Disclaimer: I do not own YGO 5Ds
"Yuki-sama!" Mina rapped on my door loudly at 8am that morning, "Please wake up! You're already late for your duel with Greiger!"
"I'm not going to the duel," I replied through the door.
"What?" I could hear the surprise in her voice.
"I told you, I'm not going."
"But you said you had a plan!" She protested.
"I do. This is the plan. I'm not going."
I died in a car accident not that long ago. I can still recall, surprisingly vividly, the steering wheel crushing my sternum, breaking it and forcing the shards of my bones into my still-beating heart. Okay, I may have imagined that part, I was probably dead by then but that's not to say it didn't constantly haunt my dreams for the past month. I won't be getting behind a wheel if I could avoid it.
"You can't do this! This is completely against protocol." Mina pounded on the door.
"Then let me do something in line with protocol." I picked up the phone and dialed the number to the stadium. "Hi, this is Yuki Tono speaking, I'm the duelist scheduled for the turbo duel this morning, would you mind putting me on speaker?"
"I understand, but I assure you this is crucial to the tournament today." Mina heard Yuki's muffled voice through the door, then the voice grew much clearer, she realized it was coming from one of the guard's portable radios. He was listening to the tournament while on duty, she would have to remember to dock his pay later. "This is Yuki Tono speaking, just thought I'd let you know I'm forfeiting the duel with Greiger this morning, that's all. Have a good day."
"Argh! Open the door! You're worse than Jack!" Mina complained, moving aside to let security break down the door and hoping to salvage what she could so she doesn't get fired over this.
I pulled myself out of bed and got dressed quickly, what I would face next is much more challenging than any duel.
Of course I didn't skip the duel just because I didn't like duel runners (though I'd be lying if I said it didn't play a role). The fact is, I need Yusei to duel Jack in the final match in order to guarantee the summoning of the Crimson Dragon, which means I can't defeat Yusei.
If I lose my duel with him, the mark still not showing up on my arm would be too suspicious. So even if I defeat Greiger, I would have to skip my duel with Yusei. This is at least less suspicious.
"Yuki!" Mina stumbled in after Sector Security, slightly disheveled, finding me waiting at the desk. "Finally! Why didn't you just open the door?"
"Sorry about that Mina," I grinned in apology, I did need to stay on Mina's good side, "I just really didn't want to turbo duel, bad memories. The second game of the semi-finals have already started," I motioned to Akiza and Yusei taking their places on the duel arena, "Let's go. I expect Director Goodwin is waiting for us."
"Hey, what's the big hold up?" Trudge trudged along Domino shorelines with his partner Dean, spotting a pile of shipment containers near the dock, large enough to block part of the road.
"Let me go check," Dean approached the workers, extracting his badge. He came back moments later, "It's all aboveboard. It's Domino shipments to the Satellite, but they say Sayer's running wild on the port over there so they're not letting anything through."
"I thought all shipments were cancelled?" Trudge asked.
"This is humanitarian aid, apparently," Dean didn't sound convinced by his own words, nor did he sound like he cared, "Whatever. It was Ms. Simington's orders, so who are we to question it?"
"Heh, heh. Well, if it's Ms Simington, I'm sure that's fine then." Trudge stuttered a little, hoping his friend wouldn't notice the faint blush creeping on his cheeks.
"Doesn't she outrank us by like five levels so it doesn't matter what you think?" Dean rolled his eyes, he hadn't seen a crush that blatantly obvious since grade school.
"Whatever." Trudge grumbled, changing the subject. "Since when does Domino provide aid to the Satellite?"
"Who knows? The less questions you ask on this job, the better." Dean dismissed, continuing with his partner on their beat.
"Miss Tono, I believe I am owed an explanation." Rex Goodwin said acidly as I entered the tower an hour later. Only Jack and Lazar was inside this time. I guess he doesn't think Luna is a Signer anymore, so there's no reason for her to be here.
"I don't like to turbo duel." I replied simply.
