Character: Yusei Fudo
Summary: One step too far.
"Yuuka, I'm sorry please." I grab her hand, but she doesn't react. "This is all my fault. Just please open your eyes."
I sit in the silence of the hospital room with her. I haven't moved in hours. Since I got in here, in fact. Yuuka collapsed while having a panic attack, and here we are. She refuses to open her eyes and look at me. I know she can hear me. Her eyes flicker even though they aren't open. I felt her warm under my touch. I know why she's like this, and it's my fault.
It's only been a matter of hours since the Ark Cradle, exactly the number for which Yuuka's been unconscious. I made a promise, and I broke it. I promised Yuuka that I would return alive. Although, we're both alive right now, neither of us planned on that.
I thought sacrificing myself to save the City was the right thing, even if it meant letting her down. In those moments when the Ark Cradle became crumbling to pieces, that seemed like the only option. So, I began to drive my D-Wheel towards the core of the Ark Cradle, trying to stop it from destroying the City. Then, Yuuka appeared and tried to swap places with me. Until Z-One appeared, with the other Yuuka, and threw himself into the core of the Ark Cradle. He sacrificed himself for us, so that we could create the future that they never had.
Now, I'm here, alive, and the more I stare at Yuuka's face, the less I believe that there's a happy future waiting for us.
I've ruined everything, plain and simple. Sure, the City is still standing and we're alive, but at what cost?
I squeeze Yuuka's hand again. Nothing. Will she ever forgive me? It doesn't feel like it. She's refusing to look at me. Maybe that's because she's afraid she'll open her eyes and see Z-One. The man I became once upon another lifetime.
It doesn't feel real. None of it does. I blamed myself for the Zero Reverse, because of who my father was, as much as Yuuka stood by the fact I shouldn't. Now, I've learned that myself in another lifetime was really the one who caused it. I was right all along. It was my fault.
As I am right now, what makes me different from Z-One? I can't answer that. The way it looks now, I might as well be Z-One himself.
I sigh, finally get up from the chair which I haven't left in hours. My joints ache. Yuuka has been officially discharged, and is free to leave. I can hear the whispers of people just outside the door. If she won't wake up with me there, maybe Aki can do it.
After I open the door, Aki wordlessly enters. I can't bring myself to say anything, so I just close the door behind me.
"What's happening now?" Jack's voice is low.
"She's free to go." I answer with a sigh. "There's nothing actually wrong with her. She looks like she's asleep, but she reacted to all of the tests like she's awake."
"So she's ignoring you?" Crow pieces it together.
"Looks like it." I nod solemnly. I hear Aki talking through the wall, although I can't make out most of it. I think she's getting her dressed, which means that she really was ignoring me. A well placed punch in the gut. As if things couldn't get worse.
We stand in silence until Aki emerges with Yuuka on her arm. She stares absentmindedly at the floor. Aki just gives me a look of apology. Nobody says anything. We trail behind them as we walk out. Aki leads Yuuka outside to a taxi. Jack, Crow and I take the responsibility of actually checking her out. They're eager to get people out since they're only setting back up after the power went during the Ark Cradle and the evacuations. I begin to walk to my D-Wheel, but Jack grabs my arm.
"Don't go too quickly," he says. "She needs her time. Remember we left her D-Wheel where it was, it's best that we go get it."
We drive painstakingly slow. I try to focus on the road, but that doesn't do me much good. I just keep thinking of the look of desperation on Yuuka's face as she tried to swap places with me, so that she'd die in my place. What a fool I was.
What could have been my last thoughts were of her. I knew I was breaking that promise. I knew how I was doing her wrong. But sacrificing myself felt like the right thing to do, the only thing. My family is to blame for the Zero Reverse, I couldn't let another disaster happen. Not again.
It's deathly quiet by the time that we arrive home, except for the slow steady beeping of several things which were shut off by the power outage and have since come back on. I fix all of them in the garage. Jack goes upstairs to check on Yuuka, who for once, is not on the couch in the garage.
Then, I realise where I am. I'm in the garage. Memories are creeping back in, and I know why. Bruno is dead, and he's not coming back. I can't pray for that sliver of hope like I did with Yuuka. Bruno, if I can even call him that anymore, will never come back. I take sheets and cover the computers in the garage, along with my D-Wheel. I can't bear to look at them anymore. It just reminds me of late nights working with Bruno here. If platonic soulmates exists, I suppose he was it. I had only known him for a few short months, but our friendship felt so much more real than it should have.
"Bruno?" Crow mutters as he watches me cover everything. He's just arrived back from checking on the kids. I can tell he's keeping a brave face. I don't even have the energy for that right now. For once in my life, I can't keep up my calm exterior.
Not long after, Aki comes downstairs. "I better go check on my parents and make sure they're okay," she says with a melancholy look on her face.
"Are you sure you'll be alright?" Crow asks, to which Aki nods.
"I'm sorry, Yusei." She says once she's sitting on her D-Wheel. "She hasn't spoken at all, she-" Her face falls as our eyes meet. Do I really look that bad? "I'm sorry." She whispers before leaving.
"I'm gonna go check on her." Crow says before leaving me alone in the garage. That's what I need, to be left alone with my own thoughts.
