Chapter 12
In the woods surrounding the house
"Get your filthy paws off me!"
Mina watched as some of the sector security force finally restrained the largest man in the group. Travis was his name, one of Sayer's personal guards. She smirked at him, seeing anger flare in his eyes as the effects of the stun gun began to wear off.
"Sorry, Travis, that won't be happening. You're under arrest for multiple counts of assault, smuggling illegal weapons into New Domino City and at least three counts of first-degree murder. You have the right to remain silent, though anything you do say can and will be used against you in a court of law."
Travis smirked, looking Mina in the eyes with a sadistic, maniacal gaze as the sector security agents dragged him to his feet and threw him in the sector security vehicle.
"It doesn't matter! None of this does! Mr Sayer will get his hands on that Akiza girl and the master plan will still be realised! After all, once he kills that Fudo boy, the girl will have no one to run to!"
Mina slammed the doors of the vehicle and watched as it rumbled back towards New Domino.
"We'll see, Travis! I have faith in Yusei…"
On the road leading to the house
"Aah! Dammit! You sector security scum!"
Trudge smirked as he watched the final slashed one being thrown in the back of the sector security van. The big guy, Gordan, scowled at him through the bars, shaking the bars erratically. Trudge nodded to his co-worker, who jabbed Gordan with his stun gun. Gordon screamed for a moment before collapsing in a panting, sweaty mess. Trudge approached the van with a scowl of his own.
"Bad idea, Gordon. Unlike some of my office colleagues, we don't play nice. Especially with bottom-feeding maggots like you. Don't worry, though, where your going you'll get to know us much better and learn to behave."
Gordon laughed, howling like a madman.
"You really think you've won?! It's Mr Sayer who has won today! Just you wait and see!"
Trudge growled, slamming the door and watching as the van set off for the city. Taking a deep breath, he pulled out his phone and hit the speed dial. Almost immediately, he heard Mina's voice.
"Trudge, are you OK?"
"I'm fine, Mina. Have you cleared your area of Sayer's henchmen?"
"Yes, we've got all of this area cleared. Have you managed to contact Yusei yet?"
"No, I'm going to try his phone now that I've checked in with you-"
Just then, the sound of a gunshot rang through the air, rendering Trudge silent.
"Trudge, what was that? Trudge? Trudge, are you there?!"
He shook his head, turning his focus back to the call.
"I'm fine, Mina. Get over to the house as quick as you can! I just heard a gunshot coming from that direction!"
"We're on our way!"
At the Satellite house
As a rush of exhaustion rushed through her, Akiza fell to her knees, panting heavily. The muscles in her body screamed and her vision became clouded with white polka dots as she struggled to get back to her feet. Through her clouded vision, she could barely make out Sayer's body, which lay limp and lifeless before her, a small bullet hole present in his neck. The smell of blood snaked into her nostrils, making her gag and cough in disgust. As she tried to move, a wave of dizziness washed over her, forcing her body down onto the cold tiles of the kitchen floor.
"Akiza…"
The choked moan caught her attention and she looked to the doorway, where Yusei sat. Blood cascaded from his shoulder and, despite her blurred vision, she could see his exhaustion wash over him. Using the pillar for support, she hauled herself up to her feet and began to make her way to Yusei. Every step was agony and she could feel the dizziness intensify as she trudged further. After a few seconds, her legs gave out and she fell to the ground with a firm thud.
"Akiza…are…you alright?"
Yusei tried to move but his shoulder screamed in pain and forced him to remain still. Akiza lifted her head up, her eyes half-lidded and cloudy.
"I…I'm fine…Are you…OK?
"I…I can't move, Akiza. My shoulder…it…"
Akiza clenched her fists, willing herself to get back up. Summoning the last bit of strength she could muster, she pushed herself back to her feet. On wobbly feet, she made her way across the kitchen towards the door.
"Hang on…Yusei…I'm…here for you…"
"Akiza…wait…you can barely stand…don't…"
"No! You…helped me…now…I'm…gonna…help you…"
With those last words, her strength gave out and her body became a lead-like weight, falling to the ground, her hand lying inches from Yusei's.
"Akiza! Ah!"
Once again, he tried to move, but the pain grounded him. Ignoring the fire in his shoulder, he reached for Akiza, his hand just managing to grasp hers. Just before the darkness grasped him, he heard the door burst open.
Akiza's dream
Akiza's hair bounced on the wind as she sped along the Daedalus bridge. Behind her, the rev of Yusei's runner echoed in her ears. She smirked widely, revving her own engine in response.
"I told you, Yusei. Today is the day I dethrone the king of speed!"
Yusei smirked as he glided up to the side of her duel runner, revving his engine louder and eventually pulling in out in front of her.
"If that's your goal, Akiza, you're going to have to try harder than that!"
"Is that so?"
