Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's - The Neo-Domino Purge
Originally an RPG after the airing of Episode 6. Following the events of Episode 8; Rex Godwin uses the information regarding research on momentum to plan an attack and elimination of the Satellite residents. When a leak reaches Satellite, the residents band together. All but Yusei Fudo, who is forced to watch from the outside.
Contains violence, language, character death.
ARC 5 – Return to the Battlefield
From a deck of cards, five rise up, lining up underneath a banner with the symbols to spell out "Card of the Week". Rua and Ruka spring up with raised fists, landing on their tiny feet and shift their weight from one to the other, arms rigid and stretched out to the side. Together they chime.
"What will it be? What will it be?" Together they twirl from the five cards, opening an arm to the selected. "This is what we have for this week".
The five cards turn over revealing Speed Warrior, Guard Block, Dark Resonator, Junk Warrior and Big Piece Golem. The central card – Dark Resonator – is enlarged to signify its status as the Key Card. Rua and Ruka gaze at it.
"The effect means it can survive an attack once per turn," Ruka reads.
"That's handy," Rua chirps. "And because it's a Tuner, it'll have more chance of being around to set up a Synchro Summon the next turn".
"And as we know who uses it, that'll really help him out," Ruka adds lightly.
-Neo-Domino: Godwin Mansion-
The scene was picturesque, perfect in every way. Naoko smiled whilst strolling through the wide gardens of the private island, captivated by the neat lined hedges separating one cluster of flowers from another, narrow concrete paths cutting through the lush grassy field. It was an entirely different world from the artificial City surrounding it; choked with citizens rushing from one destination to another, ignorant of the lives around them. The Arcadia Movement seemed like a distant memory.
Naoko's pace slowed, bordering on a complete halt. Wistful eyes surveyed the same environment that they had admired just a moment before. Its majesty became hollow; stripping away the beauty all around. This was false, pretend – cut-off from the rest of the world. There was nothing to attest to the suffering of its people – of the Psychics and the Signers. Especially Aki. The redheaded woman filled Naoko's thoughts in an instant – she had been cast aside by the people of the City, discriminated against because they feared her. They feared her unknown power. Simply because she was different from them. She had been forced into hiding, sneered at from behind the walls of the Arcadia Movement, but the hatred was still alive.
Aki spoke wistfully of the past; recounting how her Birthmark and powers emerged together in one explosive instance. Her accounts pinned the blame for the destruction of her life on both the powers and the Birthmark, but their timing had her suspecting the unknown symbol as the catalyst for the unnatural power rather than the other way around. That mind-set was so deeply engraved that when she learned of other accounts, none of which mentioned symbols, she insisted that it had been the responsible party. With light shed onto the reality of the Signers' purpose, it became increasingly clear to Naoko why the woman despised the mark, more so than blaming the heated moment on its appearance. She had been selected against her will as a soldier of an ancient beast, who amplified any sleeping power within her tiny power, ending the life of the innocent Izayoi Aki there and then.
Yet, there was a sense of irony that came with Aki's position; she had despised the Crimson Dragon for bestowing upon her such a heavy destiny and blamed it for what happened that day years before. Now, she was being called upon to fight under the Signer banner for the sake of the planet. It was teasing her, toying with the very concept of fate's strings wrapped around her with no hope of escape.
So that left one question: would Izayoi Aki fight alongside the beast she despised for the sake of the planet? Naoko came to a complete stop, eyes down and pondering over the likelihood that Aki would turn against her philosophies regarding the ancient beast and the people of the planet. She had lost everything – two worlds, even – but she was supposed to rescue the worlds of billions who cared not for her lifelong plight? The young woman sight scrolled across the majestic grounds once again; taking in the wondrous sights with guilty pleasure. There was such a tranquil, perfect place – segregated from the real world; the presence of ordinary people. It was false, hollow, pretend. But perhaps, it was possible that such a place could be created somewhere else, through the work of others. A real utopia. That had been how the Arcadia Movement presented itself; a community of abused all seeking friendship and a shoulder to cry on. It was ideal for the scorned Psychics.
But even that was a fleeting dream, not meant to be. It had been torn down. Constantly under attack from the public, snide comments and false accusations were launched at the Movement, but its tower stood strong; a fortress against all kinds of slander and outside menace. That was no more; the walls had been torn apart and completely demolished; the two of them sole survivors, had been left in the real world once more, with nothing to protect them. There was no-one to offer salvation. Arcadia was a shadow of its former self. They were two polarized realities, but they were the only worlds Naoko knew of. Without Divine and everyone else, there was only the cold, brutal world that despised anyone who couldn't conform to its ideal image.
Perhaps it was best to simply surrender and allow the Dark Signers to ravish the planet, maul its people and be done with everything. If there was no future for the Psychics, if Arcadia had to be sacrificed, then maybe it was better to sacrifice both worlds for the sakes of the Psychics yet to be born or rescued.
Naoko's azure eyes snapped open to their fullest. Why had she been thinking like that? That wasn't her normal perspective; she had been detailed by grief and fear. The young woman raised her hands, grasping her upper arms and squeezing them. Had the destruction of Arcadia scarred that badly? Was the concept of returning to outside civilization truly horrifying? There were no good memories to fall upon when reflecting on the people who passed through life before the secret society. Childhood was pleasant enough, until her power surfaced; then there was nothing to feel fond of. With a furious shaking, Naoko attempted to remove the thoughts from her head, displacing them into a dark corner to which she would never return. She had to make an excuse for the world; it wasn't entirely cruel. After all, it had brought her to someone like Izayoi Aki; to a woman she admired tremendously and gave her a reason to fight on. A goal to reach. The world had its good points; that should be reason enough to live. It was optimism to consider that Aki could feel the same way and spare the planet from revenge.
Chapter 37 – Resolution-Reaching Duel! Yusei vs. Jack!
[Kechakusukeru no Dyueru! Yuusei basasu Jakku!]
