Between My Brother and Me: Alea Iacta Est

by Green Phantom Queen

Part of the "Between" series. Duels can happen any time, anywhere and against anyone. The duelists of tomorrow never have a dull moment with Duel Monsters nor does the fun stop after the duel ends. (Fifth Roll: Molly Hale spends a night in Domino City Museum trying to stop a thief from stealing the Sphinx's Heart!) Please Read and Review!

4. Special 1: Before the Storm

We interrupt your usual collection of supernatural based duels to deliver a special announcement.

The story that is supposed to come has hit a few snags, but until then, I have written this special bonus story. For those who have stuck with this budding collection of stories, I have created this special tale to integrate the ARC - V cast into my little universe (and that is how far I go for the dueling side of things).

Rest assured, the story after this will deal with Hikari and her quest for strange monsters to duel against; we're just taking a detour (and also because it's my birthday next week and I wanted to give myself an early present)

So, I would like to give a quick shout-out to CounterKnight291543 for getting me more interested in the ARC - V world and this story is dedicated to him. This is also the prequel to "Nobis Vivus Manes" so check it out after taking a whirl of this story.

(Oh and there are future spoilers for events in "In Somnis Veritas" and "Lux ex Tenebris" hidden here, as a warning)

And now, let's carve the arc to victory!

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When you hear about witches, what's the one thing most people think of other than how witches wear pointy hats and have black cats?

The answer is how they fly into the air on magic broomsticks.

My mother always said that she always loved doing this as a child, seeing how high she could fly on her broom, dreaming that she was Icarus as he flew with his wax glued wings up to the sky, only for hubris and teenage folly of his morality to plummet him into the sea. Thankfully, mom never suffered any major injury while on her broom.

In this day and age, witches learn how to travel beyond broomstick. It's not uncommon to find some old witch family creating talismans that let them venture to points where they've been in the past, or even venturing through the use of mirrors to get from point A to point B. I actually fall into the latter, with the ability to enter through the Looking Glass and see what's in there (and, thankfully, the Mirror World doesn't pull a Kamen Rider Ryuki or else I would've been gone a long time ago).

When I am not going through mirrors, I skateboard, pretending not that I am a witch, but a Turbo Duelist, riding my D-Wheel and dueling alongside my monsters, traveling on the open road in search of adventure, like a rhinestone cowgirlriding out on herD-Wheel steed and a deck of cards instead of a pistol in a star-spangled Turbo Duel. Ah, how romantic...

And speaking of romantic, just after a harrowing adventure down the rabbit hole, there came a wondrous duel for me where I performed for a roaring crowd all while feeling like on top of the world.

But when I look back at it now, just before trouble came to paradise, it would become the prologue for what was to come.

It would become the calm before the storm.

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Special Roll 1

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Before the Storm

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"Ahhhh! I'm gonna be so late!"

This is what Haruka screams as she rides her skateboard throughout the streets of Domino City, zipping through people going on their daily business on this fine June afternoon. School has ended a few days ago, and Haruka has used that time to prepare for what will be one of the most important days of her life.

It is a day that she will travel out on her own, while her parents, brother and close friends work for catering at an orphanage in Domino Below. She has her own agenda for the day, and there is no way that she's going to miss this.

She swerves to avoid a woman incessantly chatting on her phone, the woman turning away from her phone long enough to show Haruka her middle finger. Ignoring this, Haruka looks at the message on her cellphone, body brimming with excitement over today's events and the fun that she'll have participating in ...

"Look out!"

Haruka looks up and gasps as she is approaching someone on a D-Wheel, going too fast on her skateboard to stop, so she can only flail her arms and scream, "Out of the way! Out of the way! Out of the way!" before she crashes into the rider and manages to collapse on the sidewalk with a groan, her skateboard slowly rolling to a stop.

"Hey!" says the person on the D-Wheel. "Are you all right?"

Haruka sits up, glad that she is wearing her helmet, wrist guards and elbow pads, and that her cellphone is tightly gripped in her hand, before she looks up at the person staring back at her. They wear a white racing outfit of a helmet, jacket, gloves and pants all trimmed with red and traces of yellow on the sleeves, the torso marked with three wide stripes of blue, red and yellow. The blue visor of the helmet obscures the person's face except for some dark blue bangs, but it shows an expression of concern for the fallen girl.

"Yeah, I'll be fine," Haruka swiftly answers as she sits up. "I'm so sorry about that, and I wish I can talk more but I am gonna miss the bus that leads to the Domino Duel Colosseum and...Ooh, I'm wasting time just talking to you!"

Haruka quickly rises to her feet and picks up her fallen skateboard, cradling it underneath her arm. As she dusts herself off, she looks up and watches her bus head off without her, causing her to sigh.

"Well that's perfect," she mutters. "I could have just traveled through the Mirror World but no...I had to be like, 'I wanna travel on the open road and feel the wind in my hair.' And now I'm gonna be late for the exhibition match! Just my luck."

As Haruka grumbles, she takes a glance at the D-Wheel she collided with. From a glance, it looks similar to that of a bee or hornet, what with the black stripes and white trim. On closer inspection, she can see that the design is heavily inspired by that of a dragon, but it's certainly one that she has never heard of before. She tilts her head to the side as the person removes their helmet. When Haruka turns to him, she can see how his hair is colored blue in the back, with yellow bangs swept up in a crescent that reminds her of the waning moon hanging in the night sky.

And his face is bright and youthful, contrasting with the guttural voice who asked Haruka if she was okay, with sparkling teal eyes that shine like crystals.

"Taking a good look at Mellona, huh?" The person chuckles. "Built her all by myself for today."

"Mellona?" Haruka repeats. "You named your D-Wheel after a girl?"

"Not a girl, but a goddess. Mellona is actually named after the Goddess of honey in Ancient Rome. In fact, her name comes from the Latin word for 'sweet'."

"Whoa...Wait, you built her?!"

The boy nods his head. "Wasn't easy though, what with Domino Below being so populated with all those shadows and all. But I'm glad all that hard work was paid off. Mellona is gonna do me proud today." The boy then extends a hand out to Haruka. "The name's Yugo, by the way."

"I'm Haruka," Haruka answers back, shaking hands. "So Yugo, are you competing in the Grand Prix?" she inquires as she looks at her phone, grimacing at the time, before she opens the camera app and takes a photo of the D-Wheel and its owner (who flashes a quick V sign and a wide grin).

"I guess you can say that," says Yugo. "And what about you? I bet you're here to cheer on Team Satisfaction, huh?"

"What makes you say that?"

Yugo gestures to Haruka. Instead of her usual red top with the black semi-circle and high red collar, she has traded it for a black tee with a large crimson butterfly in the center and smaller butterflies fluttering about. Covering that is a tan vest with faux fur trim and a patch over her heart of four fists pressed together while a pair of eyes watches over them, the insignia of Team Satisfaction. Her usual red bandana that she wears over her head is wrapped around her right arm and adorning her neck is a pendant resembling a silver fleur-de-lis with three aquamarines inset to make it look a strange mirror. Finishing her look are a pair of white and black bike shorts and black boots, alongside the safety gear covering her. Strapped to her left is a satchel depicting two lavender wolves howling at the full moon.

"Oh this?" says Haruka, looking down at her attire. "Yeah, I'm here to cheer them on and then some! The team of the Shooting Star, the Master of Faster, the Death God and The Bullet..." Haruka squeals. "They gave me this special custom-made vest for my birthday a few months ago and I am loving it. The four are just the coolest, aren't they?"

"Yes we are!"

Haruka and Yugo look down at Haruka's satchel as four faces pop out, waving at the two. Yugo blinks as Haruka giggles and pets their little heads.

"Are those...dolls?" Yugo asks. "Of Team Satisfaction?"

"They are!" Haruka answers, taking the doll modeled after Yusei Fudo into her arms and cuddling him, to which he coos softly. Yugo then takes note of the three dolls still in Haruka's satchel who resemble the other three members (Jack Atlas, Crow Hogan and Kiryu Kyosuke). Each of them are made of cloth, their clothes sewn with the greatest of care, and their eyes are flat oval beads, colored to match the eyes of whoever they are portraying. Haruka smiles as Yugo steps off of his D-Wheel and approaches the three dolls waving their arms about. Slowly, he reaches out towards Cloth Jack and pokes the doll with a finger.

"That tickles!" Cloth Jack giggles. The other two dolls laugh and also begin to tickle their close friend.

"They're alive?!" Yugo exclaims, stepping back. "But how?"

"Magic," Haruka answers as she places Cloth Yusei back into her bag (who kisses Cloth Kiryu on the cheek). "They're my familiars."

"Familiars? Wait, you're a witch?"

"Yep! I'm a Fire Sorcerer if you want to use a Duel Monsters analogy, although I also dabble into Tarot reading too. So..."

"Haruka!" Cloth Yusei interrupts, tapping at Haruka's cellphone. "Exhibition Duel, remember?"

"He's right!" Yugo exclaims, slipping his helmet back on. "We better get going. Come on."

"Wait, you want me to join you?" asks Haruka.

"We both don't wanna be late, right?" says Yugo, seating himself on his D-Wheel. "Let's go."

"Oh! Right!"

The four dolls retreat into the satchel as Haruka slips her skateboard inside it, where it seems to sink into the bag without resistance, much to Yugo's surprise. "My brother bought it from the Pedott's Curiosity Shop for my birthday," Haruka explains. "It was just what I needed, and it stores everything that I need for the future!"

"I gotta get me one of those," Yugo chuckles as he grips onto his D-Wheel's handlebars and seats himself. Haruka sits behind him, arms wrapped around his torso for safety. "Hold on tight, because Mellona loves going fast!"

Haruka grins as Yugo revs Mellona up and the two quickly speed through the streets of Domino. Haruka laughs, mouth open in awe at how she sees the world speed by as Yugo takes a right, passing by a few bystanders who Haruka waves at.

"So Haruka," says Yugo. "How did you hear about the Grand Prix?"

Haruka pauses as she leans into Yugo, her mouth now closed and curved into a broad smile.

"It's a long story," she explains. "But I guess I can start when my family and I arrived at Satisfaction Town a few weeks ago for Duel Night."

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"High Priestess of Prophecy, attack directly!"

The pink haired Prophecy monster, tome in hand, fires a blast of magic at Haruka's opponent, a young girl with maroon hair in pigtails, wearing a blue dress and white blouse. The girl grunts as her lifepoints drop to zero.

"And your winner," says the MC, wearing a bright yellow suit. "Our very own Princess of Prophecy...Haruka Sakurada!"

A few of the patrons applaud as Haruka sighs, returns her cards back into her Duel Disk and waits for her opponent, Callista, to approach the older girl with wide eyes.

"That was amazing!" Callista exclaims. "I can understand why you're so good now. But next time, I'll have a better strategy to beat your monsters."

Haruka smiles, but it's a small one compared to the ones she wears after a hard-earned victory. "I look forward to that challenge then."

Callista grins before she heads back to her seat where her grandfather, Yanagi, waits for her, giving his grand-daughter a toothy grin before Haruka walks back to the table where her brother, parents and four cloth dolls wait for her. As Haruka seats herself down, her brother speaks up.

"What's wrong?" Masato asks, seeing his sister take a sip of her strawberry lemonade. "You haven't been yourself when it comes to dueling lately."

"I know I haven't," Haruka answers, watching her Cloth Dolls sitting in her tri-tip salad, munching on blue cheese crumbles and cherry tomatoes. She picks up her fork and raises it over the bowl of greens. Taking the hint, the dolls climb out and head toward the plate of onion rings "It's just that ever since that adventure in Wonderland, with all those opponents and threats we faced, Duel Night seems so...bland compared to what we encountered."

"I know what you mean," Masato agrees, dripping a fried fish fillet into a side of tartar sauce. "You confronted Crow's Blackwing brigade, Serena gave Yusei goosebumps, Kanata faced off against Kiryu's Handless Combo and Millefeui basically went through Hell itself against Jack Atlas! And I got to duel Pegasus himself!"

"You lost that duel compared to the victories over Team Satisfaction, though," Haruka notes.

"But I fought him one-on-one and took his final attack, so that counts for something!" Masato takes a bite out of his fried fish as Mitsuko pats her son on the shoulder.

"I think that it's a good thing that it's so peaceful right now," she says, seeing Callista sharing a bowl of buffalo wings with Yanagi. "It's all thanks to you two that the coma epidemic has finally been vanquished and Alice Day was a success!"

"Yeah, that was fun." Haruka stabs her fork into some lettuce and tri-tip pieces and brings them to her cup of ranch dressing. She dips the fork into the cup before lifting it to her mouth. "But it seemed odd after what we learned about Team Satisfaction and the fact that they're..."

"Wondering why our dear Princess of Prophecy has been so down in the dumps lately," a voice chuckles.

Senri nearly chokes on his water when he sees Kiryu Kyosuke at their table, dressed as a waiter with a tray in hand. The Cloth Dolls stop munching on a particularly large onion ring and wave at the silver haired leader. Cloth Kiryu immediately leaps off the table and lands on the real Kiryu's left arm before making the slow climb to the shoulder and perches there.

"Big self, you never dress like this!" The doll giggles, lightly poking the silver hoop earring dangling over Kiryu's ear. "What's the occasion?"

Kiryu smirks and pats his Cloth Doll self on the head before he picks up the item on the tray in his hand. He then bows to the waist and hands the item to Haruka, revealing itself to be an envelope.

"Don't tell us that it's money my daughter won from bets," Senri snarls. He knows how skilled of a duelist his daughter can be, and he also knows that Team Satisfaction has not been themselves for quite some time. The story his children told him after the adventure in Wonderland confirmed his suspicions, and has put him on edge ever since.

Kiryu shakes his head. "Team Satisfaction may be plenty of things, but we are not exploiting your daughter's skills just to make a quick buck, dear sir. She's too good for that."

Senri curls a hand over a napkin as Haruka places her fork in her salad bowl and takes the envelope into her hands. Her Cloth Dolls tilt their heads to the side as she slowly opens the envelope and pulls out its contents. It is an invitation with the image of a D-Wheel and a large Dragon flying besides them and a ticket.

"An invitation to the World Riding Duel Grand Prix?" Haruka exclaims. "But tickets sold out weeks ago! And they're super expensive! How did you get something like this?"

Kiryu winks. "Benefits of being Enforcers, you can say. This invitation, if you choose to accept it, gives you backstage access of the WRGP along with something special for the opening ceremony."

"How so?" Mitsuko inquires, touching the corner of the invitation. She stares at it for a second or two, then lowers her hand.

Kiryu chuckles. "We may or may not have put in a good word with the Grand Prix committee about Haruka's reputation in dueling, not to mention her giving Crow a nice kick in the keister a few weeks ago."

"Oh come on," says Masato. "My sister's good, but good enough to open up a tournament of skilled Turbo Duelists duking it to be the best team of Riding Duels ever? I heard that those Unicorn guys will be loving and tolerating the-"

"Me headlining an exhibition match the night before the Grand Prix?" Haruka interrupts. "Where I will be riding a D-Wheel in front of a stadium of people as I duel head to head with an opponent of equal skill and feel the thrill of a Turbo Duel?" She squeals as she hugs the invitation. "Ooh, how can I refuse such an offer?"

