Chapter Twenty-Five

From Stars

Rain and I parked beside each other at her place. A sprinkling of stars glittered across the night sky's undisturbed cobalt. The pale-faced moon was full; it rose high in the sky, far from the silver sands upon which we stood.

She hauled up a couple of cardboard boxes she had brought from her stage, and I did the same with the matching pair. She said, "Isn't moving great?"

I peeked into the topmost box I carried. "What's in these, anyway?"

Rain shouldered open the door, turned on the lights, and set her boxes down on the table. "My stuff from Atlantis! Some of it, anyway. It'll take a few more trips to get everything, but I'm not in any rush. There's my tools, my favorite sewing kit, some Orichalcos…"

"How does this all still exist?"

"Thanks to the Crimson Dragon preserving it!" She flipped open the top of the box closest to her. "I wouldn't have anything from home if it weren't for him. It's nice to have, like, changes of clothes."

"I bet." I dusted off my hands and smiled. "Welcome home, partner."

She reflected my happiness and observed the room. "Wow! It's so clean in here! There isn't even any sand!"

"…I hate a dirty room."

Her bottom lip curled up. She held the sides of the boxes on the table. "Um… I can put these in the corner or something."

"No, I didn't mean-" I sighed. "That doesn't bother me."

"Eh? Something was left out." Rain lifted a leather-bound notebook. "Hey, wasn't this at your old room?"

She undid the clasp and opened the pages. I slapped my hand over it, slamming the notes shut. Rain tucked her arms into her armpits, pouted, and looked at the opposite corner of the room. "Well, geez. Sorry."

I picked up the portfolio. It would be silly to ruin trust and openness over such a small collection. But. But it was so goddamned difficult. Yes, I loved her, but to show anyone something so personal…

I thrust it into her hands and said, "Fine, but you can't make a big deal about it."

"Why would I…" She cracked it open, and her eyes flicked over the many landscape papers. Rain flipped through floor plans, concept sketches, and notes. Her head tilted. "What is this?"

"Architectural designs and every note my mother ever made on how to do them. She was a big name architect before Zero Reverse, and what you're looking at are the designs for buildings in the Satellite before the explosion."

Her jaw dropped. "That's so cool! Hey, this one looks like your factory! And this one's like the hideout if it wasn't all busted up!"

"…Yeah. Those… are mine."

"Woah! That's amazing! I didn't know you could draw so well!"

"It's not drawing. It's making sure lines are straight and there's enough space… Wait. Don't look at that one."

She'd unfolded the largest of my designs. "Why? This is a bridge, isn't it? Um. Is this the Bridge?"

I leaned against the wall, crossed my arms, and stared at the floorboards. The soles of her boots pattered on the floorboards toward me. Rain grabbed my arms and threw them down to my sides. She said, "You did that? You made it?"

"Look, I didn't make it, and they didn't even want to work with Satellite trash like me, and the only reason it was accepted was because of the duel lanes and because Jack vouched for it-"

Rain tugged me away from the wall and leapt into my arms. I struggled to catch her as her legs wrapped around my waist and squealed, "Oh my stars, you're amazing! It's so pretty, and awesome, and you did that!"

"I told you, I didn't- you weren't supposed to make a big deal-"

She kissed me, and I didn't think it was fair that my breath was literally stolen. Rain dropped to the floor. "You're so cool."

I shut the book. "Forget you saw it."

"Aw! You're just mad 'cause you blushed!"

"If you ever bring that up again, I will not hesitate to throw this at you."

She held up her hands. "No, don't! I am innocent!.. You don't actually mean that, right?"

I sighed. "No. No, I don't."

The door swung open. West barreled through. He stared at me for half a second before focusing on Rain. "You're back! You finally came back! You… your hair's weird."

My partner touched her braid. "Really?"

"Why's it black now? That's the total opposite of you!"

She pouted. "Maybe I should leave again."

West tackled her in a hug. "No way! You can't! Kalin was all boring and sad again without you!"

While my partner gave me a look, I said, "What are you even doing here? Shouldn't you be asleep?"

"I couldn't sleep," West muttered. "Nico's passed out, but I wasn't able."

"Why's that?" asked Rain.

His shoulders sagged. "I dunno. I just got so bored without you guys here that I thought I'd die of boredom."

"Okay then," I responded, "you should be able to sleep fine now. So. Bye."

"You're trying to get me to go away! I wanna know what happened!"

