A/N: Hello my fine readers, here's the next chapter to Her Key, Her Destiny. Unfortunately this chappie is in fact a filler, I initially wanted to write Yusei and Shuira's duel in here but when I realised how much I'd written when I had the thought, it wasn't the case. Very well, expect two in the next chapter as another gift :3.

Besides that, I'm having an issue with my writers block. I don't I've fully recovered and I feel that everything I seem to write nowadays isn't sufficient enough to my liking, or to put bluntly, rubbish. I now have to force myself to write because I simply don't want to let you guys down. Again despite all the problem, I'm gonna keep writing. I like this story too much and I've planned ahead and well I'm not giving up.

On another note, I'd like to thank those that'd favourited, followed and reviewed this fiction; 10 reviews, 5 faves and 6 follows! Woo slow but I got the ball rolling; and it's all thanks to you readers out there *mega thumbs up*

For the three guest reviewers, thanks a lot for considering my story! Q and A tiiime:
Guest 1: I originally
wasn't intent of pairing up anyone in the story, although there were going to be subtle hints.
Guest 2: Good thing I know another reader likes my story! On terms of your request with a YuseixKorinah pairing... I've thought/ fantasied about it thoroughly, and well... You'll see.
And Nancy, thanks for the words haha, just like make another review once you've read it so far ahaha

Oops, this is my longest authors note, sooo...

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, in any possible way, and all belong to their respective owners.

Read safely~


Chapter 7

'Huh? What are you talking about?' His eyes were still fixed on my limb, so I followed his stern gaze. 'Oh... That.'

'Care to explain?'

'No, it isn't important.' It should've been obvious I was trying to avoid this, but seeing as Elliot's unyielding will has no effect on my reassurance that I'm perfectly fine... Well let's say for once it isn't going my way. Besides, I still can't shake the feeling of his demeanour...
Wonder what happened when I left.

'Korinah...' I shot Elliot a look of irritation to establish how I felt of this whole interrogation. The last thing I want is no peace of mind.

Funny thing is I never do.

'Trouble in paradise, Zuki-Chan?' Jaï's voice was loud enough to cut short our stare off and gain our attention. He poised lightly against the wall to my right, a smug look directed at me.

'Huh?'

'What?' I felt my face blow up with embarrassment, with three- no, four people in the room (I'd only just noticed that Brooke girl here)...

'I told you not to call me that!' I bowed my head, my hand trying to obscure the blemish that'd decided to stay on my face and the sudden outburst. Please... I think I've suffered enough humiliation in the past three days, don't you think?

'Ahahaha! Just kidding, Korinah.' That cursed nickname (sorry Wyatt) caught on Elliot's lips, his voice sounding more confused each time.

'Zuki-Chan,' He clicked his fingers, 'hey, strangely I guess that works... in a way.'

'... Elliot...' This... isn't happening. While Jaï enjoyed this teasing to my suspense, and the other duellists didn't even bother to think of stopping this, my ears picked up on the rhythm of heavy footsteps. I followed my gaze from their feet to meet with Greiger's dense eyes. I didn't know until now but he is indeed very tall.

He smirked at me whilst leaving, 'What a weakness.' Weakness?!

'Oh, apologies for disturbing you, Mister Greiger.' That was Brooke, bowing to him before he acknowledged and left us. Putting it bluntly she had an annoying voice – and how I'd describe them? Those moaning, nagging teenager types. Something tells me I won't get on with her.

I'll leave it there.

'How entertaining, Hiroki...'

'Hey, don't blame me, Korinah – the ice needed to be broken. You were just the unfortunate one to be picked on. Besides... it's kawaii.' I simply gaped at Jaï. Whatever words I'd put together in my mind to share had disappeared – nothing at all.

'Kawaii...'

'... Ugh, who do you think you are? You stage yourself in front of the whole of Japan sticking up for that satellite, you dawdle around like you're some "alpha male" and you can't even take a joke. What a sourpuss. I can't stand people like you.' The two boys exhanged the ginger with harsh looks as I stood there even more bewildered than before. But what just happend... Exactly?
... One thing's clear – Brooke just proved to me I needn't waste anymore time on her. Where the heck did that come from? How dare she say such things when she doesn't know one thing about me?

