Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh Zexal!
After watching Fuya-kun's duel, I feel like dueling more than ever! It was still a bit early but I really need to get a heart piece! I was wondering but I needed to find a duelist and fast! Yuma's probably looking for some as well. This is so hard! I passed an alley before I stopped. I went one step backwards and looked down the alley. I gasped, "What happened to you all?!" There were so many duelists lying on the ground, moaning and groaning.
"S-Shark…" one of them groaned.
My eyes widened, please be talking about the animal! Ryoga…
"Shark, that guy…" slurred another.
Ryoga…to do this…! What's wrong with him?! My eyes followed the path of fallen duelists. I…the number. The number. He has a number. My clenched fist shook as I started running. I followed the trail of duelists and I reached the stairs. Ryoga was here. He was dueling someone…My Empress Key levitated slightly upward. I looked up, "Yuma's up there, papa?" I questioned. I knew he was though. The Empress Key stopped levitating and turned limp.
Ryoga…How did I not see this?! I started running up the stairs. The one thing I hate, running. But for Ryoga, nothing petty like that will keep me away from him. I tripped up the stairs a couple of times but stood back up and kept running. I had finally reached the top but I stayed on the stairs, out of sight. I could see Ryoga and Yuma from where I was. Astral and Kotori were somewhere behind Yuma, I suspected. I placed my D-Gazer on.
I watched as Yuma fell backwards from battle.
Ryoga: 4000LPS Yuma: 3300LPS
I heard a gasp from Kotori. Yuma…
He sat up, "This kind of attack is nothing!"
Now I noticed. Ryoga was surrounded by some weird red aura. I knew exactly what it was. No.32 Shark Drake…I hate that card more.
"Oh?" asked Ryoga with a cold voice and glare, "Oh, then how about this?" he questioned.
He was acting different. Ryoga, is he okay? Yuma, please save him once more!
"Oh, then how about this?" asked Ryoga and he held his arm up, "I overlay level 3 Hammer Shark and Big Jaws! I create an overlay network using the two monsters! Xyz summon! Appear, Submersible Carrier Aero Shark (Atk: 1900-Rank: 3)! I activate Aero Shark's effect! I can inflict 400 points of damage times the amount of cards I have in my hand! I have three cards in my hand!"
That would mean…math…1200 points!
Ryoga then declared, "Take this! Air torpedo!"
I gasped as I watched on.
"Yuma!" shouted Kotori.
Ryoga glared at Yuma malevolently, "Have you understood now, Yuma? Don't involve yourself with me anymore-"
He stopped and gasped. The smoke cleared and Yuma was there, kneeling.
Ryoga: 4000LPS Yuma: 2100LPS
Though he was covered in small bruises, he spoke, "Not yet…Not yet! Give me all you got! Shark!"
Ryoga looked surprised but then he glared once more, "You bastard…!"
Yuma stood up, determined, "If you are not, then I will go ahead! My turn, draw! I summon Gogogo Giant (Atk: 2000-Lvl: 4)!"
Yuma and Ryoga stared each other down. I bit my lip as I watched. No.32 is obviously the reason this is happening. Ryoga doesn't have protection, not like Yuma and I do. Not like…IV, III, and V do…
"I end my turn!" announced Yuma as I looked back up. He's not attacking?!
"What?!" asked Ryoga, thinking the same thing.
"Why?!" asked Kotori.
Astral came into view, floating beside Yuma, "Why, Yuma?! If you attack with Gogogo Giant, you can defeat his monster! Just what are you thinking?"
Yuma…the last time he had to duel Ryoga, the time I had a fever, he didn't listen to me. He attacked and tried to win. This time…I'm not sure if he's going for the win.
"No problem," Yuma smiled, "This is my duel."
Ryoga glared at Yuma nonetheless, "Yuma, you bastard…!"
"Appear, Black Ray Lancer (Atk: 2100-Rank: 3)!" shouted Ryoga and the destructive monster appeared.
"This isn't good, Yuma!" said Astral urgently.
As long as it's not the number…
"Go!" ordered Ryoga, "Black Ray Lancer! Attack Gogogo Giant! Black spear!"
I flinched as Gogogo Giant was pierced with the spear.
Yuma cringed before looking back onto the field, "Sorry, Gogogo Giant!"
Ryoga: 4000LPS Yuma: 2000LPS
"Now, I direct attack with Aero Shark!" shouted Ryoga, "Eat this! Big eater!"
I gasped, this isn't good!
