THE BROTHERHOOD HQ – CAPITAL – CANTIDEL EMPIRE – ARC-V
"You want to take Yukiya to Maiami City?" Reiji asked Sara who made just made the request.
After Sara entrusted the mission to go to the Duel Monster realm with Ifrit to Yuri and the others, Sara logged out of LINK VRAINS and approached Reiji, requesting that she is allowed to visit Maiami City with Yukiya and Reiji to be their escort. She had thought many things that perhaps can help Yukiya's condition. After much thinking, this was the only thing she think could possibly work. Maybe not, but it's worth a shot.
"I know that maybe this is too much to ask, especially it must be hard on you too right now. But, I can't think of anything else to help Yukiya. Please." Sara pleaded, bowing her head to Reiji.
Reiji was honestly surprised when Sara made the request. At the same time, however, he understood why she thought this could help Yukiya. Reiji might not show it, but he was as much as affected by Yuya's death. He thought, they could fight more properly as comrades now compared to last year where there were some distrusts in Yuya's part at first. Yuya had saved him more than Yuya himself had ever thought. It was thanks to Yuya he had stopped to try carry everything alone. He owed Yuya a lot, but he didn't get a chance to repay him. Now that Yuya was gone, he will forever regret for never be able to repay his debt.
But, once again being the leader of Lancers, Reiji must remain strong, especially when Reira was faring worse than him. She sobbed non-stop when she heard the news and it took everything Reiji has to calm her down. This was really the worst year. It wasn't long since his father was killed, now he lost his close comrade too. He was surprised himself that he still has in his heart the strength to stand straight and remain strong. This was a good thing. Yuya wouldn't want him to lose to despair. The only thing he could think he could make up to Yuya is to fulfil his wish; bringing back the peace to the world.
And then, Yukiya Kanbara. He had heard about Yukiya a lot from Yuya and the others. From what he heard, Yuya and Yukiya were very close. Seeing how Yukiya reacted after Yuya died, Reiji realized the extent of their friendship. Was it because of Yukiya was Zarc's reincarnation? Reiji didn't know, but it's clear that Yukiya needs help. A friend of Yuya is a comrade of his. He won't let Yukiya destroy himself. And this request came from the reincarnation of his older sister, Ray. This would also be a good opportunity for him to get to know her.
"Very well. I'll take you two there. I do think that we can help him this way." Reiji agreed.
"Thank you, Reiji-san." Sara thanked him.
"I'll inform the Oracle about this. Get Yukiya to be prepared." Reiji told her.
BRIDGE – MAIAMI CITY – ARC-V
Yukiya didn't know how many times has passed since that horrid night. It felt like forever, but it actually had only been several hours. Yukiya didn't really care either way. Many came, urging him to eat or sort, but Yukiya couldn't hear anything they say as nothing more but strings of nonsensical tune. The voice he wishes to hear never come no matter how much he waited. He just wanted to disappear. He wanted to disappear from the earth, then maybe he'll be at the place where Yuya is. Several times he had thought of jumping into the ravine, but yet something that he didn't know what it was always stopped him. Something just won't allow him to jump.
Now, when he realized it, he was already inside a car. Sara and Reiji were sitting by his side. He didn't know why they took him. He didn't pay attention to what they said when they dragged him from the ravine.
The car came to a stop. Carefully, Sara pulled him out from the car. Yukiya noticed that they were at a bridge. A long bridge where you can see the Maiami City Stadium. Yukiya remembered. Yuya mentioned it to him once about this bridge. He said that it was one of his favorite spots in Maiami City, especially when he needs some time alone.
"I usually like to sit there enjoying the view while thinking. It's a cool view. You'll like it."
Yukiya remembered Yuya describing this bridge so enthusiastically when he asked about his hometown. Yuya promised to show him around if they go to Maiami City together after the war. An unfulfilled promise.
"Yukiya, do you remember that dome?" Sara asked, pointing at the stadium, holding his hand in hers. At first, Yukiya was unresponsive, only staring at the said dome. But after a few seconds, he spoke.
