WUN: Among the Stars

by stellartrishula

A collection of oneshots and side stories set in the Waking Up Normal universe, told by a variety of characters throughout the timeline of the story.

11. In The Name of Love III

Kaoru

---

Turns out that telling Yuuka now about everything meant the next morning after staying over at Takumi's. His couch is surprisingly comfy to sleep on.

By the time I arrive at Poppo Time, my hands are practically vibrating. I knock on the door. None answers or moves for a few seconds. The auras of everyone inside are just confused, probably because everyone is already there.

Crow opens the door, his face falls once he sees that it's me. "Yuuka, you deal with this." He walks away from the door, leaving the door wide open.

"What do you want, Kaoru?" I hear Yuuka calling from inside. I exhale and step just far enough inside that everyone can see but I still don't feel like I'm intruding too much. I notice that everyone is in their WRGP uniforms. I should have thought this through. I should have come over last night.

"I need your help."

"Oh, do you now?" Yuuka crosses her arms and scowls at me.

"I fucked up." I'm sure there's some kind of law out there that you don't kiss your sibling's friend, at least without telling them first.

"I'd say it's too late for that." I feel the venom in her words.

"Yuuka," I plead.

"I'm busy," she points to her D-Wheel. "We got a match today, in case you didn't know."

"Yuuka, we really need to talk." I don't care if it's after the match. I need to just get her to talk to me today.

"I don't care," her eyes narrow. "Maybe you shouldn't have stabbed me in the back."

"Yuuka." It's not me who says her name, but Yusei. Yuuka's head whips around furiously. Parts of her hair fly into her face.

"Are you really on his side?"

"I think he needs you more than you're needed here." Yusei pats Yuuka on the shoulder. Is he really helping me?

"Excuse me?" Yuuka's eyebrows raise so far that her bangs nearly conceal them entirely. "Unless you know what he did." He couldn't possibly. Oh gods. Yusei meets my eyes. He's completely calm, and so is his aura. It's enough to calm me down. Yuuka's eyes move to Yusei, and then she groans. "Fine. I'm not doing this willingly, may I just say."

"We know, don't worry." Yusei comments rather sarcastically. Yuuka wishes the rest of Team 5D's good luck before getting on her D-Wheel and leaving.

We decide to go back home, since I know we'll have some privacy there. The ride over is silent. It remains silent until we're in the garage.

"Maybe we should talk upstairs." I finally say something after taking my helmet off. "Cause y'know." Just in case mom comes home. I don't have to finish that sentence.

"Okay, my room, cause your room smells like boy and I don't like it."

"That's cool." I don't really care, and I suppose Yuuka would feel more comfortable that way. And she could kick me out of her room if she wants to after I've told her everything.

"C'mon," she says, walking out of the garage and up the stairs. The house is completely silent, which is good for us. I close the door once I enter Yuuka's room, just in case. I take a seat on the bed beside her. I normally sit on the chair next to her sewing machine. But this way, I have an excuse not to look her in the eyes.

"Now, how did you fuck up this time?" She finally asks.

It takes me by surprise. I bit my lips. I didn't think Yuuka would agree so soon, thanks Yusei. So, I'm very much unprepared for this. My hands start to shake as I gather my thoughts. I try taking deep breaths, but I only manage short puffs.

"Take your time," she says calmly. Now, I'm caught off guard again. My brain suddenly goes into full panic mode. A look of shock sweeps over Yuuka's face. This is a "mistake that can't be erased" kind of wrong. Her thoughts are completely correct. Takumi has brought up the kiss since it happened. I need to get on with it. Just say it, I tell myself.

"I kissed Takumi." I snap my eyes shut, just so I don't have to look at Yuuka's face.

"Wait, what?" There's a pause, as Yuuka clearly takes the time to process the information. "You kissed Takumi?" She echoes.

"Yes," I nod slowly. "Well, I mean, it's more like we kissed each other? I mean, he kinda initiated it? But y'know, I didn't not kiss back?"

"I get what you mean." Yuuka bites her lip as she stares intently at my face. "Does he like you?"

"I'm pretty sure. We've basically spent the last few weeks together, and I've stayed over at his place a lot."

"Do you like him?" She really doesn't beat around the bush, does she?

"Yeah," I hide my face in my hands. "I think I'm gay. But not like fully gay? I still like girls, but I really like Takumi, and he's a guy." I feel myself starting to ramble, a clear sign that I'm panicking.

"It's called bisexual, buddy. Or pansexual, there's that too." Yuuka pats me on the back gently. She's taking this surprisingly well. There's a real look of clarity on her face. Everything is retroactively making sense to her now.

"Okay, maybe not the sex part though. Just like in general, I don't know, I'm just really confused." My hand reaches up to scratch the back of my neck. The thought of sex has always weirded me out. People always just told me it would be okay once I met the right person. Yet here I am, actually liking someone and the thought of sex still grosses me out.

"There's this thing called the asexual spectrum, you're probably on there just like me. Look it up and decided what one you like best. Take your time, you don't need to rush yourself."

"Thank you," I smile. The fact that Yuuka hasn't grown three heads and shoot fire at me is simply incredible to me. "I was really nervous about telling you."

"Why?" She squints a little. "You know that I'm bi, right?"

"I know that, Anako was the one that told me. She told me that you two made out once." I chuckle. "But Takumi was one of your best friends, so I wasn't sure how you'd react. And now… well, the issue is with him and not me."

I'm guessing Takumi was right. That Yuuka just got over what happened between us. I suppose she knew my motive, and that somehow made it okay. I still feel like I need to make it up to her though. I guess that will just come with time.

"Wait, are you implying that Takumi made you realise you were bi or whatever?"

"Yeah, why do you ask?" I feel myself blinking very quickly. Yuuka's face is ever so slightly crumpled. I'm afraid she's just gonna punch me in the face or something.

"Never tell him that, you'll never hear the end of it."

"He already knows," I shrug my shoulders awkwardly. Yuuka's face falls.

"You had one job."

"Shut up." I push her shoulder playfully while chuckling. For a moment, everything feels normal.

"You know what his ego is like." Yuuka rolls her eyes, and now she's giggling.

"You're right but you don't have to say it."

"When did you figure it out? Or what specifically?" She asks.

""I don't know. It hit me all of a sudden, I guess. I was just sitting there, then I just went fuck." I feel my eyebrows slowly raising. "I think it was just after you crashed that one time, pretty sure."

"So you liked Takumi before you figured out he was dating Kenta?" I nod. "That explains a lot, to be honest."

"Yeah…" I grimace. "I was very confused to say the least."

"I mean, if you're happy now, that's what matters."

Wow, I think to myself. I can't believe she's forgiving me this easily. I really don't deserve Yuuka as a sister, after everything I've done to her.

"I haven't really forgiven you," she says. "You're just moving towards it now."

A smile spreads across my face. She just read my thoughts. She cared enough to finally break down that barrier that's been between us for so long. "I guess that's all I can ask for. Resent and remember?"

"That's my motto." I sigh, but she just laughs. She's going to keep bringing this up while we're like sixty and retired, I just know it.

"Sometimes, I feel bad." Yuuka lets me continue, even though I can tell she has something to say. "Y'know, like, this is happening so soon after Kenta and Takumi broke up. I feel like I might have caused that."

"You didn't cause that," Yuuka shakes her head. "Kenta told me that they had been fighting for months over the whole taking Team Liberation a step further thing."

"Was that the night he came over here and got really drunk?"

"Yep, managed to get a date with Miguel that night too."

"Phantom Riders' Miguel?" I turn to look at her, very confused. The night they broke up? Geez, Kenta must have been very ready to break up with Takumi.

"Yep, the same one." She nods.

"Okay, I feel better about myself now." I sigh in relief. "If Kenta's moving on, then it's okay for me to kiss Takumi."

"You keep telling yourself that." She just told me that it's okay. Is she going back on her word? "You liking him doesn't make him any less of an asshole." Oh, there it is. She doesn't hate me anymore, but I think her hatred of Takumi has only increased.

"Leave me alone." I know Takumi has done some bad stuff, but that doesn't negate the fact that I like him still.

"Never." There's a beat of silence. "Did Takumi ever calm down about that thing?"

"The gang thing?"

"Yeah," she nods, "I was hoping he did."

"I don't know," I answer honestly. "He's stopped talking about it for now. He's waiting until the WRGP finishes, cause y'know, he's thinking that we're going to the final."

"You don't sound certain to me, and it's your team." She raises an eyebrow at me.

"Leave me and my anxiety alone."

"I know that you're not a functional human being, but at least have some faith in yourself." She exhales through her nose. I'm just waiting until I have the mental capacity to deal with Takumi again. That little bitch is going to get what's coming to him. It takes all of me not to sigh at Yuuka's thoughts.

"Hey, I'm sorry about keeping you from that match today." I finally say after a long pause. I look down at the floor to avoid looking into her eyes, while scratching the back of my neck. "I was going to talk to you last night, but I ended up staying over at Takumi's." Yuuka's face start to flush ever so slightly and her eyes narrow just a little bit. "Nothing happened after the kiss."

