warnings: spoilers ... dueling ...
14. Decision
Yusei stood in the Momentum reactor room, observing the final tests of the Fortune project. Today's the day, he thought. Everything had been fully prepared. All the subcomponents had been tested. This would be the critical step: integrating the program into the actual Momentum generator. The team nervously monitored operations for any adverse behavior under the new operation protocol.
Soon they were able to breathe easily. The Fortune Project was a success.
The newly-elected Mayor Jaeger entered to congratulate Yusei. "Neo Domino City thanks you, Yusei," he said. "I will no longer ask the impossible of you, Yusei, I promise! Please, take a break now. A vacation!"
"I'll think about it."
"Yusei, you've got a call." Yusei looked over to see a team member beckoning.
Jack? No. It couldn't be.
"Thanks." He nodded toward a small conference room. There he turned on the viewer to see Crow. He was a little surprised. It looked like Crow was on duty at his job as a highway patrolman right now. He didn't often call on his breaks.
"What's up?"
Crow wanted to discuss the past year and the changes to the city since the WRGP.
"Come on, Crow," Yusei said, finally. "Tell me what's on your mind. You didn't call on your break to pass the time of day. What's wrong?"
"Well, now that you mention it, there is something that I want to talk over, but I'd rather do it face to face."
"Why don't we talk over dinner then? This weekend? We could get 5D's together …"
"Everyone? There's still a problem with—"
"You still haven't heard from Jack?"
"Me? If he'd contact anyone, I'd think it would be you, Yusei. Still, I sent him an email the other week and pft! Nothing. You don't think he forgot all about our bond, do you?!"
"Nah, he'll be back. Sooner or later. … He'll be back." Yusei said that, but he felt it was more to convince himself than Crow.
Before starting the dinner, Yusei stood on the landing and looked around Poppo Time. Only one D-wheel—his—now stood on the garage floor instead of the four that he remembered. And now, the garage was shadowed and empty instead of filled with light and his friends.
And Jack …
Jack was who knows where.
He wondered whether Jack ever thought about him wherever he was.
One day, I'm going to leave. You know that.
Jack had wanted to talk to him, but he'd put him off. Maybe it wouldn't have changed a thing, but if he'd spoken with Jack, he wouldn't have this nagging feeling that he'd let his last chance slip past. He picked up a picture of 5D's celebrating the WRGP win, thinking, That was the last time we were all together, Bruno included. And now everyone will be going on with their own lives.
He sighed.
I wonder what I'm going to do.
I wonder what I'm going to do without Jack in my life.
In that wistful mood, he began to prepare the shishkebabs.
Very soon, Aki arrived with the twins and Crow arrived soon after.
"Hey, Aki, congrats on your graduation!" said Crow, smiling. "Any duel league would be happy to have you."
"Why does everyone have to talk about that?"
"What are you talking about? Isn't that a compliment?"
As the two continued to bicker, a beeping was heard and Ruka checked her phone. "Well, that confirms it," she said. "Guys, our parents want us to live with them now."
"Isn't that a good thing?" asked Crow.
"Well, yeah," said Rua, "but it would mean leaving Neo Domino City."
"Don't worry, guys, you're not the only ones wondering what to do. Aren't you thinking it over too, Crow? Aki?"
"Well, OK, now that you mention it, I did get an invitation from a pro duel league," said Crow.
"And I'm thinking about going to medical school," said Aki. "How did you know?"
"It's hard not to when your parents ask me for my recommendation."
"You." The familiar voice made Yusei's heart lurch hard within his chest. He jerked his head up to look toward the door, now open. "Why is it so difficult for all of you to make a simple decision?" Jack walked in and down the ramp into the garage.
The air surrounding him was potent with confidence. Yusei felt the attention of the entire group drawn to him irresistibly. Do they all feel what I've always felt? he wondered.
"Where the hell have you been so long?!" Crow demanded.
