Zzz…

–snort– Huwha…? Oh, I'm supposed to be awake right now…? Damn it. Ugh, after two days of clinicals—almost eighteen hours—I am beat. I'm learning a lot, yeah, but I am so tired… The good news is that I actually got to start poking people yesterday! Whoo-hoo! Oh, and the good news is that I can do both my clinicals for phleb and my classes for financial aid. It worked out :)

Anyway, my thanks this week go out to Shinn Tsukishiro, Rapis-Razuri, Q-A the Authoress, SunsetRika, theforgottenpeople96, FiringShootingStar, ptd163, AnimeKiwi369, melan anime, Seeker Heart, RunoandAkizafan

And anons are LDC, ChibiX, anon(x3!), and one guest! LDC: Yep! I thought you might be happy about that :P I think you'll like this chapter, too. ChibiX: I had fun writing the three of them in the tunnels, so I'm glad you enjoyed them! The dynamics of the relationship between the Fudo Three is something I've been looking forward to getting into :) anon: Haha, thank you! I do update every Wednesday, but I totally understand if you're busy. Take your time, the story will be here ^_^

I think it's been awhile since I've remembered this, but many thanks to my awesome and incredibly busy beta, RobotFish!

Also, while I do have a few more chapters done, I don't think I'll have time to write until I finish my clinicals. It should only take me three weeks to finish, four tops, so there might just be a slight respite without SH. I apologize, but I wanted to give you a heads up. That being said, enjoy this chapter!

Sunset Horizon
Chapter 31 – Infallible Affection

Frustration.

It was the only word to describe how Yusei felt. A month must have passed since he found himself in those tunnels and all he could think about was how Akiza was doing. It certainly didn't help that he was stuck in the company of his father, but he had gotten pretty good at ignoring him. Z-one had the occasional snarky comment for him, usually involving the subject of sex, but he was getting good at ignoring him, too.

He was fed up with every little thing adding up to his current situation. From the annoying relatives to the lack of Akiza in his life, he was ready to kill something. He was still trying to decide if he'd rather shoot his father or Lester. The kid wasn't very keen on being stuck in a cave and made it clear to everyone, but a sharp look from Z-one would silence him instantly.

The kid was decently trained, he had to admit.

It didn't change the fact that he was missing Akiza more than anything he'd ever missed before. When he'd fallen for her all those years ago, he never imagined he would feel like this. He'd read through books of Goodwin's that featured a character that was so in love that they pretty much ceased to live if they were separated from their lover. He never imagined that could be so real.

It truly hurt, knowing Akiza was somewhere he wasn't. Knowing she may not be safe was even more painful and, for the first time, he was truly scared for her life.

"I got it now!"

He glanced over his shoulder at the outburst, hand halfway raised to ram an iron spike into the wall, and glanced at Z-one curiously. "What?"

His grandfather crossed his arms and grinned triumphantly. "Sayer, right?"

He snarled, his lips curling into a snarl. "If you're smart, you'll never say that name again."

Pointing, he asked, "Just a little curious about that."

Yusei glanced behind him first, then put the pieces together and realized what he was talking about. Touching a hand to his scar, he muttered, "So what? You're just asking now?"

"Took me awhile to remember whose mark that was." Shaking his head, he murmured, "How in the hell did that candy-ass brat get a hit on my so-called best student?"

He shifted to slam the piece of iron into the wall and sighed. "He had an upper hand I wasn't expecting."

"Oh? What's that?"

He didn't know if his family knew anything about psychics, but he decided he wouldn't say anything. Akiza was too important to him to risk letting them in on the secret. He wasn't sure how to follow up his previous statement, so instead just threw a shrug over his shoulder.

"Is this about that weird thing he had going on? Those freaky psychic powers he had as a kid?"

He turned slowly, glancing back over his shoulder. So they already knew, then? "What do you mean?"

"I don't remember the details, but when he was younger, five or so, he was at a dinner party for the senatorial families. He didn't get his way and started to throw a tantrum. Suddenly, every piece of glass in the room shattered. It was pretty hard to keep it a secret from the other families at that point."