"Is that all." Goodwin said the question as though it were a statement instead.
"Also I bet money on Yusei winning the tournament, so there's no point duelling Greiger." I laughed, glad to hear it not sounding forced at all. I've mentioned it earlier, I'm sure he had already looked into the bets I placed.
"You mean you gave up on the tournament for money?" Jack interrupted incredulously, "You gave up the chance to show your power to the world to win a bit of cash?"
"It's a lot of cash," I shrugged it off, "And also I really don't like card games on motorcycles, it's really not a concept we should promote to kids. I never even text while driving! If anything, that's what you need to promote."
"Interesting," Goodwin commented, his tone suggested anything but. "I wonder if that's why your Signer mark never showed up, there hasn't yet been a duel you're passionate about."
"Maybe she's not a Signer at all?" Lazar suggested with a malicious glint in his eyes. If I weren't a Signer, there would be no reason for Rex Goodwin to protect me, then I'll be dead meat while in Domino City.
"Only a Signer can defeat a Dark Signer," Rex Goodwin shook his head, referring to my duel with Kalin, "That is written into Fate itself."
Ah yes, Fate. The thing that binds everything creature in this world except me.
"Jack!" Carly bounded into the room, camera still around her neck, and trying to latch herself to Jack's. Jack reached out a hand to steady her, and to hold her and a distance.
"I took so many great pictures! This is gonna make the headlines for sure! Oh I'm sorry Jack, I mean your duel'll make the headlines of course, this, this will be on the second page or something." Carly was obviously more preoccupied with her career prospects than her love interest at the moment, "I'm getting that promotion and I'm getting that raise! Let's see Angela beat this!"
Akiza glided gracefully into the room, her duel with Yusei must have ended while I was still getting here. She glanced the room, nodded at me brusquely. Obviously deciding that nobody in the room was worth her time, she leaned against the wall facing the television, waiting for Yusei, trying to hide her pleasure under a stoic pretense.
Yusei followed, rushing in. Obvious relief washed over his face when he spotted me.
"Yuki! You alright?" He approached me quickly with a faint smile, "I was worried when I heard that you didn't show up for your duel. Did something happen?" He raised his hand hesitantly to his neck, "Are you-?'
"Oh yeah," I touched my own neck and winced. I don't think Greiger did any internal damage, but the bruises are definitely beginning to show. "Don't worry about it. Sorry I missed your duel, what happened?"
"It was a great duel," Yusei replied with a conspicuous blush.
"I'm a Signer," Akiza added flatly, raising her arm to show me her mark, now permanently displayed on her forearm. "Hardly a surprise, I've seen it quite a few times before."
"Oh yeah, it really was an awesome duel," Carly bounced over, showing me pictures she took on her digital camera (newly assigned to her thanks to her exclusive access to the Fortune Cups).
I flipped over the pictures Carly took and immediately understood their awkward dynamic. One picture, for example, captured Akiza as she activated Mark of the Rose, both her monster Botanical Girl and the duelist blew a kiss at the opposing field at the same time. Unlike his monster, Junk Warrior, which remained impassive, Yusei's ears were distinctly pink. Another showed Lonefire Blossom on Akiza's side of the field, I could see its vines creeping across the field and inside the Yusei's pant leg. Much further than it should. He should wear tight leather pants next time to prevent something like this. Also Akiza needs to learn the difference between PDA and harassment.
"Maybe be a little careful about what you publish," I chuckled. 'Passionate', right, I can see 'passion' oozing off the picture.
"As long as you're alright, I'm going to get ready for my next duel." Yusei nodded his goodbyes. I was a little touched when I realized he must have come up just to ask Goodwin about my whereabouts. It's hard not to appreciate his trust and sacrifice when he offers it so liberally.
"I don't think you'll need it, but good luck anyways." I waved him off with a sincere smile, my first since coming to Domino City.
