Episode 4: Blood and Betrayal

"Aki!" a very pleased and familiar voice greeted me as my eyes opened.

I blinked repeatedly, trying to clear my sight and my thoughts, "D-Divine?"

The voice sounded disappointed, perhaps even a little irritated, "No... It not Divine."

When I was fully conscious, I was stunned to see Koyou at my beside. He looked like he hadn't slept and needed a shave. He smelled a little too. It was like he hadn't left my bedside in days. I was shocked, "H-how long have you been there?"

He gave me an odd look, "I think you should be asking how long you've been out first. Do you realize your in a hospital?"

I looked around and I had some bandage on me, the room was quite large and well equipped. Clearly it was one of the better ones at the Neo Domino Medical Center. I didn't recall why at first, but then I remembered the attack. Koyou had come to defend me, saying he would never let anyone hurt me. Then... he was about to get hit with that huge attack. I'd been so afraid of losing someone else who had said that to me.

"Do you remember what happened?" he asked methodically, but I could hear the concern in his voice.

I nodded. For some reason I felt like crying.

"I'm sorry."

Surprised, I looked straight at him, "Why are you apologizing?"

"You got hurt because of me."

"That's not... you were protecting me. Getting hurt was my fault."

He shook his head, "No it was mine. I should have fought harder or acted faster. You shouldn't have needed to do anything then."

"I wanted to." I said, trying to reassure him, even if my motives for protecting him were an impulse, and a selfish one.

He looked me hard, with an intensity in his eyes I didn't fully understand at the time, "You did that because you didn't trust me to take care of things. I'll do whatever I need to do so that you'll change your mind."

I sat up on the other side of the bed facing away from him, "I don't need you I have..." Divine... no I didn't have Divine anymore. He'd died... Divine was dead! The only one that understood me wasn't in the same world anymore. Koyou walked around the bed and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, I rejected it, springing to my feet, "Don't touch me!"

He stood, an angry look on his face. I went to grab by duel disk and lash out at him, but I was too late. Koyou had slipped his arms around me and embraced me before I could do anything. I tried to resist, yelling at him to stop it and let me go, but he wouldn't budge. I started hitting him and clawing at him but he didn't yield an inch. Koyou just stood there and took it without a whimper until I lost my will to fight and just started crying in his arms. He said nothing. He simply was there for me, and let me get it all out. I'm not sure how much time had passed before I stopped crying and he let me slump back into a seated position, but his shirt was soaking wet from my tears. He didn't say anything even then. He just looked at me and waited for me to say something at my own pace.

"Why are you always like this? I nearly killed you, yet you're still like this."

Koyou seemed really uncomfortable with that question, "Does it bother you?"

I shook my head, "No... not really. I just don't deserve it."

He crouched down, looking me in the eye with such a pained expression on his face, "I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?" I snapped at him.

"Everything you're going through would have been avoided if I'd been a littler faster or got Mei out of the way a little more prudently. I dove when I should have yanked and that caused everything."

I felt like crying again, "Don't blame yourself for that. If I didn't agree to duel her... if I hadn't been so arrogant..."

"Hey!" Koyou forced my attention back to him with a strong word and locked eyes with me, his expression was weighted and stern, but gentle, "We all made mistakes. Mei was blaming herself this whole time. No matter who is most responsible, that accident is in the past. It doesn't matter anyone. If you think the only one that would accept you is gone, then you're wrong."

"But I-"

"There's no buts about it. My parents never blamed you, my sister forgave you, and I wouldn't mind it even if you killed me a thousand more times. Didn't I tell you that at the Fortune Cup." he didn't seem to be lying, "Oh, and that battle damage thing was really a total accident. I didn't even no I could do that. It was the first time I've ever had power like that."

I'd nearly forgotten all about it, but his mentioning of it brought back that painful feeling, I flinched a little, but tried my best to shove the emotion aside, "I-I know, I realize that now... I was being stupid. I guess, you must have gotten some of Kai-sensei's power."

I frowned for some reason then shrugged, "I guess. I haven't really had time to ask him about it. What with being kidnapped and the Dark Signers and everything."

"Kidnapped?" When had that happened?

He stood up so he could sit beside me, "Aki, You remember how Divine came to the school a while back looking into the rumors of a psychic duelist?"

"He wanted to test you and Mei for powers. Your dad through him out. What does that have to do with anything?"

Koyou took a stick PDA out of his pocket, "This may be too soon, but he thought of you not knowing everything and mourning him makes me sick to my stomach."

"What are you talking about?"

Koyou handed the device to me, "Take your time and when you are ready for the truth, look at it. I took out the worst stuff, so keep that in perspective when you look it over."

"If you're trying to get me to hate Divine-"

He got angry, but was still gentle with me, "I could have made all that up or Divine could really be like that information. It all comes down to whether you trust me or him more."

