"Welcome, ladies, gentlemen, and variations thereof." The senator has barely spoken and the crowd is deathly silent. "Our city has faced many challenges over these few short months. The challenge in accepting a long lost sector of city back into our open arms. Creating the World Riding Duel Grand Prix, elevating our homegrown talent to a world stage. The onslaught of the dueling robots known as Diablo. Finally, the Ark Cradle threatening to fall and destroy our City. But, look, we are still standing here strong today. We, as one unified people, overcame everything together. A special mention go to our police force and a select few brave citizens." His eyes run over our row. "We will continue to face our uncertain future together. We will fight any obstacle in our way, the same way we have done everything else, together."
There's a small clap from the audience. The senator has a smile on his face, as if this isn't something that is regurgitated at every speech after a tragedy. Aki claps beside me, so I join in, albeit a little reluctantly.
"Today, we are gathered to bestow a great honour to a brave citizen. The Key to the City is given to a valued member of our community, for a heroic service to our community. There are many individuals in this room to whom we could give this award, but today, we give this award to one brave man in particular." I squeeze Yusei's hand. He glance at me out of the side of his eye, quite embarrassed. "He faced immeasurable odds on our behalf. He fought with his life on the line to guarantee a better future for us all. Because of this man, we all here to fight another day for a better future. This man, born in the Satellite, fought for equality for the people of the Satellite, resulting in the construction of the bridge that connects our own City to the Satellite. Now, he has saved our people once again. Welcome to the stage, Yusei Fudo!"
There's a thunderous applause. Yusei's eyes widen and dart towards me. I smile and nod my head. I put my hand on his back. He slowly stands up. He waves to the crowd awkwardly, and makes his way onto the stage. I have to suppress a chuckle.
The senator opens the decorative box containing the key, which is only a symbol if anything. He shakes Yusei's hand while handing him the box with the other hand. His eyes are firmly placed on the crowd as the flash of cameras sound. The audience continues to clap, with a few cheers. The senator comes back to life as he stops posing for the cameras. He gestures from Yusei to the giant podium beside them. Yusei looks between the senator and the podium, then to me. I nod, and he cautiously stands up at the podium.
"Thank you, Senator Takahashi and everyone, for this award. I feel undeserving of this award." There's a small hint of gasps from the crowd. "This award was presented to me, but it could have been given to any number of people. I am being given this award because I dueled Z-One in an attempt to save the City. I could not have won that duel without the help from my Team 5D's teammates. They are just as deserving of this award as me. Anyone could have taken my place. I just wanted to save my home, Neo Domino City. Who's to say that anyone here wouldn't have done the same in my place?" Yusei looks down at our row and meets my eye. There's a beat of silence. "Neo Domino City, if I may be honest, I did not save the City." Audible gasps sound around me. My eyes widen. Oh gods no, please don't do this to me. "I dueled Z-One. I may have won the duel, but I did not save the City. The Ark Cradle continued to fall. Z-One, as his last act in this world, gave up his life to stop it from falling. With that, he allowed us to take our future with our own hands. I was not the one who convinced Z-One to let us take control of our future." Aki puts her hand on my arm. I bit my lip, here we go. "Yuuka Sasaki." I put my hands on the side of my face to block everything else except the clutch bag on my lap. "She was the one who saved the City. She did what I could not. She saved the City, not with Duel Monsters, but with her courage and words. She is the one deserving of this award."
The room is dead silent. Nobody knows what to think. I feel the aura of every single person in this room, and they are confused to say the least. I look up at Yusei, who's looking back at me. His eyes tell me that he's sorry. Senator Takahashi's eyes go past me, looking right behind me. I look over my shoulder to see Mr. Higashiyama who's looking right at me. Senator Takahashi nods. He makes a move towards the podium. Yusei steps down, waiting just a few steps away from it.
"Thank you, Mr. Fudo, for your speech. My colleagues and I agree that your bravery in the face of such danger in your fight for all of our futures is still warranting of this award. But, we invite Ms. Sasaki to speak if she wishes."
Every pair of eyes in the room turn to me. I feel my face flush, I probably match my dress at this point. There's a silence as everyone waits for me to stand and approach the podium. I feel frozen in place. I look at Yusei, who is looking rather sickly. I take a deep breath. If Yusei thinks I am deserving of that award, then I have no choice. I suppose I did save the City, in a way. I place my clutch bag in Aki's lap. I take a deep breath, and rise to my feet.
