Sight

Once upon a time, Yusei was Akiza's savior. His voice could pierce her guarded soul. His touch could spark new life inside of her. His gaze could move Akiza into action or comfort her if need be. She was drawn to Yusei and her very being was wrapped in a sense of protection and peacefulness whenever he was around. Yusei helped Akiza build a life she could be proud of and wiped her tears while coming to terms with her past.

Akiza loved Yusei on many levels and valued him even more than she valued herself.

Yusei was a man who was destined for greatness, whether he would admit it or not. His determination was powerful and his soul seemingly unbreakable. Akiza always saw Yusei as not only her savior, but as the world's. The heroic actions he took to protect all that he cared for were more than noble. They were extraordinary.

When Akiza looked at Yusei, all she wanted to do was smile.

But now, it might not be able to be like that anymore.

It was not truly Yusei who did those unthinkable things. Yusei would never think of deliberately hurting anyone like he did, especially someone completely innocent. He could never come to the conclusion of forcing himself onto someone, certainly not someone he held so dear. But however one tried to spin it, those were Yusei hands.

"Akiza."

She froze. Was he still being controlled by Iliaster? Did he even remember what had happened? Did he know what he...what his body did without his will behind it?

She turned to him. Akiza wanted to see the same man she had always known. That rough boy from Satellite talking about fighting for what was right and accepting her without hesitation. She wanted to see him smile and know that his eyes would draw her into comfort again.

Unfortunately, that was not what she saw.

The moment she laid eyes on him, Akiza felt ghost hands pulling at her, pushing her down and throwing her around. She flashed back to those people, who had nothing to do with the Signer's fight against Iliaster, but just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. He beat them down and spat in their faces so uncharacteristically.

Her mind was telling her that Yusei was not in control of his body when those actions occurred. It was all Iliaster's plot to mess with them by turning Yusei into something he was not. She knew that, but she could not help as fear built up the more she looked at him. Her traumatized state could not disconnect the true man in front of her from the twisted man that threatened to hurt her.

"Don't." She was shacking, afraid for her life once again. The trauma and emotions were too much, it bent reality. "Please don't."

"Akiza, I'm not going to hurt you." Yusei took a step forward. "That wasn't me."

Akiza started to sob and backed away in terror from the person who only ever tried to help her.

A wave a guilt hit Yusei. He remembered what had happened, what he did under Iliaster's mind control. Rationally it was not his fault, but those were his hands that lead to pain and bloodshed. Yusei became chocked up. "I'm sorry."

He walked away from her, not because he wanted to leave Akiza scared and alone, but because the mere sight of him seemed to cause her so much torment. Yusei did not want to put her through more than what he already had.

"Yus-Yusei."

What a dilemma.

The only person that could help Akiza recover after being assaulted was the same person that she had to avoid or risk experiencing flashbacks of that terrifying event. Her heart wanted Yusei to hold her and give her strength, but her fragile mind could not take looking at him just yet. They said that time would ultimately bring these two back together. After all, Yusei was Akiza's savior.