KEY CARD – Dark Resonator
-Neo-Domino: Godwin Mansion-
It was strange to have returned to the same space where he gazed as a traitor. An unsettling sensation preyed on Yusei's mind as he planted himself in the location from which he had watched Satellite, powerless to aid it in the efforts against Neo-Domino's army, once clutching Stardust having gained it as part of a deal he could see no better alternative. He had been relieved of his end of that deal, but he was no better off. A deep wound to his abdomen, it still hurt to walk around, but he persisted, he wouldn't admit it to anyone. Not that Martha would be able to do anything about it now; Satellite was barely visible upon the watery horizon; a spec amidst the two shades of blue. His own pain, however, wasn't what pestered him.
It was Kiryu's. The incredible suffering he must have gone through for however long he had lasted in the Detention Centre, the torment of having his deck confiscated and left with no hope. How had he perished? Starvation? Suicide? There were mental images conjured up that made his blood run cold. He had been in there a number of days, but Kiryu… weeks or months or even the full two years. And he blamed Yusei for his death. Picturing a friend's suffering was terrible enough, but to learn he was being held responsible…
His fists tightened, driving his fingertips as deep into his palm as possible, eyes tapering with frustration over the revelations that had taken place and his inability to do anything about them. Kiryu was supposed to be a friend, not an enemy. Not bearing a demonic monster with the end of the world in its sights. Not with the embodiment of what he… feared.
It was probably no surprise to the others when he declined Ruka's request to hang out with the twins, to work as a team to take their minds off what had occurred and the terrible truths they had learned. The girl was gentle and understanding, but even she was bewildered when he turned down the suggestion, claiming he had to clear his head. That plan of action; not doing well. The more he thought about the circumstances, about Kiryu and how vulnerable Satellite had become, it only added to his aggravation; it reminded him that he wasn't able to fulfil the heroic role he had been pushed into, he wasn't able to protect everyone as he had in the past; against Judge and during the Security infiltration.
A short distance behind, Jack crept over the trimmed bushes, closing the distance between himself and the torn young man ahead, his back to everything; the Signers and the City. Set only on Satellite and rescuing it from the terrors waiting beneath its grimy surface. Within the back of Jack's mind, memories of their shared time in Satellite passed by; Yusei had never dreamed of escaping into the City, always choosing to stay with the band of friends he had made; not until Kiryu was arrested and they made the pact to steal him back. But that goal was no longer possible. The motivation that had him initiate the game of cat and mouse had been ripped apart by the goal himself and it was destroying Yusei. He wouldn't outwardly accept it, he would never show the extent of his suffering and he had always been good at that, hiding the despair behind a mask of strength and courage. But now that false face was beginning to crack, Jack couldn't be sure if it was down to years of use or the crushing amount of hidden emotion that had piled itself onto the Tail Signer; too much to through his nostrils and sagging his shoulders, Jack approached, keeping his sight set ahead towards the distant island he begrudgingly called home.
"We'll be back there before long," he commented blandly. Yusei said nothing. Jack's eyebrows sank to touch the tops of his sockets, assuming it was merely ignorance because the blonde King had been the one to lead the initial charge. He folded his arms over his chest, glaring ahead once more; if Yusei refused to meet him, he would follow the same pattern. "The attack was about luring the Dark Signers out; it's what we've gotten. At least we know what we're up against now rather than walking in blindly. That's what it was always about – drawing out the enemy".
"It was reckless to try such a scheme with only one confirmed Signer on side," Yusei responded, equally dully.
Jack's shoulders jumped and sank in swift succession; a confident shrug. "Godwin simply recognized my power," he bragged.
Yusei's eyes narrowed; not venomously nor with boredom of the blonde's cockiness. If anything, he had a point. Both he and Aki had faced Earthbound Gods and frozen in terror, trampled by the vicious power of the demonic behemoths. Jack's ego aside, the truth was he was most likely to be the strongest Signer, the one to hold his nerve in the face of the immense creatures. The downcast glimmer in his eyes didn't flicker unnoticed, Jack's own narrowed sharply with irritation, he straightened his neck and shoulders, glaring coldly ahead once more.
"You aren't honestly sulking, are you?" he scoffed. "Those kids are worried about you. Ordinarily, you'd do whatever it takes to make them happy; they're not that different from Rally. You wouldn't keep him hanging".
"I'd be no company for them, I would only bring them down," Yusei claimed solemnly. "Besides, I can't afford to get distracted anymore. Satellite is just ahead and I have to protect it. It's almost like a birth right; I've got a duty to keep it from destruction".
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Because your father created it?"
"My father died in Zero Reverse; the incident that birthed Satellite, you know that," Yusei said. "It's his mark on the world; even though the disaster wasn't down to him, it was his project. Satellite is the result. And I was left there in the aftermath. It's not as though I could call it a sibling, but there a feeling somewhere inside that says I belong in Satellite, even if I wasn't born there".
Jack frowned, turning his sight away from the wondering Signer. He, on the other hand, had been born in the sector that would become Satellite – he couldn't escape that fact; not that it stopped him from trying, he had exchanged places with Yusei, taking refuge in the Tops while Yusei existed in the slums of the detached island, just to escape the reality of their origin. Yusei head inched up, catching Jack's attention with a swift tug back to the present.
"It's a harsh fate that we've been dealt," the dark-haired Signer stated. "Back then, in his final moments, my father could do nothing to stop his life's work spiralling out of control and did whatever it took to spare my life. Our situations are nothing alike, but inside me, I know that what I feel is the same as he did back then. It feels as though, for the sake of history repeating itself, I'm being held back from protecting what I have to".
"You've protected Satellite before, it's not like you're incapable of doing so," Jack replied. "Have you forgotten about Judge Casey and his scheme already?"
A pang of guilt resonated within Yusei's chest, a glimpse of its presence visible briefly across his eyes. "Judge Casey died because of me" he sighed. "I can't call myself a hero if everyone who threatens Satellite perishes because of my actions"
"What is that kind of attitude?" Jack snapped. "He was going to kill everyone in Satellite – people who lived there and many more duellists from Neo-Domino. It was either him or everyone else. Including us. And if we were killed, that would be it for the world against the Dark Signers".
"That argument is valid, but it doesn't hold when it's just one life against another," Yusei claimed, fists either side clenching tighter from the frustration boiling inside. "What do you say then?"
"What are you talking about?" Jack grumbled.
