Chapter 13:

Knowing

(Laila's POV)

By the time I was back to the Waiting Room I check that the next duel was also for the Title of God. That was Adrian and Sky. They were turbo dueling and I most say that Adrian has some skill, he defeat Sky with his dark attribute deck. So I'm suppose to face him in the finals, then I hear the doors open and he enter. He was dress in a white shirt, black jacket, pants, boots and gloves. His jacket was unzip to reveal his white shirt, he most done that because in his duel, he wasn't showing it. I have my legs and arms cross.

- I see that I'm most face you in the finals.- say Adrian. Which make me look at him very shock. I notice a smile form in his face but he have his eyes close. By the time he show me his eyes… they turn in different color. I could have swear that yesterday his eyes were like Yusei's but right now he have light orange eyes. My mind most be doing tricks again, I most say that his handsome in some way. His red hair look like flames but I just look at the big screen again. He walk toward me and sit on the other side of me.

- Don't you have better things to do instead of annoying me?- I ask him. I was rude in some point but I couldn't see his face and I didn't know why. I only hear that he almost laugh at that but he was also looking at the screen.

- Actually, I want to talk to you.- say Adrian making me to look at him. Now this was strange.

- Why?- I ask.

- Because I want to know some things that maybe you can give me.- say Adrian, now making me be alarm. I put my strong face and he notice that. - Don't worry, I'm not that stupid to make angry. Besides, you're the White Rose after all.

- So?- I ask him.

- You know, you're as strong as the Black Rose so… I don't want you to destroy me before our duel.- say Adrian smirking at me which make close my eyes and smirk too.

- Watch it. You might got that thing right.- I warm him but he keep going either way.

- So… are you really Goodwin's daughter?- he ask me.

- No. I'm just his adoptive daughter.- I say to him. I didn't know why I answer that right away, for some reason it was as if I could talk to him like I already knew him.

- For how long?- he ask.

- A couple of days.- I say making him look at me with disbelieve. - I was found by him outside his building been chase by the Arcadia Movement guards. Goodwin told me that I only mention my first name which is Laila, but I didn't mention my last name. I woke up in the hospital with him watching me, I notice that I have amnesia because went they found me… I use my psychic powers to protect Security from those psychic guards that were after me. I don't know why they chase me, but… all they show and tell me was that I use a lot of power and that make me collapse. The doctors said that I was very weak and that might cause my lost of memory.

- I'm sorry.- say Adrian. He look sad went I told him that which for no reason I put my hand on his. Making him look at me very shock by that simple act.

- Don't be. Besides, that's the reason why I have his last name in the first name. Sometimes I want to know my last name already.- I say letting go of his hand and cross my arms again.

- Why?- he ask me went he notice that I look like something make me look angry.

- Because I have notice and also see that… he make most of the people in this tournament to duel because he tread them. If they didn't do, he might do something terrible to them or the people they care about.- I say which make me look at the ground. I almost look like I was about to cry and then I feel a strong hand touch my shoulder. I look at the hand and later at him.

- Don't worry. It wasn't your fault.- say Adrian.

- How can you tell that it wasn't my fault?- I ask him angrily which make him look at me with surprise of my actions.

- Are you saying that he tread this people to compete because of you?- he ask me.

- Not all of them. But… some of these people that I already know so far… need to compete because they have something that he wants. And that includes me.- I say.

- What did he tread you?- he ask me very worry.

- My past.- I say. - He said that if I didn't participate, he wouldn't give me any clues of my past of who I am. That it will still be a mystery if I didn't duel.- I say which make him look down too.

- You know… I was also tread by him.- say which make me look at him with sadness.

- What did he tread you?- I ask him.

- My family.- he say making me look at him with guilt. - You know, I don't even know them.- that only make me look at him with surprise. What did he mean by he didn't know his family? - I grow up in an orphanage my entire life. I didn't know who were my parents at all. My teachers only told me that someone left me in front of the door of the orphanage with nobody around.

- I'm sorry.- I say to him.

- Goodwin told me that if I really want to learn who my family was… I have to duel and win this tournament.- say Adrian which make me stand up and walk away. He notice this, but he let me go away. I went in a different room and I took my clothes off and put on my riding suit. I was glad that I have my red blouse because I didn't feel like zip up the jacket just jet. I return to the Waiting Room and found him look at the screen and later at me. He got froze by just looking at me, I didn't know why but, I feel my face warm. I just walk toward him and sit down were I was just a moment ago and look at the screen until he laugh a little.

