Welcome to Chapter 29! (Finally. -_-) Don't know how that interruption last chapter happened, but it was nice to get another glimpse at our dear Code Geass cast. The codes will be at the end of the chapter. Now, let's see how our main protagonist and his group are doing now that they've finally dropped into Synchro… right?

Ch.29: A Whole New World

"Hey." Everything was black and fuzzy. A small, yet noticeable ring echoing around her ears as periwinkle eyes slowly began to flutter open. "Hey." A bright white light blocked out her vision, and it took a minute and multiple blinks before her vision began to reappear. "Helloo~! Are you alright?"

It took Yuzu Hiragi a moment to realize that this strange person that had aquamarine eyes and blue and yellow hair was talking to her. It also took another second before she realized that this guy's face was practically nose to nose with her's.

A light red dusted the Melodious duelist's cheeks, and Yuzu did the only thing she could think of at that moment.

She pushed the stranger away from her with all of her might.

The guy cried out as he went tumbling backwards down the apparent grassy hill they were on. Yuzu winced and hugged her knees as she heard a loud crashing sound of something big and mechanical falling to the ground. Once all of the noise faded besides the stranger's groaning, Yuzu looked back up to see the blue and yellow haired teen rubbing the back of his head.

Aquamarine eyes snapped open as a low, pain filled groan escaped the boy's lips, those eyes looked up at Yuzu with irritation. "What the hell was that for? To think I was just checking if you were alright! You've gotta be kidding me." The last part was mostly said under his breath, but both sides could still hear it.

Yuzu blinked. "Huh?" She inwardly cringed at how dumb that sounded, but she was really lost. "I'm sorr-"

"My bike!" Yugo cried out as if he was in even more pain besides a bump on the head. Yuzu's apology falling on deaf ears as the teenage boy turned to assess his bike and see if any damage was done to it.

Once again, Yuzu blinked at the display, and said the only thing she could think of. "What?" At the moment, Yuzu Hiragi was completely lost. What happened to all of the ice from the Miami Championship? The sunset was rather bright in its golden rays and blinding, but Yuzu could tell from the green, grassy hill that she was on she wasn't in the iceberg zone anymore. That much was for certain.

So did that mean the Battle Royale was over? How long was she apparently been unconscious and how did she fall unconscious in the first place?

The only person able to answer those questions came from the strange boy. Said boy leaned back on the ground, hands planted on the ground behind him, and sighed in relief. "Phew. It looks like nothing was damaged. That's good. Afterall, it took a very long time to get this D-Wheel built, and it was a lot of trouble." The boy looked up into Yuzu's periwinkle eyes now that his bike was no longer in danger. "I'd like to ask you to be more careful with it from now on."

"I'm sorry." Yuzu apologized once again, and judging from the softening look in those aquamarine eyes, the boy had accepted that apology. "But… Where are we?"

Periwinkle eyes began to wander around her surroundings, but Yuzu still caught a glimpse of the boy's huge grin. The stranger placed his hands on his hips and looked out towards the sunset. "We're at the City. My hometown."

Now that Yuzu could see her surroundings better, she instantly recognized that this wasn't Miami City. The futuristic looking park was elevated above a sea of smaller buildings way below, and there were even more elevated islands like this that held more parks and huge skyscrapers reaching up towards the sky as if to touch the clouds. One actually managed to accomplish this, and it was right beside an enormous stadium that was big even for a duelist's tournament standards. A second tower that was much farther away and more blockish and less eloquent almost reached the clouds as well, but was not quite there. There were multiple, hundreds, if not thousands, of interchangeable roads and countless buildings everywhere covering up just about any and all space.

The second thing that got her attention was the sea, and it stole her breath away in an awed gasp.

There was an endless expansion of sparkling water. A sea of dark blue reflecting that amazing, golden sunset color alongside the sun itself that stretched all the way to the horizon, seemingly endless. The dark sea water clashing beside the white waves and droplets of water that sprayed out in a thousand reflections of glittering gold and diamonds.

"Wow." Yuzu breathed out, her eyes reflecting that gorgeous scene and trying to memorize it to the best of her capabilities. It really was that beautiful.

Judging from the way the boy beside her seemed to puff up with pride like a rooster, he enjoyed the way she reacted to his hometown well. "I'm glad to see that you like my hometown as much as I do. It really can be a beautiful place if you go to the right places."

Once the scene was dedicated to memory, Yuzu snapped out of her awed stupor to once again look around with furrowed eyebrows. Her expression becoming much more concerned as the seconds paced. "But… What about the Battle Royale?!"

The boy gave her a confused look with a raised eyebrow. "Battle Royale? What are you talking about?"

"You know!" Yuzu gestured with her hands weakly as if that could somehow explain all of this. "The Battle Royale that was going on with the Junior Youth Championship! The one being held in Miami City." Her periwinkle eyes widened with slight panic. "The one that I'm participating in!" Yuzu looked around at the city with no name apparently once more, her shoulders slumping with sudden doubt. "Or at least… I was."

Her mind flashed back to the people not a part of the tournament. To Serena, her strange look alike. To those three weird Obelisk Force members chasing after her. To the fact that Academia actually existed and was a real threat to be concerned about.

To that weird look alike of Yuya's with purple hair, creepy grin, and malicious eyes as he tossed the two cards of Olga and Halil her way without a care for the lives he had ruined and trapped in there. How he was going to succeed in capturing her and bringing her to the 'Professor' if it wasn't for this strange boy standing in front of her with a weird out expression.

"Hey… Hello? You in there?" The boy was currently waving one hand in front of her face. "Care to tell the peanut gallery what you're thinking? You have this really spaced out look and it's making me concerned." That's right. This boy had unknowingly saved her, mistaking her for another girl, and then suddenly her annoyingly dumb bracelet had started to glow and everything was so bright until darkness.

There was the way she fell unconscious. It happened when her bracelet activated and transported her and this guy to his hometown the City.

"We were teleported here, weren't we." Yuzu realized, speaking under her breath at the realization.

Aquamarine eyes blinked, and the boy's head tilted to the side like how a confused yet curious puppy would. "Well, yeah. Isn't that obvious? Why? Is this your first time warping to places?"

Yuzu disregarded the questions as she took a longer look at the boy. "You look a lot like Yuya." She stated, before her eyes widened and she blurted out a question without thinking. "Are you Yugo?"

The boy now named Yugo gave a huge smile towards Yuzu, and nodded his head in confirmation. "Yeah! Hey, you've got my name down pat." Yugo placed one hand on his hip. "It's nice to see that some people know how to properly pronounce someone's name unlike others."

Yuzu took a wary step back, her body tense and ready for battle as she reached for her duel disk. "Then- Then that means you're with Academia as well! You use Fusion!?"

Almost as soon as Yugo's smile appeared, it instantly turned into an angry frown. Yuzu nearly jumped out of her skin and five feet into the air when Yugo suddenly leaned forward with bunched fists to glare at her. "What the hell do you mean by that! I thought you knew my name is Yugo! Y U G O! Stop making fun of it like others and getting it wrong!"

Yuzu backed away a multitude of steps like a skittish animal, and put up both of her hands in a sign of surrender. "Okay! Okay! I'm sorry!"

Yugo stared at her for a long moment, before giving a huge sigh and turning around so his back faced her. "You're really not Rin after all." The boy stated with his arms crossed and a hint of disappointment. Yuzu blinked, and her frightened stupor vanished and turned into confusion once more at Yugo's words. "Rin would never get my name wrong. Never."

"Rin…?" Yuzu had heard that name before. Flashes of that creepy Yuya look alike trying to capture her came into mind. The way he smiled as he waved his sore hand and spoke in such a careless manner.

"Oh? Pretty good! You're really just like Ruri and Rin. From what I've gathered about them with the time we've spent anyway."

"I've heard of Rin before." Yuzu spoke up, and Yugo's attention zeroed in solely on her at the news. "She was taken by that creepy Academia duelist that chased after and tried to kidnap me."