"…It can wait until tomorrow."

He hollered, "No it can't!"

"Yeah, it can."

"You're being such a jerk!"

Rain giggled. "Don't worry about it, West. I was kidnapped, but Kalin saved me. Everything is okay now!"

"Woah!" West had a fresh shine in his eyes. "You're a total hero, just like last time she was in trouble!"

"…And I told you last time to stop calling me that. I was a jerk a couple seconds ago. Why don't you stick to that one?"

"Quit! I was worried about you guys, okay?"

"Now that you're at ease, you can properly rest."

West's gaze burned through me. He threw up his hands and walked out, saying, "Oh, whatever! I'm going to bed. Not because you told me to! Because you guys aren't worth it!"

"You hear that?" Rain said incredulously. "He doesn't think we're worth it."

"Yet he couldn't sleep because we weren't here. Go figure."

Her head cocked to the side. "Do you think he was really worried?"

"Probably," I answered. "He always seems to mull over you."

"Why would a little kid do that?"

I had to smile at her confused look. "I can't say I blame him. You have a tendency towards trouble."

"That's-" The fiery light in her eyes died down with her comeback. "Well, it's kind of true, I guess. Just… don't act like you're not the same way!"

"Why else would he be the most anxious when we're together?"

She laughed, a sound I'd never tire of hearing. "Too true. Hey, would you want to- I mean, do you… Could you walk with me?"

"I'd be happy to," I answered as we interlaced our fingers together. We walked in silence. The chilly nighttime breeze rattled the signs hanging from distant buildings. Silver stars shimmered in the black ink sky.

Rain stopped. A familiar, curious light filled her eyes. Her hand touched the wilted flower in her hair when she said, "Here we are again."

We were standing atop the ridge I had always visited when my memories of Rain had disappeared. I would always come here to mull over my past mistakes, the same I was planning to do the night I found her there. That moment felt like it occurred years ago rather than weeks ago.

"We've been through a lot, huh," she commented, naturally thinking of the same exact thing.

"I'd say so," I agreed. "Wouldn't give it up for the world, though."

"Yeah?" She smiled. The millions of stars reflected in her sky-blue eyes while she did. God, was she beautiful. My partner. Mine? Unbelievable that she'd choose me. "I wouldn't, either."

I sat on the ridge just like I used to. So much had changed. I felt. I felt whole. I felt like me. Rain dropped to the sand and fell against me. Her head lolled on my shoulder. "Hey. I'm kinda tired."

"I'd imagine it's been a pretty rough hangover, huh?"

"Yeah. But, you know? I'm glad stuff like that has consequences. Stuff like that… that people shouldn't do all the time… But-" She broke off into a yawn then continued. "They still do it anyway. Some people don't learn, don't regret… Some of them are greedy, too… But I'm still glad, because they never end well… At least, they never get to have great friends like we do."

"I know I don't deserve mine."

"Nah. You're smart, Kalin. You learned and regretted and all…" She yawned again.

"We should really get some rest. When do you need to go back to New Domino?"

"Never… hopefully."

I smirked. "Hopefully, huh?"

"Don't get a big head… or anything," she muttered. She was practically falling asleep right there in my arms. "It's not because I like you or want to stay or anything, I just…"

She shifted onto her knees and buried her head in my chest. "You smell kinda nice."

I laughed and raised her chin to look me in the eyes. "Is that right?"

"Yeah…" Her eyes were drooping. "Could I ask you a question, Kalin?"

"Go ahead." She raised her hand touch my face, lightly brushing her fingers over my right cheek.

"Are you ever glad you have a mark?" I realized that's what she was touching.

"Well, it's not exactly the happiest thought," I whispered. When she was so close, my voice seemed to lower on its own. "Why do you ask?"

"I…" She lowered her hand and turned away. She sat extremely close and leaned back on my chest. "People keep saying it's unfitting for me to have one, but I'm glad I have it. It gives them a glimpse… It allows them to understand that I've had a hard time- That I've been through bad stuff, y'know?"

She yawned again. "It's hard to explain, but… I'd rather them all know… I'd rather them judge. It's at least better than being just another person, because… I'm not. I'm really not…"

"That much is for sure," I whispered, and I agreed with her. The mark was something that revealed more than what was shown – a passage of the book so one doesn't judge by the cover. The brand also carried a hefty story; it carried memories that I'd rather not forget. Not ever… not again.

"Kalin, I… I'm sorry, again. I love you."