- What?- I ask him in a lovely way.

- That you look… um… well…- he start and I notice that he was shy.

- Come on, you can tell me.- I say to him.

- Well… you look… kind off sexy with that riding suit.- he say while he blush but didn't dare to look at me. I feel myself blush too but I just look at the screen not knowing what to say or thing. Did I really look sexy? Wait I second! What am I thinking about?

- Um… thank you… I guess.- I say to him which make him laugh at me.

- I was expecting something else than just "thank you, I guess".- say looking at me with a smirk and that only make me laugh at that too. Later we were both laughing, until the next duel was announce, Yusei was about to face Greiger now.

- By the way. You said that Goodwin knows who your family is, right?- I ask him.

- I think we already establish that.- he say as a yes.

- Did he told you someone in particular, I mean, like your parents or uncles or something like that?- I ask him. He was quiet for a while until he answer.

- Yes, he told me that he was only able to find my sister.- he say which make look at him.

- Your sister?- I ask him.

- Yes, you see. I think he make her duel in this tournament too. But I don't see her anywhere, I mean, how am I suppose to know which is my sister if I don't know her?- he ask.

- I think that you'll find out very soon. I mean, most brother and sister know each other even if they haven't see each other for a while, right?- I say to him.

- You got that right.- he answer me while he look at me and then I feel a strange connection with him. Then Yusei's duel start and for some reason Greiger wasn't even waiting his time to crush Yusei. I notice that their was so much noise which make me question, how could Yusei duel with that much noise? Then Greiger mention that there was more at stake than this duel, then I got a bad feeling about this. Did Goodwin make something to him? By the time the duel ended Greiger start to accuse Goodwin for the destruction of his village. Went he said that I was very terrify by Goodwin, if he was able to do that to Greiger's village then what was he able to do to me? Then Greiger start to make his runner go up to the tower were Goodwin was. Oh dear, we was going to kill him, but what got almost my heart stop was that Yusei went to stop him!

- YUSEI!- I scream went I stuck up. What was he thinking? Did he want to get himself kill? Then I notice that one of his spiky things got off and went directly toward the tower. I just wish that nothing happen in there. Then I see that both D-Runners fall to the ground, I didn't want to see what was next I just run away from there and head toward there as fast as I could. Before I got there, I notice that Security was taking Greiger so before I could kill Yusei… I need to talk to him first. - Wait!

- Was is it?- ask one of the guards.

- May I speck with him for just 5 minutes? Please.- I ask them and I knew that they have already figure out who I was. One of my advantages of having Goodwin's last name.

- Of course, what can 5 minutes hurt?- say one of them and they leave us to have our space.

- What is it? Aren't you Goodwin's daughter?- ask Greiger.

- I'm not his daughter. I'm just his adoptive daughter as long as I concern.- I say which make him look at me with curiosity. - I just want to tell you that I believe you.

- You do?- ask Greiger.

- Yes. Goodwin has already done too much damage to almost all the people that have compete in this tournament. I promise you that Goodwin is going to pay for everything he has done.- I say with such determination that Greiger smile.

- I know that you will.- say Greiger and I smile at him.

- Ok, times up.- say one of the guards and took Greiger. I watch them until they were out of my sight, then I remember that I got someone to kill before this tournament is over. I run toward were Yusei might be, I slow up went I was almost an the entrants and I see him. I was walking toward him with a blank expression on my face that went he look at me he took a step back. I have my fist ready if I need to and he look too frighten went he notice that I was very silent.

- What were you thinking went you did that?- I ask him with a death sentence in my phrase.

- Um… well… I just…- he stammer.

- You could have get yourself kill! Didn't you think what that would do to me?! Do you?!- I ask him while I scream and I crying. I don't know what happen next but I just look at him with my crying eyes and I notice that he notice my pain. His face was sad and before he could say something I make the last distance between ourselves was gone. He notice that and prepare himself, he thought that I was going to slap him on the face. I want to do that, but all I could do was to hug him. I feel that I got him off guard with my hug, I just hug him tightly and let my face rest on his shoulder. - I thought I was going to lose you, Yusei. Don't ever do that again.- I say and I was shaking of fear. Then I feel Yusei embrace, he also make me feel that everything was fine.

