"Yuri who is this?" Yoko pointed towards a paranoid Demil who during the journey had used his jacket to cover his face forcing him to place his trust in Yuri. "Are they gone?" he said as his eye darted from side to side when he was sure the coast was clear he threw his jacket to the floor and collapsed against a nearby wall "Thank God. I'll mark that down as successful escape number 10 out of 50." Yuri sighed "Mother, this is Demil Kaimia h-" Yoko immediately pulled Yuri aside "What was his last name again?!" Yuri gulped he'd rarely seen his mum this angry "Kaimia…Is something wrong with that name?"

"I don't want a Kaimia anywhere near you or in my house as a matter of fact!"

Demil heard this and brought his head off the wall to shout "Téigh trasna ort féin! If it was up to me I wouldn't be here but desperate times call for desperate measures!" Yoko rolled up one of Yuri's sleeves and saw one of the many scars laden on him by Judgment Dragon's attack, "What happened here? Did you do this to him?" Yoko snapped glaring at Demil as he went on the attack "Yes I did."

Yoko narrowed her and stood up against Demil cracking her knuckles "A Kaimia is not welcome here and for what you did to my son I'll give you your comeuppance!"

Demil snorted "Believe me does me no great pleasure to be in the house of a Sakaki plus I barely remember what happened to Yuri I only came to when I was arrested for the second time that day and before you say anything I was placed under arrest coming out of the underworld because in their words 'We can't take any chances'." Both shaped each other up and looked ready to fight until Yuri broke them apart.

"Mother, I get the feeling that you don't like his family but he has done nothing wrong to you and he didn't hurt me badly."

Yoko sighed and retreated to the table gesturing for Yuri and Demil to follow "It's just that since Yuya disappeared I kept telling myself that I wouldn't let anything bad happen to you Yuri and when I heard his name seeing those scars I lost it." She burst into tears as Yuri comforted his adoptive mother

"Don't worry about me I'm more than capable of protecting myself and don't blame yourself for Yuya's disappearance it happened out of your control." Yuri thought separately to what his out was saying 'I won't tell her my deduction on Yuya's whereabouts until I'm 100% sure.'

(The next day)

"Demil! Demil!" Yuri shook Demil, the underworld king was currently completely passed out on the back of a chair in Yuri's room with his jacket half covering his face. Nothing was getting through to him soon Yuri left to collect a wooden spoon and a metal pot not long afterwards both were right beside Demil's ear 'Bang! Bang!' Demil jolted up "Ahhh!" Demil groggily looked up to see Yuri laughing over the top of him.

"Oh you bastard. You're lucky I'm forced to restrain myself." Demil slid his jacket down his face as his eye readjusted to the light, Yuri spoke to him mockingly "Sorry…Did I wake up the king? I feel awfully sorry?" Demil sneered as he attempted to re-fix his hair "Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit," his hair still refused to co-operate "by the way do you have any hair gel? I can't go around looking as I do now. It's demeaning."

"You really act like a king don't you?"

"Yes and no"

"What do you mean yes and no? That's an oxymoron."

"I mean yes as in that's how people wished for me to act and I've sort of grown into the character but no as in if I let my true personality and feelings out, I wouldn't be at the top much longer and I would make a lot of very powerful enemies."

"There should be some gel in the bathroom just over there go knock yourself out."

"Thanks."

While Demil was busy in the bathroom Yuri decided to look through Demil's strewn jacket because why the hell not he thought. Digging through the pockets of the jacket Yuri made an interesting find, he pulled out a plain white notebook similar to but not the same one Demil had taken out the previous day. Yuri was certain that this was different as he saw a white notebook still lying on the floor of you show as he and Demil left.

'Why is he carrying around two identical notebooks?' Yuribegan to flip through the pages nothing out of the ordinary came up, it was all very mundane stuff about the 'judgements' that Demil had made during the past year however one page caught his attention.

'Finally I'm out of the underworld! But it has come at a cost I've had to effectively relinquish my free will to that Reiji Akaba and become one of his pawns in his little game otherwise he'll send me right back down and there is no way I'm going back now, the weirdest part of the meeting with him (apart from being handcuffed to the desk, bit excessive) was when I found out that there was another individual that shared my face, he was currently hospitalised and in his possession was a black notebook which con-'

Yuri heard Demil's footsteps and quickly fumbled the notebook back into Demil's jacket as he questioned him on his sudden rapid movements.

"What were you doing?"

"Nothing."

Demil swept his Jacket off the ground and tied it around his waist.

"You shouldn't go rummaging through people's belongings and I think its best that you don't go through my notebook…No-one should know what I know and quite frankly it isn't very polite to do so."

"Yuri! Your breakfast is ready and Kaimia! I want you to stay far away from my son during the day." Yoko shouted from downstairs.

"Yes, mother."

"I have a first name you know! It's Demil!"

"I didn't know animals had a first name!"

"Hark who is talking! You were a former gang leader! So get down off your high horse!"

"Former being the key word Kaimia!"

"Gang leader being the most important words!"

'Oh God…Why did I let Yuzu talk me into hiding this guy.'

Meeting outside with Yuzu later Yuri affirmed this point "Seriously Yuzu why did I let you talk me into hiding Demil I mean the guy is a walking nightmare he spent a good fifteen minutes arguing with my mother." Yuzu replied "Yuri I thought you were raised better than that to just let a person in need of help laying there and you do know that said nightmare is currently no more than five footsteps behind you."

Yuri turned to see Demil almost breathing down his neck "Jesus! Do you know anything about personal space?!" Demil scowled "Of course I do I was raised to a good standard it's just that I chose not to follow them sometimes."

(Leo Corp)

Yuto stood in a dark alleyway observing the building in front of him, he carefully held up a LDS badge 'I'll find you Ruri and that is a promise,' he then took out the page that he had ripped from Yali's notebook two days ago 'that bastard! For just how long has he been pulling the strings and how can I be sure that I'm not playing right into his hands?' Yuto shook his head and tucked the page away 'I can't let him in my head that's how he won the last time, I've got to stay focused on the task at hand.'

