"You tread a dangerous path, 41." The hair on Zuka's head whipped around in the breeze far above the city. He looked down as he addressed the approaching shadow. His Red-Eyes mount came to a quick stop, and he gave Zuka a puzzled glared. "Oh come, now. You know exactly what I'm talking about. That young duelist…Oh, what was her name…" He lightly tapped his head and snapped his fingers. "Luca. That girl called Luca." 41 shrugged. "You may not show it outright, but it's clear to me. You're treating that girl differently than everybody else. You decided to spend a bit of time socializing with her, and you actually spoke to her…More whispered, actually, but spoke nonetheless. You've never done that with anyone. Not even me, whom you've known for millennia." The breeze removed 41's hood, revealing his white hair and dark complexion. " What makes…you think you…know what…I…feel?"

"41, I've known you since ancient times. I can tell what you're thinking most of the time by your facial expressions, let alone your body language. I saw how you reacted when she wrapped her arms around you. Normally, you would quite literally throw them off of you; but not her. You let her hug you when you won't even let the people back home so much as shake your hand. You treat her differently than everybody else, 41. I know you feel something for the girl; even if you don't know, yourself." 41 hurled himself from his dragon to Zuka's and decked him, knocking him flat on his ass on his Blue-Eyes' back. "Don't you dare tell me what I feel, Zuka. All my life I've been treated as an animal! Even you, my so-called 'partner' hold me in contempt, don't you! At least she treats me like I'm a human. She isn't afraid of me!" Zuka could only stare at him. Not only had his partner lashed out at him, but he had spoken a complete and coherent sentence in a voice louder than a whisper. Blood flowed from Zuka's nose in a steady stream. It was no surprise, since it was most likely broken. "You tread a dangerous path, 41. You feel ashamed at falling for a girl that's no more than a child, and you get angry when someone realizes it and points it out when you just want to try to forget and move past it." He chuckled. "I can read you like a book, 41." 41's Red-Eyes growled, perhaps feeling its partner's aggression and anger. The Blue-Eyes roared in response, defending its own. 41 picked Zuka up by the collar of his robes. "You know nothing about me. I am not ashamed of anything! Maybe you forgot; but I'm still a child, myself!" 41's temper was why Zuka feared his partner, but he acknowledged his own folly in pressing at his partner like he was. "Keep pushing the matter, Zuka. See what happens; because as of right now, we're through. I'm done with you." The white-robed man broke the grip and landed squarely on his feet. "Fine. I don't really care. You wanna go? Then go. Get off of my…" 41 had already vanished, his dragon with him. Zuka sighed again. "That damned fool…" He cursed the man, but he knew that 41 was right. They'd been together so long and been in so many sticky situations that he'd forgotten that the man was a perpetual teen. "Maybe…I should go apologize." Still. Even if it wasn't as big of a problem morally, they still have a job to do. He didn't have time for such games. Considering the gravity of the situation, did he really have to pick now to discover girls? Everything was going just fine until they came here, then it all became unbearably frustrating. Which of these situations should he address first? "Gah…Damn it all!"

While Zuka remained miles above the city, pondering what he was supposed to do, 41 made his way to the ruins that lay just outside of the city. They seemed like a likely place for the target to hide. His Red-Eyes Wyvern kicked up a large cloud of dust as it slowed down and landed. As he stepped from its back onto the ground, it dissolved away into the vanishing daylight. This place is a dump… It reminded him of ancient Egypt after that final battle with the demon Zorc Necrophades. There weren't many buildings still standing, and those that were were in horrible condition. He took a few steps deeper into the Satellite and looked around. Hmm…Doesn't look like there are any citizens. He'd best be sure to make some kind of marker. Places such as these were easy to get lost in.

He heard hurried footsteps behind him, as if someone were running, followed by a voice. "What do you want? You back for round two?" 41 turned around. There was a young man there, not much shorter, that had black hair with golden streaks done in a weird style and wearing a blood-soaked bandage on his left hand. Something about him seemed familiar. Suspiciously, he looked around; as if something were missing. "Where's Luca-chan? What did you do with her?" 41 opened his mouth to respond, but everything went black.

"Yusei, you son of a bitch! I haven't seen you in thispart of town for some time!" Yusei turned to greet his old friend, Crow. It was true. He hadn't been to the Satellite in months, but he figured that it was the best place to start looking for that psychic guy those Egyptian bounty hunters were after. There were several places to hide, after all; but nobody knew their way around Satellite like Yusei. "So it has; but I don't have time for small talk, Crow. Have you seen anything suspicious around here recently?" Crow pointed over Yusei's head. "Aside from that? No." Yusei turned to see what Crow was pointing at and had barely enough time to hit the dirt before an all-too familiar dragon nearly took his head off before pulling to a quick stop and landing heavily in a cloud of dirt and dust. The man with black robes hopped off and looked around. Wincing as he picked himself from the ground, Yusei ran over to him. "What do you want? You back for round two?" He looked around and noticed the absence of someone who should be there. " Where's Luca-chan? What did you do with her?" Yusei saw what was coming next but was unable to stop Crow from sneaking up behind him and hitting the man over the back of the head with a decent-sized rock. The man slumped to the ground before he could reply. "Damn it, Crow! I was trying to talk to the guy!" Crow tossed the rock over his shoulder. "And I was saving you a whole lot of trouble. Now let's finish him off." Yusei dropped his face into his open hand. "No, Crow. We're not killing him. Not without getting something out of him first. I'll take him back to Luca's…I hope she's safe. You go get the others. Hopefully he'll come to soon and we can all talk and find out just what the hell's going on." Yusei squatted down and dragged the guy over his shoulders, struggling under his weight. "Uggh…I'd forgotten how heavy this guy is." Step by step, he slowly made the hike back to his Duel Runner.

