I wonder exactly what decision led me to dangling off a gear in an island in the sky, all because of Raiden Kimura. I've made so many questionable decisions at this point in my life, that I'm not entirely sure.
Raiden bends down and grabs my arm, pulling me back onto the platform. I sit down for a second, catching my breath. The tangled mess that is my hair falls into my face. The force of Raiden's attack must have taken it out of its ponytail. I look up at Raiden. He towers over me. He glares down at me. He looks exactly the same as I remember him. Even the length of his brown bangs sweeping over his right brow.
"What did you mean?" I pant. "That Z-One told you not to kill me?"
"Exactly what you think it means." He turns his back on me and walks away. Why would Z-One want to keep me alive? It makes no sense, no matter how you look at it.
"So you're working for Z-One?" I ask.
"Yes, you're finally catching on."
"But why?" Staring at his back makes a raw anger boil up inside me. I remember the promise that I made to myself. I would finish Raiden Kimura with my own hands.
"Well," he turns around to face me, "to get back at you, of course. Z-One gave me an offer I couldn't refuse. He said he could give me the power to defeat you. How could I let an offer like that slide?"
"Raiden, he's trying to destroy the City. Millions of people will die."
"But I will get what I want. Only Z-One has the power to grant my wish."
"And what would that be? What could be more important than human lives?" I snarl.
"That's none of your concern." He responds. "All that matters is that when the Ark Cradle falls, everything will be as it should. All I have to do is defeat Yusei Fudo in return. That will be easy. He took everything from me, Yuuka." Raiden's disposition becomes much darker.
"How did he take everything from you?" I press my hands on the ground, forcing myself to stand up. "You've never met him."
"But he met you."
"What?" I mutter.
"He took you from me, Yuuka. Can't you see that?" His eyes start glowing violet from the anger inside him. "If he had just left us alone, none of this would have happened, but no! He had to show up and lure you away from me. I lost you, our territory, my entire life all because of Yusei Fudo! He has to pay for what he done."
"No. You're wrong." I say, walking towards my D-Wheel. I feel Raiden's eyes following me as I walk. "Yusei didn't do any of that. It was my decision, and my decision alone."
"Then I'll destroy you too!"
"So be it." I sigh, taking my duel disk from my D-Wheel, attaching it to my wrist dealer. "I refuse to let you destroy my life any more. You've used and abused me. You've controlled every aspect of my life. Even when you disappeared, you still tried to ruin my life. Wherever I go, whatever I do, your presence still lingers. You've ruined me. You destroyed my innocence and tainted me. Now, you're back. You're threatening to destroy everything I hold dear. I can't let that stand. I will stop once and for all! Even if it means killing you in the process."
I turn to face Raiden. His look of shock fades into smugness.
"Fine." He scoffs. "I accept your challenge." My hand moves to my duel disk while I walk to the other side of the gear, so I'm facing him directly. Raiden activates the duel disk on his arm, and I do the same.
"So this is it?" I say, Raiden only smirks in response. He fixes the lapel and collar of his black suit jacket and shirt. If there's one thing that hasn't changed, it's how immaculately he dresses.
"Duel!" We both chant.
"I'll take the first move, it's only fitting." I grit my teeth. I really don't need him going first now. "My turn!" Raiden declares. "I summon Skelesaurus(ATK:1700), set one card and end my turn." The appearance of the monster, which takes the form of a dinosaur's skeleton, unsettles me. Right from the get-go, Raiden is manifesting his monsters. Like, top of the list of things I don't really need right now.
"My turn, I draw!" I look at my hand. Given my current hand, I can only match his attack points. It will have to do for now. "I summon The Fabled Kokkator(ATK:1700)." I say as a small green dragon-chicken hybrid appears on the field. I put in the energy to manifest Kokkator. Its high pitched screech hurts my ears. Raiden realises that I'm manifesting too, and grins.
"Manifesting? On purpose too? That's not like you, Yuuka."
"If I need to use powers to defeat you, so be it." I answer. "I expect nothing less than your blood on my hands." I must save Yusei. Defeating, and possibly murdering, Raiden Kimura is the only way to do that. "I set one card and end my turn."
"You're so foolish. You can't see what Z-One will do for us."
"Z-One is trying to kill millions of people." It takes all of me not to sigh. I need to stay strong so I can get through to him. If not, he's going down. "I can't see what he can offer us that would justify that."
