A/N: Sorry for the wait, but this chapter took awhile.

Thanks Iron horse90 and Dragonman for your reviews!

Important Note: I will be only providing duel stats for the duels that I make up. Duels that come from the anime will not have them because you can just watch the episode if you want to see the duel.

"Character's speaking"

Character's thoughts

King of the Underworld speaking (by now you should've realized who this was, right?)

(Dueling Stats)

Part II: Treacherous Choices

Chapter 8

A Past Vengeance and A New Technique

Jin, Tenpei, Yanagi, Rua, Ruka, and I had just entered an underground tunnel to avoid the press that had been too eager to get to me after my victory over Jack.

"This is a passage that was used back when the stadium was being constructed," explained Jin as we all started walking through the tunnel.

"Huh, I had no idea," Tenpei commented with a bit of interest in his voice.

"Because no one ever uses it now. Saiga told me about it," Jin told us, though it was clearly more for me to know.

"Anyway, you're somthin' else, sonny! You actually became King!" exclaimed Yanagi, which no one else but he and Tenpei reacted excitingly to.

"It seems we're gonna have to lay low at Saiga's hideout. It'd be safer if Rua and Ruka stay with us too," Jin suddenly stated causing an uneasy tension within the group.

This made me glance down briefly at the twins. The expression on both of their faces remained passive and they had been quiet ever since the duel had ended. The others knew that this wasn't normal behavior for them, especially Rua, but they knew well not to comment on it. Rua, Ruka, and I knew that I would have to leave soon and that there was no telling when I'd be back. That's when I noticed Ruka staring at her right arm where her mark was.

"What is a Signer exactly?" she asked softly and I could see Rua's face peak up at the question as well.

Even though I could tell that the question was for me to answer, Yanagi obviously couldn't.

"Ta-da! To discuss that we turn it over to me!" he proclaimed with enthusiasm, making the twins confused and interested at the same time.

"Listen here, Ruka-chan. A Signer is-oh! Before I do that, I have to tell you about my many globetrottin' adventures!"

It was amusing to see Yanagi get so worked up over this. I had a feeling it was going to take him awhile to answer the question so I decided to tune him out when he started talking about his stories that were irrelevant to the current subject. Sometimes being around him could be bothersome, but he did know information about the Crimson Dragon and Signers. That's why I had to keep a tab on him. Anyone who knew even an ounce of the truth had to be watched.

A small smirk formed on my lips as I remembered that enjoyable experience that brought me to meet Yanagi and Jin.

Flashback

"Are you ready?" my witch asked me with a serious expression on her face.

I allowed a smirk to adorn my face as I turned to face her.

"My deck and I have been waiting a long time for this, we're more than ready," I told her bringing a smirk to her own lips.

She then moved closer to me and gave me a kiss before locking her eyes with mine.

"Just don't forget that I want a piece of him too. As far as I'm concerned anyone who has hurt you has hurt me as well," she stated sincerely causing me to smile while taking her hand and giving it a kiss.

"Likewise," I replied making her smile as well.

I soon had allowed myself to get captured by Sector Security and all it had taken was a single look at my criminal mark from the guards for them to arrest me. I had almost chuckled at the baffled expressions on their faces when they scanned my mark and no information showed up. But I had to keep on my grief-stricken attitude in order not to raise any suspicion. And now I was being taken back to the Facility. When I finally arrived, I couldn't help noticing the improvements on the security and the increased number of prison cells that were occupied. I was then shoved into a holding cell before one of the guards spoke.

"Takasu-sama will know what to do with an unidentifiable piece of scum like you," he replied in a disgusted way before he left.

And that's exactly what I want.

I could already picture it. The guard would tell Takasu that some criminal showed out of nowhere with no information on him. Takasu's curiosity would be peeked and he would send the guard to get me. Then when we meet again face to face, the fun would start, and I couldn't wait. That's when I heard another's voice and realized I wasn't alone in the cell.

"Hey there sonny!" greeted an old man in a friendly way.

The way he appeared seemed a bit eccentric to me so I just did my best to ignore him for the time being. However, he apparently felt the need to stir up a conversation with me and I was tempted to get rid of him right then and there. Luckily for him the cell doors suddenly opening grabbed my attention and saved his life. I was surprised when the old man told me this meant that the recess period for prisoners had started. When I was here the first time there was no such thing. The prisoners, especially me after my near escape, were not ever allowed to leave their cells unless escorted. I had asked the old man if a recess was always permitted, knowing that the answer was no but that it was the only way I could get the answers I wanted without giving myself away. As expected, he admitted it hadn't and that it was really so the guards and chief could keep a better eye out on everyone. That made sense to me. Not everyone could be watched in separate cells all the time so it was easier to have a time when they can observe everybody at once and pick out the ones that may be the most trouble. The old man and I soon left our cell as others were doing the same, before the elderly man grabbed my attention.

"You want to know a secret?" he asked me in a hushed tone that raised my curiosity.

"Sure," I said nonchalantly as we both stopped walking temperately so he could tell me what he wanted me to know.

"The real reason why things have changed around here was because of a prisoner," he told me seriously.

"Really?" I asked, wondering how someone had changed things around here so much.

"Yep, he was the first one to attempt an escape and almost made it to," he answered, making my eyes widen slightly.

"Is there anything else?" I asked since I wanted to be sure that my assumption was correct.

"Well there is a rumor that said his cards became real which is why he's attempt had been so effective."

So he was talking about me after all.

"And between you and me, not everyone believes that but I do," he admitted to me in an even lowered voice.

"You do?" I asked surprised that he would be someone that would believe that, then again he was kind of on the peculiar side.

"Sonny, I've traveled all over the world, heard and seen many things that would be considered impossible. There's no doubt in my mind that that happened. Besides they wouldn't have beefed up security around here if something didn't happen," he explained to me.

"Does everyone here know about that?" I had to ask, curious to know how many have heard of my incident here.

"Everyone here has heard it at least once. It gives us hope," he declared strongly.

"Hope?"

"Indeed, he may not have made it but he almost did. He proved that freedom is possible," he finished passionately, and overdramatically as well.

Despite his over the top behavior, it was still amazing to me that I actually became a legend here.

It looks like I scared Takasu more than I thought.

That thought alone made me feel a lot better and a small smile had came to my lips.

"I think that's the first time you've smiled sonny!" he exclaimed as though me smiling was the best thing in the world.

Don't get used to it.

The old man and I were soon pushed forward on a dueling field by a group of cell mates. I was again perplexed by the new things put in place around here. I knew for a fact that there were absolutely no dueling fields before.

"Welcome to my dueling field!" announced a muscular man with blue hair in spikes who was clearly the ringleader.

"I'm Himuro. I call the shots around here," he stated before moving in closer to us.

"Let me tell you, newbies. This center has rules for both the outside and the inside," Himuro started.

He then moved closer into my personal space as a way of intimidation, yet I kept my face emotionless.

"And I call the shots on the inside," he continued threateningly, though the old man's sudden outburst ruined it for him.

"Are you Jin Himuro, the Pro Duelist?!" he asked in enthusiasm before he continued bombarding him with his babble that only angered Himuro more.

Not that I blame him, this old man is rather annoying.