"The Maiami Stadium. That's where the Maiami Championship was held. Where Yuya became a Duel Champion." Yukiya answered. He remembered the glimpses of Zarc's memories that he had seen. How Yuya was so happy to win the championship and how Zarc's soul finally found peace.
"By saving Zarc's soul, he saved everyone. At that time, his Dueling reached everyone's heart." Sara added before taking Yukiya back to the car.
"And you'll see more about Yuya from now on." She said, pushing Yukiya back into the car where Reiji and the driver were waiting for them.
YOU SHOW DUEL SCHOOL – MAIAMI CITY – ARC-V
Next, Yukiya found himself in front of a Duel School called You Show Duel School. Yukiya remembered this place too from Yuya's story. It was the school built by Yuya's father and where he learned Entertainment Dueling. Yuya also mentioned that after the war, it became bigger and gained more students than ever before, especially after Yuya became a Duel Champion and his father, Yusho Sakaki, returned to teach at the school.
"It's still lost to LDS when it comes to a number of students, but one day I'll make it a number one Duel School in Maiami City!"
Yukiya could still see Yuya's bright face when he declared so. He couldn't help but chuckle when Yuya so cheerfully said he will make his Duel School the top place where Duelists can smile. It was very endearing, and Yukiya didn't find it so far-fetched. Yuya did have what it took to make that come true. In the past that is. Now, it was impossible, since he was dead.
"Look! It's Big Bro Yuya and Big Sis Yuzu!"
A girl with short red hair was pointing at them. She was in the middle of dueling with other students, which was stopped the moment she noticed them. Soon, they were swarmed by dozens of students who were so enthusiastic to greet them. Anything that Sara tried to say was engulfed in the children's cheers. Fortunately, someone came to disperse the crowds. Yukiya recognized him as Yuya's father, Yusho Sakaki.
"Calm down, children. They may look alike, but they're not Yuya and Yuzu." Yusho told them, earning surprised looks from the children.
"It's been a while, Yukiya-kun, Sara-chan. The last time we met was during Yuno and Celica's wedding, right?" Yusho greeted them happily.
"It's been a while, Yusho-san. Sorry for the sudden visit." Sara greeted back while Yukiya looked down.
"Yuya is not with you?" Yusho asked, expecting to see his son with them, but was surprised to see Reiji instead who bowed politely to the older man.
The mention of Yuya stiffened Sara and Yukiya. As to not cause mass panic, Yuno and everyone agreed to keep Yuya's death a secret from the others, which included Yuya's own family and close friends who were in Maiami City. They have no doubt that they'll be angry once they found out, but they couldn't afford to take a risk.
"Yuya...is busy, so he can't come. Yukiya and I got a day off today, so we decided to come to visit because Yuya talked a lot about this school." Sara answered, trying her best to look natural.
"I see." Yusho stared at Sara and Yukiya, leaning more towards Yukiya who looked down, avoiding his eyes and looked down. Yusho sensed that there's something that they were hiding about his son. He would like to ask, but seeing Yukiya, he didn't have the heart to do so. Seeing the boy, made him remember the time when Yuya was depressed. And it was something serious.
"Come in. I'll show you around the school." Yusho urged the two to enter while telling the rest of the students to continue their classes.
All the while Yusho was explaining about You Show Duel School, Yukiya was half-hearing his explanation. His thoughts were drifting between the explanation and wondering Yuya's activities while attending this school. He stopped his track when he passed one of the fields. This made Yusho and Sara stopped as well.
"That field..." Yukiya uttered while looking at the Field behind the glass. The field that resembled a circus stage.
"Oh, that's Yuya's favorite Field. He dueled in that Field when he passed his Professional Test and became a Duel Champion." Yusho said, also looking at the field. He remembered how his son won over everyone's hearts with his Dueling. He remembered how proud he was of his son that time. Noticing how Yukiya's attention was fixated on the field, Yusho smiled.