"Has it finally sunk in yet?" Yuto would recognise that monotone voice anywhere "The feeling of sorrow, the feeling of you could've done more to save her, the feeling of worthlessness." The toneless voice belonged to a lopsided fourteen year old boy who was standing slumped in the corner of the alley his face covered by his mask "You are just like Yali, you're snide, conniving and a meticulous planner." Yuto spat at the boy "I'm nothing like that traitor Yuto just because I share his face doesn't mean were are one and the same also that's no way to greet your friend. It hurts me to know you think that way about me."

"Yet what you went and did leans no credibility to your statement." The boy staggered out of the shadows although there was a mask covering his face his eyes did bear a resemblance towards Demil and Yali. Unlike Demil however the boy had two working eyes both of which were an emerald green.

"You can't convict me of any wrongdoing anything is legal in war plus your lot aren't exactly cleared of doing any wrong, when I first turned up you attacked me mistaking me for him even though there are distinct differences in our appearance plus you tried to steal this from me." The boy held up a red notebook similar to the ones Yali and Demil carried with them.

"You and Shun nearly tore me in two trying to get your hands on this." Yuto sighed and took a closer look at the person the resistance had cast out not too long ago. He had slick backed black hair with gold-yellow bangs swept around the back forming a stinger like design amply earning him the codename bumblebee a name he wasn't fond of. He wore a tattered dull green jacket, a drab grey shirt, a nearly destroyed choker around his neck, a small yellow crystal earing in his left ear, tied across the entirety of his right arm was a red bandage which he wore during his time in the resistance that even though he had been cast out of the organisation he still refused to take it off. He wore a full face ceramic mask that was remarkably similar to what a plague doctor would've worn beak and all, the only part of his face that was visible was his emerald eyes and he had on him a pair of black jeans loosely held together by a dusty yellow belt and he wore a pair of pointed grey boots.

"I'm not interested in speaking to you, I've got more pressing matters to deal with and Shun's about here somewhere why don't you go bother him." The outcast sighed and re-fixed his mask "You know what'll happen if I go talk to him Yuto, if you were so hostile to seeing me just imagine what Shun would do." Yuto thought back to what happened with Shun and Yali and relented "Fair point. But how did you get here and what ever happened to you? Ever since we threw you out you practically disappeared off the face of Heartland and no one ever saw you again. We thought you had ended up getting carded."

"Did my reputation really tank that hard you thought I'd be carded by those fusion scum? That's just plain offensive to my skills. I mean my ace can effectively cripple their entire deck. For how I got here it was much the same how you got here I stole the disk of one fusioner not too long after I heard you left for standard, I followed you the next day and today I finally found you. As for what happened to me after I was cast out that is a long story that I think you don't have time for." Yuto looked at the pin then at the plague doctor "I think I'll entertain myself with your story go ahead."

(Xyz Dimension)

"You've finally showed yourself." An eyepatch wearing male asked to the boy wearing the plague doctor mask in front of him "Did you finally get tired of hiding and running away? I don't blame you if you did."The boy removed his mask still not saying a word "So the elusive Evilswarm master finally shows us his face. I'd have respect for you if you came out and fought in the open but you choose to use tactics of cowardice, I can't endorse that it's not how you fight a battle properly."

The boy tapped his foot impatiently "I don't care about your opinion on warfare Barrett I'll conduct my war how I want. Also cut the chat I plan to be out of here in ten minutes so let's get this over with." Barrett readied his disk "I'll be the first one in all of Academia to finally best you in the field of battle." The boy scowled and threw out his left arm revealing and activating a yellow disk "You have absolutely no chance fusion scum I'll cripple your entire deck before you even get a chance to begin."

"Duel!" Both shouted.

Barrett: 4000 LP Unknown: 4000 LP Cards x5

"I'll start Xyz Scum! I activate the continuous spell Beastborg fusioner! Using it I can fusion summon one Beastborg fusion monster using monsters on my field or on my hand! I use it to fuse together Panther Warrior and Dark Sentinel!" The two monsters rose up into the swirling red and blue vortex behind Barrett "My new monster will take the savagery of a jungle predator with the attack strength of a high-tech combat machine! I fusion summon the most dangerous mercenary you've ever faced! Level 6! Beastborg Panther Predator!" A mechanised panther with a teal cape and gold-hilted broadsword appeared in front of Barrett. Level 6 (1600/2000).

"The pestilence is here in the form of that monster, that just like the plague will not go away."

"I activate the effect of Panther Predator you take damage equal to half its current attack points." The circle on the monsters chest began to charge "Take this! 800 points of damage!" A red beam was unleased and struck the former resistance member in the gut, knocking him back across the ground causing him to nearly lose his balance falling to one knee.

Unknown (4000 – 3200)

Barret smirked slyly "I knew it. You're weak, it stains my honour to fight against an opponent that is ill but you are an insult to honour so I will enjoy crushing you. I'll stop here it's your turn Plague Doctor."

The boy struggled to stand doing so just barely, swaying as he began his move "My turn and the start of the never ending infection begins Barrett! I summon Evilswarm Castor!" A hellish looking knight cladded in grey and black amour appeared on the boy's field Level 4 (1750/550), "Castor grants me an additional normal summon this turn and with it I'll summon Evilswarm Contaminated Roach!" A smaller infected version of Steelswarm Roach appeared next to castor Level 4 (1250/50).

"Contaminated Roach's effect activates! When it is normal or special summoned I can add one 'Infection' or 'Infestation' spell or trap to my hand! I add the continuous spell Crawling infection which I now activate!"