"You would've been senator at that time, wouldn't you?" he asked, trying to divert the subject from psychics.

"Nope. Kitty was twenty-six then. About two years before you were born." He stayed silent for a minute, then added, "I'm still wondering about that slave marker."

He shrugged. "What about it?"

"How'd you let Sayer touch you?"

Shrugging, he muttered, "Does it matter?"

He threw his hands in the air and said, "Yeah, 'cause you're staining my untouchable name."

Shrugging again, he touched the scar and realized he hadn't let it bother him in months. It had just become a part of him and no one even acknowledged it anymore. "I'm not the dead one, am I?"

His eyebrows rose for a second as he thought about it, then said, "Even so… You should've been able to do it without the scar."

"If I didn't get the scar, I wouldn't have gotten on Sayer's bad side. If I didn't get on his bad side, I wouldn't have made him angry. If I didn't make him angry, I never would've gotten Akiza. I can deal with a scar."

"Heh. You are one whipped son of a bitch."

…

Akiza stood behind her bar, fighting the urge to vomit where she stood. It had nothing to do with the child she now knew she carried, but was due to the most recent bit of information spreading through town. The news had only just reached her, but it had hit hard.

The Enforcers' home had been destroyed.

Everything they owned, gone. To her understanding, the Underground had torched it in the middle of the night, leaving only a shamble of burnt wood. She didn't know what they had, but it was all gone now. Burnt down to ashes in a matter of minutes.

Against her intentions, he hand drifted over to settle on the tiny bump of her stomach. She had only just noticed it that morning, but had decided to wear a shawl over her dress to make sure no one noticed. She couldn't even bring herself to tell her parents she was pregnant. She wanted to know Yusei was safe before she said anything. He should be the first to know.

So she kept the small bump hidden with a shawl, but she figured she was still small enough that it wasn't noticeable. Carly had seen her without the cover and hadn't reacted at all, so it was probably only noticeable to her because she knew her body so well.

Yusei would be able to tell right away.

"Miss Izinski?"

She looked up in surprise, instinctively pulling her wrap more tightly around herself. An unfamiliar man stood by her bar, tall and bearing a slight tan. His hair was long, colored in a strange mix of black and orange. His posture was refined, telling her he was probably actual military and not the Underground. Reaching up, she brushed her hair back and replied, "Yes? What can I do for you?"

He held a hand out politely, saying, "I thought it was time we met. I am Colonel Dragan Lord, commander of this operation."

She stiffened slightly, but took his hand, anyway, and said, "A pleasure to meet you, Colonel. What can I do for you?"

He crossed his arms behind his back, saying, "I understand you're intimate with the leader of the Enforcers. I apologize for this intrusion on your town, however, you should know that Yusei Fudo is a guilty man."

She couldn't hold herself back as she snapped, "Guilty of what?"

"More than you're aware of, most likely. Not only is he a model of civil unrest, but he has been identified as the one behind the death of Divine Sayer, a former senator. Not to mention, he is guilty of abandoning his duty to his country. Perhaps you're unaware, but he is-"

She glared as she cut him off and said, "-a senatorial son? Yes, I'm aware. And if you knew anything, you would know that Governor Sayer died in an accident. A fire started in his home and took his life."

Closing his eyes, he bowed his head slightly and said, "We have proof that places him at the governor's estate the night of the fire, along with his other cohorts. I apologize for your involvement in this matter, but I'm afraid it's out of your hands."

She frowned and crossed her arms sternly. "And that's why you burned their home down?"

Shaking his head, he turned to leave and said, "For your own safety, Miss Izinski, I suggest you don't get too involved."

As he walked away, she called, "You're trying to hurt the man I love. I'm already involved as deeply as possible."

…

"Yusei."

His eyes snapped open and he looked around, glancing through the lush forest, unlike any that could possibly grow in Yliaster's climate. It was damp, with thick, green grass growing beneath his feet. Trees surrounded him on all sides and, when he looked up, he found a halo of sunlight streaming through the treetops. He glanced through the area, looking for the one who spoke his name. The voice was feminine and sounded extremely familiar in his mind, but he just couldn't place it.