"Geezer, the rule on the inside is that dueling me determines your rank here. By determining that, those at the bottom will be totally obedient to those on the top!"

Yet another new thing around here.

So now there were ranks were before there was no such thing because all the guards and Takasu himself saw us all as the same kind of dirt beneath their feet. So this new ranking system was allowed in order to divide them and keep them from working together. I wanted to shake my head at how easily Takasu got them whipped. However I focused my attention back to the two squabbling men in time to hear the old man talk about him having the Hidden Treasure Deck. Like everyone else, I was surprised that he would have a deck like that. That's when Himuro turned back to face me.

"So, are you ready as well?" he asked me and I was debating whether I should lie or not.

I immediately consulted my deck to see if they wanted to battle this man. When I got their response, I agreed with them. We were here to battle only one person and that was it.

"I don't have one," I answered adding a little disappointment in my voice for good measure.

Himuro then began talking about me coming from Satellite and I had to hold myself back from responding to that. Un/Fortunately the old man stepped in between us and broke up the tension. Sooner than I knew it, Himuro and the old man were ready to duel.

"Take a gander at this sonny," he announced to me as he started showing off his cards.

The old man's very first move made me want to shake my head in pity, for the cards that is. They were truly rare and their powers were very much real but because of the man's lack of skill they were being ridiculed. The next round wasn't looking anymore promising either and that's when Himuro said it.

"Every last one of your cards is crappy! …This is a waste of time! I'm going to clear those crappy cards out of here!" he shouted as he started his turn causing a spark of anger to flow in me.

"How could anyone collect that many useless cards?" asked/mocked one of the men who were also watching this duel.

Right now I was doing everything in power to not incinerate them all on the spot. I never liked any cards being scorned, especially not now. Just seeing how humans causally neglect the cards' feelings made me boil inside.

The duel had ended quickly with Himuro as the victor and the old man on the ground trying to gather up his scattered cards from off the ground. That's when Himuro walked over to him and continued to harass him further, causing the old man to start begging down on his knees

"I wasn't trying to make a fool out'cha! I just wanted to show a duelist as great as you these cards of mine! I love all of'em! What's so wrong with that?!"

When he said that I realized he meant it. And no, there was nothing wrong about loving your cards. I loved all of mine to the fullest.

"Well, I'm not too keen on their effects, or whatever. But if feels like the mysteries of the human world shine through these cards, so I care for them an awful lot! Come on, I'm beggin' you! Please move your foot!" he exclaimed passionately, however Himuro just continued to sweep his foot over his cards.

"My precious cards cryin' in pain! Aah! You're not right!" the old man cried and I too could hear the cards painful cries loud and clear, which is why I had to stop it now.

I gripped Himuro's shoulder before allowing my leg to sweep under his, knocking him to the ground. I enjoyed seeing him down on the ground where he belonged, but this wasn't about me getting back at him. The ones who deserved that were the old man's deck.

"Lend me your deck," I told the old man, who was shocked by what I just said.

So then I lowered down to the old man while ignoring whatever Himuro was saying and took the deck out of his hands.

"I want to win with this deck," I explained to which seemed to confuse Himuro as well.

"You said you were a Pro Duelist…You'll be facing me next," I announced to him seriously as I turned back to face him.

"Sounds fun! You're going to beat me with that ludicrous deck?" he asked with a bit of taunting in his voice while getting himself off the ground, which increased my anger for him more.

"That's right. There's not one card of the many in this world that's useless!" I proclaimed strongly, knowing that that was the truth.

Each card had its usefulness; it's the duelist's fault if they didn't know how to use the card properly. And I was going to prove how true that was right now.

"Hey, Satellite punk. Can you even duel?" he asked me causing me to narrow my eyes at him.

"You're about to find out," I said in a threatening way, ready to crush him in this duel.

"All that's about to happen is you being exposed and humiliated," he said back with the other guys backing him up.

"You going to be ok, sonny?" the old man asked in worry.

"Just make sure you're watching," I told him

I would show them all what the power from being one with the cards can bring. As I inserted the deck into the duel disk, I could feel the cards' need to prove their value and I would make sure to satisfy their need. Himuro and I activated our duel disks and the duel was underway.

When it was my first turn I carefully looked at my hand already seeing how I could make a good start in this duel, but I first had to keep in mind that this duel wasn't for or about me.

"Old man," I called, gaining his immediate attention.

"Dueling breathes life into cards…and breathing life into them is a duelist's duty. If cards that have been steeped on feel pain, then imparting them with joy by winning is also a duelist's duty," I explained to them, knowing how true this was first hand.

"Ore no time," I declared as I drew my first card and heard the old man say that he had that card in his hand earlier and I was going to show him soon just how to use it to.

I summoned Crystal Skull to the field despite the others' mockery and the old man's lack of confidence. When its affect activated, I immediately played the Quick Spell Curse Returner-Hitogata Doll, dealing one thousand points of damage to Himuro instead of me which shocked everyone.

"Who'd have guessed you could use Crystal Skull's curse like that?" the old man stated in wonder.

"The cards answered back. The same Crystal Skull they trashed as being useless had gained great strength by drawing from its friends," I responded while slightly turning by head in the old man's direction.

"Friends?"

"The cards you collected together here. And as long as you and the cards are all working together, infinite amount of possibilities are made," I answered him back seriously.

"Sonny, you sure are somethin'," he commented with a smile making a flash of a smirk cross my lips.

You don't know the half of it.

My life points were now at four hundred, Himuro had Great Bull Djinn, Spider-Web Castle, and two cards face down on the field and it was my turn now. This was going to be my last draw and I knew I could win if I got the card I needed. I placed my hand on the deck as I was ready to draw.

I have faith in all of you.

I felt them responding instantly to my call and knew that I would receive the card I needed to win. After I drew the card, I smiled as it indeed was the card I needed. With everything set on my side of the field, I activated the Magic Card Triangle-O the first card that I had drawn. And with that card victory was ours.

"You're somethin' else sonny! Bouncing back the damage you received, three thousand points even, and winning like that! That never even came to my mind!" the old man praised with astonishment.

"All I did was relay the cards' wishes," I told him which caused a huge grin on his face.

"Oh…sonny!" he exclaimed before surprising and sickening me by jumping on me and as a way of appreciation he tried to constantly smother my cheek to which I pulled enough away from his range so he couldn't.

"You winning by not engaging in battle once must mean the cards choose you," I heard Himuro said, momentarily brining my attention to him to see him walking towards us.

"That was a fine strategy. I've gotta hand it to you," he continued while finally reaching us.

To my relief the old man finally got off of me and I simply handed him back his duel disk and deck. I then turned back to face Himuro since I figured he had more to say to me and I was right.

"Didn't dawn on me that's how'd you duel…What's your name?"

I again had to debate whether to lie or not, but I realized that it really didn't matter if they knew my name. Once I was finished here I would be leaving this place for good.

"Yusei," I answered before a smile came to his face and he looked at the old man that was still beside me.

"Old man, I'm sorry for steeping on your cards earlier," he suddenly apologized to which I almost scoffed at.

After all that he thinks a simply apology is going to cut it?

"Don't worry, it's no problem," replied the old man with a huge smile on his face, making me want to smack my head at the quick forgiveness

Unbelievable.