"Of course," Kiryu continues, gently lifting Cloth Kiryu off of his shoulder and bringing him down to play with his fellow dolls. "You can't go out as the Princess of Prophecy; for a duel as grand as this, you need something that replicates the thrill of riding a D-Wheel with the wind in your hair and the rush of adrenaline that courses through your veins. Do you have such a deck, Haruka?"

"As a matter of fact...I do," Haruka answers.

Her family looks in alarm as Haruka pulls out the deck from her Duel Disk. Her Cloth Dolls gasp and cover their mouths with their hands as Haruka swiftly switches decks with one pulled out from her satchel. She then sets the invitation down and stands up, walks past Kiryu, and approaches the dueling platform, a playful smirk on her lips. She then clears her throat and deeply inhales.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Haruka announces, to the shock of everyone in the bar (except the members of Team Satisfaction, who stop what they are doing and crane their heads toward the girl). "The Princess of Prophecy accidentally pricked her finger on a cursed spinning wheel and will be taking a nice long nap. She shall awaken after a hundred years of this slumber, but until then, a new warrior has emerged, ready to fulfill her need for speed and give her opponents who dare oppose her their just desserts.

"Here stands before you the one and only Fortune Fatale, and she's ready to shift into first gear with whoever wants to have a go. She's a dame whose single pleasure in life is speed and she'll do whatever it takes, and fight whoever challenges her, for the thrill of the race. Be careful, though. Some say that she is the incarnate of Lady Luck herself, and luck herself can be fickle. One day, she's in your house requesting for help, the next day, she's the one with a smoking gun in her hand and a new beau that gives her everything that she needs.

"To those who wish to chase after me, fasten your seatbelts. Because when we duel, we don't stop until someone crashes and burns.

"So come and fight! We'll settle this behind the wheel!"

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"Seriously?" Yugo exclaims. He looks up and sees the Domino Duel Colosseum approaching them. "You're that so-called Princess of Prophecy everyone in Satellite keeps mentioning?"

"Yeah, but today I am to be called Fortune Fatale, mistress of the stormy winds!" Haruka answers, gasping as she sees the Duel Colosseum. "Oh wow, look at that!"

Hundreds of people are walking across the street, dressed up in outfits bearing the logos of their favorite Riding Teams, others with video cameras or phones recording everything. Some people are already dueling and cheering each other on. The Duel Colosseum is surrounded by a multitude of blimps and helicopters getting a bird's eye view of the action going on (which so far has various musical acts playing while people file in to their seats with food and flags in hand).

"Come on guys!" says Haruka, pulling her cellphone from her satchel. She lifts it so the screen displays the Duel Colosseum and takes a photo. "Take a look at this!"

The Cloth Dolls pop out of the bag and "ooh" and "ahh" at everything, with Cloth Crow almost flying away on a balloon that passes them by. Using the directions on a sign, Yugo takes a sharp turn to the right, as the celebratory atmosphere turns into a sea of trucks and workers making sure everything is ready within the next hour or two.

"So Yugo," says Haruka. "You're also competing, right?"

"I am!" Yugo answers. "And, by pure coincidence, I also am dueling as part of the exhibition!"

"Wait, so that means...you're my opponent?!"

"Small world, ain't it?" Yugo chuckles. "Now, which way to go..."

The sound of a shrill whistle piercing the air has their answer. Yugo turns to see a Security guard with slick black hair in a ponytail and a scar across his right cheek motion to go to them. Taking the hint, Yugo drives Mellona to the man, who frowns and activates his Duel Disk, just in case

"This area is for authorized personnel only," the man growls. "Do you have permission to be here?"

"Haruka has an invitation, Mr..." Cloth Yusei tilts his head as he sees the guard's ID card pinned to his dark green coat. "Trudge. Just give us a minute."

Cloth Jack disappears into the satchel and pulls out an invitation. Meanwhile, Yugo pulls out a paper from his jacket pocket and unfolds it.

"One permit courtesy of Team Satisfaction that states that the Fortune Fatale will be participating today," says Haruka.

"And I'm supposed to be meeting up with a representative from something called Leo Duel School," says Yugo, handing his invitation over.

Trudge looks through the invitations then grunts an approval before handing . "Everything appears to be in order, but let me tell you something..." he leans close. "I don't know about you, but don't you find this a little fishy?"

"What's fishy?" asks Cloth Crow, tilting his head.

Ignoring the talking dolls, Trudge glances to the side before he continues. "Ever since I got this job, strange things have been happening in Domino City, like that odd coma epidemic that suddenly ended last month." He leans close and whispers, "I'd be on your toes today. Wouldn't want any strange accidents, now do we?"

Haruka looks at her invitation and nods her head. "We will. Now...where do we go in order to prepare for our duel?"

"Hey, princess!"

Haruka looks to the left and finds Kiryu Kyosuke approaching her on his navy blue D-Wheel, Gigantor L, wearing his Team Satisfaction outfit of a red shirt, jeans and brown vest. Haruka blushes as she looks at her outfit, hoping it's satisfying enough.

"Kiryu-san!" Haruka shouts, getting off of Mellona and rushing toward the leader of Team Satisfaction. "Sorry I'm late. Had to hitch a ride with my opponent for today."

"Well, as long as our little princess wasn't eaten by a dragon, then you're fine," Kiryu chuckles while Haruka takes a photo of the navy blue D-Wheel. He then looks up to see Yugo staring at the two. "If you want to park your D-Wheel, keep driving until you find the pit stop. Then go back to your VIP room until someone calls for you.

"I'm a VIP here?" Yugo smirks. "Sweet! See ya soon, Haruka. Gotta get myself ready for my fifteen minutes of fame."

"Before you go…" Haruka leaps towards him and lifts her phone into the air. "Cheese!"

And in a panorama shot, the two watch as Haruka's phone takes four photos of them (and the Cloth Dolls) in rapid succession. Then Haruka hops off and giggles.

"See you in a while, and thanks for the lift!" Haruka shouts, waving goodbye. Her Cloth Dolls also wave as Yugo drives off, leaving a scowling Trudge staring back at Kiryu.

"I don't know what type of game you're playing, Satellite scum," he states. "But know this...I have my eye on you and your little brood."

"I'll be sure to save you a seat at Satisfaction Town tonight," Kiryu smirks, waving as Trudge marches off. Haruka blinks as she sees Kiryu slip an arm over her shoulder and then looks up to see Kiryu's eyes darken to the color of obsidian, the pale yellow mark going down his right eye darkening to the color of dried blood.

"Kiryu..." Haruka begins. She stands firm as she asks, "Are you and the rest of Team Satisfaction hiding something from me?"

Kiryu grins before he spins Haruka around and pulls her to his D-Wheel. On a normal occasion, Haruka will be in awe at how she is actually face-to-face with the D-Wheel used by a member of Team Satisfaction, but Trudge's words makes her feel slightly hesitant.

"Come on, come on," says Kiryu, seating himself on his D-Wheel. "Don't have all night, you know!"

Haruka nods her head as she seats herself behind Kiryu and watches as the world flies by her once again. She can see technicians preparing last minute preparations for the lights and large screens, mechanics carrying tools requested by various teams, and a guard that is attempting to prevent some nosy reporter from trying to get an exclusive interview or five. The names of some of the sixteen teams flashes by (Team Taiyou, Team Unicorn, Team New World, Team Catastrophe) as she looks at her satchel where, deep within it, her deck and Duel Disk lies.

Haruka is no fool; ever since she learned about Turbo Duels, she has dedicated time to research more about this unique type of dueling and to construct a new deck befitting the theme of playing Duel Monsters on a motorcycle like she is in a rodeo. It was nothing more than a coincidence that she decided to use money she saved up from doing jobs around Domino City that got her inspired to buy the booster packs needed for her grand idea (in reality, she was playing Mario Kart at Jun's birthday party when lightning struck).

For the first few days, It felt awkward to practice with that deck compared to the victories she has obtained with her Prophecy deck. But Fortune Fatale is a different kind of a competitor compared to the mystical, perky Princess of Prophecy, whose cards can spell trouble for those who underestimate her.

She felt bad about not bringing that deck on her to Wonderland. But given the circumstances at the time, perhaps it was better that the deck wasn't with her when she ventured down the rabbit hole. It certainly wouldn't have helped her against that PSY-Frame deck.

Haruka closes her eyes as she recalls spending the last few nights working on her deck and the types of lines she wants to recite as a young mysterious duelist with a love of racing. Her Cloth Dolls were a perfect audience to rehearse these lines to late at night, and it reminded her of Drama lessons at school, except she is to perform on a racetrack instead of on stage. Still, the thrill to be on stage is the same and the adrenaline rush she would get from riding a D-Wheel makes her too excited! The time to rev it up can't come soon enough!

Haruka feels Kiryu slow down as they reach the pit area where the other three members of Team Satisfaction are waiting for them. Haruka's eyes widen with awe as she sees the D-Wheels of Yusei (Yusei Go), Jack Atlas (Phoenix Whirlwind) and Crow (Blackbird). She snaps a few more photos of Team Satisfaction as Yusei turns to her.

"Well, well, well," he says. "The Princess has arrived."

"It's Fortune Fatale tonight," Haruka corrects as she gets off of Kiryu's D-Wheel. Her Cloth Dolls cheer as Yusei approaches her, with Haruka noticing the item underneath Yusei's arm. "So...care to explain what's going on in regards to my opponent and why you pulled out the stops to have me duel today of all days?"

"What's so important about today aside from me proving who the real King of Riding Duels is?" asks Jack, watching Haruka pull out a large thermos from her bag.

"My friends and brother are currently in Domino Below, helping prepare open house for a place known as the Sacred Crane Orphanage," she answers, tossing the thermos at Jack (whose arm reaches out to catch it in the time it takes for Haruka to blink). "The owner, Martha, happens to have raised you, Yusei and Crow and I absolutely don't want to be the bearer of bad news if she heard that her darling boys are now the Enforcers of..."

"All right, all right," Jack interrupts, opening the thermos and pouring its contents into the thermos cup. The smell of freshly brewed coffee fills the air as Jack takes a loud slurp. "Ah, the Blue Eyes Mountain coffee. My favorite."

"It's on the house from Stephanie," says Haruka. "Well, she did request an autograph from you though."

"I'll have it done before we take you back home, princess," says Jack, violet eyes also turning into a black color. Haruka flinches slightly, but otherwise stands still. "Now, I just want to savor every last drop of this."

"Big self, you need to cool it before you drink!" Cloth Jack shouts, noticing how the real Jack Atlas takes the thermos to his lips and drinks its entire contents like he is chugging a bottle of beer.

"Remember, they don't feel heat or cold," Cloth Crow notes, watching the real Crow Hogan working on a D-Wheel in the corner. He hops and waves his arms over his head, shouting, "Oh, big self! What'cha working on?"

Crow looks up from his work and smiles at Haruka. "Well, if it isn't the Pixie Dust Rider. You ready for your big moment?"

"I've been training on some simulation bikes and did plenty of research on today's layout," Haruka answers with confidence. "Why? Is something wrong?"

"The Grand Prix committee announced that the duel is now a Turbo Action Duel," Yusei explains, his voice calm, almost robotic. "A last minute change from Leo Akaba himself."

Haruka tilts her head. "Leo Akaba? Never heard of him."

"He's the guy who would help create the phenomenon of Action Duels and is the founder of the Leo Duel School in Maiami City," Kiryu answers. "Are you aware of those?"

"Millefeui has been watching plenty of those Action Duels involving some Entertainment Duelist named Yuya Sakaki, but she's said nothing about this Akaba person," Haruka explains, recalling watching videos of a red and green haired boy dueling with animals dressed as circus performers a few weeks ago. "Why do you ask?"

"...We'll explain this somewhere quiet," Yusei answers, taking Haruka towards Crow. "But before you rest, care to take a look at your ride for the day?"

Haruka watches Crow step to the side and gasps. In front of her is a black D-Wheel evoking the image of a butterfly. There are butterfly wings with yellow decals, blue tail lights and red turn signals that flicker with the press of a button. The front has long antenna to hold a pair of mirrors, which Haruka looks into and grins.

"Wow!" she exclaims. "This is my ride today?"

"And for whenever you want lessons," Yusei chuckles, handing the item under his arm to Haruka. "You'll be needing this also. And she's called 'Black Swallowtail', before you ask."

Haruka takes the item into her hand. It is a black helmet with a green visor and circles of yellow, blue and red on the sides. She immediately removes her normal helmet, slips it into her bag and then places her new helmet on.

"This is gonna simultaneously give me info on my opponent's cards and make me look stylish!" she squeals as she takes a photo of her reflection. "Ooh, I have to tell everyone! They're gonna be so excited!"

"But remember," says Kiryu, his voice low. The air around the members of Team Satisfaction has suddenly turned cold, making Haruka shiver. "Today's duel is about the information we dig up in regards to that kid and whoever sponsored him. Haruka, be careful."

Haruka nods her head as she recalls the message on her phone. Sent to her when she woke up this morning, Yusei texted her the real reason for her involvement in the opening ceremony, something she called back to confirm minutes after obtaining the news.

Naturally, this would make her furious that she is being used by them, but secretly, she is quite happy to learn that she has been tasked by Team Satisfaction to fulfill a mission for them. The fact that the four duelists that she's a huge fan of request her dueling skills and that she gets to see them in the prestigious Riding Cup is something that doesn't come around often.

So, Haruka brushes off the doubt in her mind and nods her head.

"I survived Wonderland last month. I think I can manage a round of card games on motorcycles," she boasts as her Cloth Dolls crawl out of the bag to rest on her shoulders. As she takes another photo, she adds, "But Wonderland was kinda scary, though, especially with that thing about…" she trails off as she sees Team Satisfaction stare at her with those black, empty eyes as if they peer into her very soul.

After learning a bit more about them during that harrowing adventure in Wonderland, Haruka has been on edge. The four duelists that she idolizes have been transformed into undead guards for the ruler of an ancient city, but also could act as vampires if need be, devouring the sin in a person's soul to sustain themselves. Their goal? To turn Domino Below into the kingdom where the Dark King of the Afterlife, their master for lack of a better term, reigns supreme, bringing peace to those who live there, free from worry and sorrow.

And then there is what Hikari said during her role in stopping the comas in Wonderland; that some of their classmates were also in the same state like Team Satisfaction were. Sure, Haruka knows that Domino has many strange and bizarre things hidden away, ready to be chased and discovered...but this revelation is on a whole different level.

But despite all of this, she is Fortune Fatale. And Fortune Fatale is brave, quick on her feet and oozes with life and the thrill of adventure. A storm can fall in love with this beauty and desire her for its own purpose, and she would just smile at the idea of the wind wanting her, but unable to actually touch her as she raced underneath its gaze. Haruka can deal with the uneasiness about Team Satisfaction's new way of being for later. Right now, she has a duel to prepare for.

