Chapter 35!
Shinn Tsukishiro: Thanks for the review! I'm glad that you enjoyed having them interact with Akiza's family. I figure that they must get along pretty well, especially after everything Yusei did for her.
tom . zhu. 509: Don't worry! They're going to be in this Chapter and then the next few too!
drytacos: Great to hear from you again and great job being able to make a profile! Thanks for kind words and a few good thing have happened to me, but things are still rather stressful for me. I hope things will improve soon.
KaiFudo16: That's going to come up later on and it's going to be very important. Glad you've noticed it!
A/N: This Chapter is a little on the Yusei x Akiza fluff, so I hope you enjoy it!
As Yusei was working on one of his "secret projects", he felt like he was about to explode with happiness. 'I hope this works,' Yusei thought as he typed on the computer screen, 'I know that everyone will enjoy it if it does.' His face was beaming with joy, when he got time to talk to Akiza a few hours later. "Boy Yusei! You sure seem happy!" Akiza noted as she talked to him over a video chat. "I am," he replied and Akiza wondered why.
"I can't tell you," he replied, "It's a secret." Akiza tilted her head. "But Yusei! I'm your girlfriend! Surely you can tell me!" Yusei shook his head. "Sorry Akiza. This one thing that I can't tell you. Besides, all of the pieces might not come together anyways. If that happens, then I'll tell you what it was." Akiza sighed. "So can you at least tell me how long you've been working on it?" Yusei shook his head and Akiza frowned. "Well...that's okay," Akiza answered, "I guess I'll talk to you later Yusei." Yusei nodded. "Sure thing and remember Akiza: do your best and continue to smile. I want you to know that I love you no matter what." Akiza managed a small smile. "See! There it is!" Yusei replied as he pointed at the screen. Akiza gave a brief chuckle. "I love you too Yusei and don't worry. I've followed your advice, just like you said." Yusei smiled back and they both said "I love you's" before shutting the screen off.
Akiza sighed as she leaned back in her chair. Now that talking with Yusei was over, it was back to schoolwork. Having large textbooks and problems to do that took a long time to complete. Akiza knew that she had to do them in order to get her degree, but it was stressful none the less. After starting a Chapter for homework, she decided to relax and take a shower. Once that was over she sighed and decided to check in on Jack and Crow.
Crow had decided to leave his team just a week ago. He said that he wanted a new challenge and picked a team that was farther down in the rankings. His old teammates were not upset and they all agreed that a change of pace would be exciting. Crow found a couple of guys that came from Europe, so having both the twins and Akiza there made for an easy conversation starter. His new team, much like his old one, had in Crow's mind a lot of potential. They had a good combination that would work and also were young, up and coming in the standings. Crow wanted to build a team up and then get them to the top. He would start last, but if necessary, he would move to another position.
For Jack, he head was as big as air balloon. Being on top of course lead him to say and do what he thought was right. That course lead to him rattling his mouth off and having to pay a fine or two. Jack didn't take back what he said, as it kept him in the spotlight, and as long as he won, sponsors didn't care. With Carly having to do more stories about other duelists, besides Jack, it made their time together less than what they wanted. But it did make their time together more meaningful, so there was a small upside to it.
Akiza sighed as she thought all of her friends and how they were doing well, while she was still at school. She wanted to be out on her own and making money like them, but she knew that her hard work now would pay off later. She sighed again as she got up and into her pajamas, before climbing into bed. She laid there, not being able to sleep, and thought about her past.
Her role as the Black Rose seemed to bother her less and less, as it was longer and longer since her days as her "other self." She thought about all the pain and suffering she caused and how it was her goal to make up for it. That was one her reasons for becoming a doctor. She remembered what Yusei thought about it and he said that it was a very good idea. "I'm proud that it is one of your reasons for becoming a doctor," Yusei said with a smile as they sat on the living room couch, "Of course, even during your worst times, I know that you've always been a kind hearted person." Akiza smiled as she remembered the moment.
Yusei. He had done so much for her and she was always trying to return those same favors. Still, had she done enough? She remembered how he had responded to the question before. He said that she made it up to him with just a single smile on her face. Yet, that didn't make Akiza feel good enough. Yusei deserved so much more. After all, he saved the world twice and helped out so many of his friends. But at the same time, that wasn't his style. Yusei wasn't after fame or glory. All he wanted was to be himself and that including spending a bulk of time with her. Akiza rolled on her side and sighed happily.
