Fun Fact: The Battle Beast was forced to train with skunk apes. Like him, they were all trained to be ruthless, powerful duelists

Description: Yuri tries to help Serena, no matter the cost. Meanwhile, the Lancers investigate the Link Dimension.

Earlier that day, Serena and Yuri defeated the Doktor. They, along with the other Lancers, saved Academia, and the lives of its students. So Serena thought that she deserved to have a small cat nap in her room.

But when she woke up, she wasn't in her room. Instead, she found herself encased under a glass dome, looking down upon the ARC-V machine.

Guys, guys! Serena's mind cried out. Get over here!

Images of Ruri and Rin appeared before her, just outside of the glass. They both looked down to see the machine. Instantly, they understood the gravity of the situation.

What happened? Rin asked.

"I don't know!" Serena said. "I-I think someone captured us while I was sleeping."

Ruri twirled a piece of her hair with her finger. She looked down at the machine below,her eyes locked on it as she let horrible memories flood her mind.

This is bad, she said.

"Yeah, no shit," Serena said. "Maybe if I summon a monster with my Duel Disk-"

And our body will be squeezed and crushed, Rin told her. We need another plan.

Serena looked to her Duel Disk. She accessed her phone's contact list, then dialed the first number listed.

No rings. There were no connection bars.

"Shit!" she groaned. "What the heck? Really?!"

Maybe Reiji and the Professor ended up messing with the signal, Ruri offered. When they used that jammer?

Or the person who captured us made sure to disconnect us, Rin replied. We need to find a way out of here by ourselves.

Serena pressed her back against the glass. She raised a foot and kicked forward, repeatedly. Rin and Ruri could only watch as Serena pounded at the glass, trying to break free.

"Come on!" Serena said. "I need to get out of here. I need to get out of here."

Serena's kicked stopped when the doors to the room opened. She leaned forward and stared down at the person who entered the room and made their way towards ARC-V.

She pressed her hands and face against the glass to get a better look. There, typing at some sort of keyboard at the base of ARC-V, was Yuri.

"Yuri!" Serena screamed. She pounded on the glass dome as hard as she could, trying to grab her attention.

Yuri looked up from the screen. Upon seeing Serena, he egao'd and waved a hand to her.

"Let me out!" Serena cried.

"Not just yet!" Yuri told her. "Just wait a little bit longer!"

Of course it's him! Rin yelled. Serena, tell him how I'll kick his ass once we get out of here. I can take him on in a duel, or fist-fight.

Ruri nodded in agreement. Frankly, she was completely confident in Rin's ability to beat up Yuri. Or anyone, really; that girl was crazy-strong. She once caught Shun watching them, and she threw him across the room.

Good times. Good times...

"Why are you doing this?!" Serena shouted.

"What?!" Yuri responded. "I can't hear you!"

"WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!"

"WHAT?!"

"WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!"

Yuri chuckled. "Why are you shouting so much? I heard you the first time."

I hate him so much, Rin said. It's like- it's like flames...

"Why are you doing this, Yuri?" Serena asked.

From the side of my face. Just... they just burn everything...

"I'm going to tear you girls!" Yuri responded.

Serena's jaw dropped to the floor. "What?"

"I'm going to use the machine to break you guys down!" Yuri said gleefully. "And then, I'll re-assemble you again, with you as the main body."

"Why would you do that?!" Serena screeched. "You're- you're endangering us, and... Do you even think it'll work?!"

Yuri shrugged. "If it doesn't work, I'll just keep trying. I'll keep going and going, until you're the dominant personality."

He's insane! Ruri gasped. Holy Jesus, Serena. You need to make him stop, or we could all be killed!

Serena threw a fist against the glass.

"Calm down, Celery!" Yuri shouted. "Once I do this, you'll finally be free!"

"... What?"

"You'll be the dominant personality, so you can do what you want, whenever you want! You'll be free to live your life!"

Serena stopped her assault on the class. Yuri's words took the fight out of her. Yuri's words were like a punch to the gut for her.

"You'll never be trapped again!"