Yusei places a firm hand on Haruka's shoulder, giving it a tight squeeze. "Make us proud, Princess," he says, giving her one of his rare smiles.

Haruka returns the smile with a smirk of her own. "I will. We will. But before I head to rest up, I just have one question."

"What's that?" Jack inquires.

Haruka blushes slightly and places a hand behind her head.

"Could I get something to eat? I was in a rush that I forgot to pack a snack."

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

"Itadakimasu," Yugo says to himself just as he is about to eat his dinner, a bowl of ramen topped with two tempura shrimp and a heaping of spring onions and a small platter of gyoza. Cross-legged over the purple couch, the boy brings the bowl of ramen to his hands and sighs. How did he get to this point in his life where he would be the opening duel for the World Riding Grand Prix?

For as long as he can remember, Yugo grew up in Domino Below. It was a dreary place where trash from Neo-Domino was shipped there to be recycled and made into new products, and Security seemed to be apathetic to the struggles of those who lived in Satellite, the unofficial name for what was the original Domino City. It was not uncommon to find even the "nicest" of Security personnel commenting on the "Satellite scum" that littered the desolate roads like rats.

Yugo was lucky to have been adopted by a kind elderly couple named Edna and Jonathan. Jonathan worked as a pediatrician, while Edna worked in the factories, gathering up scrap metal and plastic to be recycled into something new. It is with them that Yugo would develop two traits of his.

The first is learning how to craft different types of toys from odds and ends that he picked up while exploring some of the more dangerous scrap heaps that littered the roads of Domino Below. Through this, not only could he make a bit more money than just exchanging kilogram after kilogram of scraps, but he could also brighten someone's day with these basic luxuries.

The second trait would come about after watching episodes of Kamen Rider whenever he had the chance. Nearly every night after dinner and homework, young Yugo would turn the television on and watched as Takeshi Hongo, Hayato Ichimonji, and every single Kamen Rider following them, would transform into badass motorcycle riders in insect themed armor that traveled around Japan, fighting the forces of evil wherever they went. In his dreams, he believed that he was a Kamen Rider (Kamen Rider Sting, since he liked bees) and traveled the roads on his motorcycle in the name of justice.

As he grew up, he would become enamored with the game of Duel Monsters, and his adopted grandmother worked double duty to provide Yugo with the cards and Duel Disk he needed to start his path to become a duelist. But it is fate that brought Yugo to what would eventually become his D-Wheel, Mellona.

It had been a horrible day, three years ago. Jonathan had died in a hit-and-run on his way home, and both Edna and Yugo were struggling with grief. Yugo had run away after the news came, wanting to make distance from the news.

He didn't see where he was going and nearly followed his grandfather to an early death, were it not for someone pulling him out of the way in time.

"Hey kid!" The person shouted. "Are you all right?"

Through his tears, Yugo just looked at his savior: a girl in her late teens, wearing red coveralls, a yellow waist tool pouch and short brown hair along with a pair of red goggles perched above her forehead. He sniffled a bit as he explained what had happened to the girl, who called herself Elaine. After he told everything, she immediately invited him to spend some time at her workshop.

Yugo, who was already smitten by how the girl looked, agreed. And after a ten minute drive on her motorcycle, the two were at her workshop, Guardian Signs,filled with tools of all sorts that Yugo had seen in books and magazines along with posters of various D-Wheels and actual D-Wheels in need of repairs or being dismantled to see what could be salvaged. Yugo felt like a kid at a candy store when Elaine dragged him to her current project…

The project that would eventually be the reason why he is here right now.

For the next few months, while Edna struggled to live without her husband, Yugo spent his days learning the ins and outs on how to repair D-Wheels, all while keeping Elaine's project in the back of his mind, imagining the day that he would be able to ride it and join the ranks of various duelists who decided to play their card games on motorcycles. Whenever he was at home, he would forego his ritual of Kamen Rider episodes for sketching the designs for his newfound D-Wheel, his mind envisioning a hornet with clear wings like crystals. Whenever he had spare time with Elaine he would learn how to bargain for top quality parts and make repairs on the D-Wheel of his dreams.

And he became more interested in his school work too. Science, math, programming and (to the surprise of many, even himself) mythology became his favorite subjects. Stories of gods and mortals danced in his head while he dreamed, and it is through a curious study about bees that he found the perfect name for his dream ride…

Mellona.

The desire to become a Riding Duelist continued to build until it came to his 13th birthday. On that day, Edna, Elaine, her fiancee Ollie, and all of Elaine's friends who worked at Guardian Signs presented to him his birthday present…

The very same D-Wheel that changed his life forever.

Not only that, but the paint job that Mellona was given was just like he had envisioned. Sleek, fast, vibrant with stripes and crystal wings. Yugo couldn't believe his eyes...it was the best gift he had ever gotten!

Well, that is, until he received the invitation to participate in the WRGP by….

A knock on the door interrupts his thoughts. Yugo sets his bowl of ramen down as a voice asks, "Can I come in?"

"Yeah, just a sec," Yugo answers, getting off the sofa and opening the door. "How can I hel…"

He feels his voice fade as he stares at the stranger. With purple and magenta hair, vibrant violet eyes, and dressed in an outfit similar to a commander on the battlefield in brilliant shades of purple with golden trim, cyan pants and dark red cape, he brings about a person of great authority...

But it is that face that Yugo keeps staring at. What startles him about it is that this stranger's face looks similar to his own for some odd reason.

Yugo looks in alarm at this identical stranger before he clears his throat and lets the person in. The purple haired person takes a good look at the room before he seats himself down in a chair.

"So," the person begins. "Yugo, is it?"

Yugo blinks as he closes the door. "Um, yeah. That's me. You're the representative, right?"

"Of course. Call me, Yuri, by the way."

"Yuri...like the flower, right?"

Yuri smirks, his face resembling a cat that has had a taste of cream. "I guess you can say that. I have a passion for plant life, you know. I find Botany to be such an interesting topic."

"I wouldn't know much about plants, except from watching The Secret Garden about five to ten times," Yugo notes as he sits back down on the sofa. Seeing his guest, he pushes the plate of gyoza towards Yuri, who shakes his head.

"How kind," says Yuri. "But I've already eaten, thank you."

"Oh, okay then…" Yugo mutters, taking the bowl of ramen into his hands. Once again muttering, "Itadakimasu", he begins eating with a loud slurp. Yuri chuckles before he stares at the one item on the table other than the platter of gyoza; a Duel Monsters card.

"Hmm…" Yuri muses, looking at the card. It is an Effect Monster, depicting a purple bird perched on top of a skull. "A Yata-Garasu? I didn't know you played a Spirit deck."

"I don't," Yugo answers. "I found it one day while searching for parts to fix up Mellona (my D-Wheel). I carry it around as a symbol for good luck."

"I see. You know what I heard about ravens? They say that the raven is to be respected…"

"But never trusted," Yugo finishes. "Its grinning face betrays its trickster spirit. Their actions, while they don't change the world, they leave a profound impact on it. And they also have been considered a symbol of guidance."

"Indeed," Yuri chuckles as he takes the card into his hand. "I see that you're knowledgeable about these sort of things."

"Well, yeah," says Yugo, his cheeks turning red. "I mean, I've always found myself spellbound with stories of fantasy and mythology...or rather how we humans saw animals in the past as symbols for the unknown and unexplained. Ravens happen to be my favorite animals, second to bees."

"Why bees?"

Yugo smiles sheepishly, the steam from the soup adding to his flushed complexion. "Because of how productive they are, the way that they communicate through dance, how our lives wouldn't be so sweet without honey…"

At this, Yugo laughs. "The way you talk...I'm sorry. It's so…" he lets out another laugh. "I've never met anyone like you before. You're so...lively! And you're hair...it's like...like…"

"What? A banana?" Yugo snorts. "Yeah, yeah, I've heard that one before."

"No," Yuri's voice drops to a whisper. "It's like...like a feather."

At this, Yugo can no longer hide that blush as Yuri leans close and strokes those vibrant yellow bangs. Hastily setting his ramen down, Yugo watches Yuri move closer to him on the sofa until Yugo is lying flat on his back and Yuri is on top of him, smelling like a bouquet of roses and cherry blossoms.

"Shh…" Yuri murmurs, pulling out something hidden beneath his purple coat. It is a crystal, a beautiful one at that, decorated with gilded cherry blossoms. It glows in the light as Yuri chuckles.

"Just relax," says the violet haired boy. "I won't hurt you, love."

Despite the situation he is in, Yugo can't help but relax at the sound of Yuri's voice, at how bright the crystal glows, at the subtle smell of that rose and cherry blossom perfume filling his lungs, and how vibrant Yuri's magenta eyes are…

"It's okay," Yuri continues, the crystal pendulum swinging freely with little movement. "Just watch, listen and relax...you're safe here…"

"Um…" Yugo groans, trying to push Yuri off of him, but for some odd reason it feels easier to just listen and do what Yuri tells him to do. And, he has to admit, a bit of rest before his big duel would surely help.

Yugo sighs as he lets himself be taken in by Yuri's voice, eyes finally closing shut, the last things he sees are the shining crystal and the smirk on Yuri's face on a job well done.

Yuri chuckles as he places a hand on Yugo's cheek, watching his prey softly snore. Too easy. The boy just needs someone to praise him to get his defenses down and that was it.

And without anyone to disturb them for the next hour or so...oh, the gears in Yuri's mind turn as more and more devious thoughts spin around like a tornado.

"Now…" Yuri whispers, face so close to Yugo's that he could just kiss those lips of the prone boy in front of him.

Well, why couldn't he?

Yuri's smile widens as he asks, "Yugo, love. How about I give you a kiss for good luck?"

Yugo does not respond as Yuri leans over and softly presses his lips over the blue and yellow haired boy's own, savoring this moment. The purple clothed boy smiles to himself as he deepens his kiss.

I have you at last. Yuri thinks. My love, my light, my Clear Wing songbird. And I will never let you go.

Never….

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

"You serious?!" Serena exclaims. "You're actually competing for the WRGP's exhibition match?"

"Yep!" Haruka answers, laughing at the surprised looks on her friends' faces through her cellphone. "Masato and I didn't want to say anything to make it a bigger surprise!"

Serena, Millefeui and Kanata look at Masato laughing at them while Haruka looks at her delicious sandwich bento, consisting of three sandwiches (a savory wagyu sandwich for herself, a fried pork cutlet sandwich stuffed with cheese for her dolls and a fruit sandwich filled with strawberries and whipped cream that she is saving for later) along with a mixed green salad and a strawberry lemonade smoothie. She picks up the wagyu sandwich in one hand while staring at her phone. The Cloth Dolls are eating their sandwich and playing a memory game of Action Cards through the use of Haruka's tablet.

"Even after learning all about them in Wonderland, you still took this offer?" Kanata asks worriedly. "I mean...you know what they're doing…"

Haruka takes a bite out of her sandwich, chews once or twice, then swallows. "...I do…"

"And yet you still accepted the offer?" asks Millefeui. "Haruka, we know you love your duels as much as the next person, but these guys are….are…"

"They're not as what I expected them to be," Haruka interrupts. "But for the time being, we have no choice but to trust them.

"But, enough about that. Did you guys get those pictures I sent you?"

"Of course," says Masato, a fox-like grin on his face. "You know, from the way you sent it, I'd say you have a crush on Yogo, right?"

"First of all, I do not have a crush on him," says Haruka, cheeks turning red. "And second, his name is Yugo!"

"Fusion?" asks Serena.

"No, just plain Yugo," Haruka corrects. "All I know is that he built his own D-Wheel and he's represented by something called the Leo Duel School, so named after its founder, Leo Akaba."

"And that's all you know?" asks Kanata. "This is getting very suspicious."

"You're just saying that because Haruka is…" Millefeui is immediately cut off by her sister shoving a hand towards her mouth.

"No, that's not it at all!" Kanata exclaims, cheeks turning cherry red. "There's no way Yugo can be so...so...enticing...to make Haruka slip up like this."

"And besides, I've only known him for, what, fifteen minutes," Haruka adds. She then hears a knock on the door. "That's Team Satisfaction. Gotta go; be back in about an hour or so when I rev it up! And say hi to mom and dad for me!"

"See you later, alligator," says Serena, ending the call.

Haruka sets her sandwich down and approaches the door. When she opens it, she sees Yusei standing on the other side.

"Oh, Yusei," she says with a smile. "What's up?"

"..." Yusei says nothing as he enters the room, closing the door behind him. The Cloth Dolls look up in alarm, with Cloth Yusei noticing the look in his counterpart's eyes.

"Big self! Big self!" says Cloth Yusei, watching Yusei sit down on the sofa. "Are you okay? Are you hungry? Thirsty?"

Yusei takes the doll into his hands and smiles before petting the doll on the head. Cloth Yusei coos slightly as Yusei answers, "I'm fine. But…"

"But?" asks Haruka, watching Yusei turn toward her, cobalt eyes piercing into her soul.

"Haruka," Yusei begins, shifting his gaze towards a spot on the carpet. "Do you have a Tarot deck on you?"

"Of course," says Haruka, walking towards a chair where her satchel rests. "I was originally just going to bring my Prophecy deck, but I felt like using a bonafide Tarot deck was needed for this sort of situation. Why do you ask?"

"Something about that boy who carried you here...I feel like something wicked this way comes."

"You've been reading too much lately," says Haruka, pulling out a blue silk drawstring bag. "There we go. Cloth Dolls, move aside."

Cloth Jack, Kiryu and Crow hastily move the tablet to the side as Haruka kneels by the table, opens the bag and pulls out a deck of cards. Haruka narrows her eyes as she places a hand over her deck. This very deck was handed down to her from her grandmother on her eighth birthday and is to be used for the most serious of readings, never for personal gain.

"You want me to do a reading on Yugo?" asks Haruka, voice losing all its playfulness. Yusei nods his head. "Fine. I'll do one. Give me some space."

As Haruka closes her eyes, she lets her mind focus on the image of Yugo. Yugo, with blue hair and waning moon yellow bangs, his crystal green eyes, his starry white coat…

She hates to admit it to herself, but yes, she may have fallen in love with this stranger the minute she slammed into his D-Wheel.

The question in her mind is simple, "What fate awaits Yugo?"

And then, Haruka opens her eyes and shuffles her deck, her hands mimicking movements that she watched her grandmother perform whenever the elder woman read her and her brother's fortunes. The Cloth Dolls look in awe as Haruka splits the deck into three parts, the backs of the cards facing her, tempting her with unknown knowledge.

"Are you ready?" she asks, turning to Yusei. She leans back when she sees Yusei in his Dark Signer attire - a black cloak with red lines across his chest that resembles a spider, with fingerless gloves marked with red hourglass symbols on the back, and, something that startles her to no end, four black pupils, the additional pair smaller and almond-shaped.

