Welcome back to the adventures of 5Ds! I hope you are staying safe and sound. No new news from the UK, our lockdown isn't letting up anytime soon and I'm starting to get bored, even with this writing to do.

In this chapter, we're going to focus on Daiki and his mission. Hope you enjoy and please do feel free to leave your thoughts on the chapter!

Chapter 23: Operation Black Rose

Title Song: Step into the Light - Kamikaze Kitty/HDSoundi

Parking his runner outside the massive skyscraper, Daiki looked up at the Arcadia Movement headquarters. Just as flashy as I remember… now… how to get in… He thought.

His answer came when he saw a window washing unit on the ground floor. "Well… that'll do me just fine," He muttered. Stepping into the small elevator, he began to lift it up, using the controls in front of him.

I just need to hope she'll listen. Daiki thought.

Inside the building, Akiza was sat in her room. This was the one place in the Movement she had to herself. She had tried to relax herself with tending to her flowers, but her mind was still going over what Daiki, and then Yusei, had said to her.

She glanced down at her arm, where her mark was now permanently present. This mark had first appeared when she had her first proper duel. That was the day her psychic powers had appeared, and she had hurt her father. This caused them to fear her, and send her away.

Forget them Akiza… they are the true monsters. She thought. But what Yusei said… he said these marks… the one he, that girl Luna, Jack Atlas… they all had marks like mine, he said there's a reason, one that links us all together. Have they all had hardships like I did?

Then there was Daiki… he gave me a taste of my own medicine, both in his cards, and his powers. I never admit it, but that really did hurt, having fire and all his attacks cause real pain.

Is that what my opponents feel when I burn them? When I stab them with my thorns and thrash them with my brambles?

Her mind was filled with all these thoughts, it was proving to be too much for her. Usually Sayer handled the hard thoughts, the hard choices for her, but now…

Daiki grunted as he worked through the vents. He had ridden the washer unit up until he found a ventilation duct, which he had climbed in, not before sending the unit back down with a button press as he left the machine.

He had to sneak in and grab a disguise, as his outfit would be too obvious. Fortunately, his hair colour could pass as belonging to others, but he would still need to conceal his mark.

Daiki paused, coming to an interior vent, glancing through, he saw he was in the dorm sector. That was good. His eye spotted a sign, which indicated he was on floor 23. Sayer's office was at the top, and Akiza was on the same floor as his old room. He had taken his door key with him, so if he could get in, he could change into his AM robe.

His and Akiza's floor was on floor 25, Sayer's office on floor 35, the top. He had to climb two floors before someone detected him.

I'll get out here and sneak up that way… climbing a vertical vent is not possible. Daiki thought. Carefully lifting the grate, he slid out, the vent closing behind him like nothing happened.

Stealthily, he crept up two flights of stairs, having to take cover when someone came down from a higher floor onto the 24th floor. Floor 25, perfect. Let's hope my key still works. Daiki thought, swiping his key card. The door slid open with no resistance.

Daiki stepped in and closed it. He sighed upon seeing his boring room. A bed in the corner, a dresser at the foot of the bed, a desk across from the head of the bed.

"Just as basic as I remember…" Daiki sighed.

He quickly put on his robes over his clothes, opting for some gloves for hiding his mark.

I always hated these robes, so itchy. He left the room stealthily, then acted like one of the other mindless drones in the Movement, walking over to Akiza's room. He knocked.

The door opened, "Can I help you?" Daiki hid his expression, but he was elated to see her unharmed.

"Sorry to bother you, may I come in, the matters I need to speak with you are rather… secretive," Daiki said, nailing the flat tone he had heard some of the others speak in.

"But who are you?" Akiza asked. "Sayer does know about this visit?"

"No, but that's part of the reason I'd like to speak with you," Daiki said.

Akiza was clearly thinking about how odd this was, but nodded. "Anything odd and I will hurt you."

"I'm kinda hoping you won't," Daiki said, revealing himself properly.

"Daiki?!" Akiza gasped, and the Naturia duelist was relieved the door was shut.

"It's me," Daiki nodded.

"What are you doing here?" Akiza asked.

I'm thrilled she isn't running straight to Sayer, it means I may have a chance… Daiki thought. "I've come to talk to you, I know the risks, but to see you again Akiza, I'd take them and more."

"Does it have something to do with this?" Akiza rolled up her sleeve. Her dragon claw mark engraved there.