Yugo leaned forward and spoke enthusiastically at this tidbit of information. "Wait- You've seen this creep before!? Where is he! What does he look like? What's his name!?" Yugo began to quickly rapid fire questions that mostly flew over Yuzu's head in the rush.

"Hold up and give me a second to think!" Yuzu yelled over Yugo's increasingly frantic voice.

Yugo shut his mouth with an audible click at that. His eyes narrowed with a vicious fire sharpened towards this strange duelist. "I don't know if what he said was true, to be honest he's still kind of suspicious to me, but Zero said he encountered this duelist as well. He was going to tell me his name until all of a sudden I was warped back here in a bright pink light. If you ran into this person as well, then what Zero was saying at that park on that night was the truth. He wasn't lying." Yugo said that last part quieter, and turned his gaze towards the sinking sunset. The sky turning from a fiery orange towards a deepening purple, and slowly into a pitch black with some stars barely visible over the City's lights. Yugo's mind flashed to the one look alike with black and lavender hair with cloudy grey eyes. "Yuto is innocent."

Periwinkle eyes showed an array of emotions as Yuzu looked into Yugo's determined aquamarine ones once he turned back to her. The usually loud mouthed duelist silently urged Yuzu to continue speaking. "I'm unfamiliar with his name." That caused Yugo's lips to twitch into a frown for a moment, but otherwise he allowed her to continue. "But he wasn't only after me or Rin. He was after another girl by the name of Ruri as well, but Zero is hiding her and keeping her safe… Yet that only brought attention to himself, and that's why Academia wants him captured." Yuzu averted her eyes to the ground below and their feet. "I don't know why, but Academia and this 'Professor' are after people that look like me." In her discomfort, Yuzu crossed her arms across her chest and held them there. "Whatever it is the Professor is planning to do with us... I can't help but feel uncomfortable just thinking about it. It really worries me."

Worry was an understatement, she was terrified.

Yugo crossed his arms and sank down onto the grass with a grumpy and frustrated expression. "But I just don't get it!" He yelled out, exasperated. "When that bastard first took her he just suddenly activated some Spell card and vanished. I was so desperate to find him and get Rin back, I was willing to do anything." Yuzu carefully sat herself down beside Yugo as he pulled out a card that revealed to be Clear Wing Synchro Dragon. "Then all of a sudden, Clear Wing started glowing, and 'boom!'" Yugo threw his arms out towards the sky for added effect. "I was suddenly in a desolate wasteland that looked like it went through hell and back, and THEN entered a war!"

Yuzu's eyes widened at what Yugo was saying. There was only one important and current war torn city the Melodious duelist could think of. "That was Heartland! That's in Yuto's home Dimension!"

Yugo nodded solemnly. His eyes fogged over as he relived the events leading up to his first encounter with Yuto. "It was horrible to see, even worse than what the City has to offer… The silence was by far the worst." The Synchro user shuddered just thinking back on it. Just dead silence and drifting ash everywhere.

Yugo shook his head and continued. "I couldn't see that bastard or Rin anywhere in sight, but that's when I first encountered Yuto." The D-Wheel rider clenched and unclenched his fists to exert some tension. "He looked exactly like me, and he was the only person there at that moment, so I figured it HAD to be him that took Rin! He even had that long black cape that looked a lot like the one Rin's kidnapper wore at the time!"

Yuzu furrowed her eyebrows. "But it couldn't have been Yuto. We just debunked that possibility." Both trailed off into a temporary silence until Yuzu straightened in thought, and looked back at Yugo. "You don't think- Was it possible that Rin's kidnapper was nearby during that time?" Yugo gave Yuzu another confused look, but Yuzu quickly spoke before he could. "I mean- If Heartland is in such a terrible state it wouldn't be that hard to find a place to hide. What with all the rubble and cracks everywhere."

Yugo's eyes widened, before he grit his teeth so hard Yuzu could almost hear them grinding in his sudden anger. "Dammit, I didn't think of that!" Unconsciously, the boy cracked his knuckles as he hissed. "He probably was there when Yuto and I started fighting, and then slipped away under all of the noise and chaos!"

"And with Rin taken care of and out of the picture." Yuzu continued Yugo's train of thought. "He took the chance of being in the Xyz Dimension to try and kidnap Ruri." The melodious duelist's excitement rose as some of the pieces in the puzzle clicked together. "He fails his attempt to kidnap Ruri due to Zero, and then Zero and his Xyz rebel forces warp over to Standard to hide, regroup, and look for allies!" In her victorious achievement, Yuzu clapped her hands together and smiled widely. "That's it! We're figuring this entire thing out, and it's all thanks to you for chasing after your kidnapped girlfriend to save her Yugo!"

Yugo blinks at the sudden praise, but is quickly overcome with a huge blush taking over his cheeks. The Synchro user begins to chuckle, rubbing the back of his head as he stubbornly looks at the ground.

Yuzu blinked at his sudden reaction. Yugo's face looked as red as Yuya's red hair right now. "Yugo? Is there something wrong?"

Said boy perked up at hearing his name, before rambling off into a slightly embarrassed yet happy babbling. "What? Oh no! I'm fine. It's just- well- Rin and I aren't exactly boyfriend and girlfriend…he he." Yugo touched his fingers together and looked at the ground with a stupidly goofy smile on his face as his thoughts derailed from their current train tracks.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Yuzu apologized. Although she was amused at Yugo's demenor as well. "It's just that Rin must really be something special to you if you're willing to cross Dimensions countless times to try and rescue her."

"Yeah!" Yugo's smile was practically blinding, and he quickly stood up and did a pose like an old knight from medieval times would. "I'm like her knight in shining armor huh? If anyone is going to save Rin it's going to be me, because I won't stop trying and fighting until she's safe in my arms again! I'm getting Rin back!"

"How are we going to find her though?" Yuzu asked the most prominent question.

"Isn't it obvious?" Yugo asked rhetorically, and he pointed to Yuzu's bracelet. "We'll use this thing!"

"My bracelet?"

Yugo nodded excitedly. "Yeah! It's what got us here in the first place, so we both know it has the ability to warp across Dimensions. We'll just use it and warp right to Academia and save Rin!"

Yuzu shook her head frantically. "It doesn't work like that though!" Yuzu looked down at her bracelet with a glum expression. "It only glows when someone looking like Yuya shows up." The Melodious duelist nibbled on her lower lip. "My bracelet starts to glow, and when it stops that person is gone, and suddenly Yuya shows up. So when it started glowing the first time and that creep disappeared…" Yuzu looked back into Yugo's eyes. "I was certain that it was Yuya who had arrived, who had come to save me and lend me aid." Periwinkle eyes gained tears, but Yuzu quickly blinked them away. "But then it turned out to be you. Then it started to glow again, and now I find myself here in your home world." Yuzu gestured to Yugo's deck. "Can't you use Clear Wing to warp across Dimensions. You've obviously done it before if we're here now."

"I've tried, honestly." Yugo grumbled, and laid back down onto the grass with his arms behind his head. "However, I can't just control it. The times when Clear Wing begins to glow is random, and the places where I go are random as well. One second I'm riding on my D-Wheel beside my other pals, and the next I'm suddenly running around in an Ice Age with an active volcano right beside it." Yugo hits the ground suddenly and yells in a bout of frustration, before sitting back up to look at Yuzu. "Your bracelet has to work though! You said it works when people who look like Yuya are around, right?" The Synchro user points to himself with his thumb. "Well you got one right here, so why can't we warp?!"

"Because I told you!" Yuzu snapped back at Yugo's frustration. "There has to be two people that look like Yuya here, not just one!" Tears come pouring out of the corners of her eyes, and Yuzu looked down to the grass as she furiously wipes them away. "But.. But- Yuya isn't here!" The Standard girl drew in a shuddering breath as the tears refused to stop. "Yuya, Gongenzaka, father! They're all back in my world and I'm here alone!"

