Me: *Holds up Everything Shield* I'm just going to be prepared for the angst this chapter causes.
Sky: Great. Just great. Ugh.
Me: Meh… At least it wasn't three months between updates this time.
Sky: So? Akiza dies in this chapter. I don't care about the fact that you didn't take eternity to update. I would've preferred that, actually.
Me: Hm. Well, I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds, but I do own my OCs. Yeah, I'd say enjoy, but…
***This chapter is brought to you by Reminiscence ~ The Fire Carves Scars, from Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Justice For All. It actually has a lot of different names because no one can agree on the correct translation, so just look for something that involves scars and fire in the title, and you've got the right song (just make sure it's a Reminiscence or Recollection theme…)***
Chapter 9
"Ah, your choice on who to keep alive makes sense… After all, you did promise to keep her safe, didn't you?"
The first thing that comes to mind after I register that statement is: I've heard Zekrom say those exact words before. The question is, when? I wish I knew, but I just can't think of it. Must still be stuck in the pieces of my memory that haven't come back yet.
The second is: what does that mean? This is the, what, fifth time I've heard them talk about me making a choice? I still don't know what that choice was, or even when I made it. I… wonder if it's connected to me knowing what Zekrom said… Not only that, but who did I promise to keep safe…? Wait, they couldn't mean—
A laugh jerks me out of my thoughts. It was the black dragon, who comments, "Oh, but this will be so much fun!"
I don't like the sound of that at all. The glint in his eyes seems too gleeful for it to mean anything good.
All of the answers come crashing down a second later, with Yveltal's next action. She walks over to Akiza and stares at her, contemplating something. My friend doesn't even respond; she just keeps staring at the ground in front of her. Suddenly, Yveltal snaps her fingers, like she just had a revelation or something. "Ooh, Zekrom, I just had an idea! This one," she gestures to Akiza, "was known as the Black Rose Witch, wasn't she? Perhaps we should give her a fitting death?"
Time seems to stop. I can't breath, and black spots are already dancing around the edges of my vision. They're going to kill her. They're going to kill Akiza and there's nothing I can do about it. No… they can't…
"Hmm… Yes, that is a good idea," Zekrom agrees. "How did humans put the suspected witches to death, again?"
"By drowning, or by being burnt at the stake."
'RESHIRAM! There has to be something we can do!' I put so much more effort into that thought than I have in most of my other ones. 'I don't care what! Just… something… anything!'
"…I am so sorry, little one, but there is no way for me to intervene," she replies.
'Please Reshiram! I-I can't watch them slaughter her!' I would never forgive myself… I don't think anyone else would, either, since this is my problem…
"…I am sorry."
Ngh… this can't…
"Drowning, or being burnt at the stake… hmm… Struggle but not a lot of screaming, or struggle and a lot of screaming…" He pauses for a moment. "I like the second option better."
I put a hand over my mouth, gagging at the thought. They're going to… set her on fire…
Why can't this just be a bad dream? Another nightmare those two are using to torture me?
"No, please, don't…" It's the only thing I can do at this point. Beg them to stop. I… I can't accept that it's my only choice. Can't I do something…? Can't the Crimson Dragon intervene, if Reshiram won't…?
They've got her tied to a post now, with a stack of wood beneath her. For some reason, she doesn't struggle. Why isn't she…? Isn't it human nature to struggle in the face of death?
"Any last words, human?" Zekrom asks.
No… No… No… NO! I… she… she can't die now!
"…I'm sorry." The words are only a whimper, and a single tear slides down her cheek.
"Then… die!"
I want to take my eyes off the screen. I want to cover my ears and block out the noise. But I can't. I'm frozen in horror… watching… listening.
The sight of the flames, and the sound of Akiza's screams will be burned into my memory for the rest of my life.
XXX
Several days after that, I find myself holed up in my old room, hiding under the covers, unwilling to get out of bed. Akiza's dying screams haunt me too much… and… I failed her. I couldn't stop Zekrom and Yveltal from killing her. It's all I can think about—that it's my fault…
Luna doesn't fare much better. Sure, they returned her physically unharmed—along with the charred corpse that used to be Akiza—but she is in a coma… and can't wake up.
And I know exactly why.
I remember everything now. About why the names Akiza, Leo, and Jack popped into my head in the hospital. About why Zekrom and Yveltal's actions seemed so familiar. About why they kept talking about my "choice".
I chose their fate.
I chose Yusei over Akiza.
I chose Luna over Leo.
I chose Crow over Jack.
…And that scares me. If I couldn't do anything to save Akiza, then how can I save Leo or Jack?
I… I just…
"Sky," a muffled voice says.
"Go away." I can tell that it's Shoshan, and I chuck a pillow at him. "I… I don't want to be bothered right now."
"Well, tough luck." He tears the blanket from my grasp, and looks me right in the eye. "This isn't like you, Sky. You need to quit moping around, and think of something! Or are you going to let Akiza's death be in vain?"
"You don't understand," I reply. "I… it… it's my fault Akiz—"
"Seriously, Sky? That's why you're upset?" The blonde runs a hand through his hair, then crosses his arms and look back at me. His emerald eyes look like they're a little annoyed. "Are you the one who set her on fire?"
"No."
"Then it's not your fault," Shoshan says adamantly.
He doesn't know… but how would he believe me…? How would he believe that it really is my fault? I sit up and close my eyes, pressing my thumb, index, and middle finger against the bridge of my nose. Maybe… I could… I reach out and grab my Duel Disk off of my desk, and power it on. Then I reach into the drawer, where the cards I don't usually use are. I find the one I need, slide it onto the Duel Disk, and say, "Let me show you what I mean, Shoshan. Swing of Memories."