"Welcome Ms. Yuuka Sasaki to the stage." The crowd erupts into a thunderous applause. The sudden height the stage gives is terrifying. My eyes meet Yusei's as I walk across the stage. He smiles at me. Admittedly, it relaxes me a little. Senator Takahashi gives me his hand as I step up at the podium. I look out onto the crowd. This is not my Neo Domino City. These are politicians and people rich or famous enough to be here, far from the working class that I know and love. I take a deep breath. I look at my friends in the front row. They are my Neo Domino City.
I try think of something, anything to say. This was thrown on me at a moment's notice, because Yusei just had to admit that he thinks I'm the one who saved the City. Even though, if you asked me, I'd say it was a team effort. Yusei softened Z-One up, I'm the one who just happened to say the right words.
"People of Neo Domino City, I hesitate to call myself the saviour of this City. I am only a normal girl from the Satellite. I grew up in this City, it's shaped me into the person who stands before you now. Everything I've experienced here has led me to where I am now, to say those words to Z-One when I stood on the Ark Cradle as it fell. I agree with Yusei. Anyone here in this room could have saved this City. I am not unique. I am ordinary, unimportant. I am undeserving of the attention which you give me now. Anyone from this City, who's been where I have been, who's felt what I have felt, could have said those same words. I love this City. If any of you listening, love this City like I do, you could have been here instead of me. All of you are just as deserving as me of that title. As for the uncertain future, you will, no doubt, look to us. We saved you once, so we can save you again. That thought will surely cross your minds. But I say this to you, do not ask us to save you, ask each other." I look towards the cameras in the back of the room, no doubt filming me. "I think we are all deserving of that title. Every single person has the chance to change fate. You must grasp it with your own hands. You can prevent another Z-One from rising again. Saving only one person could change everyone's future. If someone had saved Z-One in his doomed future, I would not be speaking in front of you now. The only way to prevent the terrible future Z-One spoke of is to change our future. It is shaped by the people who are here now, not just a team of duelists. If you believe there is a future, you must fight for it. I ask of you, people of Neo Domino, become your own saviour. Together, we can change the future." I look back at Yusei, who smiles at me. "When they call out Yusei's name, or my name, saying that we are the saviours of this City. Know that we are only thinking of you. We are not the only saviours, each and every one of you is able to be someone's saviour. That is enough. You only need to look at me to see that is true. Thank you."
I stand still at the podium and take a deep breath. I look out onto the crowd. The room is deathly silent. A lone figure stands up somewhere towards the middle of the room. Raiden. He slowly claps. Slowly, more people join in until it's almost deafening. I bow slightly before retreating off the podium.
"Thank you, Ms. Sasaki, for your words." Senator Takahashi says as he returns to the podium. "That marks the end of the ceremony. We cordially invite you into the reception for the afterparty." The audience claps again. Then, it dissipates as everyone begins to stand up.
"Thank the gods that's over." I mutter under my breath.
"Tell me about it." Yusei answers. "I'm sorry about that. I didn't think they'd pull you up."
"Don't worry about it." I shrug my shoulders. "I think I needed to get that off my chest."
"Great speech, by the way." Yusei turns to look at me. "I wasn't expecting that."
"Rude."
"You know what I mean." He rolls his eyes.
Senator Takahashi, still at the podium, glances over his shoulder and sees the two of us still on the stage. He walks down the steps of the podium and towards us. My back straightens on reflex.
"Now, if you'll follow me, you two will have interviews with the press."
"Press?" I echo, trying to hide my distaste.
"Yes, now come on child." He starts walking on without us. Yusei gives me his arm to help me down the steps of the main stage.
"Thank the gods that the press didn't ask me many questions." I whisper to Yusei as we return to the main reception area.
"That's because they never interviewed me after the WRGP." Yusei sighs. There were a lot of questions about the WRGP to be fair. I pat his arm that I'm currently holding onto.
"It's over now."
"I sure hope so." Yusei spots our friends, huddled near the table with plates of finger food piled high. He does a small wave and we start to walk over to them. I feel something graze my arm. I look back to see Mr. Higashiyama.
