A/N: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF YU GI OH 5DS OR THE VANISHING OF ETHAN CARTER! ALL RIGHTS GO TO KONAMI AND THE ASTRONAUTS!

Chapter 1: Vanished

It was a year since Yusei and the others had beaten Yliaster and Z-One. The world was safe and everything was back to normal. At the moment, it was midnight. Yusei laid awake in his bed, making his decision.

'I need to let go soon. But I… What am I supposed to do about my friends? If I let go now, I'll just vanish again and they won't ever be able to find me, except for my eleven year old body if they're lucky. So how can I help them and still find a way to finally let go?' Yusei thought. He got up and brought out an old and fairly tarnished, but still intact notebook. He opened its pages to the story he had written so long ago. 'I know how… Time to use my powers. One last time. To be able to say one last goodbye to my friends in the end.' He took a deep breath and focused before he completely disappeared from the room with his book in hand.

. . .

1 Year Later…

It had been a full year since Yusei disappeared without a trace. No sign as to where he had disappeared to, not even a sign that he had disappeared. He had just vanished. Jack, Crow, Akiza, and the twins, Leo and Luna, were beyond worried.

Trudge and Mina had done all they could to try to find him, even used his marker signal. But even his marker didn't seem to exist anymore. Eventually, the chief of the Sector Security force cancelled the search and called it a cold case. After all, there was no evidence to even to start to find Yusei.

Akiza and the others were torn at the heart. They felt like he was still out there somewhere, yet… it felt like he wasn't as well. They couldn't tell whether they believed he was still out there or not after a long year of nothing.

The five were now sitting in the garage, brooding over the events that had happened. After all, it was the year anniversary since Yusei's disappearance. It was dead silent. Not a sound was made. There wasn't even the sound of breathing as they sat in the living room.

Yet, a knock on the door interrupted the silence. They turned as a relatively old man, maybe in his mid to late fifties walked in. He wore black jeans, a white shirt, and a black trench coat. His hair was combed back and wrinkles of age and experience covered his face.

"Who are you?" Jack asked.

"My name is Paul Prospero, investigative detective. I have heard of the strange disappearance of Yusei Fudo," he introduced.

"It was marked a cold case," Leo commented. "Why are you coming now of the entire time?"

"My boy, it takes a good deal of time to prepare what is needed to figure out what truly went down between him and his family," Paul replied.

"His family?" Akiza repeated.

"I thought his family died in Zero Reverse," Luna commented.

"Right before Zero Reverse, Yusei was taken in by a family friend of his parents since his father wanted him away from the looming danger," Paul began. "So he was taken. But, when he was about eleven, I began receiving letters from him. Asking for advice on a situation with his family. It wasn't until he vanished very shortly after that, that I took a true care into what happened. However, I soon found out he was in Satellite. So I left it alone. Now, he's disappeared again."

"So what do you think happened?" Crow asked.

"He went back to the place he had once known. Try to figure out what exactly happened back then," Paul replied. "But I cannot be certain. The only way to tell is to go back to where it all began. To Red Creek Valley."

"So why come to us?" Jack asked.

"Firstly, so you can know I am working on this case. Secondly, to see if you would like to help me figure this out," Paul replied shocking them with the last bit. "I would assume Yusei would want his friends helping me with this."

"If you really think there's a chance at finding him, we'll definitely go with you," Akiza stated and the others nodded.

"Good," Paul responded. "Follow me, we'll head to the closest place near Red Creek."

They nodded and followed him to the airport where a private jet was waiting for them. "You have a private jet?" Leo stated excited as they boarded.

"I'm a real skilled detective, kid," Paul replied. "People tend to pay good money for me to help. But don't worry, this is a personal matter of mine as well. I won't charge you." He gestured to the plane seats. "Now take a seat so we can take off."

"Right," they agreed and each sat down and buckled up.

Once the plane was level in the air, the pilot called, "We will be arriving at Evensgreen City in two hours. Evensgreen is about a ten minute drive from Red Creek Valley."

"Thanks, Don," Paul responded.

"So, what exactly did he write you?" Jack asked.

"Well, Yusei's letter started out as an ordinary fan mail. But there was quickly mentions of things no little boy should know about," Paul began. "There are places that exist that very few people can see. Yusei could draw a map."

"Can you see these places?" Luna answered.

"I have abilities on my own which help in my cases," Paul responded. "By taking key items in an area, I can piece together and sense a scenario and wander around that world until I find the right place needed to gather information. For instance, one thing we may need to find key items of is traps near the tunnel entrance to the forest just outside Red Creek. I've heard they were very important to Yusei and his adoptive family. Putting them together might end up as a clue to what happened."

"But do you really think you can find him?" Luna asked.

"I do," Paul answered. "It won't be as easy as knocking on his door. Both times, I was too late for that. There is a darkness around Red Creek Valley. A darkness that is hiding something important. To find Yusei, we'll have to figure out what Red Creek Valley is trying to hide from us."

"Do you think we'll be able to see what you see when you piece together all these evidence?" Leo asked.

"With the special connection you have to him, the Marks of the Dragon, I'm sure you will be able to. Or else, I wouldn't have had a true way for you to help," Paul answered.

"Alright," Crow agreed.

"If you really think we can help, we'll do our best," Akiza stated.

"So do you know what exactly Yusei was mentioning in the letters?" Luna asked.

"No," Paul answered. "However, he warned me about it. And he warned me it all was linked to his adoptive family and him. To find out what happened to Yusei, we'll have to figure out what he meant by the warnings in those letters."

"So, what exactly were these stories that he wrote?" Jack asked.

"Each story was different, but linked to each of the places only a few people can see," Paul explained. "As they are linked to the stories, they'll be an important clue as to what happened back then and now."

"Do you think Yusei's still alive?" Leo asked.

"Kid, there have been cases like this one where I can't tell you for certain. We'll find out in the end," Paul replied. "However, I will tell you this. According to Yusei long ago, his abilities to see and go to the places were all linked to the stories he had wrote. He said he had the ability to make his stories a reality if he so wished."

"I didn't know he had that kind of power," Akiza mentioned.

"So, what're you trying to say?" Crow asked.

"I'm trying to say that maybe it is possible that with what happened back then so long ago, Yusei's powers with telling stories are becoming something more than stories," Paul explained. "However, I am not saying this for a certain fact. There is no telling what truly happened when he left until we know the depth of his powers and what happened when he was a young boy. But remember, we each have a story we play in. Our own stories that are connected with those we meet. So this may just be another story, an adventure, with Yusei that you will experience."

"I guess you're right," Luna agreed. "As long as he is still alive, I'm sure we can be alright either way."

"I agree, Luna. But I will warn you, these events that happened with Yusei's adoptive family may not be friendly and kind. In fact, by Yusei's warnings, I would say these events will be something many may not wish to see," Paul told them. "So be prepared."

"Mr. Prospero, we are landing in Evensgreen. A car will be there to take you and the others as close to Red Creek Valley as possible," called the pilot.

"Thank you, Don," Paul responded. They came to a stop on the track and boarded off. After that, they drove to a railroad tunnel where the cars couldn't fit. He turned to the driver. "You may head back. This'll take time. I'll contact you once I'm done to meet us back here." The driver nodded and took off.

The investigating group slowly walked through the tunnel and when they came out, they found themselves in a lush forest.