So… Not really a whole lot going on on my end. Exam on Thursday, lots of studying to do, less writing this week… I do have the next chapter shipped off to Fish, but the following one is very slowly coming and probably won't see a higher word count until after my exam.

My infinite thanks go out to ptd163, Q-A the Authoress, FiringShootingStar, guardian of the aura Aurasoul, theforgottenpeople96, PyronicTao, Rapis-Razuri, Flame-Metal-Heart, and melan anime for their awesome reviews!

As for anons, we have, Poohbear4u and ChibiX! Poohbear4u: When Akiza said, 'I think they would love him,' she was referring to the child without giving away the sex and the Stardust Dragon plush toy. 'They' referred to the child because 'it' just sounds wrong, and 'him' was referring to the toy. Does that make sense? ChibiX: Pretty much Colonial American style of buildings, but with white stucco walls like you'd see closer to the Equator. That's what I pictured, anyway ^^; And I'm glad you liked the cuteness at the end! Everybody needs a little fluffiness in their lives :)

As always, many thanks to my awesome beta RobotFish!

Enter another fluffilicious chapter for y'all :)

Sunset Horizon
Chapter 44 – Historical Treasury

Yusei groaned slightly and rolled, wrapping his arms around the other occupant of the bed before automatically shifting to kiss her forehead. A giggle sounded from her as she snuggled against him, murmuring, "Mm… Good morning to you, too."

He smiled, burying one hand in her hair and pulling her against him tightly. Pressing another kiss to her hair, he muttered, "Can we stay here forever?"

She snuggled closer and yawned before replying, "This bed is like a cloud… You just sink right in and it feels so comfortable…"

"Is that a yes, then?" he asked, ignoring the nagging feeling that they should get up. They'd probably missed breakfast already.

Slowly, groggily, she pulled out of his hold and sat up slightly, smiling down at him before saying, "But I haven't had a bath in three days since we were on the road… Can we wash up and then go back to bed?"

He hugged her more tightly and finally ceded, "All right, all right…" Throwing off the blankets, he shifted to stand up and helped her up after him. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he smiled as he trailed his fingers along her jaw and kissed her again. It felt so good to hold her and kiss her so much. Every now and then, his thoughts would stray back to the time when they lived at each other's throats and his dreams were spent wondering what her lips tasted like. When that happened, he couldn't help but prove his nostalgia wrong by kissing her as much as he could.

She giggled and drew back, shifting to pull out of his hold before glancing back towards the door. "I wonder if Luna and Misty are around…"

He cocked his head curiously. "What for?"

She sighed and leaned up to kiss his lips briefly. "I hate going to the public bath house alone."

He shook his head with a smile and touched a hand to her elbow, shifting to guide her towards one of the other doors in his room. "Come here… I want to show you something."

She wore a confused frown on her face, but let him guide her regardless. He turned the latch on the door and pushed it open to let her inside first, smiling all the while. She walked in and looked around, frowning at the burgundy and white marble basin in the center of the room the size of his bed. There were a few shelves in the room, stocked with bottles and neatly folded linens. Obviously, it was a bathtub, but… "How do you get enough water to fill that up here?" she asked thoughtfully.

He gave a little chuckle and walked over towards the tub, silently proud that he got to show off all the little perks to his wealthy upbringing. He knelt down next to a set of golden handles before turning one. A slight gurgle sounded out, then the spout beside it sputtered and started to pour water into the tub. He ran his fingers under the spray to test the temperature, then nodded an approval before looking up at his wife.

She stared in surprise for a long moment, then finally managed to say, "How does…? I don't… What brings the water up…?"

He shook his head in amusement before walking back over to her. "It uses pressure inside the piping to propel it upwards. It's expensive to get it installed, but all of the senators' homes were outfitted with the system."

She stared for a long moment before walking over and gently slipping her fingers into the water. "Well, no point in wasting it, I guess." Standing up again, she shifted to pull the laces to the maternity dress one of the townsfolk had sewn for her during their stay in the caves and let it drop to the floor. Yusei had seen her naked often enough before.

She slipped down inside the water and sat on the floor of the tub, relaxing back into the warm water filling slowly. Glancing up, she wondered what her husband was doing as he lifted one of the glass bottles from the shelf and pulled the stopper before sniffing it. Shaking his head, he put it back where it was and lifted another. After sniffing that one, he nodded and walked over, setting it on the edge of the tub with a small glass bowl.