"Unusually tame for Takumi, but okay." She brushes it off so casually. I feel my face start to heat up. Did she really think that we… "No, stop that." She scolds.

"Leave me alone."

"I want burritos, you coming?" Yuuka says, standing up.

"Yuuka, it's noon."

"And? I want burritos."

"Alright, I guess." I shrug my shoulders and stand up too.

I'm surprised by how well that went. I explain to Yuuka why I did what I did. I want her to know. She just looks at me with sad eyes. I feel the thoughts of Raiden flash before my eyes. Her words are so powerful. I feel her experiences, as if muscle memory lingering in my fingertips.

"You can't change someone who doesn't want to change."

---

My next port of call is Emiko. Mostly because Shinji, Anako, and even Reika seem fine with me, especially now that I've told Yuuka. Emiko herself seems less okay with the idea.

"Are you ready for the match tomorrow?" I ask her after we have a practice duel. The Team New World duel is tomorrow. Emiko wanted to make sure that I get as much practice in as possible, even if she's the one sitting out this duel tomorrow.

"I have a bad feeling," she sighs. "I just can't shake it. Something's going to go wrong."

"It won't happen." I place my hand on her shoulder. She's not completely jerking away which is a victory. "We've got a good strategy. We're avoiding all Synchros because New World runs Anti-Synchro."

"Yeah, yeah." She mutters, trying to convince herself more than anyone else. "Hey, can I talk to you about that duel?"

"Sure," I nod. "Is it a pointer?"

"No, not really." There's a pause. "I just felt like I understood something about you. That you do things for the greater good."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You'll take risks." She nods slowly. "If it means that it will get you closer to the end. You know that phrase, the ends justify the means. You'd agree with that, wouldn't you?"

"I do," I answer. "Actually, that's something I wanted to talk to you about. Speaking of justifying the means-"

"That's why you betrayed Yuuka? I know."

"What do you mean you know?"

"You like Takumi, but not what he's doing." She sighs. "So, you tried to convince him to stop, lying to everyone around you. Kaoru, as much as you might say that you think you did the right thing, I have to disagree."

"I can't go back on that, can I?"

"That doesn't negate the fact that you hurt a lot of people, just to stop Takumi doing something stupid. You realise that if he tried anything, he probably would have failed by himself?"

"I couldn't stand by and watch that! I don't know how you expected me to do that."

"You sat by and watched Yuuka suffer." Her words cut like ice. "I know that's why you did it. As if it makes up for that. Kaoru, you were wrong, admit it."

"Fine!" I rub my hands over my face. "I don't know what else you want me to say."

"Then answer me something, Kaoru." Emiko's eyes are narrow and glassy. "Did you ever like me? Honestly."

"Emiko, I-"

"No," she interrupts me. "Tell me straight. You asked me out on several dates. The roller skating rink. You invited Anako because Yuuka was there. So why was I there? I thought it was because you liked me. I did, and that's the end of it. You invited me to a date location straight from the movies. Only to turn around and tell me a while later that you like some guy that I've never met before. All that, after years of sticking with you, busting my ass off for you trying to find Yuuka. Remember that list of shops? That took me eleven hours. I stayed up all night making it for you. You want to know why I did that? Because I couldn't bear to see you in any more pain. I learned stuff from advanced classes, stuff from the year above me, just to help you study. I've stayed by your side since we were literal fucking children. You want to know why, Kaoru? Because I loved you. And you knew, didn't you? You played ignorant. You ignored it. You ignored everything. You've taken me for granted, time and time again. I know you have. But I keep playing into your hand. You know why? Because I care too much. Now Kaoru, tell me the truth. Did you ever like me?"

Oh gods.

This is a lot to take in.

Emiko… liked me? I never knew.

"Emiko," is all I manage to splutter out. Emiko just bites her lip. "I-"

I take a deep breath. It's true what she's saying. I do take her for granted. It's not like I've been too kind to her since I found Yuuka. So much has happened since then. I've felt so far removed from my previous life that there's now a rift between us. I thought the roller skating would bridge it, but it looks like it's only pushed us further apart.

"I'm sorry," I manage to croak out. "I didn't mean for all of this to happen. I've treated you like shit, and this isn't what you deserve. I know I fucked up and all I want is your forgiveness." I feel myself starting to tear up. "I know what I did was wrong. Somehow, in my mind, it all made sense to me. I didn't mean to hurt everyone. I don't want to admit it because I can't go back and change it. Worst of all, I can't go back and change it so I never hurt you. I told you my biggest fear in becoming a psychic was hurting you, and that's still true. I was worried about hurting you with my powers. It turns out that I never needed to worry about that."

"Kaoru-" Tear begins streaming down Emiko's face.

"No, listen to me. I didn't know that you even liked me. I knew you care about me, sometimes a little too much. You were my friend when no one else. Hell, you were my only friend for basically the first fifteen years of my life. Regardless of whether you liked me or not, I shouldn't have treated you like. I'm sorry, and I only want you to forgive me."

"Kaoru…" She mutters, "Thank you. That means a lot to me. I know you didn't mean it, deep down." She smiles, just for a second. "But don't think that makes this okay. You gotta work for me to properly forgive you."

"That's what Yuuka told me, I didn't expect any more than that." That makes her giggle.

"That sounds like Yuuka."

"But you actually loved me?"

"For years, Kaoru. Since I was thirteen."

"Oh, I am so sorry."

"Why are you sorry?"

"That's a long time to love someone so stupid without them even knowing." Emiko finally laughs, and the sound ringing in my ears is beautiful.

"I mean, you're right."

"But you said loved."

"Yeah…" Emiko tenses. "Well my heart was shattered into a million pieces when you told me that you liked Takumi, so I've had some time to get over it."

"Oh, that's why you were crying." I say, fully stating the obvious. Emiko just looks at me with a vacant expression on her face.

"For the greater good of my sanity, please stop."

"Right, right."

"C'mon, give me a hug." Emiko practically throws herself at me.

"You know what." She mutters into my chest. "Things may not have turned out the way I wanted, but at least I still get your hugs."

"You mean still be my friend, right?"

"Yeah, that's exactly what I said."

---

Today is the day. The semifinals of the WRGP are finally here. Our match against Team New World is the first matchup of the round. Team Delta are likely to lose according to betting odds, but I don't let that affect me. It's just because Team New World is very well known. People like the comfort of a familiar name. At least you're still the heart throb of the tournament, Takumi told me. I repeated that to Yuuka and she told me to punch him in the face.

I wanted to go first, I told the team. My ace, Judgement Dragon, isn't a Synchro, so I'm the perfect lead against a team whose whole strategy is Anti-Synchro. Then, Shinji is second because Dragunitys don't focus on Synchros too much. Then finally, coming up in the rear is Anako with her non-Synchro Spellcaster deck. Emiko gets to sit this match out, rather reluctantly.

I can hear some people chanting my name in the crowd as I wait at the start line. I hear the syllables together, and it's oddly calming. I never thought that I could ever be in front of a large crowd and find it calming.

Once the duel starts, I get to take the first turn against the first rider, Luciano. My brain craves the scream of the crowd, something which has dimmed. I start to mill my deck for Judgement Dragon. I just can't get it into my hand. So, I push harder and I finally get it out on the field.

"Banish the shadows with the brightest of light and cast judgment upon your enemies! Special Summon! Appear, Judgment Dragon!"

The crowd screams as I summon my ace again. My deck mills. All the cards that got sent to the graveyard in my effort to summon Judgement Dragon have finally caught up to me. My deck is empty. I look at the cards I have set, nothing that can save me. The only card that could is in my graveyard. I'm going to deck out, and lose.

"The unthinkable has happened!" The MC screams when my next turn arrives. "Kaoru Sasaki has decked out! He will now pass the baton to Team Delta's second rider, Shinji Yamazaki!"

I lower myself to the ground once I get back into the pit. The only thing tethering me to the world around me is my D-Wheel that I'm leaning against. Anako and Emiko run over to me. It's only when Anako touches my arm that I realise that I'm gripping my hair so hard that I might just pull it all out. But, I can't move my arms, I can't move anything. I can barely get air into my lungs. My world is collapsing around me.

"We're going to lose," I keep repeating to myself, "and it's all my fault."

Anako and Emiko keep hovering around me, even though I can't make out what they're saying. Shinji comes back into the pit. I can only see everyone's shoes as they walk around. Anako leaves, but Emiko stays with me.

"That's it!" The MC's scream brings me back to reality, if even just for a few seconds. "Team Delta have suffered a crushing defeat to Team New World, who progress to the final. The big question is who will face them? Team Ragnarok or Team 5D's? We find out at the last semi-final match tomorrow!"

I bring myself to slowly look around the pit. The despair is so thick in the air that I can almost taste the salt in their tears. Reika and Shinji are clinging to each other for dear life. Emiko runs to Anako and hugs her as she returns to the pit. The only sound in the pit is that of a soft sob. Emiko pulls back for just a second, her hands find their way to Anako's face. She pulls Anako's face forward, their lips meeting in the middle. Then, on top of all that, Anako kisses her.