_Akiza Imagines_
Akiza was standing in a dark room alone. She looked around. "Hello? Is anybody there?" Suddenly girls start appearing everywhere. Tall ones. Short ones. Ones with long hair. Others with short hair. Akiza looked around as she slowly became boxed in. Soon, she was surrounded by girls and the entire room was packed to the brim. Suddenly, on tall stage, Yusei came out and overlooked the crowd. All the girls screamed as he came out, almost like he was a famous celebrity, and a spotlight followed his every move.
"Yusei! Yusei!" Akiza shouted from the very back of the room, but she knew that the only person who could hear her was herself. She sighed sadly as Yusei walked down the stage steps into the mob, as the spotlight continued to shine on him. He slowly made his way through the crowd, as if he knew exactly where he was going. The look on his face was serious and determined. As he passed each girl, they turned and gave him a disappointed look, before fading. Yusei continued making his way through and the crowd slowly became smaller and smaller. Soon, he made his way to the back of the room, before stopping in front of Akiza. All of the girls he passed appeared for a moment, with their disappointed looks on their faces. They all disappeared for good as Yusei's determined, serious look turned into a much friendlier one. He smiled as he wrapped Akiza in a hug and he gave her kiss. "I love you," Yusei said sweetly as he looked into Akiza's eyes.
Out of all the girls in the entire world, he choose me. Me! Akiza Izinski! Akiza rested her head against his chest and shoulder, as he continued to gently hold her.
_Akiza Stops Imagining_
Akiza opened her eyes. She still hadn't been able to fall asleep and it was past 2 AM. She got out her phone and quickly sent a text to Yusei. "I love you," she wrote and, just a few moments later, a response came. "I love you too," he replied. Akiza could only smile as she placed the phone onto her chest. Akiza was so lucky to have a guy like Yusei in her life and she was grateful for everything he had done for her. As she feel asleep, she was able to think about all the happiness and joy that Yusei had given her, to overcome her terrible past.
Unfortunately, the happiness didn't last long. Akiza was slammed a few days later, when it was revealed that she had two very hard tests, on the same day, in only a couple of weeks. She took Yusei's advice and tried to focus really hard on both subjects However, both of them felt frustrating, as she would change from one subject to another. Just as she understood one and get the hang of it, she would switch to the other. When she would go back to the previous one, it felt as though she had forgotten over half of the given subject. It wasn't any easier on test day, as she opened a packet on her first test.
'I have no idea what the answer is,' Akiza thought and decided to go to the second question. 'I don't know that answer either!' Akiza screamed in her mind, as she clutched onto the necklace Yusei had given her a few years back. 'Come on Yusei! I need some help here!' Akiza knew deep down inside, Yusei was not going to be able to help her. She struggled through the test, knowing she did not do very well, without even seeing the results. 'Maybe things will go better on the next test,' she muttered to herself as she clutched onto her backpack.
But for Akiza, the second test was a struggle as well. She thought that she did better than the last one, but just because she did better did not mean she did very well. Akiza sighed as she got back to her apartment by herself. She let her bag fall to the floor, as she went to her small bedroom, and laid on her bed. "That sucked!" Akiza said out loud to herself as she grabbed her pillow and hugged it. She looked at her small desk nearby. Akiza didn't feel like calling Yusei. He would just say that she did her best and that he was still proud of her.
It wasn't that she didn't enjoy the usual encouragement and happiness she got when talking to him. But at the same time, she wanted someone else to talk to. She knew it would be a few hours until her parents were able to talk to her. Akiza decided to wait until then to call someone and, for right now, she would just lay on her bed and rest.
A few hours later, after getting something to eat for dinner, Akiza went back to her apartment, and called her parents. "Hey Akiza!" her mother said enthusiastically, "So how did your tests go?" Akiza frowned. "Um...not so good." Akiza's mother opened her eyes. "Really? But you studied really hard didn't you?" Akiza nodded. "I did, but it didn't matter. I still think I nearly flunked both of them." Akiza's mother frowned too. "Well...I'm sure that you did better than you thought. What did Yusei say?"
"I didn't talk to him yet." Akiza's mother raised her eyebrows. "You didn't? Are you two in a fight or something?" Akiza shook her head. "No. I just...Yusei always says the same things whenever I've done poorly at something. I think he doesn't really know how to react to the situation, so he goes to what he knows best." Her mother nodded. "Yusei isn't perfect when it comes to romance that's for sure, but I know that he really wants you to do well." Akiza sighed. "I know. It seems like he speaks better when we're together and physically in the same room. When we're far away, it seems as though he doesn't know what to do." Akiza's mother smiled. "I know what you mean and he's told me that he's not an expert at speaking, as much as people like to think he is."