Smiling, he let his jacket drop to the floor near her dress before pulling his wedding ring off and setting inside the bowl. She stared at him curiously before catching on and glancing at the pair of age-old rings she wore. As old as they were, they probably didn't stand up to water as well as they once did. Following his suit, she dropped her rings into the bowl with his before pausing and glancing up at him.

He unzipped his pants and moved to transfer the dish from the tub edge to one of the shelves before kicking his trousers to the floor and moving to climb into the tub with her. Nodding, he murmured, "Perfect temperature."

She eyed him for a long moment before saying, "Uh, Yusei?"

He moved to sit next to her and wrapped his arm over her shoulder, replying with a hum, "Mm?"

"Well…" she started, automatically leaning against his side. "I mean, are you sure about this? We've never actually bathed together before."

He frowned. "Only because New Domino had separate baths for men and women. You'll need someone to wash your back."

She giggled softly and craned her neck to kiss him. "Yes, but… This would be the first time you see me naked and wet."

A lopsided smirk crossed his lips and he tugged her to sit on his lap. "And you have no idea how long I've wanted to see this, do you?"

…

After the bath, Akiza now walked through Yusei's home with him, wearing a pair of soft slippers she loaned from him. Apparently, her feet were about the same size his were at age twelve. She looked at him with a soft smile, wondering what his plans for the day were. He said he'd give her a tour, but what would he show her first?

He smiled back at her, wearing a cheerful expression as he led her down the halls. She hoped he still remembered his way around. That morning, he'd mentioned something he wanted to show her, but he hadn't elaborated and she knew it would be useless to ask until he was ready to say anything.

Finally, he stopped at a pair of white doors, opening it and walking in with her. She paused inside and took in the sight of the large room that seemed to be solely for admiring the paintings on the walls. A gallery? She looked up at the painting in front of her and frowned at the sight of a man seated casually at a desk, wearing a black military-like uniform with braided gold cords and an unmistakable head of spiked black hair.

She frowned as Yusei offered an explanation beside her, saying, "As I'm sure you guessed, this is my ancestor, Lord General Shohei Fudo. He was one of the right-hand men of the king of Yliaster at the time. He was not only a great military leader, but he also served as an advisor and strategist, too. He's the first member of my family to live in this house, though it was only one wing at the time. It expanded when the crown was replaced by democracy."

She nodded slowly and looked up at the man. He held his chin high, a look of pride hidden in his stern features. She couldn't help it as she murmured, "That hair…"

He chuckled lightly. "Yeah… It's something of a curse involved with being a male of the Fudo line. The women don't get it, but they still pass it onto their sons." He looked up and down the room once before saying, "This place is what we call the Historical Treasury. It holds paintings and information about each of the inheritors of my bloodline. Every head of the Fudo household was recorded in this room, although the older ones either have portraits that were found in good shape or ones done at the highlight of their career. Nowadays, the portraits are painted when the heir turns twenty-two and takes the title."

She walked through the room with him, looking up at the portraits as he gave a brief explanation about each of his ancestors. She couldn't help but be a little surprised. However many generations ago these were, the men looked almost the same. All of the Fudos looked near-identical.

"It wasn't until the sixth generation of senators that women were allowed to inherit the title, so the first female shown is Ai Fudo. Even if a woman was the heir, she kept her name and her children would carry it on, too."

Akiza looked up at the portrait of the woman seated in a plush chair, a calm smile on her lips, a challenging look in her eyes, and her legs crossed. Instead of wearing a dress like most women would be expected to, she sat comfortably in tailored pants and a matching jacket. Something told Akiza that this woman wasn't the type to take no for an answer.

Finally, he stopped and looked up at one portrait with a smile, staying silent and waiting for her to comment. She looked up at it and frowned, taking in the playful and cocky smile of her husband painted in vibrant colors. Slowly, she asked, "Yusei? When did you get this painted? We only just got back and you were twelve when you left…"

He chuckled and touched her shoulder before gesturing towards the nameplate labeled 'Senator-Colonel Z-one Fudo.' Clarifying, he added, "That's not me."