Then, as quickly as that happened, everyone seems to forget about it. We're left to stew in our sorrow. The silence in here is deafening. Only one thought keeps running through my head, and it refuses to be silenced. It's my fault that we lost, and everyone knows it.

---

I just go straight home. I don't even look at the press, I don't even talk to my friends. I can't bring myself to. When I get home, luckily before my mom, I just throw myself on my bed and lie there facedown with my head resting on my forearms. I don't answer when my mom knocks on the door. She peeks in, she closes the door after a few seconds of me not responding.

Flashes of the duel keep playing in my mind. The noise of the crowd becomes more and more distorted. I hear them mocking me, blaming me. It's more than I can handle.

There's a knock on the door again. I feel Yuuka's presence outside my door. "Hey buddy?" She says through the door. I don't respond. "It's not your fault." I hear her sigh. "Kaoru?"

"Go away." I manage to croak out. Can't she understand what I'm going through? Isn't she the queen of closing herself off when something bad happens?

"No, I'm not going away. I just wanna talk."

I tell her fine mentally. She slowly opens the door. The light from the open door illuminates my nearly pitch dark room.

"Don't turn on the light." I tell her. I can't deal with bright light right now.

"Bitch, I can't see." I tug on my curtain, letting more than just a sliver of light in. I guess this is more than enough for her because I hear her grab my chair and sit next to the bed. I turn my head slightly so I can look at her. She sits there silently. She's waiting until I say something.

"Why do I keep fucking up?" I place my forehead back on my arms so I don't have to look at her.

"You're not always fucking up." She pats my arm gently, but it does no good. "It happens to all of us."

"Not in the semifinal of all places." I scoff, burying my head further into my arms.

"I messed up while dueling Raiden and I got thrown through a wall and had a building collapse on top of me. There are worse things." I can tell by the tone in her voice that she's trying to make me feel better. All that does is bring back horrid memories.

"But I messed up in front of a crowd of thousands." There's a pause of silence. I listen to Yuuka's thoughts. She's noticed the scratch marks on my arms. I should have pulled down my sleeves before letting her come in.

"I nearly died. We get over it." I finally turn my head so I'm looking at her again.

"Okay, maybe we're not dead, but I still feel bad." I exhale through my nose. I notice Yuuka's face falling.

"What do you do to make yourself feel better?"

"I don't know. I just normally lie here until the nauseous feeling goes away." Yep, classic anxiety attack.

"I just attach myself to Yusei until my head stops hurting." She answers without me asking her.

"I don't care," I squint at her. "I don't want to know what you do with your boyfriend." Yuuka looks like she gets an idea and takes out her phone. "What are you doing?"

"You'll see," she answers. I try to read her thoughts, but she's purposely blocking me out. "So, aside from the thing, how are you doing?"

"Okay, I guess." Why is she asking this? What does she want to know?"

"Yeah, that's good." She nods before standing up. "I'm gonna get you some food, you need it."

"No offense, but I don't think I can eat right now."

"I understand the feeling, but I'm going to ignore that." I sit in silence while Yuuka's gone. In the meantime, the cat my mom adopted recently decides to hop onto my back. Somehow, while I was spending all my time with Takumi, my mom adopted a cat without telling me. The cat, Mrs. Whiskers as named by Yuuka, isn't normally allowed into my room, but Yuuka left the door open so she was able to come in.

"Get her off me," I say once I feel Yuuka's aura re enter the room. Yuuka throws the junk food in her arms near my head. I feel something soft hit my head directly. She takes the cat off my back and into her arms.

"Eat your junk food, dumbass." She says as I sit up. I pick up a bar of chocolate from my pillow. "Junk food is what I eat when I'm like that."

"You get like that too?" I ask before taking a bite. I know she gets the shakes too, but I didn't know she got full blown anxiety attacks too.

"Yeah," she sighs. "One time, I scratched my arm so hard, it started bleeding. The scars went away after like a week. Don't do that, not a fun time." I just nod, not knowing what else to say. "How are things going with Takumi?" She changes the topic of conversation.

"Good, good." I can't met her eyes. Talking about Takumi with her will be awkward for me until things are right between them again. "I don't think we're official yet, but we basically are." He hasn't kissed me since that night. But we constantly talk and I'm just waiting for a conversation about where we are.

"Cool," Yuuka says before her phone buzzes and she immediately goes downstairs. I hear the front door open and close. I finish my chocolate bar. I try to read Yuuka's thoughts as she's no longer blocking me out. She's at the front door, talking to Takumi. I decide to go downstairs.

"I'm not Raiden, y'know." Takumi says as I open the door. "Too soon?" Neither of them notice me.

"Raiden what now?" I ask. Both of them freeze, turning to look at me. I feel myself starting to flush at the mere sight of Takumi.

"Nothing important," Yuuka says, patting my arm. She makes a beeline for the garage, and her D-Wheel. "Conversation for another day, now go be gay or something."

There's silence after Yuuka leaves us, except for the roar her D-Wheel makes as it leaves the garage. "Want to come inside?" I ask Takumi. He nods and I bring him up to my room.

"Hey," Takumi begins once we sit down on my bed. "How are you holding up?"

"Not well," I answer honestly. "It feels like shit, knowing that I'm the reason we lost."

"Now don't say that." Takumi scolds gently. "How could you have known what would happen after that? You guys just got really unlucky."

"I don't know, it just feels like it's my fault and everyone blames me."

"Don't listen to that voice inside your head." Takumi places a finger on my forehead. "It's always wrong and you know that. You're a great duelist and person. Your friends love you. They don't blame you. You are good enough."

"Thank you," I sigh with a smile.

We descend into silence, but it's comfortable. Takumi squeezes my hand with his. It's so comforting. I keep returning the gesture. I can't keep the small smile off my face. What is it about Takumi that is so comforting? He feels like home. It's then that I realise that this is more than I ever imagined. And for once in my life, I just accept that as it is.

---

I can't believe I'm going to do this. I'm about to change my entire life. I can guarantee that it will never be the same. I'm finally going to tell my mom that I'm gay, and that I'm a psychic. I'm honestly more worried about the psychic thing.

I knock on Yuuka's door. I asked her to come over, so she can be here to support me. I can't do this on my own. And my mom met Takumi yesterday as he was leaving after comforting me. I just open the door without waiting for a response.

Yuuka just stares at me as I enter the room from where she is on her bed. She gives me a look up and down. Red flannel and blue skinny jeans, which is what she told me to wear. "That's Takumi's shirt, isn't it?" She groans.

"Maybe," I avoid her eyes. He may have lent it to me after I stayed over at his place, and I may not have given it back yet.

"Why do you do this to me?" She gets off the bed, standing up. "What are we doing anyway?"

"Well," I gulp. I forgot that I didn't tell her why I asked her to come over. I move my eyes to our mom's bedroom door, hoping she gets the idea.

"Oh," her mouth makes an o shape as the realisation spreads across her face. "That was pretty quick."

"Can't really hide it, can I?"

"I suppose," she shrugs her shoulders. "Considering he was over yesterday and then I called you gay, she probably saw this coming."

"If it makes my life easier, then I'm not going to complain." I stick my hands in my pockets and keep shifting my weight from leg to leg. Anything to keep the nerves at bay. "Who else do I know that's gay?" I keep my voice low because I know that she's downstairs.

"If we're talking gay in the sense of not straight, like, everyone we know." Yuuka says very casually.

"What?" I mutter. "Even like Yusei and the others?"

"Yusei's panromantic," she explains, "he doesn't care what gender people are. Which is good for me, cause I don't really identify as any gender even though I present as female." Her face scrunches in thought. "Even all of the gang people we know too. Raiden is the only one that's hundred percent straight basically." She nods slowly. "Well, I mean Reika likes guys, but you know since she's asexual and is also agender, we don't really count her. That's honestly about it. We have a way of finding each other, I guess." She can't be serious, that's so many people. I guess Psycho isn't just a psychic club. "Dude, Raiden's the only straight psychic I've ever known, get over it. Maybe Divine, but that's about it. Geez, something about being marginalized for something beyond our control. What am I talking about being psychic or gay?"

"That's a fair point."

"Are you ready?" She asks, changing the topic.

"I don't know. Are you?" Yuuka makes a face when she realises exactly how nervous I am. Oh gods, I can't bare this anymore. "Okay, come on. We're getting this over with."

"Kaoru, honey, can you put some coffee on please?" Mom calls for me as soon as she hears me coming down the stairs. Yuuka's trying not to laugh. I just roll my eyes and head straight into the kitchen. "Oh Yuuka, I didn't know you were here." I hear her saying from the sitting room as Yuuka goes in there.

"I just got here," Yuuka lies.

I put on the kettle. I turn around to see our cat on the table, where she isn't allowed. "Mrs. Whiskers, get off the table!" I scold her. I pick her up, and put her by the door to the sitting room and open it. Thankfully, she goes inside, that should make Yuuka happy. The kettle finishes boiling quickly, for once. I make Yuuka a cup of coffee too. I probably shouldn't feed her addiction like this, but she would probably get mad if I didn't make her one.