"He said that?" Akiza asked, "Well then what else did her say?" Ms. Izinski smiled. "I'm not going to tell you," she replied, "But I will say that I know you can come back from these two failures and do really well Akiza. You now know what to expect when it comes to those tests and I think you'll do much better the second time around." Akiza smiled. "Thanks mom. I'll talk to you later." They said goodbye and hanged up.
"Well...I guess I should call Yusei and tell him the bad news," Akiza said sadly to herself. She then dialed Yusei's number. "Hey Akiza! How'd your tests go?" Yusei asked with a big smile on his face. Akiza sighed and looked down. "I did terribly," she replied. Yusei's smile turned upside down. "Well...I'm sorry to hear that. You did your be..."
"Yes! I did my best!" Akiza shouted, "I did my best and it was not good enough! Because I'm not good enough!" Yusei watched as girlfriend started to cry. "Akiza. Akiza!" Yusei screamed as all he could do was sit and watch his girlfriend cry. He didn't know what to say or do, so he just sat there in silence. "I don't know if I can make it!" Akiza shouted, "These classes are so tough! When I get done talking to you, all I can do is go back to my school work! I suck! I suck! I suck!" Yusei could only watch and wait until Akiza could stop bawling. He watched the clock at the bottom on the screen and it was double digit minutes until Akiza stop whailing. Once Akiza was reduced to sniffles, he spoke up.
"Akiza...you...no...you worked hard at studying for those tests. You did your best. I know that isn't much to say, especially when you get your results back, but I know that you can become a doctor. You...are one of the hardest workers I know. When we worked together on your assignments, you kept trying make sure that you understood and knew the anwers. I watched you work your hardest to do well in school and to succeed. I know you can come back and I know that you can do well. You've always been determined to do something and when you put your mind to it, I know you can do it! I believe in you!"
Akiza looked up. "Yeah, but...you've said that before." Yusei nodded. "I know, but didn't it help those other times?" Akiza turned to the side. "Well...yeah, but...this is different. You've always told me that you believe in me and you've repeated that statement over and over again." Yusei sighed and tried to think of something new to say that would help Akiza. He finally shrugged. "I...I don't know what to say Akiza. You did your best. You studied hard and focused on the test. If you didn't do well, you didn't do well." Akiza looked down at the table.
"I think I'll just spend some time alone Yusei," Akiza replied. Yusei nodded. "Okay Akiza, but remember that I love you and there is no one in the world with a smile better than yours." Akiza nodded, hearing those words yet again as they said goodbye. After they had finished, Akiza went back to laying on her bed.
As the days went on, Akiza tried to make herself feel better. Still, the thought of those tests stayed in her mind. Sure enough, she got the test results back after a little over a week and they were what she suspected. When she got the tests back, she wanted to cry right in her seat. She ended up holding back her tears until she made the short walk home. Her coat sleeve had wet snot rubbed onto it and her glasses had white spots on them. When she got back, she went back to her room and put her red framed glasses into her glasses case. It was the first time, in a very long time, that she had gotten grades that low. The other times, she had not really tried, as it was just before her Black Rose days.
Sure enough, thinking back to those times brought tears to her eyes. She had tried to forget about those times, but having these low grades only made her remember them more. As the semester went along, Akiza had to struggle through those two classes. She had two others, that were much easier, but Akiza's mind was always on the two harder classes. Yusei tried to cheer her up, but before every test, Akiza got really nervous.
"Akiza. Akiza. Just calm down. Okay?" Yusei said in his private video phone room, "You can do it. Don't freak out too much or you won't think." Akiza slowly rocked back and forth in her seat. "I'm just so scared Yusei! I don't want to fail!" Yusei sighed. If he was with Akiza, his actions could help him talk to her, but when you're a thousand miles away, only his words could really speak for him. "Akiza. Even if you do fail, I want you to know that your family and I still love you. Okay? Can you take one of them online if you fail?" Akiza looked up. "I...I don't know," she replied, "I haven't looked into it." Yusei smiled.
"Why don't you try to look into it?" he asked, "And if you can, sign up for it. Then, you and I could take the class together over the summer." Akiza looked down. "But...you don't know the first thing about being a doctor." Yusei nodded. "I know and there are a lot of other things I don't about either," he replied, "But if I can help you in any way I can, I'll do it." Akiza managed a small smile. "Okay Yusei. That would be great."
Akiza started catching the hang of one of her classes, but the other one just didn't stick. Akiza tried really hard on the final. She needed a B+ or better to get a C or better. The teacher had warned on her syllabus that the class was very difficult, so Akiza was not the only student having trouble. She ended up scoring only an 80 on the final and had to take the class over. When Akiza got home, Yusei and her family waited at the airport to greet her.