"You've seen all of them. Now, make your choice, Sky Fudo," the voice says. "Which path do you choose?"
"I can't! I can't condemn three of my friends to death!" I shout.
"Choose, or they all die."
I close my eyes, sobbing. Jack, Leo, and Akiza, or Crow, Luna, and Yusei? I can't… I can't…
"Choose."
"I-I choose the path where Jack, Leo, and Akiza die!"
When the memory stops, he stumbles back with a look of horror on his face, hand over his mouth. "Wait… you… that…"
"It was the dream I had right before I lost my memory," I explain, narrowing my eyes. "I… I still don't know why I made that choice, but… I just… I can't help but feel like it's my fault because of that…"
His mouth hangs open slightly and he tries to voice a response, but he can't. Instead, he opts to sit on my bed, and put his face into his hands. I'm about to ask why when the answer hits me.
The first path… Crow's death…
"Shoshan, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to show you the whole thing," I say. "But… you… it won't happen, alright? No one… no one else is going to die!"
…Huh. What started as Shoshan trying to give me a pep talk turned into me trying to reassure him.
"…You're right," Shoshan finally responds, looking up. "Which means we have work to do, don't we?"
"Definitely!"
He grins, and I can see happiness flood his aura. "Well, first thing's first! In Leo's… uh… scene, he said that Luna's spirit was trapped in the Spirit World, right? We should try to rescue her before Leo tries… something!"
I nod my agreement, but I can't help but note that Shoshan's refusing to straight-up say death… And his aura is still betraying the uneasiness inside of him…
XXX
Of course, things could never be quite so simple. The two of us return to the Spirit World—and at least in the section of the eastern forest we show up in… it's just empty. The only sign of life are the trees and other such plant life. It feels… oddly empty.
The spirits are probably all trying to recover from the attack a few days ago… Yeah, that's probably why this area's so empty.
"Ah! Sky! Shoshan!"
I spin around, a smile already on my face from relief. "Luna! You're alright!"
…Except, she looks weird. The green-haired young woman is… almost transparent. Like a ghost… or a Duel Spirit in our world. She's also glowing; her aura is a lot stronger than normal. But, there's no reason for her to appear like this…
"Her spirit is trapped in the Spirit World!"
Oh. What Leo said… in that one part of my nightmarish vision… I guess that explains Luna's appearance. And that's exactly what we need to fix.
"How'd you end up here?" I ask.
The glee upon seeing us instantly vanishes from Luna's face. Her shoulders sag, and she looks down. "After… After they finished with… Akiza," she has to choke out the name, "they debated about what to do with me… They… They wanted to absorb my spirit. I was able to escape, but…"
"Your body is in our world, while your spirit is here," I finish.
She nods. "I've tried returning, but I can't." She rubs at her eyes—I think she started crying—and adds, "I wish I could go back… Leo must be so worried about me…"
I know that he is… I've seen him next to your hospital bed, begging you to wake up.
"I… I can hear his voice calling to me, but I just can't…" Luna sobs, collapsing on the ground.
I want to comfort her, but I can't because my hand goes right through her. All I can do is watch… and think…
'Reshiram, isn't there something we can do?'
"I… do not believe so," she replies. "Something seems to be blocking my way of returning her to your world. And before you ask, the Crimson Dragon is currently using her powers elsewhere—she cannot help either."
'Is it… possible to force the use of the Crimson Dragon's power?' I have to know… if what Leo did in that nightmare… is really possible.
"I… suppose it would be possible, but it would have drastic consequences. …Are you planning to do something such as that?!"
'No, no… I was just…' I pause for a moment. Something doesn't add up. Reshiram should know exactly what I was referring to, because she can hear all of my thoughts, not just the ones I direct at her. She should know all about why I wanted to know about that. 'Who are you, and what have you done with Reshiram?!'
"…Aw… YoU'Re nO fuN!" the voice replies, now distorted between still trying to mimic Reshiram and whatever her own voice is… which sounds oddly childlike. "GuEsS I'Ll haVe tO sHOw mYselF TheN!"
"AGH!" I grip my head tightly; it feels like someone is trying to split it open from the inside. Strangely enough, the pain vanishes almost instantly…
…But when I look back up, I honestly think it should still hurt.
A young girl with long, violet hair, wearing a black-and white maid's outfit fitted with purple roses on the front stands in front of us, her pale green eyes laced with… something. A Y glows on her forehead in a menacing purple, which is the only thing different between this girl and the normal Duel Monster.
Witch of the Black Rose… one of Akiza's cards…
And she's done something to Reshiram while under Yveltal's control…
To be continued…
Sky: …Why do you continue to put me through so much psychological torture?
Me: *Sigh* But it's not me, it's my muses.
Sky: Same difference.
Me: Uh, no, they're definitely different.
Joseph: Besides, if you think this chapter was bad, you clearly haven't read Crimson Games!
Sky: *Looks at Joseph* Is that some sort of spin-off of Crimson Feathers?
Joseph: Nope! It's our 5Ds/Hunger Games crossover! I'm particularly looking forward to when we kill off—
Me: *Snaps fingers; one-way soundproof bubble appears around Joseph* That's enough. No spoiling anymore than we already have in the past.
Joseph: *Pouts*
Me: Eh. Well… yeah. This chapter was a bit of a doozy, I guess. Um… let's see if I forgot to make something clear… Oh! Oh, right. When Sky showed Shoshan the memory of chapter 5, she showed him the whole thing, not just the short part depicted in this chapter. I thought it would be boring if I copied the entire thing (not to mention a waste of space), but too empty if I didn't use anything at all. So you got the end of it, in case you needed a little refresher.
Rudolph: Arf! Arf!
Me: *Nods* Yep. Please, can you guys leave a review? (That's what Rudolph said, by the way.)