It wasn't my fault I witnessed a murder.
It wasn't my fault it changed me for the worst.
And it definitely isn't my fault I can't handle a joke.

'You are so lucky...' I muttered hostilely, locking , 'I'm not duelling you. Otherwise I'd show you how much a waste of flesh you really are. Hah, no- actually... why should I? Why should I waste my own time on the likes of you?' My feet stopped just before the door, right where she stood. 'Look. I don't like you, nor you know me, so I'd rather we keep it as that. So stay out of my way.' I slammed the door behind me and drew in a deep breath. Tears trickled the edges of my eyes as I tried to fight them back.

Why did she say such things...? What was her problem?

'What the hell?! How can she-'

'Just drop it Brooke.'
...

'I'm gonna' go after her, see if she's okay.'

'No don't. Times like these Korinah's better off left alone.'

'Why are you defending her, Jaï? You heard what she said to me!'

'And what you said wasn't bad enough? Please, get your head straight. You can't insult someone right-off-the-bat just because they irritate you – especially when you don't know them. How did it feel when Korinah retaliated? Oh, of course it hurt... Well that's what you did first. I'm glad you had it coming, and honestly, I didn't realise how selfish you really were. So just leave it Brooke. Elliot... don't worry about Korinah, she'll need time to calm down, be patient. What a way to kill the mood.'

Leaving the lobby door onto the corridors yet again, my feet carried me around to a destination absent from my mind. The grip on my hands pressed against something hard and I realised I had my duel disk was with me the whole time. Hm. I didn't realise I picked it up.

Oh. And Jaï. Thanks... For sticking up for me, even if we're not exactly on good terms at the moment... I owe you. As much as I'd like to disagree with her, I know my own judgement better than anyone else, and I do have to take more notice to my own actions.

'Ladies and gentlemen, I know we're all still reeling from that incredible second match, but it's almost time for our third – it's Yusei versus Shira.'

Of course, the third duel – like heck I'd want to miss that... Now I know where to go.

...

The crowd up here seemed restless, still hyped up from today's two duels and clearly – they couldn't wait for the third. The kids I presume no older than fourteen were the restless ones. They fidgeted around, trying to hold their oversized banners airborne and cheering for their favourite duellist as I descended the stairs. It was quite distinct these youngsters wanted to be world class duellists as soon as they hit my age at least, from what they've seen so far today – despite Akiza's crazy duel. Honestly, the Fortune Cup did start off tough and the competition has been tight with their level of skill. I wonder if I'm on par with the other competitors. How would my expertise take me? How high or low is my limit?

I dismissed the thought when I caught the attention of a female infant; she mentioned something, reaching back to steal her mother's attention onto me. Once I paused, the kid's face lit up and waved, her other hand cupped around her mouth.

'Big sister, good luck! You're my favourite!' the girl shouted, causing a few more heads to turn in our direction. I felt my face flush immediately – she called me big sister… and I'm her favourite? It'd caught me off guard. I returned her smile – like a thank you gesture and resumed my small journey down the steps. The memory of Greiger and I standing up for Yusei triggered in my mind, and by then more stares had caught my attention. I don't see why I'm getting this amount of recognition – I didn't say much at all compared to him during the opening.

Just one more row left... and here we are.
I happened to find the Kazumi twins perched sluggishly in their seats. The male absent-mindedly threw small handfuls of popcorn at his mouth – regardless of the unlucky few that missed, bounced onto his lap and the empty seat beside him. His sister wasn't all too different: displaying her apathetic demeanour whilst tapping away at her cellular device, thinking it was the only way to past time.

Coincidently, my own phone buzzed in my pocket and I whipped it out to check it – a text from Renée:
"A little boring up here, not missing out. Wanna fill me in w/ anything?"

'No kidding, you two do look like zombies.'

'Korinah! What are you- huuuh?' Out of the two twins, Wyatt was more surprised to see me standing above them here and it was quite obvious – the next handful of popcorn he grasped literally fell all over him once we exchanged looks.

'Oh! Now that's what I call a quick reply. What brings you up here?' Renée asked, putting away her phone.

