Chapter 4 - Are they Memories or Dreams?
Inside the exam room with Akiza, she could still fell Yusei's mental presents with her as she answered each question. Her mind felt so clear, and every answer came to her so easily that she was flying through it. After 60 minutes (less half the full time of the exam) she was on the last question and smiling deeply as it went on. 'Ok last question Yusei wish me luck.' She thought as she took a deep breath and read the last question. As she filled in the last answer her thoughts started to slip as she finished. 'Finally I'm done. For a final exam why did it feel so easy though? Why was my mind so clear today?' as she thought about it she lost track of the time and the exam staff had to wake her up from her thoughts. "Miss Akiza you may leave now!" Akiza snapped out of the thoughts and realized that the exam had finished 10 minutes ago, he was lost in her thoughts for 100 minutes but she thought it had been only 10 minutes. "Oh no, I am so sorry." She said to the exam staff as she grabbed her stuff and walked out of the room.
Rio waited for her outside wondering if she would ever leave, all of a sudden she ran out in a panic. "Akiza wait I'm here." Rio shouted as Akiza stopped. "Oh Rio sorry for being so long. I did not realize the time ran out 10 minutes ago." Akiza said with her head down. "Akiza you lost yourself in thoughts after you closed your paper, by the way how the hell did you finish so quickly anyway?" she wondered, she had found the exam difficult and wondered how Akiza finished so easily. "Rio I really don't know how, I opened the paper closed my eyes, then ... it was like my mind went clear and all the answers popped in to my head so easily. I know that's silly but that what happened." Akiza tried to explain but Rio was not convinced. "Ok Akiza but that looked more like you gave up and did not completing it." she admitted. Akiza understood how Rio felt but knew she could not convince her. "I know what you mean Rio, but even if you don't believe me it was true. Anyway what are we doing now then?" Akiza asked, Rio sighed as she realised Akiza had forgotten. "Akiza I have a family reunion at home remember, that's why we were going to go and celebrate tomorrow." Akiza gasped, she had forgotten that with everything that had happened today. "Oh sorry Rio I forgot, I guess I'll see you later then." Akiza replied feeling a little silly. "Akiza it not till 4PM anyway so we can go for some lunch at least right now." Rio said back with a chuckle, she knew Akiza was not with it and had decided to play on it, and it worked. Akiza was not happy that Rio did that she did that but knew they were not going to see each other again soon so she let it slip. "Ok very funny Rio let go eat then." She said not amused with Rio's joke as the left to go for lunch.
As Yusei was riding towards Martha's he felt Akiza's shadow still around him. As the duel runner was moving his mind thought Akiza was behind him with her arms around him, he felt so happy in that moment that he forgot he was alone in that moment. With Jack and Crow ready to leave the next day life was going to be different for a while. Jack and crow were doing a runner Maintanence run on the Duel lane to make sure their runners were working perfectly. When all of a sudden a red runner went past them at high speed. "What the hell was that?" Jack wondered and crow couldn't answer. They didn't realise it was Yusei's runner that went past, and Yusei hadn't noticed them either. As he reached the centre of the Bridge between the city and Satellite he stopped and reached over to hold Akiza's hand only him to find nothing but his own shirt. He held his shirt as a tear built up in his eyes again as he realised what he needed was more that a female companion, he needed Akiza back in his life and that dream from last night confirmed it. "Why did that happen, Akiza... where are you, I I I need you." Yusei said as his head leaned on the runners monitor screen he was breaking down again, but this time it was his own loneliness and need that triggered it. After about 15 minutes Yusei recovered and resumed his trip to Martha's place. He needed to solve the mystery of his own feelings.
As he arrived at the orphanage Martha was looking through the window, she could tell Yusei was upset again but could work out it may be linked with last night's breakdown. "Oh Yusei, I wish you could open up like how you were back then, but thanks to those two that may not happen. Why did I even allow jack and crow to do that anyway? Good thing Zora was nearby to keep them in check." Martha said to herself as she watched Yusei walk to the house while she finished drinking her cup of tea. Yusei knew he did not need to knock on the door since this was his real home but his old habits were hard to drop and he knocked at the door and waited. Martha did not come to the door knowing that Yusei would open the door after a few minutes, she would tell him every time not to knick first but it never sunk in with Yusei. As if on time Yusei opened the door and called out. "Martha are you here? Where are you?" and Martha would reply "in the normal place Yusei." Yusei closed the door and walked to Martha, by this time she had got out of her chair, and gave her normal welcome hug before they both sat down. Martha decided to this time to get to the point since she was still worried about him.
