"Caitlin," Ryuki let out, horrified, "No…" His eyes were wide as saucers under his goggles and he was covered in cold sweat. He turned the note over and saw a map. He quickly memorized it and went straight for the door.

"Leo! Wait!" Alex called to him.

"Chotto matte, Ryuki-kun!" his mother called out to him.

However, both women were ignored as he stepped out the door. There was a commotion. There was yelling but then it stopped. Alex and Emiko exchanged worried looks and then they heard the sound of a motorcycle starting up. They both stormed out of the villa to see Ryuki racing away into the night.

"Where is he going?" Emiko asked as she walked over to her bodyguards, who'd been knocked out, obviously, by Ryuki. She squatted down to check on them. "What's wrong with him?"

Alex looked down to see the note. There had to be some sort of clue on it. She picked it up and looked at the map. She then realized where Ryuki was headed, "The mall!"

"But why the mall?" Emiko questioned.

Alex narrowed her eyes in determination, "That's what we're going to find out."

Beverly Hills Mall-10:55 PM

The mall was already closed for the night but Ryuki wasn't interested in shopping. He had other concerns. He pulled over in front of the building before dismounting from his bike. He removed his helmet and dropped it next to his bike. He could pick it up later. Now was the time for something more important.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the hairclips. He knew who they belonged too. It wasn't something he could miss. These were Caitlin's hairclips, the same ones he'd seen her wear so many times.

He approached the entrance. Locked. There was no way to enter, at least normally. Concentrating, the Dragon Rider covered himself in flames and then teleported straight inside the building.

He reappeared inside the building, eyes narrowed as he looked around for his target. As expected, the place was empty. There were no guards, which was strange. Maybe they were already…

"So, you decided to drop by," spoke a voice that filled Ryuki with hatred and anger, "I'm glad you got my message." Ryuki spun around to see Asakura, sitting on a bench and drinking from a can of beer.

"Where is she?" Ryuki demanded, clenching his fists. He would beat the answers out of Asakura if he had to.

Asakura tossed the can of beer into trashcan before grinning at Ryuki. That grin caused an unpleasant tingle to run up Ryuki's spine. He hated that grin. Asakura always wore that grin before he started hurting people. It was the same grin he'd worn when he killed all those people and Striker.

Ryuki so wanted to wipe that disgusting grin off Asakura's face.

"She? Hm…can you be more specific?" Asakura asked. Ryuki wasn't in the mood for games.

"You know who! Where's Caitlin!?" Ryuki asked.

"Oh, she's around," Asakura said as he approached Ryuki. Ryuki didn't budge from his spot, though his knees were shaking. "I can see why you like her. She's got nice skin and hair."

"If you touch her, I swear that I'll-" Ryuki began to threaten.

"Do what? Kill me?" Asakura mocked. "You and I both know that's never going to happen, little dragon. You don't have it in you. Given the chance you wouldn't even have the guts to kill me."

Ryuki knew Asakura was telling the truth. Unlike him, Ryuki was no killer and never will be. Of course, that didn't mean Ryuki wasn't going to fight him. "So, why all this?"

"I wanted to pick up where we left off. I feel that it would be fitting to fight in the mall again," Asakura explained arms spread wide. "Oh, by the way, I like your new girl. She looks yummy."

"Urusai!" Ryuki roared, "You stay away from her!"

Asakura enjoyed pushing Ryuki's buttons. He knew that threatening the people close to the Dragon Knight could get him to snap. That was the way Asakura wanted him.

"Why don't you make me?" Asakura challenged, stepping backwards. He summoned his belt and wrapped it around his waist.

"Alright then," Ryuki said as he whipped out his belt and then slung it around his waist. He then took out his Zodiac Deck. Asakura did the same.

"Henshin!" Ryuki called out. "Zodiac Force! Dragon!"

"Zodiac Force! Scorpio!" Asakura called out.

They snapped their decks to their belts and charged straight for one another as glass sharps, fire and sand engulfed them. When they reached one another, they were already clad in their armor and throwing the first punch.

The limo pulled over in front of the mall and both Alex and Emiko exited the vehicle, along with a couple of bodyguards who were armed. They spotted Ryuki's bike but no Ryuki.

"Stay behind us, madam," spoke one of the bodyguards protectively. "We shall go and see if the young master is inside."

"No, I am going inside with Alex-chan," spoke Emiko, determined.

"I think you should stay out here," spoke Alex, donned in full spy gear. "It could get dangerous."

Emiko's eyes and hands crackled with electricity. "When I get my hands on the person hurting my son, it is going to get dangerous."

