Disclaimer: Yugi-Oh GX does not belong to me nor its characters or rights over the story.

Warn: This story may have heavy and uncomfortable themes/situations like use of drugs, violence, suicide, abuse, sexual harassment, intimate relations, rape, depression, trauma and bad language. If you do not like such, Do not read this.

presea221: Yeah, I think Ryo's idea of a talk is very different from what Rie has in mind, but just a cutesy part of their relationship XD, though he can be a lot more open and fearless in talks now with his change, compared to the old Ryo that would be clumsily wondering what to say. The idea here is that it should be a more realistic approach of a relationship and all its intimacies and not a fantasy, since I did establish the character like that too. We will get a couple more lemon scenes, but they'll be spread over chapters.

Thanks for reading the story, and do comment if you can think about something to say! We will be seeing Ryo's papa in this chapter!

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Chapter 20: Successor

Far away from the city, the man once known as Kaiser climbs to the top of a mountain, amidst the gelid winds and snow, he finds an old building composed with chinese architecture, the old dojo he used to attend to. His eyes narrow upon the sight, inciting memories inside him.

Ryo sees a distant scene from the past: his younger self is sitting on a chair that is too tall for him, his legs dangling from it as he looks enthusiastically at duel magazines. How old was he back then? Six, maybe seven? He can't fully remember.

On the background his mother plays with a toddler Shou and his vehicroid plushies, but the one who catches his attention is his father: a tall man, around middle of his thirties, about almost twice the height of his wife; well-built, teal hair, shorter than his son's, similar to Kaiba's; his bangs the same style as the older kid, divided in the middle, falling over his forehead; his eyes are sharp like Ryo's, but a greyish color instead of blue, a layer of frameless glasses giving a stern hint to his expression; his social long sleeved black shirt adorned with a tie in a dark-blue color, steadied by a metallic pin shaped like an "M", giving him a full business man look.

"Are you interested in dueling Ryo?" he questions, finally taking his eyes off the newspaper.

"Hm." he nods briskly, still enticed by all the images of the famous duelists and cards displayed fashionably on the pages "Don't you think it's very cool, you can do so many different decks and so many different strategies. It seems hard." His eyes sparkle with life.

His father watches him, a blank stare as his son rambles on about dueling for more than five minutes, until the kid seems to notice something on his own, his eyes glimmering in some sort of excitement.

"I want to be a pro duelist when I grow up, dad!"

"Aaaw, isn't he cute? He's been reading those duel magazines and watching duels on TV an awful lot lately… And he has those bright eyes and smiles while talking about it, he doesn't smile at anything else but dueling nowadays…" His mother fawns, taking the kiteroid plushie her other son offers her to play with while quickly switching the attention to the older one "Won't you want to take over papa's company when you grow up, Ryo-kun?"

"But dueling seems so great! There are so many different types of duelists too!"

A drop of sweat rolls down her face, she is starting to worry for the future of both the son and the company until her husband interrupts, a collected and unfazed tone:

"No. I don't mind if you don't want to inherit the family business, Ryo. However, if this is the career you want to pursue, then you'll need to pour your body and soul into it, regardless of what you do, you need to excel at it. This is why your name has 'excellence' in it."

A/N: The name Ryo is written with the kanji for "Excellence" in the original.

His father stands up, coming close and kneeling down to look him in the eyes, awaiting for an answer. Ryo is struck with those words for a moment, perhaps not fully understanding the depth of what his father said, but nodded with a smile.

"I will do my best!"

"If that is the case," he adjusts his glasses pushing the connective frame in the middle with his fingers, standing up "I can help you with that if you promise you won't be playing around, but take it seriously."

To see his father who always looked at him from above coming in front of him and kneeling down to meet his eye level was truly amusing. That was the first and only time he witnessed that.

"I promise!" he nods, still in half shock.

"Fine. I know someone that can help."