Yuma flew backwards with a scream.
Ryoga: 4000LPS Yuma: 100LPS
Yuma! I looked back to Ryoga, he was panting. He closed his eyes.
"Yuma…!" shouted Kotori.
Ryoga's eyes flew open as he watched Yuma struggle to stand up. He was still determined.
Ryoga's eyes, I noticed, were full of shock.
"Why are you purposely losing…?" asked Astral shocked.
Yuma stood up shakily, "Not yet…It's not over yet!" Yuma turned to Ryoga, "Shark! Come on, bring it on! Show me all of your skills!"
Ryoga stepped back, confounded. Yuma was really…
Astral flew to Yuma's side, "Yuma, don't tell me you are…!"
Yuma sighed before looking forward, "That's right. This duel, I don't care whether I lose or not!"
Ryoga gasped. His face clearly read 'What?!' Despite this, I smiled slightly.
"Yuma…" whispered Astral, shocked.
"Shark!" said Yuma as he stepped forward, "You hate me, right?!" He kept stepping forward, "Then show me all your hatred! Bring on all your feelings! If your hatred will disappear from it, I won't mind!"
Ryoga clenched his fist and stared at Yuma, "You…you bastard!"
"Hatred!" yelled Yuma, "Revenge! If you duel with them, is it fun?!"
I stared at Yuma. Is this the message he's trying to send across? Even though…even though…the game I love…Is the cause of so much of my pain. Ryoga, my cousins, Yuma, Astral, Kaito…How is dueling fun if…unspoken tears welled up in my eyes. Everything. Dueling. Why…? I wiped the tears away, sadness is not the answer to anything.
"You were someone who loved dueling more than anything!" spoke Yuma, "But are you going to start hating dueling also?! I just…I just can't! I just can't look at you like that!"
Yuma…he…Yuma…this is the reason why…this is the reason why I'm not always crying about Rio. It's all thanks to Yuma.
Flashback
I was walking around. Tears threatening to spill from my eyes, it's been almost a week or two since Rio…since she was admitted into the hospital. I've become a mess. Who can blame me though? Dueling, playing violin, there's been no joy in that lately.
There was a duel happening across the street. I looked up and stared at the two. Two boys. I knew one of them. His name was Yuma.
"Just give up!" shouted the other.
"Never!" shouted Yuma. I stared at him. He was obviously losing but…he still had unwavering confidence, determination.
"I won't stop until I reach the sky's limit!" shouted Yuma, "Kattobingu da, ore!"
I stared at him. Unwavering confidence and determination…In the first time in days, I smiled. Maybe I could borrow that spirit of his sometime. Wouldn't Rio want me to be happier? Not this mess? Kattobingu da, ore…I then kept walking forward.
Flashback end
I had learned that from Yuma. Unwavering confidence and determination…I had taken that from Ryoga and Yuma.
Then, ruining the moment, a huge growl made itself heard. Yuma's stomach…Ruining the moment, the idiot.
Yuma held his stomach, looking at it. He laughed nervously.
"Jeez, what are you doing?!" asked Kotori angrily.
Yuma turned to her, "It can't be helped that I'm hungry!"
"Jeez, you are just…" said Astral, making me smile slightly.
"What?!" asked Yuma as he turned to my alien, "It can't be helped, right?! I got hungry!"
"You seriously have no manners!" said Kotori.
I looked at Ryoga and was surprised. The number aura…the atmosphere…it disappeared! I smiled, nonetheless, Yuma saved Ryoga.
"Jeez," said Kotori, "You sure are a champion at being stupid."
"What?!" asked Yuma.
"Just stop," he swiped off his D-Gazer, "This is just stupid."
"Hey, Shark," said Yuma, "Hey! Stop!"
"I don't feel like doing this," said Ryoga, "After looking at you being stupid."
"Stupid?!" repeated Yuma shocked. I forced down a laugh. "You…!" said Yuma in irritation.
"Let's finish this at the finals," Ryoga smirked at Yuma. Ryoga then walked towards the stairs, where I was. He stopped when he saw me, "Rima." He said in mild surprise. Why should he be? It was obvious I'd be around.
Everyone turned to me now. Yuma blinked, "Rima?"
I was happy. Ryoga was safe. I walked a bit forward, beside Ryoga. I stared at Yuma before smiling slightly, "Thank you, Yuma."
No one seemed to be expecting that. I knew that I owed Yuma a lot. I bowed, "Truly, Yuma, I thank you." I know that fighting a numbers power…it isn't something you should do alone.