Yugo blinked down at the crying girl covering her face. At that moment his heart went out to her, because he knew how it felt to be seperated from someone you cared deeply for. It was why he was trying so hard to save Rin.

"Yugo you idiot." The blue and yellow haired boy muttered to himself as he began to rummage through the back pockets of his D-Wheel suit. "You've done it again making girls cry." Yugo pulled out a clean handkerchief, and offered it to the crying pink haired teen. "Here."

Yuzu blinked the last remaining tears from her eyes, and looked up into Yugo's averted aquamarine ones. "I'm sorry for making you cry, my bad."

Carefully, Yuzu took the offered handkerchief, and dabbed the edges of her eyes while speaking softly. "Thank you." Once she was done, Yuzu spoke. "Trust me. If I could use the power of my bracelet willingly, to control it, I would go home this instant. Heck, I wouldn't even be here in the first place. I'd be with my friends, my dad, with Yuya."

"It's fine. Really." Yugo insisted, and finally turned his eyes back to Yuzu with a small, sad smile on his face. "Rin always told me I had a problem with saying what's on my mind without thinking. That I have a big mouth that makes people upset or cry." He chuckled softly. "Rin always got on my back about that. Always such a nag or a mother hen! 'Don't do this Yugo!' 'No! Yugo! Don't you know better than to do that!?'"

Seeing the small giggle that got out of Yuzu made Yugo feel a little better, and thinking about Rin in such a fond way made him feel happier too. "She sounds like a mother."

Yugo's grin brightened. "See?! She's such a mother hen! You haven't even met her yet and you already agree with me!"

"She would be a good mom though." Yuzu added. Not noticing the way Yugo turned cherry red at what she said because he turned away from her.

"We wouldn't really know what a mom is like." Yuzu gave Yugo an inquisitive look. "You see, we both lost our parents some way or another, so we've lived together in an orphanage all our lives-"

Just as Yugo was about to explain further, a woman screamed at the top of her lungs. Both teens flinched at the sound, and looked over to see a child wandering towards Yugo's active D-Wheel. The child was quickly plucked from the ground by his mother, who was wearing an extremely fancy and white fur coat and dress with a sun hat.

"Don't touch that thing!" The woman chastised in a frightened voice. "It's been touched by Commoners! Oh what if you got sick!?" The child in her arms began to cry loudly at his mother's loud voice, attracting even further unwanted attention. "Someone! Please, oh someone help me!"

It didn't help that the mother was calling out for help as if she was being mugged or her son was being kidnapped.

"Shit!" Yugo swore under his breath, and quickly ran over and sat down on his D-Wheel. The engine reeved loudly, and a compartment on the back opened up to reveal a pink and white helmet that Yugo tossed back to Yuzu. "Wear this and get on!"

"What?!" Yuzu asked incredulously, but put the helmet on regardless and ran over to Yugo. "Yugo, what's going on?"

"This is bad." Yugo hissed under his breath as two men went towards the woman asking what was wrong. The woman simply pointed at them, and now those two highly dressed men were beginning to stalk towards them. "We have to go! Now get on so we can get out of here!"

Yugo gave Yuzu no time to speak before he grabbed her arm and dragged her onto the back of his D-Wheel whilst revving the engine once more.

"Hey! What are you Common filth doing up here?!"

"These parks are for us Tops exclusively!"

"What is going on!" Yuzu yelled as Yugo's D-Wheel lurched forward, kicking up dirt and gravel as it sped forward and away from the advancing men that were trying to catch them.

A yellow visor went over the Melodious duelist's eyes to protect them as the wind rushed past loudly. Another man tried to stop them by stepping in the way of Yugo's D-Wheel, but he eventually had to throw himself to the side when it was obvious that Yugo wasn't going to stop.

"Someone contact Security!"

"What was that for Yugo! You could have seriously hurt that man!" Yuzu yelled over her shoulder. The girl latching her hands onto the back of Yugo's bike to stay on whilst looking at the world speeding by them in a blurr. "Why are we even running in the first place!?"

"There are some things about my world that I need to mention before we go any further." The teen's grip on his handle bars made his suit's leather stretch. "Unfortunately, the City isn't as nice of a place as your's is in Standard, Miami City wasn't it?" At Yuzu's silent nod, Yugo continued. "You see, here in the City the people are separated into two groups. One are the Tops, and the others are Commons."

"Tops? Commons?" Yuzu questioned as they went into a tunnel.

Yugo nodded. "Yeah. Tops are the residents of the City with wealth and power. The successful people of the highest class and all of the say. The lucky ones." Yugo grit his teeth as he spoke. "My hometown is a society of free competition, survival of the fittest. Winners get everything, and losers lose everything."

Yuzu's eyes widened at those dark words. "What- Why?"

"Because that's just how it is, that's competition." Yugo explained darkly. "The people who win, the victors, they come out on top and are Tops. Unfortunately," Yugo hissed. "They also monopolize 99% of this city's wealth even though they're only 1% of the entire population!"

"No way…" Yuzu trailed off as they finally exited the tunnel and took in the sights around her. "Wow." She breathed at all of the sparkling lights and colors spanning off of the beautiful skyscrapers around her. It looked like an Action Field really brought to life and stuck there. Something only her dreams could create. "It's all so pretty!"

"That may be what you think now." Yugo threw in from the front as he drove. Using one hand while keeping the other on the handle bar, Yugo pointed down to what was underneath the road they were currently riding on. "These amazing lights, how much of that wealth and money is put into a skyline like this. While below us… below us the rest are forced to struggle to survive."

Yuzu's periwinkle eyes trailed down Yugo's arm towards where he was pointing, and the horrified gasp that left her throat couldn't be stopped. While the place above them was a marvelous wonderland, the area below them could only be described as a withering wasteland. Rugged streets and poorly tended homes, some that looked ready to collapse on their feet and some that already have. Cracks marred those streets, and there were no streetlights or any power at all visible to the multitude of homes and people barely visible down there.

There were multiple people seen huddled on the side of streets, homes, and allies. It was unmistakably deniable for Yuzu.

"What…"

"That's where the rest of us live." Yugo spoke quietly, in a monotone unlike his own loud and colorful personality. "The other 99%. That's where I live."

"You live, down there." Yuzu looked back to Yugo, who gave a slight nod.

"The losers of this competitive society live down there. In what can only be called the slums, some even call it the ghettos. That's where most of us, and where I, grow up in." Yuzu couldn't say anything, she was speechless. "Tops call us slum dwelling, poor, ordinary people Commons or Commoners. While on the surface we seem to be treated as equals, but in reality we're treated as losers. Nothing. Trash or inanimate objects." Yugo snarled as his emotions rose in anger. "Everybody knows it, and in their hearts they scorn us. But no matter what they say about us, we are NOT losers!"

Yugo lifted his hand to punch his D-Wheel, but controlled himself and instead released it to hold back onto the handle bars.

"Yugo." Yuzu gave the boy a pitying look. No wonder he seemed to be a little too thin for someone like his age. He hasn't been fed enough, and who knows when was the last time he was even fed at all.

"This place, the City, it's based on merit, competition. If that's what it takes to survive and live a better life for Rin and I, then we'll just have to keep on winning! Use our strength and show just how strong we really are! The best way to the top is by dueling, and that's why Rin and I have been training and polishing our skills all the way up until this very moment. You see him up there?" Yugo pointed up towards a huge billboard poster.

The poster showed a white man with short blond hair with two long strands in a silver, white, and purple outfit with dark blue jeans. The back of the man's outfit flared out with a purple underside along with lots of spikes around his shoulders and some on his arms. He was pointing out towards them, and an extremely fancy and up to date D-Wheel was right beside him.

