Yeah, I have absolutely no excuse. I've just had some serious writer's block. So much, that I couldn't even remember what I originally was going to do with this story. Well that and…I wrote the entire duel with Yusei and Kiseki but…it didn't save properly so I lost the whole thing. Then I went, "Screw it all to hell!" So yeah…I had to write from scratch and lost my will to write their duel…at least until it's the more intense one…
Bah more excuses! Long story short, I made changes so the story may seem different from the direction you thought it was going in but rest assured it is still a faithshipping fanfic. Okay, rambling is done so let me begin.
Reviewers Response:
Bbbstrwbrry: Yeah well finding time with sports was hard…Well, I don't know if it's animosity…yet. Just wait till they are under the same roof!
Asianpandaxxx: I just hope my hiatus doesn't ruin it…and yeah…I made where Kiseki would be liked at first.
TheRedKing: Yes, Yusei's got it rough. But it can only get better (or worse ya never know).
AnimeKiwi369: Now I feel awful. Godly awful about losing the document with that duel you waited for…
Eltoro: Thank you
CelticGirl7: Updating now
~~~~~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~~~~~
Yusei felt as if he was seven-years-old and playing tag with his former girlfriend. For the past few weeks he spent time searching for her and her friends. They met multiple times, and eluded each other each encounter. He was beginning to become agitated by his past sporadically appearing in his life. Questions the man long since hypothesized and laid to rest started to rise again. Those unanswered queries were joined by the ones appearing as he delved deeper into the business between the Akai no Ryu and the Jigoku no Ryu (1).
He glanced at his cell phone. It read on its LED screen: 13:17. The young man leaned against a small statuette. Yusei was wary. Kiseki had promised to meet with him in front of the Neo Domino Museum of International History. However, he wasn't certain he could trust her words. Yet, Yusei wasn't given the option to refuse when they were dueling.
~~~~~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~~~~~
"Ore no turn, draw!" Kiseki called as she looked at her hand. The field wasn't in her favor as she only had one monster, Messenger of the Desolate (ATK: 800/DEF: 1000/LVL: 4), to defend herself with and the trap card, Probability 0. While her opponent, on the other hand, held Justice Bringer and Shooting Star Dragon. Unbeknownst to her, Yusei also had High and Low as well as Star Excursion face down. Unless she drew a card that could turn the duel around, Kiseki would lose. Unlike her unreserved expression when she was talking or moving, Kiseki displayed nothing as she calculated her strategy.
"Well let's see if I have the luck of the draw," she said. "I activate my set card, Miracle Reversal. This card can only be activated if my life points are lower than my opponents."
Yusei LP: 1700
Kiseki LP: 800
"We both take our cards off the field and shuffle them in our decks along with our hands. We draw the same amount of cards we put in and switch our situations," she told him, "As in, I'm allowed to have a Synchro monster, up to a level four monster, and two set cards while you can only have up to a level 4 monster and one set. And I summon, The Blind Clairvoyant, Seyella (LVL: 8/ATK: 2300/DEF: 3000) and Fates' Familiar (LVL: 4/ATK: 1400/DEF: 1000). Then set two set cards."
Yusei set a card and put his monster card facedown. He nearly forgot how the lady dueled. She normally allowed herself to find out more about person's deck-usually landing in a pinch. However, she also possessed cards that, like her namesake, brought about a fortuitous turnaround. Even though Kiseki didn't use her old deck, she still had those cards and in one turn, turned the tables.
"Next I use Seyella's special effect. When I have no cards in my hand, she may attack directly," Kiseki informed. The unseeing humanoid drew a sword and with a deadly precision threatened to 'pierce' him. Yusei managed to glance at his opponent putting a hand to her head before he held his hand out to reveal his set card. However, before the blind clairvoyant could reach him; it disappeared.
Baffled, Yusei looked out to the field or the lack thereof. The solid vision faded, returning the field back into the parking lot. Their duel disks shut off. Yusei didn't understand why until he noticed the gesture his rival was in. Kiseki stood there with her hand covering her deck; she surrendered.