"I…uh…" Yuma stared at me. Astral was staring at me in surprise as well.
I then straightened myself. I looked at Ryoga who was staring at me. Breaking my promise, why do I keep doing that? I can't even protect him! Rio…I'm sorry. And Ryoga too. Our eyes met. A secret message, if you knew. We had both broken our promises, one way or another. Even though I should be the one comforting him, especially after what just happened, he's the one who opened his arms.
It was just a second nature to walk into his embrace. I felt his arms surround me, a safe haven for me. I nuzzled my face into his chest. I admit that I do love Ryoga. He was like a brother. He is a brother. I just can't bear to see him like that happen to him. No bond is as strong as this one. I wouldn't be who I was without Ryoga, without his presence.
Guess what happened next? This beautiful moment was shattered because…of a certain person's stomach rumbling. Kotori started scolding Yuma for ruining 'such a perfect moment'.
I lifted my head and saw Ryoga's dark blue eyes.
Ryoga glanced at Yuma, humor in his eyes. He looked back to me and patted my head, "I'll see you later," he spoke. He let go of me and smiling slightly. He then walked down the stairs.
I knew something like a number was powerful…Seeing Ryoga's smile…it was something I was going to protect.
Yuma stared at Ryoga, "Shark, we'll definitely meet in the finals!" He then smiled.
Kotori pulled on his ear suddenly.
"Ow!" shouted Yuma as Kotori let go, "What are you doing, Kotori?!"
"Finals and what?" said Kotori in irritation, "If you lost to Shark, you would have lost all of your heart pieces!"
I face palmed. How could we forget that?
Yuma was lost, "Eh?" Then he gasped, "Ah! That's right! I totally forgot!"
"I don't mind you caring about your friend, but if you lost, the numbers and my life would have disappeared as well," stated Astral.
I gasped, no. No. NO. NO! I ran up to Astral and threw my arms around him, "Astral!" I whined. There was no way I was losing him. He placed a hand on my back as we watched Yuma.
Yuma fell to his knees, obviously forgetting like me. He bowed on hands and knees, "I'm sorry! I was just into the mood too much, and totally forgot about the numbers!"
I felt like crying. How could I forget that? If Astral was gone…I can't live without him! Literally and emotionally.
"It's your promise with your father, right?" Kotori asked Yuma, "To become Duel Champion."
Yuma looked up, "But, you know, if it was my dad, I'm sure he would have thrown himself to stop him!" He smiled at us, "That's why he would forgive me!"
"Jeez…" said Kotori as she straightened herself.
"Rima," said Astral as both Yuma and I looked at him. He was staring at my head, "There's…something in your hair," he said as he looked pointedly at something.
I moved out of his embrace, "In my hair?" I repeated confused. I reached up and felt something. It was…I took it out and held it in front of me. My eyes widened, "A heart piece?!" I shouted. It was a heart piece, glinting. It was the perfect fits my heart shape…How did this happen?!
"Whoa!" shouted Yuma as he stared at it.
What the hell?! The only thing- I gasped, "Before Ryoga left, he patted my head! You don't think…?!"
"Shark did that…?" questioned Kotori as she stared at the heart piece as well.
I let out a cry, "Ryoga! I can't accept this!" I shouted. I didn't win this. I bet he's still walking down or at least near this building. I ran to the stairs. I stopped before looking to Yuma, "Neh, Yuma?"
"What is it?" he asked.
I looked down, "You know when you called me a stupid alien?"
He gulped, "I didn't mean-"
"It's now clear to me, thanks to you, of one thing," I said quietly. I clenched my fist, "I can never tell Ryoga about me." He wouldn't accept me. Having Yuma mad at me was one thing, but Ryoga? If it was him…
I started running down the stairs, "Ryoga!" I called out, "Get back here!"
Turns out, right as I reached the bottom floor, finally, Ryoga was just getting into his motorcycle. I shouted at him but he zoomed off. I ran after him, and that's where I am right now.
I doubled-over and panted heavily. I watched as Ryoga left. He knows I hate running! I let out a sigh and held up the heart piece. I took out my heart shape and placed the heart piece. I have all five pieces. I pouted, Ryoga shouldn't have done that. He needs to get into the finals as well. I guess there's no use complaining about it.
I heard someone moving and looked behind me. I blinked, I was in front of Yuma's house. Haru was holding two bags of groceries, going to her door. I walked over to her and grabbed a bag from her hands, just to help.