Crawling infection's art depicted Castor, Kerykeion and Contamination roach running away from a pool of a black liquid which was grasping at Castor's feet. "One per turn Crawling infection lets me summon one level four or lower 'Evilswarm' monster at the cost of 500 life points! I summon Evilswarm Kerykeion!" Level 4 (1600/1550). Soon after Kerykeion hit the field a dark mist emerged out of Crawling infection engulfing the boy as he screamed in pain.

Unknown (3200 – 2700)

"I've heard about your multiple summon combos, it tends to be something the resistance specialise in. But I've heard you're no longer part of any branch of the resistance isn't that right? They cast you out because of your underhanded dealings."

The boy sneered "Deals are Deals and it doesn't matter if they are underhanded, I made them and followed through with them. They were fine with my dealings until they saw the fine print. But that's not what we are here to do, I overlay my Level 4 Evilswarm Castor and Level 4 Evilswarm Contaminated Roach! With these two monsters I build the overlay network! I bring to the field a pestilence the likes of which the world has never seen! Xyz summon! Rank 4! Evilswarm Ophion!" Ophion let out a roar as it stretched his wings and flexed his tail as two purple orbs began to float around him Rank 4 (2550/1650) (OLU: 2).

Barrett smirked "So you let your ace out of the bag first turn. You really don't like to stick around do you?" The boy had on him a sardonic smile "I've forgotten what it means to settle down it's hard to do so when you have an entire army trying to pinpoint your whereabouts. I'm constantly on the move trying to avoid being seen by two organisations that hate me."

"So why of all times do you choose now, not only have you given away your position but now you've also given away your face," Barrett took a closer look at the Evilswarm duelist's face "say you look like Yali-sama, any relation?"

The boy's face contorted into anger "I'm nothing like that traitor and I certainly have no relation to someone from your pitiful dimension!" Ophion seemingly growled in agreement with its master there was another difference in the relation, the Xyz duelist had multiple dark veins throbbing on his face which only got worse as he began his next move.

"I activate Ophion's special ability! I use one overlay unit to add to my hand one infestation spell or trap card. The card I choose is the quick play spell Infestation Pandemic!" The throbbing got worse as the teen gripped his face tightly, his conscious swiftly fading 'I can't go yet! I have to hold out for at least five minutes!'

"Evilswarm Ophion! Attack Beastborg Panther Warrior! Infestation Infection epidemic!"

Barrett (4000 – 3050)

Barrett smirked again as the Xyz duelist fell to one knee for the second time "It seems your time I running out." The boy ignored this comment "I set three cards face down and end my turn! This'll be your last turn so make it count!"

"I draw! I play the effect of the continuous spell Beastborg Fusioner! Using this cards effect I fusion summon a Beastborg fusion monster using monsters in my hand or on my field! I fuse Panther Warrior and Carrier Sentinel together! I fusion summon! Level 6! Be-" His fusion chant as cut off by the boy's laughter

"What are you laughing at coward?" The boy wiped his tears on his bandage "I'm laughing at you and how stupid you are Barret. I thought you knew the second effect of my ace! So long as Ophion has overlay units Level 5 or higher monsters can't be special summoned! So your main damage dealing combo is off limits as Ophion currently has one overlay unit on him! I just cut off your arms and legs!"

"You'd be more aware of my other options if you came out to fight more often. I've got more than Beastborg Panther Predator! I fuse Panther Warrior and Carrier Sentinel together! I fusion summon! Level 4! Beastborg War Triarii!" Level 4 (1200/1000) A cyborg panther wearing roman centurion clothing carrying a roman shield and a javelin appeared on Barrett's field.

"So it's come to the Triarii. Too bad that your last resort has also failed! Counter Trap card activate! Black Horn of Heaven!" A winged black horn sent out shockwaves in the amount of noise it made "When exactly one monster is special summoned to my opponents field Black Horn of Heaven negates the summoning and destroys the monster!"

The smile on the boy's face only grew wider as Barrett's monster was destroyed by the shockwaves as the buildings shook around him. "I've prepared for every eventuality! I have no faults in my plan! I've completely won! How does it feel Barrett! Soon you'll end up feeling the sorrow of those you've heartlessly carded!" The boy who was known for his emotionless expression during his time in the resistance had by now totally devolved into insanity.

"I'm not done yet!" The boy's face dropped "Huh?!"

"I activate Fusion recovery adding back two monsters from my graveyard that have been used for a fusion summon and a copy of polymerization!" Barrett then swiped a copy of Polymerization into his disk "I now fuse together two more copies of Panther Predator and Carrier Sentinel! I fusion summon! Level 4! Beastborg Phalanx of Fury!" A mix between a Greek Solider and a cyborg appeared as Barrett's true last hope hit the field Level 4 (1600/1300).

"You never learn Barrett! I told you my plan had no faults! I trigger the trap Fiendish chain!" Multiple chains ensnared Barrett's monster as he looked on.

"Do you like it Barrett? I modelled this card after your wonderful chain trap cards!" Barrett stammered "But this is the first time I've ever seen you."

A slight cackle left the vein coated lips of the boy "Just because you've never seen me before now it doesn't mean that I haven't been following you. Under the effect of Fiendish Chain your monsters effect is negated and it can no longer attack! So hurry up and end your turn! I've got to be out of here in 1 minute."

Barrett sighed, he couldn't believe a Xyz scum let alone this one of all of them had bested him in the field of battle. "I end my turn…" He grunted. "Perfect! I draw! I summon Rescue Rabbit!"

A small bunny wearing a miner's hat appeared in stark contrast to the war torn wasteland that was Heartland Level 4 (300/100).

"I activate its effect I banish this card to summon two normal monsters from my deck at the cost of destroying them at the end phase! I summon two Evilswarm Heliotropes!" Two rock like knights saying 'Eliminate! Exterminate! Eradicate!' came into being beside one another. Level 4 (1950/650).