"So are the twins away safely Yusei?" Yusei nodded. "Yes and I stayed at the docks until they left the area before I left to come and see you." Yusei explained ending with sad tone in his voice which Martha picked up easily. "Yusei the twins were important to you, so its ok to be sad ..." suddenly Yusei's eyes filled with tears again and Martha knew they was something wrong and it was more than a simple good bye issue. "Ok Yusei what happened? and don't try your normal its nothing routine because I know about last night." Yusei jumped at that, "Hold on! How do you know about that?" he replied shocked. "Yusei you went out for dinner and had a breakdown, and you did not think that Luna would not ask for advice from someone. She told me what you said and I told her to get you to go to bed early." Yusei palmed his head 'I should have know Luna was doing something like that when she was gone so long.' He thought to himself. "Ok Martha this is what happened. I was about to leave and .." he started and explained about how he thought he saw the girl from his dream last night.
When he finished explaining the dream and what happened on the way here, Martha realised that Yusei was lost in a way, both his loneliness and need for something was driving him insane, and he did not like it at all. "Martha why has she not come home? I need her, I need my best friend in the world." he finally said with tears flooding out his eyes, Martha embraced Yusei in a hug knowing Yusei really needed a girlfriend to help him with his problem, but what he told her about his dream worried her. "Yusei have you seen Akiza since that day? And I don't mean in your dreams." Yusei looked up and nodded side to side. "Then how do you know that it was really? Yusei dreams create the things we want to see inside and are not real. The girl you saw may only have responded to Akiza because you wanted her to. You created her to fill a gap in your heart. You may have to consider that she has forgotten you after all those years. You need to move on and find a real girl to live with here in Domino city. Remember you said yourself you wouldn't leave and you stuck to your guns there." Martha reminded.
As much as Yusei did not want to believe what Martha just said, he knew that she could be right but still hoped she would return. "I guess you right Martha, guess I have six months to find one if I am lucky and the guys don't mess it up for me, but saying that jack and crow will only be gone for 6 weeks and could still mess it up for me if they found out." Yusei said concerned. "That may be so Yusei but if that someone cares for you she will accept them as well, and if we're lucky give them a good telling off." Martha finished with a wink making Yusei to giggle to that thought. "Thanks Martha I needed that." Yusei admitted finally. "No problem Yusei, you always know where I am if you need something. Not counting romance though ok." Yusei nodded to Martha's last comment and stud up to make a move home since it was 3pm already. "Hold on Yusei you not leaving without eating something first, you know the visitors rule, you don't leave without have something to eat and drink first." Yusei had to agree to that one since he forgot that agreement to him leaving home a year ago. "You win Martha, what we having then?" Martha smiled and they both walked to the kitchen to make something.
Akiza and Rio left the cafe they went to for lunch, Rio was all ready for her family reunion but Akiza's spirit was falling as she did not know what to do now she was finished with her medical course. "Well guess I will be back here in 3 month for my 5th year at the medical school. What are you doing now that you finished ahead of the rest of us Akiza?" Akiza's head dropped as she never thought about what she would do since her parents did not want to return to Japan because of their jobs. "I don't know Rio, Maybe I will take a few months to think it through then I will decide. I do know I will be trying for a nurse job somewhere. Maybe here in Germany or maybe in ... my home town." Rio stopped when Akiza said her last statement. "I thought you were born in Germany Akiza?" Akiza shock her head "No Rio I was born in Domino city, Japan! I moved here 14 years ago because of mum and dad." Rio's mouth dropped like a stone. "DONINO CITY WHERE YUGI MOTO LIVED!" Akiza jumped at Rio's outburst. "No, New domino where the riding duel system was created. Sorry i keep forgetting say new domino since my house was on the border between the two cities. But my childhood friend lived in old domino though."
"Akiza you never told about any friends you had back then." Rio asked noticing a change in Akiza's voice when she mentioned a childhood friend. "Guess that because I only started remembering that last night. The young crow haired boy I used to play with at the day-care playgroup." Ahe explained, Rio became interested and wanted to know more. "Akiza what was his name if I may ask?" Akiza looked up at the sky before she answered "Yusei that was his name, Yusei Fodo!" she answered, rio dropped her bag and was shocked to hear this. "WHAT THE CURRENT KING OF TURBO DULES WHO BEAT JACK ATLUS. You were his friend?" This time was Akiza's turn for her to be shocked "He is what, that can't be him." Akiza said since she hadn't heard from him in years. "Akiza Yusei Fudo is the current turbo duel king in new domino city but from what I heard from my cousin he has not competed in any competitions for 9 months. The rumour is he stopped because of stress and emotion troubles but no one knows for shore at all. He fell of the map in the dueling circuit." Rio explained
Akiza did not know what to think at that moment, based on her dream he was fine but what Rio told her made her think otherwise. 'Yusei kept his promise to me and kept duelling and he turbo duel champ, but why would he stop competing. Is he like what she says or is they something more to the story? I hope he is ok.' Akiza thought starting to worry about Yusei as a doctor not as his friend. "Akiza are you ok?" Rio asked concerned about Akiza losing focus on their chat. "What oh yes sorry just wondering if he is ok that's all." She admitted. "Akiza if you are worried about him, why don't you think about going back to Japan and find him. If you do, try and help him, then decide on what you want to do then. Give it a few days then decide since there is no rush after all. Oh no look at the time I have to go, sorry Akiza. Good luck whatever you do. Bye!" Rio said as she ran off before Akiza could even answer. Akiza started walking alone back to her house thinking about what Rio said about going to find Yusei, as much as she thought it was a good idea she did not know how she would be able to live back in domino. "Maybe tomorrow when mum and dad are home I can ask them about it. If it can be done then I will do that. It would be nice to see him again." She said to herself as she started to run up to her house.