Serena clutched at her chest. She could feel her heart beat wildly in her chest. It was beating so fast, it almost hurt. The world around her seemed to slow down, and everyone but Yuri seemed to fade from sight.

Serena, are you okay? Ruri asked.

We need to get her out of here, Rin said. Serena, don't worry. We're going to get you out of here.

"Yuri..." Serena said.

Serena, stay with us!

He remembered... He remembered their talk from earlier. About how she felt, and... and...

"Yuri!" Serena shouted. "You... You're doing this because you care, right?"

Yuri nodded. "This is all for you, Serena."

Serena fell to her knees. She buried her blushing, egao-ing face in her hands, and she rocked her head from side to side.

This was so embarrassing, but sweet. Here was a boy who listened to what she said. Who came to save her. Who worked alongside her perfectly. Who was willing to kill her just to make her happ-

... Okay, she had to admit that the last point was horrifying.

"I don't want this, Yuri!" she called out.

Yuri just wagged his finger at her, then let out a confident little chuckle. "You're just saying that because the other girls will be mad at you for taking my offer. Don't worry; all the responsibility falls on me."

"I appreciate it, but I don't want to be torn apart and be remade!"

"Now try not to bother me. I need to figure out how this machine works, and it's already hard enough, having to listen to Yuya and the others arguing in my head!"

Damn it! said a frustrated Rin. Damn it, damn it!

So Yuri is doing this because he thinks it will make Serena happy... Ruri said quietly.

Because he's a psycho!

Because he understands how I feel, Serena thought.

... What?

He knows how I feel about being trapped, Serena explained. He's a psychopath, but his heart is in the right place this time.

Yuri doesn't have a heart.

He has a romantic's heart, Ruri said. If said romantic was also the leader of a suicide cult.

Serena looked back down on Yuri. "Hey! Yuri!"

Yuri looked up from the keyboard. This time, he seemed a little annoyed this time. He clearly wasn't happy about being interrupted once again.

"I don't want this!" Serena told him. "But I want something else from you!"

Yuri raised an eyebrow. "Eh?"

What are you doing, Serena? Ruri asked.

"I don't want to be the dominant personality!" she said. "I just want you!"

Yuri looked up to Serena, his cold eyes watching her. And for a good moment, he just stood there, silently studying Serena's face.

Ruri pinched the bridge of her nose. This can't be good.

"If you let me out now, we can go and spend some time together!" Serena continued. "You still need to buy me lunch, remember? Let's do that!"

... Actually, this might work.

Are you kidding?! Rin snapped. Ruri, this is insane!

But if seducing Yuri frees us, then what's the problem?

It's a problem because Serena is handing herself over to Yuri! That's like... offering yourself as a virgin sacrifice to a volcano!

Is it that bad, Rin? Really? ... I mean, yeah, it is, but-

Rin looked to Serena. Don't do this, Serena. I'd rather we be torn apart and forced to re-assemble for a lifetime, than to see you do this.

She put a hand through the glass and placed a hand on Serena's shoulder. Though the girls knew that Serena couldn't physically feel the touch, the contact was meant to convey the connection and feelings Rin had for her sister.

Don't do this, Serena, Rin said again. He's dangerous. He's a menace to you, and to everyone around you. He'll probably murder our teachers if it meant that you would never have homework.

He'd kill for me, Serena mused.

No, that's a bad thing!

If a bit romantic... Ruri said. It adds spice to a relationship, a danger. Like trying to make out with your boyfriend while your brother is in the other room.

Not helping, Ruri! Rin cried. Jeez, why am I the only one who thinks this is bad? This is atrocious, not romantic!

It could be both...

It's not!

"Fine!" said Yuri.

The girls stopped and looked down to him. Yuri stepped back to his keyboard and started typing something in.

"I'll free you, if that's what you really want," he said.

"... And a pirate ship," Serena added.

Wait, what? Rin asked.

"I also want you to get me a pirate ship, Yuri," Serena said.

Gautama Buddha, Serena! Rin barked. What the hell?!

"I always wanted to be a pirate. Free me, and get me a pirate ship."