"Training." He tossed a card, which cut into the floor before them. "I'm leaving Neo Domino City to join the top duel league, Duel Ace, to earn my rightful place as King of the world."
"Are you kidding?" asked Crow. "What about our bond?!"
"So you're fine with letting your bond hold you back?! Haven't you considered showing your power to the world? Crow, if you and I have received invitations from dueling leagues," he turned to Yusei, "Yusei, you must have as well."
"Yes, I guess I have."
"Well, I've made up my mind. We've proven that we're the strongest team. Now I want to test my own skill and prove myself to the world. I'll erase anything that stands in my way, and that includes my bonds with Team 5D's if need be."
Including me, Jack? thought Yusei. The distance between them was now so little, but the gap seemed wider than ever.
"Jack, we're just confused about what we want to do because we can't just let go of our bonds so easily as that," said Crow.
A thousand things flooded through Yusei's mind at once. It didn't matter that he didn't want his bonds broken; if the others insisted on walking out, it didn't matter what he did. What then? Did he have to chase Jack wherever he went? He couldn't just spend the rest of his life chasing everyone down. "Jack, duel me," said Yusei. "Help me decide."
"Good," said Jack. "This is exactly what I hoped for. I want to conquer you before I take on the world. I want to put all this—put you—behind me. Then I can move on."
Jack … Yusei thought, How can you move on before we've even really had a chance to be together? Why do you have to go so far?
The group moved outside to the docks to begin the duel. Aki and the twins gathered around the Blackbird with Crow to watch the action as Jack and Yusei prepared.
"I've watched these two duel more times than I can count since we were kids," said Crow. "So why am I trembling?"
Yusei put on his helmet, thinking how long it had been since he'd seen Jack and how much was depending on what was about to transpire. "Do you realize that this is the first real duel that we've had since the Fortune Cup?"
"You don't know how I've longed for this," said Jack.
Yusei glanced at Jack. Longed for …
He turned his attention to the game at hand and started his D-wheel.
The duel began, Yusei taking the first turn. Stardust Dragon and Red Demon's Dragon came out on the field immediately, but just as Jack was attacking, Yusei played Star Excursion, which excluded both from play until the opponent's third battle phase.
"This represents our destroyed future, Jack," he said. "In this duel, I plan to find my future with my own hands."
Yusei considered his situation. Red Demon's Dragon was off the field for three turns, but so was Stardust Dragon. This was still Yusei's best chance to win and he was going to take full advantage of it.
He wanted to find his future, yes, and he wanted to help the others find theirs, but there was something that seemed even more important right now. Jack had to be part of all their futures. Even if they could never be together again, he still had that sign on his arm and Yusei couldn't believe that he wanted to erase it and everything that it represented.
I'll take care of this right now!
He placed two Triangle Tokens on Jack's field, then used the speed spell Defense Buster to change one of them to attack position and boost Nitro Warrior's attack by 1000 points to 3800. With Nitro Warrior's effect, a successful attack would shift the other Triangle Token into attack position and allow him another attack.
They paralleled the waterfront as he called his attack and rain began to fall.
Jack flipped his cover card, Break Tune, negating the attack and calling the tuner Influence Dragon from his hand. "What's the matter with you, Yusei?" asked Jack. "You're not usually so hasty. If you think you can settle things between us with a one-turn kill, you're sadly mistaken. If you underestimate me like that, you're in big trouble!" Their D-wheels were close now, and Yusei could see Jack's face clearly. "Never mind," he said with a smirk. "I'll win this duel."
Yusei couldn't help but smile. This was what he had been waiting to see. It wasn't just arrogance; it was supreme confidence. He wasn't putting on a show reminding himself of his abilities anymore. He was simply stating his belief in himself.
Jack Atlas was back at last. All the way back.
Yusei was more resolved than ever. This was not the time that he wanted to say goodbye!
Still, Jack wasn't going to make it easy for him. He turned the situation around, calling Explode Wing Dragon and taking Yusei down to 1200 points as they headed across the bridge.