He has the impression a smile just flashed on his father's face, but it was so quick he isn't sure. Ryuu leaves the room for a moment, his wife's expression shows she is wondering what he is up to and is surprised herself, this is the first time he'd pay heed to the words of the kids so earnestly. Isn't he taking it too seriously?

"I can't believe him, does he really think a child this young can decide what they want for life? Sheesh, that Ryuu…" she sighs in dismay, shaking her head off in disapproval.

It takes but a few minutes until he comes back, taking the dapper grey suit hanging over the chair and dressing it while nonchalantly announcing:

"Ryo, from next year on, you'll be going to a certain dojo of an acquaintance to learn how to duel during all your summer and winter breaks." he fastens the buttons and adjusts it on his body.

"What?!" his wife exclaims, taking the young Shou in her arms and coming closer in a hurry, an air of disbelief in her voice "W-what do you mean, Ryuu?! Are you serious? Did you just enroll him in some strange place…?"

"It's not a strange place, I know the owner very well, since school times. I already set everything up, you don't need to worry Eri, it will be like camping, but he'll need to work hard to learn everything there to be a duelist."

"Really?" a smile of joy opens his lips wide, his eyes wavering in excitement.

"Hmm. Dear, can we talk for a minute?" she interrupts again, more sweat trickling down her face. "You're sure about sending a kid this young to a dojo?"

"Why not? If he wants to be a professional duelist, the earlier he learns, the better for his future." he briefly pats Ryo's head, looking at the wife again "Well, if you have any complaints, we can discuss it later, I have to go to work for now."

He turns around, she gasps with his skill in avoiding the discussion as he leaves through the main door. A heavy sight blowing out of her lips, frowning and muttering annoyed words in a low tone at the husband for deciding things so casually like that until the young boy on her arms tugs her clothes, putting one finger to his lips.

"Mommy, I'm hungry." He says in between munching of his finger.

"Ah right, I'm sorry Shou-chan, we will have breakfast now, don't nibble on your finger, sweetie. Ryo, come, we need to prepare for school." She frees one of her hands, accommodating the younger son on only a single arm, and grabs one of Ryo's hands, taking them both to the kitchen table.

After that days, as his father told him, he started frequenting the very same dojo he sees in front of him, thanks to that, he was able to learn dueling, and given a few years, he is chosen by the Cyber End Dragon, everything from there on consists of mastering his deck to the core, until he is able to stand proudly as a duelist.

He jeers at the memory, to think his path would lead him back here after so many years away. His feet step into the building, his footsteps the only sound echoing in the air, amidst the strong snowfall storming outside.

The inside of the facility is kept in good condition, but it's empty. Only one person stands there, the one who was once his master and also the current principal of the duel academy.

"Principal Samejima, no… I should call you 'master' Samejima."

"Ryo, you came."

He greets with a smile, his eyes don't see the man ahead, fully dressed in black, but a distant memory of a boy who once learned under his supervision. A boy full of dreams and an outstanding dedication for a child his age.

"You know you are the rightful successor of the Cyber Style, that is why I called you here today."

"I didn't come here to chat! I want the heritage of the Cyber Style, the Cyberdark deck."

"Ryo, that deck is sealed! It is said the reverse Cyberdarks should not be used along with the deck you already have,"

"If I win the duel, won't I inherit it anyways? I get to choose what to do with it once I have it."

"Fine, it is about time we decide if you will be the true successor!"

His conceited smirk worries the principal. He sees the young Ryo who was so dedicated to his training and respected his opponents more than anyone else, he was accepted by the Cyberdragons, and now an ominous dark ambition fills the heart of his beloved apprentice.

The duel is not as he expects, his disciple has far long surpassed him and by disrespecting his main monster, the Cyber End Dragon, he has a perfect victory. It's as if Ryo shed all the respect he had for the sake of victory. In dismay, there is nothing much left for him to do, the change in Ryo's heart is already too big.

"Here, take this."

He throws a medallion to the disciple, he grabs it without thinking too much and examines the object. The principal smiles faintly.