"Wah? Ki-chan, why'd you do that? You had him on the ropes!" Liam called to the leader. She ignored him as she placed her deck back into its holster. Jack cried, "Oi are you running away again?"
"What, you always gotta see the life points drop to 0 to know that the kurage (2) would've won?" Kiseki asked. "You had Scrap-Iron Scarecrow, didn't you? That would've negated my attack and the ever brilliant King of Riding Duels would only have to wait until it was his turn to reverse the roles again. I'm not stupid enough to waste anymore time on this than I already did."
Lillian walked over to her, and held onto her arm and said to where only she could hear, "That decision was for the best, Kiseki. I'm proud." Azure came over as well, "I'm proud as well. You're kind enough to even throw a duel for us."
"Urusai (3)," she placed her glasses back over her eyes before turning back to the holder of the dragon's head. In a clearly sarcastic tone she bowed, "Congratulations, Yusei, you won. The guardians are at your command. And what is your first order?"
"I want answers about the Jigoku no Ryu," he said without hesitation. Kiseki smiled, "Fine. I'll tell you what you want to know. Tomorrow outside the Neo Domino Museum of International History at 13:15."
Crow said, "How do we know you won't just not show up?"
"That's a question of faith," she cryptically replied.
~~~~~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~~~~~
"Think I wasn't gonna show?" a familiar voice interrupted Yusei's reverie. He turned to see Kiseki standing in casual clothes. Her eyes were covered with sunglasses. She smiled, "No surprise there."
"Why did you surrender?" Yusei questioned. The lady turned toward the museum, "Cause I felt like it. Nothin' more to it. Why ya asking anyway? It worked out for ya so don't complain."
The duelist asked, "So you purposely lost?"
"If that's how ya wanna think about it, sure. We'll say I lost on purpose," she retorted casually. "Either way, you won. You said ya wanted answers. I'm here to give 'em, so let's go already." They entered the building when Yusei's cell phone went off. Kiseki let him take his call while she talked to a curator.
The phone projected an image of Aki, "Yusei, are you already at the museum?"
"Yeah, but I thought you would be in class by now, Aki," he quipped. She shrugged, "The professor had an emergency so he had to cancel class for today. Is it fine if I come?"
Yusei honestly was relieved at Aki's sudden availability since he still thought it was awkward he was alone with Kiseki. He understood that the twins were at school and that Crow was patrolling, but why Jack hadn't come was also a mystery to him. Then the man noticed that Kiseki was also unaccompanied by any of the guardians. Why was that?
"Yusei?" Aki's voice brought his attention back to reality. He told her, "It's fine. I will see you then, Aki."
She waved, "Alright, ja ne (4)." With that, the projection shut off and the guy pocketed his phone. Yusei wandered back to where Kiseki was talking. She and the man she was talking to laughed like they were friends before they bowed slightly. The man gave Yusei a nod before walking off, "That's Ryuusaki Ikoi. He's the curator of this entire museum and knows the every piece and its history inside and out. He's the one that helped me find answers when I wondered about what us guardians were. That's how I learned about you Signers."
"Is that why you left? Because of the fact you were a guardian?" the question slipped from Yusei's mouth. Silence developed between them for a few moments. Kiseki started walking before pausing, "No. I didn't leave because I was a guardian. In fact, I had no clue what that was at the time."
The dull noises of the museum did the conversating for the two leaders as they walked. Yusei glanced with passing interest at the artifacts in the continent-themed exhibits. He didn't know where they were headed, yet his once friend stepped with confidence in their destination. Finally, Yusei could see the sign that read: 'South America'.
Inside he gazed upon ancient masks, remains of heads, and beautiful black, red, and brown pottery. It was pretty in an ancient sense. Kiseki then questioned, "Do you know anything about Nazca?"
Nazca. His mind immediately went back to the WRGP and visiting South America with Jack. His former opponent, Bommer, lived there with his siblings, Annie and Max, "That's where the Earthbound Gods were sealed. The Nazca line."