"I love you, too. You don't have to apologize all the time, you know."

"No, I don't think I do know," she responded. "I think I need… to sleep…"

"That's a shame. I was hoping to get a chance to hear about the constellations you know so much about."

She tossed a lazy hand towards the sky. "That one up there's called the big ol' spoon."

I couldn't help but laugh. "You're lying, aren't you?"

"Nuh-uh! I know it for sure… Kalin. Are you happy to see the stars now?"

I held her face between my hands and angled it slightly upwards, so the night sky caught as glitter in her irises. "You have no idea how happy I am, Rain."

My partner took my hands away and kissed my criminal mark. "That makes me happy, too. C'mon. I'll show you them some other time. The stars will always be there."

When she said it, I knew they would be.

She stood, almost stumbling. I smiled and helped her back into the thick of buildings in the distance. At her place, she pulled me into bed beside her. I held Rain as her breathing steadied in sleep.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Verdant shades of light slithered through cracks in the earth. My fingers skimmed their rough edges, and warmth reciprocated my touch. I pushed up onto my knees. Reality rippled beyond the green light. Reality? The last thing I remembered was falling asleep in the comforting emptiness. The light was a rude interruption. Or… was it?

"You are dreaming, Rain."

The blackness cocooning me scattered, and the neon green lights reached their fingers towards the endless gray sky. Ruins of the Satellite surrounded me. The lights originated from portions of a six-pointed star beneath my knees. The person who had spoken was the woman in white on her matching pearl throne.

"Hello again," she said. "Do you care to recognize me this evening?"

I took in her appearance: the long, white hair spilling down her back and her one blue eye. A rectangular white patch covered the other. She had no criminal mark. Her looks were no different from my dream of her weeks ago, when I first came to Crash Town. We were similar, but I knew she wasn't me. She was my…

"I do now. Sorry about last time. You, um, look kinda different."

She flicked out her wrist and peeled back her coat sleeve. "The same could be said of you. Back to the black, I see."

I shrugged my shoulders. "White on white on white is an interesting choice for a suit. Also, a suit?"

"I wouldn't recommend it," she grumbled. "Interesting new face tattoo."

"It's not a-" We stared at each other then broke into laughter. Hers was tamer than mine. "Why are you speaking to me now? And… how?"

"I wish I had time to answer every question. I'm here to tell you that we need to complete this." She pointed to the somewhat-lit star under my feet. "The progress you have made so far is excellent, but we aren't there yet."

"Why? How?"

She folded her hands over her left knee. "To protect our ideal world, you simply need to keep dueling. Use the Orichalcos. That's the most important part towards activating DOMA-REVERSE."

"What do you mean 'ideal world?'"

She rested her cheek on her fist, and her eye was half-lidded. "If they called you 'god,' would you disagree?"

"Huh? Of course I would. I'm not- I'm just…" I lifted my hands and stared at the trenches of my palms. "I'm just a person."

"Mm. I thought so, too. I've since become more… opportunistic."

"What does that mean, exactly?"

She lazily tossed a hand into the air. Her fingertips were disintegrating to ash. "What a shame. Rain Orichalcum! Let us continue advancing towards our ideal world. Until next time – and I can assure you: there will be one."

"Wh-what's happening to you?"

The edges of the ruins were curling upwards like parchment consumed by fire. Smoke choked the air, and ash polluted the green light. A smile played at her lips as she and her throne decayed to no more than stains on a breeze.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/

"Are you awake?"

I glanced to my right. My arms were crossed behind my head. Rain was sound asleep beside me, but I had been having trouble. The too-familiar voice made me double take. It sounded like her, but I must have been hearing things.

"No, you aren't."

I blinked. Wiped at my eyes. Blinked again. My vision darted between Rain and the figure in the hallway. She matched Rain's features barring the eyepatch on her left eye, lack of criminal mark, and still-white hair unbraided. Her black-gloved hands were folded over the curved handle of a cane. Her blue eye carried an unamused sentiment. A bright blue butterfly flitted around her, casting sapphire light onto her black suit, skinny tie, and white button-up. The top button was undone and the collar was ruffled.

I fell out of bed. "Y- You- Who the hell-"

The imposter covered her mouth to mask what sounded suspiciously like a laugh. She returned to a proper posture, and her expression was neutral. "Yeesh. Overreact much? Look, you don't have to panic, Kalin. C'mon and follow me."