"That's the Duel King, Jack Atlas." Even as Yugo spoke, his voice was filled with awe and respect. "He's the very first Duel King to come from us Commons. He won the most popular and largest competitive duel tournament in the City, the Friendship Cup." Yugo grinned broadly. "Hmph, from there it wasn't too long before he easily placed himself at the very top as the king, and became every Commoner's hero, including my own." Now Yugo was practically vibrating in his seat while urging his D-Wheel to go faster. "That very same tournament is coming up very soon, and I'm going to enter it! If he can do it, then it's obvious Rin and I can win and get to the top just like he did! I just know that one day I'll duel Jack! It's our dream, and I won't let her memory or her wish to join the Friendship Cup go to waste." Yugo patted his D-Wheel reverently. "Rin and I made this baby together, and with it I know Rin is cheering me on! I'll accomplish our dream and show her our victory when we reunite."

Just then, the sound of a loud siren echoed out behind them and quickly gained speed. Both Yugo and Yuzu looked behind them to see a police officer riding towards them with a D-Wheel of his own with the words 'Security' on it. The flashing green lights were nearly blinding, and made Yuzu's eyes water even with the visor covering her eyes.

"You in the D-Wheel up front! Pull over immediately!" The Security officer demanded loudly behind them. When Yugo ignored him and increased his speed the officer yelled. "Did you not hear me you filthy Commoner? I said pull over right now! This is Security your disobeying!"

Yugo only pushed his D-Wheel further, and Security quickly began chasing them.

Yugo grinded his teeth in anger, and even a hint of fear. "Dammit! One of those Tops must have made a report on us, and now Security is on our back."

"Huh?" Yuzu looked between the two. "But Yugo shouldn't we pull over? I mean, they're the police!"

"Security is nothing more than a dog for the Tops to sick on us Commons!" Yugo threw back. "They take advantage of their power and torment and harm us instead of doing what a regular police force should do and help and protect us. Trust me Yuzu, when I say that the Security here is nothing like the one in your Dimension." Yugo leaned forward on his D-Wheel, as if that will make it go faster. "If Security catches us they'll only throw us into the Detention Facility! It's most likely we've been reported for entering a Tops' exclusive area without permission and have bodily harmed some of the resident Tops."

"WHAT?!" Yuzu yelled in disbelief. She was so shocked she almost fell off of the D-Wheel if it weren't for Yugo slowing down slightly to help keep her steady with one hand. Unfortunately, that let the Security officer gain on them. "T-They can't just do that! We didn't even touch them!"

"They can and they will!" Yugo yelled, and hit the gas on his D-Wheel again. "Tops, Security, it doesn't matter! They're all the same!

Suddenly, everything began to shake as the roads began to change, forcing both D-Wheels onto a certain road. Cars and other vehicles began to drive out of the way and thin out at the announcement of a Riding Duel about to commence.

"Riding Duel?" Yuzu looked around at the interchangeable bridges that began to rise out of the ground. "What's a Riding Duel?!"

"You're about to find out." Yugo griped. His hands clutching onto the handle bars. "Since we're about to be forced into one."

"Duel Mode! Autopilot! Stand By!"

. . .

A blinding bright blue light shone like a star in an alleyway, but as soon as it came, it was gone in an instant. The people who saw the light blinked, but it went away so quickly they assumed it was nothing but their imagination and quickly moved on with their lives.

However, that light was real, and out of it stepped a man in a dark purple outfit with gold lining. The most striking feature was the faceless black and purple one way glass mask placed over his face. The second most noticeable feature was the short cape that had a red underside that went down the the small of his back. Finally, a huge white cravat with a single purple gem embedded into the middle. A piece of black cloth covered his neck and went up into his mask, and a red symbol of geass was meticulously embroidered on in between and slightly above his collar bones.

Zero's boots clicked loudly in the almost eerily silent alleyway. That clicking came to a stop when Zero finally realized he was no longer in the L.D.S office in Miami City, but in another city in the Synchro Dimension.

"So, it worked." Zero stated to himself. He waited for a reply, but he received none, causing him to turn around.

And realize that there was nobody else with him.

Zero shoulders slumped slightly at this predicament. "You've got to be kidding me." When no one jumped out to say it was a prank, mostly coming from Sylvio or Dennis, Zero grumbled. "Dammit. Just me then, alright."

The masked man turned back towards the entrance of the alleyway, and carefully made his way forward to peak out of it. The huge- no, enormous skyscrapers towering over him put the ones in his home Dimension and the ones in Standard to shame. They were in different shapes and sizes, all a pristine white with light blue windows and steel, and the array of colorful lights made the coldest people stop to stare if only for a moment.

Once that moment was taken and memorized, Zero blinked, and quickly began to casually walk away from where he once was in the alley. It wouldn't do good to look suspicious since he was already wearing a mask to hide his face.

"Now then, to gather the rest of the Lancers together." Zero lifted up his unique duel disk and fiddled with it for a moment. Everything seemed to be working fine, but when it came to a map with everyone's location, it began to spazz out. Remembering the last time he handled an electronic device that began to freak out after Dimensional travel, (aka his phone from his home Dimension) Zero quickly turned the feature off and lowered his duel disk. "Alright then, looks like I'll have to find everyone the old fashioned way for now." Zero sighed. "This is ridiculous and a huge waste of precious time."

Thankfully, he told everyone to stay where they were, remain hidden, and let him and Reiji do the searching. Who knows what trouble the other Lancers could get into during that time, and what complications that could bring during negotiations.

...Who was he kidding? It was highly unlikely any of the Lancers were going to take those words seriously.

Zero growled under his breath, but gathered himself together when someone began to walk towards him with the intent of going past. Unfortunately for that person, that wasn't going to happen.

"Excuse me." Zero spoke politely, though it still sounded intimidating due to the modulator hiding his real voice.

The citizen, a richly dressed man in a brown suit and a white undershirt with black jeans, stopped to address the masked man. He had short black hair and curious, dull brown eyes that looked Zero up and down with a raised eyebrow. "What the hell are you wearing? Is that something the Commons have cooked up again? Are you a Commoner?"

Zero raised a masked eyebrow at that line of questioning, not really expecting it, but quickly brushed it off. The slot covering his left eye opened with a hiss, revealing his geass towards the man. "Obey my orders without question."

The geass quickly took effect, as the man relaxed his tense posture and nodded like a zombie. "Whatever you need. I'll try my best."

"Good." Zero snapped, straight to the point. The slot in his mask closed to hide his face now that the man was under his control. "What is the name of this place?"

"This is the City. A hot spot for dueling and duelists all around."

City? What kind of moron names a city City? "What Summoning Method do you use?" Although Zero was certain this was the Synchro Dimension, it was good to be careful and safe.

"Synchro Summoning of course."

"Have you seen anyone around here wearing a band like this with this symbol." Zero showed the man his band that labeled him as a Lancer. One of the ones he had passed out to everyone just before they warped away and got seperated. "Or anyone that looks out of place like myself with a weird outfit?"

The man scrunched his eyebrows together as he went through his memories whilst staring at Zero's band. "I'm not sure, but I think I remember seeing a boy that looked a bit like you a few streets down there." The man pointed back the way he came. "He was leaning against an alleyway wall looking at one of the huge TV billboards. Rather suspicious if you ask me."

"What did he look like?" Zero demanded.

"Had a long black cape with a red interior kind of like yours. Also had long spiky black and lavender hair that stuck up like this." The man gestured with his hands as he spoke.

"Good." That ment Yuto was most certainly nearby, at least that was a plus. Now, to the reason we're mostly here in the first place. Yuzu and that boy Yugo. "Have you seen a girl with pink hair in pigtails, periwinkle eyes, and a red jacket? She's with a boy with blue hair and yellow bangs, aquamarine eyes, and is wearing a white suit with blue and red markings. Both are around fourteen years old and are duelists. The boy also rides a white motorcycle that has yellow and black details almost reminiscent of a wasp."

The man blinked. "Oh, you mean those two fugitives being chased down by Security right now? Yeah, I've seen them. Everyone's seen them." Zero's brain screeched to a halt at that sudden answer.