"I will be holding a tournament. A big one, international, one where pros and amateurs can duel alike. You should come too."

"I have no interest in those anymore. But I will think about it."

He remembers Rie mentioned this, so her sources were right. She indeed became a good investigative journalist. He ignores the plea of his former master to come back to his old self and stomps away from the place with his earned reward.

His glare is fully enthralled by the Cyberdark deck, a perilous glint to them as his smug smirk enlarges. Perhaps, he can test the powers of his new acquisition there, if there are interesting opponents.

A few days later

Rie stands on the large sidewalk in front of the complex of apartments in which Ryo lives, it's daylight, an unusual time for them to meet considering most of their free time was at night. She checks the phone in search of new messages, swaying herself forth and back anxiously, holding a bag with both hands and playing with it, until one message comes.

A smile sprouts on her face, but it gradually disappears as she reads the text, the sender was not who she was expecting, neither the content:

"Rie, we need to talk. Your father and I are truly concerned about your recent behavior. It is urgent, you can't ignore your family forever!"

With a pout and a glum expression, she erases that message, not giving it a second thought. Suddenly, a pair of hands wrap around her waist and pull her backwards, a soft plop as her back collides with his chest, his head bending over her shoulder as he takes a look at her cell phone screen.

"Were you waiting for someone's message?"

"Ryo we are in public!"

She scolds him quickly showing the text on her device, he lets go of her, a victorious and half cocky smirk on his face. He then turns around, casting a last glance back, as if indicating she should follow him, she tags behind, looking around to see if anyone was noticing.

"You shouldn't worry too much. Even if people did see, it's not like it's a crime to hug."

His words startle her, a raised brow is her answer to that. He was the first one to say it would be better if they kept quiet about their relationship, and now he doesn't care? It is so hard to figure him out at times.

She was the last to enter the apartment, closing the door behind her. As soon as she whirled around to talk, she was surprised as his lips smacked against hers, for a long, passionate kiss, her cheeks flushing as she corresponded to it.

A faint smile flashes on his lips when he breaks apart from her for a second, his expression indicating he is not done yet. Putting both hands on his chest, she fully blocks his advance, her hands trembling subtly in nervousness.

"Why did you want to meet me so early today?"

"Today. Ryo. Birthday."

Her eyes raise to take a look at his expression, he just blinks, an apathetic face as if he doesn't care in the least about it. His eyes are led to the bag she has been holding, until she responds.

"Later!"

She sets it aside, sighing deeply, stepping back and raking through her purse until she finds the object she wanted: a blue gift box closed with a white ribbon.

"I am grateful for this, but if you'd ask me I'd prefer something else as a gift for my birthday." his hand slides on her face, caressing it, the touch makes her jolt at the suggestive smirk he displays.

"Can you at least check what it is?" she fumbles her fingers across the keyboard of the device to type that.

She hears his muffled laugh as his hand leaves but a lingering warmth on her face, occupying itself with undoing the ribbon and opening the package. The interior of the box is covered with a dark-blue handkerchief wrapping something else, he unfolds it to find a small card inside.

"I couldn't decide which one to give you, they're both small, so I just took them both." the bright text draws his eyes.

The handkerchief has his initials sewed in white line onto it, a cute Cyberdragon also sewed carefully beside his initials, and the card is some sort of fancy invitation to a restaurant, he doesn't sketch much of a reaction, leaving her discouraged.

"Are you asking me out for dinner?"

"I just thought… It would be nice to go out sometimes too and not just stay indoors." she fidgets while trying to explain, slightly abashed on how he worded it "I reserved a table in a VIP area, and I heard not many people go there at this time of the year, so it should be almost empty."

"It looks expensive, are you sure about this?"

"It's fine… I have my savings too and it's a special occasion, we're not doing this every day."

His lips curve upwards slightly, he strokes her hair gently, startling her for a moment, pulling her in an embrace.

"You know I'd be fine going anywhere with you, but what do we do in the meantime? Dinnertime is far away."

