Hello everyone! Welcome to the real Chapter 23! Apparently, I accidently titled Chapter 22 as 23, oops! :3 A mistake now fixed on my part. Otherwise, let's get on with the Battle Royale!
Ch.23: Injuries and Complications
"Show us the duels from other areas!"
"You've only been showing us the jungle!"
"And what's wrong with Michio being in the spotlight?!"
"Yeah, that's right!"
"If they'd just keep showing Michio, it's be fine…"
It sounded like a madhouse, and the crowds were about to start a riot any second.
"We can't allow that." Yuya's mother finally spoke up, seeming to have snapped out of her Michio stupor. Her green eyes were sharpened as she stood up from her seat. "This is a Battle Royale. Michio's not the only one fighting." Yoko suddenly cheered up, and lifted a leg up. "We also need to see Dennis' side to!"
Tate, Frederick, Allie, and Shuzo all blinked at Yoko's antics once again and gave their own heavy sighs.
"Dennis aside. I want to know how Yuzu and Yuya are doing, what's going on with them!" Frederick looked back to the big screens.
"And what about those two scary guys working together? Zero and Shun." Allie rubbed her hands for a moment. "You don't think they cut the feed because those two are up to something, do you?"
Frederick sighed in worry now. "I wonder what Lelouch would think of this. He'd probably be able to see right through their plans in an instant and turn it against them." They haven't seen Lelouch for a while now, and it was starting to make everyone feel concerned.
"If we can't see them on the screen." Tate stood up. "Then we'll just have to go see it in person!" All three Yusho Junior group students leapt to their feet, and began to run off towards the exits of the stadium.
Shuzo blinked in shock, before running to catch up with the too curious children. "Hey- Wait up!" All four pairs of footsteps echoed loudly against the empty concrete hallways. Their breaths sounding like thunder as they sprinted and skipped over steps. However, they were suddenly drawn to a halt by a security guard wearing a yellow jacket who blocked the way.
The man held his arms out to stop them. "Non-participants are forbidden from entering the Battle Royale. Please return to your seats."
"No way!"
"Why!?"
Both Tate and Frederick whined at the same time. Allie's eyes watered as she looked up at the man. "Then we can't even go back to our homes?"
Shuzo gave a shrug, his eyes full of suspicion that was focused on the guard. "Even with the Battle Royale going on, isn't that just weird?"
Then a feminine voice none of the four wanted to ever hear again spoke up from behind the guard down the hall. "My utmost apologies." The guard stepped aside to reveal Himika, the mother of the C.E.O holding Riley's hand. The child didn't even bother to look at them, and kept his eyes firmly on the ground in front of his feet while holding his stuffed teddy bear in one arm. "But we do this because we are thinking of your safety."
"Mrs. Akaba." Shuzo spoke, surprised that the woman was still even in the city with how busy she must be.
Himika turned to face them fully, placing a hand on her hip. "This is the first time that any Real Solid Vision System has been used outside of a stadium." She explained calmly, too calmly. It was almost as if she had rehearsed those same lines before, and Shuzo saw right through it. Though it was a good excuse, or lie, to use. "We wouldn't want any accidents happening."
Shuzo tipped his head down slightly and eyed the mother of the genius Reiji Akaba. "I see. So you don't allow people into the Action Fields in order to avoid any accidents?"
Himika lifted her own head up, as if looking down at all four of the Yusho students and principal. "Yes, thank you for being so understanding." Her icy blue eyes landed on Tate, and her eyebrow rose in interest. "Oh? You're one of the finalists for the Junior Class Championship, Tate Yamashiro, aren't you?"
Tate straightened up automatically and spoke to the woman formally. "Oh- Yes, ma'am!"
Her smile twitched wider for a fragment of a second. "The other semi-finalist match to decide your opponent is about to start in another stadium right now." She looked down at the child holding one of her hands. The kid still looking down at the floor almost emotionlessly with their hoody up. "The winner will be Riley of course." Tate's grey blue eyes widened as he studied his soon to be opponent. "I'm looking forward to tomorrow's finals!" Himika didn't notice how Riley's grip on the teddy bear tightened at her words. Her icy blue eyes returned their attention to Shuzo, casting the other children aside. "The Top 8 matches for not only the Junior Youth Class, but also the Youth Class, are all on schedule." Her eyes narrowed knowingly, and Shuzo's frown deepened. "It's a shame we can't show them here, but… Soon, all of the feeds will return, and the tournament will continue as if nothing had happened at all." She began to guide Riley down the hallway once more. This left Shuzo, Tate, Allie and Frederick forced to go back to their seats in the stadium, and remain there until the Battle Royale was over.
. . .
"By returning Princess Pudding and Knight Napolitan to my hand, I can destroy one monster for each card returned by this effect!" The two food oriented monsters vanished from the field, and a fiery red genie and ice narwhal soon exploded from being overfed. Both of the monster's owners gaped at the sight. Michio threw a hand out to the side. "At this moment, I activate the Trap Metabolic Storm!" A wind began to blow around the field. "I deal damage to my opponent equal to the Attack of the monsters destroyed by my Royal Cookmates' effect!" The two L.D.S students cried out as they were thrown to the ground in defeat.
Michio did a nice bow. "I hope you come dine with me again."
OLGA LP- 2200 = 0 LOSER
HALIL LP- 1700 = 0 LOSER
MICHIO LP- 3000 WINNER
"All right, you won!" Teppei cheered. While the two L.D.S transfers began to sit up from the difficult duel, the fisherman stepped forward. He held a hand out, waiting. "Hurry up and give me your Pendulum cards!" He gave a 'give it here' gesture.
Grey eyes narrowed up at the short fisherman while Halil just gave a deadpan. "You didn't even do anything!" Olga pointed out.
Regardless, both duelists kept to their word, and handed over their Pendulum cards. "How shameless." Halil pouted.
Teppei snatched the cards out of both duelists' hands roughly. "Thanks, come again!" He looked at the cards he had been given. "This is good! I'm looking forward to working with you, partner!"
The fisherman turned around, and was shocked to see a short redheaded girl speaking to his cooking partner frantically. Her hands had small tremors in them, and her voice rose a little while her eyes were wide with fright and worry.
"What!" Michio exclaimed. Did he just hear this girl, Aura, right? "Yuya is-!?" He didn't dare finish his sentence. "And Zero?!"
Aura's apple green eyes snapped over to the fisherman as Michio processed his thoughts. Said duelist flinched at the dark glare he had received from the even shorter girl, and she pointed her finger towards him. "You too!" The fortune teller demanded. "If you're his partner, then you're coming with us!"