Alex gulped. She really couldn't argue with a woman who could generate electricity at will. It was safer just to agree with her. "OK, right. Well, come on. I know a way where we can sneak inside." They then heard a loud commotion inside the mall. They could hear things breaking inside. "And I think we should do that fast!"

Draco was thrown into a display window for women's clothing, shattering the glass. He dug himself out of the pile of clothing that had fallen on top of him in time to see Scorpios coming down on him with his scythe. Draco grabbed a mannequin head and hurled it at Scorpios. Scorpios got knocked in the head and Draco used the distraction to tackle into Scorpios' body.

Both Knights were battling under a special rule they had agreed upon. Neither of them was allowed to use their Zodiac Powers or any other powers they had, and were not allowed to use their cards. They were going to fight with what they had, only with their armor as protection. Of course, Scorpios had his scythe while Draco had no weapons. The only reason he would agree to such terms was because Caitlin's life was in danger.

Scorpios threw his scythe aside and grabbed Draco by the shoulders before smashing his knee into Draco's chest. Draco got knocked backwards by the powerful knee-strike but then Scorpios followed up with a vicious jab into Draco's stomach. The impact left Draco gasping for air and Scorpios then kicked Draco hard in the hand, causing him to fall to the floor, facedown. Scorpios then walked towards Draco before using his foot to flip Draco onto his back. He then began to stomp on Draco's chest, causing Draco to yell out in pain.

"Oh, I love to hear you scream," Scorpios said sadistically as he ground his boot into Draco's chest. He started stomping on him again and the force of the strikes cracked the floor. Draco grabbed Scorpios' foot and then threw him backwards before flipping back to his feet. Scorpios landed roughly on the floor but managed to regain his balance.

Draco roared and then jumped up, landing a flying kick to Scorpios' chest. Scorpion then got hit with several powerful punches to the face, chest and stomach. Draco then used a side kick to cause Scorpios to crash into another store window. Angered, Scorpios got to his feet and roared, charging straight for Draco.

The two Knights continued to pummel one another to oblivion. Neither one of them was going to go down. Draco wasn't going to lose because Caitlin's life was in jeopardy and Scorpios wasn't going to just let this 'little dragon' win.

Enraged, Scorpios grabbed Draco by the throat and smashed his head into the floor. "Why won't you die!?' he screamed out. Draco tried to pry Scorpios' arm off but the Scorpion Knight was too strong and was squeezing the life out of him. "You, die!"

"Not…a…chance!" Draco gasped out as he aimed his SB-Watch at Scorpios' face and pressed a button. There was a bright flash from the watch's face and Scorpios screamed as he was momentarily blinded. Draco pushed himself back to his feet. From the corner of his eye, he could see Scorpios' discarded scythe. He then slowly made his way towards it.

Scorpios managed to regain his vision and snarled at Draco, who had his back turn to him. He then rushed at Draco. Draco spun around and slashed Scorpios across the chest with his own scythe. This shocked the psychotic Knight. Draco then repeatedly slashed at Scorpios. Sparks flew off the Scorpion Knight's armor as Draco continued his assault. He was not going to let Scorpios go just like that.

Now, Scorpios was regretting the deal, which they'd made under the Code. Both were not allowed to use their powers and cards, but it would appear that Draco had the upper hand even without them. Neither of them could go against the Code without dire consequences. Scorpios did not want his rights and life stripped by breaking such a powerful Code.

Draco elbowed Scorpios in the faceplate, causing it to crack before slashing him in the chest again. There were multiple gashes on the chest armor of the Scorpion Knight. Draco then dealt a powerful blow by kicking Scorpios hard in the stomach and then kneeing him in the face when he doubled over. Scorpios ended up on his back. Draco walked over and pressed Scorpios down to the floor with his foot. He had the sharp tip of Scorpios' scythe aimed at the Knight's throat. Scorpios looked up to see Draco's visor glowing red unlike the usual green and felt an all too human chill run up his spine. For the first time in his entire wretched life he felt fear like no other. He could feel Draco's killing intent and it felt…demonic.

"Now, time to finish this," Draco raised up the scythe and was ready to bring it down.

"STOP!"

"YAMETTE!"

Draco froze and then he looked up to saw Alex and Emiko running towards him. "Alex-chan? Okaasan?" What were they doing here?

"Don't do it, Leo," Alex begged. "You're not a killer. We'll call WOOHP. They'll take this guy away."

"Just, please, don't turn into a killer," his mother pleaded, eyes filled with tears.

