Chapter Thirty-Five

Shared Last Breath

"It's been three days since I've seen Misaki. I've checked her apartment, her favorite restaurant, the crash site where she lost her memories…" Toru paced around the walls of our team's tiny garage for the millionth time. I wondered how he hadn't created a decline in the floor yet. "I'm starting to get really worried. Maybe she got into another crash! What if I check the hospital? Yeah, I'll walk there!"

"Should I go with you?" I asked.

"Nah, we need to split up on this! How about you check the hospital in the Satellite? It's pretty new, but if Misaki was on that side of the bridge and anything happened, she'd be there."

I nodded. "Was she acting any differently before she disappeared?"

He scratched at the sprouts of blond fuzz on his cheek. "A little. She's usually quiet, but she pays attention to everything. The day before, though, it seemed like her mind was always on something else. She wouldn't even work on our runners."

"Any idea what she was thinking about?"

Toru shrugged his shoulders. "Anytime I ask her what's on her mind, she says 'nothing.' It's pretty much how a lot of our conversations go if I try to talk about her at all. She likes listening to me talk. It's kind of nice, actually…"

He slumped, and a shadow fell over his features. "I didn't think I'd miss her this much… I have to go find her. We'll meet back up here tonight, okay, Rain?"

I confirmed and boarded my runner. Toru sprinted towards the City. On my way to Daedalus Bridge, a trio of riders zoomed past me in the opposite direction. There was something familiar about the navy runners and similar-suited riders. I pushed it out of my mind and sped on.

Gray clouds rapidly gathered above. Sapphire lightning spiraled towards the storm's eye. Thunder boomed, and I felt its vibration in the seat of my runner. I could swear the sky was empty blue until a few moments ago.

"Ally of Justice Cyclone Creator! Attack!"

Eh? Was someone dueling? But I wasn't anywhere near a duel lane-

A tunnel of ferocious winds ripped across the road. I grit my teeth as the air howled around me. Breathing became a greater and greater struggle. "Ally of Justice Enemy Catcher!"

A monster flew at me from my right. I couldn't see the duelist beyond the cyclone. A giant squid wrapped its tentacles around my body. I wanted to fight back but I needed to breathe. Massive, black needles extended from the squid's mechanical maw. The monster dragged me closer with its tentacles to impale me.

Red marks glowed along my pale skin. An earth-shattering roar scattered the choking wind and spooked the attacking squid. The Crimson Dragon emerged and soared over me. He slammed his tail against Enemy Catcher, squashing it against the Bridge. He caught Cyclone Creator between his razor-sharp teeth and ripped it to shreds.

I caught my breath and tried to steady my heart rate. I glanced to my left and right. Two of the navy riders from earlier – twin versions of the Ghost robot I'd defeated weeks ago – rode alongside me. I thought, Thank you, Dragon.

The Crimson Dragon soared higher. There is no time for thanks. There are thousands of the robots. They move through the highways of New Domino City like an infectious disease through blood vessels. The City is in an active state of Battle Royale, a lawless duel mode created for brutal attacks as you experienced. A few Signers are caught in the mess and require aid as you did.

I understand. Screams and sirens howled with the storm winds, which carried the metallic taste of lightning. Explosions lit up the horizon like spurts of wildfire. Calm settled over my rigid muscles as I removed several cards from my deck. The reckless destruction and chaos formed a familiar atmosphere. Which Signers?

Their souls tugged at our threads as the Crimson Dragon's response. I released Critias, Timaeus, and Hermos in dragon form and Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon. I instructed Critias to defend Jack, Timaeus to defend Yusei, Hermos to defend Crow, and Ultimate to protect Aki.

What about your tool of a boyfriend?

You are the last I'd expect to be concerned, G, but I'm fairly sure he can handle himself, I answered with a grin.

No, he can't, said the Dragon. He folded his wings against his body and rocketed away like a missile towards the Satellite.

Since when does the Crimson Dragon care about Kalin?

Who cares! I want to know why you're not running away like you should be.

Because only one person could be behind this. I said, "Let's find Primo, that bastard."

I yanked my runner into a U-turn. The two Ghosts chasing me attempted the same maneuver and crashed into each other. In a matter of seconds, ten more Ghosts took their place. I called for my Blue-Eyes to erase them with White Lightning. Ten more replaced them through the fires of their explosions. My dragon spat energy again and again, but the waves were endless. Whenever one came close, I did my part in drawing my blade and slicing through its circuits.