"Ah...wh...what the?!" Haruka stammers out. "Those eyes...you didn't show that back in Wonderland! What's going...oh dear Crowley…"

At the same time, Cloth Yusei groans and rubs his eyes as his fellow Cloth Dolls mew in concern. Cloth Yusei wobbles a bit before his attire - a mirror outfit to Yusei's riding outfit - becomes a black cloak with red spider trim. And when he lifts his head, he now has a secondary pair of black bead eyes. Cloth Jack, Kiryu and Crow squeak in alarm and lift the tablet up to use as a shield.

"Do it," Yusei answers, holding his shivering doll counterpart. His eyes soften as he hugs the doll close. "It's all right. There's no need to be afraid. In time, all of you will emerge from your chrysalises and be reborn."

That doesn't comfort Cloth Yusei in the slightest, who mews and tries to wipe his own second pair of eyes away, but to no avail. The other dolls look to Haruka for an explanation, but Haruka just looks at the first stack of cards and flips the top card over. Staring at her is a grim site: the body of a man skewered by ten long swords with storm clouds over the horizon.

"Ten of Swords," she states. "Yugo suffered a blow long long ago, but he has risen past it. It seemed scary to him back then, but he weathered that storm and now stands here a changed person."

She moves her hand to the second stack and flips the top card of that stack over. Staring at her is a card she is all too familiar with - a large wheel where the figures of a sphinx, dragon and snake cling around its rim.

"Wheel of Fortune," Haruka mutters. "The wheels of fate turn for Yugo. Something big is coming on the horizon."

She then proceeds to the last card, revealing itself as a youthful boy on a chariot driven by a black and white sphinx.

"How fitting," she notes. "The Chariot. In the future, that is where it's strongest. It means that something is coming to Yugo, but…"

"But?" asks Yusei, raising an eyebrow.

Haruka frowns. "While it's upright, I can't make out what is waiting for Yugo. I don't have any information about him."

"Then get it," Yusei states curtly. "And besides…" His lips curl upwards. "I overheard your conversation with your friends about him. Seems like someone's fallen in love."

"It's not like that!" Haruka exclaims, looking at her Tarot spread. "He...he just did a nice deed and I feel grateful for it!"

"Don't lie to me, Fortune Fatale," Yusei chuckles.

"I'm not lying!" Haruka pouts, folding her arms across her chest. She then stares at her Cloth Dolls giggling behind their hands. "And don't you dare sing that 'Black-Eyed Peas' song! I know you've been listening to Masato's playlists when I'm not looking."

The dolls burst into laughter and Yusei joins in on it, causing Haruka's face to turn as red as the tomatoes in her wagyu sandwich. Even Cloth Yusei gets into it before he slowly looks at Yusei, somewhat shy.

"It's not permanent, right?" he asks.

"Only if you want it to be," Yusei answers, closing his eyes, drawing his mind inward. He sighs, and as he does, his secondary pair of pupils vanish. When he opens his eyes once more, they are their cool blue color. He then sets the doll on the table. "Try it out, little one."

Cloth Yusei nods his head and concentrates on the stores of magic in his little body. Then, the second pair of eyes vanish, and his eyes are now little blue beads, even though he's still wearing the black cloak. He slowly approaches his friends who peek out behind the tablet before Cloth Kiryu tackles his partner in a hug.

"You looked really cool, Cloth Yusei!" Cloth Kiryu, peppering Cloth Yusei's face with kisses. "I wonder what we'll look like when we emerge from our crystals."

"Chrysalises," Haruka corrects, somewhat happy and nervous at the same time, brushing off the types of changes that have been placed upon the duelists she idolizes. "Now come on. Let's get back to preparing for our duel. We don't need any more distractions after this."

The Cloth Dolls cheer as they return to their sandwich. Haruka sighs as she gathers up her Tarot cards all while Yusei keeps a sharp eye on the scene.

"One last thing," says Yusei as Haruka pulls the drawstrings of her silk purse. "About Leo Akaba…"

"Yeah?" asks Haruka. "What about him?"

"If you happen to be with Yugo when you see him, get out of the way and call us immediately," Yusei warns. "He's nothing but bad news."

"How so?" asks Haruka. "And how will I be able to run if I don't know what he looks like?"

Yusei wordlessly takes her tablet into his hands and, after a few seconds, flips it over to reveal the image of Leo Akaba himself. Bald, dark-skinned, looks somewhere in his late thirties, and with a steely expression on his face. He looks like someone who has decided to never experience joy in their lives.

"He has a mission that involves Yugo," Yusei explains. "And we need Yugo safe from harm and far away from him."

"Why?"

"Because."

"Why?" Haruka persists.

"...because…" Yusei begins as he sees Haruka's eyes blaze with fury. "Because Yugo is destined to connect with a certain soul and we need them to reunite without that man's influence."

Haruka blinks. "Huh? Like some sort of reincarnation of lovers? Like Aida?"

"...sort of," Yusei answers. "Just keep him safe, okay?"

Haruka nods her head, her mind thinking of how close she felt when she rode with Yugo towards the Duel Colosseum. "You can count on me."

Yusei just smiles as Haruka returns to her sandwich, her familiars also enjoying their snack. As he watches them, he senses a voice in his mind.

She doesn't know that it's already too late, right? says Kiryu through their mental link.

Yusei nods his head. No, but she can still leave a powerful influence on Yugo. Trust me on this.

Fine, then. Kiryu sighs. But remember, this is all just the calm before the storm. Let us pray that the Dark King gives us a sign that this deluge will not drown us all.

Yusei does not reply.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

One hour, fourteen minutes and thirteen seconds later, it is time for the exhibition duel.

This is brought to attention by the MC of the event, Melissa Claire, flying above in a broadcasting helicopter with a microphone in her hand to deliver the news to the adoring crowd. A large holographic projection of her emerges from the middle of the racetrack, catching everyone's attention.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" she announces with a Southern drawl. "We welcome you to Domino City's first annual World Riding Grand Prix! I'm your host, Melissa Claire, and it's time we start this thing right now! Yeehaw!"

The audience begins to cheer as they look at the two competitors at the starting line. Yugo grins as he rubs a hand across Mellona with care, while Haruka places a hand over her beating heart to calm herself down.

"You okay?" asks Yugo, turning to his opponent. "It's like you have butterflies in your stomach."

More than you realize...Haruka notes, seeing her Cloth Dolls poking at the D-Wheel with curiosity. She shakes her head. "I'm fine," she announces. "I mean, it's not every day you're called to duel for something like this."

"Before we begin," Melissa continues. "Let's introduce our competitors! First off, we have…"

A spotlight from Melissa's broadcasting helicopter shines over Haruka, who looks up to see Melissa's cameraman pointing his camera at her. The girl smirks as she raises a hand to the air and motions for her Cloth Dolls to leap onto her shoulders, which gets most of the audience - preferably the woman and young children - to coo at the site.

"Call me Haruka, Fortune Fatale!" she announces, propping a boot against the side of Black Swallowtail. "I chase after the winds to fulfill my need for speed. I follow wherever the Winds of Destiny chases me and leave nothing but change in my wake! By my side are my spirits of Luck, Prosperity, Courage and Wisdom. Together we ride to take on any and all challenges!"

This gets the audience to applause before the spotlight is moved onto Yugo.

"And I am Yugo, the uh…." Yugo hesitates before it clicks. "Oh! I am the Scion of the Clear Winds! I bring about the winds that blow across the land, spreading messages of peace and tranquility to those who are need of it! But to those who anger me, my justice will be swift! It will be painful! It will be delicious!"

This causes Haruka to laugh before she props herself onto Black Swallowtail, feeling herself get adjusted into being on a D-Wheel once more. She takes a good look at her deck and places a hand over it, feeling its power radiate through her. She knows that she has to give a good show…

But at the same time, she needs to remember that she has to get intel on Yugo.

If this was some sort of spy thriller, this scene would be when the femme fatale starts falling in love with her target. This dorky, lovable target whom she wants to get closer with that doesn't involve orders from sin-eating vampires.

Maybe after this is over, the two can have a bite to eat and play some carnival games. Haruka's heard that the Aiya food stall has a challenge to see whomever can finish one of their famous "Mega Beef Bowls". Just thinking about it makes her mouth water.

"And now," says Melissa, snapping Haruka out of her food reveries. "For today's match, we'll be unleashing something special from Maiami City - an Action Field! So now...Action Field on!" Melissa announces as the display board shows a Field Spell of a dimensional gate with red and blue lines. "Field Spell, Cross Acceleration!"

Criss-cross lines of red and blue race through the sky and a strong wind blows a variety of Action Cards across the racetrack. Haruka adjusts her helmet. Her Cloth Dolls also prepare their game faces (although for those watching at home, they looked like they are trying too hard). Yugo nods his head as he stares at the holographic starting board countdown from five before he turns to Haruka.

"You ready to ride?" he asks.

Haruka grins. "Time to float like a butterfly…"

"And sting like a bee!" Yugo finishes.

"Riding Duel...Acceleration!" Melissa declares.

Mellona and Black Swallowtail then zoom off with a roaring crowd cheering them on as both duelists draw their cards.

(Haruka: 8000) - - - - - - - (Yugo: 8000)

Haruka takes a look at her hand and then brings her gaze toward the race course. Her heart pounds in excitement and she can't stop her mouth from keeping that wide grin on her face. Thank goodness Black Swallowtail is on auto-pilot; she highly doubts she would be able to pilot the graceful D-Wheel in her excited state.

She then narrows her eyes and looks at the four dolls who are also relishing the thrill of the duel.

"See anything?" Haruka whispers to them.

Yugo takes a glance at the dolls on Haruka's shoulders, then blinks. "H...hey! Isn't that cheating?"

"There's nothing in the rulebook that says I can't use familiars," Haruka replies. "And this is a friendly match-up, right? We aren't dueling for money or fame, but just for the thrill of it! We are here to have the audience be excited for the next two weeks of riding duels where everything and anything goes!

"So, how about it? First one to get an Action Card takes the first move!"

Yugo stares at this girl before he smirks. "Race ya!"

Both of them begin to accelerate, each of them waiting for an Action Card to appear. Five seconds later, Cloth Crow points up.

"There! There!"

Haruka looks to see a card suspended in the air, encased in a bubble. She places a hand on Cloth Crow before tossing him into the air. The red-haired doll unfurls a pair of black feather wings and glides toward the card. Yugo, Melissa Claire, Team Satisfaction, Yuri, and the audience in the arena and at home look in awe as the doll grabs the card, performing a loop-de-loop as he flies back to Haruka, who takes the card into her hand.

"All right, first turn is mine!" she says, slapping the card onto her Duel Disk. "And now I play the Action Card, Fire Crystal to inflict 600 points of damage!"

A red crystal with a glowing flame inside materializes. Cloth Crow leaps into the air and hurls it toward Yugo's D-Wheel, causing Yugo to shield himself as the crystal shatters and leaves a small burst of flame on his D-Wheel before it instantly fades away.

"Yeah, I hit Pogo!" says Cloth Crow as Haruka gives him a high five. The audience just coos at the little doll propping himself on Haruka's shoulder.

"It's Yugo!" Yugo corrects, noticing how his lifepoints have dropped.

(Haruka: 8000) - - - - - - - (Yugo: 7400)

Haruka draws a card. "And for my turn, I'll just playing a face-down card and that'll be it," says Haruka, watching as a large holographic face-down card appears. "Back to you, Yugo!"

"Right then!" says Yugo, drawing his card. "And since I have no cards on the field, I can Special Summon my trusty Speedroid Terrortop onto the field!"

Slithering across the sky is a trail of thirteen large red tops with blades at their sides. Each of them spin with a sound like the hissing of a large snake. (1200 ATK)

"Speedroid?" says Haruka. "I know of someone who uses 'Vehicroid' monsters...are they related?"

"These guys are different," Yugo explains. "But for right now, when Speedroid Terrortop is summoned, I get to add another 'Speedroid' monster from my deck to my hand."

A card pops out of his deck, which Yugo grabs with ease, even as both duelists take a sharp left at the first corner. As Haruka focuses on making the turn, she doesn't see Yugo picking up an Action Card.

"And why stop there?" Yugo continues. "I'll summon it right now! Let's roll the dice with Speedroid Red-Eyed Dice!"

A large yellow die emerges from thin air, with pips that resemble eyes with a red pupil. The side that faces Haruka shows one pip depicted as a large eye with a crimson iris and a red tear dripping down. (100 ATK)

"I wonder if the Sheikah played dice with something like that," Haruka muses.

Yugo perks up. "Oh! The Legend of Zelda fan?"

"Yep! Although the only games I've played are Majora's Mask and Link's Awakening for the 3DS. Still haven't gotten to play Ocarina of Time."

"I have a copy of it at my house, but don't have Majora's Mask. Maybe you could come to my house and trade games sometime?"

"Definitely! Now, what exactly does your Sheikah die do?"

"It's simple. When Red-Eyed Dice hits the field, I can change the level of a fellow 'Speedroid' monster to a number between 1 and 6. And the number I choose for Speedroid Terrortop is...5!"

Red-Eyed Dice rolls round and round until the one-eyed side reveals a side with five "eyes". (Speedroid Terrortop: LV: 1 -) 5)

"Oh boy…" Haruka mutters. "Red-Eyed Dice is a Tuner, isn't it?"

Yugo grins. "Yep! Now, it's time to Synchro Summon!"

Speedroid Terrortop transforms into a cluster of five stars while Speedroid Red-Eyed Die becomes three floating green rings. The five stars aligned and zipped through the rings with ease as Haruka narrows her eyes.

(*1 + *5 = *6)

"Magic sword with the form of a cross," Yugo chants, "Use your power to cut my enemies down to size! Synchro Summon! Level 6! Hi-Speedroid Kendama!"

With a loud vroom, the newest monster appears. It resembles the kendama toy reimagined as a racecar, colored blue. (2200 ATK)

"Cool!" Haruka comments. "I never was able to successfully get the ball to stay on the spike.

"Takes great skill to do such a thing," Yugo agrees. "Now, when my Hi-Speedroid Kendama attacks your face-down card, the difference between their attack and defense points is taken out of your lifepoints! So now…"

The kendama-like vehicle races towards Haruka's face-down monster, a large green insectoid with orange eyes and dragonfly wings. The insect quickly gets shattered by the tip of the Synchro monster. (900 DEF)

(Haruka: 6700) - - - - - - - (Yugo: 7400)

"A Flying Kamakiri #1," Yugo observes. "That means you're using Wind Attribute monsters, right?"

"Yep!" Haruka grunts as she makes another turn, her Cloth Dolls doing their best to maintain their balance.

"Ah...so I take it you're using Harpie Lady cards, right?"

At this, Haruka becomes silent. She bites her lip as her Cloth Dolls cover their ears.

"Um," says Yugo. "Haruka, are you…"

"Why is it that every time a girl states they're using Wind Attribute monsters, everyone immediately assumes that those monsters are Harpie Ladies?" Haruka exclaims. "There are so many archetypes like Dragunity, Gusto, and Mist Valley that don't have those savage scantily clothed women and are still powerful cards in their own right! Fortune Fatale does not use them...they are absolutely beneath her! And if you ever state that she uses those cards again, she will…"

What Haruka mutters next turns out to be so shocking that it causes Yugo to blush. All that he can pick up is that involves pillows, brooms and lots and lots of marshmallows. Melissa Claire looks at the camera and shrugs her shoulders.