"Ms. Izinski, perhaps you would enjoy the duel more if you would watch it from the penthouse, it gives a better view." Goodwin offered as Akiza was about to follow Yusei's lead. At his words, guards moved to corner Akiza. Yusei paused, turning back to watch the scene, looking more amused than anything else.
"Don't you ever learn?" Akiza ignored the duel requests sent to her duel disk, instead felt through her deck and selected a card. "Botanical Girl (lv3, 1300/1400), don't kill anything." A human-looking figure appeared, a trunk grew out from where its spine should have been, blossoming into a giant flower than sent petals to destroy all 'attacking' duel disks. The Black Rose descended the tower without further incident, security guards crowded her from a distance, but moved out of the way as she got nearer. Akiza dismissed her duel monster before leaving the tower, chose a seat near the twins. For the rest of the world, she was the harmless school girl again, Luna pulled on her hair playfully, jealous of the natural curls.
"I hate to say I told you so," I commented wryly, "but I told you so. You have to start spending some money on real defense equipment, maybe start with actual guns instead of relying on finger pointing."
Obvious, nobody present got my joke, I was beginning to get used to my humor being underappreciated.
"One can hardly prepare one's security force to battle the Black Rose on a regular basis," Rex Goodwin reasoned, leaning back and preparing to enjoy the upcoming game.
I looked at him questioningly, he was certainly more relaxed today.
"As you mentioned, a non-Signer cannot possibly defeat a Signer," Goodwin explained, "I have no concerns for this duel."
Of course, I soon realized the truth. Now that Yusei and Akiza's marks have appeared, Goodwin thinks he had confirmed the identity of all Signers.
"So the winners and losers were decided before the game even began?" Jack asked, disapproval leaking into his voice, "That's not what duel monsters is all about!"
"You know the Crimson Dragon selects only the best duelists as its envoy," Rex Goodwin explained without blinking an eye. "Naturally, these Destined duelists would win any battle to come their way."
Jack appeared appeased by the logic while I just rolled my eyes. Sure, that'll explain away supernatural help.
I turned to watch the game. Now that the ending was spoiled, it's far less entertaining. Greiger had already summoned his Summoner Reactor, Spell Reactor and Trap Reactor cards onto the field. A combo that should seal off most decks and ensure him victory. But no matter how much he struggles in this tangled web we call Fate, he could never escape its clutches. As a mere mortal, it was impossible for him to defeat a Signer no matter how much work he put into his deck or duel runner.
"You said you'd rebuild his village after he defeats Yusei in a duel?" As another mere mortal, I felt a little uncomfortable at the hand Greiger had been dealt. Even if his village hadn't been blown up, he was never going to earn them the help they so desperately needed.
"Ah," Rex Goodwin immediately grasped the unvoiced accusations. "Greiger is a mere pawn in the looming battle that will decide all of our fates. You of all people should understand, Yuki, sacrifices must be made in times of war, he's just the unfortunate casualty."
"As an unfortunate casualty less than four weeks ago, I can hardly empathize with the other side." I recalled my first meeting with Rex Goodwin, when he essentially referred to the entire Satellite as 'necessary sacrifice'.
"Your presence, and Yusei Fudo guarantees I cannot do the same to the Satellite, is that not sufficient to ease your mind? I find it difficult to believe you would reject my proposal forinjustice done to somebody else." Goodwin replied sarcastically. The more he saw of this girl, the more she reminded him of himself. Not his younger self that tried to build Daedalus Bridge, but rather the man he saw in the mirror every day. That hardly helped her case in his eyes.
I considered his words but didn't argue.
"In any case, it's you I'm curious about. You're the most likely fourth Signer, but you never answered my question, why did you come to Domino City? You're not really going to profit by your presence here, and my threats to harm your enterprise is hardly worth risking your life"
"Wait, what's all this about risking her life?" Jack asked suspiciously, he was entirely ignored.
"I came to Domino City because I needed to meet you one more time," I began.
This was my trump card, the one thing that should quell his suspicions until the end of the tournament, which is just this afternoon. It should enough time for Momentum to be transported into the Satellite.
