Episode 10: Destiny (Alternate Title: "The Road from the Past is Blood Red")

My runner, Black Chariot, idled beneath me as I waited for the starting signal. Just to my left was my friend Crow, who I had to defeat to get to the finals. Black Chariot was looking forward to the challenge. Even if I was simply believing in a fantasy, it was almost like my runner really was a savage beast barely tamed. It's idling would often sound strange, and (it being engine trouble or not) the sound right then was purring. Not like a cat being petted. Right then it was more like the purr-like sound you hear on TV when a tiger is about to attack. I could almost picture it drooling at the prospect of a duel.

Apparently I wasn't the only one that thought so, as Crow laughed a bit nervously, "I still say that thing wants to bite me."

I smiled wryly, revving the engine a little, "I wonder what you taste like?"

"Hahaha, that not funny, man. Just make sure that thing doesn't eat me okay?" He joked.

The signal man raised the flag, so we nailed our view forwards as he counted down, "On your mark..."

Crow smiled, "Good luck, buddy."

"You too."

"...get set..." the flag dropped, "GOOOO!"

The two of us shot off the starting line in complete unison, with the two of us neck and neck as we literally approached the first turn. Which was bad for me, as Crow had been on the side the turn was on, and his start had been slightly further back to make up for that advantage. If we were even already it meant his acceleration, if not his top speed as well, were better than mine. That theory was quickly proven when he took the first turn almost half a bike length ahead. I would quickly note my own advantage however when I made up the distance in the turn itself, leaving us even again.

I also noted when we both reached our top speeds on the straight away, we were even. So at least that possibility came up in my favor. If I could beat his greater experience with my better handling, perhaps I could pass him.

Koyou: 4000, Crow 4000

Crow drew, "My turn! I set this monster, then play one card face down. Give me everything you've got, Koyou!"

I started my turn with a draw, "I fully intend to surpass your expectations, but for now I'll answer you move with a set monster of my own and two face downs. Come on!"

"Oh I'm coming alright! I flip summon Blackwing – Mistral the Silver Shield! Now, since I control a face up Blackwing monster I can special summon Blackwing – Bora the Spear! I'll tune my level 2 Mistrel the Silver Shield with my level 4 Bora the Spear!" the two monster floated into the air as the synchro summon began, ""Pitch-dark power, lodge in its great wings and stir up the divine winds! Synchro Summon! Gust fiercely, Blackwing – Armed Wing!" a dark-winged man brandishing a bladed assault rifle appeared in place of its synchro material, "Armed Wing attacks your set monster and his effect activates! Whenever he attack an opposing monster, Armed Wing gains 500 attack!"

As Armed Wing charges it went from 2300 to 2800 attack and my set monster was revealed. It was the tiny Gemini Soldier with only 300 defense. I had a plan though, "Quick-play spell card: Unleash Your Power! Gemini Soldier is granted his effect, which keeps him from being destroyed in battle one time per turn!"

Crow smiled, "Nice, too bad Armed Wing also pierces defense, you take 2500 damage from my attack either way."

"Huh? Ack!" I hadn't seen that one coming!

Koyou: 1500 vs Crow: 4000

"Amazing!" I admitted as Crow left me in the dust, "I'm already nearly beaten."

Crow smiled wide, "I aim to impress."

"Too bad I can capitalize! I activate Gemini Soldier's second effect! To that I chain my face down! Damage Condenser! By discarding a card from my hand I special summon a monster with attack equal to or less than the damage I just took! I bring out Gemini Scorpion! His effect triggers bringing Evocator Chevalier from my hand to the field! Gemini Soldier's effect brings a level 4 or lower gemini from my deck to the field. I choose Dark Valkyria!"

Crow went wide-eyed, "Did you just summon three times on my turn?"

"Yeah."

He laughed, "This duel is already awesome. I end my turn with a face down!"

"And you'll regret it! On your end phase Gemini Soldier is flipped to set position by the side effect of Unleash you Power! Now it's my turn" I drew, "I spend my normal summon to activate the effect of Dark Valkyria."

