A/N: Alright, people, I have decided! Yeah.

Impending rant warning, please skip to next paragraph if you don't want a long explaination about my decision: This is not going to be Yusei/Aki. Yes, I know that's a shock to your system all you people only reading because you're hoping desperately that just because I haven't mentioned any decided couples it's going to be Yusei/Aki but it's not. Firstly, because I've really gone off the pairing since the Dark Signers, I've said it a million times. Secondly, stop sending me messages asking- grow up people- you know who you are. Thridly, all you faithsippers seem to think that they're going to get married and have kids. No. Bad faithshippers. They're twenty at most at the end of the series. Ask your parents, or anyone you know who's married and ask them if they're with the person they were with as a teen or at twenty or whatever. No, most people are not. Most people are dating lots of different people long into their twenties and further. You do not fall in love, get married and have kids and love forever the first person who comes along. Deal with it.

Next on the list of matters- this fic is this close to becoming so sort of Jack/Yusei and/or Kiryu/Yusei fic. I swear. I think it's partly because they're the two couples I haven't really done out of the Satisfaction lot and partly because I haven't done anything that's not het for a while now. We'll see. What do you guys think? Be aware that if you say no I want a reason more than something stupid or I swear I will go postal. Grow up!

Right, I'm calm now. Thankies for all the reviews and I love you guys. The eternal type of love, not the stupid childish love that lasts a few days. That was a long note, and I am not a people person. Bye now, enjoy the chapter and the almost duel that follows. Bye now.

Kiryu locked his door behind him in silence. It would have been a good night, but Ali's interference was a problem. He wasn't sure why. He turned slowly and froze. Ali was lying on the couch. She sat up and rested on her elbows, and despite not being able to see her eyes, Kiryu was convinced she was glaring at him.

"Did you honestly think I'd let you hurt the Signer, Kyosuke Kiryu?" she said. "You're not that stupid, why on earth would you do that? What on earth were you thinking?"

"I knew you wouldn't let him die," Kiryu said. "The other one I wasn't sure about, but I knew you wouldn't let Jack get hurt. I just wanted to scare him, let him know this was serious. What's your problem? You agreed to it."

"I agreed to a bit of fun," she snapped, sitting up straight. "I agreed to scare them in the dark. You're sadistic, you know that?"

"I'm starting to get the distinct feeling you like me, Ali."

"Whatever... just stay well away from the Signers. They haven't even awakened yet. You know the rules."

"This is why the bad guys always lose on TV," Kiryu muttered. "Paying attention to the rules is for good guys, I would have thought being evil and trying to destroy the world meant that you could break the rules without people thinking less of you."

"It doesn't work like that. If you go near the Signers before time again and I'll kill you myself."

She got up and stormed passed only for Kiryu to catch her wrist and pull her around, one arm placed firmly against her back to hold her still. "That's not very nice, Ali." He smiled and reached under her hood, running a hand through her hair. "Now, let's have a look at your face, just for that."

"Don't."

Before she could stop him, he'd pulled down the white hood. "Oh, that's just not fair, Ali."

"How are you feeling this morning, Yusei?" Rex said as Yusei came down for breakfast.

"Like I was hit by a truck," Yusei said. "My shoulder feels like it's been smashed several times over. Why are you here, Jack?"

"Don't you remember what happened last night?" Jack said. Yusei shook his head. "At the old Facility?"

"You mean that wasn't a dream?" he groaned. "Kiryu... tried to kill me..."

"Yes."

"That's why my arm hurts then."

"Yes. Godwin's going to explain just what's going on here."

"First, you should eat, Yusei. Get your strength up," Rex said.

Yusei eat quietly, trying to make sense of what happened last night, but every time he thought of Kiryu he couldn't help focusing on those incredible golden eyes and everything went slightly hazy.

"Yusei?" Rex said quietly. "Are you ok?"

"It's his eyes," Yusei whispered. Rex frowned and Jack nodded. "You know what I mean, Jack."

"Yes," Jack said. "It was always kind of creepy."

"I think that's how he using his powers. Every time I looked in his eyes- every time I even think about them- it's like he was inside my head. Why did it have to be me he picked on?"