She revved her engine once again, gliding along the final stretch of the bridge and crossing their finish line just before Yusei. She drifted to a stop, removing her helmet and flicking her hair. Yusei followed suit, getting off his runner and striding over to his red-haired friend and shaking her hand.
"Very nice, Akiza. You've really been practising, haven't you?"
"Of course! I'm serious about being a pro turbo duellist one day! I'm not going to slack off!"
Shaking his head, Yusei chuckles, ruffling her hair that's been slightly dishevelled by her helmet.
"I know that Aki, I'm just teasing you…"
"Is that right? Do you want to tease a psychic duellist? I could summon my dragon and dish out payback if I wanted to you know…"
"You wouldn't do that to me, Akiza. Besides, I'm to nice to hurt, right?"
Heat rises in Akiza's face as she feels Yusei lean in closer to her, his hot breath tickling her cheeks. Finally, Yusei closes the distance between them, kissing her deeply. She responds immediately, her hands running through his unruly hair while his gripped her waist.
A moment later, she felt a hot liquid drip down her arm. Pulling away, she gasps at the sight of deep red blood coating her arm and the sight of Yusei grimacing in pain. As he keels over, she runs to him only to be blocked off by some kind of shield. Then, Sayer emerges from the shadows with a devilish smirk on his face.
"I told you that you belong to me, Akiza. And…now I'm going to prove it."
"NO! LEAVE HIM ALONE! DON'T HURT HIM, PLEASE!"
"Bye-bye, rat."
She watches as Sayer's gun fires, a bullet lodging itself in Yusei's head.
"NO!"
Akiza's scream wakes her, her body sitting up with lightning speed. Sweaty and disorientated, she looks around trying to find Yusei. She clambers out of bed only to for her legs to give out immediately, landing her on the soft floor of the room.
"Wait…this isn't the kitchen…"
After taking a minute to look around, it suddenly dawns on her that she is back in New Domino City Hospital. Then, the door flies open and a familiar person rushes in.
"Mother?"
"Oh, I'm so glad you're OK! I thought we'd lost you again…"
As her mother's arms enveloped her body, Akiza's worries eased for a moment as she felt the warm love she had been robbed of as a child pour into her through her mother's tears. She wraps her own arms around her mother's neck, hugging her tightly with a soft smile gracing her face.
"Mother, it's OK. I'm fine now. Everything's going to be fine…"
The two women held each other for a few minutes more before separating and looking to each other. Then, Akiza's nightmare came flooding back to her.
"Where's Yusei, mother? Is he OK?"
Her mother smiled, petting her hair gently.
"He's resting in the next room. The doctor fixed his shoulder and he's going to be fine in a few weeks. He was so worried about you, on the way to the hospital he insisted on you being treated first, even though his condition was more serious."
Akiza smiled in relief.
"That's just like you, Yusei. Always putting your friends before yourself…"
Smiling inwardly, she clutched her mother's shoulders in an attempt to get up to her feet. Seeing her daughter struggling, her mother wrapped one of her arms around her shoulders and helped her walk over to the wheelchair sitting in the corner of the room. Once she was comfortable, Akiza's mother wheeled her out of the room towards Yusei's room.
At the sound of his door opening, Yusei sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes lightly. The sight that greeted him drew a sigh of relief from his throat. Akiza, alive and well, sat before him. He smiled, sitting himself up with his good arm as she climbed onto his bed to sit with him. Once settled, she grasped his hand tightly, feeling him reciprocate.
"How are you feeling? Do you want some water or something to eat?"
He smiled, pulling her towards him in a tight hug.
"I've got everything I need right here. I'm so glad you're safe, Akiza."
She hugged him back, her heart thumping wildly and smiling brightly.
"I'm glad you're safe too, Yusei. I was so scared when Sayer shot you…I…thought I was going to lose you…"
A few stray tears escaped her eyes, painting red trails down her face. Yusei lifted his hand to her face, wiping them gently away and caressing her cheek.
"Not a chance. You're stuck with me now, Akiza."
She laughed lightly, holding his hand tightly against her cheek. Planting a soft kiss on his palm, she leant down to plant another on his forehead. However, Yusei, holding a playful smirk, pulled her down further, planting his own kiss on her lips. After a moment of shock, she melted into the kiss, a beaming smile on her face.
"Ahem…"
Both of them broke the kiss at the same time, turning to see Akiza's father standing beside her mother at the door. He hobbled in, using a walking stick for support and sat in the chair beside the bed. Akiza smiled, holding out her hand a taking her fathers in it.
"How are you feeling, dad? We heard what happened, but…"
"Don't worry, Akiza. I knew you couldn't come back, in fact, I was praying that you wouldn't."
Akiza's eyes widened at the statement, but her father continued.