"Anyway take a look!" he exclaimed as he showed us the last four cards that I used in the duel in his hand.

"See? Looks like Crystal Skull is laughing don't it?" he commented and he was right.

All of his cards were filled with joy now and I knew I had to start letting the incident go.

As long as the cards are fulfilled that's all that really matters.

"Sonny, you are really somethin' else!" he praised once more before Himuro added his own two cents in.

"It would be a crying shame if you get hidden in the rough like this. I sure would like to send you off to the Pro World," he stated firmly but with a smile on his face.

"Duel me again sometime?" he asked sticking his hand out for me to shake.

I looked down at his awaiting hand, not sure if I would really keep that promise. I stared at his hand for a few more seconds before coming to a decision.

"You name it," I replied while finally shaking his hand.

If he noticed my hesitation he didn't comment on it and I was grateful for that.

"Number 88!" I heard a guard call from behind.

Remembering that that was the number given to me, I turned around to see two guards with too eager expressions on their faces.

"You're being interrogated. Chief is conducting it personally. Come on," the guards commanded and I immediately left the others to follow them without any resistance.

The guards quickly reprehended me and took me on my way to Takasu. My tension was greatly building as I was coming close to the man that had made a part of my life a living nightmare. I could also sense the same growing tension coming from my deck as well, knowing that they were ready to act when it was time. I had finally been placed in front of Takasu and laid my eyes on him once again. I took quick note that he really hadn't changed at all, both outside and inside.

"Takasu-sama, we brought you Number 88 like you ordered," announced one of the guards that were still restraining me.

He glared down at me and I glared right back at him. It was obvious that he indeed remembered me. He then got a cruel smirk on his face before he got up in my face, plucked out his nose hairs and blew them directly in my face. Till this day that habit of his still absolutely repulsed me.

"So the little demon finally returns to where he belongs," Takasu declared with a smug before his glare returned tenfold.

"And this time, I'll make sure that you are dead," he threatened quietly so that I could only hear that last part.

"I highly doubt that you can," I said with a mix of truthfulness and contempt, knowing that he couldn't actually kill someone that was already dead.

"Oh?" he asked unbelievingly before turning away from me with his hands together behind his back.

"Take him to the sector where we keep our long-term prisoners," commanded Takasu to the guards that were securing me.

"Right away Takasu-sama!" announced the guards as they started carrying me away.

I had been taken to a different, new, and for me never before seen part of the Facility. It was a tall and circled shaped building with a huge hollow space in the center of it. The cells were all aligned on the circle and several bridges connected one side to the other in various places over the area. It was kind of interesting that this whole place was in a blue color, which happened to be my favorite color. Whether that was a coincidence or was done on purpose to spite me, I'll never know.

"Listen up. As of today, this is going to be where you live," one of the guards told me as they were walking me along one of the bridges before they gave me a hard shove that almost knocked me off my feet.

That's when I heard a familiar laugh and looked upward to see Takasu giving me a smug look. I managed to send another glare at him before I was once again escorted by guards to my new cell.

"Get in there! This will be your new room," the guard stated while once again giving me a hard push into my cell before locking the door behind me.

I've only been in this cell for a few minutes and already my new roommate, Aoyama, was getting on my nerves with his constant talking.

He's starting to make me wish I was back with the old man.

How ironic that when I was just thinking about the old man, it turned out that he was in the next cell. Apparently even prisoners here got a small break period and I took the chance to gather myself together. I allowed the old man to tag along since he was becoming less bearable to hang around, especially after meeting Aoyama. To my surprise we soon meant with another familiar figure.

"Himuro," I called in slight surprise from seeing him again.

"Yusei? You were transferred over here too?" he asked with a bit of shock in his own voice.

"How in Pete's sake did this happen to us? This side's the place for long-period inmates. I was supposed to do some volunteer work and get straight out of here," protested the old man with a sorrow expression on his features.

"Same goes for me," admitted Himuro gaining some irritation in his tone.

"Sonny got any idea of what's goin' on?" the old man asked me as both of their attention was now focused on me.

And I did know exactly what was going on. Takasu was trying to use them to get to me. Somehow he assumed from my earlier actions with them that they were now close to me. Though that was hardly the case. I still wasn't too keen on forgiving Himuro just yet and the old man was more of an unnecessary acquaintance. However I shouldn't be surprised that he would try anything he could to mess with me now that he felt he had me in his clutches. That's why I felt it was best to lie and say that I didn't know anything.

The fewer who know the truth, the better.

Night time had come and all the lights had been shut done for the day. I was back in my cell wide awake, thinking about what Takasu may come up with next for me.

"Want to get out of here?" Aoyama asked, making my eyes shift over to him.

"There's not a guy around that wouldn't want to get out after being stuck in here. You got brought here after getting some crap fed to you about leaving soon…but it's all lies. This is the place where they stick outsiders to make an example out of them," he explained, even though I already knew that, maybe even more than he did.

"I was supposed to leave soon myself, but it's been a year," he said dejectedly before facing me with a smile on his face.

"If you want to get out of here, why not go with me?" he asked as he moved to the bottom bunk of the bed.

I sat up and watched in fascination as he pulled back the mat to reveal a huge hole under it.

So that's why he had offered me the top bunk.

"Took me six months. Don't you want to check out what's up ahead too?" questioned Aoyama and I admit my curiosity was peaked.

We had walked a good distance before we stopped at where there was an opening to the outside above us.

"Look. Think we can make it to Neo Domino City topside from that well hole?" he asked mordantly, pointing at the said opening.

"But how?" I asked back, interested to know how far he was going with this.

"My friends are coming to rescue me tomorrow night," Aoyama answered.

"And what about this?" I asked while pointing to my criminal mark on my face.

"Don't worry. My friends are going to jam the alarm system through the Net. I guarantee you the markers won't respond for a good hour. It's our only way," he stated seriously.

"If the jamming gets detected, they'll have the system updated again and find out about that hole too. They've changed so much after one prisoner's attempted escape. Can you imagine how many more changes would be done around here if we got caught?" commented Aoyama, reinforcing how important playing our cards right would be.

I gave him my own severe but genuine look before speaking again.

"I guarantee you we won't get caught," I said in a way that matched my expression which put a grin on his face.

"We'll carry this out tomorrow. If we can't make it out between eight o'clock and nine, we'll never get another shot, got that?"

I gave him an affirmative nod before we began heading back to our cell. While I was following him back to our cell, I let a sly smile form on my lips. I was impressed with his plan and it was a possible one to carry out if careful. Yes, I could see how I could use this plan to help achieve my own personal agendas.

I'll just have to make a little altercation.

Morning was coming by slowly for me. After I had gone over in my head the necessary modifications for my plans, there wasn't anything much left for me to do. I hadn't bothered getting any sleep since I didn't need it, so I had used the time to replay how things would carry out the next day.

To say this morning was starting unpleasant was an understatement. Himuro's excruciating screams could be heard in the entire building by everyone. I clenched my teeth at how low Takasu was going with all of this. My need to crush him like the true vermin he was increased in me by the second.

"Takasu," I muttered crossly after seeing Himuro being thrown down on the ground by the guards in front of everyone.

"Himuro has committed a serious crime! Everyone will have to take responsibility for it!" he shouted.