"You're too young and blind to see why." Raiden bears this sarcastic smile. "My turn. I activate Polymerization from my hand! I fuse the Tuner Monsters, Krebons and Plaguespreader Zombie, in my hand! From the depths come despair. Arise to haunt the living! Fusion Summon! Appear, Sea Monster of Theseus(ATK:2200)!" A tattered ship appears on the field before tentacles stretch from it. Narrow red eyes glow in the shadow of the ship above it. It lets out a shriek that raises the hair on the back of my neck. "Sea Monster of Theseus attacks Kokkator! Squall Wreckage!" The monster whips up a wind which fades as soon as it appears, taking my monster with it. My life points fall to 3500, as the wind drags me backwards towards the edge of the platform. I take a deep breath. I don't need this in my life, I repeat to myself. "Now, Skelesaurus attacks you directly!"
"Not so fast!" I interrupt. "I activate my facedown, Defense Draw! During Damage Calculation, I can make the damage I take this battle 0!" The monster stops in its tracks, returning to Raiden's side of the field. "If this is successful, I can draw one card." Fabled Lurrie. I look back at my hand. Not to worry, I have a strategy.
"I end my turn." Raiden scoffs. "You're safe… for now."
"What could cause to work for Z-One? What has he promised you?" I ask.
"What do you want most in the world, Yuuka? More than anything."
"To be normal." I answer. No islands in the sky, no prophesies of certain death, no marks from ancient deities. All I want right now is to celebrate a tournament win with my boyfriend on our couch. I want to fall asleep in his arms, and wake up normal. Nothing in my life causing stress like this. That's what I want.
"That's what Z-One can give you. After the Ark Cradle destroys the City, Z-One promised to change the past."
"Change the past?" I mutter.
"Yes, Z-One promised to erase our struggles from history. No more psychics will have to suffer because of who we are." Raiden's eyes are wide and glowing. "Isn't that what we've always wanted, Yuuka? Imagine. We don't have to live in fear anymore!"
"Is that dream really worth destroying the City?" I ask.
"Of course, Yuuka. I can't see why you don't understand that."
"My turn, I draw." I sigh. "I activate The Fabled Chawa's effect from my hand. I can discard one Fabled Monster from my hand to Special Summon it(ATK:200)! I discard Fabled Lurrie, whose effect activates! When this card is discarded to the grave, I can Special Summon it(ATK:200)! Next, I summon The Fabled Ganashia(ATK:1600). Level 1 Chawa tunes Level 1 Lurrie and Level 3 Ganashia. The will of many combine into one. Join together and bring forth revolution! Synchro Summon! Arise, Fabled Ragin(ATK:2300)!" The yellow fiend, adorned with black and red, stretches its wings while crossing its arms. "Ragin attacks Sea Monster of Theseus! Legion Strike!" Ragin flies up into the air, swooping down on Raiden's monster, destroying it. Raiden's life points fall to 3900. "I end my turn."
"I don't know how you can say that you don't want to relive our people of their plight." Raiden glares at me. "Have you forgotten what you've gone through? You running away from home because your family thought you were a monster? Being pushed away from society because you destroy everything you touch? Only being accepted in Black Flag? How could you forget?"
"I haven't forgotten." I grit my teeth.
"The Satellite wouldn't exist either. Think about it." Raiden continues. "You wouldn't have slurs thrown at you in the street. No one would judge you at first glance. You'd be able to find a job instead of mooching off everyone around you like the worthless thing you are. No having to wear that mark, a painful reminder of your tragic childhood. Scrapping food together, sleeping in an abandoned building with only a scratchy blanket for warmth. Not knowing a mother's love because she died of something curable. Why? Because no one cared enough to save her-"
"Shut up!" I roar back at him. Tears suddenly burning in my eyes.
"Then, you're admitting that I'm right." I can't bring myself to answer him. That would be ideal. Not being forced to the outskirts of society for things that I cannot control. No. I can't let myself be tempted. Z-One is trying to kill millions of people and destroy my home, I repeat to myself. Yusei will die if I allow it to happen. Yusei comes before my life and happiness. No matter what. He's the most important thing in my life, and will always be.
"My turn." Raiden declares after realising that I won't answer. "I activate Gemini Spark from my hand! I tribute Level 4 Skelesaurus on my field to destroy Fabled Ragin!" Ragin disappears in a flash of light. "This lets me draw a card. I summon Beast of the Pharaoh(ATK:300) and attack you directly!" The bull monster charges towards me. I roll out of the way, but it catches my side. I flop onto the ground, grabbing my waist. "I end my turn." I shakily stand up. My life points now stand at 3100.
