Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds

So Much Beauty and Love Inside Us

By Lucky_Ladybug

Notes: The characters aren't mine and the story is! This is what happens when I play Reverse of Arcadia. It takes place before and during the Crash Town arc. Radley is a nice guy, the way I honestly see him. This got long, so I need to divide it in two or more sections.

Kalin poured another glass of cactus cider as he silently leaned back in his chair and watched Radley and the Bunch. The guys were feeling very hyper tonight, dancing on tables and counters while Radley objected.

"Get down from there!" he scolded, lightly tapping Scotch on the knee with the palm of his hand. "You want the health inspectors to shut us down?"

"What health inspectors?" Virgil snorted. But they all complied. Radley was good-natured about their antics, but he made them clean the counter and tables when they jumped on them.

He passed them some cleaning rags and solution without batting an eye. "Me."

Kalin just stared at them without really seeing them. It was surreal sometimes, watching Radley handle his rowdy friends. Radley was what Kalin had been, the leader of a Duel Gang. But he was different. Kalin's response to anyone doing something he didn't like had been threats or even outright violence. Radley was firm but not vicious. The Bunch respected him even if they didn't always agree with him, and as they dutifully cleaned the tables and the counter, none of them snarked or made fun of him behind his back.

Kalin frowned a bit. Yusei had never done that either, but he hadn't always got along well with Jack and Crow. Still, they had all seemed like a close-knit family . . . until they weren't. Crow and Jack leaving that day, after Kalin had started to crack . . . that had been one of the worst days Kalin had had in years. Yusei had stayed until he just hadn't been able to take it any more either, and he had hoped that leaving would shock Kalin back to his senses. Instead, it had only driven him further away.

What if Kalin had been like Radley? The Bunch was finishing up now, and Scotch suddenly came at Radley from behind, glomping him with gusto. Radley started but laughed, laying his hands on Scotch's arms.

. . . Maybe long ago, when the Enforcers had first formed, maybe Kalin had been like that. There had always been some level of anger bubbling under the surface, but outwardly he had been exuberant and cheerful, a worthy leader who had been respected and loved.

He wished he hadn't changed from that.

It was hard to keep seeing Radley as a greedy, power-hungry creep at times like this. He loved the Bunch so much, and they him. They all spoke as equals, and some of them, especially Scotch, downright idolized him.

Kalin looked away. In the past he would have been jealous to see what Radley had. Now, though, he knew he had to stay on the outside. He wasn't worthy of the friendship Radley kept trying to offer him. If Radley actually was a decent guy, the best thing Kalin could do was to stay away from him. Maybe soon Kalin would lose and then it would all be over. He would be dragged away to Malcolm's part of the mine and the justice and retribution against him could begin. Radley would forget all about him then and move on to the next Duelist.

And if Radley wasn't a decent guy? Well, then Kalin was slime right along with him. But he still didn't want to associate.

The door suddenly banged open and everyone jumped, even Kalin. Several tough guys who weren't from Malcolm's Crew stomped in, clearly hoping to make an impression.

"Who's the leader around here?" one of them sneered. He looked like a stereotypical punk, with a hot pink mohawk and a collection of earrings and silver bracelets. Radley looked tame by comparison.

He was also currently still being hugged by Scotch. But he turned to look with narrowed eyes. "That would be me," he said. Scotch withdrew his arms and Radley stepped forward to meet the newcomers.

The new gang was not impressed. "You're Radley?" the leader sneered. "It looks like what they're saying in town about you is right."

"And what are they saying about me?" Radley replied. He spoke completely even and calm, but there was a warning hint of danger that Kalin was familiar with by now.

The leader stepped forward and moved to grab Radley by his shirt. "That you're a marshmallow. You talk the talk, but you don't walk the walk."

Radley responded by grabbing the guy's wrist and jerking him forward. "Oh really." Now Radley was up in his face. He flung the guy backwards into his friends and moved to signal the Bunch, but they were already protectively gathering around him. Radley folded his arms. "Let me give you a friendly warning. This is my place and I don't let anyone mess it up. If you guys are here to cause trouble, we'll rout you out faster than your itty-bitty brains can even process it."

The leader snarled. "You saw that!" he snapped at his friends. "You saw what he did! That was assault and battery, plain and simple!"

"Was it?" Radley said calmly. "Let's not forget that you were grabbing for me. I was defending myself. I could have done worse. And you're clearly outnumbered. Why don't you boys pack up and leave before we all give you something to cry to Mama about?"

The leader's friends looked hesitant. They wanted to do what their boss wanted of them, but the sight of over twenty opponents was daunting. None of the Bunch looked ready to back down.