Yuri sneered. "Funny you should say that, Serena. I just so happen to know where we can get a pirate ship."

The four boys stood before each other in the mindscape. In an empty void, under a spotlight, where nothing would distract them from their discussion.

Yuya, Yugo and Yuto all looked to Yuri, who was looking at them with a bored expression. He had his hands hidden behind his back, and he gently kicked at some non-existent dirt.

"Okay, so I did a few bad things in my life," Yuri began.

"Like murdering me," Yugo said.

"Carding our dad, along with dozens of other people," Yuya added.

"Trying to make us become one so we could become Zarc and destroy the world," Yuto included.

"Hunting down the girls and kidnapping two of them..." Yugo said.

"Okay, I got it, guys," Yuri groaned.

"... Then trying to do the same with the other two," Yuya added.

"Making me rifle through garbage for hours," Yuto added.

"Taking away my day with Rin," Yugo added.

"Writing erotic World War II-era stories about our mother," said Yuya.

"And stealing her underwear!"

"Pitting Yugo and Yuto against each other."

"Strangling Sora," Yuto added.

"You can all shut up at any time," Yuri insisted.

"What you did to that bird..."

"Pushing yourself down the stairs! And then making me take over the body, so I'm the one getting hurt!" Yugo added. "And then going on Twitter and tweeting about it!"

"My followers really grilled me for that one," Yuri sighed. "But regardless-"

"Overfeeding Core and pretending that he's been overeating because of depression," Yuto added.

"Training the pets to attack people on sight," Yuya said, counting with his fingers.

"Trying to convince Mom to punish you with spankings."

"Instigating race wars online," Yuto concluded.

"And at school!" Yugo added.

"Enough!" Yuri barked. "My point is, I changed. You know it, I know it. It'd undeniable that I've made progress and became a better, more caring person."

"So you'll be a nicer person now?" Yuto asked.

"Heavens, no!" Yuri chuckled. "I just thought about what you said; I could be alone if I attack everyone. So I'll just attack people I don't care about."

"Which is...?"

"Everyone who isn't you guys, Mom, or Serena," Yuri said. "And the other bracelet girls, since they're attached to Serena."

"It's a start!" Yuya exclaimed. "Yuri, make your brothers proud."

Yuri was caught off-guard by this. But... if he was being honest, it was nice seeing Yuya so accepting of him. He egao'd.

"Aww, hell," Yugo grumbled. "You're probably tricking us again, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt."

"I'll do you proud, little brother," Yuri said to him.

"Hey, I'm the same age as you! ... Probably"

Yuri looked to Yuto expectantly. He waited, just waited for him to show that same acceptance. But Yuto kept his arms crossed, and just stared at Yuri with a neutral expression.

"Look..." Yuri began. "I treated you worst of all-"

"You murdered me," Yugo corrected.

"... But Yuto, I've changed. I've learned. I..."

Yuri looked down at his feet. "I don't deserve your forgiveness, I suppose."

"Hey..." Yuto said.

Yuri immediately threw his head up. He could see that Yuto was egao-ing at him. It wasn't a wide grin, or anything too cheerful. It was a small, almost cautious egao.

"I won't forgive you just yet," Yuto told him. "But we'll work on it."

Yuri nodded. "You'll be there to make sure I don't fall off the evil wagon, yes?"

"Fine."

Yuri felt a hand slap his back. Yuya dragged him and Yuto up to him. Once they were pressed against him, he grabbed hold of Yugo's shirt and pulled him closer. With his brothers close, Yuya wrapped his arms around them.

"You guys are my best pals!" he said. "Including Yuri!"

Yuri was in his cabin. An enslaved Captain Solo was steering the ship. Crew members walked about the ship and performed their various duties. And Serena sat starboard, watching the waves of the sea.

She could see Yuzu appear beside her, in a chair. She was wearing a bathing suit and a sunhat, and her eyes were hidden behind large sunglasses. She sipped on the straw of her fruit drink.

"Where've you been?" Serena asked her.

Yuzu moved the straw away from her lips. I was on a mental vacation. Did I miss anything?