"Got that?" Haruka finishes, panting for breath..

"Of course…" Yugo answers, looking back at the racetrack. "But, if you aren't using Harpie Ladies...then what are you using?"

Haruka chuckles. "I'll show you. For the thousands in attendance and for the millions watching at home, Fortune Fatale summons one of her favorite stars...F.A. Hang On Mach!"

With a loud roar, an indigo futuristic hoverbike appears besides Haruka, controlled by a figure in a racing suit of the same color. The gender of the driver is hard to decipher, and all that can be seen that isn't obscured by the helmet is shoulder-length blue hair. (0 ATK)

"Oh my!" says Melissa Claire. "How thematic!"

"What is that?" asks Yugo, seeing the racer turn to him and nod their head.

"F.A., otherwise known as 'Formula Athlete' are a set of cards that relate to Fortune Fatale and her love of the race," says Haruka. "And they have a need for speed just like yours truly. So much so that their attack score becomes 300 times their Level!"

Above Hang On Mach, a bright '4' blinks. (LV: 4, 0 -) 1200 ATK)

"Well then," says Yugo. "I'll place two cards face-down and end my turn."

"And it looks like things are on their way, folks," Melissa comments. "Fortune Fatale and her Formula Athletes against the Scion of the Wind and his Speedroid soldiers...it's a machina battle that will take your breath away!"

"My turn," says Haruka, drawing her card. "Oh and Yugo, I forgot to mention something."

"What's that?" asks Yugo.

"F.A. monsters can have their level changed through the use of F.A. Spell and Trap cards, like the one I'm about to play! Go F.A. Downforce!"

Haruka slaps the card down as a Quick-play Spell Card appears, depicting two racecards on a track: one black and purple, the other blue, green and orange that is driving on the side!

"Now when I play his card, I get to increase the level of an 'F.A.' monster I control by two until the end of my turn! Plus, whenever the effect of an F.A. Spell or Trap card is activated, the monster gets an additional level!"

"But that means…" Yugo gasps as Haruka grins.

"Hang On Mach gets three more levels and 900 attack points!" Cloth Kiryu cheers. "Take that, Yoyo!"

"It's Yugo!" Yugo exclaims as the number above Hang On Mach reads '7'. (LV: 4 -) 7, 1200 -) 2100 ATK)

"And that's not all," Haruka continues. "Most of my F.A. monsters have special abilities depending on their level and many of them gain special abilities when they reach Level 7. In the case of Hang On Mach, when he reaches Level 7, all cards that would go to your graveyard are Banished instead!"

"No!"

"Yes! And I'm not done! Now that I have a Level 7 F.A. monster on the field, I can Special Summon the racer of the shadows, the one and only F.A. Dark Dragster!"

With another card slipped into her Duel Disk, Haruka watches as a black and purple racecar, the same one depicted on her F.A. Downforce Spell Card, appears next to Hang On Mach. Its driver, whose racing suit is the same colors as the car, turns to Haruka and nods. (LV: 7, 0 -) 2100 ATK)

"Cloth Kiryu, Cloth Yusei," says Haruka, looking at the dolls on her shoulders. "Go!"

The two dolls nod their heads before they leap off of Haruka's shoulders as both the drivers of Hang On Mach and Dark Dragster extend their hands out to catch the dolls. The audience holds their breath at the tiny dolls making their leaps of faith, and are surprised when Cloth Yusei summons a myriad of red flowing threads from his hands that form a parachute that he uses to gracefully land onto the hand of Hang On Mach's driver while Cloth Kiryu, somehow gaining cat ears and a forked cat tail, leaps like a wild cat in the savannah over Hang On Mach and lands gracefully into the palm of Dark Dragster. The Dark Dragster driver places Cloth Kiryu on top of their helmet and pets the cat-like doll, who purrs in delight.

"My my!" Melissa exclaims. "In all my years of commentating, I have never seen something like this! Give these dolls a round of applause!"

And the audience complies as Haruka frowns.

If only you guys knew that they got their powers 45 minutes ago...she thinks.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

"All right," says Haruka, looking at her four dolls. In her hands are a collection of homemade Action Cards. "Ready to test your skills?"

Her dolls enthusiastically nod their heads as Haruka shuffles the cards before drawing one and showing it to them. "What's this one?"

"Acceleration!" says Cloth Jack, raising a hand to the air. "You take no effect damage!"

"And this one?" Haruka draws another.

"Evasion!" Cloth Yusei cheers. "You take no battle damage!"

"How about this?" says Haruka, showing a third one.

"Miracle!" says Cloth Crow. "The monster isn't destroyed and you take half damage!"

"Correct!" says Haruka. As she prepares the next card (Bi-Attack), she takes a brief glance at Yusei in a meditative trance that reminds her of the Gather Your Mind card (which she finds ridiculous if its only effect is to search out a copy of itself). She then picks up her phone, staring at the picture she took of Yugo with his bright smile, crystal eyes and moon yellow bangs. She feels her heart flutter like the butterflies on her shirt, imagining how much fun it would be if she could always ride with him on his D-Wheel.

"So…" A voice purrs. "This your boyfriend?"

Haruka jumps when she sees someone snatch her phone. Looking up, she sees that it is Kiryu, but with cat appendages like a pair of blue-silver ears and, disturbingly, a forked tail. When he smiles, she can see the grin of a Cheshire cat.

"Big self!" Cloth Kiryu cries. "What are you supposed to be?"

"A nekomata," Haruka answers, recalling the tales of youkai her mother told her when she was a child. "They are cats who have lived for so long that their tails split, symbolising the power within them. They are said to be omens of death and can even revive the dead!"

"Cool!" Cloth Kiryu exclaims, just as a similar pair of cat ears and forked tail form on his doll body, along with a collar with a bell attached. Haruka's head begins to spin...what was next?

"Come on, Kiryu. Let the girl have her fun."

Haruka nervously turns to find Crow and Jack also in the room (how did they appear when the door has been closed the entire time?!), both also influenced by some sort of youkai. Crow stretches his arms to reveal his black feather wings. Jack chuckles as Haruka noticed the antlers perched on his spiky yellow hair and the serpentine eyes, claws and fangs.

Meanwhile, the doll versions of Jack and Crow relish in their new appendages. With a jump, Cloth Crow glides with ease using his black wings while Cloth Jack breathes a small orb of fire in front of him. Haruka looks more and more like she is about to faint.

Instead, she states…

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!" she yells, panting for breath as she stands up and points at Team Satisfaction. "Why...why are you like this? What do you want from me? Who are you?!"

Team Satisfaction stares at the girl grasping her head in agony as she drops to her knees, her Cloth Dolls approaching her and patting her arms to soothe her. Yusei frowns.

"Forgive us if we have startled you," he begins, his voice passive. "But we wanted to introduce this to you slowly."

"Introduce what?" Haruka asks, lifting her head up. Sure, she knows how Domino has beings with supernatural abilities/dual natures within them, but to see them in the four duelists that she looks up to? That is the last thing she needs...and before a big duel!

Crow crouches down, his wings making him resemble a fallen angel. "You know how we all died and became revived, correct?"

Haruka nods her head, learning the cold truth in Wonderland. Kiryu was shot by a member of Magician's Four. Yusei slit his own throat. Crow shot himself in the head and Jack jumped off a two story building...all for the sake of transforming Domino Below into some dark paradise.

And that isn't counting what happened to Shooti, a classmate of hers who always had his camera out and ready for photos, who jumped off the rooftop of DCIS with 53 other students and survived...except not really in that he had also died and was resurrected but the transfer student, Bel. Shooti Hayami had died chronicling the story of Team Satisfaction and here Haruka was seeing the aftereffects of whoever revived the four.

The four Cloth Dolls stare each other, poking the new ears or tail or other new additions to them before Haruka sees the lights darken. She notices how each member of Team Satisfaction are now enveloped in black cloaks, each of them colored differently (Yusei with red, Kiryu with blue, Crow has green and Jack is a vibrant indigo).

"We are Enforcers of the Dark King," Yusei begins, his voice distant. "And to this end, we will follow his orders to bring about paradise to Domino Below. We recently obtained enough energy from the souls we feed on to enable us new forms." He then stares at his Cloth counterpart. "And since your dolls carry a bit of our souls in them, they share our powers too."

"What? What's that supposed to mean? Are you saying that you all are part of some cult?!" Haruka exclaims, watching her familiars now adorned in similar hooded cloaks like their bigger selves.

"Not really," says Kiryu, setting Haruka's phone down. "Put it more like a 'secret society' compared to the bastards that caused the suicide at your school months ago...but you probably know that already."

"What do you want with me?" Haruka repeats. "Why was I chosen?!"

"Because…" Jack answers coolly. "You and Yugo...are connected."

Haruka blinks. "Connected?"

"Our Lord, the Dark King, told us this," says Crow, pointing a finger into the air. "'The Princess of Prophecy and the Scion of Clear Winds are to meet. Together, their union will bring about a storm that will shake the foundations of Paradise and let a new destiny bear fruit.'"

Haruka looks at her hands and then at Kiryu who still has her phone in his hands. She then places a hand towards her heart as she thinks of Yugo once more.

She, Princess of Prophecy, and Yugo, Scion of the Clear Winds...a union...destiny…together... Paradise...

She feels her face redden even more. So her instincts were right after all...they truly...absolutely...undeniably... irrefutably…are…

"I'll do it!" Haruka states, face more determined than ever. "Whatever happens to Yugo, I want to do my best! I...I…" she swallows. "Fortune Fatale accepts her mission! She and the Scion of Clear Winds will unite as a force to be reckoned with! No one will stop us!"

But as she states this, and her Cloth Dolls cheer, she pays no attention to how Team Satisfaction all look at each other, not with pride or amusement…

Instead, each of them have a look of regret in their eyes.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

"Haruka!"

Cloth Jack shakes Haruka's shoulder just as she notices a timer on her Duel Disk.

"What the?" she asks. "What's going on?"

"You have to make a move or you surrender the Duel!" Yugo shouts. "And you still haven't conducted a Normal Summon yet!"

"O...oh, right!" says Haruka, staring at her hand. "All right, I summon F.A. Sonic Meister onto the field in Attack Mode!"

With another vroom, a new race car appears with a curved front and large jet turbines. It is silver with blue and orange trim and neon green lines along with two wheels in front and a large one in the back. The driver wears an orange suit and white helmet. (LV: 4, 0 -) 1200 ATK)

"And now I activate the special ability of Dark Dragster!" says Haruka. "Once per turn, I can decrease its level by 3 in order to destroy one card on the field. And Yugo, your Hi-Speedroid monster is my target!"

Dark Dragster turns towards Hi-Speedroid Kendama (LV: 7 -) 4, 2100 -) 1200 ATK) and rams the rival racecar off to the side, the kendama-like vehicle spinning out of control before it disintegrates.

"Oh boy…" Yugo notes, seeing the three F.A. monsters staring back at him.

"Attack directly!" Haruka shouts, gripping onto Black Swallowtail's handles with a roar.

As Haruka accelerates, and lets out a whoop of excitement as she retrieves her next Action Card, the three machines perform U-turns and race towards Yugo at high speeds. Yugo grunts as Mellona takes the brunt of the ramming attacks and Haruka looks at the stats via her helmet.

But she notices something off.

(Haruka: 6700) - - - - - - - (Yugo: 5150)

"Huh?" she exclaims. "You were supposed to take 4500 points of damage! How did it get cut in half?"

"With my face-down card, Damage Diet!" Yugo exclaims, revealing his face-down card, depicting a doll with red braided hair, a yellow blouse and red shoes dodging the punches of two extending arms, all with a smile on her face. "When I take damage this turn, I can cut it in half!

"Plus, since I took more than 2000 points of damage, this lets me play the Action Card in my hand, Damage Draw!"

The Action Card appears, depicting two cards with a red explosion-esque splat in the center.

"This gives me an additional two cards," says Yugo, his hand now at five cards. "Better luck next time!"

"Darn," Haruka pouts as she sees her F.A. monsters return. "I'm ending my turn with a face-down card. Your move!"

"We'll get you next time, Togo!" says Cloth Yusei, sitting on the shoulder of the Hang On Mach driver, whose level drops to 5. (LV: 7 -) 5, 2100 -) 1500 ATK) Yugo just sighs as he draws another card.

"I'll start," he begins. "By summoning Speedroid Double Yoyo in Attack Mode!"

A new machine rolls onto the field, looking like, as the name suggests, two yellow yo-yos. (1400 ATK)

"And when Double Yoyo is on the field, I can Special Summon a Level 3 or lower Speedroid monster from my graveyard back o to the field, like Speedroid Terrortop!"

The 13 red tops form a line next to Yugo, their serpentine movements making Haruka note what will happen next. (1200 ATK)

Haruka stays quiet looks at her hand, only perking her ears up when Yugo activates his other face-down card.

"Next, I play Back to the Front!" Yugo exclaims, hia face-down card depicting a battered Marauding Captain lifted by his armor by a rather muscular nurse. "And I'll use it to bring back Speedroid Red-eyed Dice in Defense Mode!"

Haruka bites her lip as the die appears once more. (100 DEF)

"And I'll use my monster's effect to change the level of Double Yoyo to match that of Terrortop's!"

The Red-eyed Dice rolls again, this time with three red pips as Double Yoyo has its level drop by one. (LV: 4 -) 3)

"And now," Yugo cheers. "The Scion of the Clear Winds will perform his next Synchro Summon!"

Both Double Yoyo and Terrortop transform into clusters of stars before Red-eyed Dice turns into a trio of green glowing rings. The six stars fall in line like ducks swimming across a pond and zip through the rings with ease.

And as Yugo begins his chant, Haruka, Team Satisfaction and Yuri feel something...some powerful presence emerge within Yugo's soul.

(1* + 3* + 3* = 7*)

"Spread those wondrous and beautiful wings, and strike down your enemies at the speed of light! Synchro Summon! Appear now! Level 7! Clear Wing Synchro Dragon!"

And with the roll of thunder and flash of lightning, the dragon emerges at its master's call.

Haruka and her dolls look up at the majestic silver dragon with blue glass wings and black stripes on its tail. Words cannot do it justice at it flaps its wings and forms a downdraft below. The dragon roars at the F.A. monsters, the drivers in each of their vehicles gasping in surprise. (2500 ATK)

"Oh my!" Melissa comments. "Seems Yugo has a trick or two up his sleeve."

Haruka narrows her eyes. The last time she dueled a Synchro Dragon on a motorcycle was back in Wonderland, and back then she had to contend with Crow going crazy, trying to kill her with his Blackwing monsters and spouting lines of a Dark King all while her friends learned the ugly truth about him...

Here though? In what is supposed to be a friendly match up, she is to unite as one with Yugo and uncover a great destiny...This feels more like something out of a fantasy novel than a simple duel, but Haruka will not step down from this.