The mohawk guy's eyes darted about. Spotting Kalin still sitting at his table with the cactus cider, he gained a speck of confidence. "What about you?" he demanded. "Are you with them?!"

Kalin just grunted. "Ask him." He indicated Radley.

Clear frustration and hurt went through Radley's eyes, but he still remained calm as he replied. "He's got a dueling strategy you wouldn't believe," he sneered. "Too bad we only duel at sunset around here."

"That sounds like an excuse to me," Mohawk Guy grinned.

"He's also my bodyguard," Radley said. "If you try to attack me, yeah, he'll interfere too." He spoke with confidence, but the way he gave Kalin a sidelong glance said that he really wasn't sure what Kalin would do.

"It's not worth it, Skip," one of Mohawk Guy's friends hissed. "There's too many of them. Let's just go! Maybe we can join the other guy."

"Shut up! We're not joining either of them!" Skip snapped. "We'll conquer them both and take over!"

Radley threw back his head and laughed. "Oh brother! Look, if you guys can't even get rid of us, do you really think you'll have any luck against Malcolm's tanks? You're loco, all of you!"

"Tanks?!" Now the lackeys were really quaking. "Let's forget this, Skip! Please! We're in over our heads! Let's just go back to the City!"

Skip snarled. "Shut up!" But as he looked back and forth between Radley's Bunch and his own gang, his confidence definitely wavered. ". . . Fine, we're going!" he snapped. "But don't think this is over!"

Radley and the Bunch followed them to the doorway and stood there, watching until they sped away, back towards the South exit. Then Radley sighed in irritation and turned away. "Amateurs. They've got no business trying to get into the big leagues and they know it."

Scotch looked to Kalin, who was still sitting and watching. "We've chased off lots of amateurs like that!" he said proudly. "They're not stupid enough to tangle with Radley!"

Kalin grunted. "Is it really Radley, or is it all of you?" he retorted. "It's not likely that Radley would intimidate them all on his own."

"Of course he could!" Scotch shot back. "Radley's really intimidating when he wants to be!"

"Nevermind, Scotch." Radley shook his head. "You guys go play in the arcade or something. I need to talk to Kalin."

"Yeah, you do," Virgil said, shooting Kalin a dirty look as he went past.

Radley waited until all the Bunch had left before sitting down across from Kalin and frowning at him. "You were a big help," he said with dripping sarcasm.

"I won the duel for you," Kalin flatly returned.

"Okay, yeah, you were a great help then," Radley conceded. "But I needed you tonight too. You should have got up with the Bunch and come over. I shouldn't have to tell creeps like that that you work for me if they're asking you first. Why didn't you just admit it? Are you ashamed of it?"

"No." Kalin set the empty glass down. "But you really didn't need my help."

The truth was, he hadn't even thought of getting up and going over to them. The Bunch had seemed to be doing just fine and he had been wrapped up in watching them and thinking of the past with the Enforcers. The fact that Radley was affronted now didn't bother him much.

"That's not really the point," Radley said. "If you really felt loyal to me, you would've wanted to get up and join us."

"I'm not loyal to you," Kalin found himself saying. "I'm only in this for the duels."

"And the money, huh?" Radley frowned more. "If you're willing to expand your duties, you'll get more of it."

Kalin got up from the table. "I'll think about it."

Radley got up too. "Hey, I wasn't done talking to you yet!"

Kalin's stare was bottomless. "Are you going to call on the Bunch to gather around you again?"

Radley clenched a fist at his side. ". . . You really think you're something, don't you?" he said at last. "You know I need you and you're milking that for all it's worth."

Kalin didn't answer that. He just turned to go. "I'll be back tomorrow at sunset."

"Yeah, you do that," Radley shot back. He didn't try to call Kalin back that time. In resignation he just sat back down at the table and reached for the bottle of cactus cider. Kalin didn't see how his hand shook as he poured.

"Why . . . why am I not good enough?" he whispered. "What don't you like about me? I've tried so hard. . . ."

But there were no answers.

xxxx

Kalin could never figure Radley out. No matter how Kalin rejected him, he always tried again the next night. After the sunset duel, they gathered in the diner like usual and Radley poured the cactus cider for himself and Kalin. Unlike usual, Radley hadn't said much yet.

". . . I know who you are, you know," Radley finally announced when he finished pouring.

Kalin just gave him an unmoved look. "What does that mean?"

"The pale blue hair, the prison mark, the name. . . . Kalin isn't a common name around here. You're the leader of the Enforcers." Radley took a drink from his glass.

Kalin grunted. "The Enforcers are no more."