Serena frowned. "Did you ever."

How's school been?

"We only spent like a week at school," Serena explained. "It's a long story, but we're pirates now."

Oh. Okay.

Yuzu put the straw back in her mouth and returned to her sips. She leaned back in her chair and watched the waves roll by.

So, I'm going to go back on my vacation. Tell Yuya and everyone I said hi, and call me when things aren't weird.

"They're always going to be weird," Serena admitted. "But I kind of like that."

Jean-Michel Roget had lost. Over the course of a single day, weeks of planning fell apart. His most despised enemies were the ones to bring him down once again. He was literally stabbed in the back, and was now bound to a bed in the infirmary. Though it would be more appropriate to say that he was bound to a radiator by his bed, thanks to a pair of handcuffs.

Still, he was in a better place than his partner. The Doktor had been going through intensive examinations, due to some sort of brain trauma. Jean didn't know the details about what happened, but he frankly didn't care all that much.

Now, Jean was left to sit on his bed. With nothing else to, he had a choice: discuss things with the Lancers and the Professor, who had gathered in his room, or pretend to fall asleep and ignore them. Sadly, he couldn't stand people watching him while he pretended to sleep.

Reiji, Leo, Gongenzaka, Sora and Sawatari all stationed themselves at various places in the room. Sora was closest to him, taking up a seat right next to the radiator while he munched on a bar of chocolate.

"You better start talking, Roget," Leo told the man. "What is the Link Dimension like?"

Jean turned his head to the side. "And why should I tell you anything? I see no reason to help you people."

"Well, we can wait for the authorities to come and interrogate you."

"So I'll be arrested for my crimes?" Jean asked.

"Yes, of course."

Jean smiled. "And you'll be turning yourself in for your crimes, too, I presume?"

Leo turned his eyes away from Jean. With a small, strained sigh, he decided to take a step back and look out the window.

"You should talk to us," Gongenzaka said to Jean. "Please, Roget. You could be saving our world. Your world."

"My world is one where I'm the ruler," Jean said. "Not the one where I'm trapped in a school nurse's office. But at least you were merciful enough to tend to my wou- AAH!"

Sora had grabbed Jean's handcuffed arm and pushed it to the radiator. After being burned, Jean quickly recoiled his hand, as much as the handcuff's chain would allow.

"It tells us what we want to know, or else it gets the heat again," Sora explained.

"Stop saying that!"

"Tell us what we want to hear, Jean."

"No!"

Sora brought Jean's hand down on the radiator. Jean let out another scream of pain, which made Sora chuckle a bit.

"Sora, stop that!" Gongenzaka said.

"Yes, that's enough for now," Reiji added. "Keep doing it, and it won't be funny anymore."

"What?"

"Fine..." Sora said reluctantly.

Sora lifted Jean's hand off of the radiator. By now, Jean's hand had become swollen and red. A couple of blisters were forming around his palm.

"Hey, question," came Sawatari's voice.

Sawatari, who has spent this tme spinning around on a stool, leafed through the contents of a folder. He looked up from his reading to meet the looks of everyone in the room.

"It says here that the Doktor's got a son? Rudolpho?" he said. "We're not gonna have to worry about him coming for revenge, are we?"

"That won't be a concern," Leo said quietly.

Leo lowered his head. And for a moment, there was a dark silence in the room. No one spoke, though they could all tell that there was no need to elaborate on the matter.

Sawatari looked to Jean. Even he seemed to be lowering his head and avoiding the matter. And although Sawatari wanted answers, he figured it would be best not to push for them.

The silence was broken by Jean. "Hey, Reiji."

Reiji turned to look at him. "What is it?"

"I have a question, and I think you might be the one who can answer it."

Reiji's nod encouraged Jean to go on. Jean looked up to the ceiling, looking at something that wasn't there.

"When we were in the Synchro Dimension, I was about to throw us all into the void between worlds," Jean said. "But that obviously didn't end up happening."

"Probably because your calculations were wrong," Sawatari said. "You have a tendency to fail at things a lot."

