A/N: I OWN NOTHING! EVERY BIT OF YU GI OH 5DS GO TO THEIR CREATORS! THE ONLY THING I OWN IS MY OCS!

Chapter 44

The Pain

Yusei, Jack, and Crow were all feeling uneasy about what Era said. "Who do you think took Era's brother? I don't think Jack would just wander off on his own for no reason," Crow asked.

"I don't know. But I do have a feeling," Yusei answered.

"Yeah, I feel like it was those Yliaster punks," Jack added.

"Well, we have to find her before they do," Crow said.

"Yeah, but how? It's getting dark," Jack asked.

"It doesn't matter the light. Knowing Era, she won't come back until she finds her brother. So we need to find her and fast," Yusei said. Jack and Crow nodded. "Bruno, you should probably stay here. To tell us if she comes back." He nodded. They all got on their duel runners and left.

Era drove as fast as she could to the Satellite Pier without breaking the law. 'Jack, I'm coming,' she thought.

She entered the pier and got off her runner once she saw Jakob. But he was alone for the most part. Era looked as Lester and Primo took positions behind her.

"Where's Jack?" Era demanded. "Are you the one who took him?"

"Us? No, we don't even have him. We did tell you 'maybe not' right?" Jakob answered. Era growled in irritation.

Suddenly she felt someone clip something tight around her neck. Era looked to see Primo and Lester backing off with depraved smiles. She reached over and found a metal, collar like necklace wrapped around it. Era pulled and yanked at it but it wouldn't come off.

"What is this thing?" she asked.

"Are you going to come with us?" Primo asked.

"Why would I?" she sneered.

Suddenly electricity shocked every bone and vein in her body. Era fell to her hands and knees as the electricity stopped. She panted heavily with shock and fear in her mind. She reached up and gripped the collar.

"Now are you will to come with us? Because we could just electrocute you more," Lester asked with a sinister laugh following.

The sound of duel runner engines reached Era's ears as it reached the three Emperors. She shakily stood up. "Who's coming?" Primo muttered angrily.

The next thing Era knew, Yusei's red duel runner jumped in between her and Jakob. "Era, what are you thinking?" Yusei asked.

"Oh, Yusei. Come to watch her come with us," Lester taunted.

"She's not coming with you," Yusei leered. Era glared at them. She was quickly forced back down to her hands and knees as electricity pulsed through her. "Era!" Yusei exclaimed. He glared at them. "I don't know how you got that thing on her, but you're going to take it off."

"No, we won't," Lester retorted.

Era sighed in relief but continued to pant as the electricity stopped. She reached up and gripped the collar again. Yusei ran over and held her protectively. He looked at the back to see it was a deadbolt like lock but he needed a key to unlock it.

"You can hand her over now," Primo said stepping forward a few feet.

"Not a chance!" Yusei retorted.

"Do you want to make it more painful for your girlfriend?" Jakob asked angrily. Yusei growled and held her tighter.

Jakob pressed a button and Era gasped out in pain. "Era!" Yusei exclaimed worried.

He brought out a remote. It held a red button a dial that had a total of six numbers on it. "She's getting the lowest amount of volts right now. But I could always add more," Jakob threatened.

"Y-Yusei, please… let me go…" Era begged weakly.

"Era…" Yusei started.

"Please Yusei. I don't want you to see me like this," Era pleaded.

"Era, we're together in this, remember?" Yusei retorted.

Primo gave a small laugh. "Hey, Jakob, you here that?" he asked him.

"Yes," Jakob said thinking.

"I know! Perhaps we should bring Yusei with us! Make him pay for last time," Lester suggested.

Yusei tensed. "Leave him alone!" Era exclaimed once the electricity stopped.

"What do you think Yusei? Come to watch her suffer while she watches you suffer. Seems… interesting," Jakob taunted.

Yusei growled angrily. 'Era wouldn't want that. But Era wouldn't want to be hurt either. If I went, I would need to find some way to get both of us out again. And I doubt I'll be able to use the same way as last time,' Yusei thought.

"Yusei, no. Just go with back. I'm not going to let you get hurt," Era told him.

"And I'm not letting you get hurt," Yusei retorted defiantly. Yusei used his mark again as she shook her head.

"Transport to next to Jakob," she muttered but she realized Yusei was blocking her path again when it didn't happen. "Yusei, you have to let me go."