"I overlay my two Heliotropes! Bringing to the field a knight of pure plague! Rank 4! Xyz summon! Evilswarm Exciton Knight!" A bugged knight emerged with two Yellow orbs floating round it Rank 4 (1900/0) (OLU: 2).

"Continuous Trap open! Xyz Infection Epidemic!"

The trap depicted Exciton Knight, Ophion and another monster which looked like a corrupted version of Trishula, Dragon of the Ice barrier being slowly consumed by a darkness that contained within it two glowing red eyes

"This trap boosts the attack points of every Evilswarm Xyz monster on my field by 400 times the number of overlay units it currently possess!" Dark veins similar to the ones on the teen's face slinked out of the trap and injected themselves into Exciton and Ophion as the two Evilswarm monsters grew in power.

Exciton Knight (1900 – 2700)

Ophion (2550 – 2950)

"Battle! Let me pierce your soul with sorrow! Exciton knight attack Beastborg Phalanx of Fury!"

Barrett (3050– 1950)

"Know my name as the Plague Doctor! Evilswarm Ophion! Eradicate this disease from the face of heartland! Infestation infection Epidemic!" The veins reached a crescendo of throbbing as his pupils slitted.

Barrett (1950 – 0)

Unknown: Win!

The victor donned his mask quickly, clutching it tightly, his lack of wellbeing seemingly gone as he walked slowly towards a barely conscious Barrett

"I'm so disappointed in you Barrett, all the time I spent shadowing you I thought you would be a worthy challenger but you let me down." The disk was soon jabbed directly on Barrett's neck "I'll show you the sorrow the innocent citizens of Heartland felt when your bunch first invaded!" His hand was just millimetres from the card function he had managed steal and install on his disk when a voice was heard in the distance.

"I heard it over here Shun! It can only be him!" Yuto ran on along with Shun slightly lagging behind.

"Tch…Why now of all times do they have to find me?"

The boy quickly pulled away his disk from Barrett's throat as the captain teleported out. He began a sluggish run and was just about able to hide in the ruins of a nearby building as Shun and Yuto came to the area he was just a few short moments ago.

"Where is he?!" Shun screamed hysterically as his eyes darted from side to side trying to find the reject, "Shun calm down, he probably heard us coming and is hiding. Just like Yali were are not going to get answers by punching them out of him. It's actually unlikely we'll ever get our hands on him, he's just too slippery"

Shun and Yuto scoured the area in desperate search of the plague doctor who had managed to slip away albeit slow and sluggish as he swayed heavily.

(Standard Dimension)

"That was the closet you ever got to finding me. To be honest I was scared stiff when I heard your voice." The boy moved his left foot around in a circle on the floor as Yuto spoke "You never answered my question on where you were hiding out during all that time though." A slight clank was heard as the boy raised his right arm causing Yuto to wince "Convict me now. It was like I said I wasn't expressly hiding out anywhere I was constantly having to outmanoeuvre two groups that would've done who knows what to me."

He sighed as he looked at the sun "I'll see you around Yuto." With that the boy walked awkwardly past Yuto as Yuto muttered under his breath "Janus. I'm sorry." The boy now revealed to be called Janus turned and looked down at Yuto.

"I don't deserve your pity Yuto you were right to do what you did. I have no right to be called by my name." Janus limply carried on walking and talking as his mask slid down his face and smashed onto the alley floor a trail of a yellow liquid seeping out of a concealed tube in the destroyed remains of the ceramic mask. "I'm just a pestilence…Pestilence… Pestil-"

"Janus!" Shouted Yuto as Janus hit the floor falling unconscious. Yuto hauled Janus over onto his back looking at the unconscious black and yellow haired teen's pallid expression, his veins rapidly pulsating, his condition worsening by the second.

"It really is a miracle you survived all that time in your condition after what we did to you. However while I do now realise why you had to make those deals it still pains me to know what you did." Yuto thought back to the last thing Janus said before he vanished as he walked back to their hideout with the outcast slumped over his shoulder 'Deals are Deals and whether you like it or not I intend to follow through.' Janus' collapse and worsening condition was all the proof Yuto needed to find out the answer.

"Janus, Bumblebee, the Plague Doctor. I'm sorry."

Inside the Leo Corp building Sawatari stood facing one of his lackeys in a duel against his former deck. "Mobius the Mega Monarch attack Power Darts Striker! Ice lance!" Mobius swiftly tore the monster in two.

(? – 0)

Sawatari: Win!

"Sawatari the cards you've got this time are really strong." The defeated stooge ran up to Sawatari as a finger was wagged condescendingly in his face, "You've got it backwards, what it is in fact has unparalleled strength is none other than…" His goons finished the sentence for him "Sawatari-san!" Sawatari struck a pose "Oh yes!" He exclaimed sweeping his hair back "Strength, skill, calculated decision making and tactics, a tough spirt and ravishing looks, the combination of all of these traits is none other than…" Sawatari snapped his fingers as his friends shouted "Sawatari-San!"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Sawatari's ego grew by the millisecond "Simply put it's the perfect duelist that'll win the day and that duelist is…" "Sawatari-San!"

"Absolutely! But from now one I insist that you call me Neo Sawatari with these new cards I have" Arrogance couldn't begin to describe how Sawatari was acting at this point in my time "Neo…" he said "Sawatari-san!" His friends finished "Ladies and Gentlemen!" The similarities were not lost on his friends "Looks like someone has learnt a little something from a certain someone's style." Sawatari raged "That underhanded bastard Yuri Sakaki has not influenced me in the slightest." He thought back to his duel with Yuri "To think he not only tricked me with his pendulum cards but also beat me with said cards is just proof of how worthless those cards really are!"

His friends looked at him in surprise "What? That is circular logic and a complete contradiction of what you said about pendulum cards earlier." One said "You did fall for his trap as well." Sawatari ignored them and grumbled "I'll get my hands on him if it's the last thing I do."