"I called you early because I also wanted to spend the day with you, I took a day off from work… About what we do… Well, there is something else I bought for us..." her cheeks blush at the mention, her glance cast back at the bag she had thrown somewhere earlier.

He slowly makes his way towards it and checks the content inside, gaping at it for a second and smirking at her with a sharp, seductive gaze.

"Mm, I think it will be great on you, but I am surprised you bought it as part of my gift. I guess you really know how to make a man happy."

He takes out of the bag a set of a light-blue lingerie composed by a bra together with a semi-transparent cloth dropping down like a dress and matching panties. She stomps angrily and steals the clothing from his hands, turning around ashamedly to hide it from him.

"Like I've said before, you don't need to worry, you're pretty in any color, Rie."

She complains in inaudible words while rushing to the bathroom to change, a few minutes later, she hesitantly opens the door, taking a peek out, only half of her figure appearing.

Ryo is sitting on the bed, still dressed, his coat tossed somewhere to the side, he watches the door of the bathroom intently as if waiting until she comes out. A smirk appearing on his lips as he teases:

"Are you not coming out? Should I maybe go and fetch you?"

The door is pushed away instantly with a thud as she nervously reveals herself, he appraises with his eyes as she hurriedly comes closer, flushing in embarrassment.

"Why don't you come here?" He opens his arms slightly, inviting her.

She calmly steps ahead, sitting on his lap, her legs around his waist, her knees reaching the soft bedsheets. He glances at her face from below, as if appraising it for a long moment, a smile on his lips as he looks up and down to her figure, is he happy? She can't quite guess his emotions properly now with the amount of heat accumulating on her head, almost regretting the purchase she made.

He initiates a kiss that derails into a bunch of neck kisses as his hands make way from the soft skin on legs to her upper body, under the clothing she wears, reaching her breasts and fondling it as she makes a trail of soft kisses on his nape and shoulder line, his eyes close to appreciate the moment.

Their start is interrupted when a sudden buzzing noise soars in the air, coming from the bed, she jolts and he also open his eyes in a flinch, letting out a low grunt of protest, lazily stretching his arm to the device that keeps buzzing and killing the mood.

His hand grabs a cellphone, his eyes barely check the screen displaying the caller as "Eri". Rie stares at him still lost in the situation, sitting there scared, her hand that caressed his back before are now recoiled near her chest, a surprised and half afraid tone on her expression.

"Who?" She gestures panicky.

"It's not important…" he growls under his breath, throwing the phone aside haphazardly and swiftly undressing his shirt and throwing it to the side "Let's just continue."

He smacks her lips on his before she can say anything else, his hands sliding through her body smoothly, even faster and more aggressively than before, asserting his impatience, he grabs her bottom on both sides and yanks her closer to his hips letting out an annoyed low grunt, she can feel the volume in his pants has increased more than just a bit. The proximity ensues a more than pleased shiver on her body as they start their passionate make out.

Through the glass windows of the seventh floor, where his apartment is located, across the street there is another building with sight to his, in one of the dark windows on that building, a man with a camera.

Normally, nothing would be seen, but he uses special lenses with a zoom scope and increases in the vision as much as possible, getting a good angle on them as they kiss and touch each other in a rather inadequate position, with a click, he starts taking pictures, many of them.

A heavy sight comes out of his lips, shaking off his head, feeling this is not his job while seeing the two youngsters completely unaware of his doings, yet he was hired to do it.

As for the two of them, their session doesn't end there, their touch becoming more rhythmic and the kisses more breathtaking, her hand slither on his back, his temperature rising to unforeseen amounts, his hands do the same for her, gliding under her dress up and down, until he grabs her backside as their kiss deepens, almost clutching it in between his fingers.

Their hips coming even closer if it was possible to make the distance shorter, his kisses going to her neck and his touch everywhere becoming stronger, he can feel as she twitches and heats up under all the caressing, his hips rocking against hers in instinct.

"Crap."