She looked back and forth between the nameplate and the portrait, unable to believe her eyes. Yusei and Z-one had looked a lot alike, but the man in this painting could have been her husband's twin. Besides the lack of a scar, his features were identical to Yusei's. Same nose, same blue eyes, same cocky smile, same bushy hair. She finally managed, "You look just like him…"

He nodded. "This was painted when Z-one was twenty-two, so he would've been about my age. All my life, I had people tell me I looked like my grandfather. I mean, my father has darker skin and lighter eyes, but Z-one and I look near-identical."

She gave a slow nod as she absorbed his words. "I agree. You could be twins."

Chuckling, he moved on to point at the next portrait, frowning at the sight of his father at age twenty-two. He gave a heavy sigh as he muttered, "I'll be the first to say it. He's been a fantastic senator. He's got charisma and always makes decisions for the people. He runs charities for the poor—eight of them, last I knew—and even the other senators liked him."

She listened quietly, knowing he had to sort out his abandonment issues on his own. He knew she wished he'd forgive his father, so all that was left was to wait and see what happened. She had spoken with the man and sensed his desire to reconnect with his son, but the only link between them before had been Z-one. She couldn't remember father and son ever being in the same room unless the old codger had been present. Now that he was dead…

She jumped slightly as Yusei set his hands on her shoulders from behind and slowly turned her around. Opposite his father's portrait, a painting hung with the same man, now older, standing beside a chair. His hand was settled on the high back and a calm smile stayed on his lips as his eyes stayed locked with the viewer's.

Standing in front of the chair, a little boy about seven stood. It took her a moment to realize it was Yusei as a child, his hand holding that of a brunette woman seated in the chair. She could only assume the woman was Yusei's mother. She wore a smile on her lips as she held her son's hand in both of hers. She was pale-skinned, contrasting greatly with the two men pictured with her. Her husband and her child.

Yusei gestured up at the portrait and said, "Akiza, I'd like to introduce you to my mother, Elise Fudo." With a silly smile on his face, he looked at the portrait and said, "Mother, I'd like you meet my wife, Akiza Fudo, née Izinski."

She stared up the woman's kind gaze, only now realizing that she'd never imagined what his mother looked like. She was very pretty, she decided. She wondered what it would be like if she were actually meeting her, face-to-face.

This woman was her husband's mother, her mother-in-law. She was a senator's wife, a high priestess of the church. Slowly, she lifted the corners of her dress and gave a little curtsy towards her, offering her respect to the woman who'd shaped her husband into the kind and gentle soul he was today. Silently, she gave a prayer of thanks before turning back to her husband with a smile. She couldn't think of anything to say that would be appropriate enough.

Instead, he smiled a little wider and walked over to the previous portrait and gestured up at it. A light chuckle fell from his lips as she walked over to examine it. It was a similar idea to the one with Yusei, featuring a man in his thirties—Z-one—seated on a couch. Beside him, a woman around the same age sat with pink hair clipped to the back of her head. Yusei's grandmother, she assumed. On her other side, a young man in his mid teens leaned on the armrest, poised neatly in the elegant art. Yusei's father, she figured.

Yusei sat in silence for a moment before prompting, "Notice anything odd between this portrait and the one with me and my mother?"

She stared at it for a long moment, then shook her head. They both looked like family portraits meant to capture the elegance of nobility. "No, I don't."

"I did say that the family portrait is painted when the senator is thirty-five, right?"

She shook her head, "No, I don't think so." She paused as she looked back between the paintings again, then murmured, "But… you're just a child. Your father is at least sixteen in the one with Z-one."

He nodded. "Seventeen, actually. I was seven in that one. I was born when my father was twenty-eight. He was born when Z-one was nineteen. I just find it kind of funny that there's such a huge age gap in there."

"Um…" She bit her lip, not sure how to ask, before finally saying, "How old was Z-one when he…?"

"Sixty-seven," he answered, not skipping a beat and knowing what she was asking. Giving a short chuckle, he muttered, "And if I had stayed here, I'd become senator in about five months, give or take."

She blinked. He mentioned that they became senator at age twenty-two, but it never really clicked in her mind that Yusei was almost to that age. No doubt it was because of his carefree personality, but it just seemed so strange to think of him as a senator. "Wow…"

He smiled. "I second that."