"It does. I need to tell you what I know about a legend behind that mark, it will help you decide what you want to do with it. Afterwards, if you decide to stay here, I will leave and you'll never see me again, but there's hope you'll think about this," Daiki said.

He began to tell her of what he knew about the Crimson Dragon, and it's battle, it's creation of five dragons to help it's power. He told her of the shadows, of the dark signers and their underworld masters that threatened the entire world. Finally, he told her of the Star Guardians role in this, how they were often chosen to help the Signers on their journeys and back them up in dire times of need.

"You remember the vision we were given in the duel between Jack and Yusei, right? That's our future, if we choose to ignore the warning the Crimson Dragon gave us.

"Now, I understand if you want to ignore this and report me to Sayer," Daiki said, "But… if there's a shred within you that knows that this mark may have a deeper purpose, you'll come with me."

Akiza was deep in thought. "I need time to think it through. I promise that I'll inform you of my decision before anything else. How can I reach you?"

"I snuck in and got into my room, I'll hear for your old knock if you have an answer," Daiki said.

"Daiki, you will always impress me with how intelligent you are," Akiza smirked.

Daiki was about to smirk back when his eyes closed. A premonition? Now? He asked himself.

A red duel runner and a black runner racing through parallel purple fire. A giant with blue lines across it's body. A silver shimmering dragon. A dragon with many eyes covering it's body. A red runner spiralling out of control.

A black lizard with green lines and a giant bird with yellow lines bashing an unmarked building. A sharply dressed man falling from above.

Opening his eyes, he panted. What was that? He thought.

"Daiki?" Akiza asked.

"I'm ok. Just my foresight giving me a look into the future again," Daiki sighed.

"Foresight?" She asked.

"Right, I can see events that will happen. I can't change them; they are set in stone. If it's in a duel, I never see the entire field or hands of those playing. If it's a person, their faces are blurred out, but it was pretty easy to guess those I saw in that one," He nodded.

"What'd you see?" She asked.

"I saw Yusei duelling someone from the shadows. He was losing, bad. I also saw a tower being attacked by two massive monsters. Maybe it was a duel, maybe it was some other magic or power," Daiki mused.

He groaned. That was way shorter than the last one. He had seen the return of the Crimson Dragon, the winner of the Fortune Cup and other small details.

"You look like you could do with something to distract you," Akiza said. She held out her deck. "Want a quiet duel to change the mood?"

Daiki eyed the deck. The last time he had seen it in action, it was used at full power in his direction.

"Sure. You got a table?" He asked.

Akiza slid out her bedside dresser and sat on her bed. Daiki took the chair. "It's been a while since I last did a duel like this," the girl said, shuffling her deck.

"Same here. Well… I've been helping Emma and Kione, using endgames to help their thinking in duels, but not a proper duel," Daiki shrugged, cutting her deck as she did the same for him.

Daiki got the first turn thanks to rock/paper/scissors.

D: 4000
A: 4000

"I draw." Daiki examined his hand. Not bad, but let's start with caution. He thought. "I'll set a monster in defence mode, as well as setting this face-down," He said, beginning with the 'T set' play. "Your move."

"I draw," Akiza said. "I summon the Phoneixian Seed."

Phoenixian Seed – FIRE/Plant – Lvl 2 – (800/0).

"Then, by sending Phoenixian Seed to the grave, I can have it evolve into a true bird of prey. I can summon Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis from my hand." She replaced the first card with a second one, putting the first card in her grave.

Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis – FIRE/Plant – Lvl 8 – (2200/0).

Daiki whistled. "Always liked that card combo," He smiled.

"Now I'll attack your facedown with Amaryllis," Akiza said, tapping his monster.

Daiki flipped it up. "Nice try Akiza, but I know you like starting big. Naturia Dragonfly cannot be destroyed by a monster with more than 2000 attack points."

Naturia Dragonfly – EARTH/Insect – Lvl 4 – (1200/400).

"Nifty effect, don't you think?" He asked.

"That it is," Akiza nodded. She glanced at her hand. "I'll set this and end my turn."

Daiki smiled, drawing. "Hmm… I'll summon Naturia Pumpkin."

Naturia Pumpkin – EARTH/Plant – Lvl 4 – (1400/800).

"I'll activate it's effect. Since you have a monster out, I can call for some reinforcements from my hand. I'll choose Naturia Cherries."

Naturia Cherries – EARTH/Plant – Lvl 1 – (200/200).