"What." He deadpanned.

"Yeah. Just come right this way and I'll show you." The man turned around, and began to walk back the way he came. Zero following at his heels although keeping the proper amount of distance and his shoulders straight. His aura oozing confidence like he owned the place, and didn't look weird or out of place at all. It almost looked like he and the man might have been friends to the normal eye.

Finally, after crossing a few streets, the man pointed up to a huge billboard TV that would usually broadcast advertisements or even commercials. It was almost like one of those huge TVs Zero saw back in his home world. At the moment however, the TV was broadcasting a duel going one. The person recording it was obviously flying in a helicopter, and it was currently being broadcast live.

"You've got to be kidding me."

"Good evening to everyone here in the City on this lovely night! This is your Top reporter from Top City TV, Melissa Claire coming to you live with another riding duel!" A girl with bushy, curly light brown hair, ruby red eyes, and white skin reported enthusiastically beside the camera. The girl also wore a red cowgirl hat and other western clothing, while also having a small accent in her voice. The reporter held a long white microphone that had a yellow mic. "Right now you'll see a breathtaking chase happening between two Common fugitives and our lovely Security officer Duel Chaser 227! This riding duel will be sure to chase and start up the excitement in your hearts and souls! Our great Security Duel Chaser is currently in the lead, and is sure to bring these dangerous Common fugitives down and under arrest. I, Melissa Claire, will be sure to give you the thrilling conclusion to this energizing duel!"

"What's happening." Zero demanded to the geassed man.

"That's a riding duel." He pointed to the two motorcycles speeding on the road nearly side by side. "Those things they're riding on right now are called D-Wheels. With those, they initiate and begin duels while driving on the road." The man gave a broad smile even in his hypnotic state. "It's rather exciting to watch, and even more thrilling to be in action."

"Alright, but I asked what's going on." Zero hissed. Already agitated that Yuzu and Yugo had somehow turned into fugitives in the short amount of time they were gone.

"Right." The man's smile fell away. "Seems Security is chasing down your two Commoner friends. It's most likely they'll be defeated and arrested, then they'll be transferred into the Detention Facility where they'll be marked as criminals."

Marked? Zero wondered to himself, not liking where that was going. "What do you mean by marked?"

"All criminals are branded a symbol somewhere on their bodies." The man gestured to his face. "It's mostly on their face so that everyone knows they're criminals, but sometimes people have to get it somewhere else on their bodies because Security keeps catching them. They're basically branded with yellow marks, but it's not as painful as actually being branded with a hot iron. Honestly, I don't know why they even bother letting such delinquents out. Keep them all in there to rot."

Not as painful? So it still hurts? They allow their prisoners to suffer such pain? Zero thought incredulously, but shook it off. "Why do you keep saying Commons and Commoners?"

"That's the difference between us and them." The man pointed back up towards Yuzu and Yugo. "They're the losers, the criminals, the poor scum and suck ups. While we're the Tops." The man puffed up his chest with obvious pride. "The best of the best that get anything and everything, and it's all thanks to Security and officers like Duel Chaser 227 that keep it like that. People like our Head of Security Jean-Micheal Roger and the Council keep everything in order and us safe from those filthy Commoner monkeys."

Zero bristled and absolutely boiled at hearing such an insult. Filthy Commoner monkeys. These 'Tops' are just like the damn Britannians! Yet, even in his angered state, Zero took note of the Head of Security's name and this 'Council'.

"Tell me, how many 'Commons' compared to 'Tops' are there?" Zero asked, already knowing the answer.

"Us Tops are only 1% of the City's population, but WE gain 99% of the wealth those bumbling buffoons could only hope and dream of earning." The man sneered. "The only Commoner to ever prove that wrong is Jack Atlas, but he's basically one of us now."

Jack Atlas. Zero took note of that alongside the other tidbits of information he had gained in these few short moments. Now that Zero took more notice of the live riding duel, he noticed that below the street they were battling on there was actually a bunch of poorly constructed houses.

"Tell me." Zero spoke casually, but it was filled with venomous ice. "How do you feel about the Commoners?"

"Are you kidding me?" The man snorted at the mere thought. "Those Commoners are nothing compared to us Tops. In my opinion I think they should all go to the Detention Facility just for existing… Well, except for some of those women, because damn." The man whistled a rather loud and obnoxious cat call. "Even I'll have to admit. Some of those women look fine, and it's not like they have many other options other than selling their bodies to us Tops."

The man actually had the gall to laugh.

"Disgusting." Zero growled lowly in his throat. The orders leaving his lips not even giving him the smallest hint of sympathy or guilt. "It's amazing how you've even managed to live this long, but I'll be sure to rectify that. Give me your wallet, anything that has even an ounce of monetary value expect your clothes, and then go jump off of a bridge and kill yourself."

The man blinked owlishly. "Sure." And just like that, the man began to metaphorically strip himself of anything of value beside his clothes. Once that was done, the man didn't even say goodbye before he turned and walked away to fulfill the rest of his orders with a smile on his face.

It felt strangely satisfying to watch in Zero's opinion.

Once the man was out of sight and out of mind, Zero looked down to see what he had gained.

"Zero." The voice spoke in such a whisper that Zero himself barely even heard it. Knowing better than to snap up towards the source of the voice, Zero tensed imperceptibly and gave a small nod to show the person that he had heard them.

There are eyes and ears everywhere.

Carefully, and very discreetly, Zero turned back towards the TV billboard again. While his mask may be facing the live riding duel with Yuzu and Yugo, the two in an even more dire situation, Zero's dichromatic eyes were focused on the source of the voice. The pile of spiky black and lavender hair was more than enough to tell him that it was Yuto. The teen leaning against the alleyway walls close by, covered in shadows. The repaired goggles and mask he used in the Xyz Dimension covering most of his face.

Thank God this isn't a repeat of Standard or when I first arrived in Xyz. Zero thought to himself as he pocketed his procured items from his geassed slave whilst casually making his way over to Yuto. Once he had arrived, Zero easily stepped into the alleyway and into a pocket of shadows all on his own.

"Nice to see a familiar face hidden in shadows." Zero tipped his head towards Yuto in greeting. The latter taking off his goggles and revealing his face, although he kept the lower half of his mask on.

"I'm just glad I wasn't completely separated from the others." Yuto stated. His grey eyes more focused on Yuzu and Yugo's riding duel than anything else. "Who was that person you were talking to before?"

"A confidant of mine." Zero answered without hesitation. The lie leaving his lips easily. "One of the many I've placed in the Synchro Dimension among others."

Yuto raised his eyebrows at that, impressed. "At this rate, I don't even know which Dimension you could be from, and I shouldn't even be surprised about it."

"I've been around." Zero looked to the screen as well. Watching as Yugo's own monster, Chanbarider, attack him directly for a second and seemingly final time.

It was silent for a moment as both boys listened to the riding duel and Melissa Claire. "Trap activate! Dice Roll Battle!" That was Yugo speaking. "When my Life Points are below 1000 and I receive a direct attack, I send one Dice monster from my hand to the Graveyard. The monster in my Graveyard is then treated as material for a Synchro Summon!"

A small sigh of relief escaped Yuto's lips. His once extremely tense posture relaxing just a smidge. "Well then, he certainly likes to wait until the very last second before making a comeback."

Zero raised a masked eyebrow. "Reminds me of someone I know."

"Yourself?" Yuto asked with mock innocence.

The derisive click of Zero's tongue was all Yuto got in return along with crossed arms. "I send Speedroid Red-Eyed Dice from my hand to the Graveyard!" Yugo threw one of his arms in the air towards the endless black sky and twinkling white stars. "I tune the Level 6 Maken Dahma with the Level 1 Red-Eyed Dice!"

"He's going for a Level 7 Synchro monster." Yuto stated

"He's summoning his ace, Clear Wing." Zero agreed, and Yuto gave a distracted hum in reply. Grey eyes glued to the TV billboard.