…

Kalin walked along the paths with Misty, head bowed as they stayed silent. Finally, he stopped at his destination and gestured vaguely towards the stone, saying, "Misty, this is my grandfather, Aeron Kessler."

She nodded slowly and shifted to sit down, studying the headstone carefully. Looking to the side, she nodded towards a headstone bearing two names and asked, "Your parents?"

He read 'Trance Kessler' and 'Ana Kessler' off the stone before nodding. "Yeah. They died when I was little. I don't remember them, even."

She frowned before moving over to brush the fallen leaves from the stone before saying, "If you don't mind me asking, how did they die?"

"Like I said, I don't remember, but my grandfather told me. My family—my parents, my grandfather, my older sister, and myself—had been out to visit some friends one night and, on the way back home, it was pretty dark out except for the moonlight. The driver had been drinking, and when a little dog crossed the street, he panicked. The carriage went off the road and fell into the lake. Only my grandfather and I survived."

"I see…" Misty murmured. "How tragic…"

"Mm… It's not much worse than what happened to you."

A dry chuckle tumbled from her lips as she murmured, "It's an odd sense of poetry that brings two tragedies like us together, isn't it?"

The question he'd been wanting to ask burned at the tip of his tongue before he finally inhaled a deep breath and murmured, "Misty, can I ask you something?"

She nodded. "Of course."

Swallowing, he built up his courage for her answer and asked, "What… What are your plans for the future?"

Humming lightly, she leaned back and folded her feet underneath her. "You mean, do I plan to stay here?"

He flinched slightly. "Well… I…" He took a deep breath and ignited his hand. He realized it was a habit he'd formed when he needed a courage booster. "I was hoping you'd stay with me."

Giving a knowing smile, she lightly tapped her temple with one finger and said, "Besides the fact that I want to, I know for a fact that we'll be together for quite a while yet."

He couldn't help himself as he moved slightly closer and wrapped his arm around her waist, leaning in to nuzzle his nose against her hair. She was a mysterious woman with many strange ways about her, but he couldn't help but love her. They both carried the souls of the dead within them, giving them strange powers that very few others could understand, but it only served to bring them closer together.

He was grateful that they would stay together after this. There was still so much he wanted to tell her.

…

Yusei walked with Akiza along the second floor, showing her around the private wing of the home. He figured he might as well stick to one wing at a time. With everything he showed her, she only seemed to get more and more impressed. Every little thing was a new and fascinating sight to her. He couldn't wait to see her reaction to the ballroom in the west wing.

"Yusei, Akiza."

He looked up at the voice, stiffening slightly at the sight of his father standing in front of them. The big perk to the size of this house was the fact that he hadn't seen his father until now, a full day and a half after arriving. He nodded a curt greeting and said, "Do you need something?"

He chose his words to address both of them, "I was wondering if I could borrow Yusei for a moment."

Akiza nodded once. "If he doesn't mind, then I don't."

He gathered that it was a private matter, not something to be discussed in the hall, and asked his wife, "Do you think you can get back to our room from here?"

She nodded, but then asked, "Would it be all right if I explored on my own?"

Both men nodded simultaneously, the older one saying, "If you get lost, just ask one of the attendants. They know the layout well. Otherwise, I'll send someone to find you for supper."

Flashing a smile, she replied, "All right. Thank you!"

Yusei caught her arm before she could leave and tugged her closer, kissing her softly before offering a quick smile and letting her go wordlessly. Turning back to his father, he asked, "Where to? I'm sure you don't want to talk here."

He nodded. "Can we go up to my office?"

"Sure," he muttered. Silently, the older of the two men turned to lead the way, glancing behind him as his son fell into step beside him. Yusei frowned slightly to himself as he realized just how much taller his father was and turned his attention to look at the walls as they passed by. He knew his anger towards the man was dissipating, but he wasn't ready to forgive him just yet.

They were both silent as they walked up to the grand double doors, pausing as Katsuro unlocked the doors and held them open for his son. He walked in and glanced around for a moment. He could count on one hand the number of times he'd been in that room, and all of them had been when he was with his mother as she'd gone inside to talk to his father.

Sighing once, he spied a small bar with crystal decanters to the side and approached it. He pulled the stoppers out of the bottles and sniffed the contents, looking to find whiskey. The vodka he'd gotten from Z-one was fine, but he missed his whiskey. After finding one, he poured a drink and held it towards his father, offering it to him silently.