"Because I'm a Signer. Be grateful Ali saved you, she was only required to save me. Do we get our answers yet, Godwin?"

"Who is this Ali girl first?" Rex said.

"She was the girl in white, right?" Yusei said.

"Yeah," Jack replied. "She said she works for Yliaster, she's supposed to watch over us."

"I don't know of her, she obviously is a liar."

"She said her title was Psychic Alpha Wind, it's just every insists on giving her a name."

"I still don't know her. She's not a part of Yliaster, her title is nothing, I am the head of Yliaster, the organisation that watches over the Signers. That's people with marks like yours, Jack, the mark of the Crimson Dragon. I'll explain more about the Crimson Dragon once we've found all the Signers."

"You don't know who they all are?" Yusei said with a frown.

"We have an idea, we just don't have proof," Rex said. "The only one we're certain of is you, Jack."

"And the Dark Signers?"

"The polar opposite of a Signer. They're dark creatures, almost controlled by their chosen Immortal God, driven by them if nothing else. They're incredibly powerful and incredibly dangerous. Knowing one of them is good, it means you can hopefully predict how they'll act."

Yusei frowned. "He's after you then, Jack? He wants to make you suffer, right?" Jack nodded. "He knew you'd come after me and he knew that Ali would save you if not me as well."

"He wasn't trying to kill me..." He sighed and rested his chin in his palms. "If he'd wanted us dead it was the perfect place to do it. I mean, no one knew we were there- except you, Godwin, which brings a lot of questions- and there were hundreds of ways to do it. He could have easily killed us if he wanted to."

"Destiny says that the battle between Signers and Dark Signers can't commence until after there are five awakened on each side. He's probably under orders not to kill you," Rex said. "But nothing says he can't torture you. Do you understand now why I wanted to keep you inside?"

"Yes Uncle Rex."

"Come on, Yusei," Jack said. "Let's go upstairs." He got up slowly and Yusei followed him up to his room. "It's a nice place you've got here, Yusei."

"Haven't you been in here before?" Yusei said.

"Not in your room, no. It's nice. It's bigger than mine."

"Don't start complaining."

"Who's complaining? I've got a race track in my back yard, your room being a little bigger than mine is hardly important."

Yusei smiled. "The Fortune Cup starts next week, are you worried?"

"Why should I be?" Jack said, lying back on Yusei's bed.

"You might lose your title," Yusei said.

"No I won't." He laughed and Yusei frowned, sitting next to him and gazing down. "Don't look at me like that, Yusei. You know I won't lose. It's a random eight people. They're hardly going to be any danger to me."

"Random seven people, Jack," he said. Jack frowned. "I'm an entrant, remember?"

"Oh yeah..."

"Beside, do you honestly think Rex just picked out seven random people? Do you honestly think it's really random?"

"I suppose not. It'll probably be to awaken the other Signers, right?"

"Yep."

"We really are nothing more than pawns to him aren't we, Yusei?" Jack said with a sigh. "There has got to be something we can do to stop him using us like this."

"I think for now we just have to put up with it," Yusei replied with a shrug. "I would think everything we can think of he's already planned for."

"That's depressing, Yusei."

A greenish-white dog in strange armour was lying on next to the fire. Misty frowned and rested her hands on her hips. Kiryu was sitting next to it, running his fingers lazily through it fluffy fur. After a long moment, she sighed and settled next to him. The dog rolled and rested its head on her lap.

"Thunderbolt," Kiryu said. "I'm calling him Thunder. He was a present from a friend of mind in Yliaster. I think you're spying on me, Thunder. Not that I didn't send Beast to spy on her, so I guess it's fair."

"He's so soft," Misty chuckled, rubbing Thunder's ears. "He's beautiful. Is Beast your dog?"

"Ah... she's not so pretty but she does the job. I love her to bits. Maybe, if we introduce them, we'll get fluffy demonic puppies." He laughed softly as Thunder lifted his head and seemed to glare at him. "It's your boss' fault, don't you look at me like that."

"Why are you here, Kiryu?"

"I got bored. This fella's boss ruined my plans last night. I don't get it. I mean all I wanted to do was mess with them a little but apparently it's some huge crime to set up a death trap. That was essentially what it was. One of those super villain death traps off TV. You know, where you set everything up so supposedly they'll die but it takes time, is overly complicated and then you leave the victims to it and they inevitably somehow get out. I knew they weren't going to die."