Draco regained the green glow in his visor and then realized what he'd been ready to do. What was he becoming? He looked down at Scorpios who was looking back at him through his cracked visor. Asakura's armor vanished seconds later. Draco gripped the scythe tightly before he roared and brought it down on Asakura.

Alex and Emiko screamed but then they looked closely to see that Draco had stabbed the scythe next to Asakura's head. The blade had gone deep into the floor and also had the Scorpion Knight pinned to the floor by his jacket. Asakura wasn't getting up without his powers anytime soon, which he'd sealed off with the deal they'd made by the Code. Draco then got out his SB-Cell and converted it into a gun. He set it to stun and aimed it at Asakura. He pulled the trigger and a beam stunned the Scorpion Knight, rendering him frozen. Draco removed his foot from Asakura's chest and then walked over to Alex and his mother. He removed his helmet from his head and looked at them. Alex hugged him tight.

"I'm sorry I scared you both," spoke Ryuki regrettably. Emiko sighed, relieved. "I had a good reason though." He opened up his hand to reveal the hairclips. "I need to find her."

"Well, maybe that other fellow can tell you where she is," said Emiko but when she looked again, Asakura had vanished. "He's gone."

"Coward," Ryuki growled in disgust. He wasn't surprised that the stun ray had worn off. He knew that this wouldn't be the last he saw of his nemesis.

"Who was that?" Alex asked.

"Someone that should've been taken care of a long time ago," said Ryuki as his armor vanished. He looked down at the hairclips in his hand.

"Those are Caitlin's right?" Alex asked. He nodded.

"Hold on," he told her, "I'm going to try something." He closed his eyes and concentrated on his chi and then on the residual chi in the hairclips. He used some of Yaminekoryu's chi to help as well and the chi trail started to form. Only Ryuki could see and feel it. Those who weren't trained in their chi could not. He then opened his eyes. "I know where she is."

Draco walked over to the clothing store he'd crashed into and walked through what remained of the display window, which were now shards of shattered glass. He was careful of where he stepped. He approached the changing rooms and then stood in front of one door. He pushed it open.

There was Caitlin, with her arms tied up behind her and her ankles tied together. She was also gagged. Tears messed up her mascara. He kneeled down and told her soothingly, "It's alright. He won't hurt you anymore." He gently untied her legs and arms before untying the gag around her mouth. He then helped her back to her feet. He reached into his pocket and took out the hairclips. "These are yours, I believe."

Caitlin looked over in surprise at her rescuer. The red hair and goggles caught her attention. She had seen him at the mall.

And then he looked at her, eyes filled with concern as he stood before her.

She had seen him before…in her dreams.

At first, she had dismissed them but then they grew frequent and she wished she could know who he really was. When she first saw him at the mall with that other girl, it hadn't clicked. His face had been blurry or hidden from her.

But now, she could see it…and she knew it was the boy of her dreams.

"Caitlin-chan," he said, "Daijoubu desu ka?"

Caitlin didn't know Japanese, but then the tone was so familiar, as was his face, his stance, and his behavior. Sure she had dated a lot of boys but none of them ever showed this level of concern before, or projected such familiarity.

She just gazed up at him, silently, raising a hand to touch his cheek. Ryuki stood stationary as she ran her fingers down his face. He was so warm…

A tear began to fall from her left eye and then another tear fell from her right as images flooded her mind.

She smiled and spoke, "You came back…" She then hugged him tight, burying her face into his chest. "You came back."

Ryuki smiled slightly, enjoying the sensation as he wrapped his arms around her waist in a comforting manner.

Alex and Emiko watched the exchange with different expressions. Alex looked slightly upset at seeing another girl hugging her boyfriend but then she remembered what had transpired between them. They had something special but other things got in the way. She knew Leo would always have a place for Caitlin in his heart.

Emiko had tears in her eyes and a smile gracing her lips as she watched the happy reunion.

Asakura stumbled away from the mall as fast as his legs could carry him. For once in his entire life, he felt pain and wretchedness. It wasn't in guilt of his actions though. It was because of how the battle went.

He couldn't remember the last time he had gotten hurt like this in a fight. He had always fought like a beast and came out on top no matter what. The pain only increased when he remembered that it was the little dragon who had done this to him.

Speaking of the other Zodiac Knight, just what the hell happened to him? He had never seen his soft-hearted opponent fight like that before. He was giving off an aura that Asakura had to admit scared him, which was the source of his wretched feeling. He had felt small and weak in that aura. It was a feeling he swore would never touch him after the house fire which changed his life.