"Akiza," her father said as Akiza cried into his shoulder. The other people watching frowned as Akiza was still upset over having to re-take her class. Akiza's mother gave her a hug as well. A short ways away, Yusei held onto the flowers he had gotten for her. To be honest, Akiza's parents really wanted Yusei to be last in line. If they couldn't help their daughter, they knew that Yusei could. Martha gave her a hug as well and tried to give her some motherly advice. Akiza looked over her shoulder and spotted Yusei.
"Yusei!" she cried as she made her way over to him. Instead of being the usual happy moment, Yusei put his arms around Akiza and held her close. Again, Yusei was at a loss for words. "Akiza. Why don't we ride together and talk about it?" Akiza nodded and thought that was a good idea. He leaned forward and gave her a kiss. "I love you," he said with a hopeful smile. Akiza managed a small smile back and the two of them headed outside.
"Do you think he can cheer her up?" Ms. Izinski asked as her husband and herself turned to Martha. Martha gave them a knowing smile. "I know how much Yusei loves her and I'm sure he'll do everything he can to cheer her up." They all turned to watch as Akiza and Yusei left the airport.
As the two them rode in silence, Akiza looked out the window with her chin resting in the palm of her hand. Yusei looked down at his legs, not sure of what to say to her. "So...when does your online class start?" he asked, trying to find something to talk about. Akiza sighed at the thought. "In a couple of weeks," she replied. Yusei turned to her. "Well...at least we'll be able to try and do it together," Yusei replied, "And I know if we work together on it, you'll be fantastic!"
"Yeah," Akiza replied halfheartedly. Yusei's eyebrows lowered and he looked away to his right. 'Why can't I say anything to cheer her up?' he wondered to himself.
When Akiza and Yusei got to her house, Yusei wasn't sure what to do. After Akiza took her jacket, showing her familiar Victorian outfit Yusei didn't know what to do. He was in his familiar blue blazer and black pants, but he had never had to welcome Akiza back like this. Akiza went up to him and took the roses he got for her. "Thanks for the flowers," Akiza replied sadly and she took them to a vase that her parents had left out for them. Akiza turned to Yusei.
"Well...uh..." Yusei scratched the back of his head, "What do you wanna do?" Akiza looked somberly in to the living room, before walking up to him. "Lets do our usual thing." Yusei was a bit surprised and his face firmed up. "I will only do it if you want to Akiza. I don't want to force you to do anything you don't want to do." Akiza leaned forward and gave him a kiss on the lips, before leaning back.
"Don't worry. I want to." She leaned her head to the side. "Maybe it'll help cheer me up." Yusei nodded and they leaned in for another kiss. He leaned against the wall and they continued to kiss. To be honest, Yusei could feel as though the situation wasn't as fun as it normally was. Akiza's mind was clearly on her class, even as she tried to be affectionate with Yusei. When they were done, Yusei tried to smile. "Was everything okay?" he asked, "Did anything hurt?" Akiza shook her head. "No Yusei. Was anything uncomfortable or painful for you?" Yusei said it wasn't. "Okay," Akiza said sadly and looked down. Yusei spotted the television in the living room.
"Hey! Maybe if we watch something fun, maybe that'll cheer you up. Does that sound good?" Akiza nodded and they made their way to the TV. They sat down and Yusei turned it on. He surfed through the channels, trying to find something fun and friendly for them to enjoy. To be honest, Yusei didn't know what was airing that was good, so he checked the channel information guide.
"Laughter is Gold," Yusei pronounced as he read the title of a movie, "That sounds like it would a fun one. Want to watch it?" He turned to Akiza, who still looked depressed. She looked at him and shrugged. "Okay," she replied with no happiness in her voice. Yusei turned to it and leaned back against the sofa.
It was dark and two people were walking in a crouched position. They looked around, as if something was wrong. Yusei tiled his head, not understanding what was going on. They continued to watch, until the younger couple sat behind some bushes. "Okay," the young man said, "We should be safe here." They continued looking for a moment, before the camera panned back and a green monster roared loudly. The blonde haired woman and clean cut male screamed, along with Yusei and Akiza. The monster looked like a big ball of slime. It had long, thin arms and it reached out for the man.
