Crow stole an uncertain look towards Yusei, who was leering over the duel runners. He watched the raven haired man work on the engine, his eyes scanning over the design schematics on the computer, making sure that every piece fit, while fiddling with the tools in hand. There was a playful smile tugging at his lips, as he wiped his hands on his jeans. When he straightened, he sighed, before reaching over for his toolbox. He put down a wrench, and grabbed the power drill, the very thought of the WRGP probably the furthest thing from his mind.

I'm afraid he's gotten himself into a bit of trouble.

Crow rubbed the back of his head. Ever since last night, he couldn't get those words out of his head. From his point of view, it looked like Yusei was doing just fine. Better than ever, in fact, and though that might just be because the air conditioner guy hadn't called in the last couple of hours. And besides, if Yusei really was in trouble, he'd come to Jack and Crow first. They were best friends, and Yusei knew he could rely on them, right? They grew up together, saved the world together, even ended up living together…

But the phone call did warrant some concern, at least. No, Crow wasn't going to ask about it directly; he wasn't stupid enough for that. "Hey," he called.

"Hey," Yusei mumbled back.

"Power surge blow up again?"

"Yeah. I think I've found the problem though…" His voice trailed off, the concentration taking full precedence of his attention. Crow bit the bottom of his lip, as he surveyed the garage.

When Yusei got back from the hospital, it was as if everything fell to place. The strange claw marks had instantly escaped his mind, and though rumors about a hospital fire reached both he and Jack, Yusei never really bothered with it, so they didn't either. Crow sometimes did ask what'd happened, and Yusei always gave the same answer, that a rival duel gang came and tore up the place. If he pressed for more, Yusei would simply walk off, and work on the engine.

But that wasn't normal. Not even Yusei would be that calm, especially if a fight had broke out. Anyone would be, at the very least, shaken up the entire experience. And things were serious enough, so much so it landed him in the hospital too. Didn't Trudge even talk with him about that gang?

Crow narrowed his eyes. He's already talked it over with Jack, and they both agreed to meet with that person tonight. She sounded persistent, her voice familiar. Though Crow tried recalling that voice, he just couldn't, for one reason or another. Maybe this was just a really bad prank someone was pulling, but with everything that's happened, they couldn't ignore it.

Just then, he noticed something. He turned back to Yusei. "Hey, you remember the box, the one with all those pills?"

Yusei stopped for a brief second. He started working again, his eyes drifting aimlessly all over the engine. "I do."

"You know where it is?"

"A guy came to pick it up."

"Huh; how'd he know where it was?"

"Tracking system," Yusei muttered.

Crow nodded, before coming to the couch and plopping down. What else could he say, at a time like this? "So, Akiza stopped by the other day."

"Did she?"

"Yeah. She wanted to know where you were."

"What'd you say?" he asked nonchalantly.

"I told her you were at the hospital."

"I see."

"…So what happened? You know, with the hospital and everything?"

Yusei turned to Crow, with the same smile he'd seen before. "There was a gas leak. The doctors discharged me before the explosion happened. I found Akiza wandering around the hospital, and we got out."

"Are you guys alright?"

"Yeah, but we were lucky," he replied, the slightest trace of remorse touching his voice. Crow dwelled on the sound for a while, the remorse reaching him as well. "I can't imagine how everyone else must be feeling right now."

"You know, you can always come to me and Jack for help."

Yusei looked up. "What?"

"Like, I don't know, if you need any help with the engines. Stuff like that."

"I know."

"Yusei?"

"Hmm?"

"The marks the other day…on the garage-"

Yusei turned back, a bit annoyed by Crow's persistence. "I already told you-"

"Yeah but…are you sure? I mean, with scratches like that…"

"I said it's fine," he dismissed. "It wasn't our fault, and Zora said she'd pay for the damage."

Crow blinked. "Still…"

"What's done is done Crow," Yusei stated, as he leaned over the duel runners. "It's not going to affect us one way or the other."

"But the guys who attacked you-!"

"-aren't our concern." he interrupted, causing Crow to fall silent. The quiet entwined within the already tense atmosphere. Though Yusei remained as he usually was, the aggression quickly fading from him, Crow could only sit there, his eyes boring his friend's back. He was about to say something else, when he heard a loud bang from the garage.

Immediately, his gaze followed the sound. Slowly, he got up, went to the garage door, and slid it open.

Those two again.

They were both wearing their duel academy uniforms, as they had the first time Crow saw them. The boy, Jaden, managed a polite, apologetic nod, before looking sideways, making out Yusei's frame from within the darkness. The girl, Alexis, waved a simple hello, with that same, bubbly smile on her face. Well, they certainly seems a lot calmer than they had before. He opened his mouth, if only to ask them if they needed anything, when he saw the blank, empty stare, on Alexis's face.

