Sakura and Jack parted from the kiss. Both of their eyes were glowing red. Their minds were foggy. They couldn't form one coherent thought, no matter how hard they tried. It was like they were in a trance. Inner was floating above Jack smirking. She had her arms wrapped around his neck.
"I knew I liked him for a reason," she purred. Her eyes moved to the mark on his arm. Sakura's hand was over the mark and it looked like it was moving, pulsing ever so slightly. You could only tell if you were looking for it.
"G-Get your hands off of Sakura-chan!" Naruto shouted. Jack and Sakura looked over at him. Once the eye contact broke, their eyes returned to normal.
"Naruto..." Sakura muttered, recognizing the blond. Her eyelids suddenly felt really heavy. And her head was spinning. "Dizzy..." she whispered, before collapsing against Jack's chest. With that Inner disappeared. Jack looked down at her in worry.
"Sakura? Oi, you okay?" Jack asked.
"Let go of her," Sasuke said, stepping forward.
"Why don't you mind your own business," Jack growled.
"Not until you let go of Sakura!" Naruto said.
"Like I said, mind your own damn business," Jack said.
"Let her go!" Naruto shouted.
"What is going on in here?" Takeno asked, entering the room. "What happened?" he asked, seeing his daughter.
"I don't know, one moment we're talk and the next she collapsed," Jack said.
"Perhaps this day was too exciting for her," Minato said.
"Bullshit!" Naruto shouted. "He was kissing her!"
"Why on earth would I do something like that?" Jack asked, looking at him like he was crazy.
"But we saw you!" Naruto said. "Didn't we?" Naruto turned to Sasuke.
"We saw something, that's for sure," he said.
"Can you be anymore vague?" Naruto growled, glaring at him.
"I apologize Mr. Goodwin, but it appears that I must take my daughter home," Takeno said.
"We've actually finished your runner, Mr. Atlas," Minato said. "I told you it wouldn't take long. The problem was actually a lot easier than I first thought."
"Let go of her," Naruto said once more. He and Sasuke walked over to him. Jack glared at them before handing Sakura over to them. The families excused themselves and left the house.
"Jack, what happened?" Goodwin demanded.
"How should I know?" Jack asked. "It's like I said. One moment we were talking and the next she was in my arms, unconscious."
"And what of the accusation of you kissing her?" Goodwin said.
"If it happened I don't remember a damn thing about it," Jack said. Goodwin narrowed his eyes before nodding.
"Follow me Jack, I have something I wish to show you," Goodwind said.
Sakura let out a shout as she sat up in her bed. She groaned and held her stomach, falling back onto her bed. She could still remember her dream vividly. That dragon, it was staring at her. She could feel it's cold stare, like it was looking into soul, past it even. The dragon suddenly disappeared and she was left staring at a pair of wings. "What happened to me?" She groaned. She brought a hand up to her head, rubbing it.
"You okay?" Inner asked, appearing above her.
"Yeah, just give me a moment," Sakura said.
"So that was pretty bold of you," Inner said with a smirk.
"Huh?" Sakura hummed, looking up at Inner. The girl was smirking.
"Though, I don't blame you," Inner said. "There was a certain pull about him."
"What are you talking about?" Sakura asked.
"You don't remember?" Inner asked. "Well then, let me remind you." Sakura groaned as her mind moved and shifted. Images flew by before settling on one specific picture. Sakura's eyes snapped open. She sat up slowly, looking lost and confused. She held up her hand and hesitantly ran her fingers across her bottom lip.
"I kissed...Jack," Sakura whispered.
"That's right," Inner said with a smirk. "But why are you so surprised? It's not the first time, right?"
"Shut up," Sakura hissed. She swung her fist and Inner disappeared with a smirk. She climbed off her bed and walked out of her room.
"You're finally awake," Hitomi said happily.
"Yeah," Sakura nodded.
"How are you feeling sweetie?" she asked, placing a hand on her forehead. "No fever, and your color looks fine."
"I'm feeling fine," Sakura said.
"Are you sure, you look a little shaken up," Hitomi said.
"I'm fine, just a little hungry," Sakura said.
