At Marquee

As the party comes closer to its end, Judai and Sho sat at a rounded table alongside Kenzen, Rei, and Fubuki. They were discussing about their schooldays during their time in Duel Academy. While Ryo and Yusuke were spending some time with their old classmates.

Others were stumbling and leaving the marquee to go home, clearly intoxicated after their crazy reunion party. Kenzen was extremely drunken but was still strong enough to have a conversation with his friends. Sho and Rei aren't drinkers, Fubuki prefers to not to get drunk if he's driving because he doesn't want to get involved in car accident, and Judai was happy to see his friends again to even think of drinking.

He chatted all night and everyone was so focused on him as he spoke of his adventures, even believed when he talked about his duel with Yugi Muto, and traveling to Venice and teaming up with him and a man from another timeline Yusei Fudo. Why shouldn't they belive in him? They had all seen so many wired and insane stuffs happening at Duel Academy, which has became the main topic for the five friends.

"I will always remember our first duel Judai-aniki, and when we use to chill at Slifer dorm together""

"Same here" Judai replied nervously

"Remeber our tag duel against Paradox Brothers?"

"Yeah, and since then your confidence began to improve and after that you start to work hard to become a great Duelist" Judai replied.

"Remeber when I was possesed by Darkness, I challenges you to a shadow game, and you were the one who saved me" Fubuki said.

"Yeah you were the first shadow rider to show up and challenge me, and I won't forget how Asuka dueled bravely against that creep Titan in order too get your memories back" Judai added

Rei began to ask Judai's duels before she enrolled to Duel Academy, since she joined by the end of his 2nd year, after the Genex tournament and during his climax battle against Saiou.

Judai began with his first encounter against Yugi, while he was rushing for his entrance exam, and how Yugi entrusted Winged Kuriboh to him.

"My first duel during the entrance exam was against Chronos-sensei". After telling about Yugi he told her, Kenzen, and Fubuki about his duel against Chronos.

Judai told them how Chronos used his Ancient Gear Golem against him, ruthlessly preventing him from enrolling to DA. But Judai managed to counter it by Fusion summoning Elemental Hero Flame Wingman.

Flashback shows Wingman bringing Chronos down, and Judai doing his Gotcha pose to him after defeating him.

Everyone laughed at the ending of the duel, thinking the comical look on Chronos's face upon his Golem's destruction.

"Man I honestly wish I was there to see you kicking Chronos's butt, Asuka and Ryo told me how awsome your duel against Chronos-sensei was." Fubuki told

"Aniki tell Kenzen and Rei of your battle against the Shadow Riders" Sho sugessted.

Judai told them how Samejima entrusted him, Ryo, Asuka, Chazz, Misawa, Chronos and Banner to became the seven gatekeepers.

He talked about Fubuki being the first Shadow Rider to challenge him while being possesed by Darkness, and flashbacks show how he tooked Sho and Chummley hostage. Fubuki didn't like listening to it since that also reminded him of Banner kidnaping and him and his dormmates and sending them to other Dimension, and how he struggled to use Darkness to survie.

Then he talked about Camula showing up and flashbacks show she defeat Chronos who was fighting to protect his students, and turned him into a doll, and how she targeted Ryo and use Sho as a hostage forcing the Kaiser to sacrifice his life and become a doll for Sho's safety. After that Judai managed to defeat the Vampire returning them back to normal.

"Aniki thats creepy let's move to another topic" Sho told him since he doesn't like to remeber the duel against the vampire.

Judai then talked about his and Misawa's battle against the amazoness Tania. Flashbacks show he, Banner, Sho, Asuka, Misawa and Chazz were attacked by her tiger when they went to her hideout, and how she targeted Misawa as her husband, and he fell for her in return, Then Judai has to defeat her in order bring Misawa back to his sense.

Back then Judai and Sho think Misawa falling for her was creepy, but now when they think about that battle and look back, they along with the others start laughing.