He blinked in surprise, looking at the form across from him. There, in that forest, stood his mother. She was dressed in sleeveless robes of the church, leaving her tattoo in plain sight as she smiled warmly. "Yusei. We finally speak."

He couldn't believe his eyes as he took a slow step forward. "M-Mother…"

She smiled a little wider and gently shifted to sit on the grass, her voice sounding almost like an echo inside his head. "Yusei, I am not your mother. I have only taken her form to speak with you."

He stopped walking, cocking his head. This had to be some kind of dream. "Then who are you?"

She smiled and looked up at the sky before answering, "I believe you called me 'Chernaya Roza' once before."

What? Black Rose? He wasn't sure what to think as he slowly walked closer, easily shifting to sit a few paces from her. "Black Rose Dragon…?"

She nodded with that same, peaceful smile. "Yes. You are the Signer, after all. You have the ability to communicate with us. After our separation, I have been searching, trying to contact you. Finally, I have succeeded."

Suddenly, he wasn't sure this was a dream anymore. "What do you mean, 'separation'?"

A jovial laugh tumbled from her lips as she leaned back slightly, lacing her fingers around her knee to keep herself upright. "You don't even know, then?"

He forced himself to stay calm, biting down his urge to scream every time someone answered one of his questions indirectly. "No, I suppose not."

"I thought you have been able to guess, between the glowing marker and what you've learned from your father."

Glowing… marker? Was she referring to when he smithed? "Can you please just tell me what you mean?"

She nodded, her smile disappearing for the first time. "As a child, you inherited your mother's role as the Signer. It was an accident that brought this responsibility to you. You were not meant to gain this power. We generals decided to stay still and watch you grow, to see if you could mature enough. However, subconsciously, you learned how to use your abilities and managed to seal each of us in a material coffin. We are at your mercy."

He blinked. "I… did what? How?"

Her smile came back slowly as she whispered, "Your craft. You managed to call on us and we had no choice but to answer. When we arrived, you transferred our souls to the metal of your smiths. As it stands, my soul is confined at the side of your love, in the weapon you forged in my image."

Shock turned his blood cold as his posture slackened, eyes staring somewhere in the distance. "I did…? I didn't even know I had that power. Can you forgive me?"

A chuckle sounded as she looked back to the sky. "Of course. A mere accident will cost you nothing. Red Dragon Archfiend is not as forgiving, but he will learn to hold back. Stardust is actually rather impressed, though he wouldn't say as such. However, as it stands, I have come to you in this vision to, first and foremost, awaken you to your ability. Second, I will tell you Akiza Izinski is well and fine."

His breath left him in a rush as the news hit him and just managed to stop himself from hugging her. She did look like his mother, so he told himself that made it easier to be comfortable with her. "She is? You mean it?"

Her lips curved from a gentle smile to a mischievous one. "You left me with her to safeguard her, after all."

He dropped back to lay in the grass, exhaling in relief. "Thank Crimson…"

"You were worried about her, I know. But the time has come for you to acknowledge your role in life."

"My… role?" He shifted to sit up again, watching her curiously. "What exactly is the Signer? What is my role?"

"Your role is to connect the spirits of the Crimson Dragon to those of mankind."

He frowned, trying to figure out what she meant. "But how? How do I do that?"

Her lips stayed in that light smile as she replied, "That is something you must learn, Yusei. Just know that the chains confiscating your abilities have been severed. No more locks remain on your soul."

"Yusei!"

She turned to glance at the sky one more time, then quietly murmured, "Your kin call for you. I will not confine you to this dream any longer. Remember, be wary of yourself."

He jerked awake, sitting up suddenly as he asked, "Wary of what?"

Z-one knelt next to him with raised eyebrows, curiously murmuring, "That should be my question."

Shaking his head, Yusei shifted to stand and double-checked on a reflex to make sure Stardust was in its holster. "Come on. Let's keep going." Back to Akiza. Now that he was sure she was all right, he was filled with a different kind of conviction to hurry back to her.

