"Draw."
Yuya panted, his energy drained from the previous turn.
"Yuya! Yuya!"
"Yuya, are you alright? I'm going to poison that bloody—"
"You can do it!"
Yuya blinked wearily. "Yuto? Yuri? Yugo? No, I must be imagining it." He focused on Noelev. "I just have to protect them and win. Just have to win."
"On the Standby Phase after my Replica of Sadness was destroyed by its own effect, I can activate the continuous trap Mimicry of Rage directly from my deck. I can put two Rage Counters on it to Special Summon a "Number" Xyz Monster from my Extra Deck and attach an Extra Deck monster in my graveyard to it as material. You cannot negate this effect; however, I cannot battle this turn. I will place eight Rage Counters on it. Come, Number 85: Crazy Box! (R4/3000/300/DARK/Fiend/Xyz/Effect) Number 70: Deadly Sin! (R4/2400/1200/DARK/Insect/Xyz/Effect) Number 11: Big Eye! (R7/2600/2000/DARK/Spellcaster/Xyz/Effect) And Number 86: Heroic Champion Rhongomyniad!" (R4/1500/1500/DARK/Warrior/Xyz/Effect)
Four Xyz Monsters in just one move?
"I will detach an Overlay Unit from Number 70: Deadly Sin to activate its effect. I will banish Odd-Eyes Vortex Dragon (7*/2500/3000/WIND/Dragon/Fusion/Effect) from the field."
"I will activate Odd-Eyes Vortex Dragon's effect! I will shuffle Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon (7*/S4/2500/2000/DARK/Dragon/Pendulum/Effect) into the Deck to negate the effect and destroy your monster. Sanctuary Storm!"
All of a sudden, he heard Yuri screaming. He tried to shut his thoughts away. Just think about winning…
Noelev smiled.
"You fell for it. I will detach one Overlay Unit from Number 11 to activate its effect. I will take control of your monster, but Big Eye cannot attack this turn—not that it matters."
Vortex.
The monster was dragged towards the other's side. Noelev grinned. "I end my turn. Now what will you do?"
What will he do? He closed his eyes. Please, lend me your strength. He told his deck. Please, let me save them.
He drew.
He laughed. A short burst of laughter. "I will activate the spell card Last Pendulum Swing! At the end of this turn, I lose. However, I may place five Pendulum monsters from my graveyard and deck into the Extra Deck, and negate the effects of all face-up cards on your field!"
He needed power. He needed the power to win. To save them.
"I will place Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon (7*/S4/2500/2000/DARK/Dragon/Pendulum/Effect) from the graveyard, Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon, (7*/S4/2500/2000/DARK/ Dragon/Pendulum/Effect) Odd-Eyes Persona Dragon, (5*/S1/1200/2400/DARK/Dragon/Pendulum/Effect) Odd-Eyes Arc Pendulum Dragon (7*/S8/2700/2000/DARK/Dragon/Pendulum) and Odd-Eyes Mirage Dragon (3*/S8/1200/600/DARK/Dragon/Pendulum/Effect) from the Deck! Pendulum Summon! Come, my monsters!" All five of the dragons appeared on his field in various bursts of light, letting out howls. "We'll finish this here!"
In his mind's eye, the image of a dragon appeared. A dragon with Odd-Eyes' ruby scales and long, iridescent glass-like wings, with long claws and a long, snake-like tail.
You guys… trying to help me save myself? Or to help me save them?
His most faithful partner turned to him and let out an exasperated growl.
No difference? That hurts, Odd-Eyes. But you're right. Me, Yugo, Yuto, Yuri… we're one and the same. We've been through the same experiences, the same sadness, the same tears. The same smiles.
So I'll save them. I swear to whatever gods there may be that I will save them!
And if there are no gods, I will just have to take that step myself.
Two steps. He needed two steps to bring that card out.
If you can hear me, Anthelion… I need you.