Judai then talked about his battle against Abdios, Chazz duel against Black Scropion and Asuka's duel against Titan. Flashback show Black Scropion goofing with Chazz and Ojama at his Slifer dorm bedroom following their duel, and Abdios honoring Judai for defeating him, and Asuka defeating Titan and reuniting with Fubuki.

And then Judai explained to them about his, Chazz, and Asuka's battle against Amnael and Fubuki didn't like to talk about him because he remebered losing a shadow game against Banner 9 years ago.

"Just cut that out Judai, I don't won't to talk about him, why don't we skip that and talk about your awsome battle against Kagemaru". Fubuki demanded, and even after all this year's he still couldn't forgive Banner for being responsible of his disappearance. Banner who was listening without Fubuki and others noticing feels guilty, but he didn't expect Fubuki and other victims to forgive him because their anger is justified.

"Oh yeah" said Judai, and as he told them, that memory came back to him

"Kagemaru had used the powers of the Sacred Beasts to make himself younger".

Flashback shows him using 3 monsters to outnumber Judai and wipe out his defences. Then Banner's card Philosopher's Stone-Sabatiel appeared to Judai and was used to multiply his Elemental Hero Electrum's Attack points by 5, defeating Kagemaru's stolen Sacred Beasts.

After that, Banner'a cards faded away and Judai murmured, "I will not forget you, Professor Banner". Clearly unknowing that Banner would later become one of Judai's travelling partners.

After that Judai gave the details on Kagemaru's return to old age.

"It was creepy" Sho said with goosebumps running down his arms.

"What happens?" asked Rei.

"I helped Kagemaru find the strength to stand out about"... Judai said proudly.

"Then broke his ribs!" teased Fubuki.

Kenzen, Sho, and Judai could not stop laughing. Rei remained attentive.

"What happens at the end of Genex tournament?" She asked. "That duel you had with that creepy man all in white".

"Saiou" Affirmed Judai, "That was tough"

And so Judai's memories revived again as he told of how Saiou was not his opponent in that duel, but the Light of Destruction itself.

Rei was shocked when Kenzen told of how he had became a dinosaur and with Neos destroyed the satellite that would have caused a terrible results.

Judai recalled his victory move

"If it hadn't been for Neos then"...he muttered

Flashback shows Judai smiling as he and the others looked up to see a plane carrying Mizuchi, Saiou's little sister.

"But that wasn't your worst experience". Said Rei, after a time I will never forget what Duel Monsters spirit did to us all"

Judai felt deep remorse here, even now as they all remembered how Yubel used Viper to set her free. How she trapped the entire school in another dimension, making the inhabitants into her zombies, how she kidnapped Johan, took hold of Marcel Bonaparte and how she lured Judai and his friends into an another worse dimension which caused many of them into being sent to the stars and forcing Judai into the darkness... making him becoming the Supreme King.

The Judai recalled Kaiser trying to snap him from his guilt, the latter's duel with Yubel and nearly dying of heart attack. He then remebered his duel with Yubel, first he fought to save Johan which he succeeded, but he and Yubel tied. She had set it up as she knew he's try to save him... He remebered it was a duel he was certain he couldn't win, but Sho helped him and he accepted Supreme King. Then he used the Power of Super Polymerization. The look of surprise on Yubel's face when Judai revealed he had found a way to control it and fuse himself with her, do she would never her alone.

Judai didn't have too clear a memory of this as he had passed out in the process of his and Yubel's fusion. Yubel'a spirit shed a tear as she would never forget that day. Her love, the Haou had fixed with her as well as Judai, and they are reunited...But she is also concerned at Judai's sadness of the absence of Asuka. But she also knew it was her love's sucessor who felt this way, not the King himself.

Casting those memories aside, Judai spoke of his duel with Darkness.

