Boss Rush
Read Chapter LIII first just in case you missed it.
Epilogue: Last Will
"System online; all detectors online; current particle velocity, 92% of speed of light…"
Professor Fudo Yusei listened intently as his research assistant read out basic system stats to him, blue eyes gleaming behind a shaded visor. No lab coat for him today; he sat atop his finely tuned duel runner, wearing his old T-shirt and jeans - mechanic gear. He was not here as a scientist; but as a mechanic, a risk-taker, and he waited for the moment when he could speed away to another world, to his missing child.
One year. One long year, of condolences and tears and desperate research. Ruka had been trying her best, but Ancient Fairy Dragon was a capricious beast who sometimes could not answer about the going-ons in the spirit world. Some had expected them to let go and move on, perhaps going to another city, or fathering a few more children. Such things were out of the question. His friends knew him well enough that none ever persuaded him to give up the search; they only stood behind him, ready to answer any and all of his requests, be it attending some fund-raising event or establishing one more contact for him.
"Yusei?" Aki was there, in full formal wear, for the office; the Shimotsuki's will had oddly conferred all remaining assets between James Crocodile Cook II and Seika, and Aki was not about to lose a second child to the Movement. "You need to stop for a moment."
There was only this once when Mikage, out of duty and concern, asked Yusei if he would like to have the legal matters sorted out. Yusei had no response for that question, only a quiet thanks and something about being busy, which cut the conversation very short. The family would never simply let it go. His son was alive, that much had been established. He had gone through data, formulated theories, created model after model, and conducted countless experiments. He was going to get his child back.
"Yusei, please," Aki murmured, taking him and bodily managing him towards the waiting tray. "I can't lose you. Ryuusei will be fine, he is fine, Ancient Fairy told Ruka that much."
"I know," he gulped down some Red Bull, wincing at the taste. "But... he's trapped in a world surrounded by monsters and he can't even leave. He's our boy. It's been a year since he disappeared already. If we can find him... no, we need to find him."
"We will," Aki nodded solemnly. "It's nearly Halloween again."
He nodded, and finished the can. In the most comprehensive and accurate mathematical model of the whole incident so far, the Sorciere de Fleur, the Duel Monster Spirit – he laughed, here he was involving himself in spirits once more – had created a momentary wormhole to another world. While he was not quite a practitioner of magic, or a scholar of folklore like his research assistant Kaido, he was a scientist. And science and magic were two sides of the same coin. With the Crimson Dragon returned to its millennial slumber, he could only rely on mankind's own power to accomplish this seemingly impossible task of overcoming the barrier between worlds.
He was almost there... almost there-
"Down!"
Yusei and Aki hit the floor as the machine imploded. He sighed; more research.
"Jii-chan? Baa-chan?" Seika poked her head around. The small girl was neatly dressed, almost a twin of the former head before her disappearance with Ryuusei and the Tenjouin girl. Beside her was Chase Princeton, holding onto a stack of paper and panting from the effort.
"We're fine," Yusei nodded in answer. "Put those by the table."
Chase complied. "Aki-sensei, it's Halloween tonight. Are you sure-"
"No, I doubt that it would happen tonight," Aki shook her head wearily. "Keep an eye out, though."
"Halloween?" Yusei sat up. "Get to the Kaiba Dome. Keep an eye out, I'll join you. Even though all readings returned clear, we don't know if it would happen again."
"Yusei," Aki reproached. "Seika, Chase, thank you."
Knowing a dismissal when they saw it, the two left in time for a small argument to begin.
In Egypt, the night was approaching. The shadows lengthened, playing over the Nile River. Rex Atlas was nineteen this year, and feeling older than he should.
"I'm telling you, this is serious!" Satoshi groaned. "Now get your ass into gear!"
Being unable to see spirits himself, and with Chase still unwilling to leave Neo Domino and Seika indisposed, he was stuck with one of the few who could actually see the damned things. And they were on a lead, something about recruitments... from humans.
If he could locate one...
The monster that bore a lot of teeth nearly took his head off. Rex kicked it in the face and raced after Satoshi, the two Duelists ducking and weaving between alleyways top get to the marketplace. It was sweltering, it was hot, and it was Halloween night.
Rex Atlas could feel the guilt stabbing at his gut again.
Ryuusei...
"Angel, in position." Alexianna's voice crisply echoed over the communications systems. "Codename Devil sighted."
"Tenjouin Michiru?" Tsugare gasped over the communications system. The Arcadia Movement had been called to investigate the case of disappearing medicine, and so Tsugare had been roped in. "O- Okay, White Rose, in position. Fog?"
