Title: Words That Bind
Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's
Characters: Fudo Yusei, Kiryu Kyosuke
Genre: Friendship, Romance
Rated: K+
Summary: Yusei and Kiryu. Twenty moments of their relationship. Mostly canon. Based on the writing challenge "20 Words that began forever".
Disclaimer: I own nothing, and I don't make any money with this.
A/N: This piece started out as a writing challenge I saw on the German site FanFiktion . de. It was called "20 Words that began forever". Given 20 situations, one was supposed to take a pairing and come up with short dialogues that conveyed the essence. Also, each situation had a prescribed number of words, and one's word count needed to match it.
Since the situations and dialogs would come down to singled out moments anyway, I decided to write a bit more about the corresponding scene in which they occur. With an added challenge: Each section would get exactly 100 words, dialog included.
The bold lines are given, and the actual words are the sentences or dialogues in the end of every scene (ugly formatting due to the site not doing blank lines). The sections are not in chronological order; they are, however, linked by the thematic context. English is not my first language, so please point out any mistakes you find. Feedback is very much appreciated.
Words That Bind
by Infernity Zero
Twenty words that began forever
He finally got around to visiting again, and Kiryu tried to feign indifference. But the way his lips tightened, his hands clenched and unclenched ...
Kiryu was mad. And hurt.
And he was at fault. Largely. Kiryu had abruptly turned away, cutting him short. He'd merely said he wouldn't spend the night in the guest room. Because he'd intended to say this term wouldn't fit with what he had in mind.
He'd not let a misunderstanding drive them apart this time.
.
"Kiryu, listen—"
"I'll manage without your occasional—"
"I am staying. Here. With you. I will not leave you again. Ever."
.
Nineteen words that made us laugh
His fingers were so stiff he even managed to nearly drop his Duel Disk. What if they forgot something? They couldn't afford to fail their first gang fight.
"Relax," Kiryu said, looking like his usual confident self. "Wait for the signal and march right in. We've gone over it. Double-checked everything. Got backup plans. And besides ..."
The amused smirk that was clearly supposed to calm his nerves tightened his chest instead. His breath felt heavier. He'd burst if he didn't ask.
.
"Besides, what?"
"I'm worried about Jack and Crow."
"What do you mean?"
"Just worried they might wreck the place."
.
Eighteen words that nearly ended it all
For now it was merely the sun painting them blood red.
He had to say it, prevent the madness. Even if it cost him their time together: their days patrolling Satellite's streets, sharing meaningful glances, their nights talking about nothing and everything, casually brushing hands.
Kiryu wouldn't take on Security if he was all by himself.
He still didn't have the heart to look Kiryu in the eyes after finding his voice again. Every word stabbed like a knife into his chest.
.
"I can't be with you anymore. You'll have to do this one alone. I'm leaving the team—you."
.
Seventeen words that betrayed me
Numbed and tossed against the horse cart, he glared at that woman. The buzz of the shock gun's electricity still rang in his ears.
He'd set off at once, uncaring of how blindly he'd been rushing into things. Her letter had torn him away from his work and led him to Crash Town—Crow and Jack likely wouldn't find out any time soon.
"Weren't you worried about Kiryu?!"
She stood there beaming, one arm around Malcolm, and curled her lips into a sneer.
.
"Why would I, for that near-death man? I called you, his friend, to get rid of him."
.
Sixteen words that meant the world to me
One last pull, and he was up on the roof's firm ground.
Dread crept up his stomach as he gasped for air. A fall six floors down definitely wouldn't have ended well. He'd been careless and put himself in danger. Which had ended up putting Kiryu in danger, too.
When the railing had begun to collapse, despair had choked his breath. He'd asked Kiryu to let him fall—his friend would've got dragged down with him.
Kiryu had cut him short, his eyes flaring.
.
"Don't be stupid! I won't let you go—I'd never just abandon you. You're my friend."
.
Fifteen words that engulfed me in my wake
The—poorly disguised—worried glances were something he could block out. But Crow had to go pester Security every day to visit the prison.