Then he realized he said 'Earthbound Gods', something only he, the other Signers, and the Dark Signers knew about. Yusei was about to explain when the woman spoke "That's right, the Earthbound Gods. You had a run-in with those guys a couple years back. I remember them. A poor soul torn between the destiny of akai no ryu and jigoku no ryu; his brother following recklessly after him; an old man; a woman carrying the wrong grudge; an honorable man avenging his fallen family; a chick that got in by some bad luck; and Kyousuke…god, that guy always has to learn the hard way. Though you were no help, kurage."
Shock etched itself on Yusei's face, "H-How?"
Her red eyes peeked from behind her sunglasses, "Would ya believe they were only the flunkies to the a higher up?"
~~~~~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~~~~~
Aki hadn't taken her D-wheel since she heard it was supposed to rain, but she was starting to regret her choice as she was still a while away from the International Museum. She went at a brisk pace, with sweat beads forming on her skin. Ironic since the forecast said rain but it was sunny and humid. She sulked, damn weathermen.
"-san. Izayoi-san!" the sound of her name caused her to look around for the source of the sound. She glanced out at the street to see a black D-wheel with white accents that seemed to glow that moved away from traffic. The person removed their helmet and she called, "Oh, Azure, I'm sorry I didn't notice you before."
"A lot people don't so I'm used to it," he shrugged it off, "racing to meet with Yusei and Kiseki?"
"Wait, it's just Yusei and Kiseki?"
"Well aside from me and Kiseki everyone had stuff to do so if none of you all went with Yusei then yes, they're by themselves," Azure commented lackadaisically. "I was heading there now so I could give you a ride if you want, Izayoi-san."
"Thank you and just 'Aki' is fine," The psychic accepted gratefully and mounted on the D-Wheel. Suddenly, Aki felt an urgency to reach her friend soon. It wasn't because she didn't believe in her friend, but the woman was wary of the person he was with. Laughter was heard from the driver, "You didn't strike me as a person that gets really jealous, Aki."
"W-What? Jealous? Jealous about what?" Aki asked, unnerved by the comment. Azure quelled his chuckling, "Yusei and Kiseki's relationship. Well, that's not right. You just don't like Kiseki cause she may or may not have made Yusei become more…apathetic. That and she was the one that had Yusei first."
Aki flushed and was relieved he had to keep his eyes on the road. However her 'defense' arose, "What give you the right to make wild assumptions like that?"
"It's not assumptions when I hear your thoughts, Aki," the man retorted. She nearly forgot that Azure was also a psychic, though the lady never learned what his abilities were. "however it is rude to intrude on personal thoughts. Sorry, but I can't control whether or not I hear them. Though I can assure you…Kiseki has no intention of hurting Yusei than she already has."
"And how would you know?"
"I told you," he answered, "I can't control what I hear."
~~~~~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~~~~~
"The Jigoku no Ryu," Yusei concluded. Kiseki nodded, "They were merely minions that were wreck destruction to revive their deity."
The Signer repeated, "Revive?"
"Mou~You don't know anything about the dragons, do ya?" Kiseki face palmed when she noticed the bafflement on his face. "Listen up then. Both the Earthbound Gods and something known as the Crimson Devil were servants to the Jigoku no Ryu. It and the Akai no Ryu were known as 'twin stars', or destined opposites. How I see it, they're like yin and yang. They represent life and death…light and darkness…heaven and hell. While the Akai no Ryu blessed its people, the Jigoku no Ryu plagued them all. Eventually…the misfortune threatened to destroy mankind so the Jigoku no Ryu was banished and sealed. Split between the stars…and humans. Because of the Jigoku no Ryu's imprisonment was the birth of the guardians' familiars, the Signer dragons, and its curse."
"Its curse? What is it?" Yusei wondered.
Kiseki stared ahead, "Yusei, what color are my eyes?"