Teppei blinked. "Huh?" Did he hear this girl correctly?
Before he could even say anything, Aura had grabbed a tight hold of his hand was dragging him away. "Come on! We need to hurry! Yuya is in danger, and we need to GO!" She urged frantically.
"Right! Lead us to him, Aura!" Michio nodded, a small frown on his face as he sprinted after the girl and his complaining partner.
. . .
"We can't confirm the presence of any duelists within the iceberg area sir." A woman spoke up after a few tensely silent minutes.
Reiji's knuckles cracked as his tightened his fists. "After detecting such a powerful Synchro Summon." His violet eyes narrowed in anger. The CEO knew who was there, that third lookalike that was intertwined with this 'Revival Zero', Yugo. The one who apparently had bad blood between Zero and his gang within the Xyz Dimension, and who also had some weird dueling motorcycle as well. "It has to be him, Yugo… That duelist from the Synchro Dimension."
The only question now was if Yugo was a friend or foe, or if he even knew what was going on in the first place involving Academia. His mind went back to the look of anger on Shun's face when they first spotted Yugo through that camera through sheer luck. "The 'Pawn of Fusion' as Shun called him..." He straightened up in his seat. "Find them!" He barked, not in the mood for games any longer. "Continue your search!"
"Yes sir!" Everyone else within the room spoke as one.
Reiji turned his head towards his right hand, Nakajima. "And Yuya Skakai alongside Zero?"
The body guard looked down at a tablet he was holding. "They are currently regrouping at the moment in the ancient ruins zone, but they seem to be heading back towards the jungle area."
. . .
Labored breathing was all she could hear as she ran up the stone steps leading to the temple as fast as possible. The sun was setting, and glinted off of her bracelet and necklace as she took a quick breath of air.
Her brother was up there. Shun was up there all alone, fighting. Fighting against the scum that had destroyed their home and to protect the group from a crazy child.
With those thoughts in mind, Ruri doubled her efforts up the stone stairs. She was just past halfway up when she began to hear them speaking.
Both Sora and Shun were panting from the tough match they were bringing. Neither side was budging an inch, and the duel seemed to be never ending.
However, one of them was going to budge eventually. Whether they lose the rest of their Life Points, or pass out first was the real question.
SHUN LP- 2100
SORA LP- 300
RAIDRAPTOR FUZZY LANIUS LV.4 ATK:500 DEF:1500
RAIDRAPTOR VANISHING LANIUS LV.4 ATK:1300 DEF:1600
RAIDRAPTOR FORCE STRIX RNK.4 ORB.1 ATK:2100 DEF:2000
RAIDRAPTOR VANISHING LANIUS LV.4 ATK:1300 DEF:1600
RAIDRAPTOR FUZZY LANIUS LV.4 ATK:500 DEF:1500
EDGE IMP SCISSOR LV.3 ATK:1200 DEF:800
FLUFFAL MOUSE LV.1 ATK:100 DEF:100
"My turn!" Sora yelled. The light haired teen gave a cheshire grin as he saw what he had drawn. Acid emerald eyes turned to look over at disturbed yellow. The Fusion soldier was more unhinged then Shun had originally thought, and he was very strong as well. Nothing like Obelisk Force. No, Sora was more on par with Yuto's Fusion lookalike, Yuri. "Hey, do you think you've already won?" That grin widened. "You're naive!"
Sora threw his hand up towards his innocent mouse like monster. "I activate Fluffal Mouse's effect!" The mouse's eyes suddenly glowed a vicious red. "When I control this Attack Position monster, I can Special Summon two copies of Fluffal Mouse from my deck!" From one mouse, soon multiplied into three.
FLUFFAL MOUSE LV.1 ATK:100 DEF:100
FLUFFAL MOUSE LV.1 ATK:100 DEF:100
Sora narrowed his emerald eyes towards Shun, just as Ruri had made it up the stairs. "All right, let's do this!"
"Shun!" Ruri cried out, running towards her bigger brother regardless of the danger.
"Ruri!?" Shun spun around, his yellow eyes widened with shock. Emotions flew by him in a flurry surprise, fear, relief. Those were the main ones, relief that she was alright and safe, but fearful because of the current predicament they were both in now.
"The fun has just begun!" Sora yelled, not really caring about this person running towards Shun and enveloping him in a hug. A twisted version of Yuya's prideful line was filled with deranged malice. "I fuse Edge Imp Scissor and my three copies of Fluffal Mouse!" All four monsters jumped behind their master, and began to fuse together into one entity. "Demonic claws and sharp fangs! Become one in the mystic whirlpool and show your new power and form!" Sora threw his hands above his head, and soon in front of him like he had been taught in Academia. The insane look on his face being overshadowed by the bright light, and made it that much more frightening. "I Fusion Summon! Come forth! Mystical beast of the jungle who tears all to shreds!" Scissors cut this stuffed animals' stomach open, and others soon began to stab and impale the blue beast. A wicked cackle sounded and echoed off of the temple walls. "Frightfur Scissor Tiger!"
FRIGHTFUR SCISSOR TIGER LV.6 ATK:1900 DEF:1200
The tiger was a light blue with black stripes. Two red eyes glared out from within its black serrated jaws that were poorly stitched together.
"Are you alright big brother?" Ruri asked, disregarding the Fusion monster at the moment for her brother's own safety.
Shun tightened his hold on Ruri, and forced her behind him. "I'm fine Ruri, but where is Yuto? And what about Zero? Surely you've met up with him before finding me, didn't you?" The Raidraptor had sorely realized his mistake in leaving Zero all alone almost instantly, but Sora wouldn't have in any other way.
"Big brother?"
Shun hunched back a little and scrunched his face up as Sora finally took notice of the pink eyed girl behind him. Yellow eyes giving Sora a death glare that could've killed if Sora wasn't so lost in his own temporary insanity and thirst for vengeance.
That grinch like smile of Sora's widened a fraction. "You have a sister, Shun? How come you never bothered to tell me?" Light blue eyebrows rose as emerald eyes darkened. "I would've targeted her first and make you feel the unbearable agony of your sister becoming a card before finishing you off next." He popped another green sucker into his mouth and hissed. "No matter." Sora jumped forward, which made Shun and Ruri step back instinctively. "I'll just turn you both into cards after I defeat you this turn! I activate Frightfur Scissor Tiger's effect!" Sora threw his hand out towards Shun, Ruri and all of Shun's monsters. "I can destroy one of my opponent's monsters for each Fusion Material used in this card's Fusion Summon!"