"Not a chance, Era," Yusei responded again sternly. Another shock wave was hit but it was obviously more powerful than before. "Leave Era alone. She doesn't like to hurt anyone unless she has to. She probably only came here because she was worried her brother was hurt."

"How about this? If you can pick the lock, you both can leave. However, if you can't you both come with us," Jakob suggested turning off the electric collar.

Yusei growled. 'I have to agree. If I going to get Era out of here without any more pain, I have to try. No matter the risk,' Yusei thought. "Fine!" Yusei agreed.

"Yusei, no. Go now," Era responded weakly.

"Go ahead, Yusei. You may try to pick the lock," Jakob said. Yusei could see Primo and Lester looking at Jakob curiously. "Oh, and did I mention that you have five minutes to do so?"

Yusei growled again. He grabbed Era's hair pin and began to work at the lock. It was more intricate and complicated than any lock he had ever known.

The men laughed. "He has three minutes. He will never get it done in time," Lester laughed.

"It will certainly be fun to get revenge on him and get the power from the girl," Primo added.

Yusei ignored them and continued to focus on the lock. He was getting close. He could feel it but close wasn't good enough.

"You have a minute, boy. You might want to hurry up," Jakob taunted.

Yusei began to sweat nervous for Era. She was already in enough pain. Suddenly the lock broke and the collar fell off.

"He actually did it. Quite an interesting development," Primo muttered. He turned to Jakob and asked louder, "What shall we do now?"

"Can we just take them?" Lester asked. "We need the girl anyways."

"We may be evil at times but we do keep our word as well. Or have you two forgotten that?" Jakob said. They gave an annoyed growl in agreement.

Before Yusei could say a word, they disappeared. He turned to Era who was still panting. He hugged her tight. "Don't you ever do anything like that again," he told her sternly, but added a gentle voice to it as well.

"I wish… I could make… that promise. But I can't," she answered in between breaths.

Yusei brought her closer and tighter. He felt her feared tears begin to soak his shirt and he stroked her hair. "It's okay, Era. We'll find your brother. But we need to get back. We won't find him in the dark and you need your rest," Yusei whispered in her hair.

"But, Yusei…" she trailed off.

"It'll be okay, Era. I'm here for you and so are Jack and Crow. Akiza and the twins. We're all here for you and we'll all help you," Yusei tried.

"I…" she stopped.

"Trust us to help you, Era. Because we'll help you," Yusei whispered.

"I… I trust you. I'm sorry, Yusei. I'm so sorry," Era responded.

"This isn't your fault, Era," Yusei said gently. "None of this is your fault."

Yusei heard a beeping from his duel runner signaling a call. He let go of Era for the moment to see who it was. It was from Crow and Jack. He pressed the answer button.

"Hey, Yusei. Did you find her?" Crow asked. Yusei nodded.

"Good. What happened? You look like you two were in trouble," Jack asked.

"When I found her, those three Emperor guys hand her surrounded. They had already placed this collar thing on her neck and when Jakob, the bigger one, pressed a button it shocked her. They left after I picked the lock. She's still in a bit shock and afraid," Yusei explained.

"Did they have her brother?" Crow asked.

Yusei shook his head. "No. I don't think they ever had him," Yusei answered.

"Then who does?" Jack asked.

"I don't know," Yusei replied.

"Well, for now, let's get her back to the garage," Crow said. Yusei nodded before the call ended.

He walked over to Era who was still on her knees. Yusei saw her struggling to hold in tears. He wrapped his arms around her small, frail form again. "It's okay, Era," he whispered.

"Is it?" she asked sadly.

"Yes, it is. Do you remember what you said about hoping when we first met?" Yusei asked. She nodded. "Then I'll say what I said before. Keep hoping with me." She slowly returned the hug. Yusei stroked her hair to relax her and it slowly worked. "Come on. Let's get back home."

He pulled her up to her feet and she looked down ashamed still. "I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't want you to see me hurt so badly again."

"Era," Yusei said in a warning tone. "Remember how you were when we first met? How nervous and confused you were." She gave a small nod. "You're different now. You are less nervous to meet new people, you're kinder, and you're stronger. That mark chose you for a reason. And I don't think anyone could've picked a better person. You have nothing to be sorry for. This isn't your fault. Okay?"

"O-Okay," she agreed but Yusei could hear the reluctance and uncertainty in her voice.

"Now let's get home," Yusei said.

They walked over to their duel runners and took off.