"Yuuka, may I speak with you for a moment?" I look back at Yusei and he nods.
"Of course, Senator Higashiyama." I throw on the title because I am surrounded by many politicians, I wouldn't want his reputation tarnished by implying I know him for reasons other than being a politician.
"Now, Yuuka." Mr. Higashiyama starts. We slowly walk through the crowd. People are starting to dance to the soft classical music playing in the background. "I'm sure you're wondering why I've asked to talk to you." I nod, he's right. "Well, I have a proposition for you."
"What would that be?"
"First, a dance?" He puts his arms out ready. "I feel it's only proper. Since you're best friends with my daughter and all that."
"Of course." I gingerly put my hand on his shoulder. There's enough distance between us that I'm certain that there's no ill intent in this dance. "Now, about that proposition?"
"Yes." He clears his throat, and begins to guide us in a circle. "Now, you know that the City has proclaimed Yusei as its saviour, despite his protests."
"I am aware." I was forced to talk in front of a crowd because of it.
"Yusei as King isn't as well liked as Jack Atlas was. Jack was a true King of the People, wasn't he?" I contain a sigh. I do not need to be reminded of King Jackass. He realises that I won't respond. "Yusei hasn't got that charisma that Jack had. In fact, he's somewhat infamous for rejecting interviews with the press."
"Yusei didn't ask to be King." I reply bluntly.
"Yes." Mr. Higashiyama says through gritted teeth. "Well, he doesn't quite rally the spirits of anyone that isn't a Satellite." That's classism and not Yusei's fault, that's what I'd say if I was in any other situation. "This City needs a saviour, a King to look up to. If we were to prevent that bad future Z-One spoke of, we need someone to rally the people. While Jack's approval rating has increased with the WRGP win, it still hasn't reached his old rating when he was King. Now, here is my proposition." I know what's coming and I freeze in my spot. Mr. Higashiyama manages to catch himself before he trips. "We should give Neo Domino City a queen."
"Me?" I manage to choke out.
"Yes, Yuuka." We start to move slowly again in our dance. "In return, we will give you that education plan that you proposed. Every Satellite will have an easy access to the education that they missed. The more intelligent ones will be able to apply for university through a simple assessment test, we'll fund everything. I'll even throw in a anti-discriminatory bill for you. The other Senators are in agreement, it could be done. What do you say?"
"What will I have to do?"
"Become the saviour you were intended to be." I don't look him in the eyes, instead focusing on a seam starting to fray at the top of my glove. "I saw you in that interview, you have potential. The masses could rally behind you. A guarantee that this City will work towards a future that won't end in ruin. A future I'm sure that you want. All you have to do is give us your image, a few interviews. That's all we ask, Yuuka. What do you say?"
Mr. Higashiyama pauses for a second and we stop dancing. I keep my focus on my glove. We start dancing again.
What do I do?
"Just one more thing, Yuuka." Mr. Higashiyama continues. "You would need to dedicate everything you had to this City. We can't have our saviour suddenly uprooting and going somewhere else? Or even commit a crime?" I see him staring at my marker, which is still present despite my makeup. "All we ask of you is a lifetime of service. Nothing else will do."
"What would you have me do?" Should I sell my soul? That's what I'd be doing.
"We'll pardon your crimes, though I suspect you were arrested on false charges. You can join the police force. We can keep an eye on you there. How does that sound? The saviour of the City working tirelessly to keep our citizens safe."
Security? Is he serious? I think of my argument with Crow. I would never get another job with my mark. I'll be doing something to stop the gang problem. I'll be trying to prevent that bad future from happening. I wouldn't just be standing there preaching, but I'd be practicing it too. It would put food on the table.
Not just that.
I would be protecting Yusei. If said no, they would blackmail him into it. I could get him into university now. No years of waiting and doing lots of exams just to get the chance to go. That anti-discriminatory bill would help not only me, but everyone. Yusei, Crow, Miguel, all those kids at Martha's. No. Every marked person, every single Satellite. I shiver at the thought of that many people. I would be selfish to say no. I would help so many people other than me.
How could I say no?
"One thing." I mutter.
"Yes?" Mr. Higashiyama smiles.
"Throw in an anti-discriminatory bill for psychics?"