He froze.

"Yus!" Jaden called.

Crow heard Yusei's familiar footsteps coming from behind. From the corner of his eyes, he could see Yusei smiling, before he turned to Crow. "I'll be back in a bit."

"W-wait-"

"Don't worry," Yusei reassured, as he started walking away. "If anyone calls, tell them I'll be back in a little, alright?"

Before Crow could say anything more, Yusei left, leaving only empty space in front of him.


Akiza leaned against the light-pole, her eyes closed as she basked in the warm, afternoon light. Just behind her was a white building, the large, rectangular windows revealing all kinds of bookshelves and books inside. Comfortable tables were settled next to the glass, and surrounding them, people. Whether they be scholars, or thinkers, or students who hadn't known any better, if she remained quiet, she could listen to their conversations, in spite of the ruckus outside. Soft, verdant leaves fell from their branches, the nearby fountain drawing the light near with its glistening surface. Benches sat on either side of the wide streets, the black, unlit lamps lingering nearby.

She'd just got a phone call yesterday, from a reporter named Angela. She asked Akiza if she could talk with her in front of the Gallant Bookstore, not about the recent events, of course, but to just talk. Though Akiza said no several times over, in the end, it was the woman's determination that managed to ensnare her. Besides which, Alexis told her this was the woman Jaden was working with, so Akiza might as well have been kind to her; she figured it would've given Jaden a good career boost. It also gave Akiza a chance to address the recent rumors the reporter spread around, but at this point, she didn't even know if she cared anymore.

"Ms. Izinski?"

She opened her eyes, and turned to the side. She found a young woman standing before her, a little older than she was. Blond hair cascaded down her back, her own bangs casually falling to her bright green eyes. She had a red jacket on, with a white undershirt beneath, and a dark, navy blue skirt to go with it. She wore a brown belt to tie the appearance together, and when Akiza looked down, she saw a notepad and pen in her hands.

Akiza straightened, and regarded the reporter evenly; she's heard Jaden complain enough times to get a good idea of what she wanted. "Yes?" she asked.

"I'm Angela," the woman said, as she held out her hand. "I talked with you over the phone."

Akiza nodded. "Right."

An awkward pause came between the two, and Akiza hastily turned away. She could feel the reporter's eyes scrutinize her, before she finally smirked. "Why don't we go inside?"

Silently, Akiza agreed. She led the reporter across the street, and towards the bookstore. She opened the glass door, and came inside, the scene greeting her amiably.

The warm floorboards glowed at the outside light. The faint smell of coffee drifted through the air, along with the sounds of the soft whirls from the coffee machines, just a few feet away. Rows of bookshelves came into her vision as she walked down the small staircase, her red pumps descending to the velvet carpets lying near. The countertop held a messy pile of books that needed to be shelved, along with an abundance of receipts with ink sprawled all over them. Just behind that was the cashier, who was panicking at the sight of the disorganized piles. It wasn't long before she saw Angela walk in front of her, with that same, professional smile on her face. "Why don't we talk over there?" she asked, pointing to one lone table, off in the corner. Akiza obliged.

When the two sat across from each other, Akiza looked up warily. Angela was just sitting there, fiddling with her notepad. No, there were definitely some things written on there, though she couldn't tell what. She took a deep breath, and regarded the reporter evenly. "About what you wrote-"

"My assistants."

Akiza blinked. "What?"

"My assistants were the ones who wrote all those awful things about you," Angela answered aimlessly, as she shot the witch an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, by the way. I know it may not mean much, but I can assure you that they are being dealt with right now."

All that pent up frustration Akiza felt instantly dissipated. "I…I guess…"

"But I was in charge of them," Angela continued, "so in actuality, it's my fault."

"T-thanks," Akiza managed, "for saying it, at least."

"Don't thank me. Anyways, would you like anything? Coffee? Some tea, maybe?"

Akiza shook her head. "It's fine. Well, getting back to the subject…"

"Right," she replied, as she flipped open her notebook. "Honestly, I still can't believe you agreed to do this interview with me. If you didn't already know, you and the other Fortune Cup duelists were a little hard to get a hold of."

"I didn't think people actually…paid any attention to that anymore…"

Angela nodded. "Crazy, huh?"

"Y-yeah," she said awkwardly. "Crazy…So, what'd you, you know, want to…?"

Angela placed the pen on her notepad, the ink slowly dying the page a deep, dark black. "We won't talk about anything you don't want to, alright?"

She blinked. "Okay…?"

"I know this might be sudden, but I was wondering if you could tell me if Jaden is doing alright."

Jaden? Slowly, Akiza nodded. "Yeah, he's fine."

"And his friend? Alexis?"

"She's…great. Why? Did they do something?"