A silver runner slammed into mine. Rough fingers groped at my neck. I tried to pull away, and-

Snap!

Primo's runner drifted away from me. He held the broken chain of my Orichalcos pendant in his hand. His grin betrayed his wicked intentions. Hatred coiled around my heart, and anger crowded my thoughts. "What the hell did you steal my necklace for?"

He tossed it to the wind. "I wanted to ask you, Orichalcum. How do you like my method for achieving the Grand Design?"

"You're ignoring our deal!" I shouted. "This was your plan all along. Was our agreement all a lie?"

"I'm oh so sorry," he said in the most insincere way possible. "What are you feeling, Orichalcum? Betrayed? Vengeful? Angry?"

I growled, "Every one!"

"You should be appreciative," he said, his smile widening. "I haven't touched your precious Satisfaction Town. I'm debating moving there, though. Would you enjoy it, watching your young friends Nico and West perish? Let's not forget about your traitorous partner – you could watch him die again in an explosion more devastating than the Zero Reverse. Maybe I will alter my Design to reach a fraction larger…"

"You wouldn't dare," I warned.

Primo laughed. "I could. I have all the power, Rain. You see, I am the judge, jury, and executioner. Every life exists only as I will it."

"Who the hell do you think you are?" I screamed. "You and your army have about as much power as I have in my pinky! No one will die by your hand today!"

"Prove yourself, Rain Orichalcum." He drew his sword and pierced a compartment on his runner. His body changed shape and became one with the machine. "Prove your greater worth against mine!"

Ice frosted over my heart and spread to my limbs. My fury settled to an uncaring, glazed stare. I sighed in relief. "Oh, Primo, I have to thank you."

"What for?"

"For showing me you're not human." My head tilted. "Now I don't even have to hold back. This is a Battle Royale, you know. No rules. I'll grant your wish. I'll show you my greatest strength, one I've never pulled out before today."

Primo's smile was oddly satisfied. "I've longed to meet this version of you, Orichalcum. I knew the woman who looked down on the world from a bloodstained throne was not gone. She just needed to be… released. Meklord Emperor Wisel to the field! Attack the murderer!"

A white, humanoid meka spawned above him and boosted towards me. My Blue-Eyes did his best to block the attack. The floods of Ghosts were overrunning him. Lasers burned holes in his wings, and Wisel stabbed through his chest. I grasped at my own, feeling the attack in my soul. Wisel tossed the Blue-Eyes' limp body onto the road.

"What a pitiful monster you've chosen for an ace," Primo said. "Look at him, trampled and forgotten. That reminds me of another monster – though the face she wears is better at hiding it."

A heat of rage clouded my thoughts. "I'll show you the truest ace I own, and you will regret the day you ever touched my dragon. I activate Speed Spell – Legend of Heart! The three Legendary Knights soar to my field!"

Using my Knights meant retracting Timaeus, Hermos, and Critias's protection. I did not care about anything outside of Primo and me. "I activate Legendary Knight Critias's effect, absorbing Mirror Force and using it to decimate your pitiful army."

The black knight sent a wall of rainbow energy towards the herd following us, creating a mess of explosions in our wake. "Now I'll activate Legendary Knight Hermos's effect, utilizing the effect of VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon to remove Wisel from play!"

Hermos sliced the meka in half. It disintegrated to ash like the Orichalcos Soldiers had on the edge of my blade. Primo only laughed, cruelty laced within. "I'm not impressed, Orichalcum! Where is she? Where is the woman who killed hundreds to bring the Great Leviathan into existence?"

We were on the main highway. It led towards the ring monument in the center of the City. The other morning, when pink light splashed on it, I had told G this moment was nearing. "I combine Critias, Timaeus, and Hermos to call upon the infinite power of the Legendary Knight of Destiny! Unite and become one!"

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

"Are you sure what you're doing is right?" I asked. I stood in the grand gardens within the Gilded Gate. Butterflies formed of azure fire flapped around us in a flight path tracing the infinity symbol. I was within one ring, and Rain was within the other. Her Orichalcos pendant was missing, and I sensed her cold fury. "You're angry, Rain. Why don't you hold off until you are thinking more rationally?"