When he shook his head 'no,' Yusei shrugged and brought the glass with him over towards the desk for the conversation. He dropped down in one of the plush burgundy chairs opposite the desk, leaning back lazily and stretching one leg in front of him. The chairs were comfortable, he had to admit that. "What did you want?"

His father walked around the desk to sit in the chair behind it, leaning back while running his fingers along the smooth wood surface. "If things hadn't played out the way they did, this would be your office in a matter of months."

He hummed a brief acknowledgement. "Yeah. Guess so."

"In spite of all that's happened," he started, still grazing the edge of the heavy desk with his fingertips. "This house and fortune remain in this family. The coup senators' properties are being passed onto relatives, but their fortunes are being repossessed to fund the repairs needed for this country."

"Is that so?" he asked, his eyes watching the swirling contents of his glass as he twisted his wrist half-attentively

"Mm-hm. I still intend to pass it onto you on your twenty-second birthday."

His eyes snapped up at that. What? The house… The fortune? It would be his in a matter of months? Shaking his head slowly, he murmured, "I can't accept it."

"You can and you will. It is your birthright. Every one of your ancestors intended for this to pass onto their oldest child, then onto their oldest grandchild. It is intended for you to inherit, Yusei."

He sighed. "But I ran away. I gave up every claim I had to it."

His father touched his chin as he observed his son carefully. "There aren't many who would turn their back on such a fortune with no real responsibilities surrounding it. With the title of senator being removed from the family, it's simply money to receive."

He took a drink from his glass and shrugged. "I don't want the silver spoon. Never did."

His father looked away slightly before murmuring, "Because we would have been a closer family without it?"

"That's part of it," he replied. "Another part is because of the falsity. With nobility, you have to watch every single word that comes out of your mouth. You always have to wear a smile, you always have to dress the part, you always have to say the right thing. It's so fucking fake."

"I couldn't agree with you more. But even without the attached nobility, you would still turn down your rightful inheritance?"

He snorted once. "What would I do with so much money?"

He shrugged lightly. "Build a comfortable home for you and your family. Reconstruct your wife's bar, provide for your child. Store the rest away for future generations. You don't have to spend it all. Rather, it would be wiser if you didn't."

He nodded once, looking for a change of subject. It was true that he was nervous about providing for his wife and child, but with the amount his family was worth, he would never have to worry about it again. Even so, he would much rather support his own family with his own two hands. "It's generous of you, but I refuse."

"I'm not asking, Yusei. I'm giving it. On your twenty-second birthday, the Fudo family fortune will be yours. It's completely your decision on what to do with it. You don't even have to touch it, if you don't want to."

Sighing, he decided it was time to change the subject and muttered, "That reminds me… How did the coup play out? I know what happened in New Domino, but what about here?"

His father leaned back in his chair and folded his hands comfortably. "Of the eight senators backing the Underground, Goodwin and Unicorn were killed in New Domino, along with Sayer almost a year ago. Of course, you know more details than I do. Bolton and Heitmann were killed in another border town by Pearson's forces. Unfortunately, the head of the Pearson family, my friend Robert, lost his life in the battle.

"Angela Raines surrendered when we stormed her estate and is awaiting trial. Lazar Jeager fled with his family. No one knows where he is now. Malcolm was found dead in his home from a gunshot wound. It appears to be a suicide. All of the Underground supporting senators are either dead, apprehended, or missing in action. All that's left is to expose the Underground to the world and rebuild our country."

"I see…" he murmured, taking in the news with a frown. He should have been happy, right? This was what he had been fighting for since he'd run from home so long ago. He glanced down into his glass of whiskey and sighed. "I should feel like celebrating, shouldn't I?"

He frowned and murmured, "With every victory comes a loss. No one is expecting you to celebrate, Yusei."

He nodded once, then took a drink from his glass. "What did you want to talk to me about? I'm sure you didn't ask me up here to talk about politics."

He stiffened for a moment, then nodded once. "You're right. I… have some things for you."

His eyebrow rose in curiosity as his father turned to open a drawer on his desk. He hesitated for a brief moment, then pulled it open and lifted the contents. Frowning slightly, he set a wooden chest about as long as his forearm, as wide as three-quarters that, and about seven centimeters tall on the desk. A small package wrapped in leather sat on top as he slid the items over to his son.