"This again!" Crow cursed his luck.

"Yes, her effect destroys Armed Wing!" the dark angel formed a javelin of shadow and hurled it, destroying the bigger monster without breaking a sweat, "Scorpion! Evocator! Valkyria! Direct attack!"

"I intercept with Icarus Attack, tributing Armed Wing to destroy two of your cards: Dark Valkyria and Evocator Chevalier!" The Armed Wing flew forward and kamikazed my two monsters.

"Gah!" I flinched as the two biggest monsters on my field shattered, but at least his field was wide open, "I attack directly with my surviving Gemini Scorpion!"

Crow stomached the virtual pain of the attack, still maintaining his wide lead.

Koyou: 1500 vs Crow: 2400

"One card face down ends my turn!"

"My draw then!" he added a card to his hand as we rounded a bend, then summoned a familiar small bird man, "I summon: Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind! He only has 1300 attack but once per turn I can halve the attack of one of your face up monsters. Gemini Scorpion's attack plummets to 800, and I attack him with Gale!"

"Ack!"

Koyou: 700 vs Crow: 2400.

"Turn end!"

I grimaced, fading back even more. I was losing... badly. I was throwing everything I had at him and I was still losing. If not for that infernal Icarus attack I'd be pretty even, but I shook that loser kind of thought from my head swiftly and thought hard. I eyed my hand, and the field. If I could just draw that right card. Anything with more attack than Gale would do, and most of my deck had more attack. I had a Supervise to use with Gemini Soldier, and call a bigger monster to attack again, I just need to draw the right monster to clear the way for him. He was wide open if I could just draw the right monster!

I placed a hand on my deck and prayed, Come on! Just this one draw! This one draw is all that stands between me and losing everything!Come on deck! I'll put everything I have into this turn, so please do me the same favor! Come on! Come on! My body felt strangely tingly, as it had in a previous duel when I really needed the right draw. It was only a slight sensation, but it was so familiar. As if something I'd forgotten along with my past. I could feel the next card in my soul, "My draw!" I looked at it and smiled, it was even better than just good enough, "I release my set Gemini Soldier to summon Knight of the Red Lotus!" the set card was replaced with a tall red-haired man with dark armor, fiendish eyes, and a huge sword made of many scythe-like blades, that sword slashed the ground, releasing magma from which Evocator Chevalier erupted, "His effect brings a level four or lower normal monster from the grave, and geminis count as normal monsters in the grave. This is over! I activated Supervise from my hand, giving Chevalier his effect. With that effect I send Supervise to the grave to destroy your set card."

Crow weaved a little, as his set Sakurestu Armor shattered, "What the? Crap!"

I was struck by the irony. If I hadn't drawn Knight of the Red Lotus and comboed, that trap would have ended my advance and left me wide open, "Supervise activates in the grave, reviving Dark Valkyria. Evocator takes out Gale, followed by a direct attack from Knight of the Red Lotus! Crimson Red Gash!"

The giant wicked sword came down on my friend, sending his life points the rest of the way down to zero, "GAAHHHH!"

Koyou: 700 vs Crow: 0

Crow's runner stalled as they usually did with defeat and a slowed to a stop beside him, "Good duel, it really came down to that draw. Without that, I was pretty much done."

"I don't like 'what if's. I got careless, you won. Simple as that." He smiled at me, grabbing my hand and shaking it, "Good luck in the city, man. I hope you find your family, and win while your at it why don't ya?"

"Ha-ha-ha! Of course I will! Who do you think can compare to Crow 'The Bullet' Hogan?"

"Nobody that's who." he laughed, "You better get to the finish and report the win. I'll meet you back at Masha's for the celebration."

"Yeah. Thanks."

"For what?"

I shrugged, "I don't know. Everything I guess? You've helped me a lot."

Still smiling, Crow shook his head, "That's just how we roll in Satellite. It's no big deal."

I smiled, "I guess not, but still."