"I was already soaked in blood before I even met Judge Casey," Yusei snapped, twisting sharply to face the blonde with a furious glare. "Not just Kiryu's blood is just on my hands. I killed the warden of the Detention Centre!"
The roses bulging from the hedge walls fascinated Aki as she entered the maze-like garden, obscuring her location from anyone who was on ground level. Travelling through the labyrinth, she was lost in her own world, drifting through as if the garden were some fantastic dream she was experiencing or had done so in her childhood. Somewhere of true beauty where there was no-one to judge her. Her casual pace slowed, bringing her travelling to a halt and lifted her left hand, peeling away the long black glove clinging to her slender arm. Underneath it, the Birthmark remained, taunting her with its presence, engraved in her arm since the day the duel with her father exploded into anarchy. Her eyes sharpened, returning to a disapproving glare at the ancient symbol; why had it been her bestowed with such a heavy responsibility? Why should she be the one with a duty to fight for the Crimson Dragon after it tore apart her life and snatched her false happiness?
Life before had its flaws, but she could cope with it. Her father worked as a senator for the City, a part of its government, stealing an incredible amount of time from his life. He was rarely home at the Izayoi manor, neglecting his wife and daughter as though they were irrelevant. Even young Aki's birthdays were snatched away. On the final birthday she experienced as an ordinary child, the girl hadn't opened any of her presents and spent her evening waiting with her cake on the coffee table, certain that her father would return home in time to experience at least some of the occasion with her. Setsuko, her mother, felt her heart dropping throughout the day, watching as her daughter was optimistic that her father would do all he could to return in time and slipped from the waking world long before he did so. She awoke the next day to find a present he had left by her in the spacious bed; her very own Duel Monsters deck. Just what she had wanted – he may have missed her birthday, but he understood her well. Though while she was rushing down the grand staircase, clutching the box to her chest with her excited thumping heart on the other side, it was clear that he was preparing to leave once more. It was what she feared; he was rushing off to work before even spending any time with his older daughter. Nonetheless, she tried to persuade him, but negotiations failed, just as always and work came first.
He was the first to call her a monster when her powers broke out, distracted by the phone during one of their first duels and preparing to head into the office despite finally having some time with his daughter. It was too much; she couldn't bear to lose him at such an important moment. Then it came; 'monster'. A slip of the tongue, maybe, but he labelled his daughter inhuman, he chose everything else over her and their relationship broke down in that instance. He feared her because she was different, because she suddenly possessed these strange powers. And as a senator, there was no doubt in her mind that he had approved the charge on Satellite – again, attacking people unlike him out of some trivial fear. Her bare hand tightened, the nails at the tips of her fingers dug themselves against the skin of her palm, threatening to pierce through if she were to squeeze hard enough. He had pushed her aside as child in favour of work and now, he had taken more drastic measures, trampling on others simply because they couldn't comply with the City's ideal image, another display of weakness and selfishness. Divine had been much more of a father figure to her than Izayoi Hideo had ever been, but now he was no more. She had no-one else to look to. She was alone with a strong male figure to depend upon; the way of life she was used to, knowing it would be enough to survive. Before Divine appeared in her life, she was wild, rebelling against the duellists of the City after running away from home, passing through a sea of insanity and pushing herself close to the edge.
If that was all true, then was it really that difficult to believe she had killed at some point during her campaign? Misty Lola's scorned face flashed across Aki's mind's eye; she, too, had been damaged by the loss of a male in her life – Tobi. The boy sounded faintly familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Could that be because she really had killed him? The woman shook her head furiously; she was not to blame. She had never been able to handle the power swirling within her; it had been down to the Crimson Dragon again – it had granted her uncontrollable strength. If Tobi Lola had perished, it was down to the Crimson Dragon's recklessness, not hers. It had created an enemy in Misty Lola; it had allowed one of the Earthbound Gods to join forces with her; all in the name of war, so that it could fight. It was the same for humanity; it desired to do battle, be it through cards, fists, weapons – simple brawls to large-scale wars.
The shrubbery around Aki was a world away as she pondered over the current conflict; an immense clash as a result of a handful of individuals wishing to cleanse Satellite of those living there. Those they could never approve. And buried somewhere deep, the walking dead. Aki's hand fell over the engraved mark, squeezing the limb while conflicting ideals debated within her head. Was it better to let the enemy have their way with her; atone for everything she had supposedly done? Hundreds had suffered at the hands of the Black Rose Witch; perhaps this was punishment for rebelling to such an extreme degree. She could face Misty Lola and perish, joining Divine in another world where Psychic Powers were no longer relevant. She could truly turn on the Crimson Dragon and its soldiers for having intruded on her life. Or fight. She could fight in the faint hope of getting Divine back; Godwin appeared to be knowledgeable concerning the topic of how the Dark Signers worked, most likely information passed down through countless generations of Star Guardians. If it was possible to recover his life, then there was a motive for standing her ground rather than rolling over and accepting that she had been wrong. It was a tough decision – live or die, fight or don't. The cruel world had worn her down; without someone to tell her what to do, Aki was lost.
From one of the many balconies protruding the outer walls of the mansion, Rua and Ruka stood gazing at the fields of lush grass and colourful flowers that could be seen all around. At the very edge of their sight, the extensive driveway crossing over the waters led to the fountain in the courtyard, gravel forging paths through the idyllic setting. They observed their surroundings in awe with small smiles.
"Isn't it amazing?" Ruka asked.
Rua directed a smirk towards his sister. "Have you forgotten we have a neat garden like this at home? We've got a pool with ours as well".
Ruka let out a gentle giggle. "Rua, you can't compare a rooftop garden to an entire island," she claimed.
They were at peace; the grim skies they had witnessed from the Tops; the terrifying sights of Earthbound Gods rising from purple flames scorching the planet – none of that was relevant. They were safe from those kinds of memories. Their eyes crept towards the sparkling water under the generous sun, sparkling with majesty suited for the segregated island. Atop the scene, Satellite could just be made out. Ruka's smile faded gradually, reflecting on how Yusei, Jack and Aki had travelled in different directions after leaving the mansion at three different moments.
"Everyone…" she murmured. "Everyone went their separate ways again".