"Ok Yusei don't forget to have your hot coco before you go to bed tonight that will help you sleep better." Martha said as Yusei was about to leave to go home. "I won't Martha anything is worth a try I guess." He relpied "Oh Yusei, are you still going to the open house event at the day-care group next week?" Martha took the opportunity to check. Yusei thought about it, he forgot it was coming up with everything that happened this week. "Of course I am Martha the kids love me showing up, plus it gives me something to do as well. What are they doing this year?" Yusei wondered. "Well I asked Zora and she told me they would like to do a spy theme this year party, so you could donate and use those water guns of Jacks as part of your outfit this year. Besides I think we have everything we will need to get you ready here anyway. I have your sizes anyway so I can make the damageable spy clothes for you to use." Yusei nodded at the idea since he did not own anything suitable for that theme. "Thanks Martha that would be great thanks. I better get going see you later." Yusei said as he started his runner to head back to the tops.
On the way back Yusei was thinking about the spy theme and what he could do to make it fun for the kids, but along the way his thoughts kept slipping and he would think about what Martha said about his dream of Akiza. 'I get what Martha means but I still wish I could spend time with her while am without the others. At least I would have someone to talk to besides Martha. Maybe I have a nap when I get to the tops and think about it when I wake up.' He thought as he arrived at the checkpoint for the tops. As Yusei parked his runner up in the parking bay, his mind kept playing that kiss from his dream over and over again. "Dam why can't I stop thinking about that dream?" the whole thing made Yusei run to the elevator and get to the twins place. As the elevator arrived he forgot the twins were gone and did his normal thing. "Luna, Leo I'm here. What you doing?" he said before he remembered they are on the ferry that left that morning. "Right I am staying here while there away for 6 month, I forgot with everything that happened. I really need to lie down after that, it may help, I hope." He walked over to the couch and lay down. "Just a half hour here will *yorn* help me" he said as he fell asleep.
Akiza was getting ready to go to bed early since the whole thing Rio told her about Yusei had got to her and she was tired after the long day. "Oh man it only 7:30 and I am so tired that exam and the whole Yusei thing made me so tired, maybe I am worrying too much. After all I haven't even seen Yusei in years and don't know what *yorn* he doing right now. I wish I could *yorn* talk to him." Akiza said to herself as she walk to her bed which looked like the family servants had completely remade for her. "In the morning I will talk to *yorn* mum and dad about the tr...ip to do...mi...no." she finaly finished before she herself fell in to a heavy sleep.
Dream world
Yusei found himself sat on a bench in the park in old domino city watching the world go around him. "Man this is nice, sun shining and not a cloud in the sky. Just wish I had someone to spend it with today" He decided to go and find something to do around the park so he stood up went for walk around the park. Akiza found herself at the gate to the same park and could remember coming here as a child. "Hay look like nothing here has changed, maybe I'll see what's happening around the park. Better than shopping I think." She said as she entered the park.
Without knowing Akiza and Yusei were walking without paying attention to where they were going and after about a minute of walking they bumped in to each other. Yusei tried to stop them falling but lost his footing and ended up pulling Akiza down on top of him. Although they did not know who it was at the time. "Ouch that hurt, man I am sorry I was not looking ...where I was."Yusei started as he opened his eyes to see Akiza. "No I am sorry I was not looking and should ... have" Akiza replied as she also saw the face of the Yusei. "No way, is it .. Yusei?" she asked still in a compromising possession. "Is that, are you .. Akiza?" Yusei replied felling the same but with his heart beating faster. The two of them looked in each other's eyes for what felt like ages before they realised who it was. "It is you!" the both said at the same time as Akiza lost her self-control and kissed Yusei on the lips as deeply as possible leaving Yusei breathless.