Akiza couldn't believe it. He knew what could happen but was ignoring the risks, putting millions of lives in danger, and ignoring his friends. She slid to the floor and curled up in a ball, letting the tears stream down her face yet again. She simply didn't see the point anymore.

"GOT IT!" Crow yelled, "DO IT JACK!" Jack immediately re-input the code and far away, across the city, Yusei felt his engine die.

"NO!" He screamed pushing the controls, trying vainly to overwrite whatever his friends had done. He fell forward onto the console, tears falling down his face. He slowly ground to a halt and remained motionless. He simply couldn't grasp it. He had come so close!

As soon as Akiza heard Yuesi's anguished cry she had looked up to see the readout showing no movement. Dragging her arm over her eyes she reached over and, much like he had earlier, stole Jack's keys. By the time he had turned around and started yelling she had already reached the door and was running for his Runner. She had stolen his Runner for as good as hers was, his was faster. What she needed just then was speed. And with it she tore across the distance separating her and Yusei, racing towards his immobile Duel Runner.

Yes I know it's crummy, but bear with me, it does get better. In a chapter or two. But certainly after this pagebreak.

"Why is it that every time some else has a problem they feel the need to take MY Duel Runner?! I mean, it's not a toy!" Jack was still livid at Akiza for taking off on his machine. It didn't help that Crow's wasn't designed for a single person and what really didn't help was that if he wanted to come he had to take Akiza's bright red one. It was taking far too long for them to make any distance. On the positive side, he and Crow were back to their old selves again. So they were, of course, bickering.

"Look at it this way Jack," his orange haired companion called across, "At least it matches your complexion." With this Crow let off a long and loud laugh. And it was true. Jack's face was bright pink from the shame at getting caught on such a dreadful machine.

By this time Yusei had at least mustered the strength to collapse onto the floor next to his runner. He had come to a stop on the very edge of the city, next to a forest. He heard an approaching engine and knew from the pitch that it was the Phoenixian Whirlwind. He only bothered to look up when he heard the distinctive click of Akiza's shoes. She had left her helmet back at the garage so her hair was pointed backwards ever so slightly. Her eyes were also streaming, although he doubted it was because of the wind because she had red rings around her eyes. He looked back down at the floor beneath his feet as he felt overwhelmed with guilt. He had failed his friends. He had failed Bruno by not managing to save him from the past, he had failed Jack and Crow by refusing their advice, but most of all he had failed Akiza. She had begged, begged, him not to try it but he had ignored her and tried to anyway. He felt the surface behind him shift as she sat down next to him.

"Hey." She said, her voice slightly hoarse from crying.

"Hey." he replied. He felt her slip one arm over and across his shoulders and then pulled them closer together. "Why did you stop me? It would have worked. I could have done it." Akiza pulled back slightly and looked in his eyes.

"Really? You know for sure? Have you done it before? You've gone to the past and brought someone back?" A note of scorn entered her voice, "I thought that you cared about this city, but you didn't think about how much you could hurt it earlier, did you?" She leaned back again and stared at the blue expanse overhead. "Remember how I used to be? I didn't care who or what I hurt. You were the one who taught me to start caring about people other than me. Now it looks like you've forgotten who you used to be." Yusei stared at her in shock.

"I..." She was right. He had changed. And with that realisation he finally realised what he had been doing the past few. To himself. To his friends. And to Akiza. "I'm sorry." He muttered. Akiza lent forwards again to see his face.

"I beg your pardon." Yusei looked away. Akiza reached over and gently pulled his face back around.

"It doesn't count if you're looking the other way. And besides I didn't really hear you." Yusei blushed slightly and pulled her hand down.

"I said, I'm sorry." Akiza smiled gently at him, realising that he still held her hand.

"Was that so hard?" Yusei was silent for a minute.

"It's just that I could have done it." Akiza frowned again.

"Yusei, if I was in your place I know that you wouldn't let me risk myself or anyone else. Why do you think it's different for you?" Yusei pondered that for a moment before he sighed.

"I know. It's just difficult, you know? He was my friend and now he's trapped at best." He sighed again and looked at the sky. A smile tugged at his face. "It's been a while since I just stopped and looked at the sky. It's a beautiful day." Akiza smiled again, glad that Yusei was feeling a little better. She leant over and gave him a slight peck on the cheek. Yusei blushed and she leant into his shoulder. They sat for a few seconds in companionable silence. It would of course be at that minute that the laughing hyena's arrived.

Pagebreak, paaage break, pa-a-ge brea-a-a-k!

"Hey Yusei, looks like you're feeling better! Good enough to snuggle up to Akiza anyway's!" The two flushed and pulled away. Akiza was slightly saddened to for her hand to leave his. Jack noticed her change in expression but chose not to say anything. Instead he reached over and hit Yusei on the head.

"That's for being an idiot and trying to do stupid stuff again." Yusei smiled slightly. Then Jack hit Yusei again. "And that's for your girlfriends little stunt with my Runner!" Yusei rubbed his head ruefully.

"First off Jack, she's not my girlfriend. And second, why did you hit me?" Crow chose this moment to pipe up.

"It's because he's worried about what Akiza could do if he got her angry." At this Jack leapt at Crow.

"YOU INSOLENT DOLT! I JUST HAPPEN TO HAVE MANNERS!" A vein was throbbing angrily in his forehead.

"Race you back." Akiza whispered to Yusei. He nodded.

"You're on." Akiza walked back to her Runner and sat back in it's familiar seat. She glanced over at the two arguing friends and then looked back towards Yusei. He was rummaging around in the compartment under his seat. Akiza frowned, ready for the off. When he turned around he was holding his spare helmet which he proceeded to toss over to her. She smiled her thanks.

"Dinner says you come second, and no Accel." Yusei grimaced, remembering what he had almost done.

"Akiza, on the subject of Accel, you wouldn't happen to know how to get my Runner started again would you?" He gestured towards his vehicle.

"Have you tried turning the keys?" Yusei groaned at not trying to do so already, thinking that it would have been stopped somehow. He sat astride his Runner and powered it up. Jack and Crow stopped fighting long enough for the to see Yusei and Akiza speeding off with yells of excitement.

"HEY, WAIT FOR ME!" Crow shouted,powering after them. "C'MON YUSEI! YOU TWO ARE CHEATING!" Jack sprinted over to his Duel Runner and climbed in. He started yelling almost immediately.

"SOMEONE'S GOING TO PAY FOR THIS!".

Sorry for not revealing what happened to Jack's Runner this chapter, I promise you'll find out in the next one. And trust me, it's good. And I'm waiting for my million pounds. Cough up or review.