It was crushing, but exciting. He'd pushed Jack into a corner and he exploded out of it. Yusei felt the rush of adrenalin through his veins and a desire to pin Jack down. In every way.
"Feel my power, Yusei!" Jack exclaimed. "You, who challenge my very soul—I'll crush you like a bug!"
Feel it yourself, Jack! Yusei thought. I want you to chase me down! But you'll not beat me, not this time. Sorry, Jack, no matter what you do, I can't let that happen.
And the more he saw Jack at his best, the more Jack fought him off, the more he wanted to make sure it didn't happen. If Jack won, he'd follow through on his promise. He would cut them off, and Yusei couldn't let that happen.
"Not bad, Jack," Yusei responded, "but I take a different path, one more like the wind. You can't defeat me so easily!" And with that, he branched off onto a different route.
"Bragging?" Jack asked.
"You aren't the only one with that privilege."
Yusei couldn't help taunting Jack just a little. Driving Jack to use everything he had to beat him turned him on more than just about anything else he could think of.
Yusei called out Turbo Warrior and took Jack's points down to 2900.
"Not bad at all," said Jack. "Try this."
Jack summoned Crimson Blader and took Yusei down to 900 points. "Due to Crimson Blader's effect, you can't summon a monster this turn."
The two were now on the same wide bridge entering the city.
"Is this the result of your training?"
"Because I'm a power duelist, I need a little something extra. You know that. I'm trying to reach perfection."
Then let me give you a push, Jack …
Yusei played Angel's Baton.
"Aren't you lucky, drawing Angel's Baton when you have no cards in your hand?" Jack observed. "No matter, it won't change the outcome."
Yusei looked at his cards. … And Jack had said drawing Angel's Baton was lucky! He slipped a card into the graveyard and set another.
"So what did you discard?" asked Jack.
"Why don't you read my mind and tell me?"
"Too obvious. You just discarded Fake Gardna as a shield for a direct attack, didn't you?"
Yusei said, "I guess we haven't changed at all, have we? Dueling like this with our cards and our feelings at stake?"
Jack grinned. "Yeah! That won't change in the past, present, or future! Next turn Stardust and Red Demon's will return, but that doesn't matter because I'm ending the duel right now!"
They entered a tunnel as the battle ensued. Jack destroyed Fake Gardna, but Yusei played Scram Break to call Road Runner in defense. "Road Runner can't be destroyed by a monster with more than 1900 points," Yusei reminded Jack. "And now, Star Excursion's effect returns our dragons to the field!"
They flew through fan blades near the end of the tunnel and found themselves on a bridge opening into the city, the dragons reviving against the clearing sky.
Yusei felt it. I can win this.
"You know, Jack," Yusei said, "during my duel with Z-One, I saw my father. Did I tell you that? He left something in my heart then, something for me to do. It's sort of like Momentum's planetary particles … you know how they react to what's inside the hearts of people? Well, then, there must be something, then, that connects and leads people's hearts. Protecting the existence of people is the very essence of bonds. You, of all people, should understand that. But if everyone separates … Jack, I want to be the one who connects the hearts of people, even if it's just ours. That's why I won't hesitate! As long as I can keep all of us connected, we can stand and walk toward the future on our own."
"Then I shall stand as the future King, Yusei!" Jack proclaimed. "I will fight to the end with my undying spirit!" He put together a stunning combo. And with Red Demon's Dragon and two tuners on his field, his body took on an unearthly glow while his eyes darkened strangely. "It's burning! It's burning!" he cried. "My soul!"
Scar Red Nova Dragon appeared with 6000 points.
In response, Yusei performed an Accel Synchro, calling Shooting Star Dragon. Drawing five cards, he counted three tuners, allowing him to attack three times. However, he could not best Scar Red Nova Dragon and so could only use one attack.
Frustrated, he ended his turn.
Jack equipped Scar Red Nova Dragon with Scar-Red Cocoon to negate Shooting Star Dragon's effect, then attacked.