He nodded and I rode away towards the finish and the celebrating cries of my friends. I fully intended to live it up with them for as long as I could before the time came for me to leave. After all, there was no telling when I would see them again. I had to enjoy the one afternoon I had left with them, even if it was only filled with snacks, drinks and idle chat. It was a farewell party that I will (hopefully) never forget.

"Here's to the champ!" Crow said with a grin, lifting his glass, "Hopefully he won't lose and get sent right back."

Rally giggled, "Yeah that would be really embarrassing for you wouldn't it Crow?"

"Hey." Crow glared.

The rest of us laughed at the two of them and the group toasted to my bright future. It was nice. It was completely mundane and that's why it was great. Believe me, when you're an amnesiac whose only route to recovering his past is to win a card game tournament using the possibly possessed duel runner of a headless ghost; mundane is a nice change of pace. The next day I'd be loading the aforementioned possessed runner onto a boat and heading into the unknown. Enjoying the known a bit before that isn't inexcusable right?

The next day at noon, I stepped off the ferry – which was actually just the regular transport for recycled materials – and into the docks of a place I'd been told was the 'Damon Area' a middle ground between the city and Satellite. I had been surprised when Only Crow and Masha had made it in time to see me off, but I was even more surprised when Yusei was there waiting for me, along with another person I didn't recognize.

He smiled, "When I heard about the tournament and that the winner was arriving today I Knew it'd be you."

Yusei's friend, a tall lanky man with gray hair and a green vest grinned and looked me over, "So this is that friend of yours you talked about?"

I walked over and offered a handshake, "Koyou. Nice to meet you."

He took the offered hand and shook it, "Call me Blister. I helped Yusei get his runner back after it was confiscated. He's also staying at my place while we deal with the Securities problem."

I noticed the marker on Yusei's face where one had not been before, "Did I miss something?"

"A lot actually." Yusei frowned.

We walked together as Blister excused himself to take care of some business. My friend told me of his rematch with Jack and the Crimson Dragon that appeared, about some prophecy about a group of chosen ones called Signers who served the Dragon, and of why our friends weren't there to see me off. I kicked myself mentally for thinking they were just late. I was still beating myself up over it when we got to the area where they were unloading my runner.

"I'm sorry, Yusei. If I'd known they were kidnapped by Securities I'd have stayed and rescued them."

Of course he didn't blame me, "It's fine. I'm just glad they didn't get everyone I knew."

"Well, I'm in the tournament for a ticket to the Fortune Cup, so maybe they do have me. This whole thing suddenly seems very convenient." I pondered the matter, but with so little to go on I was drawing a blank, "Whatever happens, I'll have your back. You can count on me being there in the tournament with you."

Yusei smiled, "Thanks. I don't want you in harm's way, but I appreciate the support." It was then that Black Chariot was fully unloaded and he saw it for the first time, "This yours?" His face light up like Christmas.

"Yeah, long story. Nothing as exciting as ancient prophecies and Signers and such." I patted the beast, "She's called Black Chariot. Runs like a wild animal."

Yusei turned to me, "The final match tomorrow is using Speed World. Are you ready for that?"

I shook my head, "I've never dueled under those rules before. I don't even have any speed spells that are all that useful. My card options were really limited back there ya know."

"There's a shop here in the Damon Area that sells packs of Speed Spells. Got enough DP?"

I looked at my stock, it was sizable from the sale of my last runner, but only 9 packs worth. After all, my last runner hadn't been worth much, "I could probably stand to earn some more."

Yusei nodded, "I hear there's a duel field around here somewhere. We can both probably earn some funds there."

The place in question wasn't far, and was packed with folks watching the spectacles going on. Pretty much everyone there had a marker. "Well it's cleaner than the Satellite I guess."

A voice I didn't know answered my comment and I turned to see a big man with the stupidest looking hair I'd ever seen approaching. Looking at Yusei that was saying something, "Yeah. People here can't go to the city because of their marks, and they can't go back to the Satellite. They just make due, passing the time however they can." The large man looked me over, "You know, Yusei? This guy seems to have no shortage of them."