"Well then I'll make you your favorite meal," Hitomi said. Sakura was about to speak up but let it go with a sigh. She walked over to the windows and noticed that the moon was high in the sky.
"How long was I out?" Sakura asked.
"Quite a while," Hitomi answered. "Your father's in his study if you need him."
"I don't need anything from him," Sakura said harshly. She walked over to the couch and sat down, turning on the TV.
"It's gonna be a duel for the ages folks! Tomorrow Jack Atlas will have a rematch with Hunter Pace!" Sakura narrowed her eyes and changed the channel. Each channel though seemed to be focused on one thing: Jack's next duel. Though some of them were actually playing clips from Jack's last duel with Hunter.
"Who cares!" She shouted, throwing the remote. "Who actually cares about that ass!"
"What are you talking about?" Hitomi asked.
"Jack! Who actually cares about that pompous asshole!" Sakura said angrily.
"Keep going," Inner urged. "I love it when you get feisty."
"What the hell happened to calming me down?" Sakura growled, glaring at her.
"Who are you talking to?" Hitomi asked.
"Just get angrier," Inner urged, licking her lips.
"Angry? Calm? Just make up your damn mind already!" Sakura shouted. The building started shaking. Hitomi screamed and held onto the counter.
"Delicious anger," Inner said with a sigh. She reclined and smirked. "You can calm down now."
"Stop telling me what to do!" Sakura shouted at the figment.
"What's going on?" Takeno shouted, entering the room.
"Can't you just leave me alone for once?" Sakura yelled at Inner. "You've made my life hell! I can't take it anymore!"
"Get over yourself!" Inner growled. "It's not like I'm here because I want to be. We're stuck together. Whether you like it or not!" Sakura tightened her fists and took a deep breath. The shaking gradually stopped.
"What the hell was that?" Takeno shouted at Sakura. "And who the hell were you talking to?"
"None of your damn business!" Sakura growled. She ran to the door and grabbed a coat. "I'm going for a walk!" She slammed the door behind her.
"She can't go off on her own," Hitomi said. "Takeno, do something! I can't lose her again!"
"Don't worry," Takeno assured his wife. "She won't leave us again. And if she does, she's marked, Security can track her."
"I'm just worried," Hitomi said. "We don't know what happened to her in that awful dump. She could have become a criminal for all we know."
"Hitomi, she only got that mark because she was trying to come back to us," Takeno assured her.
"We're not gonna lose her again."
Sakura returned home early the next morning. No one was up except for the maid. She had a quick breakfast and went into her room. Soon after she had crashed, falling asleep. She woke a few hours later. And it was a beyond unpleasant wake up.
"Hey, get up!" Inner said.
"Shut up, I'm still mad at you," Sakura said.
"Well get un-mad, Naruto and Sasuke are here," Inner said.
"So?" Sakura asked.
"Their watching Jack's duel," Inner said. Sakura's head shot up and she cursed, stumbling out of bed.
"Shit! How much have I missed?" Sakura asked. She took off her pajamas and threw on white sweater and plaid skirt.
"The duel's almost over," Inner said. "Jack's gonna lose."
"What? That's impossible," Sakura said. She slid on a pair of stockings.
"He's got 1000 life points, and his opponent has only had 1 turn," Inner said.
"Well Jack is gonna win," Sakura said. "He has to." She ran out of her room and into the living room. Naruto and Sasuke were on the couch, watching Jack's duel. "H-How is he?" Sakura asked, catching her breath. She sat down on the arm chair and looked at the screen anxiously.
"Not good," Sasuke said.
"He's not gonna make it," Naruto said.
"No, he's going to," Sakura said. "He has to."
"Are you worried about your boyfriend?" Naruto asked.
"He's not my boyfriend," Sakura said.
"Sure seemed that way when you were kissing him," Sasuke said.
"I didn't kiss Jack," Sakura denied.
"Yes you did, you know the truth," Inner said. "Why deny it?"
"Why do you get like this when that's brought up?" Sakura hissed. Sasuke and Naruto looked at her in confusion. Sakura laughed nervously and turned back to watch TV. The commercials finished and the duel was back.