It feels like there's a large gaping hole in my chest, and it's dragging myself and everything around me into the void. I'm drowning and there's no escape.
Without realising it, nighttime creeps in. That's terrifying to me. My normal nighttime routine is now destroyed. There's no more all nighters with Bruno working on D-Wheels, and there's no sneaking upstairs with Yuuka. I get up to turn the lights, in the hopes that would make me feel the slightest bit better.
It doesn't.
I hear footsteps creaking on the stairs. It's not Jack or Crow, I know that for sure. I turn around to see Yuuka walking slowly down. I recognise the shirt she's wearing as my own that she took months ago to sleep in, that she never returned.
I didn't expect to see her so soon. I was planning on staying down here for the night. Give her time, Jack said. I watch her with wide eyes as she walks down to the bottom of the steps. My body jerks forward on instinct as she reaches the bottom, but I stop myself before I take a step.
Yuuka doesn't even look at my face, she just stares at my feet. I've always been able to feel parts of what Yuuka calls her aura. Now, it feels different than it did before. Stronger and darker. Unsettling is what I'd call it. She licks her lips, she's reading my aura too.
"Yuuka, I-" I try to say something, but words fail me. We fade back into silence. There's no comfort like there once was. It's tense and awkward. I can't believe what just over twenty-four hours has done to us. I almost feel like I'm staring at a stranger. For some reason, which I'm guessing relates to the other Yuuka, Yuuka's hair has grown long in that short time. It's the longest it's ever been, falling all the way down to her waist. It looks soft, and my first reaction is to reach out and tangle my fingers in it. But I know I can't. It would be wrong.
Yuuka slowly looks around the room, avoiding my eyes at all cost. Her gaze rests on the sheets covering up the computers and my D-Wheel. Tears start to well up in her beautiful, pink eyes. Her face contorts, and her eyes close.
"Yuuka, I'm sorry." I finally manage to get out. "I broke my promise, and you have every right to be mad at me. I just wish that everything can go back to the way it was. I hope that, one day, you can find it in your heart to forgive me."
Yuuka finally meets my eyes. The first thing I know how blackened her undereyes look. Her eyes look dead. I feel our mental connection tugging. Sometimes, if I concentrate hard enough, I can feel what she's thinking but never hear it. Gloom and despair. Someone who looks like me flashes into my mind. Is that Z-One? Of course. That's why she can't look at me. She just sees him.
There's silence. Yuuka's face contorts again, this time only angrier. I feel static in the air. It's been welling up every once in a while since we've arrived back. So, Yuuka has been causing this? She doesn't know her own strength sometimes.
"Yuuka." I step towards her. I try to grab her arm, but she just jerks away from me. She turns around, and I start to panic. I try to block her. Yuuka just stares at the ground. I freeze. She doesn't even have to use words. I know exactly how she feels. I can see it when she looks me in the eyes.
"Yuuka…" I mutter as her shoulder brushes against mine as she walks past me. The betrayal in her eyes is burned into my mind. My body turns around as she brushes past me. She walks up the stairs, without having said a single word to me.
I just sink down into the couch. Her eyes still haunt me. Is this how it's going to be? Not only have three people sacrificed their lives for me in twenty-four hours, but now I'm possibly losing my girlfriend, the love of my life? In that moment, I wish they had all just let me throw myself into the core of the Ark Cradle and let me save the City all by myself.
The morning isn't much better. The garage is colder than it normally is. I haven't slept on that couch in so long that I panic for a second, wondering where I am. The lack of heat that comes from Yuuka is mostly frightening thing. The cold morning air surrounds me completely, enveloping me in its sharpness.
Yuuka disappears within a few minutes of Kaoru showing up to check on her. You don't knew him like I did. You don't know what he went through! Her words echo in my head for the rest of the day.
So she's trying to come to grips with her identity too? Wondering where she begins and the other Yuuka ends. Wondering if you're really destined to become a mass murderer and try to destroy the City. Wait, that's just me.
Crow and Kaoru organise a search party once darkness falls. They make me stay in the garage on the off chance that Yuuka comes back by herself. Unlikely, I say.
As I sit in the complete silence, it dawns on me exactly what is happening. I remember the time that Yuuka confessed something to me, eyes full of tears. She had trying to kill herself, after she returned from being a Dark Signer. That's what's happening now, isn't it?
The burden of those memories must be too much. She can't look at me. She only sees him. She doesn't know where she begins and the other Yuuka ends. That has to be it. Now, I can only sit and hope that we didn't wait long enough to try and find her. I should have seen this coming.
As bad as it sounds, the two of us rely on each other far more than we should. We don't seek change because we just assume that we'll always be there for each other. The possibility that she may suddenly not be there is terrifying. Something feels wrong in my very core.
The somber feeling hangs in the air as people return from searching. "She's fine," Crow says as he arrives back with Aki, "You'd know that if you ever checked your phone." Jack comes back not long after, followed shortly by Kenta and Miguel. With the addition of those two, the room suddenly feels like a crowd. I can already tell that Yuuka won't like that.
"Hold on, I thought you found Yuuka?" Crow asks as soon as Kaoru walks in the door.
"No, I just know she's coming." Kaoru sighs. Oh gods, there's going to be a scene. I'm not able for this.