Meanwhile in You Show Yuri, Demil and Yuzu were watching the kids duel.

"They're not half bad." Demil said as he saw the duel reach its conclusion "On the other hand they aren't half good either, I mean if I had a trophy for the most bog standard duelist in this city, these kids would be joint first."

Yuzu hit Demil across the face with her fan causing the boy to cry in pain "Argh! I see why Yuri is scared of angering you now! That was like lightning!" Yuri laughed at Demil's misfortune "Your mouth has a mind of its own doesn't it. Yuzu you need to control your anger and emotions as well before you know it you'll be rushing headlong into a battle you don't understand."

Later Yuzu was walking with Ayu coming back with some supplies the boys had demanded, "Who knew that Demil was such a hoarder." Yuzu said gazing down at Ayu who was just about holding onto numerous deck boxes and holsters that were balancing precariously on top of one another. "Big sis Yuzu could you please take some of these yourself it's getting really difficult."

"Sure I'll take half of them, I'm still carrying Yuri's stuff that he was too lazy to get himself." There was an awkward hand off of the boxes but soon after they continued Yuzu suddenly stopped without warning "Big sis Yuzu?" Ayu said curiously as Yuzu held her finger over the little girl's lips placing Demil's deck boxes in the bag containing other things the rest wanted, closely watching Sawatari's friends the reason she had stopped. "He's really going all out this time isn't he…?" One muttered "He says he's going to crush Yuri completely this time" Yuzu and Ayu watched on as Yuzu began to rifle through Demil's decks, "He says he's going to focus in on his weak points and attack him from there." The other boy checked his watch and panicked "Damnit! We're late! We better hurry you know how he gets when he's hungry." The two boys ran off to the warehouse containing their over-ambitious friend.

"Sawatari…" Yuzu rummaged through the boxes "Thank god Demil labelled them." She eventually settled on a worn box suggesting moderate use that was tagged 'Dino Rabbit' sliding out the contents Yuzu bolted to catch up with Sawatari's stooges as Ayu raced to catch up with her.

The stooges entered the warehouse and were almost immediately chastised by Sawatari "You're late." They bowed their heads in shame "Sorry Sawatari-san." One handed Sawatari a bag "We got your favourite sweet milk berry pie with honey here." Sawatari's face lit up "I suppose I can let you live…" He said as Yuzu and Ayu arrived outside the warehouse.

"Big sis Yuzu don't you think we should let Yuri know about this?" The red haired girl questioned although Yuzu ignored the question focusing in on trying to find the correct warehouse Sawatari was hulled up in. "I've got to do this Ayu. Yuri's always been there to help me in tough situations and now it's my turn to help him." She turned to face Ayu "Ayu go back to the duel school." She handed her the bag and ran off into the distance "But…" Ayu stammered out.

Yuto had only now come out of his and Shun's hideout, he had spent most of the time attempting to treat Janus' condition but it was hopeless without the proper supplies that were still back in the Xyz Dimension, 'It's really a sorry sight to see a fellow denizen of Heartland reduced to that state, he's the prime example of how war makes people do desperate things in order to survive, this war has to end soon for the sake of everyone's wellbeing.' He then saw Yuzu dart past him which put him into a state of shock 'Ruri! But it couldn't be can it? If it is her then how did she get here? He began to follow but felt an icy hand gently touch his shoulder.

"I'm still indebted to you Yuto." Janus was hardly able to stand properly as Yuto turned to see a weak smile form on the sickly boy's face "I might be ill but that doesn't mean I can't be of use." Yuto inspected the weary former resistance leader with a sullen look "Janus you need to rest none of the correct supplies are available."

Janus limply dug his pale hands through his shirt and revealed a second concealed tube tapped to the inside "I'm always prepared for every eventuality, I've got enough here to treat me for at least two days, I owe you for what I did to everyone, it was unforgiveable, I'm going with you." Yuto still tried to resist "You have no business in this matter."

"That's where you are wrong," Janus pulled a battered page out of his jacket pocket "one of the deals I made involved the hand off of information to an Academia scout, the information included the precise location of Ruri and some other classified information." Janus' hands shook, tears began to leak out "I'm sorry, I bear part of the responsibility for her kidnapping, I feel nothing but sorrow, I can no longer run away and hide from what I've done it's time I face it and cleanse myself of this sin." Yuto relented and nodded "Fine you can come with me just be careful not to overextend yourself."

The door to the warehouse swung open "You coward!" Yuzu shouted causing Sawatari to nearly choke "I'll stop your plans right here and now!" Sawatari was handed a drink and composed himself for a speech "Yuzu Hiiragi it looks like you've fallen into my t-" Yuzu loaded her disk "Duel me!" Sawatari continued his speech regardless "And because y-" Yuzu interrupted him again "Shut your mouth and duel me now!" An irritated Sawatari tried to continue "The goddess of victory will shine upo-"

"Are you afraid to lose to me?!" Sawatari raged "Let me finish! Godamnit!" Yuzu snorted "I don't plan on listening to a coward, a sore loser and a second rate duelist!" Sawatari turned scarlet "Second rate you say! Second rate!" He narrowed his eyes at the insult Yuzu had thrown at him, "In fact you're even worse than second rate, third rate, fourth rate not even one hundredth rate classifies your skills!"

"Now you've done it!" At a flick of the wrist one of his friends shut the door of the warehouse tight and stood outside guarding it as Sawatari walked towards Yuzu "I'll give you the chance to take that back now." Yuzu was unfazed "Too bad I don't feel like it one little bit you tier 4 duelist!" Sawatari gritted his teeth "I'll beat that ignorant attitude out of you." Sawatari placed his duel disk on and activated it "I'm going to make you wish you had left."

Outside a voice was heard "Evilswarm Exciton Knight finish him off with Sheening Sword Strike!"

(? – 0)

Janus: Win!