The familiar sight of green rings and bright blue stars appeared as the Synchro Summon began to take place. "Spread your beautiful and brave wings, and shoot through your enemies at the speed of light! I Synchro Summon!" Yugo threw his fist forward in front of him as Clear Wing began to appear from the bright light. "Appear, Level 7! Clear Wing Synchro Dragon!" Even through the TV, Clear Wing's loud, boisterous roar was loud enough to rattle some of the windows nearby.

CLEAR WING SYNCHRO DRAGON LV.7 ATK:2500 DEF:2000

Clear Wing settled just above Yugo and Yuzu. It almost looked as if the huge dragon with beautiful wings was huddled over them, protecting them, or shielding them from view with its own body.

"Next, Dice Roll's Battle Effect has all monsters on the opponent's field battle with Clear Wing!" Yugo continued, and finally Clear Wing lifted itself up higher into the air, seperating from Yugo and the amazed Yuzu. "Chanbarider gains 100 Attack in battle. But!" Yugo looked up to his ace with pride. "When a monster that's Level 5 or higher on the field activates its effect, Clear Wing Synchro Dragon negates that and destroys the monster!" Clear Wing's striped tail whipped the wind harshly as it turned to face Chanbarider. It's light green wings beginning to glow bright and brighter by the second.

"What did you say?! No way!" Duel Chaser 227's voice was drowned out by Yugo and Clear Wing.

"Just watch! Dichroic Mirror!" Clear Wing roared, and a burning white light with other streaks of colors blasted Chanbarider full force. The other Synchro monster didn't stand a chance against the burning light, and was destroyed instantly. "Until the end of this turn, the destroyed monster's Attack is added to Clear Wing's Attack!" At the added power boost, Yugo's dragon flexed its huge claws and seemed to roar up towards the sky in a battle cry.

CLEAR WING SYNCHRO DRAGON ATK:2500 = 4600

"That effect is what almost done me in back in Standard." Yuto's eyes flickered between the screen and Zero. "It's a rather dangerous and powerful effect." Zero said nothing.

"4-4600 Attack…" Duel Chaser 227 stuttered. It seemed now that the tables had turned his inflated ego had popped like a balloon.

"Now, due to Dice Roll Battle's effect, Clear Wing and Goyou Predator will battle!" Yugo flashed a confident smirk back at 227. His arm outstretched towards the soon to be destroyed Synchro monster Goyou Predator.

"T-This can't be!" 227 stated weakly. "I was supposed to win! You're just a filthy stinking Common!"

"Then lose to this 'filthy stinking' Commoner and become something less!" Yugo yelled. The anger and emotion in his heart leaking through in his voice and actions as he yelled up to Clear Wing. "Go!"

That was all the incentive Clear Wing needed before the huge dragon was flying up high into the sky. White, blue, and cyan green colors streaking across the black night and whipping past Melissa Claire's helicopter.

"Clear Wing Synchro Dragon, attack Goyou Predator!" Yugo's ace snapped its jaws as it turned to face its prey. It's huge form blocking the moon and shadowing its features, but those gorgeous wings still stayed alite. The light pulsing like it was alive and becoming brighter by the second as Clear Wing dived down towards 227 and his monster. Razing green and white winds colliding and forming around Yugo's ace like a tornado. "Whirlwind Helldrive Slasher!"

Clear Wing landed a direct hit into Goyou's chest, and the monster vanished into yellow particles. Clear Wing's attack and razing winds lashing out to Duel Chaser 227 next. The Security officer and his bike began to spin wildly out of control and come to a complete stop.

DUEL CHASER 227 LP- 2200 = 0 LOSER

YUGO LP- 500 WINNER

Smoke billowed out from 227's bike, but he was quickly left behind in the metaphorical and literal dust from the road.

"You did it!" Yuzu cheered loudly from behind Yugo. Meanwhile, the people watching the live duel from the TV billboard began to boo loudly and madly.

"What's happening?" Yuto looked at the screaming people on the streets that were either yelling in outrage or looking up at the screen with fear. Children actually shook in fear as they hugged their parents while the adults hid their eyes from the screen. "What's going on? Why are they so angry or… scared?"

"They're angry." Zero eyed the masses of Tops from the Synchro Dimension passively. "They're upset that a Commoner beat their Security officer."

"How… Why- How shocking is this?!" Melissa Clarie cried out in equal shock as the other citizens. "The fugitive has shattered the star of Security, a Duel Chaser!"

"That Common scum must have cheated!"

"That animal actually beat Security?"

"Security better capture those rogues quickly or they'll escape!"

"You don't think they'll start rioting now, do you?"

"Don't look Sally dear. It's too horrendous, seeing Security lose to those rabble. Impossible. Rubbish!"

Yuto blinked at their slander towards Yugo and Yuzu. A frown pulling down at the Xyz user's lips. "But Yugo did nothing wrong. It was just a duel that Yugo won fairly. How dare they accuse him of cheating!"

Zero raised his eyebrows again. "I must say it's shocking to see you siding with Yugo after all of the times you clashed with each other."

Yuto shook his head passionately. "That was all just a misunderstanding that you helped clean up. Besides," Yuto looked up at the billboard. "It would be wrong to not defend Yugo from people accusing him of cheating."

"We don't know if Yugo sees it the same way. If he even believes what I said before we were warped away back to the docks." Zero spoke seriously now. "He could attack us again the next time we meet still. Also, it would be wise not to defend Yugo too loudly lest you yourself suddenly get wrapped up in Security and their unwanted attention."

Yuto narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

Zero merely pointed up to the TV billboard which was still broadcasting live. "Watch."

. . .

"So, we're safe now, right?" Yuzu asked carefully.

Yugo shook his head and pointed up ahead of them. "Not yet, look."

Periwinkle eyes looked up to see a strong metal wall suddenly spring up from the ground. The girl latched onto the back of Yugo's D-Wheel tightly in fear. "A- a wall!?" Yuzu cried out as Yugo had to take a sharp left turn onto another road to prevent them from getting into a fatal crash.

Yet up ahead was a huge blockade of Security officers. Flashing blue, red, and green lights nearly blind and certainly eye watering. Each officer, which was around six, had a duel disk strapped to their arm and ready for battle.

Yuzu cried out in fear, and bent down to latch her arms around Yugo's waist, her eyes squeezed shut. "You've got to be kidding me!"

"Won't they ever give up! Jeez!" Yugo spat irritably.

"Stop!" One of the Security officers yelled out. The rest all tense for battle. "By order of Security you must stop!"

Yugo only revved his engine and made his D-Wheel go faster.

Now the officers seemed a little more skittish at Yugo's refusable to stop his vehicle. "T-This is Security! You must stop and pull over at once!"

Yugo only gave a mischievous smile, and made his D-Wheel lurch forward. The officers instinctively ducked down, arms over their heads. However, when no pain came, the Security officers looked up to see Yugo, Yuzu, and his D-Wheel all jump over the blockade made by the Security officers, and continue speeding down the road and away towards freedom and safety.

The officers watched their form get smaller and smaller as Yugo gained distance, before one of them finally realized that their fugitives were escaping. "They're getting away! After them! After them!"

. . .

"How shocking is this! The fugitives didn't just win the duel, but they also broke through Security's blockades! T-They've successfully made their escape!" Melissa spoke in a quieter voice, but due to the microphone being nearly in her mouth it was still easily heard. "He's definitely been targeted." The girl sweat dropped at realizing they were still live, and gave a sheepish wave whilst continuing to speak to her viewers. "This has all been brought to you live by Melissa Claire! We hope to see you all next time!"

With that, the live feed to the action was suddenly and quickly cut off. The TV billboard turned black, before returning to an advertisement featuring a white man with short blond hair with two long strands in a silver, white, and purple outfit with dark blue jeans. A weird motorcycle almost like a circle of sorts being featured just behind him. The words 'Jack Atlas' splayed out in big bold letters at the bottom.