Turns out my instinct was right. Takumi walked straight in the door with Yuuka right behind him, kicking off the Takumi drama that I thought finally ended but didn't. Crow takes the initiative to push Takumi, Kenta, Kaoru, and Miguel outside to continue the drama. Something I'm sure we're all endlessly grateful for.
"Are you going to tell us what you were doing?" Yuuka flinches, goosebumps on her arms, at Jack's tone. He's clearly angry, he knew what she was trying to do. "Yuuka." He says when she just stares back at him.
"Jack," I interject, "she doesn't have to answer if she doesn't want to."
Jack leaves her alone for now. Crow and Aki disappear in rapid succession, their intentions very clear. Since that leaves Yuuka and I alone in the garage. There's a beat of silence. Yuuka sits down on the couch. I stand aimlessly until she makes eye contact with me. I have to hold back the shiver. Gods, am I that touch starved?
I sit down beside her, cautiously. I notice how much I'm hunched forward. Ah yes, another thing for me to ruin, my posture. I try to say something, anything. Not being able to say things has always been my weakness. I try to let my actions speak for me, but sometimes, actions only make things worse.
"I didn't mean to worry you." Yuuka's head slowly turns to look at me. Hearing her voice after what feels like an eternity is strange. I feel like I could just melt into her hands there and then. I put my hands on the couch to ground myself. Yuuka stares at my hand that's between us, and slowly puts her hand over mine. My eyes widen, going between our hands and her face. "What?" A small chuckle escapes her mouth, it sounds so refreshing right now.
"Didn't expect that, that's all." A small smile creeps onto my face, the first in a long time. I pull my hands away to rub my face. "It's been a long day."
"Yeah, I can imagine." The smile on her face fades. "I'm sorry," her voice quiet all of a sudden.
"Don't apologise," I shake my head. "It's not your fault."
"Fine," she answers, "I'm not gonna argue with you tonight." I raise an eyebrow at her. That's not like her at all. Yuuka slips off her shoes and pulls her knees up to her chest, something she does when she's anxious.
"Come here." I stretch my arm out. Yuuka moves quickly to lean into me. I pull her legs over my lap, and her into my arms. Her hands grip my shirt ever so slightly. I feel the gentle rise and fall of her body as she breathes, it's comforting. "I'm not going to make you talk about what happened." I whisper softly. "You can tell me when you're ready."
"We're gonna be okay, aren't we?" Her grip on my shirt tightens.
"Yeah," I answer as I pull her closer. We don't say anything else, we don't need to.
The next few days are hard. As much as our continuous love declarations make us feel better for a little bit, the feeling doesn't last for long. The topic of discussion has turned to the City giving the highly coveted Key to the City. I joke it's because they can't build another Daedalus Bridge. But jokes can't conceal how uncomfortable the whole prospect makes me. I stand by the fact that I don't deserve any actual praise. I may have dueled Z-One, but that was it. I failed to stop the Ark Cradle when it nearly destroyed the City. Yuuka told me her version of events, and it turns out that she was the one who convinced Z-One to do the right thing in the end and leave the future to us.
So, I did nothing. The City is hailing me as their hero, but me not being there might not have changed much. I'm not a hero, I'm a failure, that's what I am. I'm just a ticking time bomb until I lose Yuuka and try to destroy the City.
I tell Yuuka this, and look her in the eyes. Her first reaction to stand up off the couch. She paces the garage, in complete silence. I'm praying that someone doesn't walk in. I can tell by the way she's moving that she's pissed off.
"Yusei, you're not Z-One." She finally says after a few minutes. "You will never be Z-One. You have lived completely different lives. You grew up as an orphan in the Satellite, he grew up in the Tops with parents. The things you have learned from that make you different to him. You will never make the same decisions as him. So? You will never become Z-One."
"But, it's a possibility-"
"A possibility?" She echoes. There's a beat of silence as she just stares at me. A forced chuckle comes out of her mouth.
"What?" I ask.
"You say it's a possibility, there's a chance of it happening?" I nod. Her face falls into a scowl. "Well, if this is about chance, you should be looking at the odds."
"What do you mean?" I ask again.
"Just think about this." She holds a finger up. "Who's more likely to try to destroy the world because they lost the love of their life?" She says that with air quotes. "You, who has never had a single murderous thought in their life. You, who is self-sacrificing to a fault. You, who could never hurt anyone if you could." Her face falls. "Or me. Me, who tried to destroy the world because you didn't love me anymore. Me, who tried to kill you for the same reason. Me, who tried to kill themselves in your place. Me, who tried to kill themselves not that long ago because I thought I lost you." There's a pause. "Think about it, Yusei. Who's more likely to try and destroy the City because the other one died? Me or you?"
"I-" I try to force words out of my words, but none come. Yuuka watches my face intently. I meet her eyes. I see anger and desperation. I see a part of myself reflected in her eyes.
"I know you're upset by the people that d-" she pauses, "sacrificed themselves for you. But you can't stay like this forever." She picks up the remains of Bruno's visor that still sits on the desk, over the sheets. "I know it hurts. But you've got to pick yourself up, and carry on. You can't let their sacrifice be in vain. Create a better future, and who knows, maybe we'll meet them there."