Yusei reached out to take them, setting the chest on his lap and murmuring, "Is this…? Z-one's…?"

He nodded. "He entrusted it to me before I left for New Domino. I kept it here, to make sure it didn't receive any damage in the battle… And… because a part of me hoped I wouldn't need to give it to you yet." Reaching into his collar, he pulled a thin tether from around his neck and out of his shirt, revealing a key tied to the end. Holding it out, he said, "This is the key to unlock it."

He accepted the key, then carefully picked up the package on top. "What's this?"

Katsuro shifted slightly look towards the windows before answering, "I was asked to give you that on your twenty-second birthday. I don't know what the future holds, so I figure I'll give it to you now. If you want to wait until your birthday to open it, that's your choice. It belongs to you."

He shifted the leather packaging in his hand, studying it for some kind of clue. "But who's it from?"

"Your mother."

His eyes snapped over to his father in surprise, hoping for a further explanation. It took a long moment, but he finally murmured, "She knew what would happen to her. She never told me, but I feel that she had an inkling as to when. She packaged that and asked me to give it to you on your birthday."

His eyes moved back to the package as his fingers gripped it more tightly. His mother had known, then? She'd known she was going to die, but she sent out the dragons, anyway? He knew she had done it to protect Yliaster, but a part of him wanted to blame her for his demented childhood. At the same time, he knew that everything was beyond control and no single person—not even his father—was entirely to blame.

Slowly, he shifted to stand and said, "Thanks. I appreciate this."

"I'm not done," he murmured. "There's one other thing I was asked to give you."

He paused before asking, "What is it?"

He shifted to stand and leaned over the desk, reaching under it and withdrawing a leather holster. "Here, this is for you."

He set the wooden box down and reached out curiously for the holster, then froze as he realized what exactly he was being given. Taking the belt, he reached for the weapon settled inside and drew it out slowly, staring at the sight of Z-one's Shooting Star Dragon in shock. "This is… But why me?" he asked, looking up at his father. "You're his son. Wouldn't it make sense to give it to you?"

He shook his head slowly. "He left other things in my name. However, he explicitly asked that his pistol be given to you." Shifting slightly, he walked around the desk and leaned against it, saying, "He truly cherished the days he taught you to fire. Those were among his favorite memories to share with anyone who would listen. He remembered how you would fawn over Shooting Star Dragon like it was a god. He wanted you to have it, Yusei. Though you may need a new holster since Z-one was left-handed."

He paused and slowly glanced back to his father. Was he seriously trying to make a joke out of the situation? He couldn't tell if it was meant as a joke or not, so he finally answered, "I won't need one."

"Hm?" he asked. "I can't say I follow."

He shrugged slightly. "We just fought to bring peace to this country, right? If the cleanup goes properly, then I shouldn't need to fire a gun ever again, right?"

He nodded once. "I suppose so."

He wrapped the holster belt around his waist and fastened it temporarily so he could carry the box and package in his hands. Glancing over his shoulder towards his father, he muttered, "Thanks again. This means a lot to me."

His chin dipped as he gave a slight confirmation. "Yusei…"

He frowned at the serious tone and mumbled, "Yeah?"

Turning away slightly, he murmured, "I… I wanted to apologize again for the way I treated you. You're all the family I have left and knowing you hate me is-"

"I don't hate you," he muttered, biting his tongue as soon as the words left his mouth.

He looked up, wide-eyed and almost vulnerable. "You don't?"

Sighing, he knew he couldn't leave without a slight explanation and muttered, "I did. For a long time, I hated you enough to kill you if I ever saw you again. But now… I'm still figuring out what I think, but I don't hate you anymore." Without waiting for a response, he lifted the wooden chest again and turned for the doors. He didn't want to have that conversation right then. There was too much that he needed to think through first.

…

Yusei sat back in the central courtyard, nestled into his little shelter of warmth and protection. He didn't care that a couple of flower patches were getting crushed. He'd needed someone to lean on and he'd had no idea where Akiza was.

So he did what any other person with godly powers bonding them to the spirit world would do and summoned Stardust Dragon into the courtyard. Black Rose had assured him that there was no cost to calling on them so long as they didn't inflict physical harm. Rather, they encouraged calling on them for peaceful times. The whole purpose of there being a Signer was to unite humans with the inhabitants of the spirit world.