The two drive into a dangerous industrial area as they fight on. Yusei played High and Low. He could draw three cards to increase Shooting Star Dragon's attack, but if he went over 6000 points, Shooting Star Dragon would self destruct.
As he drew, they completely left the streets and separated, each taking a catwalk over a steel refining processes.
After drawing two cards, he was still 800 points under the limit.
I'm still 200 points in negative territory! I have no choice! To save our friendship I have to draw another card!
As he closed his eyes in preparation to draw, he could hear Jack shouting. "Yusei! It's too dangerous! Surrender!" It sounded like a plea.
Was it … ?
He realized the catwalk had ended and he'd flown over a vat of molten steel as he'd drawn. Bolt Hedgehog! Exactly 800 points!
The two monsters fought, each destroying the other, but because of Scar-Red Cocoon's effect, Red Demon's Dragon revived in the end phase, rising out of the glowing magma.
It was a spectacular sight that left Yusei inspired.
Yusei called two of his reliable Junk monsters as they burst out into the sunlight. All signs of rain had disappeared. The future seemed clear at last. This was his home, and Jack was his best friend whether he was there or not.
Anything more … well, they'd just have to figure that part out.
All he could know for sure was what he wanted and what he could do for himself. He almost laughed. Jack had always seemed so clear on that. Just when he thought he had Jack chasing him, he found himself catching up again.
I know how to win this! He smiled. Jack should appreciate this. I'm going to power up my monster the way he likes to power up his.
"Do you think those will be enough to stand against my soul?" Jack asked.
"Let's see about it. I've found my future. I've learned something from this duel myself, that I can fire up my soul too."
"So you've finally figured out your own path, huh?"
"Yeah. I'm staying here."
Jack looked at him, stunned.
Yusei called Junk Warrior and pumped it to a full 5500 points. He drove up a sloping girder like a ramp, and, flying through the air, attacked.
That was it. Game over.
Beyond, a white figure, now still. What next?
Author's notes ...
Ah, guys, first an apology for making you wait so long! I'm not sure the results are worth the wait, but they're certainly an improvement on the original chapter I wrote (I promise!). Sadly, I had to re-watch the anime to finish it up and it took me a bit to pull myself together to do that - plus I've been distracted by my adventure story, which has been absorbing much of my inspiration lately. (Not to mention that I've been re-organizing my life a bit lately ... always a challenge ...) I hope you all had a good holiday. Superbowl notes: Congrats to the Ravens & their fans, and condolences to the 49ers and their fans. Thanks to both teams for a good and memorable game.
KizunaTsudoishi, KaiFudo16, and 4810, thanks as always for your continued support via reviews! As always it is a huge boost. :) (You'd think it would get this duel written faster ...) Now, to the notes:
This should follow the original, even the dialog, pretty closely. I've done a little paraphrasing from the translation that I worked from and there are a few liberties taken, but if (for some odd reason) you're following along, you should find it to be fairly faithful ... I hope! ;) Most of what I added for the duel is the internal stuff.
Driving Jack ... turned him on: In the original at this spot, after Aki comments that Yusei is enjoying the duel, Crow says something like "Yusei receives pleasure out of forcing Jack to release his full power." In response, Aki looks a little worried and the twins look surprised. (Which makes me kind of wish I understood Japanese - and well enough to catch the nuances, too.) I wonder, is this a "yaoi moment"? Anyway, this is how I've chosen to interpret the moment. ;)
How about a sneak preview?
"But Jack, most people can change jobs and move to another town without discarding all their friends. You're avoiding talking about your bonds. It's like Crow said."
"Crow?"
"He said it's like you find bonds are too troublesome, or obstructive, or painful." Yusei pulled the beer out of Jack's hand and put it on the coffee table. Then, taking Jack's hands in his, he looked him in the eyes. "Jack, is what we have … painful?"
Hellos, goodbyes, heartfelt chats, and ... ? Yeah, we're in the home stretch.