"Kiseki, I don't see-"
"What color are they?" she reiterated with more force, not shifting her focus. The man sighed, "They're red."
"Yeah, and just how many people do you know have the same color as mine?" her voice evenly continued. Yusei pondered the question. After a minute of silence Kiseki closed her eyes, "The answer is 'none'. No one has these eyes cause they along with its brand are its 'curse'-or proof that the person is its host. Its conscience is mine, that's why I know about the Dark Signers and the Crimson Devil. The Jigoku no Ryu doesn't do anything more than give me psychic ability and gives me insight on its former servants. It has repented for its actions and has grown dormant, awaiting its opportunity for release. That's why humans try to take advantage of its inactivity to use its power. That's what that teme, Divine, is gunning for."
"And that's why you're running."
"Precisely," the guardian peered at an artwork. Yusei took a breath, "I'm glad that I could get through those questions easily. Now I want to know about the ones I asked years ago. You still owe me answers, Kiseki. I want know…why did you leave?"
~~~~~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~~~~~
Azure led the former Black Rose Witch through the exhibits. He had been here many times and already knew where his companion would be. Aki was lagging, her feet felt heavy as cement as she was drug along. Finally, he stopped outside the South American exhibit where they could spot their friends chatting. Aki's mind buzzed with implications that were beginning to give the misfortune deck owner a headache, "Aki…it is none of those things. If anything Kiseki's got Yusei on tenterhooks while he's interrogating her."
"More 'accidental' listening?" she accused. The violinist merely said, "If it weren't so tense, I'd hear nothing."
Then they heard giggles from Kiseki. She laughed at the question posed to her, "You seriously thought about that since I left? You're as delicate as ever, kurage. It wasn't some deep or meaningful. Hell, I barely knew what I was getting into. I went for one reason alone: control. Ya see, unlike your girlfriend, I didn't have a problem with psychic dueling. What I couldn't control was my psychic ability doing everyday things. I couldn't walk around the city without learning about yet another stranger's miserable life story, or sit around with Team Satisfaction without accidentally levitating things, or even sleep without being in someone else's mind. It drove me nuts. The reason I left was so I could regain some peace of mind. Nothin' more, no less, understand?"
"Then why couldn't you just tell that to us?"
"Would you really have let me go if I did?" she asked. Yusei paused. Would he? In his mind he answered 'yes' but in his heart…knew that he would've stopped her by any means. The answer to his long awaited question was finally given. And it was so simple. Had he really over thought it the entire time? Kiseki yawned, "Well, as fun as it's been, I think it's time for me split. Your girlfriend's here and I'm pretty sure she wouldn't want me around."
"Wait." Yusei, snapping from his daze, remembered his 'duty' as a Signer, "I did get answers but Divine is still looking for you. I want you and the guardians to stay with us."
"Whatever you say, King, just give a holler in your mind, and tell us when and where," Kiseki answered, waving without looking over her back. She walked to where Aki and Azure were, "Don't worry, I didn't do anything today, Izayoi. Just a little Q&A so go get 'im, tiger."
Aki reddened at the lady's comment but nonetheless went to comfort her friend. Azure shook his head before commenting, "Almost had me overwhelmed with the atmosphere you and him were making. Those emotions had me stay out, just what did you tell him?"
"What I felt like telling him."
"You mean the half-truth," the man sensed, picking up on her thoughts. "He'll find out eventually. Especially with Divine exceeding that small bit of patience he has. He'll be hounding us a lot more now."
Kiseki responded, "I know but that's now the Signers' problem, not mine."
~~~~~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~~~~~
Yeah that felt really crappy. I actually did research and trying to incorporate it into the story…failed. Epic fail. But I'm too lazy to delete it so just deal with it until my mind's straight again.
Authoress' Notes:
1) Akai no Ryu and Jigoku no Ryu: The Crimson Dragon and the Hell Dragon in Japanese
2) kurage: Jellyfish. More details about Kiseki's use of it next chapter.
3) urusai: Shut up
4) ja ne: See ya!