Rua twisted his neck, sight falling onto his sister's face; dropping from awestruck to melancholic. A pang of guilt raced through him; as a Signer, she had been burdened with a treacherous fate and there was nothing he could do about it. It was no Signer; he had no power to save her from her responsibilities or relieve her and take her place. He was helpless and would have to stand on the side-lines, cheering her on. That was as far as he would go. But she was so concerned for everyone else, burying her own fears; putting others before her, just as she always had. The lack of teamwork among their comrades made it clear that her best intentions weren't going to be enough on their own, she watched the trio from a distance, hoping to unite them and defend their worlds, but they were all engulfed in their other, personal issues haunting them from times before they were the age of the young twins. In the hopes of easing his sister's concerns, he offered a gentle smile.
"It's alright," he uttered. "They've all tried fighting alone – they've tried it for a long time. But this time, it just isn't working; they'll see that we're supposed to work together. Yusei and Izayoi-neesan fought Earthbound Gods; they know how tough it is to go it alone. I don't know much about them, but I get the feeling it's just the way they've all worked for so long. But we've always been together, so we understand how important it is to have someone fight by your side. Don't worry, everyone will come together and be a team".
Ruka smiled meekly at the optimistic outlook offered by her brother.
"I know that you believe that will happen," she whispered, a hint of sorrow behind the tone of her voice. "But we all worked as a team before and then everyone went off in their own ways again. We couldn't get a hold of anyone; Yusei, Jack, Izayoi-san. They vanished just as they appeared and everything was back to normal. But as much as I had been hoping for that, I felt empty. It was as though they lives we had lived until that day had become boring and the excitement of rushing through Security at night, joined with everyone, watching the duel Yusei played. Those things… they called out for me. I wanted to be with everyone again, but they had all disappeared. I'm afraid, Rua".
The brother's head recoiled, surprised by the very wording his sister had chosen to use; her account of excitement sounded like something he would have longed for. For a child who had isolated herself through her childhood, who interacted rarely with strangers, it was difficult to believe that these had become her feelings.
"I'm afraid of getting too attached to everyone and feeling more pain every time they split up," she sighed. "And each parting with become more difficult. Rua… I want to be friends with Yusei and the others, but… they may keep walking away and we'll be left alone again. Nothing will be left to prove that we were all together, fighting as one. I don't want to lose this deviation from everyday life. But what can I do?"
Rua's shoulders sagged; he had no idea what he was supposed to say to ease his sister's fears, to assure her that they would always be together, to fulfil her wishes. He raised a hand slowly, laying it onto her shoulder. Ruka twisted her head to find Rua's warm smile.
"It might not mean much, but even if everyone does have to take different paths again, I'll be with you no matter what," he insisted. "Even if we're apart, you won't be alone, ever. Even if everyone else is off doing their own thing, they'll be with you. Ruka, you're never going to be alone again – you've got everyone; Yusei, Jack, Izayoi-neesan and me. We're all a team in your heart. Now that we've all met and worked together, we can't truly ever separate".
"Rua…" Ruka exhaled faintly.
A smile overcame her, cheeks blushing from the building warmth that flooded form her heart. She tilted forward, laying her head against her brother's, cheek inches above his shoulder and gazed out once more lovingly at the sight. She wanted to admire its beauty for as long as possible. It resembled the Spirit World of her childhood; the memories that had surfaced within her. Waiting there was Ancient Fairy Dragon, imprisoned in the decrepit world; a reason to fight. She was waiting, there was no-one else to rescue to her. They were friends, united within their hearts.
"Thank you, Rua," she uttered. "Just knowing that you're by my side will give me the strength to fight. For Ancient Fairy Dragon and everyone else in the Spirit World. For the other Signers whom I want to be friends with. No matter how tall and dark the Earthbound Gods are, I'll cast all fears aside if it means that fighting will protect the world where we can all live together".
That was all she wanted; a peaceful world with opportunity, with friends. A warm breeze swept by, fiddling with the ponytail of the brother's hair and pigtails of the sister's. They paid the wind no heed, but enjoyed the moment, perhaps wishing it would never come to an end – they were together, tied in a wondrous place that they could have only dreamt about beforehand with three individuals that had opened their hands to the children. They wished to reach out and grasp them; hold them tightly and never let go until unbreakable bonds were forged.
Silence reigned over the edge of the island; Jack was left stunned, standing without any way to utter words while watching Yusei with slightly widened violet eyes. The dark-haired Signer glared at him with clenched jaws and flickers of guilt surfacing within his eyes; unintentional widening of the cracks in his mask of stoicism. Kinomiya had frequently implied that Yusei had been involved in the passing of the warden, trying to load the blame on him if not onto Godwin's shoulders.
"In interviews, the guards emphasised that Godwin frequently visited during the days and nights in which that boy was being held," Kinomiya answered. "He appeared to the boy and spoke of matters probably relating to the attack on Satellite, goading him into going too far, trying to break him. Judging by what followed, he succeeded". Jack gazed in astonishment, struggling to cope with the idea that Godwin had been manipulating Yusei like a puppet master wrapping strings around his body in the same way he'd been using Jack to lure the younger Satellite Signer into the City and into his hands. "One of those visits was after Takasu was dead. After that, Fudo Yusei vanished".
But not once did Jack ever consider that it was possible for Yusei to have actually committed the crime. He had been assured that the high value he had seen in life would have prevented him from carrying out such an act. His expression hardened, determined not to allow the confession to stall his argument.
"So it happened?" he mumbled.
"The others don't know," Yusei answered, rotating his head and removing Jack's face form his sight. "They look up to me, but… what they're looking up to is a murderer. If they were to learn the truth, our relationship could change. I don't want to steal the hope that Rally and the others have put into me; I can't treat them like that. They deserve better. Rally would have no-one to look to; he'd just become another lost orphan".
Jack's jaws clenched, similarly his fists. Frustration pulsed inside him; although he understood the pressure Yusei felt from years of being admired by the boy and his older companions, the ideas coming from Yusei's mouth were baseless, preposterous. He was allowing himself to get distracted by pointless fears and wild scenarios he thought up; scenes that would never occur. It had always been Yusei who ensured everyone was at peace with one another, strengthening the ties of friendship between each of the children at Martha's orphanage, but now he had fallen and feared isolation? He had completely forgotten everything he worked for over the course of years because of one incident? There was no reason for anyone to turn against him; one man's life wasn't enough to break such solid bonds – especially a man who would have tormented not only Yusei, but Rally during his spells within the prison.