"Fog covering the entrance," Koichi relayed. "If one of them is here, maybe..."
"Now!" Alexianna ordered, and Takeshi kicked the door opened to be greeted by a green chicken. A giant green chicken. Which seem to want to eat his face.
Inside, the black-haired girl clapped her hands, having taken a bag of assorted painkillers and a full first-aid kit. "Kokkator, cover me!"
"Tenjouin Michiru!" Alexianna bellowed, dropping behind with a card already drawn. Michiru merely winked, twirled on one ankle, and disappeared.
On the other side of the veil between worlds, Adrian was waiting to ambush her. Hissing snakes snapped out, trapping her arms and legs, and Michiru stayed very still as they crawled over her shod feet.
"You know Miss, your father misses you," Adrian commented.
Michiru bared her teeth. "Knock him out."
Adrian blinked, before something crashed through the back of his head.
"Well, that took you long enough," Michiru snapped as the man took Adrian's body and tossed it through a portal that disappeared into thin air soon enough. The man wore robes of blue, not unlike Michiru's own midnight-blue Lara Croft ensemble, but cut more in the Chinese style. "Where were you, Raiho?"
"My apologies, Lady Tenjouin," General Raiho bowed. "The Queen's convalescence was of paramount importance."
"Right, right," Michiru shook her head tiredly, handing over the bag to him. "And Fudo?"
"He is otherwise occupied," Raiho shook his head. "The Herald is snooping about. If anything else, the King of Summer understands better than us the necessity of ensuring Her Majesty's recovery more than any other."
The room was shrouded in shadow when Judai entered the room. It was white. White floor, white furniture, white bedsheets. The bed was a four-poster, and the only thing of colour in the room, being made of crystal that shimmered a faint violet.
"Magical Stone," Judai identified. "And you must be Shimotsuki Setsuka."
The other living being in the room lay in repose on the crystal bed. Draped in white, perhaps one would have thought she had long passed. Only by close examination could he see that her chest still rose slightly, though in seeming strain as well.
Her eyes opened, and fixed onto Judai, cold as ice and blue-green as the aurora's corona. "Herald."
"Queen Winter," Judai greeted. "Try not to throw me out for a moment. I need to talk to you."
"What would I have that you would need?"
"Power. Intelligence. Brains," Judai shrugged. "You are aware of the nature of our world. You are aware of the nature of the twelve dimensions."
"I am. So are many others."
"Summer and Winter will be needed."
"So they are."
"We need you," Judai murmured. "Yet to lose you presents a danger of its own. I would prefer it if you allowed me to assist you to return to your duties."
She moved her head fractionally, and her black hair shifted from where it spilled across her white pillows. "What say you, King Summer?"
Judai whirled around. So occupied with talking to Setsuka he had been, that he had not noticed the black-clothed figure behind him. Behind them, Marguerite laughed. "It does us good to see that even the Herald can be taken aback."
Fudo Ryuusei just smiled, his red bangs framing his face as he shook his head. "Don't be so shocked, Judai-san. It doesn't suit you."
In my long forgotten cloistered sleep,
You and I were resting close in peace.
Was it just the dreaming of my heart?
Now I'm crying, don't know why...
Where do all the tears come from? (to my eyes)
Could no one ever dry up this spring?
If you find me crying in the dark,
Please call my name from the heart...
Sing with me a tiny autumn song,
with the melodies of the days gone by.
Dress my body all in flowers white,
So no mortal eye can see.
Where have all my memories gone? (and lost)
Should I roam again up yonder hill?
I can never rest my soul until
You call my name, you call my name from the heart...
In my long forgotten cloistered sleep,
Someone kissed me whispering words of love.
Is it just a longing of my heart?
Such a moment of such peace...
Where do all the years come from? (to my eyes)
With no memories why should I cry?
I can never rest my soul until you call my name,
You call my name, you call my name,
Call my soul from the heart...
La (la la la...) la la la...
The dream ends, perhaps, to begin next time. For the story has to repeat another day.
After all, even stories have to start somewhere.
Conclusione della storia
Now we've come to the end of Boss Rush! A quick thanks to everyone who've ever contributed their time, OCs and attention to reading Boss Rush. Please look out for the sequel, Call of Darkness, the prologue of which has already been released! All OCs contributed here might make a reappearance in Call of Darkness, so please keep a look out!
The song is 'my long forgotten cloistered sleep' by Yuki Kajiura. Again, thank you all for being so patient for my attempt at narrative!
Please review!