She looked at me, "Huh? Oh, hello Rima."
"I'll help you carry these inside," I said, smiling lightly. She shouldn't be holding these by herself.
"Thank you very much," she said happily. I opened the door for her and she walked in. We walked to the kitchen and placed the bags on the counter. She moved to take something out of her bag and it dropped onto the floor. It was of peas. She gasped, "Oh no!"
She went to get the broom. She looked around, "Now where is that broom?" She asked herself. She then nodded, "Yuma's room, I think." She then went to the boy's room.
Obomi came in and saw the mess, "Cleaning." She spoke and she cleaned up the mess for Haru.
I smiled, "Thanks, Obomi."
She only nodded, "Welcome, welcome." She repeated.
I heard a gasp from where Haru would be. I ran over to where she was. She was on top of the ladder, looking at Yuma's room. The words she spoke surprised me, "Hm? You are…"
The voice that returned surprised me more, "Um, I am, uh, I am just…"
"Grandma, please come down from there," I said, recognizing that voice. Haru looked at me surprised before climbing down the ladder. I jumped up the ladder and stepped onto the ground. I looked at the pink-haired boy. I forced myself to say his new name, "III." I said.
III stared at me, "R-Rima…"
I closed my eyes. What to do? Why was he here? I sighed before looking down the hole, "Grandma, don't worry. He's a friend of Yuma and me," I said.
She smiled, "All right. Tell him, next time, take the door."
I smiled before saying, "Can you call Yuma for me? Tell him," I glanced at III, "a boy named III is here."
She nodded and left to make the call.
III and I stood in silence. I turned and faced him. His sparkling green eyes…How did I forget them? He was one of my closest friends, my cousin for crying out loud! But now…but now…we're on opposite sides. I…I stared at III, "III…" I whispered.
He stared at me before saying, "I can't believe I forgot. I forgot Hikari," he spoke in a hushed voice.
I stared at him, unspoken tears in my eyes. I spoke shakily, "I forgot Mihael too…"
We stared at each other. I spotted something on the base of his neck. I smiled slightly and reached up, touching the same locket, "You still have it." I said.
He noticed what I was touching. He smiled as well. He reached up and touched his own locket, "Yeah, I do."
I'm supposed to hate him. He hurt Haruto, he dueled Kaito and Yuma. He even dueled Ryoga. He was a number-user. But…I couldn't bring myself to hate him. This situation sucks. III seemed to realize the same thing. Then a thought came to me, "Why are you here?" I asked, frowning. Why was he in Yuma's house? Sure, I covered for him, but…
He seemed uncomfortable, "Um…"
I sighed before sitting on Yuma's hammock. I glanced at Yuma's various antiques before looking at III once more, "I'll let Yuma do what he wants with you." I lay down and smiled at III, "Just look at the room. Did you see all the OOPArts? They're really cool." I've already seen this place enough.
III blinked before looking around. The nostalgic look on his face was something I missed. He stared around the room in amazement, "Amazing!" He said excitedly. He then started looking around. I smiled at his antics.
III saw a mask and gasped. He knelt down and picked up the mask, "So cool!" he said with a dazzling smile. When he's with OOPArts, he's really happy.
I heard a door slam open. There was running and someone climbed up the ladder. I watched Yuma as he ran in and knelt down behind III, "You, what are you-"
III put on the mask and turned around. Yuma gasped and fell on his butt. I giggled. III was wearing the mask. It looked sort of freaky.
After a moment, everyone joined the party. Astral floated beside the hammock and he glanced at me, to make sure I was all right. I smiled and he took that as a good thing. Kotori came up the ladder and gasped at III's mask.
"Yuma~" said III as he turned his body to us, still wearing the mask, "This is amazing!" He took off the mask, "This is the mask made in the Aztec era!" He looked back, "This is the tablet from 2000 years ago!" He placed the mask down and looked elsewhere, "This is the metal vault made in Hittites! Wow, a necklace made from Inca! Everything is just amazing!"
I giggled and sat up in the hammock. Oh god, III! He's going to explode with all his cuteness!
He smiled and looked at us, "It's the same as the card I love. Look at this!" He held up a card.
Yuma stood up and read it, "Aztec Mask Golem?"
III nodded, "That's right. The deck I use is called 'The OOPArts'. OOPArts is the proof that this world is linked to the ancient world! This world is linked by many dimensions," he clasped his hands together, "And it is believed that the OOPArts came from there. My father had researched this for a long time!" He said happily.