"The truth is I'm weak-willed; when Godwin appeared with Stardust, he made a hollow argument and I jumped at the first instance I had," Yusei sighed, pressing on with his self-deprecating confession. "I was easily swayed by him to fight against Satellite – the very place I was supposed to protect – in exchange for Stardust and freedom. It might have been a ploy to return there and break free as quickly as possible". He rotated, quickly shifting to face the blonde, whose shade from his fringe had obscured his eyes. "They want to call me a hero, but I'm not a hero, I'm just a-"
Yusei's argument was cut off when Jack's fist collided with his cheek. The sudden impact took him by surprise, resulting in his stumbling back and crashing onto the concrete beneath. Dazed, it took him a matter of seconds to realize what had happened; the clicking of his cards scuttling out of the deck box attached to his belt fell onto deaf ears. Once his focus came back, he snapped his head around, glaring up at Jack, who towered over him; fist still tightly balled, shivering from the amount of power he had put behind the blow, his knuckles showing faint signs of red around them.
"What you need is to get a grip," he barked. "Think about the bigger picture rather than wallowing in self-pity. Kiryu is dead. Takasu is dead. Judge is dead. Deal with it, there's nothing you can do to reverse those facts. Instead of moping over them, think about the people that are still alive".
Yusei climbed onto one knee, quickly pushing himself away from the ground, though without his cards, which remained scattered around where he had fallen, watching the debate from a safe distance.
"I am looking at the bigger picture. That's what's worrying me," Yusei growled in response. His left arm snapped in the direction of Satellite, pointing towards it blindly with one finger while his sights remained firmly on Jack, blazing with aggravation. "Kiryu is over there with an Earthbound God in hand. And it's not just him; there are others. Yet I've been called here by Godwin to hear a tale I already know. The people there are all going to be sacrificed if I can't become stronger and get back there fast enough. Everyone we know is going to die".
Jack's eyebrows touched down on the tops of his eyes, observing the twitches of Yusei's eyes; while they flared with determination to return and rescue the people he cherished, his powerlessness was evident. As well as heroic passion, there was the damage he had been hiding waving through to the surface. It became clear to Jack that Yusei had changed dramatically inside; perhaps not entirely over the course of two years, but much of the change had come in the past weeks. He guiltily recalled their meeting shortly after Yusei had been recruited into the Neo-Domino army.
"Hmph. Is getting a Marker and spending a few days in the Detention Centre really that terrible? You've been rattled," Jack commented, narrowing his eyes. "You're not the same Yusei that I met the other night".
Jack turned his back on Yusei, lifting his helmet from the seat and placing it over his head, concealing all save a few hairs of his blonde locks. He mounted his mechanical steed, glancing at Yusei once more as he began the engine, a furious roaring erupting from the engine. Their eyes locked briefly before Jack's D-Wheel accelerated, ending their brief reunion.
Perhaps his words were more truthful than he had intended them to be. Yusei wasn't the same; he had been damaged by the recent incidents; he had been hiding the secret murder back then. Now, he bore more scars. Many more. And they were taking their toll on him. The blonde's shoulders relaxed, his eyes inching higher and set themselves on his companion's expression.
"You're pretending," he stated. "You keep putting on a brave face, but deep down, you're not holding up well".
"I have to," Yusei sighed. "I can't break down; I have to act strong. For everyone else to keep faith; Rally and everyone else in Satellite. Rua and Ruka. Then there are people like Godwin and you who expect me to be a hero, so I have to keep face. Inside, it's not so easy, but that's not important".
Jack hardened his stare at the dark-haired Signer; how long was it going to be before he fell apart completely from the pressure he was putting on himself to meet such expectations? Did he believe he had to be flawless in order to play the hero? After all the incidents they had been through recently, all the stress that would have come with each event, he was insisting that he bury everything and pretend to be impenetrable; unfazed by everything that took place. Jack's fists tightened again, ready to launch themselves forward in blind rage.
"You've gone soft," he barked. "You need to get your head on straight".
His right fist flew forward, racing towards Yusei's face, which seemed vaguely surprised that he was launching yet another attack. The fist never made contact with its target; Yusei's hand raced up, catching the aggressor before it could strike and clutched it firmly against the palm. His azure eyes narrowed sharply, followed quickly by Jack's. The blonde pushed forward, raising his other fist and crashing it against Yusei's jaw. The surprise attack had the same effect as before and Yusei was lifted off his feet briefly, falling back and colliding with the ground, sprawled amongst his cards with a grunt as he landed. Jack's shadow spread across him again, a venomous glare cast down in his direction.
"If you want to fight, then why don't we do so with our decks?" he spat. "Show me that you're not too weak to use your deck properly. If you're that desperate to be the hero, prove you can play the part".
The darkness had claimed the secret chamber once more, burying its ancient structure in mystery again, shut away from the outside world. Rhythmic claps reverberated across the still, cold air as Godwin climbed up the extensive staircase, aiming for the temple situation at the peak of the ascent. His pieces were about to be set into place, ready to tackle the enemy's; the Signers were together, but as were the Dark Signers – and with greater numbers than he had originally anticipated. As for his army, they still had a long way to go to develop into a formidable force – Izayoi Aki still harboured hatred towards the Crimson Dragon, there was no guarantee she would accept her fate and fight alongside the others. On top of that friction, she had been left devastated by the collapse of the Arcadia Movement and deaths of all those she cared for. Yusei, likewise, was heavily damaged, both physically and mentally, though he would never admit it. The toll of the events starting from the purge's beginning had been great; Godwin had expected as much, but Yusei had gone through much more than he would have ever intended to put him through – he had never factored tragic incidents such as Takasu and Judge's deaths, especially with the weight they held down Yusei's heart with. As for Ruka, she was far too young to be burdened with her task, but there was nothing to change that; she wasn't ready for war. Her lack of a Signer Dragon added to that fact; Ancient Fairy Dragon had been sealed for several years in the Spirit World with no sign of her card in the human world.
