Sorry for the nearly 7 month wait. Shit gets cray cray sometimes ;P

Enjoy…

Chapter 13: Clash of the Dragons Part 1

Keisa stretched and rolled over in her makeshift bed on the floor of Martha's living room.

"Always the last one up," the older woman chuckled, shaking out sheets and stacking up pillows.

"I work hard, leave me be," she smiled and rolled over.

"Not a chance." A pillow hit her in the back of the head and she shot a look over at Martha. "Up and at 'em, kiddo. I believe you have things to do today."

"Right," she sighed, standing to clean up her own blankets. "Any idea where Yusei is at?"

Martha paused her folding and looked out the window, gesturing to the two figures out in the yard with her chin. "He and Blister are tinkering with Yusei's runner, I believe."

"He's not going anywhere is he?" Keisa picked up the pace and grabbed a set of clean clothes.

"Not that I'm aware of."

"Good," Keisa breathed.

—

By the time she got outside, Yusei was revving the engine, wheels spinning uselessly in the air.

"That sounds great," Blister commented as she arrived.

"Thanks," Yusei glanced up. "It's, uh, almost ready."

"Any news about what's been going on in Neo Domino City?" Keisa asked as she stepped up next to the runner, giving the front axle a simple test of her own.

"The whole city's in a state of chaos," Blister announced gravely, clicking away on a laptop of his own. The dark signers turned 10 city blocks into rubble."

"What?" Keisa had been astonished by their power before, when Yusei had dueled Kalin, but this…this was just unbelievable.

"Yeah, and get this," he continued, tilting the screen so Yusei and Keisa could see a map of Neo Domino. "The only building left standing was the Arcadia Movement's headquarters."

"The what?" Keisa asked.

"Do you think they went after Akiza?" Yusei asked, standing up straight, poker face going full force.

"Who?"

"Probably," Blister admitted. "Can't see what other reasoning they could have had. She's in the hospital. I hacked in and got her records. It sounds like she's in a coma. She just won't wake up."

"A coma," Yusei muttered, subconsciously studying his arm.

"I'm feeling a little left out of this conversation," Keisa muttered angrily.

"You gonna use a little bit of that signer mojo to help? Because I'm sure she needs a friend right now."

"So she's a signer? Now we're getting some useful information out of this." Keisa looked up at Yusei, whose eyes held a faraway look to them. She knew what he was thinking. Or rather, what he was remembering. "Yusei, if she's hurt because of a dark signer, she's going to need you like you needed us after your duel with Kalin."

Yusei looked at her for the first time and something flashed across his face. "You're right," he whispered sadly. "But I couldn't even help myself during that shadow duel. I'm sure I'd only make things worse for her."

Keisa opened her mouth to disagree, but was interrupted by the sound of a helicopter approached. "Who is that?" she yelled above the noise.

"We're about to find out."

A man stepped out as it landed in the wide open space, his hair blowing wildly in the wind. "Yusei Fudo?" he called out.

"That's me," Yusei answered hesitantly.

"There's some business you and I need to discuss," he said, close enough that he didn't need to scream. "Is there somewhere we can talk?"

Yusei simply nodded and turned toward the house. Keisa exchanged a suspicious look with Blister before the two followed them into the kitchen of Martha's house.

—

"I'd like to thank you for taking the time to see me, Mr. Fudo," he began as they sat down at the table. Keisa helped Martha pass out tea while Blister simply leaned against the wall by the window curiously.

"What is this about, if you don't mind me asking," Yusei said, and air of professionalism around him that Keisa wasn't sure she'd ever seen before. It wasn't like the way he got around thugs or other satellite scum. It was like he was an adult—something she'd never thought of him as.

"I'm here because I need your help to save my daughter, Akiza," he said in a rush.

Yusei's demeanor changed. Keisa noticed him lean into the table a little, his eyebrows pulling together. "So you're 'Dad.' I've heard of you," he nearly growled. "Not too flattering, I'm afraid, Senator."