"Psychics?" He raises an eyebrow at me.
"If you don't, I will refuse." My eyebrows furrow.
I may be throwing away any chance at freedom. But I am doing this for my people. I am helping hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of people. I am doing it for them. If this is what I have to sacrifice to ensure that their bad future does not come to pass, then so be it.
"Fine." Mr. Higashiyama says, after a pause. "Then will you accept?"
"I accept."
"Thank you, Yuuka." Mr. Higashiyama stops our dance. He bows to me, and I force myself to do a little courtesy.
"It's my pleasure, Senator Higashiyama."
"Now if you'll excuse me." Mr. Higashiyama retreats back into the crowd. I see a group of Senators on the other side of the room, Aki's dad among them.
"Can I interest you in a dance?" I turn around to see Raiden.
"Do you have a proposition? Cause I don't want any more of those."
"Unless you consider a simple dance one." He bows for me. He puts out his hand for me. I sigh, accepting it. He pulls me much closer than Mr. Higashiyama did, but that's to be expected. "Now about that proposition…"
"Don't ask."
"Fair enough." He clears his throat. "Have you thought about what I proposed the other day?"
"Raiden, I said no. I do not want to set up a school for psychics with you. I'm perfectly happy with Yusei, and besides, I think my future has been set out before me already."
"Oh? What would that be?"
"You'll see."
"Okay." He sighs. "I never get anywhere with you, do I?"
"Fine, let's just say... I've already made progress on making a better future for psychics."
"I better play catch up then." Raiden shakes his head. "I don't know what to say. I thought this would have ended differently. I thought maybe you would have agreed to stay with me, and not him. Out of all the people, you had to choose the guy that I was jealous of the most. He's lucky."
"Lucky?"
"He got you, didn't he?"
I take a deep breath in.
"Raiden, I-" I pause, not knowing what to say. "How about we don't talk about that? You lost your chance a long time ago. Nothing you can say could change my mind."
"Okay," I hear the sadness in his voice. "You'll be a great saviour."
"You heard that?"
"All of it." He stares at my face. "You're great at getting people to see your way of thinking. You've won this City over once, now you have to do it again."
"I don't think gangs and the upper class are the same." I chuckle.
"They're still people." Raiden shrugs as much as our position will let him. "Maybe you can make them not so prejudiced. We've spent our entire lives suffering because they can't see past our labels. You could change that, you realise?"
There's a moment of silence as we keep dancing. I spot Yusei off in the corner with our friends. This will be a rough one to explain. Cause I know he saw me too, dancing with two men who aren't him.
"I'm sorry for what happened, Yuuka. I was downright abusive to you, and I had no right. If there's anything I can do to make up for it-"
"There's nothing you can do, Raiden." I look up at him again, my neck straining slightly since he's a lot taller than I am. "You've done too much damage."
"Oh." We stop dancing. He lowers his arms and I do the same. "You should probably go back over to Yusei."
"Okay."
"You didn't tell me Raiden was here?" Crow points in the direction of where I just came from, his brow furrowed.
"Cause I'll go over there if you want me to." Jack adds.
"It was fine, I made sure he didn't do anything." Yusei walks over to my side. "What was that about?"
"Just talking. He still wants to do that."
"And Senator Higashiyama?"
"He was just being polite." I'm not going to tell Yusei about what happened, at least right now. He doesn't need to know. He'd insist that I go over there and say no.
"Okay." He drops the subject just as quickly as he brought it up. I think he's avoiding an argument.
"I'll tell you what he said later." I lean over and mutter. Yusei just nods, seeming a little happier.
I hear the clinking of a glass and I turn around. The crowd moves, and Senator Takahashi stands at the door on the way to the main hall.
"Everyone, I have an announcement to make." My hand practically dives for Yusei's. He squeezes my hand. "In addition to the Key to the City, we are going to celebrate both Mr. Fudo's and Ms. Sasaki's bravery and courage even further." I hear mumbles in the crowd. I feel Yusei turning to look at me, but I just focus on Senator Takahashi. "My fellow Senators and I would like to announce something here and now to honour our saviours."
"Yuuka, what's going on?" Yusei whispers, trying to get my attention.