"Are they?" Radley spoke calmly. "The Enforcers are legends around here. To kids like West, they're very much still around and kicking."

Kalin finally took a drink too. "The leader of the Enforcers became bent on power and destroyed the team and his own soul just to have more of it."

Radley frowned. "Is that what you think you've done?"

"You said you knew who I am. You must know what happened to the Enforcers." Kalin set the glass down.

"I know you conquered all the Duel Gangs in the Satellite," Radley said. "And sure, I know the leader had some delusions of grandeur about overthrowing the corrupt police force too. And I know he got himself caught." He leaned forward more. "The last thing I heard was that he died in prison. But you're here, and alive, no matter what weird rumors are floating around. This isn't the Satellite, Kalin. I'm the one trying to get a foothold here, and you're helping me. Unless you start trying to overthrow me, I don't care about your past. You're a good Duelist, and that's what I need to beat Malcolm!"

"People are all the same," Kalin replied. "You'll become like I was if you take control of this town."

Radley frowned. "If you really believe that, why do you want to help me?"

"I'm in this for my own reasons," Kalin said. "I don't want to help you. You're nothing to me."

Something that looked like hurt flickered through Radley's eyes and he sneered. "You're a real hypocrite, you know that? You figure I'm gonna drive the town to ruin or something, but you don't care that you're helping me do that because you've got your own agenda that you've gotta do. I'm not what you think I am, but that's not really the point. If things really turned out like you're saying, it'd be partially your own fault. Maybe you're not the hero West thinks you are."

"I'm not," Kalin responded simply. "I've never been a hero. I've never encouraged West in what he thinks. Go ahead and tell him what I said."

"Yeah, no," Radley shot back. "After everything that poor kid has been through, he still has hope! He believes a hero is gonna come and set all the prisoners free, including his dad. You're his hero right now and I'm not gonna do anything to disillusion him on that. You'd better not either."

"He's believing a hopeless lie. It's cruel to let him go on believing it." Kalin finished his drink and stood.

Radley got up too. "If you keep winning, it doesn't have to be a lie," he said. "Beat all of Malcolm's men and he'll have no choice but to surrender to us!"

Kalin stared him down. "You sound like me. It's the Enforcers all over again."

"I'm not you," Radley insisted. "But the Enforcers' original goals were good! They only went off the rails after all the Duel Gangs were taken down. That won't happen here."

Kalin just turned to leave, his hair swishing with the motion. "Prove it to me," he said, looking to Radley over his shoulder.

"I will," Radley vowed.

And he certainly tried to with all of his might. But Kalin, especially in his current state, was never convinced.

xxxx

As a general rule, Malcolm's Crew and Radley's Bunch stayed away from each other except at sunset. Appearing at other times generally meant war. When the Bunch found one of Malcolm's newest and youngest recruits skulking around the diner, none were pleased.

"What are you doing here?" Virgil snapped, folding his arms. "You know you're not welcome, right?"

The kid started. "I . . . I was just looking," he stammered. "It looks a lot nicer here than at Malcolm's saloon, and I . . . I just wanted to see. . . ."

"You really think we're going to fall for that?" Billy said in disgust.

"Malcolm sent you here to spy!" Scotch deduced with a firm nod.

"What?! No!" the kid cried, even as several members of the Bunch circled around him like wild animals about to strike. "I didn't mean any harm! Please!"

Kalin, who was walking down the street, paused to observe. A classic turf war set-up. He had certainly bullied anyone who had dared set foot on the Enforcers' turf when they weren't welcome. Jack and Crow had just intimidated people, and Kalin had started out that way too, but later on he hadn't been above beating them up for overstepping their bounds. Yusei, well, he hadn't liked doing either thing unless it was clearly necessary.

Radley came out of the diner with a frown. "What's going on out here?"

"Radley, this creep from Malcolm's Crew showed up!" Scotch told him. "He's spying on us!"

"I'm not!" the kid wailed. "This place reminded me of home and I just wanted to see it!"

Radley frowned, pondering the problem as he tapped his arm with his gloved fingers. "Bring him inside," he said at last. "We'll talk about it in there."

Virgil snorted. "Oh, you're in for it now," he said, grabbing the kid's shirt as he pushed him to the stairs.

Kalin could imagine what would happen inside. A lot of "good cop, bad cop" routines until the kid was a sobbing, confused mess. Maybe a beating for good measure. Then they'd turn him loose to run back to Malcolm as an example of what happened to people who did what they weren't supposed to do in a gang war.

He didn't particularly care to view any of that. It would remind him too much of the past. Not that he could ever stop thinking about it anyway.