He held up his hand. "I Overlay Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon and Odd-Eyes Arc Pendulum Dragon!" He saw the card that he needed materialise in his hand. "Fangs of rebellion gain new power and slash the pall of darkness! Awaken, dark raging dragon that presides over the battlefield! Xyz Summon! Rank 7! Dark Anthelion Dragon!" (R7/S10/3000/2500/DARK/Dragon/Pendulum/Effect)
The silver-indigo dragon appeared with a loud howl. He gave a soft smile. "Yeah. We'll save them. I will activate the Pendulum Effect of Xiangke Magician (7*/S3/2500/500/DARK/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Effect) and allow Dark Anthelion to be used this turn as an Xyz Material with the same Level as its rank!"
"What's the point of that?"
"There is a point to everything!" He shouted back. "That's what I believe, and that's what I'll keep believing! I—with my brothers, I have no despair!" He raised his hand in the air. "Reveal yourself, dragon formed from love with the power of rage! I overlay my two Level 7 monsters! Dragon with dual-coloured eyes! Resurrect from the deep darkness. With the flame of rage, incinerate everything on the earth! Xyz Summon! Come forth, Rank 7! The blazing dragon called by calamity! Supreme King Violent Dragon - Odd-Eyes Raging Dragon!" (R7/S1/3000/2500/DARK/Dragon/Xyz/Pendulum/Effect)
Flames burned all around them, chasing away the darkness. He stepped forward, looking at Noelev with as much fury as he could allow himself to reveal. "Thank you for helping me see it. The power that our bond can call. Odd-Eyes Raging Dragon's effect activates! Since it was summoned with an Xyz Monster as its material, I will detach one Overlay Unit to destroy all cards you control! Wipe it out! Raging Firestorm!" All the cards on his opponent's field were burned away.
Rage. Love.
The power from rage and love.
Noelev smirked, his red eyes glowing. "Very good. You will need that power for what is up ahead."
He chose not to comment on that. "Raging gains 200 attack points for each destroyed card. I destroyed four. Take him out, Raging! Helldive Apocalypse!" (Supreme King Violent Dragon - Odd-Eyes Raging Dragon: 3000 + 200 x 4 = 3800ATK)
Noelev En: 1500 - 3800 = 0LP
Yuya panted, even as a wall of darkness fell away next to him and the three boys who had been trying to break it fell forward on their faces. (Yuya, despite the situation stifled a laugh.) They all got to their feet—Yugo reached him first, pulling him into a tight hug. Yuto and Yuri looked like they were holding themselves back from slaughtering Noelev, and barely succeeding at that.
"You have five seconds to tell me why you put Yuya through that—before I put my rusty screwdriver into your eye." Yuri bit out. "Who the hell are you?"
Noelev sighed. "I am Number 11, Big Eye. Hence, Noelev En."
It was a sign of how strange the day had been that none of them really responded to the revelation, with Yuya simply turning his gaze to the other.
"We, the Numbers are the keys to unlocking a demon—one that we've sealed for centuries. I—I needed to find someone to protect us. The apostle has found out that we are here, and his servants are coming for us."
The apostle? A demon?
"So basically, if we don't protect you, we'll all die gory and painful deaths?" Yuri asked, ignoring the disturbed looks his brothers shot him.
"You have issues, Yuri."
Yuri shot him a smirk, before his eyes hardened and turned back to Noelev—Big Eye. Big Eye was watching them with a smile. "I knew when I found out that you all spoke the demon's words that you would be the perfect warriors. So I'd like to task you with this mission. Keep us out of the enemies' hands. We must not reunite… Zarc must not rise again!"
Zarc.
The name echoed in Yuya's heart. A million stories, all come to life. The feeling of something missing, a dream not quite reached.
"We…" he glanced at his brothers. "We accept."
He felt tired all of a sudden. It was truly over…
He fell, blacking out.
He trusted them to catch him.
"Dad, it's rude to leave a story unfinished."