"We are pleased to announce that the education system, proposed by Ms. Sasaki, shall be put into action. This system will allow any former Satellite resident to the right to free education. The government will give aid to any Satellite who wishes to start their education. It will allow a Satellite resident to begin their education at any stage, even third-level university, if they so wish."
The crowd applauds the idea. My friend have all turned to look at me.
"Keep listening." I say, putting my hand up to stop questions.
"Not only this, but the government will be drafting bills to stop any discrimination against former Satellite residents and psychic duelists inside our City. No former Satellite resident or psychic shall ever be discriminated against based on their former residence or ability to materialise Duel Monsters."
There's more applause. My friends just look more confused now. Mouths hanging open.
"Now, let us raise a glass to the woman who made this possible. To Ms. Yuuka Sasaki! Long may our saviour queen reign! To Ms. Yuuka Sasaki!" He holds a glass of champagne up for a toast. The crowd turn to look at me, glasses in the air.
"To Yuuka!" They drone at once. I put on a fake smile and bow slightly. The crowd claps again before returning to normal. I turn around to face my friends.
"I can explain." I say before they all jump in.
"Anti-discriminatory bill?" Crow looks at me, his eyebrows practically at his hairline.
"Yeah, Mr. Higashiyama said that the government is putting it in place as a way of saying thanks. We're both Satellites after all." I try not to emote too much in case it gives me away.
"Yuuka, this is huge." Aki's eyes are wide. "Do you know what this means? Between the access to education and the bill, you're changing the lives of everyone who came from the Satellite."
"Yeah, it's crazy, but yes." I hold back a sigh. "And Crow, I'm sorry about our argument the other day. I'll admit that you were right. I refuse to set aside my pride. You were perfectly right about your reasons for joining Security. You were doing it for your kids, and I understand now. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it, Yuuka-" Crow seems very confused by my words.
"That's why I've decided to apply for Security myself." Now, my friends' confusion levels have gone from ten to a hundred.
"You? Security?" Jack squints at me. "Why?"
"Well, I'd be doing something with my life. I can stop the gang problem in this City that way. I'm tired of being rejected for basic fast-food and retail jobs."
"You've got a point there…" Aki says, looking at Crow who's staring right back. They're onto me. I look over my shoulder to see Raiden staring at me from across the room. He has this look on his face. Who are you kidding? That's what it says.
"Excuse me for a second." I turn my back and retreat into the crowd.
"Finally got your attention." Raiden says as I reach him.
"Sorry, I actually have friends now." I glare at him a little. "You know, that one thing you were opposed to."
"Can we please stop talking about the past?" He sighs, running his hand through his hair. "You have a nice, bright future ahead of you."
"You're the one who keeps apologising for it." My eyes follow a member of the waiting staff who walks right by me with a tray full of champagne glasses. "Realise that I won't forgive you until you actually change yourself and do something good for the world."
"It's Yuuka, right?" A girl right beside me takes two glasses off the tray and walks over to me. She's wearing a very tight purple dress that shows off her beautiful shoulders. She's tossed her long dark brown hair over one shoulder. My heart, admittedly, skips a beat. Then, I realise who she is.
"Y-Yeah." I mutter. She hands me a glass of champagne. I hear Raiden tut as he turns his back to us.
"I thought so." She giggles very slightly. "You're doing great things for the City, y'know." She leans into me as she's talking. If I didn't know any better, I'd say she was flirting. Anako jokingly gave me tips on how to notice flirting after I said that I never noticed her flirting with me. "You're helping so many people, including myself." She moves her hair very slightly, revealing a small v-shaped marker on her neck. She's definitely who I think she is. "The name's Kyoko."
"That's my mother's name." I blurt out the first thing that comes into my head.
She blinks once.
Then twice.
Then downs her entire glass of champagne.
"I came out here to have a good time and flirt with a cute girl, and this is how I get treated." She places a hand on her cheek and looks at the ground, a little wide-eyed.
"You think I'm cute?" Kyoko looks at me like I'm crazy.
"Hey." I hear another voice behind me. Kyoko grimaces a little, so I turn around. A blond man, not much shorter than Raiden, is handing him a champagne glass while holding one for himself.
"I'm straight," is the first thing out of Raiden's mouth.
"A night with me will change that." The guy straight up winks at Raiden.
