once more, recalling her reaction to the tale of Godwin and Sherry's initial meeting.
"No-one else will have to suffer, that's why we're doing this" he said.
"Yes…" Mikage whispered. "But, I still feel terrible for LeBlanc-san. To think that such a young child had to go through so much torment, then even live on the streets of a foreign country when nobody cared. I feel horrible; my upbringing was fine, but she is one of too many people who suffer. I just wish that I could do something to make up all those hard times to her".
"Sherry LeBlanc doesn't want your pity" Ushio insisted. "But she may, in time, come to want a friend. I believe that you can do that, Mikage-san. You have a gentle heart that can accept anyone. Perhaps even, had events like the Reverse not occurred, you could have brought together people from areas like S-ZERO and C-INF. But, that's a different story, a different reality. The fact of the matter is, you know as much as I do that the people in Yliaster are nothing more than vile criminals; they steal the lives of people, they steal people themselves. Remember the twins who vanished?"
"But they were just children, they weren't the offspring of anyone important, just a rich couple" Mikage sighed. "There was no ransom or message from people responsible for their disappearance".
"The kids apparently left a note behind, stating that they were leaving of their own will" Ushio mumbled. "But really, how long can two kids like them survive in a cruel world like this? They must have been taken somewhere, the girl was frail, there's no way she could live for very long without some kind of help".
"Her brother was determined" Mikage said. "Maybe he found a way for the two to live out of the spotlight".
"But still, until they're found, the blame will fall on those secretive people" Ushio grumbled. "Even you have to admit that it's suspicious people keep vanishing, yet no-one from Z-ONE denies their part in each one".
"But there's still no proof" Mikage answered. "Z-ONE is a secretive place, apparently a paradise, their exact location is under wraps and I have the feeling that broadcasting a message would endanger that fact; I truly believe that they wish to remain cut off from the rest of the world. With the technology we have, it's possible that if they were to defend themselves, they would also expose themselves - something they're not prepared to do".
"And why's that?" Ushio asked, leaning towards the woman to indicate she was treading along the same train of thought as he.
"I don't believe these people are bad" Mikage insisted. "They just value lives more than we do; I don't know why Godwin carried out the Reverse six years ago, nor why they continued afterwards. But what you can't deny is that Z-ONE is the opposite of that; they wish to preserve life, not eliminate those deemed less worthy of living. Perhaps Godwin sees Z-ONE as a threat to his idea that C-INF is the only utopia man can achieve, because it already exists elsewhere. I don't know, I may be idealistic, I may be naïve, but something doesn't feel entirely right. Even the use of people like LeBlanc-san, people who have been hurt, it like opening up old wounds. It doesn't feel right".
Ushio sighed and tilted his head back, gazing at the strips of lights fixed into the ceiling above them. "That doesn't sounds so wrong - a perfect place, but…" he mumbled. "Maybe we're too cynical for that. Maybe that's why they're hiding. But I still have a duty to fulfil and that's what I'm going to do. When there's evidence Z-ONE is how you see it, then I'll believe it and throw down my rank and authority".
Mikage smiled at the man; his open-mindedness was a relief in comparison to the single-tracked mindset of those living in the City, people represented by figures like Jeager. There was hope of finding someone who could take a step back and examine the situation from afar like her rather than buying into the sole interpretation of Godwin's plans.
The lights flickered a moment whilst waking and the door was closed before they were even stable. Rua sighed and twisted the small lock, sealing the two inside. Ruka's hands were nestled on her lap, remaining obediently in the wheelchair, seeming quiet and distant. Although the two had made it back without a problem, Rua picked up on his sister's solemn mood and moved closer, leaning over the nearest arm of her mobile chair and smiled at her.
"Hey, Ruka, why don't we have some dinner?" he asked. "I'll make your favourite".
"If we're having something to eat, I want to help" Ruka mumbled. "You don't have to go to such lengths to try and make me feel better. Why don't we have your favourite for once, Rua?"
The brother shot a look of surprise, Ruka smiled gently at him, hollowly. He returned the look, a rather more genuine and uneasy smile, with the suspicious she was trying to lock him out of what was bothering her in order to protect him; it was a common practice the girl would undertake to spare him confusion and regret over not sharing her powers.
"Ruka, if something's bothering you, you've got to tell me" he said.
"I'm fine, Rua" Ruka answered with a shaking head. "Really. If anything, I'm better than fine. You found someone that you bonded with easily, that doesn't happen often. Normally, you shut people out and don't trust them, especially adults".