If this is what Team Satisfaction asks of her, she will fulfill their needs.

And if she is to become closer to Yugo, she might as well get to know his each and every move.

"Surprised?" Yugo asks with a smirk. "You can clearly see where Mellona gets her looks from."

"Definitely," says Haruka. "Now...what can your dragon do?"

"I'll show you! Clear Wing Synchro Dragon...attack Dark Dragster with Clear Wing Shocking Strike!"

Green circuitry lines form on the dragon's wings as Cloth Kiryu crouches, ready to leap off if need be. Haruka watches the dragon unleash an electrical storm before announcing,

"Action Card activate! Evasion!"

She slams her Action Card onto the Duel Disk, showing a black stick figure evading an attack, as Dark Dragster swerves out of the way in time. Cloth Kiryu meows in discomfort, but otherwise is okay (thank goodness for the magnets in his hands!)

"That was too close," Haruka sighs. "But...that is what makes Fortune Fatale burst with excitement! Yugo, I have faced many a challenge in my day...I can't wait to see what you have to offer!"

"You'll have to check it out next turn," says Yugo. "I play a face-down card and pass it over to you, love."

If Yugo could see the look on Haruka's face, he would have seen how flustered the girl looked.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

On a multitude of screens, Professor Leo Akaba frowns.

He has been keeping an eye on Yugo for quite some time and, outside of his dueling record, there is nothing out of the ordinary with the boy. Yugo lived in Domino Below, worked alongside a group of "Rangers" that help provide relief to many of the citizens in Domino Below that have given up hope, and his grades at the Satellite Shooting Stars Institute are above average (for Domino Below is the unofficial name of Satellite but people use both names interchangeably).

But the site of the Clear Wing Synchro Dragon grabs his attention. If Yugo has that card then...

"Yuri," says the professor to the purple haired boy standing behind him. "I need you to keep a close eye on the Scion. Do whatever it takes to get him on our side."

Yuri smirks and licks his lips.

"And what about her?" he inquires, looking at the video feed of Haruka, wrinkling his nose in disgust at this witch and her dolls wooing his Yugo. "From what has been gathered, her record is impeccable. She can be a good soldier for the cause."

"But in the grand scheme of things, she is nothing more than a grain of sand in the desert," Professor Akaba states. "Leave her alone for the time being; let her have her fun."

Yuri huffs as he walks out of the room, pulling out the purple crystal from his shirt as he exits.

Yugo is mine! He declares in his mind as he watches the pendulum swing in front of his glowing violet eyes. And I will make sure that little witch can never have him!

My Clear Wing Songbird...soon you will only sing your songs for me! Soon, you will need no one else in your life! I will not allow anyone to take you away from me again!

Just be patient, my love. I will be there for you soon.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

"My turn!" says Haruka, drawing her card. "And I start with the ever loving Graceful Charity!"

The angel in her green tunic descends from the clouds and sheds three feathers. Haruka draws three cards, then sends two identical cards to the graveyard.

"What's this?" says Melissa. "Folks, did Haruka draw a bad hand or is she just planning something big?"

Cloth Jack and Crow giggle before, with a nod of his head, Cloth Crow leaps towards Sonic Meister, gracefully gliding in the air for a few seconds before he flutters onto the nose of the car.

"All right!" says Haruka. "I start by placing F.A. Hang On Mach and Sonic Meister in Defense Mode."

Both F.A. monsters nod their heads as they begin to slow down. (Hang On Mach: 1800 DEF, Sonic Meister: 1400 DEF)

"And next, I activate the Spell Card F.A. Pit Stop!"

A new card appears, showing a pit crew wearing similar clothes to the driver of F.A. Sonic Meister about to check on said racecar.

"I reduce the level of Sonic Meister but 3 and then I can draw one card equal to the number of 'F.A. Pit Stop' cards in my graveyard plus 1! And guess what, Yugo…" Haruka chuckles. "The two cards I discarded to my graveyard were additional F.A. Pit Stop cards!"

"Oh no!" Yugo groans as Haruka draws three new cards. Meanwhile, a '2', then a '3' flashes above the head of Sonic Meister (LV: 4 -) 3, 1200 -) 900 ATK)

"And now," Haruka continues. "I reduce the attack of Dark Dragster by 3 once more to destroy Clear Wing Synchro Dragon!"

"It looks like Fortune Fatale is taking a huge gamble here!" Melissa explains. "If this is successful, Dark Dragster will have his level drop to 1, leaving him easy pickings for whatever Yugo wants next!"

A '4' above Dark Dragster begins to count down. 3...2...1...

"Any last words?" says Haruka.

Yugo smirks. "Just three. Go, Divine Wrath!"

Haruka gasps as a bolt of lightning suddenly strikes Dark Dragster while Yugo sends a card to the graveyard. The dark racecar is hit once more before it shatters and Cloth Kiryu is about to fall onto the race track!

"Hold on!" says Cloth Yusei, summoning more red strings. He flings them towards Cloth Kiryu, who grabs onto them all while looking like he will be flying out of the Colosseum. With a mighty tug, Cloth Yusei pulls his partner onto the shoulder of the Hang On Mach driver, all while Cloth Kiryu clings onto Cloth Yusei and mews.

"That was so scary!" Cloth Kiryu cries. Cloth Yusei hugs him back.

"You're safe now," says Cloth Yusei, placing a kiss on Cloth Kiryu's cheek. This causes the audience to coo at the sight and for Haruka to wish she had a camera on her to capture the moment…

Ah, well. The internet would do that for her.

"I can't do much except play one card face-down and place Kujakujaku in Defense Mode," says Haruka.

In a burst of peacock feathers, a large peacock emerges with the image of seven black snakes camouflaged in its feathers. (900 DEF)

"And I will take the lead!" says Yugo, speeding past Haruka and drawing his card. "First off, I summon Speedroid Ohajikid in Attack Mode!"

Appearing on the field is a peculiar monster. If Haruka could describe it, it reminds her of a robotic sheriff from a Western, what with the boots with spurs, the blue tattered cape, the gold star pinned to his breast and the patchwork red and blue hat on its head. The sheriff had blond bangs and a single red eye while an orange arm flicked a flat green glass pebble. (1000 ATK)

"Ohajiki...oh, like marbles!" Haruka exclaims. "I remember playing that when I was in kindergarten!"

"I play it every now and then at school," says Yugo. "I'm the undefeated champ of ohajiki!"

"Really? What school do you go to? I'm currently enrolled in Domino City International School."

"The Satellite Shooting Stars Institute. I work with the Cosmic Rangers there to help provide relief and aid to those who can't afford it."

"So you're like some sort of knight in shining armor?"

"If I was, then I wouldn't be using a dragon to attack the Princess of Prophecy, would I?"

"True, true." Haruka comments. "But today I am Fortune Fatale! And Fortune Fatale has something you want!"

"And what's that?"

"Victory."

"We'll see about that! Ohajikid," says Yugo. "Activate your special ability and bring me another Tuner to the field!"

Ohajikid flicks the glass pebble up into the sky where a green swirling vortex emerges. Descending to the field is a strange butterfly robot with wings made out of black and white dominos, three gold orbs on its back and a black stinger like a bee. (200 ATK)

"Let's go again!" says Yugo. "After Ohajikid summons a Wind Tuner from the graveyard, like Speedroid Dominobutterfly, onto the field, I immediately Synchro Summon!"

Haruka snarls. Of course he would play a card like Divine Wrath to form a combo such as this.

Ohajikid transforms into three stars while Dominobutterfly forms three green rings. The stars spin round and round the rings before entering.

(3* + 2* = 5*)

"Lively soul of swordplay. Come, Level 5! Hi-Speedroid Chanbara!"

What descends on the field is a large pirate sword with a red and grey blade and a golden curved hilt with a figure of a pirate ship on the handle. (2000 ATK)

"Did you ever have a pirate phase?" asks Haruka.

"Nope. Although, now that I think about it, I hope Toei considers a pirate-themed Kamen Rider in the future. I mean, we already have pirate Super Sentai after all."

"A Tokusatsu fan, huh? I know a kid at school who you'll love to hang out with. And before you ask, while I watched some series before, I am not a fan of Kamen Rider Wizard."

"Why not?"

Haruka sighs. "It evokes too much similarities to Madoka for my comfort - ironic, considering who made the series after that - and it just dragged on forever with a protagonist who is as plain as the sugar donuts he eats. Plus, the movie? Oh do not get me started on how the lame useless supporting characters get Kamen Rider powers even though they did nothing throughout the show! At least the Kamen Rider Club did something and fought the monsters in their show!"

Haruka pauses as she makes a hard right. "...Well, enough complaining. What does Chanbara do?"

"Chanbara can attack twice during the Battle Phase and gets 200 attack points at the start of the Damage Step," Yugo explains. "It's not much, but let's see how you fare against two Hi-Speedroid monsters! I activate Magnet Reverse!"

Haruka grimaces when she sees that Quick-play Spell Card (as she has one in her deck) of a cemetery where a large boulders and several gears hover by an eerie green light.

"If I have a Machine or Rock-type monster that has been Banished or in the graveyard that cannot be Normal Summoned or Set, I can Special Summon it with no strings attached!" Yugo explains. "So, guess who's making an encore?"

Emerging from the card is Hi-Speedroid Kendama, which looks ready to skewer the F.A. monsters head on. (2200 ATK)

"I won't let you have the pleasure of beating me to a pulp!" Haruka exclaims. "I activate my Trap Card, Spiritual Wind Art - Miyabi!"

Haruka's face-down card flips, revealing Wynn the Wind Charmer surrounded by a magic seal while the Chinese character for "Grace" is behind her.

"I tribute Kujakujaku in order to send Clear Wing Synchro Dragon back to your Extra Deck," says Haruka. "And when Kujakujaku is tributed, I can take a Level 4 or lower Wind monster from my deck to my hand. Go!"

Kujakujaku squawks before it races towards the larger dragon. Buffered by a tornado generated by the Trap Card, the peacock spins like a torpedo before it strikes the dragon and flings the card back into Yugo's Extra Deck.

"What a twist, folks!" says Melissa. "Fortune smiles upon Fortune Fatale right now!"

"That won't save you from my attack!" says Yugo. "Hi-Speedroid Kendama, attack Sonic Meister!"

"Oh no!" Cloth Crow gasps, seeing the Speedroid Synchro monster chasing towards him. He flies into the air as Speed Meister is slammed into a wall.

(Haruka: 5900) - - - - - - - (Yugo: 5150)

"Next, Hi-Speedroid Chanbara! Slice and dice Hang On Mach!"

The sword zips through the air (2000 -) 2200 ATK) before slicing Hang On Mach in half, causing the hover bike to explode. Cloth Yusei and Kiryu fall, helplessly moving their arms and legs in an attempt to save themselves.

"Go!" says Haruka, hurling Cloth Jack off her shoulder. "Save them!"

Cloth Crow dives towards Cloth Kiryu just before the blue haired doll hits asphalt. Meanwhile, Cloth Jack grows a pair of dragon wings while Cloth Yusei latches onto the former's leg by a multitude of silk threads. Haruka slows down Black Swallowtail long enough for the dolls to return to her, panting for breath.

"I'm sorry for that," she says. "Just stay with me for the rest of the Duel, all right?"

"Got it!" The dolls answer. Haruka smiles as she sees Chanbara preparing another attack.

"Attack her directly!" Yugo commands.

The sword raises itself into the air as Haruka smirks.

"I play...F.A. Dead Heat!" she announces.

Her lone face-down card flips, revealing a first person view of a driver (presumably the one for F.A. Sonic Meister, given the colors of his suit) in his vehicle, about to prepare for a race. A holographic avatar of a girl floats over their right arm.

"I can only activate this card when you declare a direct attack," says Haruka. "This allows me to Special Summon an F.A. monster from my deck onto the field.

"So say goodbye to hover bikes and race cars...time for a monster truck rally! I summon...F.A. Turbo Charger!"

With a loud honk, a new F.A. monster drives down the track, separating Chanbara from Haruka. It is a navy blue monster truck with neon yellow trim and exhaust pipes strapped to the rims of its massive tires. The driver of this beast cackles. (LV: 6, 0 -) 1800 ATK)

"That doesn't scare me!" says Yugo. "Chanbara, attack!"

"Not so fast!" says Haruka. "Now my F.A. Dead Heat activates!"

The Continuous Trap Card spits out a pair of dice onto the field.

"We each roll a die," Haruka begins. "And depending on the results, one of three things happens.

"If I roll higher, then F.A. Turbo Charger gains 4 levels until the end of my turn. If you roll higher, Turbo Charger is destroyed. If we tie, we roll again.

"So, tell me something...you feeling lucky?"

Yugo laughs. "I'm always down for a game of chance. Ready?"

"Ready! Go dice roll!"

The dice jump into the air and return to the ground seconds later, tumbling and causing the audience to hang onto the edges of their seats. Yugo's die ends up on a five. And for Haruka…

Her Cloth Dolls hug each other in fear as the die spins and spins and spins until it lands on…

…

…

...

A 6!

"And Turbo Charger just got a boost!" Haruka cheers. "Plus, now that Turbo Charger is Level 7 or higher, your monsters can't activate effects until after the Damage Step, meaning Chanbara is stuck at 2000 attack points!"

The driver in Turbo Charger grins as the number over its head jumps from '6' all the way to '11'! (LV: 6 -) 7 -) 11, 1800 -) 3300 ATK)

Chanbara has no chance to flee before Turbo Charger runs over it, flattening the sword until it shatters.

(Haruka: 5900) - - - - - - - (Yugo: 3850)

"Ahahahaha!" Haruka cackles. "Ooh, this has been fun! You got anything else in your bag of tricks?"

"No," Yugo answers. "I end my turn there."

The '11' above Turbo Charger drops to a '7'. (LV: 11 -) 7, 3300 -) 2100 ATK)

"And I start mine!" says Haruka, drawing a card. "First, I play Monster Reincarnation to take a monster from my graveyard back into my hand!"

Making a quick left, Haruka sends Delta Flyer to the graveyard and another card pops out.

"Next, since I have an F.A. monster whose level has changed, I can bring out F.A. Auto Navigator onto the field!"

Appearing on the field is a black paper scroll with green lines, then it unrolls itself to reveal a white touchscreen. In a burst of green rectangle pixels, a small girl appears in a white dress with a green ribbon on her breast, a pair of white shoes and a wireless headset. Topping her green hair is a small white hat and in her right hand she carries a black umbrella styled after a satellite dish. She looks at Yugo with a forlorn expression on her digital face. (LV: 1, 0 ATK)

"And here's how she works. I reset the level of Turbo Charger back to how it was originally, and then Auto Navigator's level becomes equal to the difference!"

Auto Navigator glows as Turbo Charger's level returns to '6'. (LV: 7 -) 6, 2100 -) 1800 ATK)

"That makes no sense!" Yugo exclaims. "You just bring Turbo Charger back to normal and Auto Navigator doesn't change at all! Unless…"

"Unless I specifically need the levels to be unchanged for what I'm about to do next!" Haruka finishes. "Go!"