"That was easy." Janus said going through the boy's pockets before turning his head to Yuto "Are you sure they have ties to Academia because not even a Slifer student is that bad." Yuto ignored the question and swung the door open. Sawatari was shocked to see Yuto enter warehouse as the other boys gathered behind him "Who are you?" He asked curiously as Yuto continued on before stopping beside Yuzu "Back down." He said to Yuzu "What's with you?" She asked him, Yuto ignored the question and zeroed in on the LDS badge Sawatari wore on his collar causing his steel grey eyes to narrow. "Showing up all of a sudden…Are you supposed to be a knight sent to save the Princess." Sawatari said but it fell on deaf ears as Yuto threw out his arm, blowing his cloak, revealing and activating his purple duel disk.

"That's an odd duel disk you have there and going by your silence you have no intent to answer any of my questions" Shingo stated at Yuto who stood silently as Janus slithered silently into the warehouse and hid in the corner. Yuzu was upset at Yuto for interfering in her battle with Sawatari, she was just about to place on her disk and activate it when Yuto grabbed her arm and looked directly in her eyes "I'm not going to let you get hurt anymore." Yuzu was shocked "Eh? Just who is this guy?" Sawatari spoke up again "Well aren't you cool but you should leave it at that Sir Knight you just going to embarrass yourself when you lose." Sawatari activated his disk.

Yuto didn't respond "This'll be the perfect opportunity to test out my deck. I'll crush you in 5 seconds flat!" Sawatari said as the two prepared them for battle. Janus smirked slightly 'This is going to be a complete slaughter, he has absolutely no chance not even I beat Yuto'

"Duel!" Both of them shouted as Yuzu, Janus and Sawatari's lackeys watched on from their respective places.

Yuto: 4000 LP Sawatari: 4000 LP Cards x5

"I'll go first" Yuto said as Sawatari mocked him "Go right head, it's not like it's going to make a difference."

"I set all five cards in my hand facedown and end my turn!" The five cards materialised and then disappeared, this unprecedented move shocked everyone except Janus who watched on in anticipation. Sawatari laughed "So I guess all of that cool talk was just that, talk" Sawatari's friends jeered Yuto "Sawatari end that worthless excuse for a duelist." Sawatari mocked Yuto again "I feel sorry that you didn't draw a single monster but I guess that's karma for you." Yuto stood unblinking "Didn't you hear me I said I ended my turn."

Back at You Show Ayu had finally arrived back, panting from the long fast run Yuzu made her do. "Yuri!" She called out dropping and tripping over the bag and falling into Yuri's Arms "Ayu! Watch where you are going in future!" Demil came over and picked the bag off the ground throwing out everything relevant to each individual "Futoshi! Tatsuya! Sora! Your ice cream is here." The kids' excitement turned to disappointment as they saw what had become of the treat "Awww! Its melted." They groaned. Yuri began to question Ayu "Ayu what's happened, where's Yuzu I thought you two were walking back together." Ayu had tears in her eyes as she tried to catch her breath again.

"Okay!" Everyone turned to see Demil seething "Which one of you mongs stole one of my decks! I had 22 boxes in my possession in the underworld, there are only 21 here. To make matters worse it's a very powerful one!"

"Yuri…Big Sis Yuzu is in danger!" She shouted over the top of a still ranting Demil "What!" Yuri gritted his teeth 'It's great to know she listens to my advice, I told something like this would happen.' "Ayu, where she at this moment." The young girl was still visibly shaken "At a warehouse at the harbour, she's gone after Sawatari." Yuri needed no further prodding to figure out what happened, using Demil's missing deck as a benchmark he set off "Demil." The one-eyed boy stopped his ranting and turned himself in Yuri's direction "Yes?"

"If you want your deck back come with me." Both then raced to the warehouse as in the building the duel continued.

"I'll show my perfect dueling! It's my turn! I draw!" Sawatari glanced over the field smugly "Allow me to use those set cards of yours!" He plucked a card from his hand "If there are two or more set cards in my opponent's spell or trap zone I can special summon this card from my hand!" He swiped the card onto his disk "Come forth! Escher the Frost Vassal!" Level 4 (800/1000) "I now release Escher to tribute summon Mobius the Frost Monarch!" The smaller version of Mobius was replaced by the large version as it towered behind Sawatari. Level 6 (2400/1000). One his friends took this as an opportunity to stroke his boss' ego "Wow it's his first turn and he already has a 2400 attack point monster! Neo Sawatari sure is great!"

"Mobius' effect activates when it is tribute summoned, it can target then destroy two cards in my opponent's spell or trap zone! Take this!" Mobius charged up a beam in his hands and struck the two facedowns "Freeze burst!" The facedowns revealed to be Phantom knight's Spear and The Phantom Knights of Shadow Veil were destroyed. "I'm just getting started by the way! I activate the Spell Tribute Carnival! If I've successfully tribute summoned this turn this card allows me to do the same again!" Sawatari slid the card into his disk. "He's going to release a twenty four hundred attack monster to summon a new one?" Yuzu was surprised but Yuto and Janus didn't bat an eyelid. "That's right! I release Mobius the Frost Monarch! To summon forth Mobius the mega monarch!" Mobius was replaced by what looked to be the final step on the evolution ladder of the card Level 8 (2800/1000). "Usually this would require two tributes but if it's a monster that has already been tribute this turn you can count that monster as two for the summoning of a mega monarch!" Sawatari struck a pose as his friends stroked his ego further "Amazing!" They yelled.

"Mega monarch's effect now triggers when he is tribute summoned he destroys up to three spell or trap cards on your field!" Mobius charged up a beam from both his hands "Hey Sir Knight how about activating one of those cards before they are destroyed!" One of Sawatari's friends said, Sawatari grinned "It'd be pointless if this card is tribute summoned using a water monster the cards targeted can't be activated!" Mobius had finished charging "Now freeze and shatter! Blizzard destruction!" Mobius let loose destroying the other three set cards causing Yuto to shield Yuzu from the powerful blizzard.