Her indigo hair without a doubt looked exactly like Wyatt's: soft and short – it's length ceasing at the base of her head with a longer side fringe. Her eyes were more silver than grey, as her long black eyelashes simply tells them both of them apart.
... Not that they don't look alike. She wore a mid-sleeved, petite pleated dress with a shade of dark magenta, as the sleeves were light grey. White ankle boots were on Renée's feet accompanied with black stockings that stopped over her knees. A nice feminine touch.

Since Wyatt, like Renée are in a band together, he prefers a certain look. He simply wore a black rolled up shirt tucked into his denim trousers, held up by a chequered belt – both slim fit. Oh, don't forget the shoes; they've got the black and white squares on them too. The only difference was the new addition; the black slouch hat, with always his fringe sticking out the front. Don't get me wrong, I really like their styles – gotta' learn a thing or two from them.

'If this should be a turbo duel, who'd wanna' sit in a room with a TV when you've got a view like this?' It's true, we got pretty good seats with the tickets we bought early on. Close enough to the front but not too far back. Five seats for the five of us, though who knew two of us would be competing? They were non-refundable so...

'Well said Korinah,' Wyatt said, brushing off the remaining food off his lap. 'So you've seen Jen?' I just realised there was another empty seat as I took one beside Renée.

'No not yet, what was up?'

'She just wanted to see you before she had to get down with work in a bit; since you didn't reply to her text earlier.' Renée voice muffled, her mouth half full of the white snack.

'Oh right. Well, about that...' I explained the whole drama from when I met Elliot in the corridor right up to the conflict between Brooke and I. They listened intently, especially those bits when I mentioned Yusei as the twins would exchange looks between each other. I'm got going to dwell that.

'Sooo… you two spoke when you were fixing your duel disk?' Wyatt mentioned quietly as he leaned in, bouncing his eyebrows at me.

'It was only small talk. What were you expecting? Full banter and flirting? That's all in your head, dude,' His smug expression remained the same, expecting there was something else – like vital information I deliberately left out. Renée just sat there with nearly the same appearance and I stared back blankly… only to let out a sigh in the end. I never win with those two.

'Okay-okay, he thanked me for sticking up for him earlier but that was it – nothing else.'

'Oh yeah... Everyone was being so uncivil...'

'Sure we find out he's from the Satellite, but it doesn't give us the right to mock him. You did right by taking his side.' They both responded. Of course... It doesn't give us the right – especially someone we don't know. It's ridiculous.

'Thanks. Can we put Yusei on hold for now? I mean, there's also that leader of that Arcadia Movement – Sayer too.' I didn't add in the harassment and then proposal he made, simply because it wasn't the time or the place. Besides, how could I explain th 5000-year legend? It currently seemed impossible to mention it.

'Mmm-hmm, from what you said, he looks just like Jen – the red hair and the green eyes. I gotta' take a look for myself.' Renée responded, the twins seemed to have dropped our last topic as if we'd never spoken of it. I'm glad actually; I had enough of their interrogation.

'Mmm, me too, could you maybe um, snap a shot for us on your phone so we can see?'

'Uh, no Wyatt,' dismissing the idea and shoving the device back into my pocket, 'I'm a duellist, not paparazzi. Apart from that, I have the strangest feeling you will see him… soon enough. So keep your eyes peeled.'

'Roger that captain.' He did one of his iconic salutes and smiled before we all sat back waiting for the duel to start. My hand trailed to my bruised wrist, then toward my arm – where that mark showed up. He said he'd keep a close eye on me but how can I be sure I could prevent that, when I couldn't even protect myself on Sunday? And painful of all... it brings back memories of father.

I don't remember fully what his red mark looked like but I'll be sure to know once I see it. That discussion the night before Goodwin shot killed him – my birthday, he and grandmother told me about the Dragon Star and the five Signers. Each mark represented a part of the Crimson Dragon: the tail, wings, hand, foot and the head – that's the one Father bore. Then the battle between the Crimson Dragon aided with five others against the army of evil. I thought it was quite cool, though I didn't know I would be involved too... with this mark on my arm and a number of dragon cards in my deck... it could be I'm a signer too. Though grandmother's proposal about the Guardian of the Star... it's too much to handle in such a short time! What... will happen to me... and all those involved?
Not knowing at all sends chills down my back.