Shun straightened up, and sweat dripped down his face. "What!?"
"Shun." Ruri looked up at her older brother, before carefully putting on her duel disk.
The tiger gave a mad cackling laugh, before using the giant scissor cutting its chest to trap the two Vanishing Laniuses and Fuzzy Laniuses in its grasp. The Fusion monster then proceeded to cut the monster's in half without mercy or hesitation.
Sora pointed towards his precious Fusion monster. "And now, the last Force Strix's Attack returns to normal." Sora leaned forward mockingly. "Right?"
Shun tensed up, his yellow eyes widening as he realized this was it. He was going to become a card, and right in front of his little sister's eyes. After trying so damn hard to keep her safe, it comes down to this.
RAIDRAPTOR FORCE STRIX ATK:2100 = 100
Sora continued, laughing at Shun's expression. "That's the kind of face I've wanted to see on you ever since we last fought! I want to see more of it! I want to make you suffer and feel the true meaning of pain before I make you become a card and release you from the painful clutches of life! Frightfur Scissor Tiger's Attack increases by 300 for each Frightfur monster I control!" The tiger gave a mischievous laugh as his power increased.
FRIGHTFUR SCISSOR TIGER ATK:1900 = 2200
Sora threw both arms up to the air. "This is the end!" He then threw them both at Shun and Ruri. "Go, battle! Frightfur Scissor Tiger, clip that rusty Force Strix's wings and take out Shun Kurosaki! Send Shun Kurosaki… this PATHETIC Xyz remnant to his GRAVE!" Sora laughed as his Fusion monster lunged towards Shun's weakened Raidraptor.
"Ruri!" Shun yelled, and quickly turned around to cover her body with his own. He may have failed once, but he'd be damned if he let her come to any sort of harm because of this. Ruri activated her duel disk, but Shun suddenly turning to protect her with his own life had caused her to pause. Her pink eyes widening with shock and horror as the attack connected.
"NO!" Ruri screamed, watching as Scissor Tiger ripped Force Strix to pieces, and the explosive force sent both Xyz resistance fighters flying. Shun cried out in pain as the attack connected with his back. While Ruri gave a terrified scream at seeing her brother's pain.
The two were sent flying out of the temple when they collided with someone else. A masculine 'omph' escaped their throat before all three were sent stumbling down the temple's stone stairs.
SHUN LP- 2100 = 0 LOSER
SORA LP- 300 WINNER
"Shun!" Ruri screeched in fright, fearful for her brother's health and life.
"Ruri! Shun!"
Pink eyes widened as she looked down at the person she loved just as much as her brother. "Yuto!?" Her voice was tinted with relief, but it was overshadowed by her immense worry for her brother.
Grey eyes looked up into frightened pink. The girl was sandwiched between him and Shun, leaving her perfectly fine. Yuto himself was fine except for a couple bruises and that immense pain thumping in the back of his skull. Quickly, the Xyz user carefully pushed Ruri off of him and sat up. Shun groaned, the Raidraptor user having been dealt with the most and worse damage out of the three. Not only did the duel wipe him out, but colliding with the stairs and the attack on his back had made it very difficult to move, breath and even stay conscious.
"D-Damn it." Shun swore, and shakily began to force himself onto his hands and knees. He body was flaring and hurting like hell.
"Shun!" Yuto leaned over the Raidraptor's right shoulder, while Ruri had taken her brother's left side. Both looked down at their comrade with worry. Shun said nothing, but gave a painful groan in response.
Footsteps echoed above them, and both Ruri and Yuto looked up to see a head of light blue hair walk out of the temple calmly. Sora Shiunin looked down at the other two Xyz rebels with acidic green eyes, a jolly, almost childish smile was on his face. "Looks like I've won this time!"
"Big brother." Ruri spoke softly, soothingly as Shun's frame shook. The Lyrical Luscinia duelist put her hands onto Shun's ribs, which made the Xyz user flinch back with a hiss. Tears entered the corners of her eyes. "Shun." He got hurt protecting her, she would've been the one to take most of the fall if Shun hadn't turned to protect her. Shun cried out, and put a hand to his ribs, clutching his blue trench coat tightly. "Shun, you're hurt."
Sora sighed, annoyed. "Get out of the way, Yuzu lookalike. Shun is the prey I've hunted! I deserve to claim my prize!"
"Like hell you'll be getting anything you bastard!" Yuto barked, stormy grey eyes glaring up at the smaller boy.
Sora blinked, Yuya's face flashing past Yuto's for a moment before it cleared. "You-!" Sora cut himself off, and a big horrible grin plastered itself onto the Fusion user's face once more. "Yuto." Sora raised one eyebrow. "So you've finally come out of the hole you were hiding in to help Shun? All the better then since I can defeat you right now and card all three of you at once!" The grin widened. "Then that'll just leave me with Zero, and we all know what's happening to him as we speak."
Ruri stood and turned around to face Sora, anger radiating off of her as her expression turned sour. She activated her duel disk without a word, and the silence caught Sora off guard for a moment. Both the face of Yuzu and Serena flashed past Sora's eyes as he grew confused. "Are you Serena? No, that duel disk you're wearing is from the Xyz scum... So you're another lookalike!?"
Ruri's lips twitched downwards into a deeper frown as she activated a card. "I activate the Spell card Feathered Frenzy!" A bunch of birds suddenly flocked together, both real birds and holographic ones. Feathers of all shapes and colors flew from the birds, and enveloped Yuto, Shun and herself. Ruri threw her bracelet hand forward towards Sora. "May these birds rain down the terror you've inflicted onto others!"
Suddenly, all of the birds turned and zeroed in on Sora. The Fusion user backed away and activated his own duel disk as all of the birds flocked over towards the Academia soldier. The feather, cawing, bodies, and constant pecking distracted and prevented Sora from seeing or advancing towards the downed Raidraptor duelist or his comrades.
They prevented him from taking his prize.
"SERENA!" Sora roared in rage as he began to fight back against the birds and summon some of his own monsters to help.
Taking the chance, Yuto and Ruri took the extra time and picked up Shun. The taller teen grunted as pain flashed through his ribs, but didn't protest as they threw one hand over each of their necks and began to almost carry Shun away from the danger that was Sora.
"Hurry, we need to meet back up with Zero." Yuto spoke, his voice serious and calm. Grey eyes flickered and gave a dim glow as he saw how hurt Shun was, but he managed to keep himself in check and stay calm.
"Zero-" Shun wheezed, a gasp escaping his lips as he removed the one hand that was held by Ruri to clench his chest in pain. "Zero is okay?"