"Let's go inside." Yusho escorted the two youths into the class so they can see the Field directly.
Yukiya remembered this Field too from a glimpse of Zarc's memories. He remembered the way Yuya jumped around the Field with the Four Heavenly Dragons, delivering his best performance yet. Yukiya wished he could see it directly. He wished he could experience it. But it was pointless now to wish something like that. The Field was still there, but there was nothing left of Yuya. It was meaningless if Yuya wasn't there with them.
They were interrupted again when the students who were practicing there also mistook them as Yuya and Yuzu. Again, the students stopped their practice to greet them. Fortunately, before they were swarmed, Yusho came in front of them to make it clear that they're not Yuya and Yuzu, earning a whine from the students who were disappointed they can't meet Yuya and Yuzu directly.
"Are they going to apply to this school then?" A female student asked.
"N-no. We're just looking around." Sara answered.
"Then you should apply! You'll have a lot of fun here!" A male student urged them cheerfully.
"Yeah! If you watched Yuya's Duel last year, you'd want to apply! Yuya was amazing!" He added.
As the students showered more praises for Yuya, the more he heard them, the more Yukiya thought of Yuya. Everything that the students said about the Entermate user was not an exaggeration. They were right about what they said about Yuya. It was painful. Because it kept reminding him how Yuya was not here with them anymore.
"Excuse me. I need to get out for a bit." Yukiya abruptly ran out of the room, leaving the bewildered student. Unbeknownst to him, however, Yusho chase after him.
Yukiya kept running until he was outside, at the empty field where there was no one but himself. He leaned to the wall and pulled his knees to him. He really couldn't take this anymore. He shouldn't have come here. It was too painful for him to feel it. What was the point anyway? What is Sara and Reiji were trying to show him? He couldn't understand. He didn't want to understand.
"Won't you talk to me?"
Yukiya gasped when he felt a hand ruffling his head. He looked up and faced Yusho who was smiling down at him. Then, without waiting for an answer, Yusho sat down next to him, hand still patting his head.
"I won't ask for detail, but something happened to Yuya, isn't it?" Yusho asked softly.
"I'm...sorry... It's my...fault..." Yukiya's lips quivered, avoiding Yusho's eyes once more.
"If Yuya is here, I don't think he will blame you. He talked a lot about you, Yukiya-kun." Yusho thanked the silver haired boy.
"Around four years ago, when ARC-V is still separated into four dimensions, I went to Fusion Dimension without saying anything to anyone, including Yuya. It was at the same time as an important match. As the result, I lost by default and Yuya was bullied by people as a son of a coward." Yusho started speaking, telling his story. He didn't know what exactly happened to Yuya, though he has a bit inkling as to what happened, which he hoped won't come true.
"But even so, Yuya kept believing in me. He took on Strong Ishijima whom I was supposed to Duel to clear my name and our school's name. He succeeded. Thanks to that, our school is able to grow and become the way it is now." Yusho continued, recalling the events that led up to this point.
"Even though I'm not here, Yuya continued my teaching, making sure that the Entertainment Dueling I started, won't die. Seeing him worked so hard, once I am back, I decided to do the same for this school together with my son. We will make sure our teachings, our belief, will be passed down to the next generations." Both Yusho and Yuya knew that they won't live forever in this world. Every people will eventually reach their ends. But before that happens, they will make sure their legacy will stay alive, hoping it will bring more smiles to the future generations even after they were gone.
"That way, even if we're not here anymore, our legacy will still be remembered. It will continue to live on with the new generation, giving hope and happiness to them. That will be the proof of our existence. That everything we have worked hard for was not meaningless." Yusho actually wasn't sure himself if telling Yukiya this would help him. Something inside him just strongly urged him to make this clear to Yukiya. This boy who was a close friend of his son.
"Thank you for becoming Yuya's friend, Yukiya-kun. Please, continue to be his friend." Yusho gave Yukiya one last pat on his head before gently pulling the boy up, escorting him back to where Sara was waiting for them.
