A Signer's Destiny

Chapter Nine

By Kellyq

Dust swirled around the arena. After it cleared, Yusei laid right in the middle of the training arena, beads of sweat coming down his face. He draped his arm over his eyes allowing his body to relax. I just wish I knew why Kiryu is acting as if he hates me, he thought. Yusei shifted his hips and moved his arm away from his face. He sat up and grabbed the water bottle that was sitting a few feet away. He opened the lid and brought it to his lips, drinking half of it. Yusei stared at it for a moment and dumped the rest of it over his head. He laid back down letting the water bottle roll away. Yusei shifted to his side and wrapped his arms around himself.

"You'll catch a cold doing that," came Akiza's voice.

A towel then landed on his head a moment later. Yusei moved the towel away from his face, sat up and rubbed the water off. He looked up to see her and Misty standing over him.

"Thanks. I'll be out of your way."

Misty watched him get up and walk out. She shook her head. She didn't like what she saw when she looked into Yusei's eyes. Tragedy was going to strike, and the young Signer was going to have to make a choice.

Akiza glanced at her lover to see that Misty had a troubled look. "I'm sure Yusei's going to be okay."

Jack walked into Godwin's office with one thing in mind – switching training partners, so that he could protect Yusei.

"How may I help you, Jack?" Godwin asked casually.

"I want Yusei to be my training partner so Carly and Kiryu can be training partners!" he requested bluntly.

Godwin sighed. "Yusei, Kiryu, and Carly will have to agree to that, otherwise I can't do anything until something critical happens, is that understood?"

Jack growled out of anger and frustration. "I'm not waiting for that to happen!"

He turned around and came face to face with Yusei. Half of his expression darkened and intense anger radiated off his body. The two Signers stared at each other.

"Jack, I know you care, but I'm not going to change training partners," Yusei declared in a crisp tone. "Besides, I'm trying to figure out why Kiryu is scared."

"What actually happened?" Godwin questioned.

"Kiryu got bit by a spider and was controlled by a man named Rudger, who has a sick interest in me," Yusei explained darkly. "And I believe that he's the one behind the case of the missing kids."

"Do you have any evidence to support your theory?" Godwin asked.

"No," Yusei answered, "but if you launch another mission, we might find the missing kids and bring Rudger in for kidnapping."

Godwin sighed, "Very well, I'll see what I can do about getting you guys ready to go back to Satellite."

Yusei nodded his head and walked out. Jack sharply turned and the tension in the room turned up a notch as he stared at Godwin with rage in his eyes. The older man wasn't fazed by it as he watched Jack walk out, slamming the door behind him.

Yusei didn't get very far and stopped when Jack caught up with him. He grabbed Yusei and turned him around, so that they could face each other.

"You better have a good reason for wanting to go back!" Jack growled.

"Because I want to save Kiryu, and the only way to do that is to go back there and find Rudger and confront him," Yusei said in a calm and crisp voice.

"You know that if Kiryu wanted to save himself, he would've done so by now!" Jack pointed out. "He and you are the strongest of the group."

Yusei was surprised at first before he lowered his head and his expression darkened. "I'm not as strong as I should be."

"Don't give me that shit," Jack growled again, wanting to hit Yusei across the face for thinking so low about himself. Kiryu ... you're going to pay for hurting Yusei! "You are strong! You want to know how I know that? The sparring sessions we have! The determination you have to prove your strength, that's how I know you're strong!"

By this point, Yusei had shock in his eyes. After a moment of staring at each other, Yusei smiled.

"Thanks, Jack," he said, feeling hopeful. "Maybe after this is all done, we can have a good spar."

The marks on their arms started to glow, and both Signers felt excitement.

"Why not have a spar right now? If you can kick my ass, you'll be strong enough to save Kiryu."

Before Yusei could say something, familiar footsteps echoed through the hallway. The two Signers turned to see the others walking up. Yusei eyed his ex-boyfriend as he walked up. Jack gave Kiryu a dirty glare, before he glanced back at Yusei to see a distant look in his eyes. When this is over, I'm going to beat the shit out of you, Jack thought, giving Kiryu a death glare.

To Be Continued …