"Oh, I doubt it." The guy's face falters a little, but he still extends the champagne glass.
"I think you should accept his offer." Kyoko says, looking over my shoulder.
"Yeah, me too." I add. "You two seem very alike."
"Damn, you're right." I look back at Kyoko who nods at me.
"You know him?" I ask.
"Unfortunately." I look back to see that Raiden has walked away. "C'mon Jonathan, there are plenty more fish in the sea." Kyoko calls out to the rather offended guy, still holding two completely full champagne glasses. He comes over to us, and Kyoko takes one of the glasses.
"No thanks." I say, holding up my practically full glass that Kyoko just gave me, when Jonathan tries to offer me the other one. He shrugs his shoulders and downs more than half of the glass in one go.
"If you wanna hook up with a dude, we can go to Psycho." Kyoko suggests, drinking her second glass a little slower.
"I will honestly take anyone at this point."
"Oh I know." Kyoko sighs.
"So I'm assuming this-" he points at me with his glass, "didn't go well?"
"Yep, not happening."
"So, even though you called dibs, I'm free to try?"
"I guess so." Kyoko shrugs her shoulders.
"I have a boyfriend." I put that right out there. They turn to look at me slowly.
"Never even considered that." Jonathan puts a hand to his face.
"The cutest girls always have boyfriends." Kyoko shakes her head.
"If it makes you feel better, I am bi."
"That was obvious." They say in unison.
"Thank you." I say, accepting the compliment.
"Are we going to Psycho?" Jonathan turns to Kyoko, who nods.
"Yeah, let's go." Kyoko finishes the last of her champagne glass, slyly putting it on a tray as it whisks by. "It was nice meeting you, Yuuka. Even though it could have gone better."
"You too." I nod at both of them, then they retreat away.
I was wondering why Kyoko hadn't appeared in my life yet. I see her very clearly in the other Yuuka's memories. She's exactly the same as she was then. Right down to way her face crinkles when she smiles. It's amazing how vivid she was in her memories, yet I've only see her for an instant. I suppose that we really are different people, the other Yuuka and I. I mean, Kyoko was her first real relationship, while I had to wait for Yusei, or maybe Raiden if you care to look at it that way. It makes me feel empowered in a way. I feel like I don't have to spend the rest of my life in the other Yuuka's shadow. I am not her, and I never will be.
"Do you want me to take that for you?" A member of the waiting staff holds his hand out for my now-empty glass of champagne. My eyes meet his, then instantly go to the marker hiding behind his dark green bangs. "Wait, you're-" His eyes widen a little. He notices me looking at his marker. His entire posture relaxes. "Yuuka?"
"That's me." I mutter back in reply.
"Thank you for what you did." He runs his hand through his hair, revealing his marker without thinking. His hand jumps back down when he realises it. "I recognise you from the Satellite. You've done a great thing. I can finally go to college and become a nurse, it's what I've dreamed of since I was a little kid. It means a lot that you've done this."
"Thank you, but I-"
"Don't say you're not our saviour. That's a lie. You stand for what every Satellite believes in. A better future. If you lead us, we can prevent the future that hunk of metal talked about."
"I-" I start, but I don't finish. I see the earnest look in his eyes, so I don't dare ruin it. If my presence is enough to encourage him to follow his dreams and make a better future, so be it. "Thank you." I look over to Yusei to see Raiden with him. I freeze as I see both of their eyes on me. I start to move towards them, but the guy in front of me.
"Hey Alexis!" He does a short whistle and another member of the waiting staff comes over. Her eyes land on me and they grow wide.
"Yuuka Sasaki!" She dips into a bow really suddenly, nearly spilling everything on the tray she's carrying.
"You don't need to bow, it's fine." She rises slowly, her eyes still wide. One of her hands burst forward, grabbing mine.
"Thank you for everything you've done. You're truly our saviour, no matter what you think. You've changed our lives forever. Adrian and I can go to school now, we don't have to work three jobs that don't even pay minimum wage to afford rent. I may not have a marker like Adrian does, but this affects me just as much as he does. We can't thank you enough, Yuuka."
"Please don't thank me." I say. "I did this for my people. I'm joining Security to protect you all."
"Really?" Adrian's eyes are wide. "We really don't deserve you."