"I made you one too," I say as I hand Yuuka her cup after I hand our mom her cup. "Cause you always want coffee." Just as Yuuka takes the cup, Mrs. Whiskers jumps out of her lap, settling between Yuuka and our mom on the big couch. Since that seat is taken, I sit on the other, smaller couch.

"Oh yes, it's so true." Yuuka smiles happily with her coffee.

Why aren't you drinking your old man tea? I hear Yuuka ask me mentally.

The caffeine makes my anxiety worse, I answer. Since apparently, green tea is full of caffeine. That's something Yuuka only told me recently, since she's a caffeine expert or something.

"Are you not having anything, son?" My mom asks, picking up on it too. Do I really drink that much green tea? Am I slowly turning to Yuuka, but with green tea instead of coffee? I hope not. What's next? Me drinking alcohol?

"Uh, no." I mutter back.

"Why not? Is something wrong?" She says before taking a sip.

"Well," I move a hand to the back of my neck, "kind of." My gaze shifts from Yuuka to our mom. Yuuka nods ever so slightly at me. "I have something to tell you."

"I know you're gay, son, it's okay." My mom cuts me off before I even get to say anything.

"I'm-" I start to say. Then, it hits me. "W-Wait, what?"

"I know that you're gay, I've always known."

"And you're… okay with that?" I'm blinking really fast. My hands are shaking. This can't be real. Surely, she should be having a bigger reaction than this.

"Yes, of course, why wouldn't I? I still love and support you, honey." She chuckles at the shock that clearly painted on my face. "I've been expecting this for a while. A few months ago, you said you were bringing a friend home. I thought you were bringing home a boy, so I put makeup and everything! Nope, you just showed up with your sister."

"That would explain a lot." Yuuka says, sipping her coffee. "Am I the only person who didn't see this coming?"

"Probably," our mom chuckles again. At least Yuuka and I were in this together. "Aren't you bi? You should have clocked him."

"Yep, he's bi too actually." Yuuka shrugs her shoulders. I would have liked to make that correction myself.

"That's okay too." My mom nods slowly at me with a wide smile.

"I thought it was funny, because I used to beat up the people who beat him up for being gay. I never realised." Yuuka pauses for a second. "Still would have beat them up either way."

"And you call your brother oblivious." Our mom sighs.

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Yuuka mutters into her cup of coffee.

"Because you're an idiot," I say matter-of-factly. Yuuka looks positively offended, as if it isn't true. I turn back to our mom. "Actually, there's another thing too. I-"

"You're a psychic too?" My mom cuts me off again. Can't I come out to her properly? Is this a guessing game or something? "Why else would you go looking for her?"

"Well yeah," I blink slowly. I still have to come to terms with everything. Did I lose sleep over nothing?

"I still love you, son." She gets up off the couch, pulling me into a hug. She stretches her arm out for Yuuka to join. She reluctantly gets up and joins us. "And you, Yuuka. It's okay. You're still my kids and I love the both of you." She pats both of your heads, despite the fact that both of our heads are above her. But still, we feel like an actual family for once. Something I thought I'd never get.

"I can't believe you thought I'd reacted badly to that news." She scoffs, completely ruining the moment. I can't help but chuckle. That's just this family, isn't it? Even disregarding how much they look like, Yuuka's a lot more like our mom that she cares to admit.

---

Once I come out to my mom, the reality of my life seems to come crashing back down. I realise that no one in Team Delta has talked to each other since we lost. I sent everyone a text, that they don't reply to. I guess we're still mourning our defeat. I guess I'll just give them more time. Somehow, our defeat just feels like one of the many trainwrecks going on in my life right now. I've just accepted that.

Speaking of trainwrecks, I watch the WRGP Final with Takumi at my house. Thankfully, my mom isn't home. The match is Team 5D's versus Team New World, just like everyone expected. It's a little bittersweet to think that Yuuka is sitting in the pit, where I had hoped to be. I don't dwell on it. I'm happy for them. We would have been the ones facing them anyway. I guess it was meant to be.

Jack Atlas makes quick work of Team New World's first two riders. That means that Jack Atlas defeated more of Team New World than Team Delta combined, since we couldn't even defeat Luciano. Then again, Jack's Scarlet Nova Dragon is the perfect counter. That doesn't require milling your deck for, my own mind mocks me.

Team New World's final rider, Jose, comes out onto the track. He then proceeds to fuse with his D-Wheel.

"Dude, what the fuck?" Takumi screams at the TV. "Team New World are cyborgs?"

"Guess so," I answer nonchalantly.

"How are you not panicking?"

"It's Yuuka's team." I shrug my shoulders. "They've seen some weird shit. This is probably just a regular duel for them."

"Like what?"

"Dead people coming back to life, trying to get revenge on them, and trying to bring about the apocalypse. Remember the big fire around Arcadia? That was the dead people, apparently. And if Yuuka asks, I didn't tell you that."

"What the fuck?" Takumi mutters to himself as we continue to watch the duel. The duel starts back up, and an infinity symbol glows around Jack and Jose. Jack says something about taking real damage.

"Real damage? Are they psychics or is this just because they're cyborgs?"

"I don't have an answer to that. Remind me to ask Yuuka." I try to reach out to her mentally, but I can hear from her thoughts that she's too busy for that.

Jack and Crow get taken out reasonable quickly once Jose summons his Machine Emperor. Crow sacrifices himself to let Yusei start with an advantage.

Jose starts talking about mankind's foolishness, and a future of ruin. Is this just part of the cyborg thing? Like they're playing it up for the cameras.

Then again, maybe not.

Luciano, Placido and Jose rise into the sky in a bright light. When it clears, a single person- or cyborg- descends and joins with not one, but three, D-Wheels. Apparently, this fucker's called Aporia, and all of Team New World was actually just different parts of him.

"Kaoru, am I high?"

"Unfortunately, no."

He speaks about the future he came from. One where Synchro Monsters destroyed everything, leaving him alone in the world. It almost sounds silly, but given the current situation, I have no choice but to believe his words. Our world is, too, destined for that path. Would Yusei winning prevent that? Yusei seems to believe so, and I trust him. No future is set in stone. It's something we create for ourselves.

Yusei summons the aces of Jack and Crow, alongside his own, and takes down Aporia in one swoop. Aporia and his D-Wheel plummet into the Sound, and explode, sending a plume of smoke into the air. With that, Team 5D's wins the WRGP.

"Do you think they saved the future?" Takumi mutters.

"We just have to hope so."

The room becomes unbearingly silent, aside from the post-match talk coming from the TV. I think it's because we both slowly have to come to terms with the fact that we don't get much of a say in our fates. Will that always have to fall to the Signers? Will our world cease to exist if the Signers lose a duel? Has fate always been this cruel?

There's a sudden crash. Takumi jumps onto his feet, out of pure instinct, knocking over our nearly empty bowl of popcorn. "That came from outside." The natural light filling the sitting room slowly dims, until the light of the TV is the only thing keeping us from pure darkness. I stand up and grab Takumi's hand. I lead him to the front door, through the darkness of the hallway.

Other people has started gathering outside. I look around the street. None of the neighbours are talking to each other, just staring at the sky in shock. I slowly turn, to look where the sun would be. Takumi grips my hand harder. I don't flinch at the pain.

There is a giant island in the sky, blocking out the sun. The thin strip of blue sky that separates it and the Neo Domino City skyline is getting ever so slightly smaller.

"We're going to die!" I hear someone scream. "Run!" "It's falling!"

I pull Takumi back inside the house. The TV broadcast has stopped. The sound of static fills my ears. The gentle grey light barely illuminates Takumi's face. We stand in silence. It's the end of the world as we know it. Then, the power goes out.

My eyes start to well up. Is this the end? I listen for Yuuka's thoughts. She's panicking, very badly. The Ark Cradle is going to fall, destroying the City. Takumi holds onto me for dear life. Should we stay, or run?

I don't get the choice, as we get the evacuation message. Just as it finishes, my mom arrives home. We pack a small bag of bare essentials. I pack an extra set for Takumi. My mom takes the first ever photo of Yuuka and I together once she got into the City. I turn around and grab the photo of Yuuka, Emiko and I in Duel Academy, a simpler time when we all had big smiles on our faces.

We leave the house, and follow the crowd leaving the suburbs. The Ark Cradle is moving ever faster, on a collision path with the City. The lack of electricity and Moment means that every single person has to evacuate on foot. My mom separates from us to find her sisters. I reluctantly let her go. Takumi convinces me to. I say goodbye to my mom, for what very well may be the last time.

I try reach out to Yuuka. For once, she lets me in. Are you okay? I ask her. They're telling us to evacuate. What's with that thing in the sky? Do you know what's going on?