Ruri delicately wrapped her arms around Shun's own, and helped guide the two with Yuto's directions. "How is he?"
Yuto grimaced. "Not to great, but he's managed to free himself from Obelisk force and is helping Gongenzaka with Yuya right now."
Shun raised an eyebrow and spoke weakly. "Yuya? Wh- what's wrong with him?" Yuto bit his lip, grey eyes averting Shun's. "Yuto."
Yuto sighed. "Remember how Yuya and I can go… berserk?" He spoke hesitantly, and Shun gave a grunt in acknowledgement. "Well… Ruri and I arrived to find Zero being hurt by Obelisk force and them turning people into cards, and both Yuya and I kind of lost it. Zero managed to bring me back to my senses, but Yuya…" Yuto trailed off, shame in having lost control in every pore of his being.
"We can regroup and tell our separate stories later." Ruri spoke determinedly, making everyone pick up the pace. After a bit of hassling, Shun managed to stand up, and was able to run on his own. "Right now, just show us the way to where Zero and the others are. It's better to be in a group right now, safety in numbers."
"Right. Follow me." Yuto gave a dark look, before running slightly ahead of Ruri and Shun to lead the way back towards Zero and the others.
. . .
"I can't believe he hasn't lost his voice yet."
Zero looked down at his wildly screaming and struggling friend. Aura had just arrived, and together with Teppei and Michio, they began to remove the stone pillar on top of Gongenzaka. Seeing as he couldn't even do squat at this point, Zero chose to hold down one of Yuya's arms with his working hand and knees. Aura held onto the other, her knuckles ghostly white at the strength and effort she had to put into it. Yuya's head was shaking side to side and slamming down onto Zero's cape as screams tore its way out of his throat.
It was an absolute miracle that more Obelisk force hadn't discovered them yet with how loud Yuya was screaming.
The other three had been transported away to Academia after a few short minutes of their defeat, and were nowhere in sight. It was only a matter of time before they awoken and gave their report to the Professor on what had happened. A viable excuse to send even more reinforcements to Standard and card more people.
Zero grit his teeth, and almost bit his tongue once Yuya had suddenly bucked up really strongly when the pillar was completely removed.
"Dammit!" Zero swore as pain radiated through his being, but he didn't let go of Yuya's arm, and continued to hold him down. Aura cried out in fright as she too almost lost her grip. Thankfully, help arrived swiftly in the form of Michio and his 'partner' Teppei.
"What the hell is happening with this kid!?" The fisherman duelist exclaimed in shock. Never in his entire life had he seen something like this.
"No idea." Gongenzaka grunted with the effort of keeping Yuya's legs still. His best friend was almost writhing like a worm as his efforts to escape nearly tripled. Grey eyes looked over to Zero. "But he knows."
Zero scoffed. "I know some things, but not all of it." Zero bit his lip and almost made it bleed as his left eye felt like it was going to explode from the sheer pressure it was under. "Shit…" Zero hissed through his teeth to try and alleviate some of the pain, but it hardly worked. "Can we… talk about this… once we take care of Yuya!"
Michio nodded in agreement. "Zero is right, focus on the matter at hand."
"It's too dangerous…" Zero continued breathlessly. "To stay out in the open like this… we need to relocate to somewhere more… hidden."
It was at that point Yuya decided that if he couldn't use his arms and legs, he would use his teeth. Small canines turned, and quickly bit down into Zero's working hand.
"Fuck!" Zero hollered, and reflexively let go of Yuya to check on his hand. If it wasn't for the fact that he was almost sitting on Yuya's arm, the possessed Entertainment duelist could have gotten away. Zero narrowed his angered, masked violet eyes towards the deranged Yuya. "Son of a bitch!"
He couldn't help it. Zero was pissed and he had to let his anger out somehow.
With some effort, Zero took off his black glove and looked at his new wound. Thankfully the fabric of his glove took most of the damage, and only two little dots that were from Yuya's canines were visible on his pearly white skin. Everyone took note that the masked man had white skin, but they wouldn't be able to tell who he really was underneath that mask without seeing his face. So it was a slightly moot point.
Nobody stopped Zero from shoving said black glove into Yuya's mouth. Effectively gagging the poor tomato haired teen and preventing him from biting anyone else.
"The jungle area would be perfect." Teppei finally spoke up after staring at the possessed Yuya long enough. "Lots of vegetation to cover us, and there's a river down there where I can fish and get some food."
"Perfect idea partner." Michio complimented, and carefully nudged Zero aside so that he could hold onto Yuya's arm instead. Zero complied with the silent request with extreme reluctance. "We should hurry and move him now, before whoever caused all of this comes back."
"Right." Everyone nodded.
The group had to argue with Teppei into taking Yuya's other arm from Arua, but otherwise they were slowly on their way towards the jungle area. The fortune telling duelist having to help Zero walk along with his sprained ankle while the other boys dragged an enraged Yuya. He almost spat out Zero's glove, but that was quickly taken care of by the masked man himself.
"Zero!"
Said masked man snapped his head to see who was up ahead. A teen with a black cape and black and lavender hair was his answer. The masked revolutionary sighed with relief, and slumped his shoulders. Good things really can happen to him.
The rebel broke off from Aura, and quickly limped his way over to his Xyz allies. Ruri or Yuto couldn't get too close to Yuya, otherwise the girl's bracelet would activate. "Yuto, Ruri." Zero frowned at seeing Shun leaning on Ruri. The Raidraptor having no choice but to use Ruri as support after a few minutes of running. "Shun… I'm glad you're okay."
Yellow eyes opened, and Shun raised his slightly sweaty face to look at Zero. "About as okay as I can be in this situation… Neither of us are a card. But that shoulder must be hurting like a bitch right now." Ruri frowned at Shun's language, but let it slide at the moment.
"It does." Zero said bluntly, before shaking out of this conversation and gesturing towards Yuya and the people holding him down. "You came back just in time, we're moving to the jungle area." No more words needed to be said as Zero's group and the other tournament competitors joined together to help carry a thrashing Yuya towards the jungle area. Zero and Shun leaned on each other with Yuto by their side, watching the area with a protective gaze. Ruri was helping and keeping watch over her two injuried allies with a motherly gaze.
Both also got the lecture of their life times.
"I can't believe you would accept such a flawed deal with an Academia spy Shun! You knew the Fusion user wouldn't keep his promise!" Ruri glared at the two, frustration, stress, and fear all boiling up to a breaking point. "Not only that, but it left Zero alone where he got hurt! You were injured as well for the horrible dueling spot you chose!"