That left Jack; the only Signer yet to suffer to the degree that his comrades had. There were personal issues with him; his issues with inferiority and longing to prove his worth, but they were nothing next to the real problem. With the reports claiming that he had caused Ushio's death, the public had turned against their king, making things all the more difficult – the one capable of fighting to his fullest had been made into a villain in the eyes of the public.
Godwin's own aged sight rose to the bleak doorway descending into his sight whilst reaching the peak of the staircase. No-one was around to question what he was doing; only the Star Guardian had access to the structure. Which made it the ideal location for his guilty secret. He advanced a step, landing on the level of the small temple and lingered in the doorway, examining its contents. There was nothing to decorate the stone structure, A narrow reflection of his face bounced back among the shadows; the mirrored image from a cylindered glass object tucked away in the corner like a dirty secret. Godwin's eyes narrowed slowly once they landed upon the object.
"Not just yet," he mumbled. "I shan't give up on this world just yet. Not until I've exhausted every option to keep pressing forward".
Yusei and Jack lingered close to the wide entrance of the elaborate building, the latter with his arms folded over his chest and keeping an eye open for any movements in the skies overhead. Beside him, Yusei eyed the blonde in the corner of his vision, deck box filled with cards once again trapped within his iron clutches.
"My D-Wheel will be here before long," Jack insisted. "Mikage's sent out the call to retrieve it from Carly's apartment. Seems there's a network of Yliaster loyalists within those who know in Security".
"You're forgetting something, Jack," Yusei commented blandly. "My D-Wheel was destroyed by Ccapac Apu. If you're planning a Riding Duel, it's not happening".
"They're bringing a spare to work as a temporary D-Wheel," Jack answered. "It'll just be for the duel, but it's what you need. They're just stopping by the Daimon Are on their way over so both get here as quickly as possible. They're going to use the excuse that Carly's on the list of the missing and they're just looking for anything that could help. As a reporter, she could offer them much more than anyone else who's vanished to shed light on what's going on. To justify the carrier copter, they'll just claim to be helping transport the injured at the same time as the other emergency forces are still overloaded with the aftermath of what happened. It's not all lies, there's truth in each part".
"Carly's missing?" Yusei asked, his eyes widening quickly.
"I figured she had gone to check out what was happening at Arcadia when my back was turned," Jack sighed. "I don't know if it's true, but she might have gotten tangled up in the chaos".
His eyes rose back to the skies, registering a craft heading towards the island, presumably with the two machines inside. But Carly was on his mind after the subject had been brought up. Was it possible that she had wandered into the area where the other Earthbound Gods appeared? Had she been so fascinated by the strange occurrences that she inadvertently walked towards her death? Nevertheless, even if she had mere been caught up in the resulting chaos, he would take the beasts head-on; their arrival may have taken the media's attention from the manhunt after him, but there was no guarantee that everyone was safe; reports claimed thousands had been reported missing while identification took place in hospitals to reunite separated loved ones. But what of Carly? Who would go to see her? How long before she would be sacrificed by the malevolent monsters, if not already?
The Earthbound Gods had shown terrific power; sucking up so many souls, inflicting heavy damage on the Arcadia Movement and producing powerful earthquakes simply by awakening. What more was there to face? How many more were there to be? Godwin had never elaborated; he had assumed as five Signers were to fight, there would be an equal number of enemies.
Her lack of return left him on edge; he had been planning to persuade her to step back from the front lines. He wasn't prepared to risk her becoming a casualty and if it was too late, he would simply take his vengeance out of any Dark Signer he could get his hands on, including Kiryu, even if Yusei lacked that kind of resolve. The craft positioned itself above the courtyard and descended slowly. The wild winds and thumping coming from the craft alerted the twins to the arriving vehicle and, unanimously, they pushed away from the balcony, rushing inside to make it down to the courtyard before long. The craft touched down, its wide back door opening up. Jack smirked and paced ahead, reaching for the Wheel of Fortune he could see contained in the back. Kazama followed a moment later, dragging along a black machine. Yusei acknowledged that it had to be the temporary vehicle he was permitted to use, though there was a sense of bitter irony in its resemblance to his first D-Wheel; the machine stolen by the blonde as he fled Satellite. Kazama smiled whilst carting the machine forward, stopping once he and Yusei met up. The Signer examined the machine; it was well-maintained, a Duel Disk was in place and a helmet tucked in front of the seat.
"It's my personal D-Wheel," Kazama chuckled, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "When Mikage-san said you guys were planning to have a practice duel, I thought it could come in handy to help you back on your feet".
"Thank you," Yusei responded plainly.
"Kazama-kun?" Mikage uttered, approaching from behind. "The Director wishes to speak with us as we're to escort the Signers back to Satellite when they're ready".
"Okay then, thanks Mikage-san," Kazama chirped, looking back to the duo in front of him. "Good luck. Take care of her".
The Security pair advanced casually, climbing the low staircase leading up to the wide doorway. Jack slipped his white helmet on, Yusei quickly following with the plain curved black variation, not unlike the one he had constructed two years ago. They fixed their decks into place and readied themselves to set off when Yusei cast a sharp eye in Jack's direction.
"Did you plan all this out?" he asked coldly.
"No," Jack answered roughly. "Though it does make me somewhat regret having your old one scrapped".
Yusei's eyes tapered with irritation. The two machines started up and jumped to life as Rua and Ruka burst through the doors of the mansion, rushing towards the pair. Fearsome winds erupted as the machines lunged forward, forcing Rua to grab a hold of his sister, both youngsters blinded by the sudden force ahead. The D-Wheels sped off; taking to the long tarmac driveway that stretched over the waters, Jack leaned back and turned to his rival.
"I take it you'll be fine with up and down this road?" he questioned. "I doubt Godwin would be best pleased if we messed up his precious gardens".
"Whatever's fine with me," Yusei grunted. He reached forward, tapping on the console in front of him, resulting in the green Field Magic card shooting into the centre and transforming the layout. "Speed World, set".
"Duel!" the pair yelled unanimously.
DUEL START
YUSEI - JACK
4000 -LP- 4000
FIRST TURN – JACK
"I'll go first," the blonde declared, quickly drawing six cards from his hand and shoving them into the holder fixed around his wrist. "I summon Dark Resonator [DEF 300]".