Kaoru, she addresses me. I know what's going on but I wouldn't dare to try and explain it now. It's not the time or place for that. Just know that I'm going to stop it. Listen to what Security say and get out as fast as you can. Take Kasumi and get as far away as you can, don't look back. Don't think about me until everything is over, I'm going to fight. If… anything happens to me, you can take my D-Wheel and my deck. You can do whatever you want with them. Give everything else to Yusei, he'll know what to do with it. ...Just don't forget me, okay?

Yuuka, what are you talking about?

Listen. I know this is dangerous but it's the only way. Just remember that you're the best brother anyone could ask for, and I love you.

I keep calling out to her, becoming only more and more panicked.

Kaoru, I love you but I'm going to cut the mental connection off until this is over. If the worst happens, I don't want you to experience it. I'll see you on the other side.

I try calling out to her again, but I feel our mental connection snap. Not like before, where I could still hear whispers of her thoughts if I tried hard enough. Now, I feel alone, more than I have ever felt. Tears start streaming down my face, but Takumi keeps pulling me forward with the crowd. I look up at him. He looks like he's barely keeping it together.

Yuuka and Team 5D's are going up into the Ark Cradle. I can feel it. Just because Yuuka has severed our mental connection, it doesn't mean that everything is lost. Shinji, Reika and Emiko are all texting me to make sure that I'm okay. Anako's phone is dead, but she's safe with Emiko. They ask for updates on Yuuka. I reluctantly tell them where she's going.

She must have known this was going to happen.

Is this why she disappeared for a week? Is this why she's been so secretive? Wait, I've seen the Ark Cradle before in her dreams. She knew all along. She kept that burden to herself. That's why she's going up there, because this is her burden to bear.

I try not to look back at the City or the Ark Cradle, and just keep going forward. It's just too painful.

"If we die-"

"Takumi, please-"

"I'm just glad you were by my side."

"Me too." I don't know what to say. We're staring death in the face. It's hard finding words. Takumi just squeezes my hand as we continue walking.

"I am Z-One," a voice booms. The entire crowd looks back to the Ark Cradle. There's a projection all around it. It looks like some sort of machine with a mask. "The Ark Cradle will soon destroy Neo Domino City, and a new future will begin. You will be living witnesses. The sky will be the duel field. Come, Yusei Fudo. Aporia gave his power to that D-Wheel."

Aporia? Didn't he crash into the Sound and die? Why would he help Yusei?

Who is the Z-One? And what does he want?

Right from the start, Z-One seems unbeatable. His Timelords just look too powerful. Yusei manages to summon the aces of Jack, Crow and Aki without much hassle. Because of this, Yusei is able to deal 1500 points of damage to Z-One. Some people around us cheer. We're walking away from the City, but most of us can't help but look back at the projections.

There's silence. Z-One crashed into a set of low hanging buildings in the Ark Cradle, he slowly emerges, and my blood runs cold.

"Saviour?" He says. Just from that, I feel the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. "Yusei Fudo, you gave the people hope many times before."

"What do you mean?" Yusei asks, sounding as confused as I feel.

"In my future, your heroic tale was... inspiring." The projections in the sky focus on Z-One's mask. It's starting to chip from the damage he just took. Tiny shards start falling away at the cracks. There's a tease of dark, wrinkled skin underneath.

"My heroic tale?" Yusei echoes. The cracks in the mask grow, joining together. Piece by piece, the left side of the mask falls away. I spot the yellow of a marker standing out against the dark skin.

"You're… Z-One, who are you?" Yusei's voice shakes, entirely unsure what to make of this.

"Hm, since you've seen my face, I should answer. Yusei Fudo, I am your future self."

"What?"

"In the future, humanity's yearning for evolution was insatiable, causing Moment to go out of control." Z-One explains. "That was the beginning of everything. Moment is an engine that reads people's desires. Evolution led to evil ideas, such as temptation and greed, taking over people's hearts, so Moment went out of control. It infected the worldwide network with a certain idea. That if nothing changes, the world will be destroyed. Humans are the cause, so they must be eliminated. In order to save that world from destruction, I led the people. You are me."

Gasps and screams erupt from the crowd around us. I cling to Takumi, who keeps me from falling. Takumi's face looks completely calm, but his eyes tell a different story. Is it true? Yuuka became a Dark Signer to kill Yusei, now Yusei's future self is trying to kill us all. How much more tragedy can those two endure?

The projection goes silent as it just focuses on Z-One's and Yusei's faces. Some people stop moving, while some only move quicker. Takumi slowly begins to move again, but my feet can barely support me anymore, yet alone keep me going.

Z-One can't be Yusei, no matter what he says. Even if he once was Yusei, the second he decided to destroy the City, he stopped being Yusei. The Yusei I know would never do anything like that.

Things only get worse from there. Z-One summons three Timelords onto his field instead of one. Z-One regains the damage that Yusei just dealt. Yusei goes down to 1500 life points in the blink of an eye.

"No matter what, I won't give up! I do not believe in saving the future by destroying the City! You are not me!" Despite everything, Yusei refuses to give up.

"I was looking for a way to save the world from destruction. I realised something about the machine army, its power source was Moment. And what powers Moment? The Yusei Particles that were my namesake. They read people's souls, so I knew I had to make people behave morally. But the desires and negative feelings of arrogant people were things that I couldn't change with my own hands. I tried. Believe me, I did. I was Yusei Fudo, the supposed saviour of Neo Domino City. I was a legendary hero who faced all obstacles and never gave up. I knew that I had to become the hero believed me to be."

So, what Z-One is saying that we, the people of the Neo Domino, caused its destruction in the first place?

"Eventually, my people once again remembered to help each other, understand each other, and the machine army stopped attacking us. I began to feel that the world would be saved. However... There wasn't enough time left to spread the message to everyone. Due to people's negativity, Moment finally started to spin negatively towards destruction. The affected network selected the path of destruction. In the end, I wasn't able to save a single person. I lost that which was most important to me. It wasn't possible to change people's hearts. And I reached my current conclusion. In order to save the world, I must erase the Moment that our father created and Neo Domino City from history."

Is the world really doomed? Is history going to repeat itself?

Z-One summons five Timelords to his field. Are we destined to always follow that path towards destruction? People are still as shitty as they were then.

Yusei asks why Z-One went down that path. He lost Yuuka is what he says. Z-One's Yuuka died, and that's why he is the way he is now. The loss was too big for him, he was alone in the world. He concluded that changing the past was the only way to save the future.

Yusei, barely, survives the attacks of the five Timelords.

Everything feels so grim. Barely anyone cheered when Yusei survived an attack after it looked like he would lose. Takumi and I are clinging to each other, not saying a word. It's unsettling. We're staring near-certain death in the face, and we know it.

"I would congratulate you for surviving, but you have little time left." Z-One says. "he Ark Cradle will soon collide with Neo Domino City, destroying that detestable Moment." Just as he says it, a building dislodges itself from the Ark Cradle hits the City.

People begin to scream as a giant dust cloud flies up into the air. I start coughing. The city centre may seem far away from where we are now, but it isn't. If the Ark Cradle falls right now, the resulting destruction would take out every single person evacuating right now.

Another building falls.

I hear children crying for their mothers. I stop for a moment, looking around. I feel my mind playing tricks on me. For just a second, I hear Yuuka screaming. There's a burning sensation in my chest. I get a glimpse of Yuuka in the crowd, even though I know it's impossible. Her hair has grown all the way down to her waist. Her eyes look at me with pity. There's an emotion in her eyes that I can't quite explain.

"Kaoru, there's nothing you can do. Let's keep going."

We keep moving. I can't tell who's going to win this duel anymore. Hopefully we'll be far enough from the City by the time Ark Cradle falls that we won't instantly die.

"Even if Moment vanishes from history, if humanity's evolution leads to desire and temptation, there's no difference from the future you lived in! Can you still say that the world is saved? In order to truly save the future, everyone's hearts must move in the correct direction, and we must create a future where we can flourish together with Moment!" Yusei raises a clenched fist. "If we don't save the present, then the future won't be saved either! We won't be able to save anyone." He stretches his arm straight out to point at Z-One. "Isn't that right, Z-One? I will find a way to save the future!" There's a pause. "I know now," Yusei continues, "I'm not carrying the burden of destiny alone. Everyone in the City is rooting for me. They are giving me power. I see!" He shoots right up beyond the Ark Cradle. "In order to surpass my own limits, I can't do it with just my own power! I must unite my friends' thoughts and form our bond. The bond between Team 5D's make that possible!"

Yusei tunes all of Team 5D's aces, summoning a new monster, Shooting Quasar Dragon. The monster takes out all five of Z-One's Timelords, at the cost of itself. It leaves Shooting Star Dragon in its place, and Z-One with 700 life points.

"A counterattack straight from the soul!" I hear a voice shouting. Could that be the MC from the WRGP? His voice leaves a ringing in my ears. "A surging wave of six attacks! See that, Z-One? This is Yusei's... I mean, Team 5D's inner strength! Z-One has 700 life points left! Win for us, Yusei! The future of Neo Domino City rests on your shoulders!"