…

"Hey, hey! He's coming to!" 41 could hear long before he could see. "Who…hit me?" He felt a wet towel on his head and the presence of people. "Ooh! Why'd you hurt him like that?" He recognized Luca's voice, but the others…He just couldn't tell. "Who hit me?" He repeated himself, once again without answer. He slowly pushed himself into a sitting position and became aware of a throbbing pain in his head severe enough that he almost passed out. Still no vision. "Who…Hit…Me?" 41 was growing impatient now. He felt a pair of hand wrap around his. "I'm so sorry about them. They just didn't…"

"Who? Hit? Me?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. That was Crow-san. He thought you were going to attack Yusei-san." 41 groaned and placed a hand on the tender side of his head. The pain almost made him pass out. He gradually became more aware of the other people around him. The scent of flowers to his left. Aki without a doubt. A feeling of power and confidence: that British bloke Jack. There were two more, both reeking the same; but one felt a little more sophisticated and refined than the other. That one must that guy from before. He groped around for the nightstand, then felt for something solid. Aki thought she knew what he wanted and placed a glass of water in his hand and gave him an apology. He threw the glass at the fifth person and heard it smash satisfactorily followed by Crow crying out in pain and trying his hardest not to swear. 41 apparently hit him in the face while he had his eyes closed. He felt small satisfaction in it. "That's for hitting me, you bastard! I can't see a damn thing because of you!" Crow was frightened by the anger in his voice. He sounded like someone you didn't want to screw with.

"Kam-san! You actually talked!" He nodded as best he could with both hands cradling his wound. Tears of pain rolled down his cheek. "Yeah…Funny how getting your skull split will make you do that, huh?" His voice was dripping with sarcastic pain. Yusei pushed himself gently from the wall and took a step towards the bedridden man. "Hey, man. You're angry and I completely understand why; but would you mind watching your tongue? There's a child present." Luca shook her head. "It's okay. I hear Crow-san swear all the time, and my parents do too when they fight. I think it's better just to let him vent it now." He shrugged and tried to place a comforting hand on 41's shoulder; but couldn't bring himself to do it. The man felt like…death. "Look…I'm sincerely sorry for what Crow did. It was inexcusable and I'll chew him out about it later; but first things first. Luca-chan said that you wanted to see us?" 41 groaned again. "Uggh…Yeah…I was going to apologize, but now I don't think I want to anymore. I think this makes us even." Jack laughed at him. "What's the matter? Can't handle a little pain? You must…" He stopped short when he felt the dangerous aura that 41 was throwing his way. "I can't see, and it's taking everything I have to stay conscious!" he growled. "Do you want to try this? I'll be more than willing to help you when my sight comes back!" Luca hugged him. "We get it, you're angry. Shh…Just calm down and we'll talk about this."

"First, get him…" He pointed to Crow, "…out of here." Yusei made to help Crow up, but Crow shrugged him off. "I can walk, thanks." Aki glared at him on his way out and hit him upside the head with her palm. "Way to go, birdbrain. You pissed off the guy who can kick our collective asses up and down the country. I'd learn to sleep with one eye open, if I were you." He shrugged. "Hey, you guys won in the end, so it's no big deal." She smacked him over the back of the head again. "We won because it wasn't him using his deck. It was that other guy! That man who had no bond with those cards, like if I tried using those canaries of yours! This man is on a completely different level than before." Crow walked out of the room, calling back over his shoulder. "Okay, okay, I get it: I messed up. Get offa my case, wouldja?"

"Alright, Kam-san. He's gone." The vision had been bleeding back into 41's head slowly for the last couple of minutes as the pain died. He had just barely seen Aki hit Crow; though they were more moving shadows than discernable figures, slightly darker than the surrounding blackness. "Alright…I wanted to…apologize…for whatever I was forced to do. I can't remember anything between arriving in your city and waking up here. If I hurt any of you…I'm sincerely…sorry." Yusei chuckled casually. "Don't worry about us, we're pretty tough. The only thing you injured was Aki's pride when you shut her out completely. We would have been injured, but your partner took you down before you could. It's okay. You weren't you. We forgive you. You don't have to beat yourself up over it." 41 heaved a sigh of relief, groaning as it hurt to do so. "That's good to…hear…" Apparently the pain was dying down a bit, as his speech was breaking up again. Ever so carefully, he moved the covers from himself and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Aki and Luca each grabbed a shoulder and resisted his rising. "Are you sure you should get up? It doesn't seem like you can see yet!" He shook his head, throwing himself off balance. It took Jack's added strength to keep him upright. "No…But hot water…will help…ease the pain. I…was about to…ask…if I could…use your shower."