The demonic-faced Tuner materialized through a portal, clapping its instruments together before settling, its tattered robes flapping wildly in the high-speed winds.
"That's all I plan to do for now," Jack called over his shoulder.
SECOND TURN – YUSEI
"It's my turn," the dark-haired pursuer barked, tearing his first additional card from the deck. "Draw".
YUSEI - JACK
4000 -LP- 4000
1 -SPC- 1
He checked the images of each card at his disposal, slipping the new card into a gap opened up when he removed another. He held the card inches above the Duel Disk, throwing it down firmly.
"I summon Speed Warrior," he yelled.
A vortex opened beside the dark D-Wheel and through it, the grey-suited monster sprang into action, landing on its skates and gliding gracefully alongside its cardholder, shedding the glimmers that clung onto its form with a determined grunt.
"Speed Warrior's effect doubles the amount of attack points it had in the turn it's summoned [ATK 1800]" Yusei declared, leaning forward a small degree. "Go, attack Dark Resonator".
Surrounded by the aura of power seeping into its form, Speed Warrior leapt up, soaring through the skies whilst spinning and dove towards the enemy field. With no alternatives, Dark Resonator panicked, aware that it was the target of the assault and snapped its head around panicky for any solution to avoid its demise.
'Attacking Dark Resonator?' Jack wondered, narrowing his eyes sharply. 'He won't gain anything from it and he should know that. You keep arguing how you have to be strong, but you're going about it the wrong way and now you're going backwards. You want to be strong? No, Fudo Yusei… you've gotten weaker'.
The diving warrior began to spin, creating a large missile that crashed into Dark Resonator, whose iron instruments crossed over its head and squeezed its eyes closed. The pair collided, but grey monster couldn't break through the blue-coated creature's barrier and was forced to withdraw, leaping back and landing on Yusei's field.
"Dark Resonator's effect prevents it from being destroyed once per turn," Jack hollered over his shoulder coldly.
Yusei's eyes narrowed; in the heat of battle, he'd ignored the power of the small dark Tuner and snatched a pair of cards from his hand, pressing down on them whilst glaring ahead with frustration.
"I set two cards face-down," he reported, throwing them into place. "Turn end".
THIRD TURN – JACK
YUSEI - JACK
4000 -LP- 4000
2 -SPC- 2
The sea breeze raced by, offering the two D-Wheelers racing down the narrow road a much different atmosphere than they were used to; for Jack, the crowds had grown silent, while the fresh environment was far from the smoggy circuits Yusei had grown accustomed to over the past few years. There was nothing around to interrupt; once they reached the City's end of the extended driveway, they would simply retreat and tread down the path they had taken to get there. Jack peered over his shoulder, eyeing Yusei in between the lapping waters and slim road that guided them down a restricted trail.
"If you're not going to pull yourself together and duel properly, how can you expect anyone to take you as a hero seriously?" he asked coldly. "We won't be able to deal with dead weight like you; you'll have to stay behind while we fight the Dark Signers if this is what you're going to be like. You'll just get yourself killed".
Yusei said nothing in response, he exhaled through his nose and tightened his glare set on the back of the blonde, who paid no attention and rotated to face the road ahead, reaching for his deck.
"Draw," he barked, swiftly removing the next card. With a smirk, he held the card vertically, arm stretched as he announced his next tactic. "I release Dark Resonator to Advance Summon Big-Piece Golem".
The devilish Tuner vanished, consumed by a sphere of energy that grew whilst using the life force of the previous monster to create the next. An immense grey boulder emerged, arms and legs hanging from holes drilled into the sides and bottom of its rectangular body. Facial features became clear from the front face, cold teal eyes inching open [ATK 2100].
"If you've forgotten how to duel, allow me to teach you again," Jack roared. "Big-Piece Golem, attack Speed Warrior".
The rocky monster rotated, clenching its hands into crushing fists and dove back across the field, intending to slam into the skating warrior and break it beneath its large body, inflicting heavy damage upon his opponent's lifepoints. Yusei, on the other hand, wasn't prepared for that to happen and snapped is right arm out as the two collided, falling behind the D-Wheel, the larger creature succeeding in flattening the small body; gusts from the crash raced around, conflicting with those created by the chase, unable to overpower the guiding breeze.
"Trap card open: Guard Block," he barked in protest. "The damage of the battle is negated and I draw a card".
"Hmph, so you've retained a little skill," Jack scoffed. "I place a card face-down and end my turn".
FOURTH TURN – YUSEI
"My turn. Draw".
YUSEI - JACK
4000 -LP- 4000
3 -SPC- 3
"I summon Junk Synchron [ATK 1300]" Yusei declared, throwing the card into the central slot of the Duel Disk. On the field, the orange-armoured Tuner burst onto the scene, grasping its cord dangling from the breastplate. "Junk Synchron's effect allows me to revive Speed Warrior from the Graveyard".
The Tuner pulled on the string, revving the engines on its back while a portal beside it opened, granting Speed Warrior access back to the battlefield from which it had been dismissed with a lively yell. Yusei's arm stretched forward, signalling the beginning of the tuning process. The motors on Junk Synchron's back began to glow, aiding the light that enveloped its body and transformed it into three green rings that raced around, descending over Speed Warrior, who surrendered its two stars.
"I tune Level 3 Junk Synchron and Level 2 Speed Warrior," Yusei announced. "Tsudoishi hoshi ga, aratana chikara wo yobiokosu! Hikari sasu michi tonare! Shinkuro Shoukan! Ideyo, Jyanku Woriā! [ATK 2300]" [1]
A column of light consumed the remnants of the two monsters that had been on the field, replacing them with a much larger figure; purple armour fixed across its body, accompanied by its white scarf floating in the winds and red eyes that ignited readily. Its fists stretched forward, showcasing the spiked devices that the fingers had been wrapped around.
"Synchro Monster, huh?" Jack muttered. "So you're coming back, are you, Yusei?"