Yusho's words, struck Yukiya hard. It didn't feel like he hadn't heard it before. It felt familiar. Then, he saw the students he passed by who all were practicing. The way they passionately practicing Entertainment Dueling, was similar how Yuya dueled every time to give happiness to people around him.
MEMORIAL – COLISSEUM OF THE STAR – MAIAMI CITY – ARC-V
Sara told Yukiya that the next place they will visit will be the last before they return to Cantidel. Yukiya's eyes quickly stuck at the monument stood in front of him. How could he forget about it, he always dreamt of this place. It was the place where Zarc and Ray dueled Yuya and Yuzu for the first and the last time before they passed on and reincarnated as Sara and himself. The best Duel that Zarc and Ray ever had.
"I heard that Yuya and the others came to this place every once a month to pay their respect to Zarc and Ray. This monument was built in their honor, so no one would forget what happened. Before I brought you here, I asked Yuri about Zarc." Sara explained. Before she decided to take Yukiya to Maiami City, she asked Yuri more about Yuya and Zarc. She thought it's important and might mean something to Yukiya. And hearing Yuri's story, she knew it will be.
"You see, Yuya was really attached to Zarc. That's why, when he first met you, he was delighted because he thought he could start over again with Zarc. But then, Yuya realized that you're not Zarc, you are your own person." Sara started telling what she knew from Yuri. Yukiya didn't say anything, though in his mind he replied that he already knew about that.
"But even so, it wasn't easy for Yuya, because he was afraid that if does, he might forget about Zarc. He might forget about his origin, forget everything they have went through. That there will be nothing left if he forget about him." Sara continued, to which Yukiya, again, replied in his mind that he knew.
"But then, Yuya eventually realized that wasn't the case. Letting go doesn't mean he'll forget. He realized that Zarc has left many things, and still continue living within us." Sara said, and this caught Yukiya's attention.
"What?" Yukiya asked in confusion.
"Yuya has learned a lot from Zarc. What he learned from Zarc, Yuya always keeps it in his mind as to not repeating the same tragedy again. From the very beginning, his desire to make people happy, it was originated from Zarc before he made it his own. And then there's also Pendulum Summoning. Zarc may no longer here, but he still continues to give Yuya and the others the push they needed through what he taught them." For the first time, Sara looked at Yukiya again. She held his hand again gently in hers and smiled.
"The same also goes for Yuya. He may not be here with us anymore, but do you really think there's nothing left of him?" Sara asked Yukiya, as if knowing that Yukiya actually has already found his answer. She stayed silent as Yukiya was thinking.
Yukiya remembered the time when they visited You Show Duel School. Those students were there because they admired and inspired by Yuya's Entertainment Dueling. And by practicing the teaching and belief that Yuya taught them, they will continue the same teaching and belief in Yuya's place once they became full-pledged Duelists. The Dueling that Yuya believed will be spread through them, giving people hope and happiness from now on to the future beyond them.
Not only them. Gongenzaka, Reiji, and every single one of his friends, they were all now not only fighting for the fate of the world, but also for Yuya's sake. Their hearts have been touched by Yuya, and they moved for his sake, continuing what Yuya has left for them. By doing so, they keep his memories alive.
Is there really nothing left of him?
No.
Is it really meaningless now that he is gone?
No.
Yuya has left many things that will always keep him alive in people's hearts, even without them realizing. The fact that they were moved by him is the proof that Yuya's efforts weren't meaningless.
He thought he was already tired of fighting. He should already be. But something kept pulling him back from falling. He wondered why, but now, maybe he finally found the answer.
Because he hasn't given up and thrown everything away. There are still things that he can't abandon. There are still a lot of things that he must fight for.
For the first time, Yukiya could see and feel Sara's hand holding him. Slowly, he held her hand in return and stared at her.
"I...don't want to lose you too..." Yukiya told Sara, tears started to brimming.