"No. Not without someone in there to help you if needed." Yusei fidgeted. "Hey! Would you look at the time! I gotta go meet Rally at the old hangout soon and do…something… Later, y'all!" He hustled from the room. The two girls looked at Jack. He sneered. "I won't bother making up some stupid excuse. I've got better things to do with my time." He followed Yusei at a casual pace. Only the girls were left, the child and the still-closet lesbian. Aki was the first to speak. "So…umm…Which of us is it going to be? I mean…Not that I want to expose a child to something they shouldn't see too soon, but it is your residence; and you know this place better than I do. I'll do it if you don't want to, though. It won't bother me." She leaned over to her and whispered into the girl's ear. "This could be a good opportunity for you, Luca-chan."

"I can hear you, you know." Aki froze and Luca whispered in return. "Forget about trying to get anything past him. It won't work. Besides, he already knows that I kinda like him." He tried getting up and they had to gently press him back down. "I just need to get some hot running water on this wound if I'm going to get it clean so I can sterilize it. I don't care who helps me there. Lesbian or kid, it's the same to me. Just decide quickly." Luca looked at Aki with a puzzled expression. "Aki-san, you're…?" Aki place a finger over her lips, blushing and avoiding eye contact. "We'll talk about it later, 'kay? Why don't you help him?" Aki gave her a wink and a little shove. Luca quickly turned a vibrant shade of red. "I…I…I…No…I'd rather you do it, Aki-san. Please." Aki nodded, understanding. "Okay. Yeah, it's fine." She was just a kid. This was probably for the best, even if it would provide her with an opportunity to get closer to him, emotionally. Aki stood and lead 41 by the hand. "This way, Mr…?"

"Luca has…taken to calling me…Kamenwati. That or…41. I don't…care…" Aki nodded in acknowledgment, then remembered that he couldn't see. "Right. This way, Kamenwati-san." She gently guided him from the room and down the hall to the bathroom. She stepped inside with him so she could help him in he needed it. Even though his vision was shot, he was able to remove his clothing with ease. Aki averted her eyes and looked at the ceiling, trying to give him as much privacy as possible. "You can look…if you want…I don't…care. Where I'm from…there are…people…who walk around…without clothes…all the time. Besides…according to you…you're not…into…guys anymore. A young woman named…Carly…I believe. Not that…I care about that…either, mind you."

"I'm being polite and giving you privacy. That's how I am." The sound of water gently falling reached her ears. "You know…For a blind man, you seem to be getting around quite well." She could barely hear his voice over the sound of the shower. Since he was behind the smoked glass was now around the corner, so she lowered her gaze and leaned against the wall. "Some sight…has returned…Just barely enough to…recognize shapes…and…figures…" She heard him groan faintly as the hot water poured onto the still tender wound. The water felt good against his skin. He'd been on assignment after assignment for so long, he couldn't remember the last time he'd had the chance to savor a nice hot shower. Aki could be heard fidgeting. This girl's house is…surprisingly western… he thought. It was really rather shocking, to be honest. Even the bathroom was western-styled.

"So tell me…" Aki's voice cut the silence. "How did you know I'm lesbian? The only person who knows that is Carly, and she hasn't told anybody yet either." She heard him rustling around under the water, presumably to wash out the blood that had matted down the hair on the back of his head and stained it red. "I can hear your thoughts. I know everything about most everybody I meet. I can read their minds like a book, when I want to. You have an older sister. Lyra, deceased. It's been five years, two months, twenty days, one hour, thirty-six minutes, and seven seconds since that drunk crashed into her." Aki was shocked. "I've…never told that to anybody. Nobody knows I ever even HAD a sister, let alone that she's passed. Wait, how do you know how long it's been? I can't remember THAT precisely!" She thought she heard him sneer, but she might have been mistaken. "You may not remember that precisely, but it's in there. Just like everything you saw when you were no more than two…" Aki coughed, signaling him to shut up. "Okay, okay…I believe you. Just…Please don't remind me of…her…Daddy's little pride and joy." Her voice was dripping with sarcasm. With a sigh, she slumped to the ground and sank her face into her hands and sobbed. So many painful memories…He was silent for a moment, not even moving. "My…apologies…It was not…my intention…to upset you…" The flow of water died with his voice. "Don't…Don't worry about it." She heard him step from the shower and the light rustling of a towel. "If it…makes you feel any better…I've lost everybody…Family, friends…everybody…Except Zuka, who…like me…walks outside of…time…But he's…not a true friend…" He looked around. "My sight's…mostly returned." It didn't take him long to adorn himself with his clothing. Before the two of them left the room and returned to 41's temporary chambers, Aki grabbed his wrist and held on tightly. "Wait. I've got one more question. When you fought us the other day, you called me your descendent. Is…Is that true, or was it something that that guy made up to rattle me?" Easy enough to answer. "Impossible…I have never…had any children…" Aki breathed a sigh of relief. That was a weight off of her chest. "…However…Shinji had a daughter…" Oh, great. She might be related to the evil psycho. Somehow…that made her feel even worse. "Thanks…Alright, let's go. Luca-chan's waiting for us…"