Yusei gestured at me, "This is Koyou. Koyou, this is Bolt Tanner. The one behind him is Yanagi. I met them in the Facility before I got out."

"Nice ta meet ya." Tanner smiled, "Actually we owe Yusei hear our freedom."

I nodded and smiled. Yusei certainly didn't have any trouble making friends. In fact, another came up moments later, a small blue-haired boy that seemed really happy to see Yusei. He was with a smaller kid in glasses. "Yusei! Tenpei, this is the guy who fixed my disk."

Yusei was shocked, "Leo, this is no place for kids. Where's Luna?"

"Watching the house!" he declared, "And it's fine Yusei. We came to see the Witch!"

"Witch?"

Tanner spoke up, "Local legend. Some broad that plagues duels and supposedly can make her cards real, even beyond the virtual solid system."

Yusei filed that information for later and motoned to Leo, "Guys this is Leo, a kid that gave me shelter when I needed it."

The smaller kid was clearly afraid, pointing out Yusei's marker to Leo in a quiet voice. Leo laughed it off, "But he's a nice guy, honest! He's even an incredibly powerful duelist. You should try him out to prepare for the witch!"

"Don't tell me you guys are here to challenge somebody like that?" I said, concerned, "You could get really badly hurt you know."

Leo pounded his chest, "Aw, its nothing! I"m gonna be in the Fortune Cup you know!"

I raised an eyebrow in surprise, Yusei whispered to me, "He's using his sister's invitation."

"Ah."

It was then that there was a loud crash and the large crowd that was watching the duels started fleeing in all directions. From a growing dust cloud. Vines starting ripping up the ground and plowing into buildings and cries of "THE WITCH!" were nearly drowned out by the roar of a dragon in the very center of the chaos. Suddenly, my head felt strange, but I was quickly distracted when Yusei buckled over, grabbing his arm.

Leo freaked out, "Yusei what's wrong?"

Yusei showed his arm and the strange glowing mark on it. The old man Yanagi finally spoke, awe all over his face, "It's really true! The Dragon Birthmark!"

Leo went wide-eyed, "Dragon... Birthmark?"

Yusei looked toward the rampaging dragon with a determined glint in his eye and charged it. Whatever it was, that thing was probably causing that mark to flare up. I was too busy thinking that to wonder about that strange feeling of familiarity pulsing in my brain. I chased after him, followed soon after by the others.

In the very center was a masked woman in red robes. Her hair a dark rose-like red. Even though I couldn't see her face, there was something so familiar about that color. I felt strange all over. My enter body was tingling and my head was pulsing with agony. My arm burned red hot like it was on fire.

When the dust cleared, the Witch loomed there. Leo and Tenpei fell backwards over themselves in fear of her display of power, but something demanded I look at her. Something was so familiar about her. Her gaze suddenly drifted to me and she froze.

Her voice was filled with terror... and tears, "I-it can't be! It's a lie! It's not really you!"

I stepped forward, still in pain, "You, do you know me? Who am I? Tell me who I am!"

She stepped back, "It can't be! You're dead! I-I killed you!" she forced her eyes away from my face and saw something that seemed to scare her ever more. I followed her gaze to Yusei's dragon mark. Then her eyes wandered back to me, actually to my arm. "Both of you! You've got that wretched mark as well?"

Whipping a card to her disk she summoned a gale of light and terrible wind. I was blown to my back, clutching my aching arm and trying to think through the pain in my head. Before I blacked out, I was sure I saw a weird, glowing mark there on my arm, different but similar to Yusei's in theme. Before I could even wonder why it was appearing, I was unconscious.

Next Chapter: Road to the Truth! A Destined Showdown!

Set-in-stone events: Koyou vs Mei! Koyou's past revealed! Major spoilers for the GX fic that predates this and cameos by some of the characters from it! Slightly less rushed pacing! Huzzah!

Seriously, it was hard to transition to the city, I couldn't think of much for Koyou and the Satellite crew to talk about really.