"I had no choice but to accept the deal!" Shun rebuked, the Raidraptor gripping his chest as his ribs throbbed in pain. However, one stern look from his younger sister silenced the taller teen.
"Then there's you, Zero." Ruri rounded her anger onto her masked leader himself.
Zero straightened. "What about me." He snapped.
"You should have been more attuned to your surroundings and never got captured by Obelisk force in the first place! You knew that they would be coming sometime into the Battle Royale, and yet you were still nearly taken to Academia!" Ruri spoke, exasperated.
"I'm sorry to say this, but I can't exactly help it when my luck wants to fail me, again! The time they showed up was the ONLY time I was distracted, and that was after I was sent flying head over heels by a damned Assault Knight's attack!"
Ruri was about to respond, but Yuto took this moment to intervene. He placed a calming hand onto Ruri's shoulder, emotional pink met calming grey in a silent battle and conversation. After a few moments, Ruri sighed in defeat.
"We're here!" Gongenzaka called out behind himself towards the conversing (arguing) Xyz rebels.
With the news, everyone quickly went into action once more. "Ruri, go help Gongenzaka and the rest calm Yuya." Yuto gave a nice smile towards his girlfriend, and held her cheek with one hand. "You have this way of calming people, so I know you'll be the best bet in helping Yuya."
Ruri looked between her big brother, Zero and her love before leaning into the hand. She held Yuto's hand with her own, and closed her eyes, a small smile on her face. "Alright." She whispered, and opened her pink eyes to look at Yuto. "Just watch these two for me."
"Of course." Yuto nodded, and Ruri quickly turned and began to walk towards the others to help Yuya.
"What the hell was that." Shun spoke darkly, yellow eye twitching slightly. The Raidraptor wasn't oblivious nor was he naive to that sign of affection.
Once Ruri was a good distance away, Yuto turned around and glared down at Zero. "Let's do it now."
Zero blinked, confused for a moment, before he realized that Yuto was glaring at his dislocated shoulder more than himself. Zero tensed, but did nothing except give a nod. His void filled mask turning to look at Shun. The question (dark statement) that Shun said being cast aside for the moment. Something which Yuto was EXTREMELY thankful for. "Since you yourself are injured at the moment, Yuto will have to relocate it..."
Shun nodded at the hidden meaning, and allowed Zero to hold onto him with his one working hand. He was asking for someone to hold onto while the process was done, but his pride was in the way of asking directly.
However, he's lived with Zero in that hotel long enough to realize that. He's a bit like that himself.
"Okay." Yuto breathed, and carefully gathered Zero's lifeless arm with his own two hands. Zero sucked some air between his teeth at the pain that returned almost tenfold at the mere contact, much less the movement of his arm. "Ready? I'll do it on three."
"Let's just get this fucking thing over with." Zero hissed venomously, but it was mostly directed at himself and the pain he was about to endure. The masked man unconsciously tightened his grip onto Shun's shoulder, which made the Raidraptor duelist shift a little in discomfort, but nothing more.
Grey eyes narrowed as Yuto's usual scowl set itself in place with his emotional mask. "One." Yuto breathed, and tightened his grip on Zero's arm just a bit. "Two-"
CRACK
"FUCK!"
Zero screamed out the curse as Yuto quickly popped Zero's shoulder back into its proper place. A distinctly loud cracking and popping sound echoing across the field. The pain completely numbed the masked man's senses, and he didn't even realize he was falling on top of Shun until Yuto had put both of his arms under Zero's own to lift him up. He could barely even say anything more as he tried to stifle his own gasps and everything turned black.
At least it was finally done and he could use his left arm once more. Properly and without pain.
. . .
Yuya screamed as loud as he could. His scream was so loud that it caused the birds to scatter in fright. At the moment, Aura and Ruri were sitting by Yuya's head, which was throwing left and right in a possessed manner. Michio was holding Yuya's left arm, and Teppei his right, leaving Gongenzaka with both of Yuya's legs.
Ruri put both hands to her mouth in fright. "Yuya…" Her mind flashed back to how Yuto had screamed in pain and spazzed out back in the hotel that one time.
Michio looked up from Yuya's writhing frame. "How did this happen!?"
"You'll have to ask Zero!" Gongenzaka yelled over Yuya's own screams to answer the famous cooking duelist. "I have no idea, but Zero was there when all of this happened." Grey eyes focused back onto his childhood friend. "He said that something was possessing Yuya!"
Light brown eyes that belonged to Teppei looked up at the Steadfast duelist incredulously. A disbelieving, if slightly degrading smirk was on the fisherman's face. "What? Don't say something like-" He didn't have time to say anything else as Yuya finally spat out Zero's black glove, and viciously bit down onto Teppei's hand. "AHH!" The fisherman jumped back and held onto his hand, giving Yuya enough time to give a swift, and slightly painful, punch to the man's stomach.
While Teppei was shocked to see his hand bleeding from the nasty bite, Ruri had jumped in and taken the man's place in holding Yuya down. This time though, she made sure to watch out for Yuya's face, and more importantly, his teeth.
Teppei glared down at the tomato haired teen with frightened rage. "Why you- Why do I have to go through this!" He bemoaned to himself. "I'm not even this guy's friend or anything! So why am I helping him!?"
"I wasn't your friend either." Michio spoke up, and the fisherman turned his attention from the demonic teen over to his partner. "But I listened to your request and decided to be your comrade. I believed that if I worked with you, I could get plenty of duels in and further polish my dueling skills!" Teppei blinked in shock at Michio's words. Michio narrowed his eyes, his face dead set. "Now it's your turn to listen to my request! Please help me and Yuya!"
Teppei raised an eyebrow, before quickly retaking control in holding Yuya's arm. The fisherman gave a put down expression. "But… how would we even do that?"
CRACK
"FUCK!"
Everyone jolted in place, and looked over their shoulders to see Zero slump down towards the ground in a lifeless manner. Yuto held the masked man up underneath his arms. His face riddled with pained guilt at the sight of Zero falling unconscious, before gathering himself. The Xyz counterpart gave Shun a nod, before he helped lay Zero down by a tree, and sat down beside his masked leader to keep watch.
Shun himself quickly made his way over beside Ruri.
"We had to reset Zero's shoulder, it was dislocated." Shun explained bluntly so that everyone wouldn't be bothered to ask questions. Michio, Teppei and Aura, who hadn't realized that the man was injured so badly, shuddered at the reason why Zero had screamed so loudly. "Dude has had enough pain and trouble as it is, so it's about time he got some rest. Now…" Yellow eyes narrowed down at Yuya's struggling form, the Raidraptor clutching his ribs. "How are we going to do this?"