"Eh? You mean Yusei?" Rua asked. "Yeah, but he's cool, he's not a stuck-up man who thinks he knows best".
"You don't know him all that well though, do you?" Ruka commented with an amusement smile.
"Neither do you" Rua chuckled. His lighter demeanour shrank away quickly and his body paused whilst remembering the paralysed state the two had been in once they touched and his heart skipped a beat once starting up again. "Wait, Ruka, did you find out more about him when you two stopped? What happened? You've got to tell me, please".
"I'll explain after dinner" Ruka responded, waving her hand up and down dismissively. "Come on, or we won't eat until late and your stomach will moan until then".
Rua straightened himself, assuming she was trying to veer the conversation elsewhere, but knew his sister well enough to trust her. It was rare she'd avoid something meaning so much to him. With her space cleared, Ruka picked himself up from the wheelchair and balanced herself on her frail legs, wobbling to begin with.
"Don't push yourself" Rua insisted.
"Rua, we don't have this because I can't walk, it's just because my body gets tired easily" Ruka giggled. "I'm sure walking into the kitchen and helping you with those hamburgers isn't going to wear me out".
"Eh?" Rua sounded.
"That's what I want for dinner: hamburgers" Ruka answered, eyes glittering with happiness. "Your favourite is my favourite, Rua. Come on".
Rua was awestruck by his sister's decision to go through with the idea of having his favourite together, creating a newfound loophole by claiming it to be her favourite. He smirked at her and brushed the bottom of his nose with the back of his finger before jogging into the kitchen ahead of her and pulling open the fridge. Inside, the two had a decent supply of foods, although they were quickly diminishing. Rua reached in, pulling out the burgers wrapped in plastic and laid them onto the worktop. Ruka watched from the doorway, folding her arms over her stomach and smiling contently; although she possessed the powers to travel to the legendary plain of the God, she wanted nothing more than to experience an ordinary life, to live with Rua and have no pressures. Their parents were no longer an issue, they could do what they wanted now out of the strict regulations of life in the most influential part of C-INF. They had snatched freedom from the darkness and fled.
And while guilt occasionally grabbed her shoulder like a stalking shadow over the distress they had surely caused the people who brought them into the world, it was undeniable that the pair had shown no compassion over what happened during the Reverse, how they had played a part and needed to be taught a lesson. Rua had deduced there was no better way than to lose what was most important to them, just to experience the same pain as those on the island, and even then, it was only a fraction as they could continue living in luxury. The girl closed her eyes, envisioning the note they left behind, each writing a section in order to prove they had taken the decision to heart and ran away by their own accord.
Mama, Papa.
We're going to live somewhere else, because we don't want to be filled with hatred towards you or anyone else, but we can't deal with living in a place that hurts others. This is our decision, please don't think something bad has happened to us, no-one cares about two kids like us; we'll be fine. And don't worry either, we know how to live alone, we've had practice when you were working.
We're sorry if this makes you sad, but it's something we have to do. We figured that if you wanted to hurt people in Satellite by taking away the things they cared about most and their way of living, we'd at least show you how much pain you're inflicting by leaving for a bit. We assume we're most important to you, so it's like making you feel the same. We don't hate you, we love you; that's why we're doing this. Please don't hate us and don't cry, we're fine. We're together, that's all we need.
Rua & Ruka
The note had been written on a sheet of paper folded into quarters and left on the coffee table, sitting alone until morning when the two would learn of their children's decision and no doubt panic, despite their reassuring words. Initially, the two had no idea where they were headed, it was going to be near impossible to continue life in the city once the search began, especially with Ruka moving in the wheelchair. The two had managed to get away before the campaign grew too much, sightings claimed they were heading towards the south of the City, but no-one managed to recapture them. Then the trouble started and salvation came in the form of Lucciano, who picked up on the duo's intentions and offered them a place in Z-ONE, then the trouble stopped.
The hamburgers began to fizzle and pop, Rua pressed down a spatula on top of the shivering meats with a smirk, glad that he could serve his sister. Ruka pulled open the fridge, removing leaves and tomatoes, laying the latter onto a chopping board and cutting through them with a knife, all observed by Rua in the corner of his sight.
"Don't forget the cheese" he chirped.
"I won't" Ruka giggled.