Now, he sat back against Stardust's torso while his arms crossed in front of him, building a little den for him to curl up inside of. The silver dragon sat comfortably in the gardens, giving a small smile that looked like a snarl when one of the attendants would walk by and panic at seeing such a mythical being in the courtyard. No one besides the church, Yusei, Akiza, and his father really knew of the Signer and their abilities, so it was only natural for people to be scared.

He'd explain later.

He'd brought the things his father had given him to his room and hid them in his closet so Akiza wouldn't stumble upon them. He opened the box from Z-one and found a letter settled at the top and, after rummaging through the trinkets inside, he removed it and closed the box to look through more thoroughly later. Taking the letter and the package from his mother, he'd wandered off to find a place to read, leading him to wind up in his current position.

Slowly, he pulled the strings tying his mother's package open and pulled the contents free. He frowned at the sight of a book with an oiled leather cover dyed in a rich red with a number of markers in the pages, keeping sections marked that he should read. He wasn't sure what, but something about the book seemed familiar, somehow.

As he shifted to open one of the markers, a piece of paper fell out and fluttered to the ground. He picked it up and unfolded it, eyes widening at the sight of his mother's penmanship scrawled across the page. He hungrily started to absorb the words, drinking in his mother's thoughts from so long ago.

Dear Yusei,

My dear boy… I pray that this letter may be unnecessary. I pray that I am standing by your side as you are inducted into the office of senator today. However, if I am unable to be there for you, know that I love you very much, Yusei.

You are my greatest pride in the world. I have never felt happier than when I spent time by your side. You have always been a curious boy, always eager to learn. I know that you will make a fine senator, even greater than your father. Lead the people that I have protected, Yusei.

Today, on your twenty-second birthday, I give you this book. Perhaps you remember it. It's the scripture book I used to read to you as you fell asleep. I marked your favorite stories so you could find them easily. I don't know what this time of your life brings to you. Have you met a girl who captures your heart? Are you married? Expecting your first child, perhaps? Maybe even your second?

Whether it is now or in the future, I hope that these stories I loved reading to you will be passed onto your children. Those nights hold a very special place in my heart and I pray that you and your wife may feel the same with your children. Never take them for granted, Yusei. Children are the future, and they require their parents to nurture them into strong, capable adults.

Finally, I want you to know that I love you so very much, Yusei. You are my world, my reason for living. My reason for protecting this country with everything I have. I want for you to have a peaceful world, to live and love in happiness and cheer. May you bear all the blessings of the Crimson Dragon, Yusei.

Your mother,

Elise Fudo

He blinked, fighting back his urge to cry like a child. Thirteen years had passed since her death. He smiled sadly as he held the book to his chest and struggled to keep tears at bay. He wasn't religious, per se. For obvious reasons, he knew the dragons were real, but he didn't follow the church or their guidelines. They were the ones responsible for his mother's death, after all.

All the same, he knew these scripture books were written by members of the church long ago. The child inside of him knew that those stories read to him by his mother were a huge part of what made him who he was. He wondered if Akiza would mind raising their child on those stories.

Quietly, he tucked the letter back into the book and closed it before setting it down. He figured he might as well read Z-one's letter while he was still feeling nostalgic. Taking a deep breath, he pulled out the second letter he'd received from beyond the grave and unfolded it slowly.

Yusei,

Damn, how does someone go about writing a letter for someone to get after they die? And for someone they haven't seen in ten years, no less? Let me tell you, the wastebasket by my desk is full of failed attempts. Well, I guess you'll find out eventually.

Anyways, you didn't come here to hear me gripe. I hope Kitty gave you Shooting Star. I can't tell you where I got a hold of it. I really can't. I was shitfaced drunk and woke up in my bed with it one morning. I have no fucking clue where I got it from. Anyway, I want you to have it.

Next thing on the agenda… Well, Bruno mentioned that you were getting shacked up with a gorgeous woman. Guess I'll meet her for myself when I get there in a few weeks. Given that you're twenty-one already, you sure as hell better be sexing her. Your only excuse would be if she's a priestess sworn to chastity. I mean, really. No fucking point in holding back.