Before anyone or I could decipher what he meant by that, he took out a small remote device and pressed a button on it. That's when I and everyone else were being shocked ruthlessly with tons of electricity flowing from the floors of our cells. Normally this kind of pain I could handle, but the sheer un-expectancy of it made it feel ten times worse. Before I knew it, my eyes were shut tightly as I was down on my hands and knees doing my best not to scream. Yet the other prisoner's yells weren't helping me much.

"Aah! Please stop!"

Even with the pain my eyes snapped open instantly when I heard the familiar voice of the old man.

"Quit it! Please stop!"

Needing to know what was going on, I struggled to stand up and head to the window sized barred opening. I was pleased with myself that I had made it to the opening despite the heavy voltage relentlessly running through my body. Unfortunately I wasn't pleased with what I saw. The old man had been brought in front of Takasu like Himuro as the guards holding him began taking his cards away from him.

"Wait! That's my treasure there! Give it back, please! Please! Please!" he begged until Takasu hit him harshly across the face, knocking down to the floor.

"I am confiscating this deck as well," Takasu announced smugly holding the old man's deck for us, mainly me, to see.

Even from here I could hear the cries from the old man's deck, begging to be returned to their owner. My monsters and I were becoming enraged by this, I knew exactly how it felt to have your cards mercilessly taken away from you and my deck also suffered from the separation as well. There was no way we would let him get away with tearing apart a duelist form their deck again.

How dare he! He'll pay! He'll pay!

I felt myself transforming and I didn't care.

"ENOUGH!" I bellowed out causing my power to spike to the point that my aura alone made that blasted remote in Takasu's hand explode from right where I was standing.

With the remote destroyed, the electricity in the cells had finally stopped. And that's when I heard his amused laughter.

"The demon finally shows his true face," he said mockingly, making me realize what I had done.

I had let him best me by allowing my anger and pain to consume me. I was now upset with myself for giving Takasu what he wanted by letting him get to me. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths to calm myself down before I did anything else hasty. My monsters were consoling me, saying that they let themselves get taken over by their own rage and that they were sorry as well. I gave them my own apologizes and acceptance was meant both ways. We knew we had to be more careful when it came to our emotions because they channeled through to each other. If I was angry my deck would get angry. If they were sad I would be sad. If we felt the same emotion it would be doubled and around humans that wasn't good. A sigh escaped my mouth at this.

Humans really can bring out the worst in anything.

When I was sure that I had completely settled down and that my features were back to normal, I locked intense stern eyes with Takasu.

"Your score is with me. So let's settle it right now," I told him seriously which put a large grin on his face.

"So the demon wants to fight?! Then let's settle the score with a duel for everyone to see! If you win, I'll overlook Himuro's crimes and yours as well! …However! What if I win?!" he asked back and I made sure that he knew I was dead serious about the next words that came out of my mouth.

"I'll be at your mercy for the rest of my life," I answered without any hesitation whatsoever.

"Very interesting. We'll duel tonight at half past eight! Got it?!" he shouted back.

"That's fine."

"Like I told you earlier; your life is mine and now you have sealed it!" he taunted, pointing his finger directly at me before finally leaving the area.

After that, Aoyama turned to me with a stressed upset look on his face.

"Yusei, why'd you go and do that?! You know that tonight…"

"Well be carried out as planned," I fished, bringing a confused expression to appear on his features.

"What?!" he asked in a puzzled tone.

"I said last night that we won't get caught and I meant it," I reminded him as I gave him a reassuring stare.

The sound of the doors unlocking gaining my attention and I decided I was going to see Himuro and the old man one more time. Right before I left my cell I turned back to Aoyama one more time.

"Just stick to the plan and I'll make sure it succeeds," I promised him before exiting the cell.

I run into the cell where Himuro and the old man had been dumped into. I knelt down by Himuro to make sure he was alright and he turned towards me with a defeated look in his eyes.

"Yusei, forgive me…That guy took away my deck too," he admitted with regret, making a spark of anger pass in me but it didn't last long.

"Yeah…What a fine mess. The pack of'em took my deck…" the old man muttered sadly before other prisoners came into the cell to check on Himuro.

Seeing that they would be fine for now, I left their cell and happened to walk into a crowd of prisoners that suddenly surrounded me.

"You're Yusei, right?" asked one of them with their arms crossed in front of their chest.

"But that's not all of who you are is it?" continued another giving me an analytical onceover.

"So who are you?" a guy asked stepping forward in front me.

I glanced around at all their faces and realized that they wanted answers. And after what just happened I can't blame them. I went over all of my options in my head and I came to a conclusion.

"I'll tell you…everything."

Exactly at eight thirty, the cell door was unlocked and the guards came for me. They walked me on the main center bridge, which had a large circle shape part in the middle of it connecting other bridges, where my duel with Takasu was about to take place. And there he was, standing boastfully on the opposite side of the circle waiting for me.

"Demon, are you ready to duel? …Oh that's right, you don't have a deck. Meaning I win by default!" clamed Takasu in a very cocky tone, obviously making fun of the fact that he had destroyed my deck and that I could never use it again.

Well, that's what he believes.

Inside I was very eager to see the reaction on his face when I showed him that I had my deck back. As the guards were ready to re-reprehend me, I let a smirk show on my lips before I reached for my deck.

"Why would you think that I don't have my deck, Takasu-sama? It's right here," I proclaimed, showing my deck to him.

The only reaction from Takasu was his eyes widening slightly in surprise, yet my deck told me that they felt a spark of fear coming off of him and that was all I needed to know. Suddenly I felt something being clasped around my left arm and realized it was a duel disk. However I also noticed a metal bracelet that was connecting the duel disk to the floor with a chain. Takasu's duel disk had the same thing. Something about the chains linking to the duel disk seemed familiar to me somehow. I closed my eyes for a moment to try and sort through my thoughts to figure out way this was ringing alarms in me. Eventually something clicked in my mind and I realized that the chain attracted to the duel disk was similar to the devices I had used during my Team Satisfaction days.

He wants to make this duel as painful as possible for me…So I'll just have to return the favor.

"Are you ready demon?!" shouted Takasu while activating his duel disk.

A smirk and the activation of my own duel disk was my answer.

"Duel!" we both screamed with our life point meters setting to four thousand.

"I'll go first," he declared, drawing five cards for his hand before drawing another card from his deck.

A grin went on his face while looking at the cards in his hand.

"I'll summon Chain Repairer (Atk/Def/Lv: 1600/1200/4) in attack mode!" he started as he took the card from his hand and placed it on the Monster Zone, making the said monster appear on the field.

"Then I'll place one card face down on the field," he announced, taking another card from his hand and placing it in the Spell/Trap Zone.

"Turn endo," he finished with a sly grin at me.

I kept my face emotionless while drawing my own hand.

"Ore no time!" I declared, drawing a card from my deck.

I did a quick scan of my hand and decided my move.

"Here's someone you might remember. I summon Speed Warrior (Atk/Def/Lv: 900/300/2) in attack mode," I said while placing the card on the proper zone before Speed Warrior appeared on the field.

Seeing the expression on Takasu's face told me that he did remember my monster and Speed Warrior definitely remembered him.

"Speed Warrior's effect activates! When first summoned onto the field it's attack points get doubled!" I explained as my monster's attack points went from nine hundred to eighteen hundred.

"Go Speed Warrior! Attack Chain Repairer! Sonic Edge!"

Speed Warrior wasted no time in destroying the monster, causing a minimal explosion that was enough to have Takasu protect his eyes from it and reduced his life points to thirty-eight hundred (LP - Takasu/Yusei: 3800/4000).

This had caused a few cheers from the prisoners however, I narrowed my eyes when I saw that nothing else had happened to Takasu.

Since he's going to play that way, I will too.

"I set three cards face down and end my turn," I replied while placing three cards from my hand into the Spell/Trap zones and Speed Warrior's attack points went back to normal.

"Watashi no time!" exclaimed Takasu, drawing his card before looking at it with a grin.

"I summon Chain Snake (Atk/Def/Lv: 800/1200/3) to the field!" he stated as he slammed the card down on the field.

"And with its effect, I'll equip it to your monster!" shouted Takasu before Chain Snake went for Speed Warrior and turned into a heavy chain that landed on top of Speed Warrior, bringing it down to its knees.

Speed Warrior!

"Now your monster looses eight hundred attack points!" he continued while Speed Warrior's attack points went from nine hundred to only one hundred, and now Chain Snakes added weight was straining my monster even more.

"Next I play the spell Dual Summon allowing me to summon an additional time this turn. And now I summon Chain Shooter (Atk/Def/Lv: 1100/0/2)! Go! Attack his monster!" commanded Takasu.

Chain Shooter had easily destroyed Speed Warrior decreasing my life points to three thousand (LP - Takasu/Yusei: 3800/3000).

That's when I was painfully electrocuted and couldn't help screaming out because of it until it had stopped. I could hear my name being called from various people in worry and my deck too showed its concerns for me. However Takasu's booming voice interrupted everyone else's.

"The pain's not over yet demon! Chain Snake effect! When the equipped monster is destroyed in battle and sent to the Graveyard, the controller of the monster must send a number of cards from his deck equal to the level of the equipped monster to the Graveyard! I believe your monster's level was two!"

I let a light snarl escape my mouth as I was forced to send two cards to my Graveyard.

"Then I play the Permanent Spell Paralyze Chain! This inflicts three hundred points of damage to you whenever your cards are sent to the Graveyard through a card's effect!"

I let out another painful cry as I was shocked down to my knees and my life points lowered to twenty-seven hundred (LP - Takasu/Yusei: 3800/2700).

I was panting heavily with my head lowered, trying to break through the feeling of pain. It was hard enough to the point that I could barely hear the prisoners' encouraging words.

"Turn endo," he replied with a chuckle, clearly enjoying himself.

"This is what happens to those who think they can defy me!" announced Takasu arrogantly, pointing his finger at the prisoners.

"You demon, didn't learn your lesson the first time! So I'll just have the pleasure in destroying your cards all over again!" he shouted with his finger now pointing in my direction.

Unfortunately for him, those were the words that broke the wall in me. My hands were clenched into fists and I could already feel my features changing once more along with my mark throbbing intensely from my emotions.

"I'll make sure that you will never get that chance!" I told him, now with my voice carrying its satanic edge to it before I stood up and glared at him with my now black and dark blue eyes.

"You want a demon Takasu?! Well I'll be more than happy to give you one!" I yelled with the rest of my attire altering too.

There were collective gasps and surprised statements coming from the prisoners after I had been fully transformed, but that didn't matter to me now. There was only one person that I had my entire focus on right now and to my delight, he was glairing daggers at me.

"Draw!" I stated angrily while taking a card from the top of my deck.

Seeing the card I just drew, a smirk formed on my lips.

"I summon Junk Synchron (Atk/Def/Lv: 1300/500/3) in attack mode," I said with my monster swiftly appearing on the field.

Junk Synchron gave me a quick look and I nodded my head in response before he turned back to our opponent with a glare.

"When Junk Synchron is successfully Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon one level two or lower monster from my Graveyard face-up in defense mode to the field! Be reborn, Speed Warrior!" I exclaimed and Speed Warrior was successfully brought back to the field.

"I tune my level two Speed Warrior and my level three Junk Synchron! Clustering stars will call upon a new force! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Show yourself, Junk Warrior (Atk/Def/Lv: 2300/1300/5)!" I chanted and one of my favorite monsters was now on the field.

"Next I activate the Equip Spell Junk Attack and equip it to Junk Warrior!" I shouted, flipping up one of my face downs that were on the field.

"I don't think so! Trap hatsudou! Cyclone!" interrupted Takasu while flipping up his own face down.

"It allows me to destroy one Spell or Trap card on the field and I choose Junk Attack!"he continued as the effect from the card sent a mini tornado at Junk Attack, destroying my card.

That's when I let a laugh out from him having destroyed the card. I could see the shocked expression that crossed his face before it turned into an amused one.

"Losing one of your cards is making you finally lose it, eh demon?" he said mockingly, but I simply ignored the comment and continued with my turn.

"I activate the Equip Spell Fighting Spirits and equip it to Junk Warrior," I announced with a smile, taking a card out of my hand and placing it in its proper zone.

"This increase the attack of the equipped monster by 300 points for each monster that you control," I explained as Junk Warrior's attack points went from twenty-three hundred to twenty-six hundred, making a look of realization display on Takasu's face.

"Next I activate my own Dual Summon!" I proclaimed as I flipped over my second face down card.

"Now I can Normal Summon one additional time this turn! So come forth, Hyper Synchron (Atk/Def/Lv: 1600/800/4)!" I called out and my monster emerged out onto the field.

"And thanks to you forcing me to send Level Stealer to the Graveyard earlier, I can now activate its effect," I said with a smirk, brining a sneer on Takasu's face.

"When Level Stealer is sent to the Graveyard, I can select one face-up monster on my side of the field with level five or higher to reduce the level of the selected monster by one. And I'll choose Junk Warrior," I stated before the level of Junk Warrior went from five to four.

"Then I can Special Summon Level Stealer (Atk/Def/Lv: 600/0/1) from my Graveyard!" I continued as Level Stealer come onto the field.

"Go Junk Warrior! Attack Chain Shooter! Scrap Fist!" I screamed and Junk Warrior gladly destroyed the monster, making a large explosion that knocked Takasu down and reduced his life points to twenty-three hundred in the process (LP - Takasu/Yusei: 2300/2700).

Cheers were now coming from the onlookers when Takasu hit the ground and seeing him struggle to get back up only made my smile grow more.

"The pain's not over yet, Takasu-sama," I taunted, mimicking the words he said to me earlier.

"Level Stealer, direct attack!"

The prisoners were having a field day from watching Level Stealer swiftly landing its attack on Takasu that had created several wounds on his body and brought his life points down to seventeen hundred (LP - Takasu/Yusei: 1700/2700).

"Hyper Synchron, it's your turn now!"

Another direct attack pummeled Takasu to the ground and now his life points were measly at one hundred points. (LP - Takasu/Yusei: 100/2700).

But I wasn't done with him yet; there was one more that needed to be a part of this.

"Now I believe that it's time for you and my dragon to get reacquainted. Trap hatsudou! Emergency Tuning!" I commented in a threatening way, flipping up my last face down card which finally brought fear into Takasu's eyes.