"Ignoring that remark," Jean hissed. "I was sure I made the right calculations. I should have ended up in the void."

"But you ended up in the Link Dimension," Gongenzaka concluded.

Jean nodded.

"I don't get it," Sawatari said. "So you miscalculated? Or are you saying that the Link Dimension saved you? What?"

"Neither," Leo responded.

Jean nodded once more. "I knew that the coordinates were set to send us to the void. They should have sent us."

"Then why weren't you sent there?" Sawatari asked.

"Because maybe there was no void," Reiji answered.

Sawatari blinked. "I'm not lost, but I'm sure Gongenzaka is. So maybe you can break it down for him?"

"We're saying that the Link Dimension was placed where the void should have been," Jean explained.

"But how's that possible?" Sora asked.

Jean turned to look at Reiji. "That's what I wanted to know. The Link Dimension wasn't there when the calculations were made, or else it would have been recognized."

"It's just a theory," Reiji mused. "But I think I have a possible idea as to what's going on."

Everyone turned to face Reiji. Reiji looked over the group, his face showing conviction and confidence. It was clear that he had a lot of faith in what he was about to say.

"The Link Dimension was not Roget's target destination, so it wasn't there at the time," Reiji explained. "But after Jean was sucked through a wormhole, he ended up there."

"Are you saying that the wormhole changed his course?" Sawatari asked.

"No," Jean said. "The Link Dimension still exists where the void should be."

"I'm saying that the Link Dimension filled the void," Reiji added. "So the Link Dimension came into existence at that moment, or later."

"And that brings me to my main concern," Jean sighed. "Was I ever in the void? When was the Link Dimension created? How did I get to the Link Dimension?"

This time, it was Leo's turn to speak up. "If I may say something?"

All eyes on him now.

"When the Original Dimension collapsed, I was immediately sent to the Standard Dimension, without memory. It's possible that Jean was in the void, but cannot remember his time. Or that he didn't exist at all, and came back into existence when the Link Dimension existed."

"... Or that this isn't the real Jean, but a reincarnation?" Sawatari wondered.

"A possibility, yes."

"What could have created the Link Dimension, though?" Gongenzaka asked.

"To answer that question, we must ask ourselves something," Leo responded. "How were the other Dimensions created?"

"... Zarc."

"Zarc," Reiji stated. "It's possible that the dimension was created sometime after the pieces of Zarc were reunited. Jean, what do you think?"

"Well, I have an idea as to what happened to me," Jean said. "I'm satisfied in my answers."

"We answered your questions, so answer ours," Leo told him. "What can you tell us about the Link Dimension?"

Jean smiled. "And why do I have to help you figure out anything? As you may recall, I hate every single one of you?"

"Even me?" Sawatari asked.

"Yes, but less than I hate the others."

"Score."

Reiji pushed his glasses up. He made small, but very triumphant egao. "It doesn't matter if Jean will cooperate with us further. He has given us a lot of possibilities that can help us unravel the mystery of the Link Dimension."

"We can probe his memories later," Leo added. "Jean no longer needs to cooperate with us; we can simply root through his mind and take what we need."

Jean scoffed. "And you all think that I'm the villain here?"

Sora grabbed onto Jean's hand and forced it down on the radiator. Jean let out another scream of pain, while Sora laughed.

A/N: I kind of like writing about the dark undertones of the Yu boy/Bracelet girl dynamics. They care about each other so much, that they'll do whatever they can to keep them happy, or to be the one that catches their eye. They love each other, but they're very young. They suffered to be together, so they seek out attachment. And I'd like to cover their relationships more as we go on.

The original version of this chapter had Serena and Yuri call the police to arrest Leo, as he's a major war criminal. But I thought that was a little too mean-spirited, so I left that out. But you can pretend that they called the police on him later; I don't think Leo's going to appear in the main story anymore.

Now that the Fusion arc is done, I'll go on my usual hiatus. Expect some bonus chapters, which will hopefully include some legacy character duels. I posted some ideas on my Twitter, if you want to see what might be in store.

Next time: Now that Yuya and Yuzu have become a couple, they unleash their terror upon the world.