He'd been carefully avoiding Team Satisfaction's hideout since that night; he'd see traces of Kiryu everywhere and probably break down. His plan had failed and backfired. Facing Kiryu now might just rip him up inside even more.
As Crow's whispered words sank in, the room around him began to blur. He couldn't move—didn't want to. Everything would then become real.
.
"I've got news. Kiryu ... Security—some guys were talking. They said that ... that he's dead."
.
Fourteen words that woke me up
Jack would probably scowl less at him if someone he was close to had turned into a Dark Signer.
Still, he'd hold firm to his words. He'd rather abandon his duty as a Signer than have to defeat Kiryu in their Duel. It was his fault Kiryu had died—he must've hated him a lot then.
Silence pressed down on him, oppressive, tense.
Jack's fist crashed into his cheek. His friend's usual cold, clear voice cut through the dark rustling that had settled in his mind.
.
"I'll tell you what to do. You want him back? Then fight for it."
.
Thirteen words that created the bridge
Kiryu cared a lot for them, really, lived for the team. His questionable acts were probably just him wanting to protect the order they'd worked so hard to obtain.
Slowly, Kiryu turned and met his gaze. His throat tightened. The partly shocked, partly scared look their leader—his friend—had on his face didn't at all fit him.
He'd always admired Kiryu, gladly leaned on his cheerfulness and strength. He couldn't stop Crow and Jack from walking off, so he'd be a support for Kiryu at least.
.
"Hey, Yusei, we're a team, right? You'll stay by my side, right?"
"Yes."
.
Twelve words that broke my heart
Kiryu in his arms turned to dust, and all he could do was watch.
Numbness washed over him as he stared down, almost hearing his heart shatter. The Crimson Dragon had gotten his hopes up just to crush them.
He tried to stop his tears, concentrate on the battle. For Kiryu, he'd be sure to defeat the Dark Signers.
Burned into his mind was the gentle smile his friend had given him, a smile without hatred, coldness or scorn, after the last words had left his dying lips.
.
"Talk about lame ... There's no way ... I can be satisfied with this ..."
.
Eleven words that sealed our fates
The lights of the D-Wheels faded; their splashing as they rushed back to Security's base tore at his insides.
He stood in the rain, unable to speak, unable to get away from the gnawing guilt. Firm fingers had been locking around his arms—Crow and Jack probably wanted to make sure he wouldn't do anything rash like ... go after Security.
In his mind, that horrible scene played back again. Kiryu shaking with rage, face twisted, fists clenched. Angry enough to kill—at the same time shocked and in disbelief.
.
"You betrayed me? You sold me out?!"
"No! I—"
"You traitor!"
.
Ten words that cured our boredom
It didn't take long to work in sync once they got to know Kiryu better. They couldn't escape from Satellite, in which case their team had to keep pushing on.
They'd been hanging around in Satellite doing nothing, right in the middle of Duel-starved gangs. If they hadn't met Kiryu, they might've already been crushed and turned into real scrap.
Every zone filled in black on the map warmed his small hope. He couldn't tell when he'd started observing Kiryu much more closely and looking forward to hear his voice.
.
"We'll smash them in one shot and make ourselves satisfied."
.
Nine words that drove me mad
Kiryu, their upcoming Duel, the Earthbound God ...
Choking back his unease, he wrenched his mind to the sparks of anger that had crackled in him that one time.
When he'd heard Kiryu had been chased by Security, he hadn't thought twice before joining Crow and Jack and coming to his help. When they'd finally found and got to him, he hadn't seemed glad or grateful—or even surprised, almost as if he'd been expecting them to show up.
It would've bothered him less if not for their friend's thrilled, eager words.
.
"The gang's all there. Let's fight our last Duel!"
.
Eight words that scared the wits out of me
Horror shot through him as he remembered what Lotten's deck had been capable of, and his chest cramped.
"I have no problem," Kiryu said, undauntedly. His upright frame covered in the evening sun's orange glow, his eyes alert, determined, almost fierce.