The two were continually a team; they'd been born together, grown together, left together, travelled together. Nothing was going to separate them; not even Ruka's lone gift and Rua's physical superiority. The pair spent the next minutes working together to complete their small meal, chatting about others living with them; Aki came up, a decision to visit the orphanage the next day. Rua carried the two plates to the table and set them down opposite one another, Ruka laying out cutlery either side of the plates and setting down mugs, one with milk, the other with cola. Rua grinned once he seated himself and quickly uttered his thanks before diving in, Ruka giggled at the display and proceeded more civilly. Even as twins, they had their opposites, things that drew them closer.
Within ten minutes, the plates were emptied, leaving nothing more than crumbs and remnants of ketchup on Rua's plate. He carried them to the bowl, tipping them in with the clattering silverware and Ruka laid the mugs beside the dip. Rua turned around and directed his sister to the sofa, despite her evident hope to wash up and seated her down. He dropped onto the cushion next to her and folded his legs, leaning forward towards her inquisitively like the listener of a story, captivated already by what he had heard.
"Alright, spill" he commanded. "What happened earlier with Yusei?"
"Rua, I…" Ruka uttered uncomfortably, shrinking between her shoulders.
"I won't say anything" Rua insisted. "But you both stopped like when you go to the Spirit World. Does Yusei have the same power as you?"
"I don't think he does" Ruka sighed. "In all honesty, I don't know why he was led into the world. But, at the same time, I think it might have been me. I started to experience it as I was reaching out to him, it might have been because I was inviting him in with my hand open like that. I've never reached out to anyone when it happened".
"Really?" Rua asked, blinking with surprise. "Then, next time, reach out to me. I want to go with you, Ruka. I want to be there with you and see what you see. I don't want you to be alone".
"Rua…" Ruka breathed, touched by her brother's desires and smiled back, lifting her hand with the smallest finger alone extended. "Alright, I promise I'll take you there one day, Rua".
Rua grinned with joy and lifted his own hand, wrapping his smallest finger around her, binding the two in the oath to travel together. His face brightened and glowed with excitement; for years he'd watched Ruka slip in and out of the distant world and go by her account alone, but never been granted the privilege of witnessing the place for himself. Even as a young child, when it first happened, he had to sit back and wait.
"Ruka! Please… please don't leave me" the boy sobbed, thick tears streaming down his face like gushing rivers with no end in sight.
"Rua, I won't go away again" the young Ruka whispered, wrapping her arms around his head and closing her eyes affectionately. "I won't leave you for so long again, if I go, it'll only be for a short time".
"No, I want you to stay with me" Rua protested, sobbing into her chest.
"It's alright, I'll take you with me some time" Ruka whispered. "Then, we'll never be apart again. Okay?"
"Y- Yeah…"
Rua tightened his finger coiling around Ruka's, affirming the unofficial promise they made so long ago, enforcing his desire with the new vow; two intertwined with the same wish to stay together, even in the strange other world. Ruka locked eyes with her brother and the two exchanged equally hopeful and content smiles.
The sun was crawling back towards the sandy horizon, slipping behind the cliff that would lead to the lower level, where Z-ONE waited. The figure wrapped in a thick hooded robe staggered forward, lightless eyes fixed on the path ahead. A gust of wind rushed back, kicking up grains of sand and throwing them towards the face of the being, though it turned away swiftly, avoiding the stinging intrusion to its eyes. Then again, turning in the direction of its destination, lips locked against one another in an almost scowling manner to emphasise the determination coursing through their veins. The ragged, bland sheet covered the figures entire body, designed specifically for the purpose of travelling through the desert, and based on the rate of the sun's sinking, there was little chance they were going to make it to their destination before night. It was a difficult decision; to travel through the bitter night in the middle of nowhere and risk falling over the cliff or simply rest in the freezing place.
The expression flickered, showing a moment of acrimony, a huff pushed out through the nostrils. The wind kicked at the robe, exposing the trainers the figure wore for footwear. The being proceeded forward another few steps, but forced to pause when the storm worsened. A grunt slipped out from its throat, and the sharp eyes squeezed shut. A pale hand emerged from the robe, grabbing the ends that hung together in front of the flat chest and grasped them, ensuring it wouldn't fly away and leave the body alone.
The sky was darkening; from orange and red to blue and black, travel would soon be impossible, rest was the only option. A rocky wall at the edge of the sand field would offer a cave. The figure pushed its body towards the resting place, crawling out of the storm, though not before one last peek in the direction they were headed from the mouth of the cavern. The tips of blue bangs waved at the top of the figure's vision defiantly, insisting they climb inside and sleep out the storm; hope would have to wait.
The forces gather for war. The victims for peace hide. Gears of fate spin to restart a cycle of destruction. Damaged pieces of separate entities cannot make a single whole. "05-Covenant".