"I know," the man sighed, his head dropping a bit. Suddenly, though, his expression changed. "But I'm trying to make things right!" Yusei was taken by surprise. "She's in the hospital suffering from some heartbreak that's my fault."

"How is it your fault?" Keisa asked. Was this man the dark signer who put her in the hospital?

"I pushed her away and she joined the Arcadia Movement." The senator hung his head again. "With Sayer missing, she's got no one. She doesn't even respond to us—her parents. And who blames her? That's why I'm here."

"Before I let my Yusei run off again, how about you tell us the whole story from the beginning," Martha demanded.

The senator leaned back in his chair and began his story…

—

"I can't help her right now." The senator's fists clenched at this admittance. "But Jack said you cared about her—you can help her!"

Keisa raised her eyebrows and shot her brother a surprised look. Just what happened during his time in Neo Domino City?

"But right now I don't think I have the strength to help her," Yusei told him flatly, eyes cast downward.

"But you must!" he insisted. "Jack thinks that you just need to duel her again. He says that your voice has the power to wake Akiza from her coma. Your deck might be able to heal her heart."

Yusei averted his gaze once again. "I would, but I'm in no shape to duel anyone right now."

"You're her only hope."

"I don't know…"

"For goodness sake!" Martha sighed, putting her hands on her hips. "You can't turn your back on this poor girl in her time of need."

"Unless," Keisa started, thinking out loud. "Unless you're afraid to duel again." The minute it was out of her mouth and the words hung in the air, Keisa knew it was true. The look of shock on her brother's face, angled down at the tabletop, was more than enough confirmation.

"So it's true. You're still thinking about that duel with Kalin, right?" Martha asked. "Well, you can't stay here. Wound's healed, bike's repaired, what are you waiting for?"

"I um, well, see…I…"

Keisa pressed her lips together to keep from laughing when Martha marched over and grabbed her brother by the ear.

"Shame on you, Yusei!" she snapped. "If you're not gonna help that girl, why'd I patch you up? If I've taught you one thing it's to help your sister and your friends. They're waiting for you. And if everything you've told me is true, well, then you'll need their help." She released Yusei roughly and took a step back. "And you're sure not gonna get it sitting in my dining room."

"I can only imagine how scared you must be, but you have to face that fear," Keisa told him gently. "Whenever you're knocked down, you can't be afraid to get back up. The longer you wait, the harder it gets." Yusei smiled and let out a small chuckle.

"Alright."

"You'll help?" The senator stood up, hopeful. Yusei gave him a short nod. "Thank you!"

"And maybe once this is over you'll take her on a date," Martha suggested.

"Huh? A what?" Yusei gaped.

"Oh, my…" Keisa burst out laughing.

"I'm just saying, if you two have some sort of connection…"

"I'm trying to save the world, not date!" At this outburst, Blister joined in on Keisa's intense laughter.

"He's already got a girlfriend—his duel runner!"

Ignoring the others, Yusei turned to the only man not laughing at him. "When do we leave?"

Keisa sobered up as they headed for the door. "Oh, I am not be left in the satellite again. It's obvious you need to be chaperoned."

"Let's go," Yusei sighed, not up for arguing.

—

Amazed at the cleanliness, Keisa followed Yusei and the senator into the hospital building, an amazingly tall building. None of what she saw looked anything like the satellite. It was so foreign and she could barely imagine what it must feel like to live there.

"Yusei!" a young voice cried out. "I knew you'd show up." Keisa's attention snapped to two young children about the same age. A girl and a boy. But what caught her attention after that was Jack, who was standing behind them, his usual frown plastered on his face.

She had to physically keep herself for saying something rude by crossing her arms tightly. Yusei told her to forgive and forget. He was just doing what he thought he had—he left Rally in the middle of a flipping lake. Forget that, she thought to herself, glaring daggers at him.

"Hey guys," Yusei said in passing as the senator held open the door for him. The group followed him into a large, wide open room.

