Phantom's Requiem

Chapter 20

Serenade

"It's really me, Yuzu." Holding his friend closer, Yuya allowed her to sob into his shoulder.

"Yuya, Gongenzaka is..." Yuzu simply broke down, unable to finish.

"I know. Yuto and I will make Sergey pay for what he's done." Eyes watering and pupils donning an ominous red light, his face contorted into a snarl. As his features relaxed, he continued. "But for now, I want to forget everything. Let's just stay here for now."

"Yeah, I'd like that," she replied with a grin.

Looking at the picturesque scene before him, Yuto couldn't help but recall what life had been like before his home fell into ruin.

"C'mon! If we don't hurry, we'll be late! Tetsuo and the others are waiting!" He called to the other boys trailing behind him.

"I told you, we should've taken one of my shortcuts! We'd have already been there by now!" The auburn-haired one shot back.

"Are you serious, Shingetsu?! The last time we took one of your 'shortcuts,' we waded through a sewer, went through a junkyard, and a dog almost chased us!" He retorted, disbelievingly.

Shun merely sighed, saying, "Let's just go."

Before he could continue reminiscing about that day, however, the nightmare from earlier came back to haunt him in full force. He swore he could still recall that cold golden gaze. What truly unnerved him, though, was that in most of the dreams it was present in, he was staring at himself. He couldn't explain it, but that power-hungry stare shook him to the core.

"Yuya," he spoke, beginning to mentally communicate with his doppelganger.

"What's the matter, Yuto?" The other boy inquired.

"Have you had any strange dreams lately?"

"Strange dreams? What do you mean?"

"Recently, I've begun having nightmares. Normally, that wouldn't be anything out of the ordinary. I've barely had any proper sleep since the invasion. But these always have one detail in common."

"A detail?"

"Yes. They always involve..." He started before pausing.

"Yuto?" The tomato-head questioned.

He shook his head. "... No, it's nothing. Just forget I said anything. I shouldn't make you worry at a time like this."

"Yuto, talk to me," Yuya pleaded.

"I said 'forget it,'" he warned. "Regardless, you should wake Yuzu up. Her match should be starting soon. She's dueling Serena today, right?" Yuto advised, attempting to change the subject.

As much as Yuya wanted to press on, as he could see how much it was bothering his friend, he decided that it was best just to drop it for now. "I think so. After this, it'll be down to just six competitors. Us, Yugo, Shun, Shinji, the winner of this duel, and Sergey." The Sakaki boy's voice was coated with uncharacteristic, barely-restrained venom at the mention of Gongenzaka's killer. He then began to nudge his childhood friend, who had fallen asleep in his arms.

"Yuzu, it's time for your match with Serena," he said, softly.

Looking up at him with sorrow in her gaze, she began to speak. "I don't want to. We've been apart for so long, and I've missed you so much. All I want right now is to stay here with you."

"I know exactly how you feel. So, I'll promise you this. After this, we can spend as much time together as you want, okay?"

At that, her expression instantly brightened. "Okay. Well, wish me luck."

"Good luck. Just don't lose." He teased.

Leaving, she called back to him. "I won't!"

"That's good. She really hasn't changed," he smiled. "I was worried about Yuzu. She really does look the best when she smiles. Maybe you should try smiling a bit more often too, Yuto." He remarked, glancing at the other boy.

Yuzu took a deep breath as she pulled up to the starting line. This would be her first time dueling since they left the Standard Dimension. Gripping the handlebars tightly, she exhaled. It wasn't like her to be this nervous before a match.

"Hey, it's no use getting this shaken up ahead of time, you know." Serena must have noticed her trembling. Steeling her nerves, Yuzu's grip loosened, as the automized voice of the dueling AI rung out.

Action Field: Cross Over Accel

3... 2... 1... Acceleration!

"DUEL!" The two cried out in unison.

As they rounded the first corner, it became clear that Serena had the lead. "I'm going first!" She declared.

Turn 1: Serena

Serena LP/Hand: 4000/5

Yuzu LP/Hand: 4000/5

"I'll start by using the Spell Card, Polymerization! I fuse two Lunalight Black Sheep! Beasts lurking in jet-black darkness! Spiral into the moon's gravity and become a new power! Fusion Summon! Come to me! Beautiful beast that dances in the moonlight! Lunalight Cat Dancer!"

