Big thanks to everyone for being so patient, I really appreciate it. I see that there might have been a little confusion about last chapter's title so please allow me to explain! This is a gift to Jade546, so I hope you enjoy it! I don't own rights to YuGiOh! 5Ds but I do own this FanFiction. Hope you enjoy!

At the Crossroads:

Backfire

Akiza fell onto her bed, her limbs spread-eagled and a large smile on her face. She had just finished taking a bath and was debating on heading down to the kitchen for a snack. A lone tear slipped down her cheek as a laugh came from downstairs. One of her hands rose and pressed against her trembling lips as more followed. Time seemed unfathomable as she looked back at all that had happened recently. Had it all been real? Her eyes fell to the foot of the bed, a familiar spot that Star and Bullet would be perched. They, of course, weren't there all because of…him. Despair filled her momentarily before it was replaced with calm anger. Karma is a delicate yet powerful mistress. "He better be ready," she whispered, drying her tears with a swipe of her hand. "because he won't even see me coming." She sat up as a knock sounded, the smile returning as Yusei poked his head in and asked if she was hungry.

"Great minds think alike." He chuckled, tossing her a coat. "We've eaten all through the leftovers and the pantry is empty, so let's go make a food run."

"Yay, shopping," she sighed, slipped on the heavy coat and the pair of Christian Louboutin Metrolisse boots her mother had gifted her. "there's that big snowstorm coming too so we better grab more than what you usually get. Oh, and I'll be getting them this time."

Yusei swiftly blocked the doorway as she attempted to enter the hallway. "Not a chance."

She rolled her eyes. "You're letting me stay in your place rent free, letting me use your heat and water, not mention eating your food. Can't I at least do something to pay you back?"

"Not necessary," he smiled, stepping forward to wrap a rosy hued scarf around her neck. Yusei was so engrossed with the task at hand that he didn't notice the slight twitch of her finger that caused a leather billfold to slip itself out of his pocket and disappear down the hallway. He did, however, blink in mild surprise when she stepped forward and placed a chaste kiss on his nose before slipping past him. "What was that for?" When he didn't receive an answer, he shook his head and followed her lead down the stairs. He was just locking the front door when a car pulled up, one he had seen Mr. Izinski travel in.

"You ready?" Akiza asked, appearing on his left as the driver opened the back passenger door. They swiftly entered, settled, and were on their way.

Meanwhile…

A dark figure reclined in a throne style chair, the wine red leather with gold accent buttons and threading cushioned them as they fixed their attention on the screens behind them. Multiple scenes were displayed, many of them past events that they knew well. Their eyes focused intently on every scene while committing every detail to memory despite already familiar with each. There was no scene playing that was not known to them.

A voice came from somewhere in the dark room as they brought one of the floating screens closer, asking if it was a wise choice to remove the chip so soon. "We had yet to learn anything of importance."

"The only reason you care next to nothing about the chip's true purpose is that you are far too nearsighted on your selfish gains," the figure in the chair responded, a smirk becoming visible in the screen's glow. "one of your better qualities."

"Still," a second shadowed figure approached and took a seat next to the first, this chair much simpler but by no means less comfortable. "sometimes you could use a little more action in your sad life."

An amused laugh filled the room. "Believe you me, you are providing more than enough entertainment for me." They replayed the footage recovered from the Security's database. "You are truly one twisted yet clever boy."

"How many times do I have to tell you that I'm no boy, old man?" the second growled, their arms crossing as they pulled up their own screen and the feeds from a familiar mansion appeared. "It's highly unlikely she'll return to her residence anytime soon, so I'm having them remove the surveillance later tonight. What say you on attempting to hack the Fudo estate?"

The first shook their head. "Do not underestimate Yusei Fudo." The second seemed to double take as the growl in their companion's voice. "He is much more than he seems, and you must tread carefully from this point on. Not only him but his friends as well. She has done well to surround herself with influential and powerful friends."

"They won't be around for long," the second scoffed, the screen changing to show a bustling government office. "including the father."

The large red chair turned towards the other as the first figure stiffened. Their companion was cunning, yes, but they lacked finesse. If any trace had been left anywhere, Security would have no trouble finding them and taking them in. "For the love of everything sacred, swear to me you left nothing behind." They relaxed when the other assured that they hadn't been as careless as they feared. "What plan have you put into motion?"

"Let's just say that the Senator will be more cautious of his actions from this point on," the second chuckled darkly. "and the braud won't be visiting her dear daughter anytime soon."

"Imbecile!" The first reeled on the second, a swipe of their hand knocking them to the floor. "Release her at once before I cut out your own heart and serve it to your father on a silver platter!"

The second picked themselves off the floor, wiping the trail of blood from the corner of their mouth. "Not bad for an old man. This is the only warning I'm going to give you though," they growled, returning to their seat while fixing their companion with a piercing look that would turn a lesser person to stone. "do that again and it won't be her friends that will suffer."