"Kiryu, sweetie," Misty said quietly. He frowned. "You are aware of the fact that you are completely and utterly insane, aren't you?"

"Yes," he groaned. "Yes, I'm a little bit crazy but that doesn't mean I need to be told every other day by someone or other. I've had a messed up past, ok? We're not all rich and pampered like you."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you."

"I'm joking, Misty," he said with a laugh. "I don't care how you were raised or how much money you have, ok? I'm just, you know, a little messed up in the head, I'll admit it, but that's not my fault."

"You never did tell me what Jack Atlas did to make you hate him so much."

"It's his fault I'm dead."

"I know, you've said that but-"

"Thunder," Kiryu called, getting up. Thunder got up and shook himself before following him towards the door. "I'll see you later, Misty."

In the elevator, Thunder sat at Kiryu's side and rested his head against his leg. Kiryu sighed and scratched his ears, like he used to do with Beast. He did love having the canine monsters around. Without Beast it was nice to have Thunder there.

"What am I going to do with you then?" he muttered. Thunder gazed up at him and licked his fingers. "Don't do that. You can't try and butter me up like that. You're still an Yliaster spy." He whimpered and pushed his nose into Kiryu's palm. Kiryu frowned and sighed. "Even if you are kind of cute. Right, we're going home and then I'm going to see what Beast's watching."

Beast was, in fact, sitting at the edge of a duel field, watching Divine training Aki and Victoria. Divine had been incredibly suspicious of her at first, but Aki had reassured him that she was harmless and just liked to watch. He was standing at her side, watching them duel- which was quickly drawing to its close.

"Reeze, Whirlwind of Gusto, destroy her Violet Witch!"

The huge staff swung at Violet Witch, clashing with the witch's own staff and blowing her back into Aki as she shatter into gold shards. Aki didn't flinch.

"When Violet Witch is destroyed, I can add a monster to my hand," Aki said. "And I choose Rose Fairy. And when Rose Fairy is added to my hand from my deck by affect, I can summon her in defence."

The little fairy spun as she appeared and crossed her arms over her chest. ATK 600/DEF 1200. Victoria frowned as Reeze returned to her field.

"I set two cards and end my turn."

"My turn," Aki said. "And start by sacrificing my Rose Fairy to summon Rose Tentacles."

"I activate Call of the Haunted to resurrect my Gusto Egul."

Rose Tentacles slithered through the multi coloured porthole and onto the field. ATK 2200/DEF 1200. In comparison, Victoria's tiny Gusto Egul flittered through and perched on the top of Reeze's staff. ATK 200/DEF 400.

"Fine. Rose Tentacles, destroy her little bird."

"I activate Urgent Tuning. So I tune the level five Reeze, Whirlwind of Gusto with the level one Gusto Egul to Synchro Summon Diagusto Sphreeze!"

Out of the green light, a young woman with green and orange hair appeared and settled her staff on the ground. ATK 2000/DEF1300.

"And when she's Synchro Summoned, I can add a Gusto monster from my Graveyard to my hand, and I choose Windaar, Sage of Gusto."

"Rose Tentacles is still stronger, attack!"

The vines snapped out and Sphreeze smirked. She swung her staff, bouncing the vines back at Aki, who hissed and stepped back.

"Sphreeze can't be destroyed by battle," Victoria said, with a flick of her hair. "And any damage taken from a battle involving a Gusto monster is reflected back at you."

Aki frowned and set a face down. "I end my turn."

"I activate Double Summon, allowing me summon twice this turn. First I summon a Gusto Egul, which I then sacrifice and use my second summon for Windaar, Sage of Gusto!" A tall man in earthy colours appeared, swinging a sword incredibly similar Sphreeze's staffs appeared. ATK 2000/DEF 1000. "Windaar, will attack fist." Once again, Rose Tentacles' vines were bounced back at Aki, who staggered back. "Then Sphreeze." Again Aki was knocked back. The attacks were getting more real. "I end my turn."