"By releasing one Tuner Monster on my side of the field and one or more Non-Tuner monsters I get to Special Summon one Synchro Monster that fulfills the summoning requirements. So I'm releasing my now level four Junk Warrior and my level four Hyper Synchron! Clustering wishes will become a new shining star! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Take flight, Stardust Dragon (Atk/Def/Lv: 2500/2000/8)!"

In a burst of blue light, Stardust was brought onto the field making everyone awe at its appearance. Stardust's attack points soon rose as it gave a vengeful roar and glared at Takasu.

"Thirty-three thousand attack points?!" he exclaimed in complete bafflement, making my smirk become larger with each passing second.

"When Hyper Synchron is used for a Synchro Summon for a Dragon-Type monster and sent to the graveyard, the Synchro monster can't be destroyed in battle and its attack power increases by eight hundred," I explained before I let my expression on my face turn menacing.

"The Synchro monster also gets removed from the game during my second Standby Phase from this turn…but you won't last that long," I replied in a dangerous way, narrowing my eyes at him.

"I told you that I won't let you destroy my cards again and I meant it," I proclaimed with my voice becoming more vicious, my dark blue eyes getting darker, and my glowing purple dragon mark pulsing with power.

"Go Stardust Dragon! Unleash your furry! Reverting Shooting Sonic!"

Stardust spread itself out and mercilessly launched its attack right into Takasu making a bloodcurdling scream come from him and his life points hit zero (LP - Takasu/Yusei: 0/2700; Winner: Yusei).

After the attack, Takasu was laying completely immobile on the ground with blood spilling out from his injuries. When the duel was over, I took my deck out of the duel disk and then removed the duel disk from my arm. Yet Stardust was still there waiting for my next instructions. Seeing Stardust still on the field even with the duel over had left everyone in the entire place astonished into utter silence at the spectacle before them.

I then ran over to the comatose body of Takasu and started searching on his person for the two decks that had been taken. When the guards saw what I was doing, they were all heading towards me but one threatening growl from Stardust made them freeze in their tracks. I gave a thankful glace to Stardust before finally finding the two decks and placing them safely in my pocket. After that was done, I quickly turned towards the prisoners with a determined look.

"Use your cards now!" I told them, snapping them out of their stupor and making them take immediate action.

Soon numerous explosions followed by cell doors being blown or torn off were happening through the whole building.

Good.

I had been unsure if my powers alone would have been enough to allow all the prisoners to use the power of their cards. When I was sure that the majority had already left their cells, I gave the next order.

"Everyone head to my cell and use the tunnel! Get out of here as quickly as you can!"

It took some time for all of them to do this but when I knew they all were far enough away I was ready to finish this.

"Stardust! Bring this place down!" I exclaimed and Stardust gladly began shooting it's attack all around the area.

The building was now shaking from the continuing aftershocks from Stardust's attack and the walls and bridges started collapsing. Huge pieces of rubble were coming down all around and I had to move a few time to avoid getting smashed.

"Stardust that's enough! It's time to go!" I stated urgently.

Stardust immediately stopped launching his attack and came towards me before carefully using one of his claws to grab me around my waist. When I was secure enough in his hold, Stardust flapped its wings and started taking off. However that's when I realized that I had forgotten something.

"Stardust!" was all I needed to say and he instantly got my message.

Stardust made a dive back down toward the bridge I had been on moments ago. It too was collapsing and we both knew we needed to hurry. So Stardust increased its speed and just as the bridge finished collapsing, I managed to catch what we came back for. Stardust then swiftly made a u turn and headed back up towards the ceiling of the building. I felt Stardust's grip tighten around me when it had to start maneuvering around the falling debris and I was doing my best to hold tightly onto the cargo that I was carrying in my hands so I won't lose it. When we were getting closer to the ceiling, Stardust launched another attack to create a hole big enough for him to pass through. We had successfully gotten out of the Facility in just enough to watch it all crumble down to the ground. And I let out a relieved sigh at the Facility's demolition.

"Thank you Stardust," I said gratefully for all of his help, in which he gave a mandate growl in response.

Since Stardust was still high in the sky, I took the advantage to look down at the breathtaking scenery below. It was dark out, but the stars were shinning clear in the sky. The city with all its lights made it shine just as beautifully as the stars. For the first time in a long time, I was truly at peace. I savored this moment as much as I could and I realized Stardust hadn't moved from its place so that I could enjoy this a little bit longer. I thanked him once again for doing this for me before I heard a very familiar voice.

"It's seems your enjoying the view more than your victory," commented my witch in a joking manner.

I turned to face her and saw that she was too transformed completely and riding on the back of Black Rose Dragon beside me.

"Is that a crime?" I asked back humorously, bringing a sly smile to her lips.

"I suppose not. But the people down there are sure enjoying it more than you," she stated while pointing down to the huge joyful crowd of prisoners that were now looking up at me and shouting their thanks and cheers.

"So they are," I laughed out with a bit of amusement in my voice.

Yet looking among the crowd, reminded me of the three people that were missing from it. Though I certainly hadn't excepted for them to be in it since they had left out much earlier than the other prisoners.

I'll just have to find them later.

"So, what wonderful plans do you have for that?" my witch asked me, glancing at what I was still clenching in my hands.

A smirk formed on my lips as I looked down at the unconscious form of Takasu in my hands before I turned back to face her.

"Since I've already had my fun with him, I'll let you decide," I answered causing her own smirk to display on her lips.

"He's going to be really sorry that you will let me do that," she chuckled with mischief in her eyes.

I let out my own chuckle at that.

"I know. That's why I said you could do it."

End Flashback

A light laugh managed to escape my mouth. Aki had not disappointed. Till this day he was still suffering in the torture that she had placed him in and there he would forever remain in his agonizing imprisonment.

I had to come out of my pleasant thoughts when we had arrived at Saiga's place and now Yanagi was finally ready to answer Ruka's question for earlier.

"It's been awhile since I've seen this, you know," he replied as he was drawing a familiar symbol on a piece of paper.

"My memory's kinda vague, but it was somethin' like this," he said as he finished the drawing and held it up for all of us to see.

It was indeed the mark of the Crimson Dragon and I admit I was slightly impressed with how accurate it was.

"According to the legend that I've heard of the People of the Stars the head, wings, hands, legs, and tail of the Crimson Dragon, each of its parts, were all broken up and sealed into people called "Signers" as birthmarks."

"Wait, the only Signers we know of so far are Yusei, Ruka, Jack, and Aki Izayoi—the four of them. But for the crimson dragon to show up like that…" Jin declared with realization show on his face.

"The fifth one might've been somewhere around there," finished Yanagi.

This was definitely getting more amusing. They were close, but certainly not close enough. However when I saw Ruka beginning to faint that had broken my amusement. I quickly managed to catch her in my arms before she could fall to the ground.

Jack and mine duel must have token a lot out of her.

"Ruka!" shouted Rua in worry, rushing over to me and his sister.

"I'm fine; I'm just a little tired," she said softly, brining some relief to Rua's face.

"It's no surprise. I suppose. Too many crazy things have happened over the past two days after all," responded Jin and all of us could agree on that.