Luca was waiting for them in the room, quietly staring out the window. "Are you feeling better now, Kamenwati-san?" He said nothing, but she took his fluid movements as a sign that his sight had returned. "Alright, then. Sit." She pointed at the bed as she gave the order. He silently obliged. She kneeled on the bed behind him, holding a piece of cloth and a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. She dampened the cloth with the antiseptic. "Alright, Kam-san. Brace yourself. This will sting like Hell." Aki started to tell Luca to watch her language, but was quickly cut off by 41's sharp yell as Luca applied the cloth. She pressed on it gently, making sure that it was flat against his head and applied pressure. After what seemed like hours, she finally removed the cloth from the wound. "There. Now you can bandage it. She handed him a length of bandage, which he wrapped tightly around his head, tying it off at the end as he had been taught centuries before. Now he really looked like a marine. A tight, sleeveless shirt, cargo pants, and a headband around his slicked-back white hair. And the boots. Definitely standard-issue American combat boots with what appeared to be a commando knife tucked into one. Luca felt herself flushing at the sight of him again. Kamenwati saw this, and ignored the fact; though he, himself, blushed just slightly. It was difficult, but Aki could see the change in the color of his cheeks. That started all the pieces falling into place in her mind. Why he stayed with her after he'd first awoken, his acting noble in front of her, why he listened when she gave him an order when he wouldn't for anyone else. He was fond of her. This 20 or 30-year-old man was feeling for a twelve-year-old girl. He shot a glare at Aki, and she remembered that he could hear her thoughts. "I'm…sixteen…remember…?" Oh, yeah. She'd forgotten about that part.

That's a little better, but still weird. You're four years older than her, and she's still considered a child. She thought, hoping her would hear her. He walked over and leaned in, whispering into her ear. "I don't recall…saying that you're right…" He walked off without another word. Luca watched him, then looked quizzically at Aki, and wondered what was going on between the two. Oh, well. She watched him leave, then turned to Aki. "So Aki-san, you're…umm…'lesbian' means that you like girls and not boys; right, Aki-san?" Aki sat down on the bed in 41's place. "Yeah, it does." Luca crawled over and sat next to her. "Have…Have you always…?"

"No, not always. It's actually a really recent change." Luca was confused now. Aki didn't want it to turn awkward, but knew that it had to if the girl wanted answers. "So how would you…err…I mean…Without a…" Aki placed her face in her hands and sighed. Really? She went there already? Oh, give me a break! "You sure know how to make things awkward, don't you?" She looked down, noticing a slight look of what seemed to be worry on her face. "Well…Oh, I really don't think I should be telling you this…You know how you can make yourself feel good by…touching yourself?" Oh, there were so many more things Aki would rather be doing than talking about this…This was so awkward. Luca blushed and dropped her gaze to the floor, but nodded. "Well…It's when two girls make each other feel good. But that's not what you need to worry. You just make sure that nothing too big happens between you and that guy. There could be some really bad consequences for the both of you."

"I know…My mom told me about that…" Thank God. Maybe the awkward questions were done. "That's good. Saves me the awkwardness of explaining. Just know that you're much too young to be doing things like that, okay? I won't say to wait until you're married. I admit that that would make me a hypocrite; but at least wait until you're a little older." Luca knew that, and she had already thought about the troubles it could cause where she was now. But if nobody found out, though… "Alright. I won't. Thanks Aki-san." Aki sighed, glad to be done with that, and stood to leave. "Sorry, Luca, but I have to go now. I've got some things to take care of before dinner." She started to leave, but Luca grabbed her hand. "Umm…One more thing. I was just curious…If it's as he says, is there a special girl in your life?" Aki turned. "Yeah, but why the sudden interest?" The girl shrugged. "Something's bothering me. It's…Nagisa-san, isn't it?" Aki was stunned. 41 had said nothing of that, so how did she know? "Uhh…Yeah. But how did you know?" Luca took her index and middle finger and gently tapped at her temple like 41 did the day before with a slight look of worry on her face. "I…heard…it. All day I've been hearing whispering. Nothing clear until a few minutes ago. I 'heard' about Jack spending the night at Mikage's last night, but nothing happened between the two. Someone had been stalking her and she was scared. The guy broke in that night and Jack…pardon my French, Aki-san…Jack beat his ass and handed him to the Securities." Aki cut in. "Watch your tongue, Luca-chan. You're still too young to be talking like that. You're twelve."

"I also 'heard' about Yusei cutting his hand pretty badly while he was working on his duel runner this morning before going to Satellite. I'm scared, Aki-san. I don't know what's happening!" Aki was scared, too. It sounded like she was starting to develop the same extrasensory abilities as 41. Could it be because of all the time she spent around him before and after he woke? Has she always had the power and is just starting to realize it? Aki knelt down to Luca's level and placed her hands on the frightened girl's shoulders. "I'm sorry, Luca-chan…But I'm not that kind of psychic duelist. You'll have to talk to Kamenwati when he comes back. I think that it might just be the influence of his presence." That seemed most likely. Luca looked her in the eye. Her own were full of fear. "Al…Alright. I will. Thanks, Aki-san…I guess I'll see you later…I'm going to go lay down." Aki patted her on the shoulders then stood up. "Yeah. You go do that. Goodbye, Luca-chan. Take care. I'll see if I can't find any information for you." She closed the door quietly behind her as she left.

