A/N: Chapter 25. Wow. That's awesome. And look at all those reviews. I can't believe it. And no duel this time, because this duel had way too much flashbacking and other than that wasn't that interesting, and I had more important things to write, like Dark Yusei being very sneaky. And we will get the Aki v Yusei duel next chapter. Enjoy.

"Jack," Yusei whispered.

"I'm right here, Yusei," Jack said, supporting Yusei's weight. "Come on, Yusei, snap out of it."

"Shh," he hissed. "Not too loud or that thing will wake up again."

"It's the real you now?" he asked, slightly more hushed. "What is that thing? What's it done to you?"

"It's a Dark God," Yusei replied.

"Like Rudger always talked about?" Jack said. Yusei nodded. "Here, lie down, Yusei, save your strength." He helped Yusei over to the couch and let him lie down. "Now try to explain."

Jack had come down to the duellist's waiting room to talk to Yusei- or confront whatever he was now, he wasn't sure which- and he found Aki over Yusei. He was struggling and in pain but when Jack had entered, both their marks flare up and Yusei had become still and calm.

"It unlocks all the darkness inside me," Yusei explained. "It makes everything like hatred and anger become worse and worse and takes control and... I'm so sorry for what I've done, Jack. I'm sorry."

"Is there any way to help you, Yusei?" Aki asked. "Can't we stop this thing inside you?"

"I think so. That Crimson Dragon," he said.

"How do you summon that?" she sighed.

"Godwin said it happened when we put Stardust and Red Demon's Dragon against each other because they were both Signer dragons," Jack said quietly.

"That's right," Yusei said. "He's constantly trying to turn Stardust into a dark monster like the rest of my deck but I've managed to stop him so far for that reason."

"So all you need to do is have enough control to summon Stardust and the Crimson Dragon will appear."

"What about our duel, Yusei?" Aki whispered. "Will that thing-"

"I don't know," Yusei sighed. "I really don't know what will happen. It's Jack it's after. You've seen what's been happening to the people who lose to me, Jack, you saw what this thing is capable of when we last duelled. It'll kill you this time."

"You still have to get through me," Aki snapped.

"I know, Yusei," Jack said quietly. "I'll find a way to beat you. What happened last time was a fluke anyway. I'll save you if it's the only way."

"I know, I trust you Jack. Shouldn't you go get ready for your duel, Aki?"

"Yeah, I'll see you later Yusei."

She walked out and Jack's mark faded. Yusei gave a hiss of pain and Jack realised it was their marks that allowed Yusei to break the Dark God's control. That meant that thing was about to come back. And considering how he'd reacted the last time they were alone together, he figured it was best he left.

"I'll beat that thing, don't worry," Jack told him as he back away. "I won't lose again."

"I know you won't. And Jack."

"Yeah."

"Tell Crow I'm really sorry about leaving him there for Security," he said quietly. "I can't believe it got me to do that."

"It's ok, he knows it's not really you. He wants the real you back as much as I do."

Yusei gave a painful cry and Jack winced. He hated to see Yusei like that. He was writhing in pain. He needed to help Yusei as quickly as possible, this just wasn't right.

"Go Jack," Yusei begged. "Go. I can't hold it back. It'll kill you if you don't get out of here."

Once again Yusei let out a cry, something edging towards a scream and Jack knew it was time to leave. As he turned, Yusei fell still and quiet and he headed out quickly. But not quick enough to avoid hearing that horrid cold laugh of this new twisted Yusei returning. He didn't stop or turn back. He couldn't. Facing that new Yusei wasn't something he wanted to do anytime soon, especially on his own.

Yusei smiled and rested against the arm of the couch, watching as the MC warm up the crowd for Aki's duel, wondering if she'd actually keep her agreement with his so called dark side or if she'd fallen for his sweet and caring normal self. He laughed softly.

That was impressive, Nova said quietly. They completely bought it.

"I thought I should give them something believable," Yusei said quietly. "But I suppose we'll see just how believable it was."

Hmm, will you reward her if she does as you want and causes havoc?

"I suppose. I wonder how desperate she is."

That depends on how desperate she is to have someone think for her.

"Kiryu will be thinking for her in no time, don't worry."

It's starting...