He did take note that the kid was being pushed into a chair by the Bunch, while Radley calmly sat down across from him. The kid was shaking so hard he looked like he'd fall apart any moment. The Bunch stayed behind him, fiercely intimidating as before, until Radley gave a slight gesture and they backed away.

So it was the "good cop" part of the routine. So predictable. Kalin moved to walk past the window. Tonight he would no doubt hear the Bunch partake in several rounds of cactus cider to celebrate the successful torment of a Crewmember. The fact that he couldn't be older than 14 wouldn't bother them.

He had to pause, however, when the sound of voices wafted to him from inside. Scotch had forgotten to shut the door, and what Kalin heard was not what he had expected.

"So, what's your name?" Radley spoke both calmly and kindly, unconcerned for the situation. He sounded like this was just a friendly chat to him.

"G-Gary," the kid stuttered.

Radley leaned back in the chair. "And you miss home, huh? What are you doing out here? Don't you know this is a place where people come to escape their old homes and their pasts?"

"I . . . I thought I wanted to get out, see the world, make some money so everyone'd be proud of me," Gary said.

"And Malcolm saw you first and told you that you couldn't go wrong by joining his Crew, right?"

"Pretty much. . . . His men bullied me first and then he came along and said I should join them." Gary looked down, gripping the knees of his pants.

"Yeah, that's their normal routine for guys like you," Radley said.

". . . He said you're worse!" Gary looked back up defensively. "He said your guys drag people in here kicking and screaming and they never come back out!"

"And I bury the bodies in the basement?" Radley snorted.

"I don't know. . . . Do you?!" Gary snapped.

"Honestly, the only people who've come to see me and disappeared are people Malcolm's put up to his silly initiation rituals who show up just to torture me," Radley said. "Some of them are just lonely, mixed-up kids. But since he's told you about that, why did you come here anyway? Is this your initiation ritual?"

"No, I really just wanted to see the place," Gary said. "I thought someone who could make something that looked like home couldn't be so bad."

Radley sighed. "That kind of thinking could get you hurt. Do you really still wanna stay with Malcolm?"

Gary shrugged. "I don't know. Most of them like kicking back and chugging beer and whiskey all night, but there's some guys around my age who do other stuff. They're nice."

"Yeah? Around here, the Bunch likes to celebrate by having mini concerts and video game tournaments," Radley said, to which they all chorused in agreement.

That perked Gary up a bit. "Really? That sounds like fun."

"We have way more fun here than anyone does at Malcolm's place," Virgil boasted. "There's more to do!"

Gary shifted in his seat. ". . . I've already joined Malcolm, though. . . ."

Clint averted his gaze for some reason.

"Switching sides isn't impossible," Radley said calmly. "Of course, if you wanted to do that, we'd have to watch you for a while to make sure you're really not a spy. I'm sure you understand."

"Y-Yeah. . . ." Gary looked away. "I'd better not."

"Okay. If you wanna leave this place altogether and go home, I'll send you on your way," Radley said. "Malcolm will never know. But if you still wanna stay with Malcolm anyway . . ." He jerked his thumb over his shoulder at the door. "Get going."

Gary blinked, dumbfounded. ". . . That's it?"

"What, you were expecting a thrashing, or maybe being held hostage to use against Malcolm?" Radley shook his head. "We're not barbarians. And even if we wanted to try something like that, Malcolm wouldn't lift a finger to get you back. You're not one of his top Duelists or his top bullies, so you're nothing to him. Of course, he'll take great pains to assure you otherwise if you try asking him. He likes to say the Crew is like family to him."

"You say that too," Gary said.

"Yeah, but I actually mean it," Radley said. He got up from the table. "If you just wanna come around again and enjoy the place, you're welcome to. I'm sure Malcolm wouldn't like it, though."

Gary stood too. ". . . What really did happen to those guys who disappeared?" he asked uneasily.

"I'm hoping they'll never be seen here again," Radley said. "They should be safe and sound with their families right now."

Gary could only stare. "You sent them home?"

"Only because they wanted to go," Radley said. "Of course, I didn't tell Malcolm. I just let him think what he wants to. It works better that way."

Still clearly reeling and unsure of what to think, Gary started to back up to the door. ". . . What if I change my mind later?" he asked.

"Just come see me anytime," Radley said. "We'll work something out."

". . . Okay. Thanks." Gary reached the door and Kalin quickly ducked around the side of the building as he emerged.

He still didn't know what to make of any of this. Radley could be lying about the vanished Crewmembers being okay to try to lure Gary into a false sense of security. But he was also letting the kid go without doing any other physical or emotional harm. Gary was, indeed, insignificant, so why should Radley go out of his way to assure him those others were okay unless he really was trying to be kind?