Turbo Charger transforms into a set of six stars and Auto Navigator bows before becoming a trio of rings. Yugo gulps as Haruka prepares the chant she wrote down days ago, ready to receive it like she's on stage for Shakespeare Day at school.

(1* + 6* = 7*)

"Racer who chases after the rising sun! Bring your skills upon this duel and obtain the glory of dawn's early light! Level 7! Come, F.A. Dawn Dragster!"

With another roar, a new racecar appears. It looks similar to Sonic Meister except it has additional gold trim and five more jet thrusters! (LV: 7, 0 -) 2100 ATK)

"That archetype has Synchro Monsters?" Yugo gulps.

"Yeppers!" Haruka answers. "And trust me, you don't want me to unleash the other one!

"Now, since Dawn Dragster is already a Level 7 monster, guess who I can bring back?"

Yugo says nothing as the form of Dark Dragster appears once more. The drivers of both of these cars stare at one another and nod their heads. (LV: 7, 0 -) 2100 ATK)

"And here we go again!" says Haruka. "Dark Dragster, decrease your level by 3 and destroy Hi-Speedroid Kendama!"

Dark Dragster complies (LV: 7 -) 4, 2100 -) 1200 ATK) before he slams into Hi-Speedroid Kendama once again, sending it into the graveyard.

"And now," says Haruka. "Dawn Dragster, attack directly!"

Dawn Dragster steps on the gas and speeds towards Yugo. Yugo smirks.

"When you attack directly, I can play Speedroid Menko from my hand to place both of your monsters in Defense Mode!"

A rectangular kite with gears in the middle and sparklers on its ends emerges (2000 DEF) It spins round and round before flying towards the racecars and knocking them both into Defense Mode. (Dark Dragster and Dawn Dragster: 2000 DEF)

"You can't escape me that easily!" Haruka snaps. "I play Quill Pen of Gulldos from my hand to take two Wind monsters from my graveyard back to my deck and a Wind monster back to the hand!"

"That also doesn't make any sense!" Yugo repeats. "Why would you send one of your monsters back to your hand?"

Haruka raises an eyebrow. "When did I say I was returning one of my monsters? Take a look at your field!"

Yugo gasps as he sees his Speedroid monster while Haruka plays her card, which shows a quill pen made from the feather of a large green bird, the nib dripping with green ink. Two cards pop out from her graveyard while a gust of wind hurls Speedroid Menko back into Yugo's hand.

"I play one card face-down and end my turn there," says Haruka. "Your move!"

That was too close for comfort. She thinks. I would have originally used to to bring Dark Dragster back to my hand and reset its level, but luck decided to give me Yugo today!

…okay, that didn't come out right. I mean, Yugo appeared and he just has this way of making me smile and feel like I want to ride on the wind forever and…

Ugh, focus! You're still not in the clear yet!

"My turn!" says Yugo, drawing his card. "Now I play Card of Demise!"

The familiar Spell Card of a green cloaked figure seeing a deck of cards propped into a guillotine appears as Yugo draws a new hand of five cards. He stares at them with a look of concentration before shrugging his shoulders.

"Time for some more cards! I play both Pot of Avarice and Speedraw! With Pot of Avarice…"

"You return five monsters from your graveyard to the deck to draw two new cards," Haruka finishes. "What about that other one?"

"I get to draw two more cards if I control no cards on the field but I have to discard a Speedroid monster in return," Yugo answers. "So, let's see if Lady Luck is on my side today!"

"Yugo's drawing more cards than I can wrap my head around!" says Melissa, seeing the cards that go from Duel Disk to graveyard to deck to hand until Yugo has six cards. Meanwhile, Haruka bites her lip and looks at her Cloth Dolls, who nod their heads and stare at the racetrack.

"You call yourself Fortune Fatale, but it seems like Fortune favors a brave soul like me!" says Yugo. "Come back for one more round Speedroid Terrortop!"

For the third time this duel the thirteen tops appear. (1200 ATK) Yugo then takes another monster to his hand.

"And why stop there? Now that I have a Wind monster on the field, I can bring out Speedroid Taketomborg for a little fun!"

Another machine appears. This one is like a humanoid moth with yellow and red rectangular limbs and large blue oval eyes. It has a pair of yellow antenna and an hourglass blue and silver body. (600 ATK)

"And I'll roll the dice one more time and have Speedroid Red-eyed Dice turn he level of Terrortop into 4 once again!"

The die appears and spins again, flashing four pips while Terrortop's level becomes four. (100 DEF, Terrortop: LV: 3 -) 4)

"And now," Yugo announces. "Time to unleash my greatest monster!"

Terrortop and Taketomborg form a collection of seven stars while Red-eyed Dice becomes three rings once again. Then a bright light shines down on the field as Haruka and her Cloth Dolls, the audience, Team Satisfaction, Yuri, the Professor, Melissa...they all become quiet as Yugo chants.

(4* + 3* + 1* = 8*)

"Shine the wings that store the holy light, and strike down your enemies with its radiance! Synchro Summon! Come forth! Level 8, Crystal Wing Synchro Dragon!"

If the site of Clear Wing Synchro Dragon didn't take Haruka's breath away, this does.

The dragon made of white diamond, its eyes glittering in the dark, its wings made out of dark blue sapphires...she has never seen anything like it before.

And the way it stares at her...it is like this dragon desired her for more than just because she was a princess. It is like...it wanted to devour her whole so that no one could have her.

And that...excites her.

The dragon growls and stretches its wings onto the field, the lights causing them to shine and glitter like a reference to that sci-fi film Shooti always loved (involving the Tannhauser Gate or something like that). (3000 ATK)

"Surprised?" says Yugo. "You should be! Because now I'll clear the field with Shock Surprise and banish two Speedroid monsters to get rid of your Dragster pair!"

His next Spell Card (showing a crosshairs of a monster being electrocuted) causes Haruka to snap out of her trance.

"I don't know what you're playing at, but I'm not gonna let you destroy my monsters so easily!" says Haruka. "Once per turn, I decrease the level of Dawn Dragster by 2 to negate the effect of a card you control. And I use it to destroy Shock Surprise!"

Dawn Dragster slows down, the '7' above his head dropping to '5' as Yugo's card shatters. (LV: 7 -) 5, 2100 -) 1500 ATK)

Yugo chuckles. "And I was hoping you'd do that! Now that I know that it can only be used once per turn, I can play Card Rotator!"

"Oh no!" Haruka screams.

The Spell Card, showing a magician with golden rings of light around his gloved fingers connected to strings latched onto a defensive Jerry Beans Man and Marshmallon, appears while Yugo discards another card to his graveyard. Soon, both Dawn and Dark Dragster are changed to attack position (even though it just shows their drivers looking in alarm). (Dark Dragster: 1200 ATK, Dawn Dragster: 1500 ATK)

Haruka sighs as she notices Cloth Kiryu jumping off her shoulder, but she ignores this as she sees Yugo's last card.

"I'm gonna regret using Dawn Dragster's effect too early, aren't I?" she mutters.

Yugo chuckles as he plays his final card, Magnet Reverse, and Hi-Speedroid Chanbara appears once more. (2000 ATK)

Meanwhile, Cloth Kiryu scampers up Haruka's arm with something in his hand.

"Did you get it?" she asks Cloth Kiryu. Cloth Kiryu nods his head and slips a card to her hand. "Good job."

"Now then!" says Yugo. "Hi-Speedroid Chanbara...attack Dark Dragster!"

Chanbara flies towards the dark racecar (2000 -) 2200 ATK) all while Haruka plays the card Cloth Kiryu gave to her.

"I activate my Action Card, Miracle!" she says. "Now Dark Dragster is safe from Chanbara's attack."

Dark Dragster grunts as it is knocked to the side, but otherwise still standing.

(Haruka: 5400) - - - - - - - (Yugo: 3850)

"Attack again!" Yugo commands.

As Chanbara strikes again, Haruka takes Cloth Jack into her hand and lowers him down, where he takes a second Action Card.

"Second Action Card, Evasion!" she says. "Dark Dragster survives!"

Dark Dragster narrowly misses the slice attack from Chanbara and gives a thumbs up to Cloth Jack, who puffs his chest proudly.

"Chanbara is done, but my dragon isn't!" says Yugo. "And when Crystal Wing Synchro Dragon attacks a monster, it gains the current attack points of the monster it fights!"

Dawn Dragster balks as Crystal Wing Synchro Dragon glows, its body like a lantern in the summer night. (3000 -) 4500 ATK)

This is bad! Haruka thinks. There are no Action Cards in sight, my face-down card won't protect me, and even if I use Dark Dragster's ability, what's to say Yugo won't blow it up back in my face?

This better be worth a new hand…

"Clear Wing Synchro Dragon…" Yugo points at Dawn Dragster. "Attack with Crystallized Surge!"

A blast of blue flames is unleashed as Dawn Dragster explodes, taking more than half of Haruka's lifepoints with it.

(Haruka: 2400) - - - - - - - (Yugo: 3850)

"Trap activate," says Haruka. "Go Shock Draw!"

A Trap Card of a duelist struck by lightning while holding three cards in hand appears.

"For every 1000 points of damage I took in battle, I draw a card," says Haruka, drawing three cards.

Yugo clicks his teeth. "Then I guess I end it there. Your move."

Haruka nods her head as she draws one more card.

"I play Pot of Avarice!" she declares.

On the heads up display of her helmet, Haruka chooses the five monsters she wants back to her deck. Her Duel Disk shuffles the cards before she draws two more. Then, she smirks.

"This is the end!" she states. "I play Star Changer to increase the level of Dark Dragster by 1!"

A Spell Card of a series of red orbs marked with stars appears. Dark Dragster has a '5' blink above its head. (LV: 4 -) 5, 1200 -) 1500 ATK)

"And since its level has changed, I can Special Summon F.A. Auto Navigator onto the field!"

The holographic avatar appears once more, bowing her head as a bright '1' above her head changes to a '2'. (LV: 1 -) 2)

Meanwhile, Dark Dragster has a '7' above its head once more. (LV: 5 -) 7, 1500 -) 2100 ATK)

"And guess what?" says Haruka. "Now my monsters are at the exact levels I need for a Synchro Summon!"

"A Level 9 F.A. monster?" Yugo blanches.

"Exactly! Now go!"

Dark Dragster becomes a shower of seven stars that zips through Auto Navigator's three green rings. Once again, Haruka recites her made-up chant for the occasion.

(2* + 7* = 9*)

"Where racers rest before they journey down the highway of life. Their home away from home of blinding lights, adrenaline and turbo engines! Synchro Summon! Level 9, F.A. Motorhome Transport!"

A large RV appears on the road, colored silver with blue and orange trim along with two mechanical arms on top. If the machine had a face, it would show an expression that reads, "You are about to die." (LV: 9, 0 -) 2700 ATK)

"Well...it doesn't look that menacing," says Yugo, looking at its stats.

"Not yet," says Haruka, showing a familiar card to Yugo. "But I'm giving Motorhome some company!"

Magnet Reverse plays and Dawn Dragster emerges with a loud vroom. (LV: 7, 0 -) 2100 ATK)

"And I learned my lesson with Crystal Wing Dragon. I equip Motorhome Transport with Gravity Blaster!"

Soon, a large laser from something out of a sci-fi film mounts on top of Motorhome Transport. (2700 -) 3100 ATK)

"Even with this power boost, I won't lose that many lifepoints," says Yugo. "You'd have to go Double or Nothing to knock me off my feet!"

Haruka chuckles. "Then I should be glad that my last card will settle this! I play Limiter Removal!"

The well-known Spell Card of a broken speedometer appears as Dawn Dragster and Motorhome Transport glow with power. (Dawn Dragster: 2100/2000 -) 4200/4000, Motorhome Transport: 3100/3000 -) 6200/6000)

"Oh boy…" Yugo gulps.

"Dawn Dragster, attack Hi-Speedroid Chanbara with Sunrise Crossfire!" Haruka shouts!

Dawn Dragster steps on the acceleration as he chases after Hi-Speedroid Chanbara. Then, with jet thrusters at full throttle, the racecar runs over the large sword, breaking it in half.

(Haruka: 2400) - - - - - - - (Yugo: 1650)

"And now I go after your dragon!" Haruka states. "As long as Motorhome Transport is equipped to Gravity Blaster, your monster can't activate its effects when they battle!"

The Gravity Blaster begins to glow as Motorhome Transport grins (or at least as much as a humongous truck that transports racecars can grin).

"And I always wanted to say this!" Haruka squeals. "Now...Imma firing my laser!"

Motorhome Transport fires the Gravity Blaster at the Synchro Dragon as a large cloud of smoke obscures the field. Haruka moves past the smoke cloud as she watches Yugo's lifepoints drop down…down...down...

But not all the way to 0.

(Haruka: 2400) - - - - - - - (Yugo: 50)

"WHAT?!" Haruka screams, reading the results. "How...how did you…"

Yugo chuckles before Haruka looks back at the field. Aside from Crystal Wing Synchro Dragon, there is also an Action Card on the field!

"Miracle?!" Haruka exclaims, seeing the stick figure proudly standing tall with white stars above their heads.

"Bingo bongo!" Yugo cheers. "Looks like I'm still in the game!"

While she should feel completely shocked to find that her big finish didn't go as expected, Yugo's words causes Haruka to laugh.

"'Bingo bongo?' That your catch phrase or something?" she inquires.

Yugo smirks. "If you want it to be that way, Haruhara…"

Haruka blinks. "Haruhara? We've only known each other for, what, an hour, and you're already giving me a nickname?"

"Your dolls called me 'Pogo', 'Yoyo' and 'Togo' already. It's only natural for me to give you a nickname in return, right?"

This causes Haruka to laugh once more, her cheeks turning red behind her helmet. Never has someone called her such a cute nickname before!

"You've seen it here folks," Melissa comments. "It seems like love is in the air for our two competitors today! Let's give them a round of applause!"

The audience complies as both Haruka and Yugo look both in awe and in embarrassment. Yuri, looking at the Duel through a pair of binoculars, looks ready to murder someone.

Haruka sighs as she looks at her empty hand. "I have no more cards to play. And since I played Limiter Removal, Motorhome Transport is destroyed when I end my turn.

"It was a lot of fun, this duel. I really can't wait to duel like this again. And Yugo, I…"

As she looks at Yugo, Haruka recalls everything she learned, everything she was told by Team Satisfaction, and everything that she has felt over the course of this duel. She wants to say it,wants to tell him how she feels…

But...but…

Haruka swallows hard and bows her head. "...I end my turn."

And then Dawn Dragster and Motorhome Transport explode, causing both duelists to move out of the way of exploding shrapnel.

Yugo wordlessly draws a card and stares at it.

"Hey, Haruka," he says, his voice serious. "I…" he smiles. "Let's have another duel sometime. At Satisfaction Town. Princess of Prophecy vs the Scion of the Clear Winds. How about it?"

"You mean, you want...a date?" Haruka asks.

Yugo shrugs his shoulders. "Whatever you wanna call it. I don't want this moment to end."