Yusei watched without much interest. He didn't want to watch the duel, just how Aki behaved. And it was brilliant. If nothing else he enjoyed watching her tear into this profiler. It seemed either she wasn't so interested in his good side or she just wanted to get into the finals. But it did give him a very good idea.

He got up slowly and made his way to the medical room where he knew they'd take the profiler. He found him lying on a bed trying to recover from his duel. He smiled. Now he was going to pay.

"Hello Koda," he said quietly. "I wasn't very impressed with what you did earlier."

"Who are you?" he hissed, trying to get up.

"I wouldn't move too fast," he said. "Just relax. I don't want to hurt you."

"You're that Yusei," he said quietly. "So, what do you wat?"

"How did you get all that stuff about Aki? Who asked you to?" he asked.

"No, I can't give you any client information," Koda snapped.

"Wrong answer," Yusei growled.

He closed a hand around Koda's throat and laughed as he struggled to break free.

"You're not getting away," he said quietly. "Just relax and tell me who set you on Aki."

"Godwin," he rasped, struggling desperately. "Let go."

"Why did he do it?" he asked. "What did he want?"

"He wants to get her angry and unlock her Signer powers."

"See, that wasn't so hard. I'll leave you now."

"Really?"

"That does seem a little easy." Yusei turned to see Dom watching him with a smirk. "I've heard you're not usually so merciful."

"What are you doing here?" Yusei asked quietly, stepping up to stand just in front of him. "I thought we were going to meet later."

Dom laughed and wrapped one arm around him, drawing him closer. "You can cut the act, Yusei," he snarled. "I know you're not so innocent."

"I don't know what you're-"

"I'm going to make you pay, Yusei, I know what you've done, little whore."

Yusei's eyes widened and found himself pinned to the wall. He stared up at Dom and suddenly started to pick out the little hints of a family line.

"I know you had something to do with what happened to my father, Yusei, you tormented him for years. I will make you pay for what you did to him."

"He was the one who tortured me," Yusei snapped, aware that Koda was watching with a smirk. "I didn't do anything to deserve what he did to me!"

"Liar," Dom snarled. "And don't think I don't know that you were the one who murdered him. A little piece of trash like you turns up in the city and suddenly he turns up dead? How did you get out the Satellite anyway? Bribe someone, or was it really your uncle?"

Nova!

Alright, alright, stop whining, focus and actually use what I've given you rather than expecting me to do it, Nova snapped.

"I'm going to make you wish you'd died when he tried to get rid of you, Yusei," Dom hissed.

Even as he was speaking Yusei felt that familiar warmth surround him and he smiled up at Dom. That seemed to put him off. Nova was right, he just needed to focus and stop panicking. Power flooded him and clarity came to his mind. Death... he'd finally come to accept that. He was already dead. He'd finally accepted that he could look like he used to, act like he used to, he could eat and sleep and breathe like a normal person, but it was out of habit than need. His body told him he was tired because it was routine and habit, not because he really was.

"I did die," Yusei laughed. "When he cut across my back like that, it was the most painful thing in the word. I screamed and I begged and he carried on regardless." Dom paled and Yusei laughed. "I don't even know how long I'd been there, just bleeding and crying, barely alive, the life fading from me. I died in the arms of the man who raised me. Then I was saved, brought back and given power like nothing else."

"And yet here you are," Dom sneered. "Struggling in my arms like a stupid little boy, I can't see what my father ever saw in you."

"Yusei?" Aki whispered, suddenly in the doorway. Dom let Yusei go and backed away as Aki raised her duel disk. "What's going on?"

"Leave it Aki," Yusei said softly, moving to take her hand and guide her away. "He isn't worth our time. His dad is the one who made Kiryu the way he is and he blames me. Besides, didn't I promise you a reward if you were good in this duel?"

Aki beamed and Yusei led her from the room, leaving Dom to glare after him. Yusei was going to have fun with this one. He was going to show Dom the pain that Cook put him and Kiryu through. The fact that he was willing to do whatever, just as Yusei was, made it all the more fun. But Aki put a stop to his thinking when she pushed him back onto the couch in the waiting room and climbed on top of him. Yusei smiled. This was more like it. That duel had left Aki worked up and her emotions open.

"Divine says I'm not supposed to talk to you," she whispered. "He says I should be getting ready for the duel."