I blinked, Uncle Byron? Speaking of, I haven't seen him. I've only seen my cousins.
Yuma seemed just as excited, "Oh! My dad is also an adventurer! This is all owned by my dad!"
III looked amazed, "Is that so?! Your father is surely amazing!"
Yuma blushed and turned away, "Well, yeah…" then he gasped. He looked at III and backed away from him, "Wait, this isn't the time to talk about that! Because of you guys, Haruto is-"
III immediately bowed, "Sorry!"
I blinked and stared at him.
His eyes were closed, "I am truly sorry about what happened with Haruto's incident."
"III…" whispered Yuma, shocked.
I'm surprised he apologized. I clenched my fist, IV didn't apologize. I don't even know about V.
III stood up and looked away, "But, I had no other choice…"
"You…?" questioned Yuma.
"Yuma," said III sadly, "I have fought all the time with hatred and revenge in mind. But, after watching you duel, I have thought if there was another way other than that."
"Eh?" asked Yuma.
"Just why are you going all out like that for others?" asked III, "Just what is your power?"
Yuma stared at him, "My…power?"
"That's right," said III, "I am different from you. Just how can you fight like that?"
Yuma put his chin in his hand, "My power…My…hm…I don't know something like that, you know?"
"Eh?" asked III, staring in shock.
"It's just Kattobingu," said Yuma, "Kattobingu!"
"Kattobingu…" repeated III.
"That's right!" said Yuma, "Not giving up at all and always challenging yourself! I learned it from my dad!"
"Your father…" said III smiling.
I looked down and dangled my legs. Did my papa know…Uncle Byron? I wonder…I hopped down from the hammock and stood in front of III. I hummed, "I'm glad you apologized," I said.
III blinked, "Me?"
I smiled, "Yeah, someone else didn't. I'm glad you did though."
III smiled back, not truly getting it, "Well, all right."
I stared at him. Pink hair…green eyes…I blinked, "For cousins, we look nothing alike."
"C-cousins?!"
III and I stared at Yuma and Kotori. Astral seemed a bit surprised as well. I sweat dropped, "I haven't told you guys about that?"
"No!" said Yuma.
Akari suddenly appeared from the hole, "Hey, Yuma, lunch is ready."
"Nee-chan!" said Yuma surprised.
Akari smiled at us, "You guys come too."
Everyone went down…except for me and Astral. I laughed nervously, "What's up, Astral?" I asked.
He looked at me. I was shocked at what I saw. Embedded in his mismatched eyes was hurt. Why was Astral hurt? He then spoke quietly, "Rima…what else are you hiding from me?"
My eyes widened. Have I been hiding stuff from him? There was Black Mist, then my father, my alien race, and now, this. I have been hiding stuff from him. Tears filled my eyes, "Astral…"
He looked down, "Rima, hiding these things from me…"
"A-Astral!" I interrupted, "I'm not hiding anything else! Don't you know why I didn't tell you?! I didn't tell you about Black Mist to protect you! I didn't tell you about my papa because…because I barely knew myself! I didn't tell you about me being an Astral Being because I was scared of what you might think! And being related to III and IV? I honestly was going to tell you, I forgot though! Astral, you know I wouldn't just keep things from you for no reason! You're killing me here, Astral! And then there's the soul-string…"
{Um…she already explained the soul-string. I just didn't write it anywhere}
I hiccupped, tears were running down my face, "Stupid Astral! Making me cry…! I buried my tear-stained face in my hands. Why am I crying? Stop crying, stupid Rima…I hate this!
Astral then grabbed my wrists. He made them move to my side. I couldn't move my arms. I was forced to look at him. My eyes widened in shock. Astral was crying too. Astral let go of my wrists. I stared at him. I lifted my right hand and placed it softly on his cheek. Tears were running down his face. The strong and confident Astral…crying? I stopped crying and I just stared into his eyes, "Astral, why are you crying?" I asked softly.
He lifted his own hand and placed it on mine, the one on his cheek. He pressed his hand on mine. Tears were slower now but still there. They were still there. His voice was but a whisper, "You're…always…always in your eyes, you're sad. You can't hold your sadness or else…or else your sadness will overflow."
Astral…why was he sad?
He seemed to understand and his eyes pierced through my soul, "Like how Shark put his anger on Yuma, put your sadness on me. Put all your sadness on me. Then, surely…surely, you'll be happy after."