It was near midnight before 41 returned to Luca and Lua's house. After he'd left, he'd gone to the gym in order to keep in shape. He closed the door behind him as quietly as he could, not expecting Luca to be waiting for him. He reflexively dropped to one knee and grabbed the handle of his knife when her voice broke the stillness of the house. "Kam-san…Can we talk?" He took a second to calm himself while he looked for where she was. She was standing in the hallway that led to the back of the residence. "…What…?" She fidgeted with her hands, not knowing where to begin. "For starters, could you tell me exactly how you hear the thoughts of people?" He looked at her. "Why?" She didn't say anything, but had a look in her eyes that said 'please.' Maybe it only seemed that way in the low light. "…It's like the…narration of a story…" Odd. "They don't whisper?" What the hell was she talking about? "…Where did…this come from…all of…a sudden?" Where should she start? The beginning, then. "I've been hearing whispering all day. It's been telling me people's thoughts." Bullshit. There was no way in Hell. Not once in all these long years had he ever met anybody else who could hear the thoughts of others, so why would she be able to all of a sudden? This little girl he had just met the other day, the first person he would contemplate calling a 'friend?' "…Let me see…your eyes…" She hit the light switch on the wall next to him and looked up so he could get a good look. The light in her eyes was dimmer than they should be. "…You're not hearing…You're being told…under…hypnotic influence…" In other words, someone was trying to pull some strings. "…Ignore it…" It was nothing to be concerned about. Someone had placed her under hypnotic suggestion and this was nothing more than a side-effect. It'd be gone by this time tomorrow most likely. He understood how it worked. In most instances, anyways.

"What do you mean?" Oh, right. She's twelve. Gotta dumb down the terminology a bit… Het tried his best to explain how the hypnotic suggestion had increased her sensitivity to the alpha waves released by the brain, essentially allowing her to "hear" the thoughts and that it would wear off in time. He tried a total of three times before he decided that it was to advanced for her and just told her to forget it. "…It's early…I'm going to sleep…" She grabbed on tightly to his arm and looked like she wanted to say something. "…What…?"

"I…No, never mind. Good night." She let go of his sleeve and retreated into her room. He gently brushed his arm. "…Strange…" When she had grabbed him, her mind had gone completely blank. For the first time, he had no idea what she was going to say. He closed the door quietly behind him and sat on the bed, removing his effects. Was is part of whatever hypnosis was placed on her? "…Hmph…Not important…" The bigger question was who it hypnotist was. The only person who could do it without being noticed would be Shinji; but he would have succeeded in the hypnosis, and she didn't have the his signature rings around her eyes. Just what the Hell was going on in this city? He kicked his feet up onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. Puzzling events to be sure, but nothing he felt was worth looking into.

…

Morning seemed to come quickly, and 41 had barely managed to get any sleep. After half an hour of being nagged at near incessantly, he dragged himself from bed and into the kitchen; where he found that Luca had cooked pancakes for the both of them. "I hope you like pancakes, Kam. You're going to eat something today. You haven't eat anything since you got here. She placed a plate in front of him. "…But what if I…"

"I don't care if you're not hungry. You're eating. Come on; let's go out on the vista. The weather's perfect for eating outside this time of year." Damn. She was being really pushy today. She somehow managed to force him from the chair and out the sliding door separating the interior from the vista. The sun had just begun to rise, creating quite a beautiful effect when combine with the cityscape. And some pretty scenery as well. 41 took a bite of the food before him. It was actually rather tasty, though he wasn't about to admit it. "…How's your head…?" She told him that it was getting better. She could still hear things, but very faintly. "You are still not completely convinced and you're thinking that I look pretty in the morning light. You also…" She cut off when she realized what she'd heard and repeated. It made her go beet red. "Aww…Thank you…" 41 almost choked on his food. There was no way in Hell that she should have been able to hear that last part if the 'voices' were as faint as she claimed. They finished their breakfasts in silence, neither one knowing where to start. Or perhaps neither wanted to start. Luca pulled her chair up next to 41's. "Kam-san" He had to cut in. "…Stop calling me…-san. I'm not…Japanese…"

"Kam…Be honest with me. What do you think of me?" He honestly didn't know what he felt anymore, not that he really cared. "…Dunno…" She laid her head down on his arm and shut her eyes. "Mmm…You don't mind my doing this, do you?" He sighed. "…You'd do it…regardless of my…answer…" She pressed her head a bit further into his arm. "I really like you, Kam. If I had my way, I'd have it stay like this forever. Just the two of us." Oh, please… "…Spare me the drama…" She sighed contentedly. "As distant as ever. One way or another, I'll make…you…" Before she could even finish her sentence, she drifted off to sleep while using his arm as her pillow. He looked towards the sky, saw the faint white shape far above, and knew that Zuka was watching him. Using his free hand, 41 smirked as he gave his ex-partner a less-than-friendly salute. He was done with the society now; but that left him with another problem. Where would he stay, now? He had no home to return to. Maybe here? "…Would they…accept me…?" Somehow he doubted it. After all, he'd attacked them. It's one thing to forgive long enough to accomplish a single goal, but a complete other to live in harmony with them. Maybe he'd go back to America…It has been a while. He'd like to see how everything's changed. But…For some reason, he felt a spell of sorrow fall over him. "…What…?" It was strange. After all, it's not as though he wasn't used to moving around. Could it be these people? Maybe it was…After all; they welcomed him, even though he openly attacked them. Some of them even tried to extend the hand of friendship.