It was now really late at night and I was the only one who was still awake. I took a quick look at everyone's sleeping forms and let out a sigh. I really wanted to leave now but he told me it was not time yet.

What am I waiting for?

I asked this in a respectful way of course since the question was more out of curiosity then impatience. However before I could receive an answer, my mark started glowing red and throbbing painfully. That's when I sensed a similar but not similar aura very close by. I immediately went to the window and looked out of it to see a guy with a purple glowing spider mark on his arm. The mark on my arm then changed from red to purple, replacing the pain with comfort and I knew I had to follow the man. Something was also telling me that I would need my deck so I quickly snapped on my duel disk and left the building to go after him. My chase after the man eventually led me to a level in an empty parking garage. I instantly felt the man behind me and swiftly turned around to face him.

"Who are you?" I asked him, knowing that the spider mark on his arm wasn't the original.

Yet instead of answering with words he activated his duel disk as a circle of purple flames surrounded us.

"This is a Duel of Darkness. There is no escape," he responded dangerously.

Once he said that I knew this duel was what I was still here for. I could feel that something very important was going to happen in this duel. So I will just have to be attentive and I told my monsters to do the same. When I got an affirmation from them, we were ready and I too activated my duel disk, letting the guy know that I had accepted the challenge.

"Duel!" we both shouted and the duel began with him taking the first turn.

He started off by summoning his Blizzard Lizard in defense mode before placing a card face down and ending his turn. I could tell he was already planning something and that I had to be careful. With my turn, I easily managed to summon Junk Warrior and sent it to attack his Blizzard Lizard. However the monster had a special effect that caused me tree hundred points of damage. I immediately felt the painful shock from the loss of life points that sent me briefly down on my knees. The pain really surprised me. I had been used to dueling where real pain was felt but this was different, more intense. This pain had coursed through every fiber of my very being, and I loved it. Yet I couldn't dwell on this long since the duel was still carrying on. So I placed two cards face down on the field and ended my turn.

"Watashi no time," he declared while drawing a card and placing it in his hand.

He then activated his face down card that was the Permanent Trap Call of the Living Dead to summon back his Blizzard Lizard in attack mode. When he had successfully summoned three Blizzard Lizards to his side of the field, I knew something big was coming.

"What are you trying to gain?" I asked seriously feeling more apprehensive about this every second.

"I release two of my Blizzard Lizards to Advance Summon the level eight Dark Tuner, Catastrogue!" he stated as the newly summoned monster appeared on the field, but only two words really caught my attention.

"Dark Tuner?" I asked in surprise, having never heard that type of monster before.

"I'm Dark Tuning my Dark Turner Dark Catastrogue to my remaining Blizzard Lizard! Dark Turner Catastrogue is a level eight and Blizzard Lizard's level is three!" he continued as the Summoning on the field was taking place.

That's when I noticed something different about this Synchro Summoning then others.

"The stars have gone dark," I stated in bewilderment at the mesmerizing spectacle happening before me.

"Yes, the light had turned dark. A Dark Synchro Summoning can summon a Synchro Monster with a level equal to the level of a Dark Tuner subtracted from the level of a non-Tuner monster," he explained to me and somehow I could grasp the concept of it instantly.

"You subtracted a level eight from a level three so…"

"A negative five monster in our world of darkness," he continued for me.

"Amazing," I muttered to myself as this new method of Synchro Summoning became more appealing to me and my monsters.

"When dark overlaps the dark, the doors to the underworld will open. To a world without light! Dark Synchro! Show yourself, Freezing Fitzgerald!" he chanted as the dark stars spun around in a circle before the monster appeared on the field in a black beam of light.

This is what you can now obtain with your newly added power.

I was astonished from what he just told me. So I could actually do this. Then it all made sense to me. Why he let us kept the increase in power and why I had to stay and duel this man. It was all so I could learn about Dark Synchro Summoning.

"Dark Tuning…" was all I could say as the sheer thought of being able to Dark Synchro Summon was turning into a need in me.

I took a glance at my deck and could feel all of my cards eagerness to perform this new method as well. I then gazed at my opponent's monster and power was radiating from it in waves. It was further proven that his monster was powerful when it's effects came into play. Because of its effect I had lost both Junk and Turret Warrior and only one face down card was left on my field. But I refused to let that monster get the best of me. I knew that in order for me to become skilled at Dark Synchro Summoning, I had to beat it first.

I was thrown hard against the dark barrier by Freezing Fitzgerald's attack as that intense pain pierced me once again and my life points went down to one hundred. I slowly got back up, breathing heavily but becoming more enthralled from the pain. If this spurious Dark Signer could cause this much pain, I couldn't wait to see what my deck and I could do with this new power.

I will win this duel!

"I summon Nitro Synchron!" I announced after I just drew his card.

"With a Turner Monster appearing on my side of the field, I Special Summon the Bolt Hedgehog in my cemetery!" I continued as Bolt Hedgehog appeared on the field in attack mode.

"Permanent Trap, Angel Lift!"I exclaimed turning over my face down card that was still on the field.

"It Special Summons a level two or lower monster in my Cemetery! Appear now! Speed Warrior!" and Speed Warrior immediately joined the others on the field.

It's time to end this duel!

"I'm tuning my Nitro Synchron to my Road Runner, Speed Warrior, and Bolt Hedgehog! …Clustering minds will now become a new force! Become the path it's light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Blaze on, Nitro Warrior!" I chanted as my Nitro Warrior was summoned to the field.

"Nitro Synchron's effect let's me draw a card!" I stated as I drew and it was the exact card I needed.

Nitro Warrior, let's finish this!

He mentally agreed with me and before long we sent our opponent's life points down to zero. I let a satisfied smirk cross my face at achieving victory in this duel. I soon turned to my unconscious opponent and noticed that the spider mark was gone from his arm. I knew he would be out for a good while from that duel so I decided to walk over to where he was still laying and then bent down to look through his deck.

His Dark Tuner and Dark Synchro Monsters are gone.

He has fulfilled his purpose. Now you must master the powers of Dark Synchro Summoning.

I placed the guy's deck back into his duel disk before taking out my own deck. I closed my eyes as I held my deck close to my heart and could clearly hear the message they were conveying to me.

"We will," I stated for both me and my deck.

That's when I finally had noticed another unfamiliar presence that had been here. I turned my head to the direction the presence was coming from and saw that it was a teenage girl who was wearing odd looking glasses. A nervous expression briefly showed on her face when she saw that I had finally noticed her, but then a bit of determination displayed on her face and she started jogging over to me.

"Who are you?" I asked her suspiciously since I wasn't sure what to make of her yet.

"I-I'm Carly, a reporter," she answered uneasily, causing me to raise my brow at her.

"Is that so?" I asked in a carefree voice while I placed my deck in its holder.

I was slightly amused when my nonchalant question had thrown her off guard. I could see that she was one of those clumsy and anxious people, and it was always fun to mess with them a little.

"Um…yes I am and…um…"

"Do you want to interview me?" I interrupted already figuring what she was trying to say.

"That would be great!" she shouted with sudden enthusiasm, which again amused me.

One minute she was very edgy, but when the chance for her to get a scoop came she was eager and the nervousness seemed to disappear.

She must be a true reporter at heart.