"Neither do I." Haruka lets a tear fall down her eye before she shakes her head. "Go for it, Yugo! If there's one thing that Fortune Fatale believes in, it's to never have any regrets during a duel!"

"Very well then! Crystal Wing Synchro Dragon...attack directly!"

The crystalline dragon opens its mouth and fires a blast of energy at Haruka, who says nothing as Black Swallowtail crawls to a stop and her lifepoints drop all the way down to 0.

(Haruka: 0) - - - - - - - (Yugo: 50)

"And the winner is none other than the Scion of Clear Winds...Yugo!" Melissa announces just as Yugo presses the brakes of Mellona. He gets out, lifts his helmet off and runs towards Haruka, who looks down at her lap.

"Haruka!" Yugo exclaims, watching his opponent remove her helmet. "Haruka, you okay?"

Haruka stays still as tears fall down her eyes and her Cloth Dolls mew in concern. Then, when Haruka looks up at Yugo…

"Yugo…" she states, as she smiles. "I...that was so amazing. Oh Yugo...I love you!"

And at that moment, even though she couldn't figure it out at the time, Haruka just grabs onto Yugo's coat and kisses him. On the lips.

Yugo is too shocked to move and finds himself wrapping his arms around the girl to steady her as she stands up and grips onto his coat tighter. He can distantly hear people cheering for him, others taking photos of the lovers and Melissa making a comment on the finish…

But right now, in this moment, he and Haruka are here. And, he doesn't want this moment to end.

At first, he just thought she was the typical klutzy girl when she collided with him. Throughout the duel, this wasn't the case. Haruka was smart, courageous, crafty and all around awesome. Even though he has only known her through word of mouth and this duel alone, to him, it feels like a lifetime of moments has passed between them.

So he returns the kiss as his mind dances with the thought of the two riding on Crystal Wing Synchro Dragon at night with a full moon shining above them, soaring off to wherever the winds may take them.

And as Haruka steps back, panting slightly with her cheeks flushed, Yuri walks off, ready to set someone on fire.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Minutes later, the contestants are on a podium in the center of the racetrack as the duelists, with Duel Disks and decks strapped to their arms, wave to the audience. Melissa makes more comments to the camera.

"And there you have it folks!" she says. "In just one duel we saw passion, drama and romance bloom before our very eyes like a flower in the desert! And here to present the commemorate Victory Ribbon is none other than the developer of the technology used to bring this Turbo Action Duel to the city of Domino...Leo Akaba!"

Haruka flinches at the name as she sees the professor approach them alongside a purple haired boy who, for some odd reason, looked similar to Yugo's...perhaps they are cousins?

Yugo, on the other hand, blinks as he sees Yuri approach them. "Oh, it's you! Yuri, have you met Haruhara...I mean, Haruka, yet?"

"No, I believe not," says Yuri, forcing a smile on his face. "My...that was quite a show though. I wonder what she tasted like…"

"Hey," says Haruka, stepping forward. Something about this boy makes her meant to scratch his eyes out. "I don't know what your deal is, but you might wanna keep your comments to yourself. Fortune Fatale may have lost today, but the Princess of Prophecy is always ready for a challenge."

"Ah, yes, her," Yuri notes with a roll of his eyes. Meanwhile, Professor Akaba presents Yugo with a ribbon, the medal depicting a golden sun and a blue and silver ribbon on the back.

"Congratulations, Yugo," says the Professor, handing the ribbon to Yugo. "Take this ribbon as proof of your hard-earned victory."

Yugo takes the ribbon into his hands before he brings it to his jacket. Then he stares at Haruka comforting her dolls before he shakes his head.

"I can't accept it," he says. "At least, not without Haruka."

"Hmm?" asks Haruka, turning around. "What is it?"

"You wouldn't know a magic spell to turn one into two, right?" asks Yugo, placing the ribbon into her hand.

Haruka looks at the ribbon before smiling. "As a matter of fact, I do. Cloth Kiryu...ready?"

"Right!" says Cloth Kiryu, bending his knees as Haruka prepares her hand.

"1..2...3!"

Haruka tosses the ribbon into the air as Cloth Kiryu jumps, a small scythe forming in his hands. As the ribbon falls, Cloth Kiryu swipes upwards, the ribbon splitting in half where it lands into the palms of both Haruka and Yugo. Cloth Kiryu lands on top of Haruka's head with a pose.

"And that should do it," Haruka grins. "Pretty cool, right?"

"Totally!" Yugo agrees, pinning his Victory Ribbon half to his breast. Professor Akaba chuckles.

"I was mighty impressed with both of your skills tonight," he says. "I am fully ready to pay for a scholarship at the Leo Duel School in Maiami City for the summer if you would like. I can tell you both have massive potential."

"...Thanks but no thanks," says Haruka, frowning. She can tell just by the smile on that guy's face that he is nothing but trouble. "I have enough to do for the summer at Domino."

"And I can't leave my friends at Guardian Signs like that," Yugo adds. "But thanks for the offer."

"...Very well, then." says the Professor, turning away. "Come Yuri, we're going."

Yuri sneers at Haruka, who flashes a sneer in return, before he follows the professor out of the racetrack. Yugo looks back at Yuri staring at a purple crystal on a golden chain, feeling something familiar about it.

Something...something…

"Hey, Pogo!"

"It's Yugo!" he snaps at one of the Cloth Dolls. The four giggle as Haruka brings her hand out.

"Let's go," she says. "The night awaits us."

Yugo pauses before he takes Haruka's hand and the two leave the Colosseum together, all while Yuri walks off with a look of pure murder on his face.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

"That was so cool!"

"Those Speedroid cards were cute!"

"Not as cute as those dolls!"

"Or them!"

Fans young and old crowd around Haruka and Yugo as the two weave their way out of the stadium and onto the fairgrounds. Some children try to touch the Cloth Dolls on Haruka's shoulders, others are asking for autographs or photographs.

"I've never had people clamor over me like this before," says Yugo. "Is this what it always feels like for you?"

"You get used to it," says Haruka, turning around and blowing a kiss to some fans while the dolls wave good-bye. "Now come on, I'm starving!"

"What do you wanna eat?"

"Hmm…" Haruka snaps her fingers "Oh! I still have a dessert sandwich in my room! We can share it while watching the showcase of all the teams!"

"Sounds like a great idea! I'm in Room A113. I'll meet you there in a few minutes, okay?"

"Right!" Haruka pulls out her skateboard and helmet from her satchel and heads off. "See ya soon!"

When the skateboard hits pavement, Haruka rides off towards the nearest bathroom and enters one five minutes later after maneuvering towards the pit stop. Taking her skateboard into her hands, she opens the door to find no one inside. Good.

She approaches the mirror and places a hand onto it. The mirror ripples like water before she jumps through it, emerging in a mirror image of the bathroom. Then, she exits the bathroom to find a completely empty stadium before skating through it towards the bathroom closest near her room (which she wrote on her phone for reversing directions in her head makes her dizzy).

Another five minutes later, she exits the bathroom mirror that leads her to the real world before slipping helmet and skateboard back into her satchel and races towards her room, her Cloth Dolls hanging on for dear life. She opens the door to her room, finds her box of dessert sandwiches and picks it up, imagining how she and Yugo would share these in his room, talking about their lives and getting closer…

Her Cloth Dolls jump off and sit at the table, yawning. Haruka smiles; she will come pick them up after her "date" with Yugo.

Just as she is about to leave, she hears familiar ringtone ("This Fire" by Franz Ferdinand). Haruka rummages through her satchel before she pulls out her phone to answer the call.

"Hello?" she asks, placing the phone on speaker.

"So...when's the wedding?"

Haruka jumps as she is greeted by the facecam of Serena, Millefeui and Masato grinning at her in the Café in Wonderland.

"Guys!" she exclaims. "It's not what it looks like!"

"Tell that to the Internet," says Serena, showing an article on her phone. "You're famous now!"

Haruka skims through comments on Twitter involving her and Yugo's kiss as she shakes her head.

"I swear it wasn't like that!" she says. "And where's Kanata? Did she get sick or something?"

"She's...not taking the end of your duel well," says Millefeui. "But she was feeling kinda down throughout the day anyway."

"I see. Also...have mom and dad seen me and Yugo…"

"Not yet," says Masato. "But you better tell us all about your new boyfriend when you come back home."

"He isn't my boyfriend!"

"Keep telling yourself that," Serena smirks.

Haruka hangs up and places her phone back in her satchel. She then leaves her room and races towards Yugo's, all the while singing and feeling like she could just cartwheel across the hall in joy.

"I mean it's crazy that we finish each other's sandwiches…" Haruka sings, before stopping at what escaped her mouth and shakes her head. "Thanks for that, Masato. I better remind myself to buy some earmuffs next time he starts playing his CDs."

Nevertheless, she still feels like singing as she continues the walk down the hall, approaching Yugo's door as she sings the lines to one of her favorite songs.

"He held me for a moment, but his arms felt safe and strong…
It only takes a moment, to be loved a whole life…"

But when Haruka opens the door to Yugo's room, she freezes.

She sees Yugo laying on the sofa, body relaxed, eyes looking up, glowing in a strange teal light. When she follows his gaze, she sees that Yugo is staring deeply into a purple crystal pendulum in the hands of Yuri, his eyes glowing violet. She places a hand to her mouth as she watches Yuri, like some master hypnotist, calmly tell Yugo suggestion after suggestion, words that Haruka can't tell due to how loud her heart is beating..

But she can recall the last three words he speaks.

"Reunite as one…" Yuri whispers, leaning close to give Yugo a kiss on the lips, and actually going as far as kissing Yugo on the lips, oblivious to the girl who is watching all of this with a look of one seeing their closest relative's body swinging on a noose. Yuri steps back, his venomous smile stretched out.

"Reunite...reunite as one…" Yugo repeats, his voice empty and lifeless.

And that is all that she can take before she runs off in tears, crushing the sandwich in her hands. She doesn't know how long she runs, the only thing on her mind is the utter shock and betrayal from seeing Yuri do something so...wrong to Yugo until someone grabs onto her arm.

"Get off me!" Haruka exclaims, turning around. "Before I...Y...Yusei?"

Yusei, wearing his trademark blue jacket, sighs and embraces the shivering girl. "Thank the Dark King that I found you. What's going on?"

"I...I was...sandwiches...Yugo...crystal…Yuri… Reunite as one…" Haruka's words trip over themselves as she looks at the remains of her sandwich. She begins to hiccup as she drops the sandwich onto the floor and sobs. "W...what's going on, Yusei? What is Yuri doing to…"

She says no more as Yusei tightens his embrace and closes his eyes. When he opens them once again, the two are no longer in the hallway, but instead in the comfort of Haruka's room, her Cloth Dolls looking in concern.

"She learned the truth, didn't she?" says Kiryu, wearing a black cloaked with blue trim.

Haruka turns and sees Kiryu, Jack and Crow also in the room, looking forlorn. She grits her teeth.

"What's going on?" she asks. "Did...did you all know this was gonna happen?"

"Yes." Jack answers. "We were told ahead of time of that boy, Yuri, and his machinations on Yugo."

"How long...how long was this planned out?"

"Ever since you two entered the stadium," Crow answers. "While you were buying your sandwiches and talking to your friends, Yuri met with Yugo and...well, you saw what happened."

Haruka feels faint, like she has just stepped out of a spinning cups ride and about to throw up.

This...this can't be possible. Why would someone do something so cruel?

"But...I was supposed to form a union with Yugo!" Haruka screams. "Me! Not Yuri! That's what you said, Yusei…it was destiny...I felt it, our souls connected in that duel. I felt a presence from his dragons and he made me feel so...so light!"

"You formed a union, yes," Yusei begins, his lips cast into a frown. "But anything outside of getting closer wasn't part of it."

"What do you mean? Are you saying that I...I'm not…" Haruka stammers out. "I'm not his soulmate?"

"'Soulmate?'" Kiryu repeats. At this, he will usually laugh, but the look in Haruka's eyes makes him pause. Instead he shakes his head. "No, Princess. While you two were supposed to meet, you aren't the one that Yugo truly loves or supposed to be with."

"What do you mean?" Haruka shrieks, recalling the passionate kiss they shared and then the one Yuri forcefully placed on Yugo. "You're saying that...that Yuri is his soulmate?! Not me?"

"I'm afraid so," says Crow, shaking his head. "While both you and Yugo have a bond, it's...not to the level that he is supposed to form with Yuri."

"But...but that's not how it works!" Haruka blubbers out, wiping the tears with the backs of her hands. "Yuri...he kissed Yugo without consent and Yugo was...was like a puppet! That's... that's not how love works…He...and I…"

"It's complicated right now," says Yusei, patting Haruka's shoulder. "But please understand that you have an important role to play when it comes to Yugo." He wipes a tear away with his thumb. "I know it's hard to believe right now, but please trust us, trust in the words of our Dark King, that everything will eventually fall into place."

Haruka sniffles as a Cloth Doll hands her a tissue. She takes it and blows her nose before tossing it to the floor. Then, as she calms her rapidly beating heart down, she looks at Team Satisfaction with a look of someone wishing to seek vengeance.

"Can I have something to burn?" she asks.

Team Satisfaction stare at one another before they, close their eyes, and bow their heads.

The room changes into a dark forest, the ceiling transformed into a night sky filled with stars.

Standing in front of Haruka is a magnificent tree, hundreds of years old, with a conspiracy of ravens perched on the branches, staring at her with amber eyes. She snarls and the ravens fly off, cawing all the while.

The girl grits her teeth as she stares at the tree in front of her. With a deep breath, she summons her red magic circle with the five petal flowers and crushes it in her hand before releasing it, the magic circle now a kaleidoscope of fiery butterflies that flutter in the air before landing on the branches, flapping their wings like tiny flames dancing in the dark.

Then, as tears fall down her eyes, Haruka screams.

A large gust of wind begins to blow. The butterflies combust and the flames flare out, consuming the tree as the girl sobs. Then, she opens her mouth once more and screams again. A larger breeze hits and the fires burn and burn onto the rest of the forest to reflect her anger, confusion, wrath and sorrow at everything she has just learned.

She continues to scream and sob as both Team Satisfaction and Team Satisfaction dolls watch on, unable to comfort her.

And as the tears fall down Haruka's eyes, and the sound of crackling burning wood fills her ears, her half of the Victory Ribbon that was clenched in her fist all this time drops to the ground, unnoticed.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Team Satisfaction stayed with me until my throat was sore. Then, after Melissa announced the participants for the Grand Prix, they dropped me off at the Café in Wonderland so I could go be with my friends, and to get my mind off of that horrendous sight.

But even with my friends hearing my story, it couldn't remove the anguish I held in my heart, nor did it remove the feelings I still had for Yugo.

What I had seen...how powerless I had felt...nothing like that had happened to me before, and it frightened me.

The worst part was, as I would find out a week later...that it was only the beginning.

And I could only pray to Lady Luck that she was on my side, because I was going to need every single blessing she gave me for the storm that was about to blow.