The entire crowd has come to a halt. Everyone's eyes are on the projections. Somehow, Yusei has inspired hope in us. Almost as if he had broken open the door to a better future right in front of us. Then, just as the smoke clears, there's another door waiting.

Z-One summons his ultimate ace, Sephylon, the Ultimate Timelord, who's attack points shoot up to 20000, when four other Timelords are summoned.

"I haven't given up on my future yet!" Yusei shouts over the wailing of the crowd around me. Yusei activates a trap that lets him summon Stardust Dragon, and lets it gain attack points for every Dragon-Type Synchro Monsters in his grave. The dragon grows to a magnificent size as it reaches 23000 attack points.

The other Timelords attack like a shield for Sephylon. Stardust Dragon break through that shield, one Timelord at a time. As the final attack lands, Yusei wins the duel. The impact of the attack sends Z-One flying, a fiery explosion ruptures from where he landed.

"It's finally over!" I hear the MC roar. "A miraculous duel! With a miraculous huge come-from-behind victory, leading to Neo Domino City to our future is our hero, Yusei Fudo!"

As soon as the MC finishes, the crowd erupts into a deafening cheer. People are hugging each other, even people they don't know. I throw myself at Takumi. I try to ignore Yuuka's thoughts niggling their way into the back of my mind. It's not over, is it? I try to ask her, but she doesn't respond.

Then, just as quickly as the joy spread through the crowd, it gets swallowed up, back into despair. The rainbow light that was being emitted from the Ark Cradle disappears entirely. I think it may just be the Ark Cradle stopping once and for all, but I am wrong. The Ark Cradle itself begins to rumble. The buildings that cling to it begin to slide down. Chunks of debris fall, hitting the Neo Domino City skyline.

The crowd screams and begins to run. I don't know what compels me, but I start running back towards the City.

"Kaoru!" Takumi screams after me. He sprints after me. I keep dodging the people that are running straight towards me. Takumi catches up to me and grabs my wrist. "What are you doing?"

"I have to save her!" I keep repeating. I try to get out of his grasp, but he only holds onto me tighter. "She's up there, Takumi. I can't just let her die! I have to do something!"

"Kaoru, there's no point fighting. There's nothing you can do."

"Maybe I can use my powers to stop it!" I scream back, tears in my eyes. "Maybe I could do something instead of running away!"

"Kaoru," he pleads. "This can only end badly. You could die."

"You're one to talk!" It hurts when Takumi's face falls. "I thought you were supposed to understand. My sister is going to die if I don't do something, so please." My tears turn into sobs, sobs turn into uncontrollable shaking. "Please, let me save her." I just stare at Takumi, waiting for him to say something, anything.

He doesn't say anything, because he kisses me instead.

"I love you," he says softly. Any thoughts of impending doom and death swiftly leave my head. All I do is stare at his face. A smile spreads across my face. Takumi's face slowly falls, but it keeps its softness.

"What?" I whisper.

"I'm sorry," he whispers back. "I realise now, why I was wrong. I thought I could change the world by taking it over. I've caused everyone so much pain, and I'm sorry."

"What?" I repeat.

"Because I just realised something." I nod at him, prodding him to continue. "Sometimes, you have to learn to stop fighting and protect what you already have."

There's silence. Everything around us suddenly seems to disappear. All I can see is him.

"I love you too," I finally respond. He kisses me again.

Once again, everyone around us erupt into cheer. We break apart very suddenly, looking around us. Everyone's attention is turned to the sunrise. Takumi and I turn to look too. The Ark Cradle is simply fading away, allowing the first daylight to shine. Takumi barely looks at the sight, the sunrise we thought we'd never see, so he can kiss me again.

As soon as he lets go of my face, Emiko runs past us, practically dragging Anako behind her. I call out to them. But Emiko just keeps running.

"She has the right idea," Takumi says.

"What?"

"Since the City didn't go out with a bang, you might as well give it one." I punch Takumi's arm so he shuts up.

"Don't get any ideas."

"I was only saying-" My glare stops him in his tracks. "So, what are we?" Takumi finally asks the dreaded question.

"I assumed we were more than friends." I shrug my shoulders.

"I mean, me too."

"So, do you wanna be official?"

"Are you going to ask me? Officially?" This causes Takumi to chuckle.

"Kaoru Sasaki, will you do me the honour of being my boyfriend?"

"Of course, I will." I kiss his cheek, and squeeze the hand that I'm still holding.

"Oh thank the gods," he sighs in relief. "I was so worried that you were going to say no." He jokes.

"Sure," I respond in an equally joking tone. "Come on, let's go home." I say, starting to walk back.

---

A full twenty-four hours pass once the Ark Cradle disappears, and I still haven't heard from Yuuka. I know she's alive. Her thoughts are distorted, but they're definitely there.

I make my way to Poppo Time, alone. Takumi tried to come with me, but I made him stay at home. There's something wrong with Yuuka, I can feel it. I know she wouldn't want Takumi there to make things worse. I don't even knock. I just walk into the garage. Yusei, Jack and Crow turn around suddenly. I'm probably not who they expected.

"Where is she?" I ask. "She hasn't called me, and I know she's alive." The guys answer upstairs, horrendously out of sync. I take two steps at a time. I can feel Yuuka's aura in the kitchen. While normally it's hard to detect because ours are so similar, it's unmistakable now. It's stronger now than it ever has been. Even more powerful than when she went berserk, as much as I don't want to think about that.

"Yuuka?" I call as I reach the top of the stairs. "Yuuka-" I look around the room. She's standing in the little kitchenette. For a second, I almost don't recognise her. Just like she appeared in that crowd for a split second, her hair was grown down to her waist. "What- What happened?" I ask her, my voice barely above a whisper. Yuuka shakes her head, her eyes welling up with tears.

If… anything happens to me. Yuuka's words just before she went into the Ark Cradle ring in our heads. But she's here, alive, in front of me. She's so scared. She's shaking and nearly crying. I pull her into a hug. Sobs start to rack her body. I can feel her tears soaking into my jacket. I rub her back, trying to calm her down. Memories flash through my mind, but they're neither mine nor Yuuka's. The memories feel so foreign to me. Yuuka cries until she runs out of tears, which is quickly. She have already been crying.

I pull away from the hug and pat her head. "Your hair…" I say softly. I don't know what else to say. It's so long. Seeing her with long hair just feels unnatural, when it's only been so short. Yuuka meets my eyes, and I get to see them up close. Under her eyes almost looks bruised from the tiredness that's consumed her. Then, I notice something strange about her eyes. "Yuuka," I begin, "your eyes, they're different." The look on her face makes me realise that she doesn't know. I let her look at camera in my phone. Yuuka's pupils are rimmed with orange, surrounded by the normal pink colour. Something that definitely wasn't there before. It's then that I realise that the colour orange in Yuuka's eyes matches my own, something I can't understand. "What happened? That colour… It's the colour they turn when you start using your powers too much. What happened when you were gone, Yuuka?"

Yuuka shakes her head and steps back. I take my phone from her hand. She keeps stepping back until her back hits the wall. It must have been the Crimson Dragon, I hear her thoughts. What did I do to deserve this? Couldn't have Z-One just saved Yusei himself and I die because I fell off the Ark Cradle? Oh gods, what has she been through? I walk forward and pull her into another hug. "Everything's going to be okay," I keep repeating to her. She doesn't believe me. Maybe if I keep saying it, eventually she will believe it. I let go of her when she stops shaking it. I pat her on the head again.

"Come on," I say as I head back downstairs. Yuuka says nothing, but eventually follows me. "Please tell me that's all over." I say once I'm far enough into the garage.

"What's all over?" Crow asks, rubbing his hands over his cheeks. It's then I notice that it's not only Yuuka that looks like shit. Crow looks like he's seen hell, and he's nothing compared to Yusei.

"That Z-One guy, or whatever his name was." I wave my hand. "Please tell me that's he dead."

"Yeah, he went out with the Ark Cradle." Crow sighs and brushes a hand through his mop of hair.

"Good," I answer, "he deserves to rot in a ditch. That's what he gets for trying to destroy the City."

"No!" Yuuka screams out. Her voice is strained, like the venom of those words nearly killed her. I scan the faces of everyone else in the room. They seem just as shocked as I am. "No." She repeats. She takes a deep breath. She's trembling at the mere weight of her words. Her aura is rising and falling like the tide, about to break through the dam. I take the slightest step back from her. There's suddenly static in the air, and it's hard to breathe. Is she only doing this because she's upset? Has she become even stronger? That's what her eyes seem to say. "You don't knew him like I did. How could you say that? You don't know what he went through!"

"Yuuka…" My eyes are wide and focusing on Yuuka. My face hardens along with hers. "I don't care if he's Yusei from the future, or some random maniac pretending to be him. He's still a psychopath who tried to destroy the City."

"Excuse you! You don't know what he went through! None of you do!" Yuuka's voice is trembling. "And you're glad he's dead. You're pretending he was some fantasy villain, and not a person like you or me. He still had feelings! I can't believe you. Any of you!"