"It wasn't hard to figure out you had plans to identify the Signers, what's with Yusei and Jack. What I want to know is why!" I banged my hand on the table for emphasis (oww), hoping I looked fierce and passionate. I've been working on my acting skills. "With what's coming up next and the role your brother plays, I can't afford to not come!"
As any of Crow's ward will tell you, the best way to throw suspicions off yourself is to act as the accuser and victim. Of course, they use it to get another cookie while I'm using it to get the most powerful weapon the world has ever seen, but the idea is the same.
To be fair, Goodwin's actions would have been beyond suspicious if I only knew what he thinks I know.
"What is she talking about?" Jack interjected again, the look on his face clearly demanded an answer this time.
"Seventeen years ago, Zero Reverse released a great Evil onto this world. This Wicked God amassed its supporters in the form of Dark Signers. The only one capable of defeating these Dark Signers are Signers, all of whom bears the mark of the Crimson Dragon." Rex Goodwin chose his words carefully, motioning to the red mark on Jack's arm.
"So that's why you got me out of the Satellite? And you were the one who set everything up so Yusei and I would duel with passion to bring out our marks?" Jack positively exploded. He can be very smart when the problem is card game related.
"The bigger problem is how our Good Director plays into this," I ignored Jack's outburst, my gaze never leaving Rex Goodwin "How did he know about this war at all, especially given his brother is the leader of the Dark Signers."
"His brother?" Jack sat up straight, alarmed.
"I've been looking into this for the last seventeen years." Rex Goodwin replied.
"That doesn't answer my question."
"My brother had been a Signer once," Rex Goodwin carefully intertwined truth with lies, "His powers were stripped before he fell to the Darkness, but before that, he begged me to gather the Signers and save this world from destruction."
"How do we know you're not lying?" Jack demanded.
Goodwin's eyes settled on me, expecting me to answer the question.
"If he were really evil, he would have killed Yusei a long time ago. Even if the Crimson Dragon finds another Signer, it's unlikely it would find as good a duelist."
Jack hmphed but didn't protest further. I'm beginning to think he knew subconsciously that Yusei was the better duelist.
"Though Jack's question still stands. Just because you're not a pawn to the Wicked God doesn't mean you're on my side, how do I know you don't just want to collect the power of the Signers for yourself?" I must not be easily persuaded, the most skeptical I act, the less skeptical he would be.
"I believe my dedication to Domino City had more than proved my position." Goodwin countered, "You may be a little young to remember how Domino City used to be, but I took a town not much better than Satellite, and turned it into the richest city on the east coast."
Jack looked contemplative, absorbed in thought. "I do remember that," He said with an odd tinge of jealousy in his voice, "Domino City became Neo Domino City when I was a kid, and then became the place where every Satellite wanted to go."
"Yet you let Satellite wither in pain."
"The Netherworld God is sealed inside the Satellite and in the people of the Satellite, I had no choice but to isolate the area." Goodwin sounded a lot more passionate than I did, I must admit, he was the better actor by far. "Look at the death rates in the Satellite before and after I took over, and you'll see that I have nothing to apologize for!"
I did look into that, and technically, he's not wrong. Goodwin kept the satellites on the brinks of survival, with just enough to make sure they're still hanging on. After all, his brother needs the tributes in the form of human souls.
"Still, not exactly the conventional choice for somebody claiming to be trying to save the world."
"The road not taken," Rex Goodwin replied, slightly defensive.
"Though for passing had worn them about the same*." I quipped.
Rex's expression cooled, then suddenly broke into a smile, "And you call yourself Yuki Tono."
"What are you two talking about?" Jack demanded angrily. I honestly didn't think he's hold off the questions for this long.
"Rex tried to pass off his decision to screw the Satellite as the unpopular but necessary choice." I replied acidly. "When he's just one in a long line of governments that neglected a large segment of its population."