- I wouldn't do it again. Not if that makes you sad, and don't worry.- he say while he make me look at him. - You're not going to lose me.- he say in a whisper which make my heart speed up. With his hand make my tears be gone, but the most strange part that a few moments ago was that he have his gloves on so… went did he took them off. Feel his skin on mine make me grab his hand and make it stay on my cheek.

(Yusei's POV)

I expect her to slap on my face went she start walking toward me, but I was shock that instead of that she hug me. She hug me very tightly and I feel her shaking, seeing her cry make my heart hurt. Because I was the cause that she was crying, I was even more shock went she said to me that she thought she was going to lose me. Did she really care very much for me? That make my face feel warm and then I just hug her the same way she was hugging me. I promise her that I wouldn't do it again, but also that she wasn't going to lose me either. I feel her heart speed up because she was practically crush with my body, I make her look at me. I make sure that I took my gloves before that and I took her tears away, then she touch my hand make it stay in her cheek. My heart also speed up but I just look at her, then I start to lean toward her. Our foreheads touch and we close our eyes. Our breaths were touching our faces, I expect her to push me like last time, but she only make one of her hands be behind my neck. We look at each other and I notice the lust in her eyes, mine were having the same expression like hers. I was about to touch her lips went suddenly an image came to my head. I see a woman with red hair, fair skin and… aquarium eyes staring at me with a smile on her lips. I pull away form Laila and notice that she was blushing, the image of that woman… she was my old friend, but also… my first love. I haven't see her sends I have 16, she disappear with no trace of her, only that she left her crystal necklace that I gave to her as a present. Why would she drop it? And worse, why did she appear in my mind just now? Then I look at Laila and… she look like her. I know that she was my old love, my friends make me forget about her, but I just couldn't and just now… I was falling for another girl. The second girl who makes me lose my head went I see her, but know that I remember her… it was as if… I was betraying her in some way.

(Laila's POV)

I notice that Yusei was fighting with himself right there. Something happen to make him pull away, I was finally accepting him to kiss me, but… he just pull away. I feel pain in my heart and before he could notice me, I walk away from there and once out of that room… I run to the Waiting Room. But before I could reach it… I bump into someone and it was Adrian.

- Laila? What is it? Why are you crying?- he ask me but I just hug him and he was much more quicker than Yusei. He make me follow him into the Waiting Room and sit next to me while we watch Akiza's duel. Went the duel start I have a big feeling that this was going to be dangerous and sadness at the same time. I was surprise to see that Commander Koga speck of her past, that they were in Duel Academy. He said that he was a third year Obelisk Blue and then she came as a Slifer Red that defeat him back then. He also said that one of her trap card Rose Flame was the first one she use went she was 5 years old, went she notice of her powers. That only make me be shock, at that short of age? So all her life was in pain and sadness. Then he said that her parents make her go away, which was more painful if you see it that way. She said that she was learning to control them to save people, but he was pushing her to her limits. Then her silver hair curler fall from her face to the ground showing the rest of her long hair in front of her face. Then she unleash her powers to everyone see and I notice that without her silver hair curler she was more dangerous than with it. Then I feel my mark activate went her was activate. Adrian notice this but didn't question that because I start to feel pain while I grab her arm. Now it was conform, Akiza was a Signer, and Goodwin already knows that. Then she activate her trap card Rose Curse, she said that he was searching more about her past that he didn't look at the person she has become. And she was right on that, she win the duel and with that her mark too.

- Are you all right?- ask Adrian.

- Yes, thank you.- I say.

- What was that on your arm?- he ask me.

- The reason. The reason why Goodwin wants me to duel in this tournament.- I say and with that he knew that because of my mark… Goodwin was using me and using everything that he knows to make me duel. Now Akiza was going to face Yusei in the finals and that was something… that nobody can prevent. This was going to be his most dangerous duel yet. Then before anything could get any more worse… the MC announce the surprise for those for the Title of God, that one of us was going to face one of the duelist that wants to face Jack and be the New King. They shuffle the photos of me and Adrian while the other shuffle Akiza and Yusei, and for my worse fear… they choose me against… Akiza.

- Oh-oh.- say Adrian next to me.

- I most face either way or another.- I say. Goodwin wants me to face her, but… why? Then I head toward the elevator and I didn't bother if I have my riding suit on. Either way, after Akiza's duel… I'm going to face Adrian and is going to be another tough duel.