That's right. If he let Apophis won, then everything that Yuya fought for would be meaningless. There will be nothing left of Yuya's legacy if Apophis destroyed the world. And most importantly, he will lose all the remaining friends and family that he still has by his side. Losing Yuya already gave him so much anguish. If he stayed silent, then he'll lose Sara and the others too.
He can't let that happen. He won't.
Yukiya brought one of Sara's hand to his face, her palm touching his cheek, and for the first time, Yukiya smiled at her.
"Maybe I'll be troubling you again in our struggles from now on, but will still watch over me?" Yukiya asked her, causing Sara to smile back in return.
"I'll always watch over you, Yukiya." Sara replied.
He has decided.
In Yuya's place, he will fight.
CAVE OF DESIRE – MILLIA – CANTIDEL EMPIRE – ARC-V
Yuzu didn't understand why she was here. She didn't even remember agreeing coming here. But here she is, standing in front of a big cave together with Celica and Johan by her side. The cave at first glance looked like an ordinary cave, but it gave a cold feeling to anyone who came near it. Celica said that they were at her hometown, but instead of going around the town, Celica brought her deep into the forest until they arrived at this cave.
"This is called Cave of Desire. It was said those who entered this cave will receive their greatest desire, but in exchange, none of them ever leave this cave once they stepped in." Celica explained and pushed Yuzu nearer to the cave.
"I'm giving you two options. Will you enter that cave and try your luck, or I will free you from your misery by erasing your memories of Yuya." Celica told Yuzu, showing a bottle that seemed to contain a medicine.
"By drinking this medicine, you'll lose most of your senses. While the medicine is still in effect, I will make you forget about Yuya through suggestions." Celica leaned the bottle closer to Yuzu's face. Yuzu stared at the bottle while thinking about Celica's options.
Forgetting about Yuya will free her from the pain. But if she did, that means she will also forget her feelings for him, his feelings for her, every moment they have shared, she'll forget them too. Those precious memories will disappear. Their love for each other will be gone, like it never happened. Like it was never there to begin with.
"Are you going to pretend it never happened?"
No.
"You're really Strong Yuzu."
"Hey, now! Enough with that nickname!"
"Sorry, sorry! But still...thank you."
"For what?"
"For everything you have done until now. You're always stronger than I do ever since we were children. When I was bullied you were always there to protect me. And even now, you're staying by my side despite the danger."
"Of course, silly. There's no way I can leave you."
"Yeah…that's what...I like about you…"
Yuzu ignored the medicine in front of her and slowly walked towards the cave. She will never forget Yuya. Never ever. If the cave can really give her as she desires true to its name, then she'll take it. Maybe, she'll find Yuya there. Maybe she can see him again at leJohan tried to stop her, but Celica blocked his path, shaking her head and gave him a firm stare. They watched silently until Yuzu went into the dark cave and nothing of her was seen.
"Celica-san, are you sure it's okay to let Yuzu go in there? What if she doesn't return?" Johan questioned worriedly. When Celica said that she might find a way to help Yuzu, he never thought it would be this. True, it might help, but the chances are close to 0.
"The fact that she refused to forget Yuya is enough to show that she is not a lost cause yet. What Yuzu needs right now is not words of comfort." Celica replied calmly. She could understand Yuzu's predicament, for once she had also once in her position and entered that cave.
"The only way for Yuzu to return to her path, is by facing herself."
NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW:
Desire, Illusion, Truth – Entering the Cave of Desire, Yuzu is faced with all of her memories shared with Yuya. At the same time, at the realm of Duel Monsters, Gongenzaka and Sora split up from the group to find the village where the Superheavy Samurai monsters lives and recruit the Monster necessary for Gongenzaka to overcome his Deck's weakness.
I've tried, but couldn't think up a good Duel for this chapter, so I decided not to include a Duel. But if I able to come up with it, then maybe I'll add it later. Maybe some of you have already tired with all the depressing chapter, but I promise things will get better soon. Please be patient.
Please don't forget to review this chapter!