I rose slowly, my eyes on her the whole time. Though I opened my mouth, she spoke first. "Don't worry about Rain. She's having another nightmare and won't have a chance to wake up for hours."

I glanced to my partner. Her teeth were grit, and her face twitched occasionally as though experiencing pain. The imposter said, "Follow me."

She hobbled through the dark, and her steps were not as loud as the heavy falls of her cane. The door shut behind her. I didn't want to obey this imposter, but something about her order caused my pride to crumble. Maybe it was the voice being similar to my partner's, but I suspected a change in tone. There was expectancy in her words, which I had urge to fulfill.

I emerged into the star-specked night once more. The cool sands shifted beneath my bare feet as I chased after the warm glow walking towards the horizon. By the time I caught up with her, I was swallowing breaths.

She did not stop. I was amazed by her steps; though uneven on account of reliance on her cane, each held a purpose where my Rain's contained a question. Her focus was strictly on the horizon. My Rain's would fall to her feet or rise to the stars at every opportunity.

Or at me.

"You see more than you let on," she stated. The butterfly made rounds about her head, and its flight path left neon blue streaks. "You can probably tell we're not the same."

"Well, yeah," I murmured. "Did something happen to your eye? And your… leg?"

"Yes." She went on a few more steps. "I don't remember what, but yes. Some of my memories are a little muddled."

I cleared my throat. "Sorry."

She stopped. The foot of her cane kicked up dust. She held out her hand and said, "I'm Rahlin Orichalcum. I am Rain's other half, the 'monster.'"

I returned her firm handshake. "I kind of hoped 'Rain's other half' is what people would call me."

Her hand dropped to her side. Her bemused look made me think she wasn't so different from Rain, after all. "Um, what's that supposed to mean? Rain and I are literally two halves, so that's why-"

"Yeah, I know, but I was trying to make a joke…" I broke my gaze away to look to the stars. "Forget about it. I thought you two were one and the same, like with what happened in the Spirit World."

The butterfly rested upon her shoulder, the flutter of its wings slowing. "We used to be, and for the day of the war, the Crimson Dragon allowed us to be a single being again. Five thousand years ago, Rain split us into two halves with Shining Nova. I embody the duel monster, the Knight of Destiny, and I can exist only in the Spirit World. She is human and has more leniencies. Truth be told, I haven't spoken to Rain since our split."

"…But you're… talking to me?"

"Right, right. There's a reason; I promise. My Spirit World self is this old and wizened Knight you probably wouldn't recognize. She has the knowledge existing five thousand years would give someone. When I'm in this body, it's… different. I'm young and dumb. This is the body Rain died in. The Crimson Dragon gave her a shiny new one and I kinda got the scraps. Normal for the younger twin, right? Eh, whatever. Beggars can't be choosers.

"So, we exist separately but can both live. Certain equivalencies remain between us. Imagine the old, wizened Knight being influenced by bits and pieces of Rain's knowledge and emotions after she awoke from the Zero Reverse. Rain was quite the different person, I'm sure you know. Watching her little adventure was a fun pastime until she fell into her coma.

"The Crimson Dragon carried a deep desire to keep her mind and heart active by sharing scenes through the bonds she shared with others. He fired these visions along her threads, but since her soul was in such a deep sleep, the Dragon misfired. What was happening to the Signers on the surface was shared with me instead. Their concern grew ever more painful by the moment because I knew I could never help them. I'm a duel spirit, after all, trapped within the Spirit World's Gilded Gate. We were never meant to come into contact."

The blue butterfly alighted on Rahlin's finger. "The worst was when the Crimson Dragon showed me you, Kalin Kessler."

My chest caved in. Me, after Rain fell into her coma. She saw me when I was-

"Lately, a joy was shared with me that I have not experienced in at least a year. I had to visit to be sure. You are mentally, emotionally, and physically healthy, which means she is, as well."

"Yes," I confirmed. I struggled to speak further because she had seen me at my absolute lowest, and the big red dragon had, too. The Crimson Dragon, who despised me still.

She rested her hands on her cane and smiled, oblivious to my mood. "Wonderful. I like to hear when my investments pay out. It was a struggle to reach you every single day. I appreciate you winning the duels. I thought about doing them myself, but I trusted you to duel because I think she would have wanted it."

"The voice," I said, the words a whisper between my clenched teeth. The over a hundred days I'd tried to die were thwarted by a woman I'd never met? No, it couldn't be. "It couldn't have been you."