"Yuuka!" I shout as she starts to run out the door. I try to grab her arm but she moves too fast for me. She leaves the door wide open.

"Fuck sake." Crow mutters under his breath.

"What was that?" I turn to the three in confusion.

"She hasn't spoken since we got back." Crow explains. "And that's what she says?"

"Not even to you?" I turn to Yusei.

"We're not on great terms right now." Yusei avoids my eyes completely. I try to scan Yuuka's mind for answers, but instead, I get nothing.

"Right," I answer bluntly, not knowing what else to say. Of course they're not, I suddenly realise. Z-One is Yusei. That must be something that's hard to come to grips with, especially when you're that close. "Text me if she's not back by tonight."

Crow: shes not back

It's still early in the evening when I get back to Poppo Time. Takumi tries to come with me, but I make him stay at his place.

"Where do you think she went?" Crow asks me as soon as I get in the door.

"Well, I've tried reading her thoughts all day and I've got nothing, so we're off to a great start."

"Something's happened to her," Yusei sighs. His aura is completely muddled by guilt. My mind naturally trails back to when she became a Dark Signer. Afterwards, Yuuka…

"I think you're right," I respond. "We need to start looking for her."

"Where would she go?" Jack finally says something.

"I have a few places in mind," I begin. "I think we're going to need help. Yuuka could be anywhere in the City, and maybe even further." Then, I notice that her D-Wheel is still here. I wonder what exactly she had on her when she ran. "Here, I'll make a group chat of everyone and we'll figure out something."

Crow: hey everyone yuukas gone missing. she ran out of our place a few hours ago. if everyone could look for her that would be great

Kaoru: I think something happened to her, please help if you can.

Yusei stays at Poppo Time, on the off chance that she comes back. Crow and Jack made that decision for him, interestingly enough. I imagine he's not coping too well after the Ark Cradle too. The light behind his eyes has completely vanished. Jack goes to check through the Satellite. Crow goes to check the City centre. Emiko and Anako takes the Daimon Area and parts of the Docklands. Kenta and Miguel take the residential area around Poppo Time. Felix checks the park. Shinji and Reika check all of the former gang spots, including the ruins of the Black Flag base. Ben and Jasper check the area around Psycho because they're technically supposed to be helping Psycho get back up and running.

The first place I check is home. Mom asks what I'm doing. When I ask if she's seen Yuuka, and the answer is no, I tell her that I came to get something, before leaving again. I check any place that was ever meaningful at all. Duel Academy. The roller skating rink. The various stadiums in the City. That goddamn gazebo in the park that Takumi is obsessed with.

I purposefully left Takumi out of that chat, so that an argument wouldn't start.

Takumi: Do you know where Yuuka is?

Kaoru: No idea. I can't hear her thoughts. It's scary. I think she's hurt herself

Takumi: Have you checked high places?

Takumi: The docklands?

Takumi: Anywhere where she could try?

I have to pull over when I hear that over my D-Wheel's text reader. So he's thinking the same thing I am? Two places immediately come to mind.

Kaoru: I need you to check somewhere for me?

Kaoru: You know that platform that overlooks downtown? The one not too far from the park? Can you get there soon? I have to check daedalus bridge

Takumi: I can do that

When I get to the bridge, I look around. There's not traffic, not surprising since the City is still recovering from the Ark Cradle not even two days ago at this point. I sit there in the silent serenity. The only thing I can hear is the slight rumble of my engine and the waves lapping underneath the bridge. I pray to the gods that she's okay. I can't bear the thought that I might lose my sister. I can't move. My mind just keeps flashing through memories. She's too important to lose. The thought of losing her strikes me at my very core. You'd struggle to find a better sister in this world, or any other for that matter.

Takumi: I found her. She's okay. I'm getting her a burrito. After that, I'll bring to Poppo Time

Kaoru: Oh thanks the gods

Kaoru: Also how is Pablo's back open? The Ark Cradle wasn't even 2 days ago

Takumi: Pablo is a magic man who gives the people what they want

I sigh in relief. I lean over. My helmet thuds against my dashboard. I can't believe she's okay. I always believe that she will be okay. This time, I genuinely feared losing my sister. The look in her eyes, her raging aura. It was too much to bear. I sigh again and head back to Poppo Time.

Kaoru: Yuuka's okay, she's on her way back to Poppo Time.

When I arrive, the only people there are Yusei, Jack, Crow and Aki. With the added surprise of Kenta and Miguel.

"Hold on," Crow says as I enter, "I thought you found Yuuka?"

"No, I just know she's coming." I sigh, and we all descend into an awkward silence. I notice that Kenta is the only one who keeps stealing glances at me. Which obviously means that Yuuka hasn't told him the truth. I feel Yuuka's aura approaching so I watch the door, and obviously, that means that everyone else does too.

"Excuse me," Takumi pops his head in the door first. The aura of every single person in the room becomes darker. This isn't going to end well. Kenta looks like he's about to burst into flames at the mere sight of him. He walks further inside without being invited in. Every aura in the room only gets darker. "Don't look at me like that. Look who I brought." He stretches his arms out.

"Yuuka!" I shout, along with everyone else, as she walks inside. She looks even worse than this morning. She's deathly pale, and the bags under her eyes are so bad that her eyes look bruised.

"Where were you?" Aki runs up to Yuuka and grabs her arm, she flinches at the contact. "We were so worried. What were you doing?"

"Hey, hey, leave her alone for just a minute." Takumi tries to pry Aki off Yuuka. Her eyes widen a little before her brows furrow. "She's been through a lot, you're scaring her. She doesn't have to say what she was doing if she doesn't want to, okay?"

"And who do you think you are?" Oh here we go. Aki's attention completely leaves Yuuka, and turns onto Takumi. "Do you know what you did to her? You betrayed her and you made Kaoru do the same." Well, that second part is kind of inaccurate. I don't dare interrupt her because I don't want to put myself in Aki's war path.

"Aki, this isn't the time for this." Aki's head whips around as Crow tries to step between them. "You can yell at him another time." Her eyes narrow, but she stands down. She hunches a little as she crosses her arms.

"Thank you, Takumi." Yusei says, cutting in. There's real sincerity in his voice. I think he knows what Yuuka was about to do. Glimpses of the heights she stood flash through my mind. I'm standing on solid ground, yet that image gives me a shiver down my spine. I look at Yuuka as she finally makes eye contact with Yusei. Her face falls. I do my best to block out her thoughts. I feel like me prying in her thoughts at this exact moment will only make things worse for her.

"Why is he here though?" The frustration in Kenta's voice is loud and clear. At this exact moment, I wish I could just shrivel up and die. Because I know, in the next few moments, Kenta will learn some things that will make him hate me even more. "We're here for Yuuka, but somehow Takumi makes it all about himself like always." Instead of looking at Kenta, I look at Yusei who is standing beside me. We just look at each other with slightly widened eyes.

"Who's gonna tell him?" Crow looks between Yuuka and I.

"Not me," I say almost immediately. Kenta looks at me. I promptly turn my gaze anywhere but him. He looks around the room before finally landing on Yuuka.

"No, please don't tell me…" My gaze quickly shifts between Kenta and Yuuka. I just hope that I'm not the one he tries to murder first. Yuuka looks completely cornered. I know Yuuka, and what her faces mean. I know there's a stupid, nervous joke coming.

"Dude, did you not know that Kaoru and Takumi were dating the entire time?" My stupid bitch of a sister quotes Takumi. She must think she's so clever, swapping my name for Kenta's. I've agonised over that single line, and she makes fun of me like this. If she hadn't just tried to kill herself, I might have dragged her ass right there and then. But I don't, because I'm a nice person and she's suffered enough.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Kenta's eyes close for a second before turning to look at Takumi. I'm safe, for now. "You could have waited longer than a month."

"Then, who's that?" Takumi points towards Miguel who has been standing silent besides Kenta the entire time. Miguel has started looking at the ceiling.

"So, Takumi…" Yuuka turns around to Takumi with a fake laugh. Here we go again. "You know Phantom Riders' Miguel, right? You remember him, don't you?"

"You know?" Takumi asks. "Since when?"

"Around the same time that we started…" I answer the question. Yuuka looks at me confused. Oh, that question was aimed at her, wasn't it? There must be only a few days in the difference, I reckon. Going by Yuuka's version of the story that she told me, while we were eating burritos.

"How do you know?" Takumi practically glares at me. It's hard not to crumble on the spot. "And you didn't tell me?"

"It wasn't exactly my place to tell you?" I answer honestly. I don't think current boyfriends should really be giving updates on exes.

"Okay, that's it!" Crow starts pushing Takumi out the door. "Get your relationship dramas out of my house. Goodnight everybody! Thanks for helping, but you're no longer needed. Bye!" I'm the last to leave. I try to say goodbye to Yuuka but Crow basically slams the door in my face, as if it were my fault.

"I can't believe you!" Kenta shouts as soon as the door closes.

"Like you can say anything," Takumi responds. Maybe if I wish hard enough, I'll transport to literally anywhere else. "You jumped into his arms quick enough." Why did he say that?