"My turn, I draw!" Nozoochee. I'm fighting for Yusei, nothing else matters until I can guarantee his safety. No matter what pain I endure, I must keep going. "I discard Fabled Kushano from my hand to activate The Fabled Nozoochee's effect. I can Special Summon from my hand(ATK:1200)! Nozoochee's second effect activates! If it's successfully summoned by its effect, I can Special Summon a Level 2-or-below Fabled Monster from my hand. Appear, Fabled Raven(ATK:1300)! Sacred beast of the woodland, cast your light and purify the world! Synchro Summon! Come forth, The Fabled Unicore(ATK:2300)!" The monster resembling a unicorn appears. The delicate energy that radiates from it almost cleanses me. "Unicore attacks Beast of the Pharaoh! Horn of Judgement!" The light radiating from Unicore destroys Raiden's monster, causing his life points to drop to 2000. I'm halfway there. "I set a card and end my turn."
"Yuuka, if you don't agree with me, I'm afraid I will have to end you. I can't let you stop Z-One's plan. This is what I've worked for my entire life." Raiden grits his teeth. "My turn. I summon Tristan, Knight of the Underworld(ATK:1800)! Next, I activate Ghost Fusion! This lets me fuse a Zombie-Type Monster on my field with one from my deck or grave. I chose Tristan on my field and Isolde, Belle of the Underworld from my deck!"
"Fusion? Again?" I mutter under my breath.
"Dark despair, rise up against foolish oppression. Ascend from the depths of hell to exact your revenge! Fusion Summon!" Raiden presses his hands together as if in prayer. "Show yourself, Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon(ATK:3000)!" A dragon appears out of a dark vortex, baring it claws. It stretches out its four wings and let out a roar that blows my hair back.
"No." I keep repeating to myself. Raiden's eyes have only starting glowing brighter. It almost looks like his entire eye is glowing violet. My own eyes start glowing in response. This is Raiden's ace monster. I'm doomed.
"Dragonecro attacks Unicore! Revolution Burst!" Raiden shouts as his dragon discharges a burst of dark energy. I swear I can hear screams as the dark energy starts to surround me. I pant as my life points drop to 2400. It's not hurting me physically but I can feel it. Unicore still stands in front of me, looking worse for wear. "Dragonecro can't destroy monsters in battle. If this card battles a monster and it still on the field, I can summon a Token with that monster's attack points and original Level(ATK:2300/LV:4). Dark Soul Token attacks The Fabled Unicore!"
"I activate Dimension Guardian!" I shout, interrupting the attack. "One face up monster on my field can't be destroyed by battle or card effects" The attack still comes. The impact of it is enough to knock me off my feet. Unicore makes a strangled noise as I get back on my feet. My life points stand at a measly 100.
"I end my turn." He scoffs. "Next turn, you will lose. Just accept it. Psychics can only be happy when this City is destroyed. The Zero Reverse caused all of this. There have been more psychics than ever before, all of them born around the time of the Zero Reverse. Do you think that's a coincidence? It's not. Z-One told me himself."
"Z-One did?" I mutter. For a second, I wonder about a world with no Zero Reverse. Would I still have been a psychic? The Zero Reverse certainly didn't help my powers, maybe even made them stronger than they would have been. Much of the tragedy that plagued my early life, no, everyone's, might not have happened. "That doesn't matter." I realise. I can't let myself be deluded. "Maybe things would have been better for us if it didn't happen. Maybe they wouldn't. There could be some other tragedy that will make our lives hell. We just have to accept that. Live is never going to be easy for us."
"No, our lives would have been better if it weren't for the Zero Reverse. Z-One is promising us a world without discrimination against psychics. I can't believe that you're going to pass that up!" He shouts back at me, his face completely distorted in anger.
"Our lives may not be perfect, Raiden." I sigh. "But, they're ours. We've been through a lot of shit but we're stronger because of it. If it were for the whole psychic thing, we wouldn't have met each other. We wouldn't have met anyone. Shinji, Reika, Anako, everyone. Those relationships exist because we got dealt the bad hand. But you know what? We've accepted that. We know that we're psychics and face the world with our heads held high. Society may hate us and want us dead. But we keep going. We love each other because no else will. There's nothing purer in this world than a bunch of outcasts sticking together because we've got no one else. I wouldn't trade that for the world. Because I'm a psychic, I've made friends that I will treasure for the rest of my life. I'm not letting them go. No matter what. I can't afford to lose. I won't let you control my life any longer!"