"Yes, of course, Yuri. Where did I stop?... "The poisoner was dragged in front of the prince to stand trial, and his silver tongue was clear for everyone to see—the ultimate assassin, the poisoner and the liar. The prince admired his cunning and his drive, and at the end, offered him a job.
"Kill for me. Fight for me."
"You can't keep me entertained," the assassin said. "I seek the thrill, I seek the most fun I could ever have. I can't have that if I stay with you—I'd rather have my head cut off."
The prince smiled, stepping off his throne. He stood in front of the assassin. "I know three others just like you. One a villager. One a merchant. One a gladiator. I came into their lives to offer them solace. If you wish for a thrill—by all means, I will show you the most beautiful things the world has seen."
"...and if you fail?"
"Then you may have my head."
The poisoner agreed, because of two things. Curiosity—and a wish to live. And the prince brought him to the neighbouring kingdoms, gave him a field of his own to grow flowers in. It was there that the poisoner met a little girl. He taught her the names of poisons and how to avoid them. He taught her when he was bored, in between assassinations and journeys. And eventually, he began to see her as more than a random stranger, as an apprentice, someone to carry on his legacy.
In the middle of the war, the poisoner became a target for the warring kingdom. And his garden was burned with fire—and when he ran there, frantically praying that the girl had not shown up for her lessons that day…
He found a razed field and a teddy bear that he had given to his pupil.
The poisoner was in denial. He refused to believe that the girl was gone. He put out missing posters and asked questions. He eventually found out that the girl had belonged to a poor family—a single, drunk father and son, who spat at him and told him that one less mouth to feed was a good thing.
That was the final straw.
One day, the poisoner placed his head in his hands and screamed. In that moment, he gave up on ever having a future.""
"And then? What did he do?"
"He became infamous. He refused the prince's trips and gifts and gave his life to murder. He became the fearsome assassin that one had to face if they tried to kill the prince. He gained the name…"
"Aww… does it not say?"
"No, Yuri… it doesn't say."
"You guys have been acting weird since you brought Yuya to the infirmary with those injuries." Rin commented. "Something we should know?"
Snapping out of his daze, Yuri gazed at his brothers. Yugo's head was still buried in his hands (and his mind in his own self-loathing) and Yuto was staring into the forest, cracks on the concrete where he had slammed his fist earlier.
Tsk. So out of control.
"Nothing important."
"Is that so." Selena crossed her arms. "Then why do you look like you want to murder something?"
He remembered the feeling of darkness, of something breathing against his skin. Of the strange dream-like state he had been in, drifting in the darkness and knowing that there was something very important, something he had gone there for. And yet the darkness had teased and trapped him there, in the nothingness—
"That's not despair. You have an odd definition of it. We lived. We fought through all of that. I still had Yuto, Yugo and Yuri. With them, I have no despair."
Yuya!... the shock of remembering what he had forgotten, the rage that came at realising that the figure had forced them to forget Yuya—
And now they had to protect this bastard or their world would come crashing down? How dare he!
"Ok, calm down." Selena sighed. "Honestly… I don't know why you're upset, but I can guess. So what if you couldn't protect Yuya from whatever hurt him? Just protect him next time… and next time, and over and over until you are satisfied."
"I'll never be satisfied." Yuri growled out, only for Serena to grin.
It was Ruri who replied, however. "Good. That means you love him."
He groaned. "Don't say those sappy things." The 70 behind his ear glowed green and bright. "I hate hearing that. Love blah love—I prefer results."
"Shut it, Yuri." Yuto stood up, beginning to walk away. Yugo did the same. Ruri frowned and hurried after Yuto.
Yuri sighed and leaned back, closing his eyes.
Selena sat down. "Oi. Aren't you gonna go after your brothers?"
"Why should I?"
She slapped him. "You're scared," she gritted her teeth. "You're just scared, and that's why you refuse to fight, or to motivate your brothers to fight. You're pathetic, Yuri."
He felt irritation at the slap. "I'm not scared." He stood up. "And if I hypothetically didn't want to fight, what's wrong with that?"