Lunalight Cat Dancer

Position: Attack Mode

ATK: 2400

DEF: 2000

Level 7

Materials: 2 "Lunalight" monsters

[Beast-Warrior / Fusion / Effect]

You can Tribute 1 "Lunalight" monster; this card can attack all monsters your opponent controls twice each, but they cannot be destroyed by the first battle.

"Both of my Black Sheep can be added to my hand from the Graveyard after being used as material for a Fusion Summon. I'll end my turn there."

Turn 2: Yuzu

Serena LP/Hand: 4000/4

Yuzu LP/Hand: 4000/5

"Everyone's counting on me to give it my all. I won't disappoint them. It's my turn!"

Chapter 20: END

Holy crap, that was a long time coming. So sorry about that. Hope this chapter made up for it, though. Anyways, we bring you your regularly scheduled Review Response Corner. It's gonna be a long one this time.

Ulrich362's Review (Chapter 19; March 25th, 2020): Chapter 19-B would be fine if you want to include it. Entirely up to you on that one. Moving onto this chapter... yikes that's just... wow. I don't even know what to say except wow in this case. Yuzu and Yuya are together... kind of. Still I have a feeling things are going to be much, much worse in the very near future. Oh, and as far as the outcome of the duel... fair enough, I guess that would be a reasonable way for things to work out. Not sure how much things are looking up though considering the nature of Yuto's nightmare among other things that are probably going to be happening soon. Interesting chapter, looking forward to the update.

1.) I take it that you liked it?

2.) Yeah, I wanted to continue the whole "Yuzu and Yuya reunited" thing in this chapter. How'd I do?

3.) Update's here. :)

Ulrich362's Review (Chapter 19-B; March 25th, 2020): ... You weren't kidding about the darker ending. Though, doesn't this go against previous chapters? Yuto and Yuya have been in contact so Yuto should know he's still alive... at least in one way and there's the other fact that Yuya both unconsciously took control and seems to be able to communicate with Yuto like when they built their decks. This Wass definitely a darker chapter but it feels like the other one would be more... canon to the fic? I don't know. Either way looking forward to the update.

Yeah, that's why I scrapped it. There were just too many plot holes that way. I sorta wanted a darker ending there, but I felt that if it compromised the integrity of the fic, it just wasn't worth it.

Slimslam's Review (Chapter 19; March 25th, 2020): no I mean there's someone other then me and you here can't you feel it Done And Done Bring On The Next once again another great chapter how much great chapter are going to make it's blowing our mines

1.) Now that you mention it, yeah.

2.) The next has been brought.

3.) Starting to crack already, eh?

Swiftwing101's Review (Chapter 3; May 17th, 2020): Wow! Great work, it isn't very often i find a genuinely good fan fic, keep it up

1.) Thanks!

2.) I'm trying.

Swiftwing101's Review (Chapter 6; May 17th, 2020): Wow, the ending to this has me interested, oh and just to clarify does yuto see yuri?

No, Yuto doesn't see Yuri at the end of this chapter.

Swiftwing101's Review (Chapter 7; May 17th, 2020): Wow great job!

Thanks!

Swiftwing101's Review (Chapter 8; May 17th, 2020): Lol I caught the joke

Sweetness! I was really hoping someone would get that one.

Swiftwing101's Review (Chapter 9; May 17th, 2020): Believe X Believe

Bi-bi-biri buddies!

Swiftwing101's Review (Chapter 10; May 17th, 2020): Im confused, you said that fusion might attack fusion... i

Did you mean syncro?

Yeah, that error has since been fixed. I actually went back and fixed all of the errors in the previous chapters I was able to spot during the time I was suffering from writers' block (AKA between last chapter and this one).

Swiftwing101's Review (Chapter 13; May 17th, 2020): Dan Dan Dan Dan Done Done Done Done

Yureru ma-ma-ma-mind!

Swiftwing101's Review (Chapter 14; May 17th, 2020): Surgey will feel my rath! gO Supreme King Dragon Swiftwing! (Lol) Slaughter him NOW for what he has done!

Hahaha. I love this.

Swiftwing101's Review (Chapter 20; May 17th, 2020): Wow, is there any more to either parts of the story? I'd love to see more

There are now!