Maybe…Just maybe…It wouldn't be so bad to say here with them. A flock of birds flew overhead. "…Yeah…I'd like that…" When he lowered his gaze, he found himself to be absentmindedly stroking Luca's hair. It's true, he'd seemed to grow fond of them; but still…They'd reject him. They always reject him sooner or later. Even this little girl who'd grown so attached to him would look upon him with disgust once she learned of his blood-stained past. Face it… He kept trying to deny it, but he knew it deep down. …I'm damned to be alone. The girl pressed up tighter against his arm. "Don't be like that…" Crap! She wasn't really sleeping! He immediately pulled his hand from her head. "Oh…Why'd you stop? That was comforting." Seeing that he'd decided to snap back into his cold-and-silent persona, she continued. "I know that your past is what's always troubling you…You shouldn't let it. I don't know what happened; but it was thousands of years ago, wasn't it? Whatever happened, it doesn't matter anymore. That's how I see it, anyway…" She was right; or at least, she would be if his crime weren't what it was. "…You don't understand, Luca…You couldn't possibly…" After what he'd done, this punishment was just and fair. Who was he to argue it? "…I'm not worthy…of being among society…I'm no longer even…human…" She leaned in quickly and kissed him. Caught completely by surprise, it took him a full second to realize what had happened before he pushed her off roughly. "How dare you…!"

"Stop…Don't say that. It's not true…" He huffed. "Or do you mean that you don't want it to be true?" He could see the tears that were beginning to well up in her eyes. Oh, Hell…Here we go… "Why won't you open up to us? I may not be old enough to understand how the world works, or how people think; but even I can see that you're hurting inside. You don't need to suffer like this! Let us help you!" He went silent, and a dark shadow seemed to fall over his face as he stood up abruptly. "…Fine. You want me to open up?" His voice had a much more malicious tone to it now, almost evil. "I'm a murderer. I've slaughtered millions of my own people for no more reason than they didn't like me. It's that simple." Even though the grin that parted his lips had a dark feeling, the tone in his voice was calm; but there was still an underlying anger that could easily be detected. "During the war with Zorc Necrophades, I turned my back on my own people because I wanted to. I was driven to no corner, I made no difficult choice. Men, women, children; I butchered them all! I'm nothing more than a monster, just as they say." He took his thumb and violently shoved it into the mark burned into his forehead. "While I'm at it, do you want to know why those fools made me one of them? It was so they could keep an eye on me. I was a threat, the one bug they couldn't crush under their boot; and what better way to monitor a threat than to keep it chained to yourself?" As he said all this, she was slowly backing away from him. She looked terrified. "Feh. I knew it. You're afraid of me, too. All you worthless beings are the same! You never change!" Of course she was scared. Why shouldn't she be? She was staring straight into the eyes of the man that many would call the Devil himself, the most notorious murderer in history. He knew exactly what she'd do next. She'd run, just like all the others. It was like clockwork.

He was right. She ran. She ran right up to him, flinging her arms around him in the process and catching him completely by surprise. "…What the…?" Just what the Hell did this girl think she was doing? Approaching a man as dangerous as he like this? Why? Why didn't she run? The young girl was crying out of…Was it out of fear? Pity? "I know that they treated you badly, and I know that you did some bad things; but you're not that same person any more! I know you're not…" She was a persistent little brat, that much was certain. "Why didn't you run…?" He needed to know. Why was she so damn determined? "…I already told you, didn't I? I really care about you. So much that it hurts; and I can't stand watching you suffer like this…" He doubted this was true. After all, how long had she known him? A few days? That's not enough time to truly develop feelings for someone. She could feel his muscles relax as his anger faded. "…I don't need your help…"

"Yes you do! Look at you! You keep everybody shut out and yourself distant! You just yelled at me and pushed me away…even though I just want to be your friend." He sneered. "Friend? Why would I want something so trivial? Everything turns to dust around me, anyways. Time does not flow for me. I'll still be here long after you all have been forgotten and your graves since lost." He was still being intentionally belligerent, but the tone in his voice suggested that he was falling apart inside. It wasn't hard to tell that this wasn't how he really felt. The way he said it, it sounded like he wanted someone there to walk eternity with him. And so: there was one offer that she could make him that might make him open up, but it would take a LOT of determination… "Then let me be like you…" He stopped for a second, caught off-guard once again and hoping that he had misheard her. "…What?" Did he really hear that right? "I said let me be like you. Let me become like you so that you don't have to be alone forever. You'd have me with you." This was absolutely out of the question. Nobody in their right minds would want such a curse upon their shoulders! "No."

"Please?" Jesus, did this girl get paid every time she said that word? "No. I'm not going to. This isn't as fun as it seems." Still clinging to him, she looked up at him. "Maybe it'd be more fun if you had someone with you?" Maybe, but no. Not happening. No way, no how. "No." She pouted her lips. "I'm still gonna stick with you." He laughed mockingly. "No you're not. When I leave, you're staying here." She dropped her eyes and looked hurt, but a smirk still tugged at her lips. This did not go unnoticed. "What are you so happy about? It'll take someone sneakier than you to successfully tail me."

"Oh, nothing. I just realized that I got a small consolation prize is all. I got you to start talking properly. That's good enough for me for now." Now that he thought about it…She had, hadn't she? Perhaps this girl was much more clever than 41 had thought. "And? What of it?" She giggled again.

"It means that you're slowly starting to warm up to me!" Grr. No matter how hard he tried to remain distant, this girl kept chiseling her way in. Quite an amazing gift, in its own right. "So what if I am? That doesn't change anything." She let go of him and held her arms behind her back. "Yes it do~es!" Her 'I won' tone was beginning to aggravate him. "I felt you stroking my head earlier. You like me!" She wore an ear-to-ear grin as she said this with her arms held behind her back. He sneered. "Don't push it, kid."