He took a breath and smiled, conviction washing over his body. Kiryu was right, of course. This Duel would be won by the side that showed the will to live. They couldn't—mustn't be afraid of death.
And just like that, Lotten's words lost their icy grip they'd had on him.
.
"With this handicap I'll start with ten cards."
.
Seven words that made me fall back in love with you
He steered his D-Wheel next to Kiryu's, hand stretched out.
His Dragon Mark flared up, together with all the feelings he'd forced himself to lock away deep inside. He'd been wrong back then, to think he could've saved Kiryu by sacrificing himself. This time, he wasn't going to abandon him.
"This isn't a battle to defeat you! It's to save you—a friend—from the Dark Signers!"
Kiryu stared at him, eyes full of yearning for the old times. He then abruptly turned away as if he wanted to stop himself from remembering.
.
"Yusei, I ... What does it matter now?!"
.
Six words that seduced me
The scissors glinted in the dusty sunlight as he cut Kiryu's hair, trying to ignore his heart racing as wildly as his thoughts.
Lean in for the kiss? A quick little peck? Too daring probably. Run a finger along his Criminal Mark? A bit strange. Brush the strands off his face, tucking them behind his ear? Do nothing?
He pulled back, the warmth of Kiryu's cheek lingering on his lips. Kiryu gazed at him, brows raised. His eyes looked darker than they were supposed to; his mischievous grin made the air between them tingle.
.
"Was that enough to satisfy you?"
.
Five words that overjoyed me
Once he heard the Dark Signers were returned to life, the wall he'd put up to keep his friends from worrying about him broke down just like that.
He was already racing through Satellite before his mind started cooling off, leading him to Team Satisfaction's former hideout and Kiryu's familiar figure on its roof.
Kiryu's hug was fierce, almost hard, but he soaked it in. The memories had never left him, together with his longing for the closeness they'd shared.
He hugged back just as tightly, remaining silent. Kiryu seemed to have heard his thoughts.
.
"I missed you too, pal."
.
Four words that took us to the skies
It wasn't that he didn't want Kiryu to help rebuild Crash Town; it was that they'd probably missed a chance to close some of the distance between them.
He would've stayed too if not for his Signer duties. Strange things had taken place in New Domino City, urging him back to fend off whatever looming threat.
Their separation this time held no concealed feelings, no resentful words and no tears, just a promise he knew would keep them both strong.
Kiryu's firm handshake and slightly crooked, faint smile had cleared out any doubts he might've had.
.
"I'll visit."
"You'd better."
.
Three words that I hated
Whatever he said, Kiryu refused to listen, leaving him no choice but to punch him unconscious and drag him out of the mines.
The feelings of guilt and regret eating away at his friend were running deep, much deeper than he'd realized. Just watching those empty eyes speaking their own, sad language had torn him to shreds inside.
He was going to take Kiryu home, was going to make him stop blaming himself.
Kiryu wouldn't at all be pleased about it. And as soon as he regained consciousness, he'd for sure start uttering that damned sentence again.
.
"Let me be."
.
Two words that saved us from falling
Neither of them would talk much during his visits. They'd both hold on to the simple gestures.
When Kiryu needed to escape his dark dreams, he'd disappear into the mountains, seeking comfort in his music.
When he felt like he was going to suffocate, he'd be equally drawn to the mountains, for a nightly round of fresh air.
And no matter how long it would've taken to rack one's brain alone, they both could count on the other to appear at the door, with a soft smile and a warming drink and usually awake for as many hours.
.
"Welcome back."
.
One word that started it all
The stranger, now his opponent, had approached them with a strange demand.
He'd honestly thought it was a joke. Claiming all of Satellite didn't just sound big. They'd have to take down every gang in every sector, at the same time dodge the frequent Security patrols.
Something about that white-haired guy drew him in, something determined, almost stubborn. The upright pose, the hint of a smile, the vibe that screamed "I'm confident we'll pull it off". And the whole lot going on behind those bright eyes.
Quiet anticipation rushed through him. He'd focus and save the brooding for later.
.
"Duel!"
.
- THE END -