"What do you mean 'we'?" Gongenzaka raised an eyebrow incredulously. "You're almost as injured as Zero is!"
Shun didn't get a chance to respond with his own biting remark as Aura raised a glass apple above Yuya's head. "First and foremost, we should determine what is possessing darling." Her apple green eyes narrowed down at the glass apple, and Yuya's blue image that shown through said apple.
"You believe in magic?" Shun raised an eyebrow.
"You can see that?" Teppei asked at the same time as Shun spoke, and the fisherman gave a sheepish smile at the glare that he received for speaking over the Raidraptor.
"I'm a Divination/Fortune duelist with the greatest fortune telling abilities of my school." She answered seriously, and looked down as Yuya scrunched his glowing red eyes close in pain. "If I use my power, then…" Suddenly, Aura's apple green eyes widened in shock. "Ah! I can see it!"
Everyone, even Yuto's head snapped to attention and looked over at Aura. "Well, what's wrong!?" Gongenzaka asked.
"Did you see something?" Michio asked beside the girl.
"What's going on with Yuya?" Ruri spoke expectantly, secretly she was asking what was going on with Yuto as well. Which was also why the Phantom Knights duelist was paying such close attention as well, even from the distance between him and the rest of the group.
"T-There's-" Aura stuttered, his face paling in horror as she watched an inky blackness try and surround and taint a bright orange soul. "Deeper inside, there's something that's trying to overwhelm the soul, Yuya's soul!"
"Something… What something?" Shun demanded, glaring yellow eyes narrowed.
"I don't know!" Aura answered back in fright, her eyes never daring to leave what she was seeing. "I don't know what darkness it is, but its very existence is terrifying!"
"It's very existence is terrifying?" Gongenzaka repeated. Could something like that even exist? To terrify someone without even meeting them?
Teppei himself was beginning to shake as all of this began to get to him. "C-cut that out, you guys!" The fisherman stuttered. "Don't tell me this kid is actually being possessed by a demo-"
"AHHHH!"
Teppei screamed and jumped a few feet back in fright as Yuya suddenly reared his head up and gave the loudest scream he had produced yet. His glowing red eyes flickered, before the Pendulum duelist slumped back against the ground lifelessly, his eyes closed and all forms of struggling ceasing.
"Yuya!" Everyone cried out in concern.
"Darling!"
"Damn." Shun swore, face scrunching up as he frowned.
"Holy hell! What is with all of the cultish bullshit in this tournament!" Teppei cursed, his entire body shaking. "I never signed up for THIS!"
. . .
"President! The Fumma Ninja brothers have captured and are currently relocating Serena and Yuzu to the iceberg area." Nakajima looked up from his tablet once more to speak directly to his superior.
Reiji tightened his grip on his fists, violet eyes flickering slightly with darkness. "Serena…"
. . .
"Let go of me!"
Serena yelled as she kicked and hit as much as she could of her captor. Her fists slamming into the older boy's back having absolutely no effect on the red clothed ninja.
"Get your hands off of me you damned masked ninja!" The Fusion counterpart of Yuzu Hiragi was really getting sick of masked people. She had already been embarrassed enough by that vigilante Zero. "I didn't need your help! Why did you interfere in my fight!?" Meanwhile, said ninja that had a sun engraved on his bandana was sweat dropping at the girl's antics. "Let me go!"
Finally unable to take the girl's rants much longer, and figuring that they were out of harm's way, the maroon haired ninja carefully set Serena down without saying a word.
The Academia soldier reacted quickly, and backed away from the three as fast as possible. Yuzu had watched the spectacle as well as the second ninja that looked rather similar to the first. The only real difference was that this ninja wore blue, had black hair, and wore a moon imprinted bandana on his forehead.
"What are you after?!" Serena barked, and threw her duel disk arm in front of herself in preparation of a duel. "It doesn't seem like you're working with Obelisk force!"
The first ninja disregarded Serena's questions, and turned to his brother. "Tsukikage, I'll leave these two to you. I will go back and check on the situation and see if we are being followed… There might be more of them nearby."
The second ninja, now named Tsukikage, nodded. "Understood, brother." If you blinked, you would have missed how the first ninja, Tsukikage's brother, seemed to fade out of existence and diseapper.
Periwinkle eyes blinked at the first ninja's disappearance, before focusing back onto Tsukikage. The moon ninja's eyes turning to regard the Melodious duelist. "Who are- Are those guys really Obelisk Force? Are they really from Academia?"
Tsukikage nodded, and turned to face Yuzu. "From what we've heard, they are from Academia in the Fusion Dimension. At least, that's from what we've gathered from the reports on Shun and the words from Zero."
"Academia!" Yuzu straightened, so the place really did exist! Then, that meant that the other three dimensions also existed! So Yuto, Shun, Ruri and Zero really are from the Xyz Dimension. Yuzu turned her head towards Serena. "Then are you really Ruri? Those people from Academia are chasing after you-"
"I am Serena!" The girl finally introduced herself with a scowl. One hand was on her hip as she spoke. "My name is certainly not Ruri." Her forest green eyes narrowed. "Although, I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out that she looked like me... Just like how you do."
Yuzu shrunk back at Serena's ferocity. "Serena…?" She really was a third counterpart to herself then.
Just what was going on here?!
"It's true that they are from Academia, and are out to capture me." The Fusion counterpart admitted. "But I won't be captured! I refuse!" She pointed towards Tsukikage. "Even without this blasted ninja's help, I would have fended them off myself!" Tsukikage did nothing, except turn his back on the girl in silence and crossed his arms.
"Out to capture you…?" Yuzu repeated, searching for more answers when she only got more questions. "Why are they after you?" And could they be after me too then?
"It's obvious!" Serena almost yelled. "They're obeying the Professor's orders!"
"Professor?" Yuzu silently egged Serena on.
The Academia soldier continued. "In Academia, the Professor's orders are absolute. We are not allowed to disobey them." Serena's face scrunched up. "But I disobeyed those rules in order to prove to him my own power! If I eliminate the remnants of the Xyz Dimension in Standard…" A gasp left Yuzu as Serena clenched one fist tightly, knuckles white. "If I bring Zero back to the feet of the Professor alive and intact. The Professor will regret not sending me out to the front lines! That's why!" She revealed.