"The same could be said for you!" Kenta throws right back. "If you've been after Kaoru, this entire time, the least you could have done was break up with me." Don't bring me into this, I keep repeating to myself as if that could do something.

"Kenta, we were in a relationship in name only by the time we broke up." Takumi sighs. "We both knew it was a train wreck waiting to happen."

"That doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt." Kenta takes a deep breath. "How do you think it feels? Knowing that your boyfriend is plotting to take over the world behind your back, convinced one of your few friends to join him, both of you betray everyone, leaving because you I can't deal with it, only to find out that you jumped into his bed as soon as I turn my back. How am I supposed to feel, Takumi?"

Ouch. That's all I can think. Everyone's eyes are on Kenta. Miguel and I steal a glance at each other, we silently agree to stay out of this. This conversation needs to happen.

"If it helps, I've stopped everything. Team Liberation is dead."

"Because he convinced you? Is that right?" Takumi nods solemnly. "Of course. I was never good enough for you. I tried for months to convince you it was a bad idea, I warned you. But as soon as I leave, Mr. Perfect is able to convince you? Takumi, did you ever actually love me?"

"Of course I did, Kenta."

It descends back into silence. My heart is breaking more and more for Kenta by the second. I understand now that I had nothing to do with their breakup. They were never on the same page, it was inevitable. Takumi and Kenta just keep staring at each other. So many unspoken words hang in the air. They had so much, and could have had so much more. Eventually, Kenta just shakes his head and walks away, Miguel following close behind. Takumi just lets them go.

For all of this sadness, a part of me is glad. I love Takumi. Sometimes, a little misery is needed. It puts the good things into perspective. Takumi leans his head on my shoulder as his hand slips into mine. We stand there in the silence for a few moments. I feel certain about our future together, despite everything. I know Takumi has calmed down, learned his mistakes, and will not repeat them. Sometimes, that's all you can do.

---

In the calm down after the WRGP, I get offers to join professional leagues. Not just one or two. A giant pile sat on the kitchen table, so I'm very shocked as a hoard of letters arrive. These leagues are all over the world. I could go anywhere. London to Hong Kong. Moscow to Rio de Janeiro. The world is at my fingertips, literally. My mom gets so excited when she thinks about her little boy going pro.

But something about that doesn't sound right.

Maybe before I became a psychic, I would have thought very differently. But now, that image in my mind is tainted. I know I can control my powers, that's not the problem. But being a professional duelist and dueling constantly. I'd just feel like I'd be wasting my time, that I'm missing what I should be really doing.

I should be helping people, I realise.

After everything I've gone through, I've changed. I see the world the way it is. I see its flaws, but I see that it can be improved. I want to make the world a better place. I've destroyed gangs, but I want to make sure that there's never a need for them again.

I realise what I need to do. I need to become a police officer.

Sure, the system is flawed. Sure, the current police force are corrupt and generally useless. But that doesn't mean that can't change. I can change it from the inside.

This City has changed since the Ark Cradle fell. Security became the Neo Domino City Police Force. Investigations are going into the misjustice that happened under their reign. Maybe in the future, officers won't be called pigs. Maybe the police will make actual impacts on communities.

This City is changing. I want to be a part of that change.

---

I don't tell Yuuka that I'm applying for the new batch of police officers, considering how anti-Security she is. Everyone else I tell warns me not to tell her, so I'm glad I'm on the same page as everyone else.

Within a few weeks of the Ark Cradle, something strange happens. They hold a big ceremony for Yusei, because he saved the City. They give him the key to the City, and he gives a speech. I didn't get to go to the event, but I watch the broadcast of it later. But suddenly, in his speech, Yusei says that he wasn't the one who saved the City, but Yuuka. She goes up onto that stage and gives a very impressive speech after being put on the spot. After that one speech, suddenly Yuuka's face is plastered everywhere in this City the next day. Various kinds of Yuuka memorabilia are being sold on street corners. Our mom has started a collection that's one of every kind, from mugs to medallions. Yuuka remains stone faced on the matter, regardless how hard I push for an answer.

"I managed to get a Satellite education scheme going," she says instead of answering the questions. "An anti-discrimination bill for Satellites and psychics. It's great, isn't it? Hopefully this City will finally see some change."

"Changing it from the inside?"

"Yes," she answers quickly. "Why do you say that?"

"Because that's my plan too."

"I guess we're in that together then, aren't we?"

"What?" I mutter. I can tell by her face that there's a double meaning.

"One condition to all of this," she points at all of the memorabilia that our mom has stocked in the sitting room, "is that I have to become a police officer."

"You're joking?" My face crumples up entirely. "You're serious? You? A police officer?"

"Why does everyone react like that?" She sips her coffee with a scowl on her face. "Crow's doing it, so why can't I?"

"Because you're copying me." I smirk at her.

"Hey, first of all, I didn't ask for this." She holds up one finger before putting up another one. "Second of all, you were copying me by getting a D-Wheel and I stand by that."

"Sure," I keep smirking at her. She reaches over and hits me on the arm, a little harder than I think she intended. "Little bitch," I mutter under my breath.

"Heard that," she says before taking another sip.

We descend into silence. I've slowly grown accustomed to listening to Yuuka's thoughts again. Whatever power surge she had in the Ark Cradle made it difficult to hear her thoughts for a while, at least hearing more than a glimpse.

"It's crazy to think that I've had my powers for over a year." I say, just to say something.

"Yeah, it's not long until it's a year since we met up again." She nods slowly, deep in thought. "How does that make you feel?"

"It's strange," I sigh. "It's hard to think back to a time before I was a psychic. I've changed so much as a person, that I think that I wouldn't even recognise myself. Like I'm not just a psychic. I'm bi and I have a boyfriend. Like a year ago, the thought of being with a guy wouldn't even have entered my head. I thought being a psychic would be the worst thing that ever happened to me. But I was wrong, it's literally the best thing that's ever happened to me, ever. I reconnected with you, I found out I was bi, I got a boyfriend, I've made so many great friends. All of that, because I'm a psychic. It almost doesn't seem real."

"That didn't happen because you became a psychic." Yuuka has this tiny smile on her face.

"Then why did it happen?"

"Because you accepted yourself."

"What?"

"Kaoru, it took you three months to ask me for help. You accepted that you were a psychic. When you accept yourself, people get to see the real you. Then, people actually want to be your friend. You accepted yourself as queer, so you helped Takumi, and now he's your boyfriend." She sighs lightly. "See, none of that happened because you're a psychic."

"I suppose you're right." I feel myself starting to tear, and then I notice that Yuuka is too. "Thank you," I say patting her on the arm. "I couldn't have done it without you."

"Kaoru," she says as she actually starts to cry. "I don't think you know how much that means to me. You've helped me so much, you don't even know. Not even just Team Liberation."

"Now I get to help you all over again." Yuuka bites her lip, clearly trying not to sob. "Since we're joining the police together."

"Yep, we're in this together." She puts up her hand for a fist bump, and I meet her halfway.

---

Finally, the day arrives where Yuuka and I get to begin police training. Takumi and Yusei try to go with us, but we decline. We want to start our careers the way we intend to continue them, together.

"You will not believe what Takumi told me the other day," Yuuka says once we park.

"What?"

"That I should for mayor." She shakes her head violently, though she is trying to get rid of her helmet hair. "Would you believe?"

"No, that's something Takumi would come up with." I nod slowly. "I'd believe that."

"You know what?" She scowls. "I bet he's only saying that to put the idea into my mind, and so I'll pick him as my running mate. Doesn't he know that I'd already have the perfect running mate?"

"Oh Yusei?" I ask.

"What?" She squints at me. "You know Yusei hates being in the spotlight. But no, who else would make a better running mate?" I go to answer, but Yuuka cuts me off and sighs. "No, don't answer that actually. Let me rephrase this. Who is the one honest optimistic person in my life? Who balances out my wild chaotic energy and actually grounds me? Who knows me better than I know myself? Who's the one person that actually will work hard to see this City become a better place? Who will do it the hard way, the honest way? Who else better than my own brother?"

I don't know what to say, so I just end staring at her.

"Kaoru," she punches my arm. "This is all just fantasy right now, but it's the truth. I think you'd do a great job."

"Thank you," is all I can muster. I take a deep breath. "That means a lot. But isn't that what we're doing here?" I point to the police headquarters, that we're still in the parking lot of. "Changing the system from the inside? The right way."

"Yeah," she smiles. "It'll be great practice."

"I haven't said yes yet."

"You haven't said no either."

"I'll think about it."

"Alright, alright." She chuckles. "Right, let's get inside for this induction day. I can't be late on the first day. Especially when everybody will already know exactly who I am."

"The marker doesn't help." She punches me in the arm for that.

Yuuka doesn't even say anything but starts to walk inside. I follow close behind, before eventually falling into line with her. I start to get nervous, but I brush it off. I have Yuuka by my side, so I don't need to worry. We're starting this the way we intend to continue, together.

END