"Oh yeah? Then how come you didn't push me off when I hugged you, or why don't you protest when I use you as a pillow? Hmm?" Damn, she was right. He did think relatively fondly of her in that he didn't hate her… "See? You do like me!" She took his hand and dragged him back down into his chair, resuming her position with him as her pillow. He didn't even bother resisting. What was the use? She'd do it anyway, so it wasn't worth the effort trying to stop it. Let her think whatever she wanted. "Hey…Kam…"

"What?" She placed her hand opposite him on his and squeezed gently. "Umm…Would you be willing to forget about your mission today and maybe…Spend it with me?" She was great as putting him in difficult situations, wasn't she? Lie and upset a young girl or agree and be labeled a pedophile. Although… Asking like that, what kind of a person would he be to turn her down? Eh, not like he had anything better to do. "…Whatever…" She squealed to herself and gripped his arm in a tight hug, causing him to lose feeling in his hand after several seconds. "You're not going to try and kiss me again, are you?" She looked thoughtful for a moment. "Mmm…Maybe. We'll just see, won't we?" Oh, why did everything that this girl said give him a bad feeling? "You look disappointed. Did you want me to?" She seemed to think that she could get away with trying to tease him. This was an attitude that had to be adjusted promptly. "Not in the slightest." Even though he said that, her question still made him feel…flustered? Embarrassed? He honestly didn't know the word.

The sun was a fair distance over the horizon now; and somewhere, a bell chimed six.

This was rather problematic. That fool was going to ruin everything! It was bad enough that he had to babysit that psychopath these last thousand years; he was NOT going to get demoted again because he decided to go prancing around town with some kid! Zuka screamed. "Damn it all! Just how far must I fall before the gods show mercy? Please, sister…Tell me…" His cloak rustled around his feet, making light waves in the grass on which he stood. This city…Everything was going smoothly until they were sent to this damn city. He'd almost talked the top brass into assigning him a different partner. Now, he could kiss that goodbye. "I can't stand another minute with that madman!" He dropped to his knees and mercilessly punched the ground. If only he'd had the courage to do that yesterday. He had the perfect opportunity to put that bastard in his place, so why didn't he?

"It's because you were scared of him, Zuka. That is why you could not attack him." Zuka heard footsteps in the grass behind him. "So, Shinji…You finally decide to show yourself?" Zuka stood and turned to face his adversary. He dressed in a similar fashion to 41, only he had two leather straps crossing his chest and a red leather jacket. His blonde hair was neatly kept and tied back, stopping at the base of his neck. Black rings were painted round his eyes. "What do you want?" The man moved elegantly, as though he belonged to royalty. "I simply wanted to talk to an old friend. Is that so wrong?"

"You know full-well that I'm here to hunt you down, so why are you really here?" As Shinji turned to face him, Zuka could see the firearms hidden inside of his jacket. "It's as I say. I know that you are here for me; but I also know that you are contemplating desertion. It's written all over your face. I can't say I blame you, really. Once one of the most respected members, now babysitting someone who should be dead. I can see how your pride is hurt. I, too, believe that Zuberi should be dead." He extended an open palm, offering a handshake. "Why don't we work together? You help me get rid of that beast, and I'll help you disappear." Zuberi? Was that 41's name? "…Zuberi? Do you mean…41?" Shinji nodded. "How do you know his name? I don't even think that he knows his name… "

"I have my sources, Zuka. You needn't concern yourself with such trivial matters. What you need concern yourself with is my proposal. Will you join with me, old friend? The man is indirectly responsible for your sister's death. Had he not told the demon god everything, she would not have been sought as she was." He was right. He almost always was; but this…Desertion is one thing. Betrayal is another. "Really, Shinji…What are you after? What are you even trying to do?"

"Again, Zuka…It's not your concern. I have my motives, and you have yours." What…What should he do? 41 couldn't be allowed to live after everything he's done, that's a given…But he couldn't just up and kill someone. That was against everything he stood for. But then…he didn't have to be the one to kill him. Shinji could do that much, surely. "Ohhh…Are you actually contemplating my offer? This is a surprise. I'd not thought that you could even think about murder." Zuka pulled a card from his deck, his Blue-Eyes. "Kisara…I…" A gentle breeze swept the card from Zuka's grips and straight to Shinji, who caught it effortlessly. "Well…?"

"…Alright. I'll help you kill 41; but on one condition. You leave the Signers alone. I don't know why you attacked them in the first place, but they have nothing to do with this." Shinji laughed. "Excellent, though I really had no plans for the Signers in the first place. I simply wanted to test the mettle of the Crimson Dragon's heroes. I was not impressed."

"Alright, then. I don't know what you're up to; but I'll help you as long as you leave the innocents alone." A malicious grin spread across Shinji's face. "Excellent…" This did not bode well for Zuka, but he couldn't just let these crimes go unpunished. Two birds, one stone…

"Hey, Yusei…Does it seem a bit strange to you?" Yusei hid a flame behind his hand as he lit himself a cigarette and exhaled the smoke before he answered. "What are you talking about?" The two sat outside of Yusei's workshop while he took a break from tuning up his duel runner. Aki coughed as the smoke circled around her. "Dammit, Yusei. I really wish you wouldn't do that around me. I can't stand that smell. How can you even put such foul-smelling crap in your body?"