"Now I'll tune Cherries with Pumpkin." Daiki said, putting the two monsters in the graveyard and reaching for his extra deck. "I'll save the chants for the real duels, not as dramatic here is it?"

"Go on, indulge me," Akiza giggled.

"Ancient spirits of the forest, primeval forces of the Earth, from these forces, this mighty hunter is awakened! Synchro Summon! Pounce, Naturia Beast!" Daiki chanted, dramatically slapping down the synchro monster onto the field.

Naturia Beast – EARTH/Beast – Lvl 5 – (2200/1700).

"Now I'll activate the spell, Leodrake's Mane. This causes Beast's attack to become 3000 until the end phase, however, his effect is negated for that time," Daiki said.

Naturia Beast – (3000/1700).

"Now I'll have him go for Amaryllis," Daiki said.

Akiza gave a small groan as she put the card aside. Daiki wrote the score down on a notepad.

D: 4000
A: 3200

"Not sure if you forgot this one, but when Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis is destroyed, you take 800 points of damage," Akiza said.

"Touché," Daiki acknowledged the hit to his lifepoints.

D: 3200
A: 3200

"I'll end my turn there," Daiki said. His beast returning to normal.

"Then it's my turn," Akiza said, drawing. "I'll summon Twilight Rose Knight," She said, placing the card she drew.

Twilight Rose Knight – DARK/Warrior – Lvl 3 – (1000/1000).

"In chain to the summoning of Twilight Rose Knight, I'll summon Naturia Cosmobeet. I can summon this little guy when you normal summon or set a monster," Daiki quickly interjected.

Naturia Cosmobeet – EARTH/Plant – Lvl 2 – (1000/700).

Akiza gave him a stare, silently hoping he wouldn't interrupt her turn anymore. "…And I'll use his effect to bolster my field with another level 4 or lower plant monster, such as Lonefire Blossom."

Lonefire Blossom – FIRE/Plant – Lvl 3 – (500/1400).

"Now I'll tune Twilight Rose Knight with Lonefire Blossom," Akiza said. "Hunter of splendid thorns hidden in the sacred forest, with your whip of punishment in hand, come forth now! Synchro Summon! Appear now, Splendid Rose!" She chanted, slapping down her own Snychro card.

Splendid Rose – EARTH/Plant – Lvl 6 – (2200/2000).

Daiki nodded. "She ties with Beast, what now?" He asked.

"I'm going to have Splendid Rose attack Naturia Beast," Akiza answered.

"Huh? Mutual destruction?" Daiki asked.

"That's right, I know Naturia Beast's effect. I don't really feel like allowing you to negate my spells," Akiza nodded.

"Well, I happen to like my Beast, so I'll activate my trap, Magical Cylinder," Daiki said.

Akiza scowled at the card. "I hate that card," She growled.

"Well, too bad," Daiki shrugged, updating the lifepoints.

D: 3200
A: 1000

"I'll set a face-down and end my turn," Akiza said, prompting Daiki to start his, drawing a card.

"Let me guess, synchro summoning into Landoise?" Asked Akiza.

"No, actually, far from it," Daiki said. "Naturia Cosmobeet, tune with Naturia Dragonfly." He said.

"Guardians of the forest, spirits of the Earth, harmonize and become an even greater force! Synchro Summon! Appear before me! Naturia Barkion!" Daiki summoned his second synchro monster.

Naturia Barkion – EARTH/Dragon – Lvl 6 – (2500/1800).

"Now, I activate the powerful spell known as-!" Daiki paused.

"What spell?" Akiza asked.

"Turn around. Look out your window," Daiki said. She obliged, and gasped.

There, in the sky above the Satellite, was a glowing purple mark. Daiki recognised it immediately. "Oh no…" He groaned, even as his grey star lit up, as did Akiza's claw. "It's begun for real. The first battle between a Signer and a Dark Signer. And if my mark is telling me this right… it's Yusei right in the middle of it."

Their duel forgotten, Daiki and Akiza stepped out onto the balcony. "I pray for your success Yusei Fudo, good luck," The Naturia duellist sighed.

Marcus: Well... that's probably not good.

Daiki: Well, considering where you are right now, I'd be safe to assume you're right.

Sarah: So, the war begins for real now, huh?

Daiki: That's right, let's just hope we have the decks to stop them.

Emma: If anyone can stop the baddies, it's Yusei and big bro!

Kione: And big sister too, don't forget about her!

All: Next time: A Giant Problem!