"You know, I thought I saw a kindred spirit in you while we were on the ship." Serena bit out, her green eyes glaring at him. "And during your duel. We're both the second oldest, but we're also the black sheep of our families—we have certain habits that they would prefer we not have. But they still care for us, and we still want to protect them." She shook her head. "I fight. A lot, with random people on the streets and with people who hurt others. I used to pick fights using the excuse that I was protecting others, and despite caring for my sisters I avoided them like the plague because I was under the impression that they hated me."
Yuri would normally mock anyone who tried to open up to him, to prove the mistake they had made... and yet, he couldn't do that to Serena for some reason. Certain habits, huh? "And then what happened?"
"Rin knocked some sense into me. She told me that they all hated seeing me come back injured and avoiding them." Serena sighed, a rather forlorn look in her eyes. "She hunted me down every time I went to pick fights. And eventually, I stopped. I'm still impulsive, and I still jump to conclusions... and I can be too confrontational. But I'd like to think I've taken a step in the right direction."
"... why are you telling me this?"
Serena shrugged. "We're friends, aren't we? And you remind me of me, somehow... Yuri, are you satisfied just moping around like this? If you don't try to change things, nothing will change! Whatever danger there is, just standing around like this won't help. You have to move forward."
"That's easy to say."
"Seriously, Yuri? Tell me this—"
"Hey! Yuto!"
He spun to see Ruri Kurosaki behind him. There was a worried frown on her face.
"Please calm down," she said.
He held back the urge to snap at her—Ruri was too nice for that, and besides she only meant the best. "I'll calm down when Yuya wakes up," he said, hiding his face, acutely aware of the '86' on his right hand, glowing and pulsing and obvious to anyone who had the ability to see it.
It felt disgusting.
Maybe if they had been heroes and innocent kids they would have been happy to be chosen, but they weren't. Yuto wasn't.
He knew what it felt like to fight, to lose, to want to die. Life wasn't as easy as in the movies, it wasn't as carefree. Being chosen wasn't anything that good, it was a burden, another thing stopping him from being able to take care of Yuya.
But it was power. But it was power, and he wished he didn't like it as much as he did. Wished he didn't want it, wished he could say no and just throw it away... but they had no way to say no, did they? Even if they already had too much on their backs, pressing them down... adding yet another burden to that wasn't a choice that they had. They... had to protect them or Zarc...
Why was the name Zarc so familiar?
What if Zarc ended up hurting Yuya anyway?
They had no choice, no choice at all. It was a feeling that he was too used to by now.
Ruri stepped forward. "I know you're sad. I know you're upset. But Yuto… wouldn't Yuya prefer to see you smiling when he wakes up?"
Smiles…
He gave her a nod. "Yeah… you're right. Ruri… we've gotten ourselves in a huge amount of trouble. We have something important to do… but I'm scared to do it. I'm scared to try it, and I'm scared to let Yuya try."
Ruri Kurosaki gave him a soft smile, moving closer. "Is it important? To do it."
To stop the rise of a demon, the end of the world… "It's important."
"Stupid."
Yugo looked up from his sulking to see Rin Kurosaki giving him an irritated frown. "Oh, it's you."
"Be a little more polite." Rin chided. "I did come out here because I saw you upset."
"...and you called me stupid?"
Rin laughed a little at that. "I guess I was a little too agitated. I know those eyes you guys have. Or at least, I can tell how your older brothers are thinking. But you…"
He gave a sigh, glancing at Clear Wing in his Extra Deck. "You can't read me, huh?" He felt like he had been torn apart in some way, he felt like the Number from the house had done something to him. He had hated seeing Clear Wing in that man's hands. He had hated it… and yet, he hadn't consciously been aware of why until he remembered Yuya.
