A/N: I OWN NOTHING! EVERY BIT OF YU GI OH 5DS GO TO THEIR CREATORS! THE ONLY THING I OWN IS MY OCS!

Chapter 9

Threats

Third Person POV

They walked outside and Yusei checked around to make sure they were the only ones out there.

"Don't worry, we're on the top floor and it's only ever been me and Leo alone together since our parents are almost always at work," Luna explained.

"Is that true?" Jayla asked Ancient.

"Yeah, but they have each other to keep themselves busy," Ancient explained.

"I see," Jayla agreed. "By the way, why did you call me Star?"

"Dragon Protectors call each other by part of their dragon name. Like I'm Ancient Fairy Dragon and I am named Ancient. Since you are Stardust Dragon, then it only makes since to call you Star," Ancient explained. "It's the same with Arch as Red Dragon Archfiend and Rose as Black Rose Dragon."

"Makes sense," Jayla agreed. "I'll stick with that." Ancient smiled at her and they returned back to where the duel had started.

As the duel progressed, Jayla found it quite amusing as Leo began to be the announcer promoting himself.

"Quick question, how much does Leo get overly excited and narrates his own duels?" Jayla asked with a slightly joking voice.

Ancient gave a quiet laugh before mentally saying, "A lot. But there are the times when he is actually normal."

"I'll wait to see that day," Jayla said resulting in them quietly laughing a bit.

The duel was reaching its conclusion and Jayla could already see who was going to win.

"The amazing Leo's in trouble everyone," Leo exclaimed.

"Well, the amazing Leo isn't going to like this either. You see, whenever my Nitro Warrior destroys my opponent's monster, it can switch another monster to attack mode and attack again," Yusei declared.

Leo slightly backed up as the attack hit his Morphtronic Celfon and dropped his life points to zero. Leo began sniffing in saddened defeat.

Luna walked over to him. "You sure do cry easily," she said.

"You shouldn't cry," Yusei said walking over. "I could tell you enjoy dueling from the bottom of your heart. But your dueling was self-centered. You were satisfied with just getting your four Morphtronics together, but you didn't plan on how to counter if their effects were to be reversed. If I were to duel all smug, then I'd be on a long path to becoming king."

"Yusei's pretty smart," Ancient commented. "Don't you think, Star?"

"Yeah, he's actually not as bad as some would see him to be," Jayla replied. Ancient giggled softly resulting in Jayla looking at her. "What?"

"Nothing," Ancient replied. Though Jayla wanted to ask for more information, she let it go. It wasn't the time.

Leo had lowered his head and Luna placed a hand on his shoulder and told him, "Hey, cheer up. I think you did really good."

"Yusei, can we have another duel?" Leo asked making Jayla and Ancient smirk.

Yusei pointed to his mark saying, "Look at this mark. If I stayed here, I'd only cause you trouble. I can't do that."

"Come on! I want to help!" Leo pleaded.

"There goes Leo's I-want-to-help-you-out-itis again," Luna interrupted. "Just rest up here for the day. Okay?"

Yusei agreed and Leo cheered for a moment before running inside.

. . .

The twins had just fallen asleep and Yusei was finishing up two duel disks he made for Leo and Luna.

"Jayla, come on out. I need to talk to you," he ordered looking up from his work.

Jayla silently landed and became visible once again. "Yes, Master?" she greeted.

"One, what did I tell you about calling me 'Master'?" Yusei asked.

Jayla looked to the side. "I am sorry. It is in my nature. I hope that I did not offend you," she apologized.

"You didn't offend me, it just feels weird to have someone call me that," Yusei responded. "So please, don't call me master."

"I will try to break the natural habit as soon as possible," she agreed. "It doesn't seem like what I call you would be the main issue of what you wished to speak to me about. If you don't mind my asking, what did you really want to talk about?"

"Why would you take those electric shots for me?" Yusei asked.

"It is my duty. I cannot let anything happen to you," Jayla replied.

"But Jayla, I don't want you hurt like that," Yusei said.

"I cannot guarantee that it won't happen. As it is my duty to protect you by any means necessary," Jayla explained. "Even at the cost of my life."

"I don't like the sound of that, Jayla," Yusei said with a slightly stern voice. After seeing Jayla flinch slightly at his voice, he thought, 'She must think me being slightly stern in general is me being frustrated at her. Why is she acting like she never wants me to be frustrated because of her? Like she doesn't have much humanity left in her?' He added something to his original statement, being sure to be gentler in tone, "I don't want you to get hurt, especially die, protecting me."

"I cannot promise anything. I'll do what I must to protect my chosen Signer. That is something I cannot change," she responded.

"But why? You can do what you want, can't you? You can set limits to yourself on how much you'll protect me," Yusei asked.

"I cannot change the fact that when my dragon side appeared, my will to do anything else besides protect and serve you became close to nothing. I do everything I can to protect you and those you wish to protect. As well do whatever you ask me to do," she answered.

"So you lost the will to have your own freedom when I got that mark?" Yusei asked shocked. Jayla gave a nod as if it was nothing that mattered to her. And Yusei didn't like that she didn't seem to care. "Why does it seem like you don't care that you pretty much lost your freedom and your will?"

"Because I do not care that this happened to me," she replied. "It is and has been a part of my life. Ever since you were born, I had that part of my life waiting to become reality. You can change the fate of this world. I simply protect and serve you."

"We'll continue this talk on the way out," he answered. Jayla nodded in agreement as Yusei knew she would be for almost everything.

. . .

"Mr. Goodwin, all the invitations have been sent out. All but Yusei's that is. It seems he has recovered his deck and duel runner. He is currently hiding in the Tops," Lazar informed Goodwin.