'I wonder what's taking so long… Korinah have you got any clue?'

'Hmm?' Renée's voice fetched me from the lost world I called my mind, thankfully. The less I thought about it, the better. 'Not really, Ren… I mean as soon as the last duel ended, Yusei left the lobby immediately. Maybe because it is a turbo duel, but who could be sure?' It was pretty strange. Just like Elliot said earlier there's approximately a ten minute break between each duel but it felt like it's going past fifteen. 'There's either a minor problem, or some scandal's gone down in the garage. I hope the latter,' I suggested, stretching in my seat, 'this tournament could do with spicing up.'

'Alright everybody, are you ready? It's time for the first Fortune Cup's turbo duel!' The crowd erupted like a barbaric volcano, responding to the MC's announcement. Whilst others were running back to their seats from buying confectionery, Wyatt, Renée and I sat forward in anticipation. Cheerleaders dressed in blue and white entered the duel arenas and began their routine, chanting "turbo duel" countless times. I spotted a red head leading the performance and without a doubt it was Jen; go for it!

'About time!' the male twin beamed, rubbing his hands together. 'I'm expecting a good duel for consolation of our time!' Renée, typically amongst other males were cheering on the girls at the centre of the stadium, building up the crowd's excitement. A smile on my part.

'I think we could all agree on that one, Wyatt.'

'He's the spunky funk trying to get from third to first class, he's the little satellite who could, duelling fans I give you...' I heard a simultaneous chuckle from the twins, 'Yuuseiii!' Smoke burst from an opening by the corner of the track, and what emerged was a red and white-coloured duel runner onto the circuit behind his grid marker.

'That MC never fails to make me laugh.'

'Check out that runner.'

'Sssh you two it's started.' I waved them off, resting my head onto my hand as Yusei grinded to a halt.
Suspense. He finally looked up.
Yet more jeering and mockery were sent his way.

'Go back to the Satellite loser!'

'Yeah you're out of your league, slacker!' The three of us sat back – quiet and extremely uncomfortable with the sudden mood-changer. My eyes noticed several deadly looks that targeted me – looks that meant "how you gonna' help your little friend now?" it was worse than it seemed. Their problem – a Topside girl defending a Satellite boy. The more I thought about it, the more I realised how much of an issue it would bring. Ha, "damaged goods", they could describe me. Stare all they want, I'm only doing the right thing. My gaze turned back from the crowd onto the red duel runner – only to find the helmet was returning my glance...
Or was it too coincidental we just happened to buy tickets in front of the starting line?
Hmm. I wonder what was going through his mind – how Yusei was dealing with this verbal torment. However the method, he seemed to be tolerating it pretty well. I really hope he's able to cope with it – for someone that's survived the Facility, he may seem... somewhat reserved, though I'm sure Yusei isn't the criminal type. I just know it.

I returned a look of seriousness back at his visor which was now reflecting the sun into my eyes.

'Duelling him is the always mysterious, shadow creeper himself, Shiiiraaaa!' Yusei re-focused his attention onto the track as the MC announced his shady opponent's arrival by his grid marker.

'With both duellists at the startling line, there's just one thing left to do – kids, start your runners!' Activating Speed World transformed the whole atmosphere a shade of pink.

'This is the point of no return; both duellists have activated their speed world field spell! Now the only spells they can use are speed spells.'

'Turbo duellists; countdown initiated. Ready... set... duel.' Both duellists burst from their start points with incredible speed, and then a mass of black fabric liberated itself from Shira. The crowd including us literally gaped, and the gasps weren't unusual at what'd just happened.

'Hahahaha! Surprise- surprise! Didn't expect to see me out here did you?'

You've got to be kidding me.


A/N: Yeah so that's it really. Personally, I dislike this. So I'm gonna quickly type up the next one – besides, summer break! I'll have time to re watch the episodes and stuffs hehee.

Next Time: Opposing sides have already been established between Brooke and Korinah, but will therme be more conflict between them in time? Will she be able to find out what's wrong with Elliot? And how will she solve this puzzle of her's?
Next Chapter: Unwilling Clashes Pt. 2

Well until then,

M1Ainfinite~