"Don't be silly, of course you do." I answer.
"We need to get back to work," Adrian's eyes soften before he looks around. He takes my empty glass. I shake my head when he offers me a new one.
"I suppose." Alexis's eyes narrow slightly. She hands Adrian her tray and fiddles with the back of her shirt. She takes off a small gold chain and hands it to me. "Take this, as thanks from the both of us."
"No, I couldn't possibly take this." I stare at the small golden cross on the necklace.
"Please, I insist. It may only be small, but I want you to have it." She takes my hand and places it in my palm and closes my fingers over it. It's a cheap chain, parts of the brown metal underneath the gold paint are starting to show through. I look at her face. Big, light blue eyes fixated on my face. She won't let me say no.
"Thank you for this." I put on my best smile for her. She nods, while Adrian all but drags her away as they return to work. I stare at them as they begin to work their way around the room.
"They love you." I don't have to even turn around to know it's Raiden. His aura is so distinctive that I would have no problems picking it out even in a crowd of psychics. Admittedly, it's harder to keep track of his aura now that I can feel everyone's.
"Who?" I respond, turning around to look at him.
"Your people."
"I don't deserve it." I answer. Raiden offers me his hand again. I take it and sigh, as we start dancing again. "They claim I saved them, yet I only did what I did for Yusei. I was being selfish, yet I'm supposed to be their saviour now."
"That doesn't matter, be who they want you to be now." His hand squeezes mine a little.
"I wish things were different." He says. "Nothing's ever going to happen between us again, I know that now."
"You're right." I say nothing more.
"Maybe in another life, where I wasn't so corrupt and power hungry, we could have been more." I see Yusei from the corner of my eye, knowing he exists makes that scenario seem more and more unlikely. I can't see why I would choose anyone over him. "I shouldn't dwell on such things. It doesn't change here and now. I just gotta keep moving forward." He's looking at my face, but I just stare at his shoulder. "Even if it means leaving you."
"So what happens now?" I mutter. "What are you going to do?"
"Don't ask." He stops dead in his tracks. Our dance ending again. He takes his hands off me.
"Goodbye Yuuka."
"What happens now?" I repeat again. People dance and move around us, seemingly unaware of us. I get the sensation of being lost in the crowd.
"I can't stay in this City anymore." Raiden looks me right in the eyes. "Everything reminds me of who I was. It's too much for me to bear. I love you, but I can never have you. There's nothing left for me here anymore. Goodbye Yuuka."
Raiden looks over my shoulder. I turn back and see Yusei moving through the crowd. I look back and he's gone. I try and sense his aura, but it's gone. Completely vanished. I close my eyes. I feel Yusei's fingertips graze my hand so I turn around to face him.
"Yuuka." He says, delicately. His eyes scan my face. "He's gone, isn't he?"
"Yeah," I nod. "But I don't care. I don't need him in my life. I've moved on."
"You have." Yusei smiles at me. I take one of his hands and put it on my waist, and intertwine our other hands. "Wait, you want us to-"
"Dance? Yes." I start guiding us. "Come on, it's easy."
"Could be worse." Yusei says as we keep moving. "I suppose I'll have to get used to it."
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"We'll have to dance at our wedding." I choke a little on my own spit, but nod regardless. My face is probably as red as my dress right about now.
"Our wedding?" I echo. "You've thought about it?"
"Yeah." He tries to keep eye contact with me, but my eyes keep darting away. "It sounds nice. Have you?"
"For a lot longer than I'm willing to admit."
"I love you." Yusei shakes his head with a smile on his face. "You know that?"
"I do, and I love you too." I nod. Yusei smiles just a bit wider. He asks if I know that he loves me at least twice a day. It's hard sometimes. But, I'm gaining some of that trust back. He tells me that he loves me more now than ever. He's reminding me, he says. I know that he loves me, deep down. I just have trust issues.
"You're not facing this alone." Yusei gently rubs my waist as we dance. "This whole saviour thing, going for Security, your trust issues, the other Yuuka's memories. I'll be with you every step of the way."
"Thank you." My head dips a little. Yusei pulls me closer as we dance, my head resting on his shoulder. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
A/N: Kyoko and Jonathan belong to ActualNerdlord (my gf), who's own 5D's OC story will be appearing here in the future!