Yuzu was shocked to feel the full brunt of the blizzard "Huh? How did I feel that if there is no action field?" Janus slinked slowly out of the corner far enough for his body to be seen but not his face "You're experiencing the sorrow of the battlefield for the first time." Yuzu barely had time to register this comment before Sawatari spoke again "With all of your set cards destroyed and your hand at zero you're finished," Sawatari struck another pose "Maybe if you summoned a monster or if you had one from the start this duel might have gone differently, this just makes your grand entrance pretty pathetic if you ask me." Yuzu glared at Yuto "Hey get it together if this is the best you can do then you should've j-" Yuto glared back at Yuzu silencing her almost immediately.

"Battle! Mobius the Mega Monarch attacks you directly! Imperial charge!" Mobius charged, Yuto remained standing perfectly still although Yuzu had to shield herself "I activate the effect of the spell, The phantom knights of shadow veil in my graveyard!" Janus smirked showing off to Yuzu the bottom of his vein enveloped face while Sawatari and his stooges stood in shock "Spell card from the graveyard." One questioned "Can he even do that?" the other one said, Yuto pulled the card out of the graveyard and explained its effect to everyone "When an opponent's monster declares a direct attack I can summon as many copies of this card from my graveyard as level 4 monsters." Three cards ejected out of Yuto's grave as he placed them on his disk three ghostly horses emerged onto the field together Level 4 (0/300). Yuzu only now realised Yuto's plan "You set those cards hoping they would be destroyed didn't you?"

"He's a lot smarter than you give him credit for." Janus' voice was unnerving to everyone around him. "No matter! I attack one of your Shadow Veils!" Mobius made the ghastly apparition vanish from the field. "Looks like you barely saved yourself! I set one card facedown and my turn!" The card materialised than vanished in front of a gloating Sawatari "I guess I'll let you live one more turn!" His friends heaped praise upon him "Wow! Neo Sawatari sure is great!"

"This duel has run its course!" Yuto declared to Sawatari's shock "Huh?"

"My turn!" Yuto turned to see Janus smiling, he too knowing what was going to happen "I thought you'd be a challenge but I don't feel the sharpness of a blade in your dueling." Yuto thought back to his duel the other day with Yali "Your nothing compared to him. Not even close to being on the same planet let alone the same level." Sawatari stood in stupor "What are you talking about, cut the jokes Mr Mystery." Yuto's eyes narrowed behind his googles "The conditions have been met! When there are two monsters of equal level on my field the strongest monster of my deck will manifest itself!" The two monsters turned into streaks of purple energy as a swirling yellow vortex appeared in the centre of the field.

"It can't be!" Sawatari said stunned "That's…" Yuzu was just as shocked as Sawatari "Formed from the pitch-black darkness to fight those foolish enough to oppose it with its treacherous fangs! Descend now! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon!" The purple scaled electricity charged dragon hit the field with a screech Rank 4 (2500/2000) (OLU: 2)

Not too far from the warehouse Yuri and Demil were closing in on Yuzu's position both motivated by different factors. "Yuzu I'm coming please stay safe." Yuri looked over his shoulder to Demil "How powerful was the deck she took?"

"Depending on the user it can range from good to stupidly powerful. I hope she doesn't lose it if I she does I swear to god she won't see the light of day ever again." Just as Demil said this two cards in both boys possession began to glow.

"Starve Venom is glowing." Yuri pulled his ace from his extra deck "The last time this happened was seven years ago could it be that it is resonating with something else."

'Demil,' Judgement Dragon's spirit appeared beside the Lightsworn duelist 'I sense that a dangerous power has just been released we need to get down there quickly.' Demil threw his hand through the spirit waving it off dismissively "Sure. Sure." Both continued at a breakneck pace.

"A Xyz summon…" Yuzu clasped her hands together, "He summoned an extra deck monster." One said "He's a Xyz user" the other one said. Sawatari clapped his hands sarcastically "I'll admit I was surprised when you Xyz summoned so quickly but are you really planning to take down Mobius with that monster, unless your blind you would've realised that it only has twenty five hundred attack points while my Mobius has twenty eight hundred." Yuzu looked at the two monsters attack points and sure enough Sawatari was correct Dark rebellion was too weak to defeat Mobius "It seems your Xyz summon has turned out to be nothing but a bluff."

"Xyz monster's true power rests in their very soul known as overlay units! They use them to vanquish their foes!" Yuto said with venom in his voice "Enough with your Xyz lessons I'm not interested." Sawatari said pretending not to be scared. "Then bear witness to the true might of Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon! By using one overlay unit I can target one level five or higher monster, half its attack points and then add that amount to Dark Rebellion's!" One of the purple orbs was absorbed in the dragon as metallic panels on the dragon's back opened up "Treason discharge!" Purple electricity constricted Mobius weakening the monster dramatically.

Dark Rebellion (2500 – 3900)

Mobius (2800 – 1400)

"Dark Rebellion's attack is…" One boy started "Over Mobius' attack" Yuzu finished the sentence for them, "I'm not finished! I use his second overlay unit to do the same thing again! Treason discharge!"

Dark Rebellion (3900 – 4600)

Mobius (1400 – 700)

"An attack of forty six hundred points!" Yuzu exclaimed happily "NO! NO! NO!" Sawatari shouted "Battle! I attack Mobius the Mega Monarch with Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon! Mauling Mandible Charge!" Dark Rebellion's tusks glowed a bright blue as it tore Mobius in two causing Sawatari to fly back and hit the wall.

Sawatari (4000 – 100)

Yuto shielded Yuzu from the blast, Janus was forced out of the shadows and into the light revealing his full appearance to Yuzu 'Demil?' she thought. Sawatari grunted as he attempted to stand up "What the hell?! This isn't an action field I shouldn't be able to feel it."