Deep down, however, he could sense the discomfort, the mistrust in himself – Yusei was still far from recovered, but he was working there. He was becoming more competent and observant rather than lost in a labyrinth of misery and guilt. A subtle smile spread onto Jack's face, pleased that the road to recovery was doing well. The two D-Wheels neared the end of the road, about to dive back into the City. Refusing to do so, Jack twisted his D-Wheel violently, skidding around and taking off in the opposite direction. He and Yusei crossed paths, catching one another's eyes, their glares of resolution, and once the instance was through, Yusei pulled his machine around, taking after Jack, not to be left behind.
"Junk Warrior attacks Big-Piece Golem," the dark-haired rider commanded. "Scrap Fist!"
The back of the warrior exploded to life, launching it forward without any obstacles to overcome. With a howl, the warrior thrust its fist forward, crashing into the boulder, resulting in an explosion that scattered shards of rock in Jack's direction.
"Reverse card – Synchro Blast," Yusei added, lifting the second of his formerly mystery cards. "As Junk Warrior destroyed Big-Piece Golem, you'll take 500 points of damage through this card's effect".
A wide ray of orange light burst from the card, slamming into the back of Jack's large D-Wheel. The blonde howled as he came under fire, his machine shuddering from the impact.
YUSEI - JACK
4000 -LP- 3300
"That's all I'll do this turn," Yusei claimed, relaxing in his seat, shoulders sinking either side of his head as the baton was passed to his adversary.
FIFTH TURN – JACK
"It's my turn!" Jack roared, fiercely stripping his deck of its top card.
YUSEI - JACK
4000 -LP- 3300
4 -SPC- 4
Bringing the card back to those in his collection, a smirk grew across Jack's face. He leaned back, tilting his head whilst peering over his shoulder to show off the confident expression to his opponent.
"It's time," he claimed.
"What?" Yusei asked, puzzled by Jack's attitude in spite of having an emptied field.
"Twin Breaker," Jack called, throwing down the monster onto his Duel Disk.
From the opening created on his field, the heavily-armoured warrior lunged, its arms and legs tucked in to preserve its torso. With an enthusiastic cry, the humanoid stretched out its limbs, bearing three blades in each hand [ATK 1600].
"Now I activate my face-down Boosting Resurrection," Jack continued, pressing down on the key behind his hidden card, causing its holographic copy to stand vertically. "With its power, I revive Dark Resonator and increase not only its attack power, but its Level by 1".
A circle opened up on the tarmac ground, spitting out the ragged Tuner, which opened its arms diagonally with glee, clutching the tuning fork in one hand and its small sceptre in the other.
"With an extra Level, Dark Resonator is capable of bringing out Jack's signature monster," Yusei commented with a shallow breath. "He's going from an empty field to his ace so quickly?"
"I'm tuning Level 4 Dark Resonator and Level 4 Twin Breaker," Jack roared. Dark Resonator clapped its instruments together, producing a circle for each beat before its form vanished altogether. The warrior clutching its numerous blades leapt up, diving into the hovering tunnel, where its innards were revealed as four stars, which danced into place. "Ouja no kodou, ima kokoni retsu wo nasu! Tenchi meidou no chikara wo mirugaii! Shinkuro Shoukan! Waga tamashii, Reddo Dēmonzu Doragon! [ATK 3000]" [2]
A wide column of light slammed against the road, Jack passing through with ease. But by the time Yusei was at the same space as his rival had been when the ritual began, the veil dissipated and the demonic dragon of charred brown and blood red emerged, spreading its wings and letting loose a ferocious roar, showing its jagged fangs and blue tongue. Drops of sweat clung to Yusei's brow, he hadn't expected Jack to resort to Red Demons so quickly, but he had. He wasn't prepared to take on the dragon yet. It was almost as though they were back in the Stadium that night when his Birthmark first appeared. The symbol itself blazed from his right arm, not as strong or painfully as when Ccapac Apu rose from the earth, but it reacted to Jack's dragon nonetheless.
"Yusei, this is how a Signer is supposed to fight," Jack hollered. "If you want to protect everyone, you better remember how to. Else Hell is going to swallow you up. Red Demons, show him our power. Absolute Powerforce!"
The dragon unleashed another deep roar, opening its wings to their fullest and diving at Junk Warrior, its fist bursting into flames. Yusei clenched his jaws, glaring at the dragon while his heart pounded; the shadows across its face only aided in making it look more demonic, but it pulled back within seconds, unleashing the flaming hand against Junk Warrior. Its claws pierced through the warrior's armour, ripping apart its chest and causing a violent explosion that disrupted the black D-Wheel's path, resulting in its wobbling in a struggle to maintain control.
YUSEI - JACK
3300 -LP- 3300
"Face it, Yusei. Kiryu won't hold back and neither will I," Jack continued. "You're going to have to accept that he's not our friend, but our enemy now. If that's too much, hand over Stardust now and I'll deal with him".
Yusei's eyes flickered with frustration; as much as he hated to admit it, Jack was right. Kiryu was a Dark Signer, someone out to destroy the planet and every life on it. He didn't care about the past; about Team Satisfaction or his former friends. He knew the whole truth, but Yusei himself was still struggling to figure out exactly why Kiryu blamed him for what happened on the stormy night almost three years before. Maybe Kiryu would be cooperative, but he would have to learn from the Dark Signer himself and that would require a rematch in the heart of Satellite. But before he could even face the future, he had to get over the past and face the present. He'd have to take down both Jack and Red Demons before he could even consider how to move on.
PREVIEW
Rua: Why are Yusei and Jack duelling?!
Jack: Yusei, you're not going to survive against a Dark Signer if you can't even keep up with me.
Yusei: I'm not going to fall behind. Because everyone is counting on me. I have to reach the heights needed to topple the Dark Signers.
Naoko: Aki-san, what world are you going to choose? Are you going to save these people or abandon yourself?
Yusei: Not yet. I can't give up yet. Next time: "Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's: The Neo-Domino Purge, Chapter 38 – Because Your Friends are Behind You! Stardust vs. Red Demons". Riding Duel, Acceleration!
NEXT KEY CARD – Stardust Dragon
[1] "Clustering stars will call upon a new force! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Show yourself, Junk Warrior!"
[2] "The ruler's heartbeats will now file through here! Take witness to its creation-shaking power! Synchro Summon! My very soul, Red Demons Dragon!"