"I didn't come here for a lecture." Her words were clipped, and her irises blazed like pyres of blue flames.

"You are my elder. The decision is yours in the end. I'm just pointing out that… every time we act without the Orichalcos's influence, we regret it forever."

"This is for the sake of protecting, Rahlin, not in the spirit of causing pain."

My brow furrowed. "Can you promise that?"

She said nothing and held out her hand. I gulped and touched my palm to hers. The blazing blue butterflies accelerated, and their neon traces blurred into a solid infinity symbol. Sparks crackled from our point of contact. The world flickered between the true realm and the Spirit World. I shared Rain's fury, hope, fear, love, hatred, and sadness. The lines blurred between which feelings originated from me and which were from her. Azure blazed across my vision, and I lost myself.

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

The world slowed. Rain Orichalcum's runner skidded to a stop, and she was no longer on it. Her three Knights had combined into an orb of blue energy. I swore I was seeing double. Two Rain Orichalcums were within the sphere.

Blue lightning cracked open the sphere like an egg. The visage shattered, leaving behind a brand-new Knight in armor similar in fashion and color to Orichalcum's duel runner. The Knight's cape of black velvet fluttered though no wind stirred it. She held the hilt of a white blade in her hand. The display on my runner crackled. It showed the purple card, Legendary Knight of Destiny, and its attack and defense power: ∞.

She swiped at my tire as I zoomed past. I was forced to separate from my runner as it wiped out. I leapt off the soon-to-crash vehicle and landed on steady feet. The point of my sword aimed for the Knight's chest. She was steps away and closing the gap fast. Her mouth was set in a thin line below her helmet, and her eyes could not be seen behind the black visor.

All I needed to do was survive a few more minutes against a historical murderer of hundreds. Simple, really. I said, "Rain Orichalcum! I know you are not invincible. You can preach towards being a monster, but you have every weakness a human does!"

"I am not Rain Orichalcum." When she spoke, her voice echoed as though two people were talking at once. She gripped her hilt with both hands and sliced upwards. Her blade cut through mine like butter. Half of my sword clattered against the bridge. Despite myself, I swallowed a rather large lump in my throat. The Knight did not notice. She pulled off her helmet, and her curtain of black hair fell over her shoulders like a drape of shadows. There were some… differences between her and the Rain Orichalcum I knew. Her criminal mark had disappeared. Her right iris had the pupil filled in with blue, and a green, six-pointed star marked the eye.

"Because of you, I attacked my friends. Because of you, my teammate suffered the same crash I barely survived. Because of you… I hurt my partner. That will not go unpunished. You are not enough aware of your mortality, and thus, you shall be but rust upon my blade."

Engines roared towards our location. Just a few more seconds. She said, "There can only be one, Primo. I am the judge."

She batted my broken weapon out of my hands with her own. I backed away, but she followed my steps with impossible swiftness.

"I am the jury."

The Knight of Destiny kicked my legs out from under me. I tried to scramble back, but I hit the guardrail. Gray waves clashed hundreds of feet below.

"I am the executioner."

The Knight shoved her blade through my midsection. Sparks and oil leaked from the wound. I opened my mouth to speak, but a racking cough broke out instead. She left her blade in me and smiled.

I smiled back. "I'd say the duel is finished, wouldn't you?"

"What do you-"

The Battle Royale system shut off, effectively ending any ongoing duels. Azure flashed away, and Rain Orichalcum was left in place of the Legendary Knight of Destiny. She rubbed at the criminal mark on her cheek and, seeing me, gasped. Rain jerked her sword out of my gut. "Are you okay-"

"Rain?"

She twisted. Yusei Fudo, Jack Atlas, Crow Hogan, and Akiza Izinski had gathered at the base of the Infinity Monument. Fudo continued, "So… that message we received was the truth. You're really a murderer?"

Rain stepped back. "Wh-what are you talking about?"

I had to keep myself from laughing as Jack Atlas bellowed, "Cut the act! We know you've lied to us more than you've told the truth. We dug up a video labeled 'true memories,' and it showed you talking to Roman Godwin and us about how humans should be wiped off the face of the earth! You've been our enemy this entire time!"

Of course they found the video I dangled in front of them like a carrot on a stick, and of course they weren't clever enough to realize where it came from. Humans were oh so predictable – just like Orichalcum's easily incited anger.