Astral was…Astral was crying for me. His tears came to a stop. He was staring at me. Is that what he was doing? Is that what he wanted? He just wanted to soak up all my sadness so I would…so I would be left with happiness.
He spoke once more, "Rima…"
I…never noticed before. But now…Now that my face was right in Astral's…I now noticed how full of love Astral's eyes were. Every time he looked at me, did he really look at me like this? I leaned forward before freezing. My lips were almost brushing Astral's. He stared at me. The distance was almost unreal.
I wanted to make sure his eyes were happy not sad. I smiled slightly, "I won't kiss you until you stop looking sad…" I said quietly. I made my lips barely graze his before going back to where I was before, my lips just hovering there on Astral's.
His eyes seemed to light up like me being happy was enough for him to be. That's probably why. Astral was sweet that way. Unbeknownst to me, his hand was on my back. He jerked me forward, making the space between us nonexistent. He pressed his lips to mine and I didn't mind.
After a while, we had to part. Stupid oxygen…I smiled at Astral, "Let's go downstairs…" I whispered.
We were all sitting down. I was sitting on one side by myself. Across from me was Yuma. Haru and Akari were on my right, and Kotori and III were on my left. III was standing behind his chair though. He kept glancing at me and back to his chair. I blinked, "What's wrong, III?" I asked him confused.
Haru laughed though, "All of our guests are so fond of Rima-chan."
I blinked before understanding. I turned to III, "You want to sit beside me?" I asked him. He nodded but spoke softly, "Um…if it's not too much trouble…"
I giggled, "So cute~"
III looked down, embarrassed.
Everyone started eating immediately.
III was holding a rice ball but…he was deep in thought. I stared at him, what was wrong? I droned everyone out and watched my cousin in worry.
"Nii-sama…" murmured III, thinking carefully about something. His eyes were watering.
What was he thinking about? He was…My eyes widened, his family? He placed his rice-ball down.
"III?" I heard Yuma question.
"What's wrong?" asked Haru.
Unspoken tears welled up in III's eyes. The tears overflowed and rolled down his cheeks.
"You…" whispered Yuma.
III hastily wiped away his tears. He stood up, "I'm sorry. I will excuse myself!" he ran out of the room.
I stood up speedily. My chair fell down from the quickness. I ran after him, "Mihael!" I called after him as I kept running.
III ran down some steps. He was tearing up so much. Yuma was on my heels as we both ran after him.
"III!" shouted Yuma.
"Mihael!" I shouted as well.
"Yuma!" said III as he waited at the base of the stairs, "After seeing your family, I finally understood! Your power, your Kattobingu, is for protecting the smiles of your family and friends. But I am, my family is…different! The day we swore to fight for revenge, my family lost their smile! But once our revenge is finished, I am sure they will smile once again!"
For his family? IV, V, and uncle Bryon?
"But Yuma!" said III as he turned to us, "If you are in the way, we can't accomplish our revenge! That's why I must defeat you, for my family!"
"Why?" asked Yuma as I stared at III in shock, "Why is it like that?! I mean, with Haruto's case too…!"
"That was my family's will!" shouted III.
"III!" shouted Yuma.
"I have no feelings other than hatred!" shouted III. Mihael…III…
"Don't joke around!" shouted Yuma.
"Yuma!" III threw something at Yuma, "Tonight, I will be waiting for you here!"
Astral and I looked over Yuma's shoulder. It was…a map, a locator card.
"This is a map?" questioned Astral.
"What?" asked Yuma.
"You and me, let's fight!" shouted III. III turned around and I knew…I knew the line had been drawn. The worst thing is…we're on opposite sides. Enemies…that's what III and I are now because I had chosen to side with Yuma.
I lifted my hand to my locket. I ripped it off my neck and yelled, "Mihael!"
III slightly faltered but it allowed me to speak. "Mihael…III…Even though we're now on opposite sides…" I threw him my locket. He caught it, glancing only over his shoulder. "Even though we're on opposite sides, this locket is our bond! If you wear it…if you connect the halves…it means I'm always with you. Even if the line is drawn and we're on opposing sides, we're still with each other in heart!"
III clutched my halved-heart. He quickly connected the hearts. Now, they were whole. He then walked away. There was no looking back for him.
"III!" Yuma called the boy once more.
"Yuma, he is a powerful opponent," said Astral, "You still plan to go?"
"I know," said Yuma as he stared at the map, "But I…I want to talk to him more! I want to know his true feelings! That's why, I will duel against him!"
I clutched my hand over my heart. III…