Akiza watched in horror as the monster wrapped one of it's many arms around him. "Darrell!" the woman screamed and Akiza watched as the man struggled to break free. Suddenly, the scene made Akiza remember something. All of her failings in school caused her to remember her past and her past involved her being the Black Rose. With that in mind, man on screen looked just like Yusei at the Fortune Cup. Akiza turned to Yusei, who was looking as though he wasn't going to last another minute. Akiza looked back at the screen as the man was lifted high into the air, much like Yusei had been all those years ago. Akiza couldn't take the pressure and sadness that filled her. It consumed her like the monster that was on screen and all of her pain and suffering came flowing back. Akiza did the only thing she could do.
She bawled. Akiza leaned onto Yusei and he turned to her. "Akiza!" he cried and he quickly reached for the remote. He turned the channel, so that he wouldn't have to endure the frightening scene a moment longer, and then turned off the TV. He turned his attention to Akiza, who was trying to cry, but the tears just wouldn't come. Yusei managed to get Akiza into his embrace and he held her, not really sure of what was going on. When Akiza was done, she leaned back.
"Akiza! What's wrong?" Yusei asked, desperate for some answers. Akiza looked down. "Yusei. I'm...so sorry. I'm sorry I was such a burden on you." Yusei gasped. "Burden? Akiza you were never a burden! I don't understand Akiza. Why are you so upset?" Akiza looked down. "Because...because that movie reminded me of my past." Yusei's mouth opened slightly. "Oh. I see." He got a tighter hold on her. "Why don't we talk about it?" Akiza nodded and started to talk.
_Flashback_
It was the night Akiza had ran away from home. She ran for blocks until she knew that she would be away from her parents. Akiza decided to catch her breath, as she leaned against an alleyway wall. Normally, this was not the type of situation for a girl like her to be in: alone, in a dark place late at night. But with her powers, Akiza knew that she could attack anyone who may try to use her in other ways. Akiza sighed as she looked around, not truly sure what to do.
"I guess I'll just have to sleep here for the night," she said to herself, as she found an old dirty dumpster. She opened the top, to find it filled with garbage. "Guess the garbage man's suppose to come tomorrow," Akiza said to herself. She put the top down and leaned against the side, away from the light. The darkness, at the time, made Akiza feel good. With no one able to see her, she could keep to herself. She rested her head against a tall building and tried to get some sleep.
The next morning, Akiza got up, and heard her stomach roar in displeasure. 'I've got to get some food,' Akiza thought to herself. With her wearing the Duel Academy uniform, her skirt didn't let her have pockets to put a wallet in. She wondered around, not really sure what to do. She had to think of some way for her to get money. She went to the community center and found a flier for a dueling tournament. The only problem was that it was in a few days and she couldn't wait that long.
As Akiza left, she spotted some people dueling in the park. She went over and watched. "You're going down!" one of the guys trash talked to the other. The two continued dueling and, once the duel was over, they shook hands in respect. When they were talking, they both took notice of Akiza. She had her duel disk around her arm and both had noticed her watching from a distance. "Look at her!" one of the guys whispered to the other.
"I knew they were staring at my chest," Akiza narrated over the flashback, "The only good thing that I enjoyed about the Duel Academy uniforms was that it hid my chest incredibly well. It was very restricting and it managed to prevent any cleavage from showing. Still, even with a much smaller looking chest, it was obvious that guys were checking me out and talking about my larger than average chest."
"Hey! So you're a duelist?" the one guy ask smoothly as they walked over to her. "Hey!" the other one whispered, "Lay back! She's mine!" His friend gave him a nudge. "Why don't we duel and then we can get to know one another better?"
"It was never in my blood to do what I was about to do," Akiza narrated, "I never want to gamble, but I knew that it was the only way I was going to survive." Akiza smiled, which in truth was very fake, and she tried her best to talk sweetly and innocently. "I'd love to," she replied, "But may I ask for a couple of favors?" The two guys nodded. "First, lets not do it here. Come on. Follow me." Akiza then lead them to an alleyway. "I think this would be a much better spot." The two guys were confused. "Why here?" the second friend asked.
"I wouldn't want anyone else to see me talking with such amazing guys like you," Akiza replied, playing along with their game. The two boys grinned from ear to ear confidently. "And the second thing," Akiza added, "Why don't we put something on the line?" The two boy's beaming smiles became confused. "What do you mean?" they asked in synch.
"How about, if I win, you each have to pay me 20 dollars?" The two guys shrugged. "All right, but what happens if you win?" Akiza smiled. "I'll pay you each $20." The boys agreed and got out their wallets. They each pulled out a $20 bill. "Where's your money?" one of them asked. Akiza smiled at them. "It's in here," Akiza lied as she pointed to her bosom, "If you guys win, you'll also get a sneak peak." The two guys smiled once again. "Okay!" they replied, forgetting that Akiza hadn't pulled out any money.
A few minutes later...