"Jack has but one chance to win? Can he do it? Or will his unbeaten streak end?" Jack turned around and drove towards Hunter.
"Enough with the warmup!" Jack said. "I'm gonna kick this duel into overdrive. To start I'm gonna summon Big Piece Golem!"
"He's going for Red Dragon Archfiend already," Inner said.
"Of course, that's his only choice," Sakura muttered.
"It appears, Jack is going for a face down!"
"You want a face down Jack? How about a game of chicken? I can scare you off your runner!" Hunter said.
"Ha ha, that's so funny, Hunter," Jack said. "But he who laughs last, laughs best! I'm gonna be laughing all the way to victory. With my Revival Gift trap card I can summon one tuner monster from my graveyard. I'm bringing back Dark Resonator!" Two tadpoles jumped out next to Hunter.
"Wait! What's happening now?" The announcer said. "Folks this is a special ability of the trap Revival Gift. Hunter gets two Monster Tokens, and who knows what those two have planned? What will Jack do next? Will he kick it into overdrive? Will he keep his title?"
"Check," Sakura said. Sasuke and Naruto looked at her in confusion.
"Why don't we find out?" Jack said. "Resonator! It's time that Golem got an upgrade! And with that I summon Red Dragon Archfiend!"
"Talk about firing things up! Jack has just summoned his most powerful monster! How's that for saving the best for last?"
"This isn't good," Hunter hissed.
"Red Dragon, do your thing!" Jack ordered. Red Dragon Archfiend roared and swiped at Crystal Skull. The fire destroyed the skull and the backlash also hit the two tokens. The two runners passed each other, blowing away the fire in the process. Jack skidded to a stop and turned around, chasing after Hunter. "Now I play my trap card, Lineage of Destruction!"
"And mate," Sakura said with a smirk.
"It appears that Jack has handled this match with the skill and grace of the true champion that he is! And now it looks like Red Dragon Archfiend is ready to finish things off."
"Hunter, hasn't anyone ever told you how dangerous it is to play with fire?" Jack asked sarcastically. "Because now your career is going to go up in flames again!"
"Is it too late to say sorry? Please" Hunter begged.
"Beg all you want, but that isn't gonna save you!" Jack said. "Red Dragon Archfiend, attack! And don't hold back, show no mercy!" Red Dragon roared and destroyed Hunter's last monster. Hunter groaned as his points lowered. "Look at it this way Hunter, you may have lost everything, but at least this makes great television!" Hunter screamed as his life point were reduced to 600.
"Don't sweat it Hunter, you're just a warmup," Jack said. "Once this duel is over I've got a rematch with an old friend of mine! Thanks for the practice. It's time for your third loss! End this now, Archfiend!" Hunter screamed as his runner spun out.
"Jack Atlas has won!"The announcer cheered.
"Who's the master of faster? Who rules the duels? Me! Jack Atlas!" The TV turned off and Sasuke leaned back.
"So what did you think?" he asked the pinkette.
"About what? Jack's dueling?" Sakura asked. "It was fine. Cocky, arrogant, and completely sure of each move he made. He was great as usual."
"Jack is totally cool," Naruto said.
"Yūsei's better," Sakura said. She stood up and clapped her hands. She walked over to the coat rack and grabbed a coat. She looked at the princess coat and put it on. Naruto and Sasuke turned around on the couch, watching her.
"Where are you going?" Sasuke asked.
"I'm going to go congratulate Jack," Sakura said simply.
"How do you expect to do that?" Naruto asked.
"Going to his house, of course," Sakura said.
"I'll drive," Sasuke said with a sigh.
"What? You're encouraging this?" Naruto asked in shock.
"No, I just already have something I need to pick up, and Jack's house isn't that far away," Sasuke said.
"Thank you, Sasuke," Sakura said with a smile.
"I have no part in this," Sasuke said firmly. "You asked for a ride, and I gave it to you. You never told me where you were going or anything. I know nothing, got it?"
"Done," Sakura said, exiting the house.
"Teme!" Naruto groaned, glaring at him.