"Very good, Lazar. Proceed as planned," Goodwin ordered.

Lazar bowed and ran off.

. . .

"Jayla, I don't like you laying down your life for me," Yusei said as they exited the elevator.

"I understand. But I cannot change the way I am now and the duties that I cannot ignore," she responded.

"Jayla, what was your life like before you became my so-called protector?" he asked.

"I lived in a hideout in the Satellite alone. I had started making my own duel runner there for a while; almost had it finished, actually. I had a couple friends but I didn't see them much," she explained.

"Do you miss them?" Yusei asked.

"A bit," she answered. "But it doesn't matter anymore. I cannot leave your side."

"But, don't you want to see them?" Yusei asked.

"Sometimes, but I also want to protect and serve you at the same time. If anything, I want to do my duty as the dragon protector more than I do see my friends," Jayla answered. "There are times where I wish it could be different. But I know that what's done is done. It cannot be changed."

"Jayla, back at the Facility, when you said when I died you would disappear, what did you mean by that?" Yusei asked.

"I will seemingly age like a normal human. However, my capabilities in sensation such as smell, sight, touch, and hearing will all remain as young as now. I also cannot die from any age. I will live as long as you. And when you die, I will simply disappear. Flash out of existence. The only ones to remember me will be the Signers and those involved in my life," she explained.

"Wait, so when I die, it will be like you never existed?" Yusei asked shocked.

"Yes," she answered. "Only, you, Jack, Luna, Leo, the other Signer, and those who I have personally met will remember me. No one else will."

"And you're okay with that?" Yusei asked as he sat on his duel runner.

"Yes. I have to be as it is another fact of my life that cannot be changed," Jayla replied.

"You really have lost a lot of the sense of humanity when you changed, didn't you?" he asked. Jayla tilted her head confused. "You don't even care that people won't remember you. A lot of humans would like to be remembered. You put me above you in more ways than one and act as if you are practically nothing on this earth. A lot of people would want to feel like they have done something that is a part of this planet. To me, Jayla, you at least have done many things on this planet. The main one being that you protect me with your life. As much as I don't like that, I also want you to be more human again. You are still human, Jayla," Yusei slipped on his helmet, "even if you don't feel like it. I want you to be happy being your human self and return to that point in your life."

"I am unsure if that can happen, Ma…" Jayla started but one look from Yusei made her correct herself, "Yusei."

"Well, try. Humanity is still a part of you and you need to at least let a bit of it thrive still and show it," he responded.

"I will try," she agreed.

"Come on, we need to go," Yusei said. Jayla nodded and returned to her invisible form. "Jayla, you're going to ride with me. It'll be the first step to being human again." Jayla reappeared but Yusei could tell how uncomfortable and unsure she looked. "Jayla, I know it seems unusual, but if I have to say it again I will, we are equals on this world. Don't act like we're not because we are."

"But…" she began but Yusei cut her off.

"No buts, Jayla. Come on," he retorted. Jayla reluctantly obeyed feeling unusual as she was being told she was equal to what she thought was her master. Yusei gave her a small smile as she boarded behind him. "It'll be fine, Jayla. You just need to let yourself be human again. The person you were before this change happened."

"I'll-I'll try," she responded.

Yusei sighed knowing this was all he could get now. 'But I'll keep working on her. Hopefully, she'll return to the human side of her that she was before she became my protector,' he thought.

He drove out only to have Trudge pull his duel runner in front of him. "You just can't stay away from me, can you?" Trudge taunted. "Now, are you going to come easy or hard?" Yusei revved up his engine and Trudge smirked. "So it's the hard way. I'm going to like this." Jayla glared. "Who are you? Little protective girlfriend maybe?" he asked.

"Girlfriend? No. Protective or Protector? Yes," she answered. She shot a bolt of light from her fingertip and popped a hole in his tire.

"So you're that punk that kept popping my tires," he retorted.

"Yep, I can't let you hurt my master," Jayla responded calmly.

"Jayla," Yusei called in a warning tone.

"Sorry," Jayla said. "But it's true."

"Well, either way, I'm taking him in. And you're coming too, little girl," Trudge growled.

Before anyone else could react, headlights shined on all three of them. Jayla's eyes immediately adjusted while Yusei's and Trudge's took a second.

"I think not, Officer," called a voice. A little man in a red coat walked in front of him. His face was painted somewhat like a clown and his hair was purple.

"Who are you?" Trudge asked.

The clown man held up his ID card. "I am Special Deputy Lazar, Officer Trudge, and I outrank you. I happen to be here on business. A message for a Mr. Yusei Fudo."

"This bug is a menace! And his little friend here is no better!" Trudge exclaimed. "He needs to be taken into…"

Lazar cut him off, "Officer, this city has very little room for people who don't know their place or officers who don't know when to shut their mouths. Now run along why don't you?" Trudge growled but turned around and left.

"What kind of message?" Yusei asked.

Lazar walked up and handed Yusei an invitation to the Fortune Cup along with a picture depicting what Jayla thought were his friends. Yusei went wide eyed.

"We would like you to participate in the Fortune Cup. If you refuse, the people in that photo will pay the penalty for the rogue actions you took while obtaining that duel runner," Lazar threatened. Jayla glared at him strong. Lazar even flinched from it but quickly regained his composure. "Have a good day." With that, he left.

Yusei stared at the invite and photo and crushed it in his hands in anger. "I don't have much of a choice, do I?" he asked the protector behind him.

"I don't think so. However, as I must, I'll help and protect you," I told him.

Yusei just gave a simple nod before darting away.