Beast cocked her head and Divine smiled. Victoria was rather impressive. She certainly wasn't the best he'd seen, but she was above expectations, and definitely above average. A lesser duellist might be daunted by this situation; even if they destroyed Windaar, they'd take the damage and she'd just manage to summon out another monster and the weaker the monster the more damage Aki would take. Divine didn't doubt, however, that Aki would pull through. She'd been in tougher spots.

"I summon Twilight Rose Knight." The small knight flashed into life. ATK 1000/DEF 1000. "When he's summoned I can Special Summon a level four or lower monster from my hand and I choose Lord Poison." ATK 1500/DEF 1000. "Now, I tune them together to Synchro Summon Black Rose Dragon!"

The huge dragon appeared with a deafening roar, wind whipping up around the arena. Divine smiled.

"Wow, Rose Knight, Rose Fairy, Black Rose Dragon," Victoria muttered. "You could hide better if you dropped the rose thing."

Aki narrowed her eyes. "When Black Rose Dragon is Synchro Summoned I can destroy every card of the field."

Everything on the field shattered and Divine was slightly amused to see Beast dig in her claws in the ferocious wind. Victoria narrowed her eyes and glanced at her hand.

"I set two cards and end my turn."

"Too bad, I thought you were going to win for a moment there." Victoria smirked. "I summon Caam, Serenity of Gusto." A sleepy looking girl rested her staff against her shoulder as she stepped onto the field. ATK 1700/DEF 1000. "Next, I activate her effect. I return Reeze and Windaar to my deck then draw a card. And I activate it. Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy the left card." The card shattered and Aki frowned. "Now,Caam, End this!"

Caam swung her staff lazily and a whirlwind tore across the field towards Aki. Divine pulled his jacket closer around him as the wind picked up, becoming stronger and stronger as Victoria's powers quickly fell out of her control.

Aki smiled.

"I activate Wicked Rebirth," she said.

Black Rose Dragon roared and blasted a fiery black stream into Caam and straight into Victoria, sending her flying back. She fell to the ground with a thud and Divine smirked. Aki was panting and shaking. Beast ran over to Victoria and nudged her hand as Divine went to calm Aki.

"You both did very well," he said quietly. "You'll do very well here, Victoria, I think we can get on with each other." Victoria groaned and struggled to sit up. "There's a medic in the room next door. Come, Aki, you need rest, it was a testing duel."

He wrapped his coat around her shoulders and guided her out of the room. Beast lingered for a moment torn between following Aki and staying with Victoria. The choice was made for her when her master's voice whispered to her to stay with Victoria, at least until she had recovered. He still had a soft spot for innocent people in need it seemed.

"What's wrong with you now?" Kiryu muttered.

Thunder was at the window, front paws against the glass, whimpering and staring in the direction of the Arcadia Movement building. He sighed and got up from bed. It wasn't like he really needed much sleep. He thought he did, his mind was in the habit of sleeping. Using his powers to keep Beast in reality made him tired and hungry, but not much else since he recalled her when he was sure it was safe, just as he was sure Thunder would be recalled when he was done spying.

Thunder pawed the window and let out a sad howl. Kiryu sighed and let his eyes glow softly in the darkness. Victoria was lying in her bed, with Beast next to her. She looked bruised. He frowned and patted Thunder's head.

"You can go and see her if you like," he said. Thunder cocked his head, and Kiryu didn't doubt he understood. "I'm not going anywhere and I'm calling Beast back for the night."

Thunder vanished and Kiryu closed his eyes, focusing on letting Beast fade from existence. He yawned and leant against the glass. This was starting to get boring, all this waiting. The sooner Rex found his Signers the sooner he could get on with destroying them. He yawned again and slid back into bed. For now, his mind was telling him he just needed to sleep. Everything was always better in the morning. He closed his eyes and buried his face in his pillow, struggling not to yawn again.

As he drifted off, his thoughts turned to Yusei. Jack had followed him in and risked his life to try and save him. Why on earth was he so important to Jack, when he'd simply let him get dragged off to his death? He frowned and rolled over. Jack hadn't even cared that he would be put to death! And yet Yusei was in a hint of danger and he was suddenly so bothered! He clenched his fists around the covers. And Jack was supposed to be one of his closest friends... it said a lot for his life when one of his best friends let him die and not care about it.