"That's why you dueled Dennis? You're really from Academia, and you thought that he was apart of Zero's group? A survivor from the Xyz Dimension, and by the front lines you mean the Xyz Dimension?"
"I had the wrong idea about him." Serena spoke, disappointment and disgust clear in her tone. "But otherwise, you're correct." Serena nodded briskly. "All of my comrades went to the Xyz Dimension, and were able to display their skills honorably!" Her voice was tinged with hurt, but otherwise it was overwhelmed with envy and anger. Her forest eyes glared down at the icy floor. "But I alone was to stay behind by the Professor's orders."
"Do you even know what Academia did to the Xyz Dimension!" Yuzu yelled suddenly. Hearing how Yuya relayed everything to her when he met Yuto and Zero. Now that she knew what they were saying was true, she couldn't help but feel absolutely heartbroken at the horror. Serena focused her attention back on Yuzu, and blinked. "The Xyz Dimension, Ruri's homeland, it was a peaceful place!" The Melodious duelist put both of her hands together by her chest. "Until that day came… when Academia attacked, invaded."
Her mind flashed back to when Shun had dueled Sora, and explained what had happened to cause his home to be burned to ashes.
"I heard that the people of Academia constantly attack the people of the Xyz Dimension with SMILES on their faces." Yuzu spoke softly, hoping that those who were lost were lead to a good afterlife. "As if they were taking part in a hunting game." Even saying such words made Yuzu feel sick.
Serena narrowed her eyes at Yuzu's proclamation.
. . .
A camouflaged shadow wearing black, grey and red appeared on top of a rock pillar in the volcano zone. The masked ninja looking down at the three remaining Youth class fighting, and the three Obelisk force members dueling.
Hikage frowned underneath his red scarf. "I thought there were six members of Obelisk force that showed up…" That frown deepened. "Where are the other three?"
. . .
Serena gave a smile that an adult would give to a foolish child. "Ridiculous!"
Yuzu tensed. "What."
Serena huffed out a chuckle. "Laughing as if it was a game?" She spoke incredulously, her forest green eyes staring Yuzu down. "The duelists from Academia are warriors. They would never do something that foolish!"
Periwinkle eyes narrowed as Yuzu glared at her counterpart. "Are you saying that they're lying?"
"Academia has a noble objective!" Serena continued, that smile on her face gone. The Fusion user raised one finger. "The objective is to make all worlds one! The invasion of the Xyz Dimension was for that purpose. Eventually, we will assimilate the Synchro Dimension and this world, the Standard Dimension, and unite all of the worlds!" Serena spoke, her voice proving that she herself believed in this ideal, this goal. "All of Academia's duelists were trained to achieve that noble objective! Prideful warriors like that would never do such things!" Serena's frowned deepened as she clenched her fists once more. "Zero is trying to stop us from reaching that goal, so it's obvious that a masked man like him would lie and manipulate others to get his way! To make anyone believe all of the lies that spew out of his masked mouth and with his silver tongue!" Serena threw an arm out to the side. "Anyone that follows that masked man or believes what he says is nothing more than a self gratifying fool!"
"What pride is there in bringing tons of people grief!?" Yuzu exclaimed, yelling and trying to get her Fusion counterpart to see reason.
Serena smirked. "What do they have to grieve over? The Xyz duelists should have their own pride as well!" The Academia soldier closed her eyes and shrugged harmlessly. "Even if they were to lose their lives, if they fought with their all, they should be able to accept the results and-" Serena's green eyes snapped open as a shadow passed over her, blocking the indigo haired teen from the setting sun. Yuzu's footsteps echoed off of the icy floor as she grabbed ahold of Serena's shoulders firmly with both hands.
Periwinkle met dark forest green in an intense stare. Yuzu shook Serena slightly, as if that was enough to get the girl to realize the darker side to Academia. "Are you telling them to shut up and accept it when they lose their FAMILIES as well!" Yuzu yelled right into the girl's face. The Melodious duelist's anger at Serena's calm reaction soon boiled over, and she couldn't help but raise her voice. Her expression turned solemn, somber. "Academia didn't just bring grief to Xyz duelists, but to their friends and families as well!"
Finally, Serena's eyes widened in rising realization. "Are their families not duelists?!" She asked, disgusted at the mere idea of carding an innocent bystander. She had to push the reminder of what she did to Dipper O'rion out of her head as he heard the boys scream before he turned into a card.
Silence.
Yuzu looked down at the ground between them. "Shun, Yuto, Ruri and Zero are FIGHTING to help save the rest of the Xyz survivors from Academia! They're trying to make it so that those innocent families that are left can live in a world without fear of being turned into a card just because they were born in the Xyz Dimension. Just because they used Xyz! A kinder, gentler world!" That grip on Serena's shoulders tightened a smidge. "What kind of kind and gentle world can this 'unified' dimension be if its brought and ruled upon oppression and fear!?"
"But-" Serena began, but Yuzu quickly interrupted her.
"Not only that! But Academia is fighting to take Ruri as well!" Yuzu shook Serena a little once again to emphasize the point. "They- They're after you and her, and you both look just like me! So then-" The pink haired teen blinked away any possible chance of tears. "Then that means they'll probably be after me as well." Periwinkle looked back up into green, steeled. "Zero is fighting to protect and save Ruri from that fate! He's fighting to save everyone in the Xyz Dimension, he rebelling and succeeding and that's why the Professor wants him captured so badly! He wants the only obstacle left in his way to total annihilation of the Xyz Dimension GONE! So that he can stomp down on the rest of those poor homeless families that can no longer protect themselves because everyone that COULD fight is already turned in a card!"
"To save them…?" Serena trailed off. Her eyes finally flickering with something that gave Yuzu slight relief, doubt.
"Zero is the leader of the Xyz remnants that you're after." Yuzu informed the Academia soldier. "However, Shun Kurosaki is the Xyz remnant that defeated the Academia spy." It hurt to call Sora that, but at the moment it was necessary. "If you can't find Zero, Shun is the one you'll be after." With that, she finally released Serena from her grasp, and backed off a step. The indigo haired girl didn't do anything or back away. "If you don't believe what I'm telling you, then go check it out with them yourself!"
. . .
"Ugh…" A modulated voice broke out of the silence being drowned out by crickets, frogs and other nocturnal creepy crawlies. "Damn. What hit me?"
Zero shuffled a bit and spoke groggily, before sitting up a bit more from the tree that he was leaning on.
"Oh thank heaven you're awake!" A soft femanine voice cried out, and Zero felt someone hug him from around his chest.