"If that scumbag had gotten his hands on you again, I would have never forgiven myself. I kept saying repeatedly 'Please stay away, Akiza. Don't fall for his trick' to myself. Luckily, Yusei kept you safe, and you managed to finally put Sayer six foot under."
Shaking her head, Akiza gripped Yusei's hand and turned her gaze toward him.
"We did it together, father."
Their eyes locked, pure passion and love burning in their eyes. Smiling brightly, her father stood up and moved to walk out the room. However, before doing so, turned to Yusei with a serious gaze.
"Take care of my daughter, Yusei. Treasure her as she deserves to be."
Yusei nodded firmly, turning to Akiza and holding her hand tightly.
"I will. You have my word."
One Year Later
Akiza woke up to the sweet aroma of pancakes, a smile spreading along her lips as she stretched her arms and rose from the bed. As she wandered down the stairs, the familiar and pleasant sight of Yusei cooking in the kitchen drew a content sigh out of her. However, the sight of him nearly dropping a flipped pancake and scrambling to catch it turned that smile into a giggling laugh. When the sound caught his ear, he turned and smirked as Akiza continued to laugh.
"Morning, Aki. Hungry?"
"Very. Although I could stand here for a bit longer and watch you flail while attempting to flip pancakes."
Approaching him, Yusei wrapped his arms around her letting out a deep chuckle.
"First of all, it was not flailing, second of all, remember how someone burnt the batter the last time she cooked pancakes?"
Feeling a blush flood her face, she smacked Yusei's arm lightly before burying her face in his shoulder, making Yusei laugh loudly and squeeze his girlfriend in a tight hug. Feeling her squeeze back, he planted a feather-like kiss on the top of her head.
"Come on, let's eat and then you need to get dressed."
"Huh, why?"
"Well, it's a surprise…"
She giggled, wrapping her arms around his waist and kissing him lightly on the neck.
"Don't I at least get a clue?"
He laughed, lifting her up onto the counter, giving her a long passionate kiss before pulling away and leaving Akiza gasping for air. He smirked, loving the hot flush that had returned to her cheeks and the surprised look she gave him.
"Sorry, little rose, not this time. You'll just have to wait and see this time. The sooner we eat, the sooner you get your surprise."
She smiled, getting down from the counter and settling herself on a chair with Yusei sitting beside her. They ate their breakfast together, watching the morning news while leaning against each other. Until a headline popped up on the screen that made Yusei's blood boil.
"Now, we go live to the New Domino Courthouse, where one of our correspondents, Carly Carmine, is bringing us the latest on what people are calling the 'trial of the century'. So, tell us, Carly, can you tell us if the trial has reached a verdict yet?"
There was a ten-second pause before Carly began to speak.
"Well, Samantha, what I can tell you is that this trial is not yet over. After the arrest of the gang known as 'The Slashed Ones' in the satellite district last year, New Domino police found intel indicating that they had been working with the now deceased Sayer, formally of the Arcadia Movement, for two years before the incident involving the senator's daughter, Akiza Izinski, which occurred around one month before last year's events occurred. However, all gang members who have taken the stand have pleaded not guilty to all crimes for which they have been accused, including attempted murder against the senator's daughter. The senator and his wife have currently refused to comment on the trial, but it's obvious they are praying for justice, not only for their daughter but for the countless other victims of this gang and their former leader. Back to you, Samantha-."
Yusei flicked the TV off, a worried look painting his face as he stared at his girlfriend. Her head hung low and a conflicted look coated her eyes.
"Are you OK, Akiza?"
She glanced up at him, a ghost smile painting her face.
"I'm fine, Yusei. I'm glad it's Carly following the trial, at least she won't sensationalise the story as much as other reporters would. Now, why don't I get dressed and get to the surprise you've planned for me?"
She jumped up from the sofa with unusual haste, taking hers and Yusei's plates and rushing to the sink to wash them. Yusei watched her, sensing her unease, then moving to hug her from behind.
"Akiza, you know that I know when you're hiding something from me. So please, just tell me what's wrong. I want to help."
He felt her tense before she spun around in his arms and gave him a light kiss on the cheek.
"Why don't we drop into town to get a coffee before you take me to my surprise? I'm really craving a mocha and we haven't seen the twins for a while…"
As she moved to walk away, he grabbed her shoulders and gazed into her eyes. He sighed, stroking her cheek lightly and watching her shift her gaze to the side.
"Akiza, come on. Changing the subject? You know that doesn't fool me…"
She sighed, turning back to him and moving to pull a letter out of her pile of mail. She handed it to Yusei, hanging her head in what Yusei could only interpret as shame. He frowned, opening the letter and reading it carefully. Slowly, his eyes widened with shock.
"Akiza…"
He put the letter down and pulled her into his arms as she began to sob into his shoulder.
"Why didn't you tell me that the court asked you to testify in the trial?"