Author's Notes: Here we go again... Ready for more?^_^ I feel I should warn you: I actually swore in this chapter... (and I do again in later chapters...) nothing horrible though I promise^_^

Enjoy^_^

Chapter Nine – Heart of Darkness

"No way, Crow," Yusei shook his head and bent back down to work on his runner. "I'm not getting involved in this again."

"Ah, c'mon, Yus'," Crow pleaded. "You can't say this hasn't piqued your interest again."

"You're right about that much; I can't."

"So why not?" Crow folded his arms across his chest and gazed down at his friend. "Give me one good reason why you won't start searching again."

"You want the truth?"

"Of course I do."

Yusei stopped working and lowered his head. "The truth is, Crow," he sighed. "I'm afraid to keep going. Whoever this guy is, he's not gonna stop protecting his secret. He's already proven he's not afraid to commit murder to keep it hidden, and, personally, I don't want to be his next victim."

"But don't you see, buddy? You're in the middle of this whether you want to be or not. We all are." Yusei peered up at his orange haired friend with a look of puzzlement. "We're the sons of our fathers; if we can't figure out what's going on, no one will."

"I still don't want any part of this, Crow. It's too risky." He turned his attention back to his runner signaling the end of the conversation.

"Alright, Yus'." Crow sighed as he turned. "But just think about it, okay? 'Cause I think there's something your dad wanted you to find; maybe something beyond what's going on. One way or the other, you're the one with the album and there's no going forward without it."

"So ya thought about it yet?"

Yusei sighed impatiently; Crow just wouldn't give up. He just came in for a lunch break and BAM! there's Crow, badgering him again. "I don't need to; I made my decision a month ago. It's too great of a risk."

"So was forming a duel gang," Crow countered, ticking off the reasons on his fingers. "Heck, even just having cards in the first place was risky. And so was building a duel runner. And going to New Domino. And - "

Yusei cut in. "I get your point, Crow."

"Then why do you keep running away?"

"Do you remember when we were nine, Crow? We were afraid of the dark."

"We avoided dark places like the plague, and Jack made fun of us for it; of course I remember. But what does that have to do with this?"

"My point is that you stay away from what you're afraid of. You don't purposely walk straight into the heart of it."

"You're the only one who can find the answers," Crow stated, crossing his arms. "And maybe I'm being a little selfish here, but it feels like a piece of me is missing having never known my parents. I mean, c'mon, don't you ever feel like you're somehow incomplete?"

Yusei sighed. He looked away, clenched his hands into fists at his side.

"Besides," the orange haired duelist added. "This wouldn't be the first time you've walked straight into the heart of darkness."

It was true. The night the two of them had faced their fear of the dark had been a stormy one. Martha had evacuated all the kids to the basement because it had been so severe a storm. Under normal circumstances no one had even been allowed to go down there; there were no lights and if you weren't careful, you could become lost quite easily in the many passages. But windows had been shattering that night, and no one had a choice.

And then there was Yusei's duel with Kalin. His first encounter with Kalin as a Dark Signer had nearly cost him his life. After so nearly losing the first time, Yusei had been afraid he couldn't defeat the Dark Signer. But in the end, he forced himself to go back and face his former best friend.

"So what's it gonna be, Yusei?" Crow broke into his friend's thoughts, pulling him back to the present. "Are you gonna face your fears again or keep running away?"

A red warning light pulsed gently in the corner of Dr. Brueski's laptop computer screen. "What the - ?" he muttered to himself as he clicked on it. The type of viewing screen used for web cams popped open showing two boys, one with spiky orange hair and one with raven hair.

"What are you doing, Yusei?" he hissed through his teeth as the black haired boy knelt by the bed and produced a beat-up black photo album from underneath. He watched in silence as the two boys left the room before slamming the top of his laptop shut. "I promise you will regret sticking your nose where is doesn't belong, Yusei Fudo."

Eighteen Years Ago

"WHERE'S THE PARTICLE, FUDO?" Brueski demanded.

"Please lower your voice; my son is sleeping," Dr. Fudo stated calmly. "And I assure you, I don't know what you're talking about."

"LIKE HELL YOU DON'T!"

"Dr. Brueski, I'm not going to ask you again to refrain from yelling, especially with that kind of language."

"THEN TELL ME WHAT YOU'VE DONE WITH IT!"

"I'm sorry, but that's government business now. You'll have to speak with the Director about it. Good day, Dr. Brueski." With that said, Dr. Fudo closed the door in Brueski's face. He started down the hall only to find his wife stepping out of the nursery cradling an unhappy Yusei. "I'm sorry, my dear," he murmured upon approach. "I know you just got him to sleep."

"Who was that, anyway?" she asked.

"Just Brueski demanding I return the particle to him."

"You mean he's really still trying to go through with it?"

"I guess so, Love." He shook his head. "But it's impossible without the Yusei Particle, which Brueski will never lay his hands on now that it's government property. As for the amulet... He doesn't know I still have possession of it, and he hopefully never will."

"You don't think he'll threaten us to try to get it back, do you?" She hugged little Yusei closer as this thought occurred to her.

"Hopefully he's smart enough to realize it would be futile. There's no way it would help to threaten us, and if he was really stupid enough to threaten the government, he'd find himself in the Facility before he could blink an eye. No; we're safe." He smiled to reassure his wife, but inside he added, 'For now, anyway...'

Five Months Later

"Mass chaos is filling the city!" a newswoman reported from a helicopter above the city. "As you can see below me, a section of Domino City has broken off and tidal waves have flooded the streets and destroyed numerous buildings. This story cannot end well... " Brueski clicked the channel button on the TV remote. Another news report.

"... Right now rescue workers have confirmed at least 200 dead, 500 more injured, and over 4000 are still missing," an anchorman read from his report. "Among those confirmed dead are such prestigious public figures as Doctors Fudo and Kumari, and Senator Nagisa. Such loses as these - ." Brueski clicked the set off. 'Hm,' he thought to himself. 'At least that's one less family I have to worry about. Too bad any chance of getting that particle back is gone now, too.'

Present Day

A lone figure caped in black stood near a weathered tombstone, her face hidden by the hood. With both hands she held a bouquet of white lilies. She gazed at the stone and read the inscription with tears in her eyes.

"Beloved Husband and Father
Hiero Fudo
June 4, 2051 to May 19, 2076"

"It has been far too long," the woman whispered, laying the lilies at the base of the stone. "I miss you so...

"Rest in peace my husband..."

Author's Notes: Told ya I love plot twists^_^ mwahahahahahaha!

Anyway, review if you enjoyed, review if you didn't; I love hearing what you guys thing^_^

(cookies again to the people who normally do^_^... hmm... actually make it muffins this time; you people are pry getting tired of cookies XD)