Angela shook her head. "No, just curious is all. If you can't already tell, we don't get along very well. They mentioned you were their friend, so I figured I'd get to know you a bit."

Akiza narrowed her eyes. Though she was visibly relieved that the reporter wouldn't pry information from her, she was already more than wary. Didn't she try asking them what she wanted to know? And from the way Jaden described her, Akiza didn't necessarily peg the woman as the protective type. "Why?" was what finally came out of her mouth.

Angela shrugged. "Just worried is all."

"You could always ask them."

"I already did, but I figured a third party needed to get involved."

"What for?"

Angela regarded Akiza for the longest time. Before long, she set her notepad and pen down, and placed both hands on the table. "You've got parents, don't you?"

Surprised, Akiza nodded.

"Any siblings?"

"None."

Her green orbs darkened at the prospect, though she still smiled. "I've no parents," she slowly explained, "but I do have siblings. Two younger brothers, and an older sister."

"I don't see why-"

"My sister was killed," Angela continued, causing Akiza to fall silent. "And my brothers went missing, a long time ago."

An eerie quiet draped over the two. Akiza's body stiffened, as she gazed at Angela, who turned sideways, a subtle turbulence brewing on her face. Akiza couldn't move, couldn't say anything; she could only scrutinize the reporter with whatever sympathy she could muster, before looking to the side, the shame easily embedded in her frame. So she was just like Misty, when her little brother disappeared. "I…I'm sorry."

Angela closed her eyes, and at an instant, a sad grin draped across her face. "It's fine. I know I'm not really supposed to get attached, but I couldn't help it. I'm just wondering if you've noticed anything strange."

Akiza shook her head. "Nothing."

"They also mentioned…Yusei Fudo too."

She looked up then. Yeah; Yusei did say something along those lines. "He's a nice person. They just met him."

"I see. Have they ever been hospitalized?"

"Not that I'm aware of."

"Do you know when they transferred in?"

"Around…nine months ago. Sometime last year."

Angela nodded thoughtfully. "And how are they doing in school? Is everything going well?"

Akiza laughed sheepishly. "I guess. Jaden's doing well, but Alexis is ah…a bit…"

It was then the reporter laughed. "You don't have to tell me twice. But they're both hard workers, so they'll get by."

Akiza smiled. She was probably going to have to talk with them later, but other than that, it seems that's all this was, just a tiny, casual conversation. She was surprised, honestly, that Angela would watch over them like this. Most of the time, she was always on television, shouting about the latest scandals, or stunts, or whatever else she could pull from her mind. Akiza never even paid much attention to her either, but at the very least, the witch knew she cared. "Yeah."

Angela stole a look at the clock, and stood. "Sorry, but I've got to get going. Let's talk some more though, alright?" She flipped to a blank sheet in her notepad, scribbled her number, and tore it off. She placed it in front of Akiza.

She picked it up and examined it, as Angela stood there. "As you can see," she said, "it's kind of my job to look out for people I care about."

"I understand," Akiza replied easily.

Angela nodded, with a tight smile. "I'm sure you can."


Tall, Gothic arches soared through the ceilings, giving way to a moonlight no one wanted around. Tiny cherubs graced the floors, their black trumpets easily sounding a nameless lullaby only demons could recall. The melancholic gold splattered all over the walls did little to ease the ominous dread within the atmosphere, and though black, silk curtains cascaded down the window frames, she could still make out the agonizing faces plastered on the glass, the morbid colors shrouding their once healthy frames with terror. The maroon marble on the floor echoed her footsteps back to her, and when she stared out at the crowds around her, she could only make out the obvious blissfulness upon their faces.

Ophelia clenched her fists, as she turned away. Apparently, the Black Rose attacked Mizaki Hotel. Though it was a small ambush, already the rumors had begun circulating around the various territories. Though the rumors were confined to the covens, it still put everyone on edge. What if Fallen caught wind of this? What about Amrbosine? What was the witch thinking anyways? If anything, this was just a pointless act of violence; it served no purpose in the grand scheme of things. It was too obvious, too masochistic, too amateurish. Was he trying to get them all killed?

And yet, there were still more whispers within the crowds. No one had seen Drevis today. From what she could understand, he was another candidate, wasn't he? Did the witch take him out? Was the Black Rose trying to drive a wedge between the coven members?

Ophelia closed her eyes, and shook her head. No, he wouldn't do that. The man she knew was a lot kinder than that; this was probably just another distraction, to turn Fallen's attention away from the real plan. Now, if only everyone knew what that plan was, she could execute it perfectly. She'd show him that he didn't need that woman by his side, that she would be able to handle herself. And who knows? Maybe he'd elevate her status. After all, out of everyone here, it was clear she cared for him the most; the last thing she wanted was to hurt him.