Kalin sighed to himself and kept walking, talking the opposite path from Gary. This was all so confusing.

Not that it really mattered in the long run. He just had to keep dueling until he lost and could start receiving his just punishment for his sins. What Radley wanted or who he truly was was irrelevant.

So why had Kalin stayed to hear how it all played out?

xxxx

Malcolm really would hire anyone to duel for him, uncaring of how they would fare in a mine if they lost. First it had been women. He had snarled when his female Duelist had lost, and he probably thought Radley had her working hard labor in the mines, which he didn't. She was safe in the mine office. When Malcolm later bragged about a new talented Duelist and a child of no more than ten stepped out, Radley was indignant. Still, he hid it behind dripping sarcasm.

"Really, Malcolm, what's this? You couldn't find any other adults to duel for you, so you're resorting to children now?"

"I'm not a child!" the boy spat. "I'm a better Duelist than any of the adults I know!"

Radley folded his arms. "That may very well be, but this is not a game. Did Malcolm tell you what happens if you lose?"

"I'll work in a mine. So what?" the boy retorted.

Malcolm laughed. "He's tougher than most grown men! Fights dirtier too."

"Hmm." Radley looked to Kalin, whose expression was typical and emotionless.

"I'll defeat whoever you put in my path," Kalin intoned. "I don't care how young they are."

"Cold as ice, just like I'd expect from ol' Kalin," Malcolm said.

Radley didn't look pleased about it, but he just nodded. The boy would fall into his custody if he lost, and that would mean he'd be better off than he was right now.

"Alright, Kalin," Radley said at last. "Show me what you've got."

To the boy's credit, he was indeed a good Duelist. He kept the game going until the sun dropped behind the mountains and the last rays of dusk were fading. When Kalin finally beat him, he fell to his knees and gripped handfuls of dirt, snarling and swearing helplessly to himself.

Radley clenched his fists as the hearse rode up and the big man jumped down to lift the boy into the coffin. At least he hadn't used the lasso this time, which was a small mercy. The ride in the coffin was still agonizing and could trigger claustrophobia in many victims. But the boy just set his jaw and said nothing as he was thrown into the box.

"You'll have a real strong worker here," the man sneered at Radley before jumping back up and snatching the horses' reins.

Radley didn't respond, but his expression showed his distaste for the man. The two controlling the hearse didn't work for either side and were only around from a sadistic love of watching people lose and being able to deliver them to the mines in the cruelest ways possible. Radley had no idea who they were, and he doubted Malcolm did either.

Scotch waited to speak until Malcolm rode off cursing them with the rest of the Crew. "What are you going to do about him, Radley?!" he exclaimed.

"I'm not sure," Radley admitted. "Obviously he's too young for any strenuous work. But I've got the feeling he's a little spitfire who'll be insulted and uncooperative if I don't give him what he thinks is a full workload."

"Like Yahiko from Rurouni Kenshin!" Scotch proclaimed.

In spite of the serious situation, Radley had to laugh at the sudden pop culture reference. "Yeah, like that. And I'm thinking I'll have to make like Kenshin and humor the kid to get anywhere with him. I'll agree with him that he's very much an adult—which he's not, of course—and find something tough for him to do, but not too tough. I have to gain his trust enough to try to find out where he comes from and who might be looking for him and worried about him."

Kalin grunted. "You're wasting your time. He's an orphan."

Radley quirked an eyebrow. "Oh? You know this for a fact?"

"I've seen enough of them in the Satellite to know," Kalin said. "He's either an orphan or he might as well be because his family is garbage. And he's got pride enough to never break and never tell you anything about himself. He'll never see you as a good guy. You'll be like Sector Security to him."

"While I don't doubt you're right about his attitude, I'm not convinced I can't change his mind," Radley said.

"If anyone can, it's Radley!" Scotch said proudly.

Kalin was unmoved. "Do what you want. I'd say I didn't think you were a fool, but the way you keep trying to connect with me proves that you are."

That clearly stung. But Radley turned away, jamming his helmet on his head before the hurt in his eyes could be seen for long. "Whatever. I'm going to the mine to see about this personally. I'll meet you guys at the diner later." And he sped off without another word.

Virgil gave Kalin a disgusted look. "You're the fool," he proclaimed. "You keep hurting Radley and someday it'll come back to bite you."

"I doubt that," Kalin replied as he walked off down the sidewalk.

Ending Notes: Among the pictures of some of the various Duelists in Crash Town, there is a woman and a young boy. I explored the woman's story a bit sometime back and I've wanted to do the same with the boy. It's not said who either of them worked for, so I decided both were Malcolm's Duelists.