"Koyou... Divine was... he was there for me when the whole world turned its back on me... He accepted me for who I am. Nothing can change that fact."

"If you're so sure then there's no harm in looking at it."

I handed it back to him, or tried to. "I want to keep my memories of him intact, is that so wrong?"

He got angrier, but still held it back, standing up sharply and looking at me. It was clear he was upset with me, "No, it's not alright. For anyone else you can mourn all you want, but not Divine. Not after all he's done. I can't let you mourn him."

"Koyou?"

"Just take you time, but don't cast it aside completely. You should know how much of a liar he was. If you don't trust that I'm right, then there's nothing I can say to convince you."

He started to leave, but I grabbed his hand. When I did he turned around suddenly, startled and pull back. His eyes were bewildered. I wasn't sure what to say, so I just said what came to mind, "Do you remember the day we met?"

He tensed, "I... uh... that's complicated, but I remember it well enough."

"You made me feel like such an idiot."

"I did?"

I smiled and nodded, "You came up with the idea of someone being my hands in a duel, since I couldn't duel without using my powers. It was so obvious. If my powers required I be in contact with the cards, all I had to do was not touch them."

"Seems logical enough."

"True." I looked at him, and smiled again at the good memory, "You offered to be my hands."

He blushed, "Sounds like something I'd say."

I stood up and faced him, "You were always so gallant. I really respected you."

Koyou strangely seemed to ponder that information before saying, "I never realized."

I nodded, "I really did... and I'll trust you." I held up the PDA, "I'll look at it... later. Right now I think I have some things to do. Some apologies to make..."

"To who?"

"You, your folks, Mei, maybe even..."

"Your folks?" he asked, making the obvious conclusion.

I cringed, "I don't think I'm ready for that..."

Koyou placed a hand on each of my shoulders, "I'll help."

I smiled, "Thank you... Koyou, I'm-"

"Nothing to apologize for." He smiled, "That aside, you're parents came to see you when they heard you were hurt. Do you want to...?"

I frowned, shrinking a little, "I... don't think I'm ready..."

He held my shoulders more firmly, reinforcing his earlier statements, "I'll help. It's pretty clear they love you. They were in that waiting room crying buckets and blaming themselves."

I went a little teary, and hugged him... actually I was trying to hide in his arms like Divine would let me do sometimes, but Koyou pushed me away quickly, being gentle, but stern.

"I said I would help you, but you shouldn't run. It will only hurt longer if you do. Do it lke a bandage. I promise you'll feel better once you hear them out."

I hesitated, but I'd promised to trust him again, so I nodded. He called a doctor in the give me a quick check, and then we went out to see my folks. They were so happy to see me, and spent most of the time telling me how sorry they were and how they would be better parents starting then. Koyou played therapist and made me tell them all my feelings. It was hard telling them how mad and sad I was, but I finally heard why they had been celebrating when I last saw them. It wasn't that they had been happy without me, its was simply because father had gotten a major education bill passed that he had been working on for years. All that time he'd been working so hard was nearing a conclusion so they were happy. He would still be busy, but it meant more time with his family. All that time he'd been working to reform the government funding system to increase funding for them. He was doing it for my sake the entire time.

I noticed Yusei come in and Koyou walked over to him immediately. I stepped away from my parents for a moment to see what was up. Koyou had a very concerned look on his face, "Any news?"

Yusei didn't look happy as he shook his head, "No. I've been looking all over the Damon Area for hours, but I can't get in the resisted area where the duel took place. We might have to go to Goodwin."

"I don't want that. He was funding some pretty bad stuff. All he wants is the power of the dragon for himself."

I looked to Yusei, "What's wrong?"

He looked to Koyou, surprised, "You didn't tell her?"

"Tell me what?"
Koyou sighed, "She had a lot on her plate, I didn't want to add one more."

Yusei wasn't happy to hear that, "You can't just shield her from everything. The Dark Signers are after her too you know."

That had me worried, "What's this about Dark Signers?"

Koyou turned to me with a pained expression, "Mei's been missing for days. She hasn't gone home and she disappeared around the same time one of the same group that attacked the Movement was sighted."

"Koyou and I have been taking turns searching the area and watching over you."

I frowned, my mind wracked with worry, "I'm sorry, I'm slowing you down. If not for be you might have found her by now."

"Don't be silly." Yusei said assuring me, "You're not slowing anyone down. We're friends, friends take care of each other."

"Thank you." I blushed a little despite myself, "For everything... both of you I mean. Now I'll do my part and look around, with my Dad's connections we can probably organize a search party."

"No." Koyou said firmly, "No civilians."

"But Koyou, Mei might be hurt!"

He stood his ground, "Mei wouldn't want us to risk lives for her. If the Dark Signers are running around attacking people, the last thing we need is defenseless civilians going around the area looking for them."

"You have a point." I had to admit.