"Yuki Tono cannot read." Rex Goodwin replied in kind.
"She can't?" Jack questioned, obviously distracted from his original question "I never noticed. How did she learn all this stuff then?"
Rex Goodwin messaged his temples. Though it's not a surprise that he noticed. In retrospect, I probably had a lot of slip-up while in the Satellite, but nobody called me out for them.
"Your protégé, not mine." I laughed, carefully evading the subject
There you have it, ladies and gentlemen! Another upset victory for the Black Horse of the Satellite, Yusei Fudo. Don't go anywhere, after the break, he'll be facing our champion in the duel of the century!
"And Yusei," Jack's eyes narrowed, his mind reflexing back to Yusei when he's confused, "Yusei knew about this Signer business all along!"
Even with pointy hair, I could tell his hair was beginning to stand on end.
"I told him a while ago, yes," I admitted. I could hear his breathing become heavy and his eyes turn red. His Signer mark glowed with his change in mood.
"So I was the only one played for a fool!" Jack stormed out, slamming the door behind him. Lazar chased after him though none of us were too concerned, he wasn't going to miss his duel with Yusei, not after this.
Yusei started his duel runner. He had imagined this duel a thousand times since Jack left, he never dreamed it would end up like this. He thought this battle would be about revenge, passion, justice, or at the very least, his feud with Jack. This was his chance to show Jack the potential of the Satellite and convince Jack to return to the City they both love.
Then Yuki told him the exact amount of money she had wagered on his victory, the number made his head spin. The Fate of the Satellite was riding on his duel, no magic involved.
X
Jack revved up the engine, determined to prove himself to the world and to his old friend. He was the King now, not just that scared kid who ran from the Satellite two years ago and Yusei would see that today!
X
Akiza scanned the arena casually, she had rejected Yuki's request to defeat Yusei in an arranged duel and face Jack (the request came because Akiza's returns were better on the betting markets…), but in exchange agreed to be the muscle and get everybody out of the arena when necessary.
X
Luna curled up in Blister's arms, bleary eyed but still not wanting to miss the duel. The unhealthy amount of sugar and caffeine the man fed her yesterday was beginning to catch up, she was… yawn. Being rocked gently definitely isn't helping.
X
Since Akiza never did any damage, the stadium was still full. The entire audience sat at the edge of their seats, waiting for the ultimate showdown between the best of Neo Domino City and Satellite respectively.
Rex Goodwin leaned forward in anticipation of the Crimson Dragon.
I clutched my arm, digging my flat nails into flesh, in anticipation of what the Crimson Dragon would bring.
X
"I can only contain Sayer for so long before people actually start dying," Galen complained to Felice. "Two more hours, tops."
"You can injure him now, as long as he's active enough that the Sector doesn't get suspicious." The white-haired girl replied, "Might as well, we'll need to take him down as soon as the duel's over."
X
Crow breathed in quietly from his position in a bomb shelter/panic room on the top floor of the Momentum Research Facility. This is it. Everything had revolved around him for the past couple of days, hundreds of people, tens of thousands of dollars, all for the sake of his mission. Failure was not an option.
A/N: A belated merry Christmas and happy holidays to all XD
Never again will I follow the plot of the anime, it's just so restrictive! (Which also happens to be what Yuki thinks about their proposed constitution which is what I want to write about at this point!)
Sorry I haven't updated in a while, I've been replaying Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney :P. If I had updated every week like I planned, this chapter would have been about presents... Sigh
*Needless to say, the road not taken is by Robert Frost, so's ' passing had worn them about the same' (roughly). Basically Frost's point was the two choices were not that different, Yuki's point being Goodwin would have done the same thing in the end, magical influences or not. But the original 'Yuki Tono' wasn't supposed to have gone to school at all, which is why Goodwin laughed.
Anyways, please let me know what you think. The story is at a turning point and I have a bit of leeway in terms of what happens next, so I'd love to hear suggestions, what you think about what happened and what you think should happen next etc.