"This is bad." One of the boys said "This guy's monster has the power to send us flying." Yuto began to walk up to Sawatari "I'll ask you only once so answer me properly." Yuto held up the LDS pin in his possession "What's your connection to Academia." Sawatari was perplexed "Academia? What are you talking about?" Yuto glared at Sawatari "Don't play dumb." Sawatari grimaced "I really mean it! Anyone who is enrolled in LDS has that badge and I've never hear of this Academia you speak of." Yuto began to walk away "I have no business with you then," He looked over to Janus "let's leave."

"Idiot!" Sawatari shouted jumping to his feet "The duel isn't over yet! Trap activate! Ice Rage Shot! When a water monster on my field is destroyed by battle this card destroys one monster on my opponent's field and deals you damage equal to that monster's attack points." Yuzu gasped as Sawatari laughed "I read your moves from the very start and set this trap card ahead of time guaranteeing my victory!"

Yuto threw up the back of his hand "Such tactics are mere child's play compared to some of the trap combos I've seen before," Yuto was thinking of two people in particular one of which happened to be in front of him being helped to his feet by Yuzu "From my graveyard I activate the continuous spell Phantom Knights' Spear!" A spear appeared in a similar vain to Demil's Lightsworn Lance directly pointing at a sniffling Sawatari "When my opponent activates a trap card I can banish this card from my graveyard, negate the activation of the card and deal you 100 points of damage!" Sawatari frantically flapped his arms "Wait! Wait! We can talk this over!" Yuto would have none of it "Experience for yourself the rage and sorrow of the battlefield!" The spear flew towards Sawatari pinning him to the wall by the inside of his jacket.

Sawatari (100 – 0)

Yuto: Win!

Yuto soon after his victory removed his mask and lifted up his somehow undamaged googles revealing his face to those around him "Yuri!" Both Yuzu and Sawatari were shocked to see Yuto's face mistaking him for Yuri, "It-It was you!" Sawatari fell to the ground as the spear dissipated "Sawatari!" Both conscious stooges ran up to their boss and carried him out of the warehouse taken stooge number 3 with them as well "Yuri and Demil why do you look like this?" Before either one of the two Xyz duelists could answer Yuzu's bracelet glowed a bright pink engulfing the warehouse and when it finally cleared Yuto and Janus were gone, Yuri and Demil soon came rushing into the warehouse both with different reactions.

"Yuzu! I'm here are you alright Ayu told me you were in danger." Yuri panted and leant on the door, Demil spoke up too "Yuzu! I believe you are currently in possession of something of mine! Give it back!" Yuri restricted Demil's movements before he was able to do something unpleasant. "Yuri?" Yuzu asked confused about what had just happened "Thank god you're safe!" Yuri threw his arms around Yuzu causing the confused girl to blush she held Yuri's face "You are Yuri right?" Yuri was bewildered as well now "Of course I am I've not changed in the twenty minutes you were gone."

She then turned to Demil "You are Demil aren't you?" Demil raised an eyebrow "Yes I am I've not changed either." Demil tapped his index finger repeatedly on his then noticed a trail of Yellow liquid on the ground "What's that." He said bending down running his finger through the liquid and then smelling it "Ach!" He repulsed "This stuff is toxic!" Yuri separated from Yuzu and journeyed over to join Demil while Yuzu linked two and two together quickly 'The boy that looked like Demil had Veins all over his face and while helping him up I noticed he had a tube in his shirt. That liquid wasn't there when I first came in so that means it belongs to him.'

"Then if it wasn't Yuri and Demil then who else could it be," Yuzu said aloud, "could it be that one of them was Yuya?" Yuzu thought back to how Yuto looked and quickly dismissed the thought "Impossible, that can't be him."

"It smells like someone died and was brought back to life." Demil was holding his nose still raving about the smell of the liquid Janus was carrying.

Yuzu couldn't help but be confused, as in her mind the images of Yuto, Yuri and a younger Yuya appeared lined up on one side while images of Janus and Demil were lined up on the other. "What's happening…?"

A/N: As you can see by this chapter I've thrown my word limit for chapters out the window. I used to have a word limit of 4,500 words maximum and while i still have my minimum I've decided to get rid of the maximum word limit.

In this chapter we see the introduction of Demil's Xyz Counterpart. If you thought that he was the xyz counterpart because of his reaction to Yuri and Sora's fusion summons then you were wrong but i think you can work out why he hates fusion if this isn't the case.

The creation of Janus was based off an exercise I did at a creative writing workshop I did where I just so happened to make a character that was involved in a war. All of the Counterparts of Demil/Yali will be based off Characteristics I have:

Demil is my concept of morality. You can also gather from the adjectives he uses how I feel about my ideals of morality and justice

Janus is my underhanded nature. According to people everything I do is 'worked' and 'sly'.

Yali is my sadistic streak. I don't want to say the things I've done but I will hint towards some of them in the coming chapters.

The Synchro counterpart (Who I don't have a name for yet) is still in the works so I don't have a story for him.

They are people who don't care about what they have to do in order to achieve their goals. If this means using and manipulating people then so be it. However each of them come from an angle of what they are doing will ultimately lead to the best for people. "The ends justify the means" is going to be a common sentence in this story.

I hope to see you soon in the next chapter.

New Cards:

Evilswarm Contaminated Roach Level 4 (1250/50)- When this card is normal or special summoned you can add one 'infection' or 'infestation' Spell/Trap card from your deck to your hand. You only get this effect once per turn.

Crawling Infection Continuous Spell - Once per turn you can pay 500 life points to summon one level four or lower 'Evilswarm' monster from your deck.

Xyz Infection Epidemic Continuous Trap- Every Xyz Evilswarm monster you control gain 400 attack points for each overlay unit it currently has attached.