The very idea of Clear Wing being used to hurt Yuya…
"I feel like I don't do enough for Yuya." He said finally. It felt easier to say when he wasn't talking to his overprotective brothers—the ones who had caused this feeling in the first place. "Or Yuri, or Yuto. I can't be the responsible older brother who makes choices and helps to make sure we keep a roof over our heads. I can't be the one who calls everyone out on what we're doing wrong. I can't be the one who is willing to do cruel things just to support the family. All I have is my naivete and my D-Wheel. I'm not enough."
"I feel that way too, for all of them." Rin glanced back towards the forest. "Serena, Yuzu, Ruri. As the oldest, I feel protective, and yet they're all so strong by themselves that they make me feel like I don't do enough."
"You don't talk to them about it?"
A dry laugh. "You're still a blockhead, even if you're depressed. It would be awkward."
"Why? They're your sisters, aren't they?"
Rin looked back over, and it struck him how bright amber her eyes were. Pretty. "Says the one who won't talk to his own brothers about how he feels, even though he cares so much. Tell me, Yugo—"
At three separate places, to three separate people, the Kurosaki sisters said the same thing. The same time, an echoing, piercing thought.
"If it's so important to you, why won't you fight for it?"
Family, peace and a bond.
Why wouldn't they fight?
In the infirmary, Yuzu Kurosaki glanced at the sleeping Yuya.
She knew, from all the times Serena got in fights and came home bleeding… she understood how bad the Sakakis must have been feeling then.
For a second, she thought she saw something on Yuya's face, but it vanished almost instantaneously. Probably nothing.
Wake up soon, Yuya. Everyone's worried for you.
She pulled out her deck and began shuffling the cards, glancing at all of them. Doing that always put her in a peaceful mood. It always let her feel more… relaxed. Not as nervous.
There was a loud laugh, before a figure stepped into the room. She was on her feet immediately, blocking the figure from Yuya. The figure was wreathed in shadows, and he let out a loud hiss.
It unnerved her. She didn't understand it.
The figure looked up, gold eyes glowing. It spoke, in a distinctly feminine voice. "I see. This is where the key is… and yet… step aside."
Yuzu shook a little, but she stood there. "I will not let you get to Yuya."
She thought about Yuto, and how tormented he had looked as they ran into the infirmary, about how he had collapsed on the floor immediately, punching the ground in frustration.
She thought about Yuri, about how the other had seemed so calm but she could see the fury building up in those eyes, and the way he had looked at Yuya, the way he had tried to reassure himself by checking Yuya's pulse over and over.
She thought about Yugo. Who had been crying quietly, the tears streaming down his face even as he tried to hide them. The way he had glanced at his older brothers before he had reached out and promised the sleeping Yuya that he wouldn't let it happen again.
How could she step aside after seeing all of that?
The figure raised their duel disk. "Very well. Then, for my master—I will send you into the shadows."
She raised her own.
Be brave, she told herself. She would fight too. For herself… and so that she would never have to see anyone that she cared about looking so pained again.
"Duel!"
A/N: I'm so sorry for the wait! School caught up to me :( But I'm really happy to get back to this story! Happy (very late) new year, everyone! I actually posted a Christmas oneshot as a backstory of sorts for this AU! It's called "Dragons' Christmas" so go check it out if you want!
So this is sort of a build-up to the next part of the story. You know, the calm before the storm. So as you can see, Yuzu will duel next chapter!
Also, I got a few PMs from people—so in case anyone has read this far and not realised, the card effects in this story follow the OCG/TCG cards ;) Thanks for reading, and I really hope you enjoyed!
Chapter Preview: Chapter 8–Symphony of Death
Yuzu duels a mysterious figure, who wants to kidnap Yuya for some reason. However, despite the wounds she gains from the fight, she keeps her resolve!...
Once again, thanks so much for reading! (The next chapter will be much longer :))
-Blaise
Edit: (8/7/19) Added a bit to the interactions between Yuto and Ruri, Yuri and Serena and Yugo and Rin. Centralised life points.
Edit: (17/10/20) Duel format edits. Nothing major, but I'm glad it's done.