"Yes, I suppose we shouldn't be playing games when we're duelling in half an hour," Yusei laughed, but drew her down anyway.

I can't believe you, Nova sighed, even though Yusei was trying to ignore him in favour of Aki. You actually like her.

When she's like this, Yusei replied, now, can you leave me alone for five minutes?

You're so boring sometimes.

"My other side hasn't put you off me then?" he murmured between fiery kisses, gently pulling her closer. After being pulled around like that that by Dom, he gave her a little more care. "He can be such a pain sometimes. So repressed."

"I think you're a monster," Aki told him. "And I won't allow you to just walk away over everyone. And I think you're cruel to use poor Yusei like this. But I'm a monster too, so how can I tell you off for it?"

"I'm glad you see it that way, but don't think I'll go easy in you during our duel," he teased. "I want your full power."

"Is it true that if I beat you, the real Yusei comes back?"

"Only if the Crimson Dragon is on the field and I doubt you have the power to summon it against me. Not that I think you can beat me."

"I will beat you and I will make you hurt for what you've done to Yusei."

"Why? You don't even know him. You've barely spent five minutes with him. I'm impressed you could even summon up the strength to almost block my control. I will never lose to the likes of you, Aki. You'll see."

Divine knew Aki wouldn't follow his orders to stay away from Yusei so instead of watching over her and wasting time on something he knew wouldn't happen he took the time to check on Kiryu. He had decided that leaving Kiryu alone in the Arcadia Movement wasn't his best idea- giving that boy time alone to plot a scheme in a place he was comfortable in was never a good idea- so had brought him along in their transport, where he could have people watching him and he could check on him. It had everything needed to calm Aki down after her duels and was well equipped to handle the likes of Kiryu. The blue haired boy was sprawled out and reclined on a chair, looking perfectly comfortable. He smiled and patted his head, drawing a growl from Kiryu.

"You look like a house cat," Divine muttered.

"Go away," Kiryu growled. Divine glanced down at Kiryu's wrist, the one that was shackled and chained, keeping him in that one room. It seemed Kiryu had yet to unlock his shackle, or just hadn't tried. "Isn't it enough that I'm here without you having to be condescending?"

"That's a big word, Satellite."

"Where do you get off talking to me like that, murderer? If I were you I'd be a little nicer."

"I thought you were finally starting to see things my way," Divine sighed, trailing his hand across Kiryu's back. "I guess I was wrong."

"I'm not rising to it," Kiryu warned, but he couldn't hide the tremor in his voice. Divine was now well aware of how easy it was to distress Kiryu with a simple touch. "Get off. I know you're not actually heartless like Cook."

"Maybe, but..." He smirked and rolled Kiryu over, moving his hand under his top and up his stomach. "Your body has been trained to react a certain way after so long you can't stop your reactions."

"What do you want from me?" Kiryu whispered.

"That's better," Divine said softly. "Now, I'd hardly call you perfect. After all, you and Yusei did some very bad things to kill Cook. You're a murderer too."

"I didn't kill a child!"

"Now, Kiryu, I thought we had a deal," he sighed. "I'll keep you safe from those people who would abuse you, I'll keep you out of the Satellite and those dark places and I will give you almost a completely free reign but in return you do as I ask when I need something and you behave. What's so hard about that?"

"I am behaving," he snapped back. "I've not left. I'm still here."

"Because I've have to chain you..." He sighed and Kiryu shifted his wrist and held up the unlocked shackle. "I did wonder."

"That was easy," he said, tossing it to the floor. "I'm not going anywhere, Divine, and I appreciate the fact that you're keeping me safe from going back to Lidum House or even the Facility, but you've got to stop treating me like prisoner. Get it through your head. I don't want to leave because I don't really have anywhere safe to go."

"Then why are you being such a pain?"

"Because I'm bored."

"What will ease your boredom then, Kiryu? What can I do for you?"

"I'm not sure yet, but when I think of something, I'll let you know, don't worry."

Divine sighed and nodded. At least there was a definite change in Kiryu recently. Perhaps for the better, perhaps not, but for now it worked. Kiryu was still being unbelievably awkward in very way he could, but at least he wasn't resisting Divine anymore. That had to be a good thing.