So that's what this 'Jack Atlas' looks like. I'll have to dig up some information on all of these people, including this Council and Head of Security Jean-Micheal Roger. Zero thought to himself as Yuto growled down at the ground. The Xyz rebel kicking some stray rubble off deeper into the alleyway with his boot in anger.

"I can't believe Security would do something that dirty. Putting up a blockade even though Yugo won the duel fairly." Yuto spat. "The only good thing about this is that we know that Yuzu is here, and is safe with Yugo."

"While it is truly good to know that Yuzu is safe. It's obvious that the Security and the way this world works is a little different from yours, Yuto."

"A little different?!" Yuto spoke incredulously, and both resistance fighters winced at how loud Yuto said that. The two sinking deeper into the alleyway and being wary of any cameras, still sticking to the shadows and darkness. "The officers in my home world would NEVER do something as underhanded as that! Hell, they stripped Yugo and Yuzu of their rights and forced them into that 'riding duel' in the first place!" It was obvious that Yuto was still getting used to the idea of initiating a duel whilst riding a motorcycle.

It was baffling to Zero as well frankly. Although, I suppose I can relate it to fighting in a Kightmare. Like Narita… Perhaps it would be best to invest in one.

"This entire system is corrupt." Zero tipped his masked head back to look up at the black sky. The stars being blocked out by the lights and polluted gas coming from the City. "Here in the Synchro Dimension, in Yugo's home world, dueling is the only way to advance." Masked violet and crimson eyes narrowed in hatred in distaste. "Winning is everything, that's all that matters." Zero tipped his head sideways to eye Yuto with his only violet eye. "Dueling is a means to live here in the 'City'... Does that sound familiar to you?"

Yuto visibly bit his bottom lip to try and quell the urge to yell. It wasn't shocking to see a single drop of blood fall from his lips, down his chin, and drip onto the ground in his efforts. Though he succeeded in keeping his voice down. "It's like what Heartland has become now. Dueling as a means to survive and fight instead of being used to bring joy and smiles."

Zero nodded, and silently crossed his arms. "I believe Yuya is the only one lucky enough to have grown up in a world like that for this long. After all, Yugo has to deal with this corrupt system, you needed to twist dueling into a tool for survival from Academia, and Yuri was raised in Academia to duel like this." At the mention of Yuri, Yuto flexed his fists as a means to relieve stress. "Yuya is the only one that's managed to use dueling as its meant to be, and stay out of this war, all the way up until now."

Honestly, Zero wasn't sure what to think about dueling besides it only being a game and a tool. Though leaning towards making it all about bringing others happiness and entertainment seemed to make others more willing to work with him.

"Anyway, we're not here to talk about this and contemplate about it." Zero raised his hands and pushed off of the wall casually. A black gloved hand extended out towards Yuto in silent offering, which the Phantom Knights user took willingly in a strong grip. "There are a lot of things you need to learn about this Dimension, and how the City and Synchro as a whole function. For now though, it would be best to get some lodging for us and the others we'll eventually collect. A base of operations." With that, Zero proceeded to pull out the things that man from before gave him from his pockets.

A brown, leather wallet filled to the brim with cash and credit cards alongside a couple MVP passes to a few casinos was the most interesting. An expensive looking watch that had black leather and silver, a sleek, professional looking holographic tablet, a black hair comb, a silky white handkerchief, a silver lighter with hints of gold on the edges, a utility keychain that had a flashlight on it, a pen, and a small leather bound notebook, and a black pocket knife.

Yuto eyed the pocket knife warily, but otherwise gave no other hint of his discomfort.

Zero conveyed his blank stare through the sarcasm in his voice. "No, I won't go randomly attacking any doctors or nurses nearby with it. And yes, I plan on keeping this." With that said, Zero skillfully hid the pocket knife in his sleeve for future use without another word.

"If you say so." Yuto cracked a quick smirk that was gone just as quickly.

"You'll never let that go, will you?"

"I doubt it."

Zero took a deep breath, and sighed through his nose, before continuing to rifle through his 'borrowed' things.

"Where and how did you even get these?" Yuto questioned.

"My confidant handed them to me, as I'm sure you saw. Now, how HE got these items, you'll have to ask him." Which will never happen since he's probably dead now. Not that it's such bad news for society. "Anyway, take these." Zero handed Yuto around half of the bills and cards (alongside the leather wallet itself since he already had one since Standard), a few MVP passes, the watch, handkerchief, and the keychain but with only the flashlight.

"Thanks." Yuto said politely as he took the given items and placed them somewhere on his person.

"I plan to rifle through this," Zero shook the small leatherbound notebook. "When we find a place to stay." Zero stored his own wallet, phone, lighter, and notebook away. "Oh, and I'm sure you're desperately needing this, so here."

Zero held out the black hair comb to Yuto, to the latter's unamused stare.

"You must think this is funny."

"Indeed, I do. Think of it as payback for bringing up the knife incident."

Yuto narrowed his eyes, but silently took the comb regardless. He brushed it through his hair a few times, before quickly putting it away and placing one hand on his hip. "Okay then, now that all of that is out of the way, where are we going to find the others?"

Zero nodded his head in agreement to Yuto's statement, and turned to begin walking out of the alleyway. "First things first, a place to stay, then we'll begin to search for the others. Yugo and Yuzu are most likely to go into hiding. I highly suspect they'll be down with the other Commoners and laying low, so they'll be harder to find."

Yuto furrowed his eyebrows at Zero's words. "What's with all of this talk about Commoners anyway?"

"I'll tell you everything when we're safely in a room in one of these nice casinos after we thoroughly comb the place for any cameras or bugs." Zero promised quietly now that they were on the street with the other Tops populace. "For now, just stay close to me and act normal, confidant, like you really and truly belong here."

"Right." Yuto nodded, and walked beside Zero with his head held high and eyes straight ahead.

It didn't stop the obvious stares that were directed at them. After all, it wasn't every day a royally dressed masked man and roughed up teenager walked their expensive streets. Though strangely enough, most of the stares were directed at Yuto with suspicion and discrimination, yet Yuto himself ignored it and toughed it out.

It was most certainly due to the fact that he looked like a 'lowly Common'.

This is going to be troublesome. Zero thought to himself.

. . .

"Seal all routes from District D to District R immediately." Currently, it was pandemonium at Security Headquarters. Uniformed people running left and right, most if not all of them strangely and disturbingly women, and people talked over each other.

All of this chaos just to find and detain two teenagers.

"Security patrolling in the area, track down the fugitives ASAP!"

"Sir." One of the women spoke through a communicator towards her superior officer located in a room above them. The woman scrolling through holographic maps and typing on the keyboard as well. "We've acquired mug shots of both the fugitive and his passenger!"

"Search for them ASAP!" Another woman ordered. The first sending the mug shots up to the Head of Security himself, Jean-Micheal Roger.

The two shots, one of Yugo and the other of Yuzu, were displayed in front of him on a holographic screen. The blond haired, green eyed man in his pressed purple and yellow military uniform idly resetting the chessboard on his right.

"Hmm." The man hummed casually, his eyes blank and careless of everyone else's troubles. Although they flickered with a hint of rage when they settled on Yugo.

The man tipped over the white king with one finger. "227. It's over for him." Roger leaned forward from his green chair to press a button on the keyboard in front of him. "Please send up Duel Chaser 227's records and clear out his space in Security Headquarters. He's done." Roger didn't wait to hear a reply before he cut off communication once more, knowing that his minions would get it done or face the consequences.

Almost instantly, another woman spoke up to bring him some news. "Sir, one of the fugitives has been spotted, but…"

Roger raised an eyebrow at the woman's behavior, curious. "What is it?"

"It's, well- The male fugitive sir, he's walking around in the Tops city right now." The woman spoke somewhat hesitantly, almost as if she was walking on thin ice.