"Yeah, sorry." He took a few steps so that he now stood downwind from Aki. "So what are you asking me again?" He took another drag. "I mean Luca-chan and that Egyptian guy. Surely you've noticed how close they are?" Ne shook his head. "Not really. I've only seen them in the same room only once, and he didn't seem too fond of any of us." Aki waved her in front of her face, trying to get rid of the lingering smoke. "Of us, he might not be too interested in; but didn't you notice that Luca-chan was the only person, other than me, that he didn't bark at?"

"None of us really tried to; though I will admit that Jack backed down uncharacteristically easily when he challenged the guy." Now that he thought about it…There was a weird aura coming from the guy. "That's kind of my point. The guy had a threatening feel, didn't he? Didn't you get the feeling that he didn't want you guys near him?" Yusei thought about it. "I…guess it did feel that way, kinda. And you're talking about how Luca-chan was at his bedside the entire time?" That's exactly what she was talking about. "It's like she didn't even notice it. She didn't seem like she was uncomfortable there, either." Yusei nonchalantly exhaled more smoke. "I think that you're over thinking this, Aki. I mean, she's twelve. Sure, she's probably had a crush on a boy before; but he's like…what? A couple thousand years older than she is? Seems more likely to me like it's that Florence Nightingale syndrome. She's feeling some kind of maternal feeling because of her taking care of him, and she's just misinterpreting it as romantic interest." Aki gave him a dirty look. "And I'm the one who's over thinking this? What's wrong with her having a little crush on the guy?" He shrugged. "It just seems like she'd be setting herself up for a serious let-down. I doubt some guy like him would be interested in anybody at all, especially a girl he's known for only a few days that's lifetimes younger than he is."

"Well…Don't count anything out for certain, Yusei…Of all people, I should know that feelings like that'll strike in strange ways."

"I suppose. If you are right, though; then I can see his side pretty well. After all, the guy's spent more years alone than most people can fathom. Then comes this girl that's not much younger than him (physically) that treats him as a friend. I suppose it makes sense that he might fall for someone like that. It's a bit of a stretch, though…" He took a long, slow drag, held it for a second, and then exhaled. "I don't think it's anything, though. I think they're just friends, if even that." Aki reflected on what Yusei had said as he crushed his cigarette under his boot. "Hey, Aki. Can I ask you something?"

"Hmm? Yeah, what's up?" He turned around for a second, gazing at the sky, before he turned around to face her. "I was wondering if you'd be up for dinner tonight." Aki answered without hesitation. She didn't even blush in the slightest. "Sorry, Yusei. I'm already seeing someone. You were too slow on the draw this time." She didn't even feel regretful at turning him down. I guess that this means that I really am over guys… She could read in his eyes that he was slightly hurt, but also kind of curious. "Don't bother asking, Yusei. It's really not your business who it is." He held up his hands as though a loaded gun were pointed at him. "No, no. I had no intention of asking. If you've got someone that you're happy with, then good for you." Aki smiled gently. "Thanks, Yusei. She's…the most important person to me." As her thoughts drifted to Carly, her cheeks were tinted pink and a warm smile manifested itself.

"Whoa, wait…'She?'"

"Yeah. She. I'm into girls, now. If you'd asked me a week or two ago, I'd've probably gone with you; but you were just too slow this time." Ouch, man. Beaten to the punch by a girl. Normally that wouldn't be a bad thing, but in matters of romance…Ouch. "A lesbian, huh? That's cool. So is that why you changed your hair, 'cept for those two bangs on the side of your head?" It's about damn time somebody noticed! "Yes. I trimmed it for our first date, and he only changes I made were my letting it out in back. I kinda like it this way." This was true. Ever since her first date with Carly, she'd actually kept her hair neat and tidy. She even grew it out in back.

"It does look good on you, I will admit. I'm guessing that you pulled it into a pony, since it's still long in back?"

"I did. It looked great, by the way; but it's not something I'd do every day. It's my 'formal occasion' hairdo." Somehow, Yusei had a hard time picturing Aki in formal clothing. "Do you mean 'a dress' formal, or just 'a nice shirt and skirt' formal?" She answered 'dress.' "Damn. I can't even picture you in a nice shirt and skirt, let alone a dress. That'd be something worth taking a picture of, 'cuz you wouldn't see that twice." Giving him a look that said 'you pig,' she started to walk away saying that she had to go and check in on Luca and the Egyptian. "I know you think I'm over-reacting, but it's better to be safe than sorry." He knew that this was not what she was really thinking, but he also knew better than to challenge this. "Yeah, sure. I gotta get back to work, anyways. Later!" He waved a goodbye at her, and then headed back into his workshop.

She lied. She didn't really feel like checking up on those two. She just didn't want the awkward questions to start. I guess…Yusei's right. Now that I think about it…Kam and I aren't that different. He's spent so much time alone. It's no wonder why he's so reluctant to let us in. I guess he's afraid. Poor guy. She knew what it was like to not want to get close to anybody, so maybe she could help him. The sky above was blue with few clouds, winds calm, and the warmth of the sun bathed Aki. It felt good. I may as well try to crack him open next time we meet. Meet…That reminded her of something. There was a tournament in town today. Aki shrugged. "It's not like I have anything else to do." She reached into her bag for her phone and dialed Carly's number. Why not invite her? Make a date out of it. It was still a few hours away. What to do until then…?