"I don't understand," Akiza Izinski lamented. "You said such horrible things… Now you've attacked the Director so brutally. Even if he was your kidnapper, this is… inexcusable. I'm all for forgiving the past, but how do we know you feel any differently now?"

"That's the thing," Crow Hogan joined in. "We don't. Rain has lied to us from the moment we met her. She lied about how she met Kalin, for starters. They really met in the Facility, which is where he became a Dark Signer! That footage could only exist if you met Roman Godwin, so you had something to do with the war. What all aren't you telling us, Rain? Is that even your name?"

Her black-stained blade hit the ground. "Listen, I- I can explain everything, I just-"

"Well, aren't you all a happy bunch!"

Lester's voice was clear. He and Jakob had appeared atop the gem crowning the infinity ring. Yusei Fudo called, "You're the one who attacked Leo and Luna! Who are you supposed to be?"

"Forgive us for failing on introductions. I am Jakob," said the old man. "This is Lester, and there is what remains of Primo. A fine consequence for his rash actions. I assure you that none of this was according to our plan."

"What plan might that be?" Yusei asked.

"To save the world, of course! And your City here will be a small sacrifice to do it!" Lester's shrill voice managed to transcend the annoyance of the pain of my wound. He explained the goal of the Grand Design and how we planned to fulfill it.

Once he was finished, I said, "I'm sure this is unnecessary. I explained everything to Rain Orichalcum weeks ago, before the WRGP began. Surely she explained it to you if you are all such good friends."

Four glares turned on her. Crow said, "You didn't tell us, the Signers, the protectors of the world, about what was at stake? Do you want the City to be destroyed?"

"Clearly she does," Jack added before Rain could speak. "Isn't it obvious? She's working with these time travelers. I bet she's one of them. This was some setup to convince us Rain is on our side, but they didn't take into account the footage we discovered. You thought we'd be too stupid to put together all the lies you've told, didn't you?"

"No, I- I wasn't trying to lie or hide anything!"

"Then why didn't you tell us the truth?" Yusei begged. "We want to be friends with you. We want to help you!"

"Because you wouldn't believe me," Rain said.

"Excellent work," Jack yelled. "Now we won't believe anything you tell us."

Akiza stepped forward. "Why wouldn't we believe a friend?"

"I can explain everything," I said. "Unfortunately for you Signers, you have been duped. Rain Orichalcum is destined to be your inherent enemy. I'll show you why."

Rain turned to me with apprehension. "Wh-what do you…"

I pulled her beloved Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon from my pocket and held it sideways. "Show your dark sign or I will destroy the card."

"No," she whimpered. "No, please, don't-"

My fingers twitched. She reached forward with her right arm. The violet shine of the Giant's symbol lit up her forearm. Her eyes shifted to black. Red filled her criminal mark like a bloody scar.

Akiza Izinski's hands flew to cover her mouth. Yusei Fudo was stiff with shock. Jack Atlas bellowed nonsense in rage. Crow Hogan was the one to shout the facts. "Rain's- you're a Dark Signer!"

"It all makes sense," Yusei said. "You worked with Kalin, and you still have a grudge for him. You've been plotting against us from the second you met us."

"No. No, please, I just wanted-" Rain fell to her knees. "I just wanted to save him. That's all I wanted. You weren't supposed to forget me. It wasn't supposed to end this way. I just wanted him to live…"

I crawled forward and whispered, "See, Rain? A selfish world punishes selfless actions. But… the world can always change."

"What are you two whispering about?" Crow asked.

"Isn't it obvious?" Jack exclaimed. "They've been working together the entire time! The kidnapping was a ploy!"

"Please say it's not true," Akiza said.

"It's not, it's not!" Tears ran over Rain's crimson criminal mark. She looked to me with desperation in her dark eyes and whimpered, "Why did you do this to me?"

I said, "Because I-"

My vision was flickering. The fluids running out of my wound would soon run dry, and I would shut off. I muttered, "I love you, Rain Orichalcum."

Her dark eyes widened. Amidst her surprise, I wrapped my arms around her neck, pulled her towards me, and pressed my lips to hers. The last of my life force leaked away. My final moment was encapsulated by an incredible warmth, sensation of happiness, and intense closeness I swore I'd never know again. There was a problem, an error, a flaw in the plan.

Because my last words spoken were meant to be a lie.

It was supposed to be a lie

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