"Ahh!" the two guys screamed as their life points hit zero. They each had bruises on their faces as they had been attacked multiple times. "Look like I win," Akiza said as she went up to them. She stuck out her hand and they each put the money in her hand. Akiza walked away, with two crisp $20 bills in her hands. Akiza smiled, because now that she had some money, she could get something to eat. Not to mention the fact that she got to dish out damage to some perverts who were trying to get with her.
_End Flashback for a moment_
Akiza looked down in shame. "So, for my first few duels, I managed to use my looks an attention getter. I..." She sighed. "I didn't like it. I felt like I was selling my body to make money. I didn't like it Yusei, but it was the only way for me to survive. I...want you to know that I would never do something like that again. It was only a few times, but I regret it none the less." Akiza whimpered as Yusei held her close.
"Akiza. I totally understand. You did what you had to to survive. I understand that it's not the thing you want to do. You've never seemed liked the kind of person who would flaunt their body around. Okay?" Akiza looked at him. "You've always been modest with your clothing and you were so worried about wearing a swimsuit in front of me. Akiza, I know you're not a girl who would ever sell her body for money and you had a very logical reason for doing what you did. I also know that you don't like to gamble money away and I know that you only went into those duels, betting with money, because you had no where else to go. You said it was only a few times correct?" Akiza nodded and continued talking.
"After I dueled a few times, without a home, word quickly spread about my powers. I realized it when one person recognized me as the girl with 'the powers.' In a way, I was happy, because now I wouldn't have to use my looks as a way to get people to duel me. Part of that involved my chest, but like I said before Yusei, I hated it for a very long time. It was so much bigger than everybody else and it was another thing that made me stick out. With that in mind, I had to find something to keep, not only my chest, but my identity hidden as well.
_Continued Flashback_
With the money Akiza was making from dueling, Akiza had managed to afford a jacket, to help keep her protected from the weather. Still, Akiza didn't think it was good enough and she needed something else. She wanted something to keep her identity hidden, as she didn't want her parents to find her. As much as Akiza didn't want to admit it, she also wanted a new wardrobe, because she secretly hated beating people up with her powers. Seeing their pained expressions caused pain in her heart and she couldn't live with that guilt anymore. If she was wearing some kind of disguise, then it wouldn't be Akiza Izinski that was punishing them, it would be someone else. As she walked by a store, she look inside.
It was a costume store, filled with different masks and cloaks. Akiza dug into her pocket and found a wad of green dollar bills. She knew she had more than enough and went inside. A loud thunder roared as the door shut and she walked around, looking for something to wear. Akiza wanted something dark, as it would keep her hidden during the night, but it would make her noticeable to duel during the day. She found a dark red robe, which matched her hair color. She then found a black one, with a hood, that would help keep her dry and warm. "Now all I need is something to keep my face covered," Akiza said to herself.
"And that's when I saw it," Akiza spoke over the flashback, "That white and red mask. I put it on and I could see through the eye holes. When I took it off, you couldn't see anything, including my eyes. It was perfect and I wanted it." Akiza went up to the counter and bought the items. After that, she went around a corner and put them on. When she was done, she was now officially the Black Rose.
Akiza narrated. "With my powers growing, I learned about the Underground dueling. They said you could make a ton of money dueling there." Yusei froze. "How often did you go there?" he asked. "Only once," Akiza replied, "I hated the atmosphere. All of the drinking, drugs, and shady feeling just didn't sit right with me. I left as soon as I found out what it was like. The extra money just wasn't worth it. So, I ended up dueling above ground for all of my duels, despite having the powers and rumors of being an underground duelist."
_End Flashback_
"I...just couldn't go there Yusei," Akiza admitted, "I just couldn't take it there. The place just reeked of scary and unsafe. I never have gone there since and I'm happy to report that." Yusei brushed some hair from Akiza's eyes. "I know what you mean," he replied, "I one time had to go to a place like that. Instead of ordering what everyone else did, I ordered a glass of milk. I would never go to a place like that again. Like you, I didn't feel right there. I also felt the same way with the former Crashtown area. I couldn't wait to leave, because I hated the old wild west vibe. Guns, drinking, and all that stuff doesn't sit well with me." Akiza nodded. "And like you I've never gone back to those places and I never will." Yusei and Akiza stayed silent for a moment. Akiza knew that she was going to have to tell Yusei about Sayer.
"I guess you're wondering how I met Sayer," Akiza replied as she looked away. Yusei didn't say a word, as Akiza turned back to him. "But this is the only time I ever am grateful for him!" Akiza shouted, "Everything else about him I hate." Yusei nodded. "I understand," he replied softly as Akiza remembered.