…

Yusei kept walking, groaning mentally when he thought back to his journey to New Domino and how it had left him in a similar hungry and thirsty state. They had run out of food two days before and water that morning. When they'd grabbed provisions from his forge, he wasn't expecting this trip to take so long. Who would have thought it would take three-plus weeks to get through the tunnels beneath the town? It took barely an hour and a half to get from one side of town to the other on foot.

He had expected it would take longer than that to get through the caves, but he hadn't expected it to take this long. He had anticipated a two-day trip at the most. Granted, he hadn't ever gone this deep into the tunnels and, while he'd known there were a lot of marked-off split-offs below Akiza's bar, he hadn't expected them to run this far or so deep. Those miners really searched for that gold.

He sighed again, grateful that the lack of water kept his cohorts from talking as they kept moving. Suddenly, he froze, his hand gripping Stardust and drawing it from its holster as he moved towards the corner. He waved his hand in a code he used back when the Enforcers snuck around regularly, silently telling his allies to stay quiet. He wanted to make sure he heard what he thought.

Voices.

No doubt about it. The sound of pistols being drawn came from behind him as he crept to the edge, raising his own firearm beside his head before turning around the corner and pointing it. Shock fell across his features at the sight of Kalin and Misty standing there, one surprised, the other donning a knowing smile. Blinking, Yusei glanced slightly over his shoulder at the others and asked, "You guys see them, too, right? I'm not hallucinating, am I?"

Misty shook her head, still smiling, and said, "No, Yusei. You're not hallucinating. Welcome back."

He lowered his weapon back to his side, muttering, "Oh, thank Crimson. Seriously, do you guys have any water?"

Z-one stuffed his pistol back into its holster and grumbled, "Or any goddamn cigarettes?"

Kalin still stared dumbfoundedly as Misty reached under her cloak and withdrew a pack of cigarettes and matches before handing them over. "We don't have any water on-hand, but we're not far from the supplies. Come on, this way."

She turned and started back the way they came, Kalin falling into step beside Yusei and finally speaking, saying, "You have no idea how glad I am to see you're all right. It's been almost a month now."

"Damn…" he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "I was just hoping I had a seriously messed up sense of time."

"Sadly, no. We've been hiding down in these caverns ever since the soiree, laying low until we can find out what happened."

He bit on the inside of his cheek for a minute, then finally asked, "How… How's Akiza doing?"

Frowning, he thought for a moment before saying, "She's… as well as could be, I suppose. She'll be happy to see you're back."

"I'll be happy to see her, too."

Z-one's voice sounded behind him, calling out, "Just don't get too sidetracked with sex that you forget there's a battle to be fought."

Reaching his hand over his shoulder, he carelessly flipped his grandfather the bird. Glancing towards Kalin, he muttered, "We've apparently had a month of wonderful family bonding time. It was bound to end on a sour note."

Kalin only raised his eyebrows, knowing his friend too well. "So, obviously, you know the Underground is in town. Do you know anything beyond that?"

Coughing a short laugh, he replied, "I was just about to ask you that."

Nodding slowly, he replied, "Akiza's still running the Claw, so the only information we have is what she brings. She and Carly are the only ones who've been going back and forth between the caves and the town. Anyone else who has come down hasn't left since."

He frowned thoughtfully, silently cursing the fact that Akiza was putting herself in danger like that. While in Kalin's presence, he forced himself to keep his composure and asked, "Has she learned anything substantial?"

"Only that the forces are made of both military and Underground. She hasn't mentioned anything else worthwhile, other than the fact that they've got Trudge following their orders, too."

Rolling his eyes, he grumbled, "Never did like him. Hey, not to be an ass, but I really want a drink of water, then to find Akiza. Do you know where she is right now?"

"As always, the girl outranks the brothers," he sighed, showing his hands in a shrug. "She's probably still asleep. It's pretty early in the morning right now."

"Thanks. I knew you'd understand." Under his breath, he added, "By the way, how're things with Misty?"

