The blood was now pouring down from his arms; the scars open and making him ache with pain. Half of his left eye was closed, his breathing heavy and gasping. There was nothing he could do, but then again he was the one protecting the other one.

"Yusei! Yusei please!"

He shook his head, knowing very well that the younger one could not endure the power of this dragon alone. He had taken full responsibility for the battle. His body threatened to collapse, his legs almost giving out on him twice. He gasped for air, but the more he gasped the more blood he seemed to spit.

Stardust was crying to him, its lustrous wings battered and almost torn. Archfiend seemed to have the upper hand in this battle. It clawed at Stardust, dragging it down to the ground more than once. Its cries were only barely heard over Yusei's own cries of anguish. His heart was pounding, screaming at him and shouting that it would explode.

The dragons fought hard, and Archfiend seemed to always have the upper hand. Yusei felt whatever damage Stardust felt, and this knowledge only made him accept his destiny more. He never realized it before, but the Crimson Dragon had sent him here for a reason.

In a final cough of blood, he finally collapsed to the cold ground, young hands reaching for him as he fell silently, his tattered body flopping. His eyes closed softly, a soft melody making itself present in his head. Jaden's voice was all he could hear, it was all he wanted to hear. He knew it was the last thing he wanted.

In a blaze of cold fire he awoke, his body ignited in some sort of cold flame that warmed him and yet made him shiver. It was strange to feel this way, but this was what was happening. His azure eyes gazed around the darkness, his entire being filled with a light that emanated from within his very heart. Where was he?

Yusei Fudo.

He was being called.

"Who's there?"

The darkness split almost too gently as a red dragon appeared before him, its eyes pupil less and waves of light shaking its very being. It seemed to smile at him.

"Crimson Dragon?"

The dragon nodded at him, nudging him slightly with its nostrils. It was then that he realized he was naked, the light seeping from his pores and the symbols of the dragon burning brightly upon his skin.

Yusei… do you know where you are?

"If I had any idea… I would think I'm dead right now."

You are not dead.

"Then where am I?"

The dragon paused, seeming to think of a logical answer. Humans could only grasp certain concepts, and even when explained about alternate ones, they seemed to only retain little information.

You are in the very center of something. In the very something that has yet to sprout fully. It is growing Yusei.

"What's growing?"

The man's questions made the dragon roar with approval. He was the son of a great and powerful man after all.

The very thing that will tear you apart from the one who has planted the seed of warmth inside of you.

"What do you mean?" Yusei gazed down at the darkness, swallowing. "We're supposed to stop Heresy… right? Well, aren't we supposed to do that? Together?"

Yes… but once you do that… do you realize what will happen?

"I… Well…" Yusei silenced, letting his voice trial off almost in anguish. He had never thought about going back home, not after everything that had happened between him and Jaden. They had been through so much now, even if it was only a few days. But then again, sometimes love can be found in only a few days, or perhaps even hours. Love knew no bounds, and when struck by Cupid's arrow, one could do nothing but obey the commands of the heart. Yusei knew this all too well.

It is the one thing that will tear you apart. It is the seed that Jaden has planted within you that will be your downfall.

"You can't separate us! We're a team! We… we…" Yusei swallowed again, thinking hard about the dragon's words. If they were to proclaim their…

"You're wrong! Nothing can separate us! It's… it's…." his heart burned with anger. It was the first time he truly felt happy, the first time he could honestly smile and not fear what the outcome might be. It was the first time he ever loved.

Once Heresy is defeated… do you not wish to return home?

"I want to go back home… but… if it means leaving Jaden behind…"

There is nothing you can do Yusei. You were never meant for this world. You were never meant to 'belong' here.

"But… But I belong here! I know I do!" he shouted, his words shaking and his eyes set. His heart was burning more, an unknown force driving it towards the truth that was soon becoming light.

"Maybe I don't belong here… but I know one thing is for sure!" he continued, licking his lips. "I belong with Jaden! He belongs with me! And I belong with him!"

The dragon snarled, but seemed to smile as well. The power of love was something that the dragon knew all too well. It was a mystical force, much like itself.

You will return home… no matter what you do. There is nothing you can do to stop it. Heresy must be found, before the dragon resurrects and wreaks havoc upon the world again.

Yusei growled, clenching his fists now. His body shivered with anger, but his voice was calm. He knew that they would be separated; it was the last thing he wanted.

"I'll stay with Jaden… for as long as I can… I'll protect him… for as long as I am able! I will not take these days in vain! I will treasure every moment with him! I will… I will stand by his side!"

It was then that the darkness produced an unknown wind; forcing Yusei onto his bottom and making him cover his eyes. The dragon rose, roaring at him.

The time shall come when you two must separate, but if you prolong your stay here, he will hurt much more than you will. Are you willing to leave him behind to return to where you once came?

Yusei shook his head, screaming over the howling wind that whipped his hair about and made him freeze over in his tracks.

"I will save his world… I will save our world… and I will stay with him for as long as I am able! Even if it tears me apart… even if it kills me… I will voice my reason for living! I will voice my reason for existence!"

At his words the dragon reared back down, calming itself and whisking its breath over him lightly. He bowed to him slightly, regally, and shut its eyes, wrapping its body around the tiny Yusei.

The man cried out in alarm as the dragon took him in its grasp, but he felt safe within this grasp as well. It spoke to him again.

Then you, Yusei… will receive a gift that is more precious than time itself. It smiled at him, igniting the darkness with the light that only Gods knew of. Yusei covered his eyes, afraid and excited about the next happening.

With the power invested in me by the Gods… I will set the seed to grow, to flourish, and to wrap around those who feed it. Your actions shall not be in vain.

"Crimson Dragon!" Yusei cried, the howling wind still whipping him back and forth. "Did you predict this was going to happen?"

The dragon merely laughed at his statement, throwing its head up as Yusei was engulfed in that warm light that reminded him of the one he loved the most.

Destiny is only a part of fate… and fate is only a part of destiny.