_Flashback_
"My powers were getting stronger by the day and soon, everyone had heard about me. I didn't like hurting people and I'm happy to know that the most serious injuries were still able to make a complete recovery. Still, I hated having to duel people and hurting them. That's why my disguise was so helpful. No one could say my name or what I really looked like. I was the Black Rose, a witch, that had a dark red and black cloak. The only problem was, as much as I hated it, I had to continue dueling in order to make money and survive. I'm sure Sayer found out about me and my powers sooner or later. He probably had some people duel me to see just how powerful I really was. It was one night, that he came up to me."
Akiza had just finished dueling and defeating another duelist. She opened her pocket, buried deep in her cloak, and pulled out some money. "You're the Black Rose?" Akiza turned around. "Who's there?" she asked. Sayer stepped from around the corner. "Who...who are you? And what do you want?" Sayer smiled. "So you are the Black Rose?" he replied, "I've heard about you. You have physicist powers that make your monsters become real." Akiza rolled her eyes.
"Yeah. I know. So come on!" She turned on her duel disk. "Are you ready to duel?" Sayer laughed. "I'm not here to duel you," he replied, "I'm here to make an offer." Akiza put down her arm, which was across her body. "What kind of a offer?" Sayer smiled. "I thought you'd like to know that I have powers just like you." Akiza was baffled. "Like...me?" she replied in a less serious tone. Sayer nodded. "Yes. Just watch."
He pulled out his duel disk and summoned a monster. "Attack that wall!" he shouted and the monster attacked. It caused a small explosion and Akiza closed her eyes. When she looked up, there was a small black mark where the monster had attacked. "See what I mean?" Sayer spoke slyly. Akiza turned around. "What...what do you want from me?" she asked.
"You don't like truly you powers do you?" Sayer asked, "You're like an outsider that no one understands." Akiza hung her head. "Wouldn't you like to be able to control those powers better and be accept by the rest of the world?" Akiza was still confused. "Yes, but...how can I do that?" Sayer smiled. "My name is Sayer and I own a place called the Arcadia Movement. It's a place where psychic duelists, that have been abandoned by the rest of the world, come to live, and work on their powers. If you join me, you will easily be the most powerful person there. Everyone will try to be more like you and you'll have friends that accept you for who you are. You would have powers just like them and they would have powers just like you."
"I've never heard of this place called the Arcadia Movement. What would I do about food and housing? I can't go back to live with my parents." Sayer put a hand up. "I have some of the best dorm rooms you can imagine. They're even better than most colleges. You would be provided with a place to sleep, work, shower, eat, and best of all, get schooling from some of the top teachers in the country. What do you say? Will you join the Arcadia Movement?"
Akiza thought about it. If she went there, she wouldn't have to worry about dueling for money. She would have food, clothes, and all the necessarily things that she needed. She couldn't remember how long it was since she got to sleep in a nice warm bed or take a nice hot shower. Even though Akiza was told never to trust strangers, Akiza just couldn't resist. "I'll do it," Akiza replied without hesitation, "I'll join the Arcadia Movement."
Sayer smiled evilly. "I knew you'd make the right decision. Now follow me." Akiza followed him until they reached the Movement. "Why don't you take your mask and robe off now?" Sayer suggested once they entered the lobby. Akiza shook her head. "I don't want to," Akiza fired back. "But you're safe here," Sayer replied as he put a hand on her shoulder, "All the other students here have powers just like you. You don't need to be afraid. Take it off and show me who you really are." Akiza sighed and looked around. She took everything off and Sayer recognized her uniform.
"You went to Duel Academy?" he asked, "Well, it's no surprise that you were let go and treated like an outsider. But here, you'll be accepted by everyone. We'll help get you into a normal routine and you'll quickly feel like you belong here." Akiza smiled. "Can I go to my dorm room? I'd really like to be able to relax and get settled in." Sayer frowned and turned around quickly.
"No! I need you to show me your powers!" Sayer replied, his voice in an almost rage, "Now, follow me to the training room." Akiza was a little frightened by his reaction, but she figured that it was probably standard procedure. She went into a large dueling area. Other people were dueling and there were people above in white cloaks watching them. Sayer went across the duel field and they started dueling.
During the duel, Sayer walked up to her as she attacked him. He said that the Arcadia Movement was going to be her new family. Akiza was still afraid of the Movement, as there was a lot of things that she didn't understand. Still, Sayer reassured her that she should trust the Movement as they were her new family, and that she shouldn't trust outsiders.