Koyou turned to Yusei, "I guess the only option is Goodwin."

Yusei nodded in agreement.

Koyou thought hard about something, "Give me until tomorrow. I'll try one last time to find her and get back to you. After that, we can all go to Goodwin."

"I'm not sure we should wait, but I'll trust you, Koyou."

Koyou frowned, then took another PDA out of his pocket, handing it to Yusei, "If I'm not back back tomorrow morning look at this before going to Goodwin without me."

I didn't like the sound of that, "Why do you think you might not come back? Are you trying to find Mei or going after the Dark Signer?"

"Both."

Yusei shook his head, "Koyou, that's crazy, we should work together on this."

"I'm only going after the one. It's personal. Please understand Yusei. He probably killed or took my sister."

Yusei only thought about it for a second, then caved, "I understand. Don't make me have to look at this PDA Koyou. I never want to see a post mortum farewell from you."

He laughed, "I'm a walking post mortum, Yusei." looking to me he tried to reassure me, "Don't worry about a thing. I'm coming back. That message is just one of those cases of it being better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it."

I felt like crying.

"I thought you were going to trust me?"

He was right, I'd promised to trust him. I nodded, and he walked out the door. Yusei placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, "He'll be fine."

I nodded, "Thank you again. For everything. If it weren't for you I wouldn't have been able to trust him. I would have just thought everything he said was lies."

"We have to look out for each other. I couldn't just stand by while people were using you for what you are."

I remembered the PDA that Koyou had given me and took it out of my pocket. "Koyou gave me this, said it was the truth about Divine."

"Are you going to look at it?"

"Yes," I promised Koyou I would, I looked Yusei in the eye, "Would you look at it with me? I need to get my mind off of Koyou and Mei being in danger, but I don't want to face this alone."

Yusei smiled very slightly, "Sure. I'll be there for you."

We excused ourselves and went off to a private area of the waiting room, where I learned the turth of Divine's experiments of psychics, of his motivations, and what he truly thought of me. I was nothing but a tool to him. A tool for his own gain and amusement. I cried and Yusei comforted me. He was there for me like he promised.

"He said he loved me! He made me believe I could trust him!"

Yusei didn't say anything, he was just there for me.

"How could he... how could he do that to me?"

"Aki, I know it hurts, but you don't have to bear your pain alone anymore. Let it out. I'm here. There's a lot of people there for you."

I found myself more disgusted with myself than with Divine, "Why is it that I still can't hate him? Why can't I hate him?"

A few days earlier, Mei's Perspective

"Oi! Oi! Are you alright? Say something!"

I opened my eyes to the sound of a thick slums accent, but it was filled with concern, so it was fine. I forced myself to get up and faced the man. … He was cute. Despite the plethora of criminal marks on his face and his wild orange hair he was cute. A bit short, but good looking... and built strong. I shook those unimportant thoughts out of m head and tried to clear it. My head was throbbing like mad and I felt weak as a kitten.

"Where am I?"
The man spoke, "I just fished you out of the Satellite harbor, from the look of you, you must have fallen into the bay and washed over here with the current."

That's right, I was dueling a Dark Signer, "You mean that bastard had the nerve to throw me in the bay?" Come to think of it... how was I even alive?

I tried to stand, but I didn't have the strength, plus I seemed to be pretty badly wounded, the man grabbed me as I fell, "Oi! Don't try and move around too much, you're pretty badly hurt. What happened to you?"

"Never mind that. I need to get back to the city."
He laughed, "That's not going to happen, especially not in your condition."

"Then be a gentlemen and nurse me back to health, dammit!"

"He, don't snap at me. I'm the one that saved you remember?"

I'm slumped a bit and he supported, "Sorry. I just... really need to get back. I'm Mei, what's your name?"

"Crow Hogan."

Fate slapped me in the face, "Do you know Koyou?"
"Yeah, he and I hung out a bit before he cleared the cup. He helped me fix my runner. Who is he to you."

"My brother, he's in danger." I leaned on the shorter man a bit more, "I need to get patched up so I can warn him."

Crow nodded, "I don't know what's up, but that's all the more reason to help you. You can explain once we get your wounds tended to. The orphanage isn't far from here. If I help you, can you walk?"
"No." I admitted. Actually, thanks to the hypothermia I could barely feel my legs.

Crow sighed, but didn't hesitate to pick me up and carry me 'princess-style'. Even though I'm a girl and thus lighter for my size, I was astonished he could pick up someone a foot taller than him, "I'll just carry you."

I blushed a little despite myself. Come to think of it, this Crow fellow has a really nice ass.

Next Chapter: Mark of the Monkey Part 1: Pain and Consequence.

Set in stone events: Koyou vs Dark Signer Koyou, the previous mentioned rifts between people.

Possible events: A meeting with Goodwin, a lemon (sex scene).