What a waste of space, Keisa thought. There was a single bed in a room bigger than anything she had seen. Ever. She could live in just that space for the rest of her life and it could feel like a mansion to her.

Yusei stepped up to the side of a redheads bed and removed his duel disc. She could only be the one called Akiza. She was pretty, Keisa amended.

"It's me, Yusei." He removed his glove and wiped a tear from her face. The minute his skin made contact with hers, both their marks lit up like a light bulb and her eyes began to flutter open. "You're awake!"

Akiza sat up and looked at him with grogginess in her eyes. "Yusei? What happened to me?"

"Akiza!" the senator cried out.

Akiza looked over at them and suddenly her face fell. "What are they doing here?" She snapped. The look of utter despair on her father's face stirred something in Keisa. "In case you didn't know, I got a new family. Sayer's all I need now." A look of recognition crossed her eyes. "I remember! He fell! But he was all I had left!" She rounded on her parents. "It's your fault."

"It was a dark signer," Yusei told her gently.

"Stay out of this, Yusei," she hissed. "I have nothing left, no family." She shoved Yusei away and held onto the edge of the bed for support.

Keisa lifted a hand subconsciously, but stopped herself. This girl…

"I'll just have to erase you from my memories as well, Yusei Fudo!"

"I know this is hard to take in, but if you need to duel to find out who your friends are, then I'm right here." The tone Yusei was using with her was soft and gentle. Keisa had only ever been on the receiving end of that tone, never a spectator. It was a strange feeling.

"Friends? You mean like you signers?" she spat. "From the moment I met you I've had my life completely torn apart thanks to that stupid mark on my arm. And that's no one's fault but your own." Yusei's eyebrows shot up and his jaw went slack.

Oh, no she didn't just…It was all Keisa could do to keep from running across the room and slapping some sense into the woman. She's sick, she kept reminding herself. She needs help. Yusei's gonna help her.

"Akiza, please let us help you," he asked more forcefully.

"You all wanna destroy my life," she all but screeched. "Well I won't let you."

A strange whirlwind swept through the room. Jack kept the two kids standing while Keisa was able to stand with only a little difficulty. The senator and his wife, however, had a little more trouble.

"Akiza," he father called out.

"It looks like there's only one way to protect your family and prove that we're all trying to help you." He snapped on his duel disc, his "game face" on now. "Akiza." His voice dropped a little. "The only time I got through to the real you, was during our duel. So this is for you."

And the duel began.

"Jack," the boy cried. "It's Akiza's first turn and Yusei's already knocked off her feet by Akiza's psychic powers!"

"And I think there's more coming," he agreed.

Keisa let out a breath, studying Yusei from behind for any of the telltale signs that he was faltering.

"If he's trying to help Akiza by winning, he's gotta do better," the girl muttered.

"They're helping each other, really," Keisa muttered.

"I figured as much," Jack replied quietly. "No one takes a fall like that and comes out unscathed."

"Not that you would care, Mr. I-have-a-helicopter-but-I'm-just-gonna-fly-back-to-Neo-Domino," Keisa grumbled sarcastically, tightening her arms around herself.

"What—"

"Not the time," she cut him off.

"But with those four monsters…" Yusei trailed off.

"You catch on quick, Yusei. These four monsters tune up to you. Know. Who."

"Two evil thorns plus what else?" the little boy tried to add up.

"Black merger," the girl suggested.

"Equals Black Rose Dragon," Jack finished for them.

"Please, don't," her father tried to plead.

"You've treated me like a monster so that's who I am—a monster."

"That's not true!" Yusei snapped.

"It's a little late for you to try to help me, Yusei." She laughed humorlessly. "I thought you really believed in me."

"He does," Keisa yelled, unable to control herself any longer. "He does believe in you!"

"Keisa—" Yusei tried.

"He came all the way here from the satellite to help you after nearly dying in a duel himself." Jack placed a hand on her shoulder as she took a step towards the duelists.

"Who are you? You have no idea!" Akiza cried. "This is all just about my mark."