_End Flashback_
"After that, I stayed at the Movement, having school during the day. At night, I still sometimes went out as the Black Rose. Sayer thought I could be almost like an advertisement for them, but I only seemed found regular duelists who didn't have powers. At the same time, I ran into Misty's brother Toby, who did have psychic powers. I..." Akiza put her hands on her head. Yusei pulled Akiza in close, so that her head rested on his shoulders. "I...feel so bad about what I did. I just..." Akiza remained quiet for a few moments.
"Akiza. It's okay," Yusei said, once he knew he was ready to speak, "You only did what you were told to do and you were following the rules. Misty and you have made up. Please don't keep hurting yourself over it. Okay? It's over with and you have already made up with everyone." Akiza sighed and nodded. "I know, but I still feel bad about it. Not to mention that I had to keep dueling as the Black Rose, to follow Sayer's orders, and I really didn't enjoy doing it. To be honest, my powers seemed to become stronger the longer I stayed there." Yusei nodded.
"Right. That was part of Sayer's plan to have you be part of his army." Akiza nodded. "I know and I'm sorry about what happened. I just..." Yusei just sat there, not sure what to say. "It's okay Akiza," was all he could muster. "You ended up finding me and that's important. You have already made it up to those people, by being a Signer and saving the world. I hate Sayer as much as you do Akiza, but the one thing that I am grateful for, is that he gave you a place to live, and it caused the two of us to meet each other. Without it, we might never have gotten together. So, just try to think about the positive stuff. Okay? I know you can do it." Akiza nodded, but she wasn't convinced.
"Why?" she asked. Yusei was surprised. "What do you mean why?" he asked. Akiza looked down. "It's just that...every time I have a problem, you say the same things to me. 'I believe in you', 'You can do it', and 'I know you can do it' are just a few examples. You say the same things over and over again Yusei. It's not that I don't appreciate your encouragement or anything, but I just...I..."
"Want something different?" Yusei asked as he tried to finish her sentence. Akiza nodded and Yusei sighed, as he looked away for a moment. "Akiza. I'm not the best speaker out there." Yusei looked at her right in the eyes. "I fully admit that. I'd love it if I could conger up big, important speeches at a moment's notice, but I can't do that. I'd love it if I had a huge vocabulary and could make every speech unique and different. That way, every time you needed love and support, it could be special for just that situation. But...I can't. I know I repeat the same things over and over again to you. But I have a very good reason."
"Why is that?" Akiza asked and Yusei smiled at her. "Because that is truly how I feel. When I say that 'I believe in you' or 'I know you can do it', it's because I know, in the bottom of my heart, that you can. When I tell you that, 'You can do it', I want you to succeed. I want you to do well. I love you Akiza. Which, by the way, brings up a very good question." Akiza looked at him curiously. "What question is that?"
"If I told you 'I love you' a million times, would it not sound as meaningful the tenth time I said it? The thousandth time? The one millionth time?" Akiza shook her head. "No Yusei. Every time you say, 'I love you', I feel as happy as I did the first time you told me those words. I'm so grateful that I have you in my life Yusei. I'm grateful for everything that you've done for me. I love you so much Yusei, from the bottom of my heart. I can only hope that you feel the same way." Yusei smiled and gave her a quick peck on the lips.
"I do Akiza. Every single time you tell me 'I love you', I feel the same happiness I felt the first time you said those words to me. I could hear those words every day for the rest of my life and it would never grow old on me. I'm so happy I'm with you and you're the one who says those three little words to me." Akiza smiled and the two of them shared a kiss. Akiza then quickly looked over her left shoulder.
"But...are you sure that I've made it up to Yusei? After all, you've done so much for me over the years." Yusei leaned in close and gently turned her face towards him. "Of course you have Akiza. To quote myself a while back, 'You have made it up to me, with just a single smile on your face.'" Akiza smiled at Yusei's words, as hearing them yet again made her feel a rush of happiness and joy. "See? There's the smile that I love," Yusei replied as the two of them hugged tightly, sighing happily in each others embrace. When they leaned back, they smiled at one another.
"So, you feeling any better?" Yusei questioned and Akiza nodded. "That's good," he replied, "Because I hate seeing you so sad." Akiza leaned onto his side. "Would it be all right if we sat here until our parents come back?" Yusei agreed. "Sure thing," he replied and they sat on the couch, each enjoying the other's embrace. Even though Akiza knew she had to worry about school, she still wanted to take the time to enjoy this moment alone with Yusei.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this Chapter!
Next time: Jack and Crow come over and they are not happy with Yusei. When they threaten him, what will happen to his relationship with Akiza?
Find out next time!