I actually chuckled at this. I couldn't explain it, but being around her felt right. Maybe I was meant to form some kind of bond with her.

"Alright," I told her before a very glad expression came to her face.

"Awesome! Oh, hold on for a minute," she replied before taking out a mini microphone with a recorder attached to it.

"Ok, so speaking of this duel. What exactly happened?" she asked excitingly as she held the mike closer to me.

I contemplated on how to answer that question because explaining it without giving too much away was anything but simple. However when I had finally figured out what to say; my former opponent regained consciousness.

"Ow! What's with all these bruises?" he asked himself while painfully sitting up, causing the hood that had been over his head to slip down and reveal his face.

"Where am I anyway?" he wondered as he looked around in confusion.

"Dick! Aren't you Dick Pitt, a street duelist?" she asked the guy, now focusing her attention on him.

So that's who he was. Not that it really mattered though.

I observed how Carly kept trying to pry information out of Dick, which only succeeded in confusing him more. It was actually quite comical to watch. Yet something just alerted my senses that were warning me of something and I knew I had to get of here now. I quickly stood up and started walking away.

"Hey! Where are you going?!" I heard Carly shout, realizing that I was leaving.

Luckily or unluckily the sounds of sirens answered her for me. That's when she started panicking.

"Ah! What do we do now?!" she asked in an alarmed tone, making me stop and turn back to face her.

"If you still want that interview, follow me," I said seriously but she seemed hesitant to do that.

"But what about him?" she asked, pointing her finger back at Dick, who was quietly listening on the conversation.

"They'll have to leave him alone once they realize they can't get anything from him," I explained while giving a side glance at Dick to let him know that what I said was for him to.

Dick being a street duelist understood the truth in my words and relaxed himself a little bit, though it was clear he was still nervous about facing Security by himself. However Carly, who probably never having been arrested or having to know anything about that kind of thing still wasn't convinced.

"Yeah but…" she started but I had to interrupt her because we were running out of time.

"You can stay with him if you want or you can follow me. It's your choice," I told her with finality before leaving the parking garage for good.

Once I felt I was good enough away from the garage I decided to wait for a while to see if Carly was going to come or not. I had been waiting twenty minutes for her and figured that by now she was with Security. I sighed at this and decided it was time for me to go back to Saiga's since the sun was already coming up. I started walking again until I felt and heard a familiar person coming towards me.

"Yusei-kun, wait!" screamed Carly who was only several feet away and running towards me.

I waited for her to reach me and when she did she was bending down breathing heavily in exhaustion. When she got her breath back she leant back up with a grin on her face.

"You walk fast," she commented jokily and I let a smile form on my lips.

"So what did you want to ask me?"

The sun was now fully up by the time I arrived back at Saiga's. I opened the door and Jin noticed me right away.

"Hey. Where have you been till now, so early in the morning?" he questioned me while I walked further into the room.

"Recon," I lied easily since I wasn't planning on telling them about the night's events.

"Any luck?" asked Jin having bought my excuse.

"Not really," was all that I answered back.

After awhile, I decided to go on the computer to see if the article Carly wrote about me was up yet. It turns out that the article was indeed already on the front page and I quickly scanned over what had been written. I was pleased by what I had read and grateful that she didn't mention anything about last night's duel like I had asked.

She really is a good reporter when she puts her mind to it.

Unfortunately for every immense article there was usually a controversy regarding it and this one was no exception. In the Daily Duel newspaper, there was an article about me being an "Alleged King." It must have been the work of that woman that Carly was talking and complaining about earlier. And from reading the article I could see that Carly's perceptions of her were dead on. My eyes narrowed at this. She was definitely one of those reporters.

"Drink up," Jin said handing me a cup of hot tea.

"Thanks," I replied back before taking the cup and letting the hot liquid pour down my throat.

Even though I really didn't need to drink anything anymore, it was still very soothing to do. The heat from the tea radiated throughout my body, brining a calming feeling to wash over me. Drinking had been one of the simple gifts that I've learned to appreciate over time. Being able to indulge in diverse kinds and tastes of fluids causes the body and mind to enter a relaxed state. It was certainly one of those things humans underappreciated so much.

"Y'know sonny, Rua and Ruka thought you had left," Yanagi suddenly mentioned, reminding me that he had been in room as well.

Hearing his tone told me exactly how sad the twins must have been when they thought I had left without saying goodbye. I finished drinking up the tea and set the cup down on the table before getting up from my seat.

"I will soon. I have to return to Satellite. There's something I need to do there," I confessed to them, causing surprise on their faces since they had no idea that I was planning on leaving so quickly.

"Yusei, you're leaving now?" I heard Ruka ask in a sad voice.

When I turned to face them, I saw the sorrow-filled looks on Ruka and Rua's faces.

"Yes…I have to," I stated as gently as I could before I walked over to the two children and lowered down to their level.

I embraced them in a hug and they instantly hugged me back.

"It's up to the both of you whether I come back or not," I whispered to them making them become more tense and distressed at the same time.

It may have been a little harsh to say, but lying to them about the situation would be worse. At least this way they knew what was at stake and how important their choice really was. And once again the sound of sirens had interrupted something important. We all had quickly rushed to the window and I slid it open to see police cars and a familiar Security Officer with a blow horn down below.

"Can you hear me, you Satellite scumbag?! The city is no safe refuge for you! I'm going to haul your ass in this very second, so you'd you better get good and ready!" he yelled threateningly through the blow horn.

"Tch, talk about bad timing," bitterly commented Jin.

"Just the opposite," I rebutted causing everyone to turn to me in surprise.

I gave them my quick goodbyes and left the place. I walked down the stairs and stopped a few feet from Ushio.

"I need to speak with Goodwin anyway," I proclaimed, which made him angry.

"What was that? You Satellite scumbag…" he stated heatedly while fiercely approaching me with murder in his eyes.

He tried to make a hit at me but I easily held it off and gave him a sharp look.

"You're going to take me to him," I declared to him before letting his arm go and walking pass him.

"You punk! …This is the end of all your bluffs!" he shouted back at me, yet I simply ignored him and continued walking until I got inside the police car.

"I'm gonna teach you a decent thing or two!" he screamed while pounding the side window of the police car I had just gotten in.

However, I really wasn't in the mood for his usual frustrations towards me so I gave him one more firm look.

"Just hurry up," I said severely with an edge of warning in my voice and that certainly had finally shut him up.

A/N: Hoped you really liked this chapter!

Ok, I've got to know how I did with the duel between Yusei and Takasu because that was actually the first duel that I've written. I was trying really hard to make it like how dueling is portrayed in the anime and not just you reading a simple duel.

I know there was very little Yusei/Aki in this chapter but don't worry, I plan on having much more in the next chapter. Speaking of relationships, how do you like the friendship with Yusei and Carly that I have started here? I thought those two interacting more would be interesting since they hardly do any in the anime.

And in case you're wondering, Jin, Yanagi, and Aoyama didn't witness Yusei going full Dark Signer on Takasu. Yusei made sure that Aoyama took Jin and Yanagi out of there much sooner since Jin and Yanagi were too roughed up to make a quick escape.

I think that at least covers the main things in this chapter. But if you still have questions just ask through review or PM and I'll do my best to answer them.