A light blush crossed the man's face before he turned away, muttering, "N-nothing! There's nothing going on!"

"Damn shame. You two make a good pair."

…

Akiza reached out, smiling at Yusei as they walked side-by-side. "I really missed you, you know."

He smiled weakly in return, reaching out to hold her hand. "I missed you, too. I'm sorry to make you worry like that."

She squeezed her fingers around his, smiling brightly at him. "It doesn't matter now. You're back and that's all that matters."

"Akiza?"

She reached out, wrapping her arms around his middle. "It's all that matters…"

"Akiza…"

His voice was so sweet, so pleasing. He sounded so close and yet so far. As if he was right next to her, but muffled like she dreaming…

Her eyes snapped open and she looked around, unable to hold back her tears at the sight of his eyes looking into hers. Before she could stop herself, her arms wrapped around his shoulders somewhat awkwardly from her position lying down. "Oh, Yusei! Please, Crimson, if this is a dream, don't wake me up…"

He stood beside the old mattress in the tunnels, leaning down towards her and holding her in return. "If this is a dream, then we're dreaming it together."

Burying her face in his shoulder, she clung as tightly as she could, gripping fistfuls of his jacket to hold him close. "Yusei, I missed you so, so much."

Slowly, he shifted his weight to clamber onto the bed beside her without letting go, whispering, "I love you, Akiza. I have a lot to tell you, but I really just want to hold you right now."

He started to pull closer, causing her eyes to snap open wide. She didn't want him to find out about the baby like that. She had started to show a little more over the past few days, making it impossible for him to miss if he came close to her. "Yusei," she murmured, "There's something I have to tell you, too, but I think it should be now."

She reached to take hold of one of his hands and held it in both of hers, looking at it for a long moment. Fear spiked through her being at the thought of telling him the truth. What would he say? Would he be happy? Terrified? It pained her when she realized she didn't know his thoughts. She did know that he had avoided the subject of marriage and children, but did that mean he didn't want either? Or was he just not ready? Could he be a father at this point in time?

She brought his hand closer and pressed a kiss to his palm, then slowly lowered it to her chest. He looked at her oddly, frowning slightly before asking, "Akiza? What is it?"

"I…" she started, then moved a little lower to shove her blanket down and gently place his hand on her stomach. Staying silent, she averted her gaze as she let him absorb the situation.

"A-Akiza…" he murmured.

Finally, she lifted her gaze to meet his and found his eyes wide in shock, his breathing a little ragged as took in the circumstances. She licked her lips once, trying to find words to say. What could she say? How could she possibly help him accept being a parent when she hadn't yet? The only words she could think of to say tumbled from her lips, "I'm scared, Yusei."

His hand shifted slightly, moving to cover more of her stomach before his low voice murmured, "I… I don't know… I thought… you couldn't…"

Tears filled her eyes as she bit her tongue. So, he really didn't want kids. "I… I thought so, too."

Suddenly, he pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close. "I'm sorry… I can't think of anything to say…"

"It's okay…" she murmured. "I'm just happy you're here and you're safe."

A moment of silence passed for a long moment as she clung as tightly to him as she could. For the last month, she had missed him dearly and, though she wasn't religious, she prayed he would return to her. She was happy he was back, though afraid of being a mother. They weren't married. What would happen?

Slowly, he whispered, his lips right next to her ear, "Akiza, I hope you know that, no matter what happens, I won't let you go. I'll stay here with you."

She shifted to bury her face in the crook of his neck, wiping her tears on his collar, and murmured, "Then that's all I need to hear, Yusei. I love you so much."

"I love you, too, Akiza. Until the day I die."

So, there's the reunion. Happy now? You better be, because the fluff won't stay for too long :P Okay, fine. There'll be fluff. But it'll be angsty fluff like this batch. But it'll be fluff!

...I am so tired. My brain is fried. So I will now shut up before I make a fool of myself.

Please review!

-Valk

P.S. I am now going back to bed. Or I wish I was. Unfortunately, I have to work T_T