He saw a flash of honey blonde hair. "Nunna-"
That honey blonde hair soon turned into a dark purplish maroon with pink highlights.
Wait…
Zero straightened, and quickly took in his surroundings once more. Thick vegetation and jungle lands, even terrain. Two boys leaning against the tree he was leaning on. One with dark bluish black hair and dark cyan bangs, another with black hair and lavender bangs. Four other teens looking down at an unconscious boy with red and green hair that eerily resembled a tomato.
That's right. Zero thought depressingly. I'm not in my own world anymore… And who knows when I'll finally be able to get back. If at all.
It didn't help that Zero could still feel the crusty substance of blood running down his left cheek. However, the pain that was emanating from his left eye no longer felt like a bursting dam, but now only felt like a black eye.
Ruri stopped giving Zero a relieved hug and looked into his void filled mask. "You had us all worried there for a second."
Zero raised one invisible eyebrow at Ruri's comment. "I would've been fine eventually. Who you should really be worried about is Shun."
"I'm not the one who fell unconscious." Shun remarked snidely. The Raidraptor didn't even bother to face his masked leader to comment.
"You're not the one who had a disconnected shoulder." Zero fought back, but soon regretted his instinctual word choice as he watched Shun smirk.
"So you admit that you're hurt worse than me. How flattering." Shun deadpanned. It was way too easy to get Zero riled up or start an argument with him. Honestly, it was rather funny in the Raidraptors mind, and everyone needed to get some form of laughter during these struggling times.
"You-!"
"I'm also not the one who looks like a twig." Shun added.
Zero shifted, but he didn't really have the heart to move and strangle Shun. "If I wasn't so exhausted right now you'd be getting strangled right now." The masked man hissed darkly.
"Nice to see that you're still you, Zero." Shun twitched his lips slightly, but it fell when he had to grab ahold of his chest once again as it began to hurt. "We all need a break, some time to relax." Yellow eyes moved over to a certain Xyz user. "That includes you, Yuto."
Yuto frowned, but sunk deeper into the spot he was sitting, arms crossed. "I told you Shun, I can keep watch."
"For the entire damn night?" Shun raised a mocking eyebrow and spoke sarcastically. "I don't think so. You're not exactly spic and span either." Shun watched as his childhood friend carefully brushed his fingers around the are where his head was bandaged.
Grey eyes darkened. "You don't exactly have a choice in the matter."
"Yuto-" Shun warned.
"Let him have his way for now Shun." Zero relented. That faceless mask staring into Yuto's scowling grey eyes. "This is his way of making up what had happened between him, Yuya and Obelisk force."
Shun looked over at Zero with disapproval, but seeing as Ruri wasn't doing anything about the situation he relented well enough. "Fine." The Raidraptor user crossed his arms regardless of the pain it made from his ribs. This caused Ruri to slap her older brother's arms down, and the two began a small sibling spat that had no heart and was only for their own amusement.
Yuto gave a small smile, grey eyes lightening slightly. "Thanks."
Zero clicked his tongue and looked away. "Don't mention it. You're not going to be doing the night watch the entire night anyway." That made Yuto frown. "We aren't the only ones here looking out for each other anymore."
Yuto followed Zero's line of sight to see Gongenzaka, Aura, Michio and Teppei surrounding Yuya. The boy was still unconscious, and had yet to awaken from his possessed rage. "Do you want to check on them?" Yuto stood up, and offered Zero a helping hand silently.
Zero looked down at the hand, disgust at being offered help visible even through his mask. But he took it regardless, and wobbly stood up on one working foot. "Sure. It'd be best to assess the new pieces that have been added onto the board and figure out what would be best to do with, and how to work with them." Or if we need to dispose of them.
With that, Yuto and Zero left the two laughing Kurosaki siblings alone by the tree. After the small scare they had been dealt with at Sora's win and Shun's defeat, the two were in desperate need of some sibling bonding time alone. Not only that, but Shun hardly had any time to spend with his only younger sister due to being trapped in the L.D.S tower by a certain CEO, aka Reiji Akaba.
The other five guests immediately took notice of Zero's awakened presence alongside Yuto finally coming over to check on the group.
"Zero?!" The four called out in unison, surprised that he managed to awaken before Yuya did. The masked man took note of how Gongenzaka carefully shifted himself so that he was in between Yuto and Yuya.
Seems that the Steadfast duelist was connecting the dots faster than most.
"How is he?" Zero got straight to the point, and tilted his head to indicate Yuya.
"You're just in time to see me use a little recipe of mine to wake him up." Michio commented, and carefully poured a syrupy brown substance onto a spoon.
"Jolly." Zero deadpanned, and everyone watched as Michio poured the liquid down Yuya's throat with bated breath.
Would he be back to normal, or would he go berserk?
Yuya scrunched his face up is sour distaste, before his foggy red eyes began to open slowly. Everybody tensed at the action, and Teppei even put his hands together in prayer.
"Yuya!" Gongenzaka leaned forward slightly.
"Yuya are you there?" Michio added, and quickly put the spoon back into his bag.
"Oh please!" Teppei begged. "I've had my fill on scary occult things for a lifetime!" Zero turned his faceless mask to face Teppei, and the fisherman leaned back with fright at the menacing gaze he could feel barring down and trying to burn through his skull.
"Quiet." Zero ordered simply, and Teppei did a quick zip of the lips gesture and threw away the key.
"Michio… Gongenzaka… Zero… Yuto?" Yuya spoke shakily, his vision starting to focus as he called out those names.
It was a miracle to most to see that Yuya's eyes were no longer glowing that dark blood red like a few hours prior.
"Darling!" Aura called out, and took up most of Yuya's vision.
Red eyes squinted as Yuya took in this new person's face. "You're… Aura?" Yuya blinked slightly to regain his blurry vision.
Aura suddenly threw her hands up into the sky and cried out with untold amounts of relief. Yuya gave a puzzled expression at the redhead's antics. "He's back! My darling is back to being his usual darling self!"
With that, the girl proceeded to literally glomp Yuya. The poor boy only managed to take a breath before his voice was muffled and he began to struggle out of her grip.
Zero gave the two a very unamused stare. "Really."
Well here we go! Chapter 23 and things are looking, slightly, brighter! Yuya is back to normal and both he and Zero are awake. Zero's shoulder has been relocated. Shun, Yuto and Ruri have just barely managed to reunite with Zero, but who knows if Sora is following them? The candy devil is just dying to gain the prize from his successful hunt.
Anyways, that's it. Leave a review, favorite and follow the story for more and I'll see you all on Chapter 24! -MoonlightWright