"It totally was! I'll tell you, it was tough. Legend of Heart requires the Legendary Knights to agree on a purpose, and we're all equally stubborn. They couldn't stand me crying so much, though." The butterfly flittered forth, and the sight of it somehow eased my shock. The azure light along its body resembled blue fire. "We can see each other and I can speak to you because a very shard of my soul is shared with yours. It was the only way I could free you. That means I share some of your emotional highs and lows like I do with Rain."

Soul? I asked, "Why would you sacrifice that for my sake?"

"A Knight, on her honor, always pays back her debts," she said. "You've given Rain emotions she's never known: of having a home, of trusting another, of love in its true form. I know… learning what you did about her is tough. It's not something I could ever forget, either. What you've given her, however, far outshines it. Take it from me. You've treated Rain well, and I couldn't stand to see you two separated again. She's my family. As long as there's something I can do for her, I will. So, yeah. I saved you, Kalin."

I grasped my harmonica. "I… I don't understand. I've never met you…"

Rahlin raised her chin. "You are also not the type of human to look beyond the situation right in front of you. Try opening yourself to what appears preposterous at first glance, such as: all things can be healed, even the scars you create."

I observed my scarred hand. Yusei and Rain's near-death crashes haunted me again, and the ghosts of their screams drifted from my memories. "Scars are forever."

My gaze held on my hand. Her arm moved into the air, but I wouldn't let it catch my attention. She dropped her hand, and-

A sharp pain erupted from atop my skull. "Ow! What the hell was that for?"

She set her cane back on the ground. "I've always wanted to check exactly how thickheaded you are. I can't say I'm surprised. You give 'in one ear in the other' a new meaning."

"It's 'in one ear out the other!'" I touched my tender head. "Jesus, that hurt."

"Remember!" she exclaimed. "As long as you believe scars are eternal, you will remain fettered. They can be more. You haven't seen it yet. Keep looking, unless you've blinded yourself too."

"I think you almost blinded me!"

Rahlin snickered. She tried to shrug her shoulders. She lost her support, and her cane twisted at an awkward angle. I reached for her on instinct as she careened towards the sands. Her arms wrapped around mine. She was shaking and blushing terribly. I said, "You okay?"

She backed off, twisted her cane into the sand, and twisted a lock of silver hair around her finger. "You, you shouldn't- I didn't need your help!"

I sighed. They were almost the same exact person. "Course you didn't."

"I don't like people, okay? I just find you tolerable."

"I have never received a higher compliment."

"I'll bonk you again, Kalin."

I backed up a step. "I'd really prefer if you didn't."

Rahlin giggled, and her eye upturned. She untied a clasp at her chest and held a long, flat shape out to me. Moonlight caught on the edge, which glinted blue. "Please give this to Rain. Tell her Master will be fine."

I accepted the strange shape. Out of curiosity, I pulled at the shining bit, which was shaped in the form of a curling dragon with outstretched wings. Unnaturally bright white blinded me for a moment. When my senses returned, I realized I was holding a lengthy white sword and its sheath.

"Pretty cool, right? It's forged from a fallen star."

"Oh, shit," I muttered. "She was serious."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Oh, right. I meant to ask you one more thing," Rahlin said. "If she were to die, what would that leave you?"

I flinched. "My partner will die after living the long, happy life she deserves."

"So… Are you in denial about Shining Nova, or what?" At my confused look, she continued, "Oh. Whoops. She hasn't told you, has she?"

"Told me what?"

"Forget I said anything!" Rahlin crushed the blue butterfly in her fist. Blue fire caught and spread along her body. "I really hope she'll have that long, happy life you talked about, Kalin. I really do."

A pillar of azure flames swirled around her; when the fire dissipated, nothing remained. I observed the sheathed blade held in my knuckle-white grip.

What wasn't my partner telling me now?

End of Chapter Twenty-Five

A/N: forced friendship, of course!

The last time Rain had a similar dream was allll the way back at the end of Chapter Two. I know it's been a while, so here's your reminder in case you thought, "What? When did these two talk before?" & now would probably be a good time to mention that Acid Rain's epilogue isn't actually from Rain's POV! But, you probably put that together already. Rahlin has her own story going right now titled Under the Apple Tree in the YGO section if you're interested.

Next Wednesday, we get some West & Nico antics, chat about two Rahlins, and have a fond farewell in the arc finale, Chapter Twenty-Six, To Constellations.