Speaking of, you got any kids on the way yet? I want meet my great-grandkid before I die, dammit. It's been too long since I've had a little runt to spoil. Or corrupt. You pick which word is more appropriate. I promise I won't give 'em alcohol or cigarettes until you do it first. Soldier's word of honor.

All right, all right… This might get ugly. I'm going to try to get sentimental on you. Don't run away too quickly, now.

Anyways, on the subject of kids… It's scarier than fuck when a woman comes to you tells you she's pregnant and you're the father. I know that feeling too well. Honestly, though, if you love her enough, and if she'll let you love her enough, then you can get through just about anything. I'm not saying this to sound like a goddamned cliché or nothing. Your grandmother and me are living proof of that. I dunno if I'll ever get to tell you our story, but we've been through a lot.

I was a soldier. From the time I was fourteen until eighteen, I went out on the battlefield. I served again for three years during my time as senator because of the Nazca war. After Kitty took over, I wound up going back and did a total of eighteen years in my life. On top of that, I worked as a senator for nineteen years. I was a member of a group called Infinity since I was twelve – fifty-five years now. I wound up in charge of them around the time you were born. I've seen a lot of shit in my life.

Now, with that said, the top three terrifying moments of my life were when my brother died and I was told I was going to be senator instead. Then the time your grandmother told me she was pregnant. I don't know if I'll tell you this before you get this letter, but we weren't married and I was only eighteen then. And the third was when your grandmother told me the baby was coming and all throughout the birth. God, that was frigging… I don't know what, but it was something else.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that when you do end up getting a girl pregnant, married or otherwise, don't panic too much. Once Kitty was born and the nerves of anticipation were gone, it was pretty easy. I mean, there was a lot to learn, but it was worth it. Being a father is something I can't bring myself to regret in any way, shape, or form.

Whenever it does happen to you, don't run from it. Embrace it. You'll be glad you did.

Ah, fuck. I ran out of room on the paper. I was going to mention a few other things about sex—I was married to a professional whore, you know—but I guess not.

Anyway, good luck out there. You'll do fine, Yusei.

Seero Fudo

P.S. You never knew my birth name, did you?

Yusei blinked as he read the name at the bottom, then leaned back into Stardust with slight sigh. He hadn't ever known his grandfather's real name. He was always 'Z-one.' Everyone who spoke to him or of him had always called him 'Z-one.' He couldn't help but wonder where he'd picked up the nickname and why he never used his real name. It wasn't like 'Seero' was that bad of one. It actually had a nice ring to it.

Sighing once, he leaned back against the dragon and held his mother's book and both letters to his chest. He wasn't surprised when Z-one said he wanted to give him pointers on sex. It was actually oddly appropriate. Z-one had tried pretty hard to give him tips while he was alive, so it seemed fitting that his last message to the world was something along those lines.

He was silently grateful that he didn't have room on the paper, though. If Akiza was telling the truth, then they would be just fine in that department. Plus, the thought of getting advice like that from his grandfather was just a little bit creepy.

He sighed as his eyes skimmed over Z-one's letter one more time. He wanted to meet his great-grandkid, huh? Only a half-year more and he could have. He couldn't help but smile softly as he considered the options he gave. Yusei figured 'corrupt' would be a better word. After his own childhood spent with a gun in this very courtyard and the liquor his grandfather had slipped him when no one was looking, he was sure he would be the same with his great-grandchild. Even if he promised not to give them alcohol.

Shaking his head, he looked up at the sky and murmured, "You could've met him or her, you know. You didn't have to die yet."

Man, I love Z-one… Even in death, the old bastard still makes me laugh :P By the way, yes, it is a part of my headcanon that Z-one had Shooting Star and gave it to Yusei. I have my reasons as to why ;)

Anyway, those of you who've been keeping up on my Facebook know what's coming, but I won't spoil it here for those who haven't. I'll explain more next chapter :)

In other news, we got to see Stardust in a much more peaceful environment. Have I mentioned that I ship Stardust/Black Rose? Yeah, it's weird, but I do. That subject will be coming up soon ;) And Yusei doesn't hate his father anymore! Hallelujah! Let's see if he can actually find the words to formally forgive him, eh?

I'm starving, so I'm going to post this and go eat something. Visit my Facebook! facebook.c!om/OCValkyrie (Remove exclamation point)

Please review!

-Valk