"Get your jacket," Sasuke said, waving him over.
"Why?" Naruto asked.
"We're having lunch at a new ramen place," Sasuke said. Naruto smiled brightly and jumped over the couch, running over to him.
"I love you you bastard," Naruto said, hugging him tightly.
"Yeah, yeah, just go," Sasuke said with huff, gesturing to the door. Naruto grabbed his jacket and raced after Sakura. Sasuke sighed and looked up to the ceiling. "My god I've gone soft."
Sakura held a vase of flowers as she entered Jack's building. She walked up to the receptionist. "I'm here to see Jack Atlas."
"You and a hundred other girls," the receptionist said, boredom evident.
"Yes well, I'm a friend of his," Sakura said.
"Nice try," the receptionist said.
"Call him up," Sakura urged her. The woman rolled her eyes and picked up the phone.
"Hello Mr. Atlas," she greeted. "I have a young woman down hair saying she's your friend. Pink hair, green eyes. Hold on one moment." The receptionist covered her phone and turned to Sakura.
"Sakura Haruno," the pinkette said. The receptionist nodded and turned back to the phone.
"Sakura Haruno, sir. Yes sir." The receptionist hung up the phone and huffed. She grabbed a piece of paper and wrote a few numbers on it. "Use this code to gain access to the elevator. That's useful for today only."
"Thank you very much," Sakura said, taking the slip of paper. Within a few minutes she was in Jack's house.
"Oh, hello, what are you doing here?" Mina asked, spying the pinkette.
"I came to see Jack," Sakura said simply.
"Mr. Atlas is very busy right now, he can't have guests," Mina said.
"He told the receptionist to send me up," Sakura said.
"What do you want with him?" Mina asked.
"What are you talking about?" Sakura asked. "I'm just visiting an old friend. Is that a crime?"
"Well no," Mina said.
"Great! I'll see you later Miss Mina," Sakura said passing her. Sakura walked into the living room and saw Jack pouring a cup of coffee.
"Want some?" He asked, holding up the mug. Sakura nodded and set the flowers down on the coffee table. She took off her coat and tossed it on the couch. She walked over to the kitchen area and accepted the drink. The two sat in silence, drinking the coffee.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Jack asked finally.
"What? I can't visit my brother?" Sakura asked. "And I even brought flowers to congratulate you on your win too."
"Thanks," Jack muttered.
"Though, I'm not sure if you won because you're good, or because your opponent was horrible," Sakura said.
"Hunter's no Yūsei, that's for sure," Jack muttered.
"You weren't satisfied with the end of the duel, were you?" Sakura asked.
"If the Crimson Dragon hadn't appeared, Yūsei would've have beaten me with that damn trap card of his," Jack growled. Sakura slowly lowered her cup. Inner appeared beside her and smirked.
"Repeat that, please," Inner requested.
"Was that what that dragon was called?" Sakura asked.
"Yes," Jack said. "A great, powerful, mystic dragon."
"Well aren't you chipper," Sakura muttered sarcastically. "So tell me more about this dragon."
"Why do you want to know?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Can't I be curious?" Sakura asked.
"Not when you don't have an ulterior motive," Jack said. "Remember, you were latched onto me for a long time, I know you."
"So what if was I latched," Sakura said, looking down at her cup. "That was a long time ago. I've changed, Jack."
"Get back on topic," Inner hissed, glaring at her.
"Where's Yūsei?" Sakura said.
"Wrong topic!" Inner shouted.
"I already told you, he's at the Facility," Jack told her. "And too bad for you, they don't allow visitors."
The air became tense and there was an awkward silence. Sakura looked around and her eyes landed on her vase, or more importantly, what was next to it. She stood up and walked over to the coffee table. She messed with the flowers, arranging them. She glanced down at the deck next to it. As she reached for it a hand came and snatched it.
"Nice try," Jack said. "But as I said earlier, I know you." As if to taunt her even more he kissed her cheek. Sakura growled and stood up, glaring at him. "I know all your tricks. You'll have to try a lot harder if you want Yūsei's card."