There's pure silence. It's very early in the morning, so I doubt anyone else is awake. I understand what Yuuka is saying. But...
"But I don't know how to." I say with a sigh. "I don't know how I'm supposed to change the future. Z-One said it was because of the greed in people's hearts, how am I supposed to stop that?"
Yuuka turns her back and walks away from me. She stops in front of my D-Wheel, still covered by the sheet. She pulls off the sheet in one quick motion.
"This is how," she says bluntly. "We'll duel to decide."
"Are you serious?" I ask. I'm not worried about Yuuka not controlling her powers. Yuuka isn't much of a duelist, she says so herself.
"I am," she turns back to me. "You can learn a lot in a duel."
"And what exactly am I going to learn?"
"You'll see." She says with a smirk before going upstairs. When she comes back down, she's in her riding leathers. "Here," she throws my riding jacket, boots and knee pads. "You'll need these."
"I've missed you in that suit."
"Not the time, Fudo." She says as she ties her hair into a ponytail, like normal. It's then I realise that this is the first time I've seen her hair up since it grew out. "You're staring."
"Your hair…"
"It's long and in a ponytail, you must be in heaven right now." Am I that obvious? Yes, yes I am. Apparently, I'm the reason she wears her hair like that in the first place. "Come on before you start drooling over me."
Just like I expected, the highways are completely empty. After all, the sun hasn't been up for long and it's a weekend. We start our duel, we take our first turns with not much action.
"You see this?" Yuuka stretches an arm out.
"The City." I answer.
"The City that we saved. All of Team 5D's was up there in the Ark Cradle. You're a fool for thinking you could do it alone."
Our duel continues. I'm having a harder time against Yuuka than I expected. Her face is completely serious. She's not pulling any punches. I think I'm too hung up on her words.
"You act like you have this great destiny because you're Masahiro Fudo's son, or you're a Signer. Well, let me tell you something, you don't. Anyone could have been a Signer in your place, anyone could have gone into the Ark Cradle and done the same job. You're not some great hero because you're destined to, but because you choose to be."
"But-"
"I'm not finished," she interrupts. "Stop acting like you're alone, when you're not."
I summon Stardust Dragon, and on Yuuka's turn, she brings out her ace, Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier. Luckily, I manage to block its effect of banishing Stardust from the field.
"How many time do you think our dragons went face to face?" She smirks. "Z-One and the other Yuuka dueled many times. Do you ever think it was like this?"
"I don't know, did they?"
"No, because they knew something." She suddenly begins to accelerate, and I try to keep up with her. "Something you need to learn, Yusei. I'm not going to tell you what you need to learn. That would surely ruin the entire point, wouldn't it? But I can show you!"
"Bring it on!" I feel a smirk coming onto my face. Am I having fun? I look at my field. I guess there's only one option left.
"Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier attacks Stardust Dragon! Trident Glacial Blast!"
"Not so fast!" I interrupt the attack. I think about what I'm about to do. Yuuka's words slowly start to make sense. "I activate the Trap Card, Doble Passe! When your monster attacks mine, I can change that attack target to myself!"
"What?" Yuuka exclaims.
"But," I continue, "you take damage equal to your monster's attack points. So you know what this means!" The smile doesn't leave my face, and there's one on Yuuka's too.
Our two dragons head for each other before gracefully missing each other. Trishula stops in front of me, and Stardust in front of Yuuka. You take the damage simultaneously, ending our duel in a draw. I close my eyes and enjoy the feeling.
Once the attacks fades, we both slow to a stop and get off our D-Wheels.
"So?" Yuuka asks.
"Well," I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I enjoy the early morning light and the crisp breeze. I open my eyes to Yuuka, looking at me with a warm smile on her face. "I was wrong."
"And?" She prods.
"I can't do this alone. I've never been able to do it alone. I've always had my friends, and you, by my side. The burden to save the future isn't mine alone, it's all of ours." Yuuka keeps staring at me. "And… I'll never be alone. You'll always be there to support me, and I'll support you. I was wrong to ever think otherwise. You guessed what my facedown was, didn't you? You wanted to end the duel in a draw." A light chuckle leaves my lips. "Because we're equals, I realised that. If I didn't play that card, the duel would have continued. But no, we ended it as equals. Because that's the way it should be. We're in this together, always have been and always will be." Yuuka nods at me, a smile lighting up her entire face. "I love you."
"I love you too," she whispers softly.
I approach her and envelop her in my arms. She squeezes me tight, a little more than necessary, but I'll never complain. We stay like that for a few moments, soaking up the atmosphere.
"I have a question," I say. She hums. "What was your facedown? You didn't activate it, so I'm wondering what it is." I let go of Yuuka and walk over to her D-Wheel, taking out her only face down left. "Speed Spell - Rush Recklessly," I read, "a monster gains 700 attack points until the End Phase. 700 was..."
"Exactly enough to defeat you." A giant smirk creeps onto her face. "It's Quick Play too, so if you didn't activate that card, I would have won. And if you got around that, you would have been below the Safety Line and I have another Speed Spell in my hand."
"I don't think you've ever had such good luck in your life," I chuckle to myself. Yuuka gets very unlucky with drawing bad hands, which she blames for her losing
"Yeah, I got people looking out for me. You're so lucky that I was trying to prove a point. I missed the chance to finally beat you to prove a point. Do you know how much that means?"
"Yeah," I grab her waist and pull her close, "that means you love me a lot."
"You're right," she giggles. "But you're worth it."
The Key to the City ceremony comes around quicker than I wanted it to. I had to plan a speech, and guess what I didn't do thanks to my anxiety. The start of the event is a blur for me because, again, anxiety.
"Say, boy," an old Senator greets me while I wait for Yuuka, "you must have had some help in that Ark Cradle? Doing all that by yourself seems impossible."
"I had some help from my friends, they helped a lot." I respond honestly.
"And that would be Miss Sasaki, wouldn't it?"
"If I'm being honest, she did most of the work." It flies out of my mouth without a second thought. I shouldn't have said that. Oh, I should not have done that.
"Oh really?" There's a twinkle in his eyes. I recognise it in an instant. Emiko Higashiyama's Father. They don't look alike, but the resemblance is there in the eyes. "That is interesting." He merely nods his head as he retreats back into the crowd that's gathering.
Yuuka arrives not long after that discussion. I don't tell her about it. She confirms that man is Emiko's father. I try not to focus on it. I just know that Yuuka looks stunning, as always, in her long red dress and hair tied up in a neat bun.
"Thank you, Senator Takahashi and everyone, for this award." I begin my speech. I go blank. I glance at Yuuka in the first row. I just have to speak from the heart. "I feel undeserving of this award." My words echo in the crowd as light gasps. "This award was presented to me, but it could have been given to any number of people. I am being given this award because I dueled Z-One in an attempt to save the City. I could not have won that duel without the help from my Team 5D's teammates. They are just as deserving of this award as me. Anyone could have taken my place. I just wanted to save my home, Neo Domino City. Who's to say that anyone here wouldn't have done the same in my place?" Yuuka was right. Saying this feels right. I meet Yuuka's eyes, she looks pleasantly surprised. I pause. "Neo Domino City, if I may be honest, I did not save the City." The gasps become louder. The look on Yuuka's face has turned into pure dread. "I dueled Z-One. I may have won the duel, but I did not save the City. The Ark Cradle continued to fall. Z-One, as his last act in this world, gave up his life to stop it from falling. With that, he allowed us to take our future with our own hands. I was not the one who convinced Z-One to let us take control of our future." I don't want to put Yuuka in the spotlight, but it's the right thing to do. "Yuuka Sasaki." Yuuka's first instinct is to hide her face. "She was the one who saved the City. She did what I could not. She saved the City, not with Duel Monsters, but with her courage and words. She is the one deserving of this award."
The room goes deathly silent. This feels like the right thing. I stare down at Yuuka who in the first row, who finally looks up. I notice Senator Higashiyama nodding from where he's sitting, behind Yuuka. Senator Takahashi, who introduced me, makes a move towards the podium, so I step down. Am I doing the right thing?
"Thank you, Mr. Fudo, for your speech. My colleagues and I agree that your bravery in the face of such danger in your fight for all of our futures is still warranting of this award. But, we invite Ms. Sasaki to speak if she wishes."
Oh gods, what have I done? I didn't think this through. There's a pause, but Yuuka does stand up and head to the podium.
"Welcome Ms. Yuuka Sasaki to the stage." There's an applause as she walks. Our eyes meet as she walks across the stage. She relaxes when I smile at her, which makes me feel a little better. There's another pause as she stands at the podium. Her broad shoulders do not shake.
"People of Neo Domino City, I hesitate to call myself the saviour of this City. I am only a normal girl from the Satellite. I grew up in this City, it's shaped me into the person who stands before you now. Everything I've experienced here has led me to where I am now, to say those words to Z-One when I stood on the Ark Cradle as it fell. I agree with Yusei. Anyone here in this room could have saved this City. I am not unique. I am ordinary, unimportant. I am undeserving of the attention which you give me now. Anyone from this City, who's been where I have been, who's felt what I have felt, could have said those same words. I love this City. If any of you listening, love this City like I do, you could have been here instead of me. All of you are just as deserving as me of that title. As for the uncertain future, you will, no doubt, look to us. We saved you once, so we can save you again. That thought will surely cross your minds. But I say this to you, do not ask us to save you, ask each other." She takes a breath. "I think we are all deserving of that title. Every single person has the chance to change fate. You must grasp it with your own hands. You can prevent another Z-One from rising again. Saving only one person could change everyone's future. If someone had saved Z-One in his doomed future, I would not be speaking in front of you now. The only way to prevent the terrible future Z-One spoke of is to change our future. It is shaped by the people who are here now, not just a team of duelists. If you believe there is a future, you must fight for it. I ask of you, people of Neo Domino, become your own saviour. Together, we can change the future." She looks back at me and smiles. "When they call out Yusei's name, or my name, saying that we are the saviours of this City. Know that we are only thinking of you. We are not the only saviours, each and every one of you is able to be someone's saviour. That is enough. You only need to look at me to see that is true. Thank you."
She takes another deep breath. I notice her shoulders start to shake ever so slightly. Applause begins slowly but becomes louder until it thunders around the room. She bows slightly before leaving the podium, and moving to stand beside me, still on the stage.
"Thank you, Ms. Sasaki, for your words." Senator Takahashi says as he returns to the podium. "That marks the end of the ceremony. We cordially invite you into the reception for the afterparty." The audience claps again. Then, it dissipates as everyone begins to stand up.
"Thank the gods that's over." She mutters under her breath.
"Tell me about it," I answer. "I'm sorry about that. I didn't think they'd pull you up." I watch her face for her reaction. She looks incredibly poised for what's going on.
"Don't worry about it," she shrugs her shoulders in response. "I think I needed to get that off my chest."
"Great speech, by the way." I properly turn to look at her. "I wasn't expecting that." For being put on the spot like that, it was rather impressive. If I didn't know any better, I think a part of her expected that.
"Rude."
"You know what I mean." I roll my eyes.
We immediately get wheeled off for press interviews. Somehow, the focus is on me and the WRGP. I suppose avoiding interviews after matches has come back and bit me in the ass. Once we finally get back into the main reception hall, people are dancing to some light music. Senator Higashiyama whisks Yuuka off for a dance. I can't help but be cautious of that. I remember that glint in his eyes, he must be up to something.
Senator Higashiyama leaves. I try to make my way over to Yuuka, only to have Raiden Kimura beat me to the chase. I watch them carefully. I trust Yuuka, but I don't trust him. Not since he's tried to murder her at least twice, and other reasons which Yuuka has cried about in the middle of the night, unable to sleep because of it.
"You didn't tell me Raiden was here?" Crow exclaims as Yuuka approaches us, leaving Raiden in the crowd.
"Cause I'll go over there if you want me to." Jack adds on. They're treating Yuuka like she can't take care of herself. Yuuka can ask for help when she needs to.
"It was fine, I made sure he didn't do anything." I sigh as I move closer to Yuuka. "What was that about?"
"Just talking. He still wants to do that." Not who I was talking about, but okay.
"And Senator Higashiyama?"
"He was just being polite." She lies. It's subtle, but I pick up on it.
"Okay," I drop the subject.
"I'll tell you what he said later." She leans into me and whispers. Bingo. I just nod. Just as that happens, I hear the clinking of a glass. The crowd moves, and Senator Takahashi stands at the door on the way to the main hall.
"Everyone, I have an announcement to make." Yuuka immediately grasps my hand, and I squeeze it tight. I suppose I'm about to find out what Senator Higashiyama said. "In addition to the Key to the City, we are going to celebrate both Mr. Fudo's and Ms. Sasaki's bravery and courage even further." The crowd fills with mutters. I turn to look at Yuuka, who keeps her eyes on Senator Takahashi. "My fellow Senators and I would like to announce something here and now to honour our saviours."
"Yuuka, what's going on?" I ask, but she doesn't even look at me.
"We are pleased to announce that the education system, proposed by Ms. Sasaki, shall be put into action. This system will allow any former Satellite resident to the right to free education. The government will give aid to any Satellite who wishes to start their education. It will allow a Satellite resident to begin their education at any stage, even third-level university, if they so wish." There's applause. I turn to look at Yuuka again, who still doesn't look back at me. I remember Yuuka mentioning bringing this up to Senator Higashiyama, not that long ago.
"Keep listening," she says as she holds up her free hand.
"Not only this, but the government will be drafting bills to stop any discrimination against former Satellite residents and psychic duelists inside our City. No former Satellite resident or psychic shall ever be discriminated against based on their former residence or ability to materialise Duel Monsters." There's more applause. "Now, let us raise a glass to the woman who made this possible. To Ms. Yuuka Sasaki! Long may our saviour queen reign! To Ms. Yuuka Sasaki!" Senator Takahashi holds a glass of champagne up for a toast. The crowd turn to look at her, glasses in the air. I see what's happening now.
"To Yuuka!" They drone at once. The crowd claps again before returning to normal.
"I can explain," Yuuka says as she turns around to our group.
"Anti-discriminatory bill?" Crow looks at her, his eyebrows practically at his hairline.
"Yeah, Mr. Higashiyama said that the government is putting it in place as a way of saying thanks. We're both Satellites after all." Yuuka states very plainly. That's not it. Nothing in life is free, Martha told us as children. What price did she pay?
"Yuuka, this is huge." Aki's eyes are wide. "Do you know what this means? Between the access to education and the bill, you're changing the lives of everyone who came from the Satellite."
"Yeah, it's crazy, but yes." There's a strange look in Yuuka's eyes. "And Crow, I'm sorry about our argument the other day. I'll admit that you were right. I refuse to set aside my pride. You were perfectly right about your reasons for joining Security. You were doing it for your kids, and I understand now. I'm sorry." Yuuka sounds too put together. She's been rehearsing this.
"Don't worry about it, Yuuka-" Crow seems very confused by her words.
"That's why I've decided to apply for Security myself." That's it. She's becoming a poster child for them. They called her the Saviour Queen, and now she'll watch over the City.
"You? Security?" Jack squints at her. "Why?"
That's a good question, but I think I know the answer. I have been talking about going to university to learn Physics in the hopes of preventing Z-One's future. The education plan Yuuka put forward would get me there. In return, she is being forced into a job that she doesn't want.
In the Ark Cradle, Yuuka tried to sacrifice herself for me and failed. Now, I suppose she's finally getting what she wanted. Just like when she joined Black Flag after being left out of Team Satisfaction. Yuuka always finds a way to get what she wants.
"Well, I'd be doing something with my life. I can stop the gang problem in this City that way. I'm tired of being rejected for basic fast-food and retail jobs." Yuuka answers. I'm surprised by the hint of sincerity in her voice. Is she forcing herself to come around to the idea?
"You've got a point there…" Aki says, turning to look at Crow. Everyone else seems confused by Yuuka's words, but I know Yuuka better than she knows herself.
"Excuse me for a second." Yuuka retreats into the crowd after glancing over her shoulder. I try to see where she's going. Raiden Kimura, of course.
"She's gone back over to Raiden." Crow points out immediately.
"Why is she doing that?" Jack scowls in their direction.
"Unfinished business, I suppose." I answer. I think, deep down, Yuuka still has some attachment to him, regardless of everything. Maybe, I'm too forgiving but I hardly see the big deal about her talking to him. Maybe it's because I know he's seeking forgiveness.
"What do you think about her deal?" Aki asks after a pause. "The education plan seems a little suspicious after they made that speech about her, and now she's joining Security?"
"I was thinking the same thing," I sigh. "You know just as well as I do that there's no stopping her." She called me self-sacrificing, but I think she needs to look in the mirror.
The conversation turns to normal. I can't bear to join in because all I can think about is Yuuka. Did she really do all that for me? I suppose I should look at it as she loves me that much. But on the other hand, is this too much of a burden to bear?
"Yusei Fudo." I hear my name being called out. Raiden Kimura walks slowly over to me, stopping just beside me.
"Hello," I greet him casually. The conversation among my friends has screeched to a halt, they watch us silently. I spot Yuuka in the crowd, talking to some of the waiters.
"They love her already." Raiden says, nodding his head in the direction of Yuuka. "I suppose they're right in calling her a queen."
"I never had any doubts," I respond. "It's not the first time she's been called that." Now she's the Saviour Queen, but before that, she was the Fabled Queen, a jest made by Benjamín but a fitting one.
"They chose her." He continues, carefully choosing his words. I have no doubt who they means. "You know why? Because they think she can rally the entire City behind her cause."
"She's done it before and she'll do it again," is all I say.
There's beat of silence. I know we're both looking at Yuuka in the crowd. The two waiters look overjoyed just to be in her presence. A warm smile graces her face.
"You're lucky, you know." Raiden finally breaks the silence. "After everything I've done, I've lost her. Meanwhile, you've only helped her, a lot by the sounds of it. You get to keep her."
"You don't understand," I say. "It's not one helping the other. We help each other, that's why she's by my side. I don't get to keep her. It's why she's choosing to stay at my side, because we're a team."
"I suppose you're right." Raiden says with a sad smile. "I was wrong about a lot of things." I watch his face carefully. He was so capable of horrid, evil things, and here he is, trying to repent. He's too late, as Yuuka said. She'll never forgive him, but that won't get in the way of him trying to redeem himself.
"You were," I agree. Although Yuuka's physical scars from him have healed, the emotional scars are likely to last a lot longer.
"I'm sorry," he sighs. "I've done a lot of terrible things. To Yuuka, and to you. I've always been jealous of you. She always seemed to love you more than she loved me. Now I see why." There's a pause. "Goodbye, Yusei Fudo. I can't stay in this City anymore. It's Yuuka's City, no matter how much I try to ignore it. It will always remind me of her, and that's something I can't handle. You won, Yusei. Enjoy it, and don't let her go." Raiden walks off in Yuuka's direction. A somber air surrounds them as he says goodbye. I slowly walk over to her. She looks at me, just as Raiden disappears from view. She turns around, looking for him. When I reach out for hand, she turns back around to me.
"Yuuka," I say delicately. "He's gone, isn't he?" There's a strong sense of melancholy in her eyes.
"Yeah," she nods, "but I don't care. I don't need him in my life. I've moved on." Despite everything, her voice is still strong and steady.
"You have," I smile. Yuuka takes one of my hands and puts it on her waist, and intertwines my other hand with hers, before resting her other hand on my shoulder. "Wait, you want us to-"
"Dance? Yes." She begins to guide us through the motions of dancing. "Come on, it's easy."
"Could be worse," I say despite my nerves. "I suppose I'll have to get used to it."
"What do you mean?" She asks.
"We'll have to dance at our wedding." Yuuka chokes a little at my words, her face turning bright red.
"Our wedding?" She echoes. "You've thought about it?"
"Yeah," I answer honestly. Yuuka is so flustered that she can barely keep eye contact with me. "It sounds nice. Have you?"
"For a lot longer than I'm willing to admit."
"I love you," I shake my head with a smile. We've always talked about our future together, but this is the first time the word wedding has been uttered. It's nice to know that she's thought about it too. "You know that?"
"I do, and I love you too." She nods right back at me, and I feel my smile growing wider. At least twice a day, I ask her that question. Building up the trust that I had broken is taking its time. But I know, one day, she'll trust me again.
"You're not facing this alone." I say as my hand slowly strokes her waist as we dance. She seems to melt under my touch. "This whole saviour thing, going for Security, your trust issues, the other Yuuka's memories. I'll be with you every step of the way."
"Thank you." Her head dips a little. I pull her closer and hear head rests on my shoulder. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
We stay like that for a while in pure, comfortable silence. She's so close to me that I feel warm and cozy, despite being dressed up for once. I want to pat her head but I know she'd complain that I'd mess up her bun.
"You did it for me, didn't you?" I finally gain the courage to ask.
"Of course I did." She chuckles. "You're going to university and you're going to like it."
"Even if it means a lifetime in Security for you."
"Yusei Fudo, I would go to the ends of the Earth and even further for you. I would do more if I could."
The rest of the night is oddly calm. The press seem to be leaving us alone for the time being. We spend the rest of the night with our friends, talking about anything other than the political stuff, because they seem to get the hint. As we leave, Yuuka stops to look at me with a wide smile. I go to question her, but then I notice the press pointing their cameras at us. I see what she's going. So, I play along with her and smile right back.
Yuuka decides to start therapy, a promise she made with Takumi. As part of the therapy, she begins keeping two journals, one with her memories and one for the other Yuuka's memories. She reads them aloud to me as she writes them. I slowly learn more and more about the other Yuuka and Z-One. The line between Yuuka and the other Yuuka slowly becomes more and more defined. I begin to understand what Yuuka meant, that I am a different person to Z-One.
The future only becomes brighter and brighter for us.
Team 5D's officially splits up as everyone begins to chase their own futures. Yuuka and I, the only ones remaining in the City, stand strong together. I start university, and work on a new Moment system at the same time. Yuuka starts in the new Police force with Kaoru. We move into our own little apartment together. I quickly get integrated into Yuuka's group of friends with open arms. For once, life is good. Except for the random appearances of paparazzi, which Yuuka always handles with her photogenic smile. Yuuka complains about her press interviews and speeches at various charity events, including events by the charity named after her. Deep down, I can tell she loves making a difference.
This City is changing, and she's right at the front of it.
I'm so proud of her. I love watching her work, whether it's cruising around on patrol or opening a children's hospital. It gives me so much hope for the future. Even on the dark days, she refuses to give up. With Yuuka by my side, I know we can stop that bad future.
On the second anniversary of the Ark Cradle falling, Yuuka begins to write a letter to the other Yuuka, as per her therapist's recommendation. Yuuka's nearly finished with her therapy sessions, which seems unbelievable considering how she started them. They haven't solved everything, nightmares and unwanted thoughts still hover, but she's better than she was.
I arrive home from a lecture while Yuuka is still writing the letter. She's taken today off from work. She's all dressed up for our date night tonight already, a blue skirt and white blazer over a black crop top. She even has a full face of makeup and everything. I get dressed and sit on the couch beside the desk and wait for her.
"So, until I know the future is safe, I'll carry on." She narrates the ending part of her letter. "Forever yours, Yuuka Hattori-Sasaki."
"It's done?" I ask.
"Yes," she sighs in relief. A big grin breaks out onto her face. "That felt good."
"I bet it did." I nod. "That, and you finished the journals this morning."
"It's amazing," Yuuka says as she holds up the journal containing the other Yuuka's memories, "her entire life is in here."
"If you get asked to write a book about Z-One, you got a handy reference right there." I joke.
"I wouldn't be surprised." Her eyes widen. "I couldn't use my journal though."
It's true. Since becoming the poster child against the bad future, Yuuka didn't tell the whole story. He was nothing but a villain, she said. It would inspire the people of the City to prove Z-One wrong, that the City wouldn't fall to ruin this time.
"That's true," I mutter.
"No one mourns the wicked," Yuuka says as she stares at her journal. There's a pause. "Maybe I could write a fictional version. Make it a tragic love story." She chuckles. "Every story is a love story, after all. Though I have one question," she hums. "Which step was the step too far?"
"Huh?"
"It's nothing," she says, putting the journals back on the desk. There's a pause as she smiles to herself. "Our love story won't be a tragic one."
"Of course it won't." I nod. "We're going to save the future. We'll make them proud."
"Yeah, we will." She looks at me with warm eyes. "Are you ready to go?" She asks. "We have a hot date to catch."
"Wouldn't miss that for the world."
Yuuka and I head out of our apartment and into the fresh City air. Sometimes, we just take walks around the City. Through the bustling City centre, to the docklands and the fresh sea air, to the Daimon Area and watch some duels. We drive through the Satellite, and through the suburbs.
Why? Because no one can stop us. This City is ours. Because we were the ones who saved it.
I clutch the ring box in my jacket pocket. At the end of our date, I'll bring Yuuka to the place where the Ark Cradle disappeared. Where one part of our lives ended and another began. There, we can begin another chapter, just the two of us.
Sure, the future seems terrifying, but with Yuuka at my side, it seems a little less daunting. We can do it, I know we can. As long as we have each other, we can overcome anything. We've done it before and we'll do it again. Until we know the future is safe, we'll carry on together.
END
A/N: That is the end of the Waking Up Normal saga! It's been a long and rewarding road. I want to thank everyone who has read my stuff and made it this far. A special shoutout to my gf actualnerdlord, and my good friends overthemoonday and EibonVirgo, for supporting me through all of this!