Still, the fact that he called everyone participating in the game here, meant that they'd be fighting. She remembered how he did this before, when all the other territories were rebelling. He assigned everyone their roles, and as long as everyone fulfilled them, they'd win. But she hadn't seen him in so long, neither he nor his Queens. Was was going to happen now? Salem did say he was proceeding with the game as planned, but with Fallen baring down at them, was this really the time for that? Could she ask the witch such things? Was it alright? Would he understand? Of course he would.

Immediately, the clamor grew silent. Ophelia blinked, before looking up.

And there he was, in all his magnificence.

Tainted, azure eyes gazed out at the corrupted scenery, reflecting back a glassy stare she'd grown fond of over the years. A blackened light touched his tan skin, though that humiliating, yellow marker on his cheek marred his perfect complexion. Obsidian bangs descended from his forehead, the yellow highlights in his hair a wonderful contrast between he and the nearly abysmal background. A deep blue jacket covered his arms, and underneath it, a black undershirt with a red insignia smeared onto it. Black jeans covered his legs, with brown combat boots to go with it. That familiar, black rose was latched onto his throat, the blossom as vibrant as she remembered it. A solemn, emotionless frown grazed his lips, and with that, Ophelia breathed a sigh of relief.

How long has it been since she saw him like that? Here he was, her idol, her saviour, a man who had finally managed to step out from the shadows. She was so happy, so very very happy that she could come here him and see him like this. The Queens weren't beside him, and that was a little strange, but that was fine. Either way, as long as he hadn't changed, Ophelia was content.

He regarded them evenly, his orbs surveying the now obedient crowds, before coming down the grand staircases, one hand on the wooden rails, the other to his side. He walked in front of them, a piercing light within his eyes. Once everyone quieted, he took a deep breath, and said, "Firstly, I would like to congratulate all of you, for making it this far."

Sheepish smiles grazed the nobility's faces, but Ophelia could only fight down a disgusted glare; after 50 years, and with everyone dying out, killed, or just outright dropping out, now he congratulates them. In her opinion, they all deserve to die. Still, the witch never noticed anything, and continued. "Now, I'm sure you're all aware of the situation involving Fallen as well?"

Disgruntled mumbles resounded from their audience. He nodded expectantly. "I've allowed them do whatever they wished, but in light of some recent events, I've decided I can no longer afford to turn a blind eye. Thus, I think it's time we speed things up a bit. I'm sure you're all aware of a certain young woman I've grown acquainted with."

Ophelia stiffened. Not that tramp again. What? Is he going to make her his concubine? She was going to throw up if he did, more so if he decided to bring her here, to the coven. She wouldn't last an hour.

"I want you all to try and kill her."

She stopped.

What?

Confused murmurs erupted from the crowds, as the Black Rose smiled easily. "You heard me," he said. "There are some new conditions to the game. Starting now, I will be protecting this woman. If you can kill both me and her, the title is yours."

"Why!?" someone immediately shouted. "What purpose does she serve?"

"How is this 'speeding things up'?!"

"What is she to you anyways?!"

"An experiment," he announced, hushing the crowds. "I want to try something, and if I'm right, the game will end with the lot of you dead."

One coven member clenched his fists. "That's not fair. You can't just change the rules-!"

"What's wrong?" the witch pressed. "She's just a normal woman; nothing special about her." When the man fell silent, he turned to the rest of the candidates. "Are you all really that scared of the normal world?"

"B-but-!"

"Stop it."

Slowly, everyone turned to Ophelia, who was standing there, the disbelief still in her eyes. All the same, a slow smile formed upon her lips, as she stared up at her idol adoringly.

So…if that woman is killed, and if the Black Rose is still alive, there'd be no way to claim the title. No one here is humble enough to go after two different targets; they'll all try killing the woman first, before aiming for the witch. If Ophelia can get to her first, and claim her kill, no one would dare try touching him. No, it wasn't a stated rule; rather, an understanding of the natures surrounding her. This was perfect.

She turned to the man, and imitated her rose's formal tone. "If our leader wishes this, then we should do it. Besides, I know a little about this woman."

She looked up at the Black Rose, who, along with the crowds, was waiting expectantly. "She's a duelist, right? A woman who carried the name, the Black Rose Witch? She's got that stupid dragon with her too."

She could practically hear their thoughts now, as the realization dawned on their faces. So, this was a matter of pride rather than difficulty, huh? Two black roses, to prick in a field of thorns; not a bad thought, really. Ah, what a funny way of dealing with the situation. But then again, he was always a funny man.

She could feel his icy eyes regard her for some time, before turning back to the audience. "And there you have it. For anyone who's participating in the game, be aware of the rules. I won't tolerate disobedience. Understood?"

"Yes sir," they all cried happily.