"Don't make promises you can't keep," the first chuckled, turning their attention back to the screens. "now release the mother before anyone notices. And be mindful to use hypnotism this time, we don't need a repetition of what happened with the delivery driver and his daughter."

"They were dealt with before Security could find out what happened," the second rolled their eyes, flashing a smirk as an image of their latest pawn covered in blood while holding their equally dead child. "but, yes, I have already arranged for one of the hench to remove her memories of the encounter." They dug into their pocket as a vibrating sound pierced the room, and a sick smile lit up their face as they glanced at the text ID. "Well, now, there's the special delivery we had ordered. It will be waiting for them back at the estate."

"Ah, yes," the first sighed almost blissfully. "I do hope she enjoys our little gift…"

Back with Yusei and Akiza…

A buzz from his pocket shifted Yusei's attention from Akiza's conversation with the coffee barista to his mobile. One of the camera's was triggered, catching a few minutes of footage and sent a copy to his mobile app. His brows furrowed slightly as he watched someone approach his front door, knock once, then deposit a box about the size of a crate on the doorstep. He hadn't ordered anything, but that didn't mean that she hadn't. Slipping the phone back into his pocket, he accepted the steaming cup that Akiza offered and asked if she had done any online shopping recently.

One of her eyebrows raised at his interesting question. "To be honest, I was thinking of exchanging a few items that I had received from the holidays, but I haven't done them yet." Her expression became one of confusion when he explained the footage. Understanding entered her eyes as his own tensed. "A trap, most likely."

"We can't avoid it forever." Yusei had a valid point, they had to return at some point. The groceries were already on their way there and they would need to properly store soon before anything spoiled. "When we get there, I want you to go through the back and I'll scan the contents before we open it."

She nodded, followed him back to the car, and sipped quietly at her coffee as they began the trek home. What could it possibly be? A bomb, maybe something from her home residence that he would send her reeling, or was it something more sinister? Cold sweat broke out across her body as they pulled up to the mansion. Speculation was just that, they would know soon enough.

Yusei directed the delivery van into the garage, so they could begin unloading while he was scanning the box. His expression was tense yes calm as the lasers traced every inch of the 4'x4' box. Mild surprise filled him when the results flashed across the screen, recordings of a heat signature present. Kneeling, his fingers worked the clasp and opened the top just enough for him to peer inside. He firmly closed the box up then darted inside as the van departed. His movements were slow and careful as he shed his coat and entered the living room.

"So?" Akiza poked her head into the living room, groceries all put away and her coat hanging over her arm. "Is it safe?" Worry filled her when he cast her an almost incredulous look. "What?" She approached when he waved her over and prompted her to open the box herself. With trembling hands, she undid the clasp and felt her chest convulse as she was showered with rose petals.

"Not quite." Yusei murmured, raising a folded piece of paper that the feline whad been sitting atop of. "Seems that he's trying a different approach."

She glanced at the paper and felt her insides grow cold as she read:

"The rose that I seek embodies strength and beauty, none in the world shall suffice.

The rose shines from a garden of weeds, it's color nearly hidden in the mass of thorns.

Not even the twinkling of stars can keep me from what is mine."

At the very bottom of the poem was a handwritten note: "Thought you could use something to cuddle with at night. I know how much you miss your other felines, so consider this one a gift from me. Isn't he just divine?"

Her attention shifted to the box as a mew was heard and carefully lifted a pitch black kitten from the rose petal filled box. "Hello, there," she whispered, cradling it as it began to tremble. An expression of horror crossed her features as she noticed the familiar hues of the petals now littering the living room. "it's alright, now, no one can hurt you now."

"Akiza?" Yusei quickly moved the box as her knees began to wobble, his hands steadying her as she plopped down onto the couch next to him.

"My garden…he destroyed my garden and sent me the petals…" Her voice cracked as the voice from the phone rang in her head. "and I don't know how, but I heard his voice that night Darwin took me to that house…the one responsible for the removal of the chip…" Yusei collected her in his arms as she began to tremble, worry filling him as tears began to stream down her face. "While I was there, someone called on the phone…I knew the voice the second they began to talk but it was as if the room spun the longer they spoke…"

He tightened his hold gently as the black feline jumped down from her arms and began to explore. She hadn't yet told him of what had happened in the house but it went unsaid that something unspeakable happened. Yusei whispered comfortingly in her ear, reminding her to take deep breaths as she clung to him. Not another word was spoken between the two as they simply fixated on the note, their eyes moving to the kitten every so often before moving back to the paper that had fallen to the floor. Darwin wasn't working alone, perhaps he never had been, who knows. The last they had seen of him was when he was swallowed by the Earthbound Immortal Ccarayhua. "So he's back," Yusei's eyes narrowed as the kitten looked up at them, mewing softly. "Sayer…"

Dun-dun-duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun