Personal Reasons

Akiza was looking out of a window, thinking about Yusei. She was inside the apartment she's "renting" to avoid the constant interaction with the crowd of men. She was glad she wasn't portrayed as the Black Rose here. It was the last thing she now wanted to happen. She heard a knocking at the door and went to open it. "May I help you?" she asked a cloaked figure that was in the doorway.

"Why yes," a familiar voice said from behind the signer. Akiza blacked out before she could turn her head to see the voice's owner.

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"I understand why, but next time, can you PLEASE save me more gracefully?" Junk Synchron said flatly to Yusei, who chuckled softly.

Axora led the group a good distance away from the black fog and they were all now sitting in a circle, with Akari, Mana, and Rose prepared to kill the Invader.

"Talk." Rose said in a harsh tone.

"Listen, first off, I have no intention of killing any of you, yet anyway." Axora started to say, " I presume that the pile of junk had been a good boy and delivered my message."

"Yeah" Akari said, glaring.

"As I said, I know what's going on, but I can't speak about it. And that I have an offer." Axora said.

Everyone glared at the tuner.

"It seems like he left out some important details." Axora said, chuckling.

"So it seems." Yusei said looking back at Axora.

"What's this deal?" Akari said, a little wary.

"Basically, help me kill the one responsible for the fog." Axora said flatly.

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Bubbleman said in surprise and shock.

"You heard me." Axora said flatly.

"Why should we help you?" Akari snapped.

"Because, he's a common threat, and a major obstacle in my plans." Axora answered in a cool tone.

"KWII!!!" Quillbolt screeched before he leaped to attack Axora. Axora dodged the hedgehog easily.

"Calm down little guy" Junk Synchron said as he picked up Quillbolt.

"KII!" the hedgehog said defiantly and pulled the ignition handle, triggering the Synchro Summoning.

In place of the Synchron and Quillbolt stood Junk Warrior.

"YEAH RIGHT!" Junk Warrior shouted to Axora before he threw a punch at him. Axora grabbed the fist without looking.

"Don't try me hedgehog…" Axora said to Junk Warrior.

"Grrr… Damn you…" Junk warrior said as he reverted back to the two monsters that formed him.

"How did you know that was him and not me?" Junk Synchron asked Axora.

"Well usually the non tuner monster or monsters that are used to Synchro Summmon the Synchro monster are the ones that do the thinking." Axora explained. "besides, the hedgehog was the one who had the temper."

"KWIIIII!" Quillbolt fumed in anger.

"Besides the one responsible is too strong to defeat by my own power." Axora said.

"Who is responsible?" Leo asked.

"It is referred to you humans as the Phantom of Chaos." Axora said, sighing.

"it's a dangerous monster here. It is referred to as just Phantom here. It can absorb monsters and gain their powers for its own. I heard it couldn't absorb normal monsters, but when it absorbed Relinquished, that no longer became a problem."

"with his power… Phantom is able to absorb anyone…" Bubbleman said in a cold tone.

"and he's a shape shifter to begin with."

"what?" Yusei said, a little surprised.

"the Phantom has no solid form. When it isn't taking a form of a creature, it is a black fog." Axora said.

"wait, then the fog itself is Phantom?" Akari asked

"Correct." Axora said in a flat tone.

"How come it is a threat now?" Rose asked.

"It managed to get to the human world and absorbed the Earthbound Immortals when they were defeated." Axora said. All of the present humans flinched at what they heard.

"Yes, you heard me." Axora said.

"I see." Yusei said. "so you need the signers help to defeat this Phantom."

Axora nodded.

"Plus he's after the Servants of the Crimson Dragon." Axora said.

Yusei glared at the invader.

"He already has captured the Red Dragon Archfiend and Ancient Fairy Dragon, and is after the Black Rose Dragon as we speak." Axora said. "Yusei, was it? If the dragons are absorbed , then the Dominion Gods, there's nothing we can do to stop the Phantom."

Yusei nodded. " I see where you're going." he said.

Axora grinned. "Glad there's someone who understands the danger."

Leo and Junk were blinking together, both utterly confused.

"In other words for those that don't get it, Dragons gone, world is doomed." Axora said.

"Ohhhh" the two said in realization.

"Great… got a slow thinker of a brother…" Luna said.

"HEY!" Leo said in annoyance, looking at the sister.

Axora's eyes started to glow a light violet.

"What is it? I see… THE HELL?! EXPLAIN, NOW!" Axora barked, hands clenching.

"Very well, dismissed." The glow in the eyes vanished.

"What was that?" Akari asked.

"one of my subordinates, seems like Yusei's girlfriend has been kidnapped by an old friend of her's, a guy with red hair and a scar on his right side of his face…" Axora said.

Yusei scrambled to his feet. "Akiza's been kidnapped?!" he said in shock.

Luna and Leo trembled as they heard the kidnapper's description.

"He's that guy… the one that was eaten by the giant lizard…" Leo said, trembling.

"you know him?" Axora asked, his interest growing.

"Not really, but I dueled him once, he had this ability to make dueling real. It really hurts." Leo said.

"a Psychic Duelist huh?" Axora said in interest.

"yeah, Akiza has powers like him." Luna said.

"hmm… was this Akiza a signer?" Axora asked.

"Correct." Yusei said.

"Must be Phantom's doing. It knows that to absorb the dragons, it needs their partners." Axora said.

Yusei clenched his hands together. "Why does it need that?" he demanded.

"the dragons value their partners more than their own lives. And will do anything to protect them." Mana answered.

"Agreed. If Phantom has taken Akiza hostage, then Black Rose Dragon will surrender for her partner's life being safe in return." Bubbleman said.

Axora nodded. "If you take me up on my offer is up to you. Though I believe that in your mind there's no choice." he said.

Yusei nodded. "If my friends in danger, I'll do anything to get them out of harm's way" he declared, his fists clenching.

"fine, but tell me about Hiita first." Mana said.

"No." Axora said flatly. "I can't…"

"BASTARD!" Rose said, drawing her sword. Mana raised a hand to stop Rose from lunging at Axora.

"Why not?" Mana asked in a cold tone.

"She's one of the Fallen now, by choice to boot." Axora said.

Akari froze in place, while Bubbleman stared with his jaw hanging open. Mana collapsed to her knees and tears started to stream down her face. "W-Why?" she sobbed.

"Don't know her reasons." Axora said.

Junk Synchron stomped his foot hard. "I've had it. And I thought I already had it as rough as possible before my life changed." he muttered. " If there only was a way for me to become Junk Warrior indefinitely."

"There is such a way Tuner." Axora said, grabbing the tuner by the scarf. He opened a portal and appeared a motionless Ancient Gear. "I learned that if a tuner tunes with a machine that isn't alive, the tuner's consciousness takes over."

Junk Synchron nodded and glared at Axora, trying to show no fear. Axora placed him next to the Ancient Gear and the tuner pulled his cord handle, initiating the Synchro Summoning. The Ancient Gear was enveloped by the Synchro gates and became Junk Warrior. The Synchro monster looked at his arms and body the best he could.

"Whoa…" he said, amazed at what happened.

Rose smiled. "my, you finally grown up." she teased Junk.

"Why did you have him do that?" Mana asked Axora, suspicious of what he was planning.

"I know the power Synchro Monsters have first hand, besides, he looks more suited for his Duel Runner." Axora said, grinning a bit. All Mana did was just glaring at him.

"ALL RIGHT, I'M ALL SET NOW TO KICK SOME ASS!" Junk Warrior said with enthusiasm.

"That's the spirit!" Bubbleman said, encouraging the Synchro monster.

"SHUT UP YOU MORON!" Rose barked, whacking the Elemental Hero out cold in the back of the head with her sword. When she looked at Junk, she blushed slightly and started to fidget a little. "Although for you, you really should tone it down a little."

Luna giggled a little and smiled.

"What's with her?" Leo asked his sister, pointing to Rose.

"You wouldn't understand." Luna replied.

"Meany…" Leo complained, glaring at his sister now.

"Well, Axora… give us the night to discuss about your proposal." Yusei said.

"Very well." Axora said, grinning.

Yusei gestured the others to follow him away from Axora. The others did, but Junk Warrior glanced at Axora before he left.

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"So, it's just the three of you?" Axora said the next morning, looking at Rose, Yusei, and Junk Warrior.

"yeah, it is. It's too dangerous to have everyone come, especially Luna and Leo. Mana and the others will keep an eye on the two and make sure they're safe." Yusei explained.

Axora nodded and grinned. " I take it you need a runner yourself Yusei." he said.

"yeah." Yusei said, glancing away from Axora.

"I've taken the liberty of taking this from the human world last night." Axora said as another portal appeared, revealing Yusei's Duel Runner. Yusei grinned when he saw it.

"You seem to have one after all…" Rose said.

"What is that supposed to be?" Axora said, growling at the girl.

"A heart." Rose said with no fear shown.

Axora glared at Rose but remained silent.

"Let's roll," Junk said as he revved up his runner. Yusei and Axora got onto theirs and started them after Rose turned hers on. Yusei led the way followed by Axora and Junk Warrior was behind with Rose.

Junk Warrior popped a wheelie and caught up to Yusei. Rose laughed but no one could hear her laughter.

Axora just stared forward, thinking of what the Phantom was doing now.