An angry and low growl coming out of his throat, his pants feel tight enough as it it, he can't control himself now, just as he is about to complain, she pushes him away, standing up as feverishly and undressing her panties impatiently, fumbling nervously while unzipping his pants, pulling it all together with his underwear and he is glad to help her with that kicking it as far away as possible.

Both of them stare at each other for a moment, their faces reddened, inebriated with all the sensations their bodies send to each other, she climbs on his lap again.

This time he introduces himself, letting a moan escape at the feeling, she would have moaned too from the way her mouth opened in reflex. His hands support and stroke her lower back as she bends back with the pleasure that fills all her veins as he slides deeper inside her with ease.

"Mmmn, Rie… You're so soft..."

He could swear the color on her cheeks went a shade up with his comment, but instead of rebuking as she'd usually do, she just pulls him closer, kissing passionately, making themselves out of breath between their movement, she slides up and down on him and he moves up, trying to be as deep inside as possible, but slowly, her whole body jolting at each time he does it, bending back, her breasts bouncing a bit at each time he thrusts.

Unable to just watch the sight, he recklessly grabs her chest on one hand and kisses the other one, hearing her breath getting stuck on her throat just inspires even more arousal on him, his lips letting out low moans, she pulls him closer to her chest.

The act continues, his delighted groans are the only sound heard, his eyes occupied between closing and observing all the signals her body sends and her expressions as they connect to each other and share their infatuation. Is this what happiness looks like?

Their speed slowly increases, to a point where the only sound in the room among his moans is that of them joining together as a rush of pleasure strikes them both at the same time, his grip on her accentuates, making sure her hips won't move a centimeter away from his, filling her with all his passion which she seems more than willing to accept.

She hugs him, bending over his shoulders, sinking her head there, wheezing, he also hugs her back, a firm grip, his breathing a bit more controlled than hers, closing his eyes to enjoy the pleasant amount of heat on her skin transferring to his own, rubbing his head on her silky hair and delivering short kisses on it.

They spend their whole time before dinner on the bed as he requests innumerous ways of enjoyment as he can think of before they're urged to stop by the time of the reservation at the restaurant.

Ryo taps his finger on his own arm, looking at the door of the bathroom, Rie comes out in a flash, swiftly putting on a pair of earrings, she is dressed in a short sleeved frilly white shirt, a dark-blue skirt and a pair of white pantyhose.

"What took you so long? The cab is already waiting outside."

"Don't complain now, someone was hogging me until the last minute!" she protests, curving her lips down.

"Well, I enjoyed that, did you not?"

Her reply is a visible flush. He is also dressed differently, it stuns her for a moment. He is not in his usual Hell Kaiser clothing, but a dark overcoat that seems very normal. An answer comes, as if he could read the question on her expression:

"What? You didn't think I'd waltz around in my work outfit, did you? Remember I am a public figure and I should try to keep my discretion when not going out for work."

They take a ride to the restaurant, welcomed at the door by a fancy waiter at the entrance that guides them to the reserved table on the tenth floor. The place is as fancy as the restaurant in the hotel where he used to have talks with his sponsor. The glass windows give sight not only to the buildings but to a lake and bridge on the horizon.

"Ryo. Thinking. What?"

"It's a very good place, though I'd be fine going anywhere with you."

"Flattery."

"I am not lying or trying to flatter you, I do enjoy your company. I said it before, didn't I...?" His hand comes over her cheek, his fingers brushing softly on it. "I love you."

Her skin acquires an even darker shade of red, her eyes open more, wavering struck in awe with those words and the tiny smile playing on his lips. His eyes are unfazed, but serene, as warm as his hand on her cheek. Her hand coats his, her face tilting slight, pressing against his palm.

"I lo..." her lips move on their own to form the sentence.

Before she has time to answer, the footsteps of the waiter invade the ambience, they both recoil to their seats, startled, taking their order. There is a short silence, his eyes transfixed on her face as she starts feeling awkward with the attention and asks what he is thinking about.