Roger blinked, before his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. The thoughts of how a fugitive Commoner was walking around in the Top's section of the City unnoticed was baffling. "Show me the footage. I want to see this for myself."

"Yes sir." It was quiet for a moment. "Also, the fugitive seems to be with… someone else. We're currently unable to identify them though."

Roger said nothing, and instead waited until the footage from the City's cameras appeared. The cameras flipped between each other to keep an eye on the two people walking down the street sticking out like a sore thumb. One obviously looked like their target, but Roger instantly knew he was someone else. Not only did the eyes and hair give it away, but the horribly torn dark clothing was a glaring reminder as well. That, and it was impossible for their fugitive to be able to appear in that side of the town mere moments after the live feed was shut.

Then there was the person walking beside the fugitive lookalike that would have made Roger spit out a drink if he currently had one.

The mask hid their face, and therefore their identity, while the tight purple, gold, and black clothing hid their skin color. The cape the masked man wore was obviously shorter, and went to the small of his back, but there was no mistaking who this was.

Zero.

He had been notified about possibly encountering Zero, and how much of a wanted fugitive he was. What he had done, and the chaos he had caused back in the Xyz Dimension, but also of the recent trouble brought up in Standard as well. The person beside him was one of the resistance fighters within Zero's inner circle, Yuto Raiden.

This could only mean one thing, the reason Zero was here, and it wasn't anything good to Roger and his mission.

"Shit." Roger whispered silently to himself, the room dead silent as he was the only occupant there. The Head of Security pressed the same button on the keyboard again. "I want three Secuirty officers to tail both this masked man and his partner each. Under no circumstances should they engage in a duel or reveal themselves to the targets unless strictly ordered by myself." There was always the chance they were here for another reason, and it was more likely that they didn't know who he was aligned with. Where he came from.

But that didn't make this situation any less difficult or complex.

Roger rubbed his forehead and carefully sighed through his nose. If Zero was here with Yuto, then it was highly likely that there were others as well.

In a swift and organized manner, Roger went to a folder designated '0', and opened it to reread the huge amounts of information that was lacking in actual, useful information.

"Sir, we have Security officers saying they found both fugitives." The same woman spoke again, although in a much more confused voice.

"The one boy walking around in the Top's section of the City is not the fugitive we're looking for, he just looks like him. Ignore him." With that stern order, the woman instantly dropped the topic and never asked of the two again.

Roger leaned back, head leaning against one hand that was on his chair. Dull green eyes flickering over to the chessboard as he thought of his new, more challenging opponent. Now, what to do about them.

. . .

"This is Secuirty! You've been completely surrounded." One of the three officers barked towards three teenagers and a fourth child hiding behind them.

"What the heck is that guy saying? We just got here!" Sylvio stated in his confused disbelief. "Is this all some sort of joke?"

"We've found the two fugitives you're looking for. Their outfits have changed, but their faces match the mug shots. They have comrades with them." Another officer spoke into his communicator to Security Headquarters, the mug shots of Yuzu and Yugo being displayed in front of him on a holographic tablet.

"Secure them immediately." Roger ordered politely, but nonetheless ordered.

The child hiding behind Yuya, Serena, and Sylvio backed away slowly, but soon quickly turned and began to run as fast as his small shaking legs could take him. Riley's grip on his stuffed bear tightening in his fear.

Yuya and the others turned to see Riley running away, and the tomato haired teen quickly began to run after him. "Wait, Riley!" Serena and Sylvio followed them not too far behind.

However, Riley's run came to a quick halt as a strange navy blue and orange wall with a red eye appeared in front of him. Riley ran full force into it, and knocked himself backwards in the process.

Thankfully, Yuya was there just in time to catch him, and further prevent any injuries. "Riley! Are you alright!?" Crimson eyes looked up at the wall, which strangely looked like a duel monster Yuya had seen before somewhere in his world. "Is this, Real Solid Vision? It's activated outdoors?"

"We're being surrounded." Serena yelled, and both Sylvio and Yuya turned to watch as their exits were cut off, until the only way out was through the officers.

"You lot have been wanted in the City for a few hours now!" A third, more buffed up Security officer stated loudly. He and the first officer with light brown hair activated the duel disks on their arms. "Surrender quietly or else!"

"You're kidding!" Yuya said in disbelief.

"Yeah what Yuya said!" Sylvio yelled, outraged. "We just got here! What could we have possibly done wrong!?"

"Enough talk, Common fugitives! Surrender yourselves quietly!" The first officer yelled, not caring for the teenagers' plight or what they're trying to say.

Sylvio grit his teeth and pointed at the man. "Hey, you! Don't think I'll just stay quiet and listen to you loudmouths!" The loudmouth himself Sylvio began to stomp the ground in his agitation, not making the situation any better. "Who do you think I am? I'm Sylvio Sawatari!"

"Um, Sylvio." Yuya raised his hands in a calming gesture to the burnet. "Hold up a second, I don't think what you're doing is help-"

Sylvio gestured to himself and spoke over Yuya. "You wanna duel? Well, then bring it on!"

"Sylvio!" Yuya almost whined, but the emotion was still there. "We just got here and you're already trying to duel someone. This is not helping our situation!"

"I don't care!" Sylvio snapped. "I'll put all of these 'officer's in their places!" Confidence pouring out of every fiber of his being, although the skill was somewhat lacking. Despite Yuya's protests, Sylvio activated his duel disk and the classic green duel blade appeared.

"Sylvio!" Yuya waved his hands frantically. "If you'd just hold on a second-!" Anymore protests towards Sylvio died in his throat when Serena suddenly stepped forward with her own duel disk activated. The Academia sword duel blade a blue instead of menacing red or purple, showing that it had been modified. "Wh- Serena! Not you too!"

"Just watch and learn Yuya. This is how a real entertainer performs!" Sylvio raised his hand up into the air, and snapped his finger. "Action Field, on!"

"Field Spell, Cross Over." Sylvio's duel disk spoke monotonously, and glowing light blue platforms began to appear in random intervals as the Action Cards dispersed across the sudden Action Field. The buildings' roof, walls, and windows turning various shades of blue as well.

SECURITY LP- 4000

SECURITY LP- 4000

SYLVIO LP- 4000

SERENA LP- 4000

"DUEL!"

"Guys!"


Here we have it folks, the end of Chapter 29, which I'm sure some of the you were waiting on for a while now. Thank you for your patience. 12,700 words and 30 pages. Anyway, we've been introduced to Synchro now, Yuzu and Yugo got their stuff sorted out, Zero thankfully met up with Yuto in the Tops City and is making moves quickly, Roger has been introduced, and the others have arrived in the Synchro Dimension as well. Yes, I did speed up the time the others arrive into Synchro, it's fine.

Also, here is the answer to the coordinates and numbers I gave in the last Interlude.

666-A26R1C18-V3-03-7511919-0000

A(Z)R(A)C(R)-V(C)

666 - Number of the Beast

7511919 - 7 = G/5 = E/1 = A/19 = S/19 = S

YU-DM (Duel Monsters)

GI-GX

OH-5DS

MD (Multi-Dimensional) -Merlin ZEXAL

Think of it what you will… Hehehehehe ;)

Though some of it was glaringly obvious. *Cough Cough the pieces Cough Cough VERY original Moonlight Cough Cough* (Could you detect the sarcasm there?) But oh boy, can't wait to see what delicious chaos everyone will be getting into next Chapter. Here's something I also want to somewhat address, pairings for the story. Now some of you have been asking about what the pairings are, and let me tell you a few. Yuya/Yuzu, Yuto/Ruri, and Yugo/Rin. I'm not addressing any other ones, specifically Lelouch, because it'll possibly spoil some moments. Also I feel like it would be fun to leave it up to your imaginations.

Now that everything seems to be out of the way, leave a REVIEW, favorite, or follow!

In Chapter 30, (Sweet! We're just about at the 30 mark!) Gambling Everything. We'll be focusing on Zero and Yuto. See you all there! -MoonlightWright