"I didn't want Stardust," Sakura said. "Besides, what could I do with it, I'm not a duelist."
"You have a deck," Jack pointed out.
"I don't even carry it with me," Sakura said.
"But you're still a duelist," Jack said.
"No I'm not, you know what happens when I duel!" Sakura said.
"Break your self imposed rules and live a little," Jack said with a huff. He placed the cards on the kitchen counter and huffed. "Why must you be so difficult."
"I lived with four obnoxious and stubborn boys for 11 years," Sakura said with a fond smile.
"Don't think you can make me change by giving a friendship speech," Jack said.
"I'm not going to," Sakura said with a sigh. "Why waste my breath?"
"Then why are you here?" Jack asked angrily.
"I don't even know," Sakura said with a sigh. "What happened to you Jack?"
"I opened my eyes and realized I could do so much better than that dump," Jack said.
"Why didn't you tell us that? We would have helped you!" Sakura said.
"If you're just here to lecture me then you can leave." Jack turned and stormed up the steps.
"That's not why I'm here," Sakura said, running after him. "Don't just run to your room like some child, Jack!"
"Why, because that's your job?" Jack asked harshly. "You're so scared of everything. You cower whenever you see your own shadow. You jump when something moves. And not to mention, that Inner practically controls you!"
"She does not!" Sakura shouted, stomping her foot in indignation.
"I'm not even going to comment," Inner muttered, inspecting her nails.
"Just shut the hell up, for once!" Sakura growled at her. "You think you're helping me but you're just annoying the hell out of me. Plus you keep on trying to egg me on and make me mad! What the hell do you even get out of that?"
"Entertainment," Inner said with a smirk. Sakura huffed and stormed up the stairs, stopping in front of Jack.
"What is it?" She asked.
"Be a bit more specific," Jack said.
"That mark," Sakura said, pointing to his arm.
"It's a birthmark," Jack told her. "You know that, you've seen it up close and personal a few times before, remember?"
"It's much more than that Jack, now explain," Sakura ordered.
"I'm not doing anything you say," Jack muttered. "I think it's time you left."
"His mark!" Inner shouted at her. Sakura looked at his arm before grabbing it.
"Let go of me," Jack said. "I have no problem calling security you know."
"Why did you kiss me?" Sakura asked.
"What are you talking about? I haven't done that in years," Jack said.
"Bullshit, we kissed yesterday!" Sakura said with a scoff.
"Been fantasizing about me, have you?" Jack said with a smirk. "And here I thought your mind revolved around Yūsei."
"That's not the point Jack," Sakura said. "Do you really not remember anything?"
"Let me give him a nudge!" Inner said. She laughed and her eyes glowed. Jack groaned and his hands flew to his head.
"Jack, are you okay?" Sakura asked, placing a hand on his arm.
"I-I remember now," Jack grunted. "What happened yesterday?"
"Forget about that, are you alright?" Sakura asked.
"I'm fine," Jack said. He looked down at his arm. He moved the sleeve, looking at his wings. "Tell me, what do you know about the Crimson Dragon?" Jack asked.
"I'll know a lot more tomorrow," Sakura told him. She hesitantly placed her hand on the mark. It began to move faintly, pulsing under her fingertips. Sakura's eyes widened as she felt a warm feeling run through her body. She looked up at Jack in shock. The blond seemed to be in a trance. As soon as their eyes connected, so was Sakura. Their eyes glowed red and Inner groaned.
"God no! Stop!" Inner shouted, trying to come between them. "This isn't what I wanted!" Sakura ignored her as Jack placed his lips over hers. She placed her free hand on his neck, pulling him closer.
"God damnit! Hello! Think of Yūsei! What will he say?" Inner groaned as she got no response. Jack pressed his lips against hers harder, and Sakura had no qualms about pushing back. Jack pushed her against the wall. His free hand went to her thighs. He rubbed his thumb over the skin before slowly moving it upward.
"Seriously! Stop!" Inner shouted. Sakura whimpered as Jack reached behind her, moving her skirt up. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth, allowing Jack's tongue inside.
"I so gotta get more control over this," Inner said with a huff.