"Thank you for today Rie. I am happy to have spent this day with you, though the day is not over yet… I might have you dress your gift for me again."

She almost jumps on her seat with his smug tone. Although their conversation was mundane, Rie enjoyed that time too, with him being the one who surprisingly talked the most.

The night doesn't end there for them, after they are back she sleeps with him again, in his apartment, to leave the following morning, with a smile on her face.

He comes to the entrance to send her off, a smile on his lips as he touches her cheek again and carelessly kisses her lips ignoring they are outside the building under bright daylight, their tongues intertwining as she brings his face closer. This scene becomes another photo on the hands of the strange man that had been stalking and observing them.

He checks on the pictures, mumbling in discontentment, then he calls the same number that requested him before, a harsh, collected tone:

"I have all the pictures and evidence, and I've done enough stakeouts. We should talk in person due to the delicacy of this matter." a pause as he listens "Yes... That is fine... The earlier we see each other, the better."

Saying that, the man disappears from the place in his inconspicuous, mingling with all the other drivers. Not knowing that, Rie continues her life, after spending an enjoyable time together with Ryo, the day comes where she needs to travel to the duel academy island.

A flimsy feeling of loneliness pulsates in her heart, it won't be for long, but ever since she has been seeing him more often, even the thought of being apart for more than a week makes her heart throb with sadness.

She feels more connected to him than she was before, yet distant enough that his heart won't fully open to her when she tries to approach the matters regarding his sudden change. Yet, she understood his change was something he deemed necessary both as a duelist and as a person, and she can't contest the fact he might have profited from it, despite all the things she can see wrong and addressed already.

A firm sea breeze blows her hair when she steps out of the boat, the sight of the island incite nostalgic recollections, she stares at the peak of the cliff, a place in which she had so many memories.

A feeble smile comes to her lips, she can almost materialize the image of both her and Ryo talking there in their school uniforms. With a subtle shake of her head, she dismisses those thoughts, she came here to work and she'd better not disappoint her boss this time.

Unaware that behind her a dangerous man follows, she enters the island unconcerned. The person who tags after is none other than Tonomiya, he uses glasses and a hat to hide his full face.

Nibbling his nails nervously he glares at her back with a rooted anger that flows through his veins, burning his blood.

"I will make you pay for messing with me… I've had a nice time in the hospital, you just wait, I will repay this favor..."

His bloodshot eyes squint with a deranged glint, and a devious smirk flashes on his lips. He types on his phone, sending a message to an unknown number. His inner monologue is wild:

"You think I wouldn't know what happened here? I checked your 'perfect' files from school, Kinomoto, for the daughter of a prestigious family, you've had quite some problems… I didn't understand how a man like the Hell Kaiser would have an interest in you, but I know now… He was the first one to meet you after a certain incident..."

He laughs in a low tone to himself, scaring some people around while he follows her discreetly, never losing sight of her figure.

"I know why you can't speak, little bitch. And you're going to have your worst memories revived… What an unlucky girl, assaulted by many students… Even more unfortunate that I found out who they are and they are still here, studying as second years now… Oh girl, you're going to have another round of pleasure with all of them… And they will be paid for their job. I made sure to call each of them, just for you and I will be happy to watch it and record it just so we have a good look at who you are."

Rie feels a chill run down her spine, she looks back, over her shoulder, but there is no one behind her. Rubbing her arms to warm herself up, she keeps walking towards the main building.

From behind the trunk of a tree on the sides of the road, he glances at her, walking to a path of despair once again, and with the last click on a button of his cellphone, he sends his last message, putting his scheme into motion. The wickedness in his grin has no bounds.

From far behind that man, a pair of black boots follow him. Ryo stares at the man with crossed arms and a distrustful, dim expression. His arms uncross and he threads towards him, a blazing anger incinerating everything inside him intensely.

Those three paths meet again. What is Ryo planning by watching over Tonomiya? What is going to happen to Rie? Will she be forced to revive her worst memories? And what will his scheme lead to?