Judai was angered by the fact that Darkness has trapped all of his friends in Darkness and was really struggling to fight back and accept their failures. But all the same, he called to his friends to remeber the bonds they all shared and Sho, Kenzen, Rei, Fubuki and many others freed themselves from the World of Darkness that had blocked the sun, and ultimately defeat Darkness.

Judai looked at his friends. "At least we defeat that Darkness creep for good, through our bonds".

Sho, Fubuki, Kenzen, and Rei smiled in agreement and all five raised their glasses, toasting to that statement. And they spent the rest of that reunion talking of the days that had passed since their separation. Rei spoke about her dance academy and how she conducts her dance classes in New York. Now she came back to Domino to be with her family.

Kenzen spoke about his archeological ambition. Fubuki spoke about his university days and his reason for becoming an actor and model is to work with many hot chicks and his upcoming movie project where is chosen as the lead and expected to began filming next month. And Sho couldn't help but boast his and Ryo's dueling career. Judai smiled faintly at his friends new overconfident personality.

Eventually, they all grew tired and sleepy and decide to head back home to sleep. As they were about to leave they were reunited with Yusuke and Ryo at the main entrance who are about to leave as well.

The group had just left the marquee and are in the car parking area.

"That sure was a fun reunion, I got to meet with some old cute chicks from school after a long time, and most importantly it was nice to talk with you again Judai after a long time" Fubuki said as he was standing next to Yusuke which prompt him to roll his eyes towards the brunette.

"Same here Fubuki-san and next time when you talk with Asuka say hi to her on my my behalf" Judai told him cheerfully.

"Off course I will, and shall I drop you home? Asked Fubuki

"Well I..." Before Judai could finish Ryo completed the sentence for him "Judai will be coming with us, because Sho has invited him to stay at our place".

"I see, I guess it's just me and Yusuke" Fubuki replied.

"Yusuke you will be going with Fubuki-san?" Judai ask the seaweed haired man.

"Yes, we both are neighbours living in same apartment"

"Anyway I hope we will meet again one day" Yusuke said to Judai and group with a small smile. "Good night everyone" he added and then waved to them with before leaving.

"Same here take care you both" Ryo said to his best friends as he watched both the men leave and heading to the Fubuki's car leaving only him, Judai, Sho, Rei and Kenzen behind.

The group of 5 then headed to Ryo's car and he decide to drop Kenzen and Rei to their home despite not liking a drunken to enter his car. He was driving while Sho was sitting in passenger seat and backside was Judai, Kenzen and Rei,

Kenzen is completely drunken he could hardly stand let alone walk, so Judai and Sho helped him walk out of the marquee to Ryo's car and finally to his hotel which is near t Domino Plaza Marcquee.. After dropping Kenzen at his hotel Rei decide to separate herself from the boys and she asked Ryo to drop him to station, which is near to the Marquee. He was initially reluctant but she managed to convince him.

Ryo finally reached the station

"Thank you so much Ryo-sama for dropping me " She said.

"Your welcome" he replied back simply

"Goodbye Rei" Called Judai through the car window after he opened the car window. "Hope we'll meet again"

"Sure we will, Judai-sama" called back Rei, saying to them without turning around

Judai was happy Rei got rid of her crush towards him, but was slightly disappointed to see her becoming more distant.

After 20 min drive Ryo parked his car outside his apartment, after turning off his engine, the three men left the car and walked towards the apartment.

But as they walked away, the dark figure by the trees opposite to Marufuji's apartment watch them leaving the car and walking towards the apartment. The figure smirked evilly and faded away into the darkness of the woodland as a breeze of wind swept across the field.

It made Judai turned round and look in that direction, but as he saw nothing, no figure, no creature, he turned back round, but with a puzzeled expression in his face.

Notes

Sorry if it's disappointing to be a recap chapter, but I feel it fits with the high school reunion by looking back into the times before! So Judai is back with his friends and a mysterious figure.

Next chapter is going to be a Chazz's return, and will we learn about mysterious figure identity?.