005 :: unbreakable.

Featuring: Aki
Rating: K+
Genre(s): Hurt/Comfort
Spoilers: Fortune Cup


"It's best to have failure happen early in life. It wakes up the Phoenix bird in you so you rise from the ashes."
― Anne Baxter


Oddly enough, the first person who came to mind when she landed in Germany was someone she thought she left behind forever: Divine.

Perhaps it was how foreign this country appeared. The buildings looked like they came from childhood fairytales; elegant and nothing like what she was used to. The sight of people on the streets was scarce compared to bustling Neo Domino. It was almost as if she was looking through fisheye lens. Everything seemed so vast. So frightening. She felt like an outsider looking in, just like that time she served as the Black Rose Witch.

Her father had called her a monster. It stung her to the bone and to this day, she hadn't completely forgiven him despite her efforts. Shortly after, her parents shoved her away to Duel Academy. It was obvious they didn't love her. No one did. She was a dangerous monster and eventually she believed them, too. She enjoyed being a monster and even found the pain pleasing. But somewhere deep inside, she longed for the day someone would save her. Her white knight in shining armour: Yuusei.

She never knew another side existed, a much brighter one, until he came along. She tried to push him away, but he was the first person to see her as human. All these years, she had been unwanted by everyone. Only Divine promised her a brighter future, but his words only turned out to be beautiful lies.

It wasn't even half a decade ago when she first emerged from the chains, but it felt like a lifetime had passed since then. She had learned so much. She had hurt so much and after everything that happened, she was only 18.

Aki was so preoccupied with her thoughts that she inadvertently bumped into someone. He brusquely grabbed onto her arm, alarming her with the sudden physical contact. It reminded her of how Divine had treated her.

"Sumimasen oh… entschuldigung*," Aki stuttered as the stranger let go of her. Despite studying the basics of the German language beforehand, her accent gave away her identity that she tried not to draw attention to. The angry look on an unfamiliar face made her more insecure than ever. She sheepishly bowed in apology and quickly moved away to avoid further embarrassment.

She was intimidated by the idea of being a foreigner. Looking around, she saw friends huddling together, smiling and laughing. The everyday life of Mannheim blurred past her at a rapid speed she could possibly not keep up with. In a way, it was like being the Black Rose Witch again for the feeling of alienation and loneliness felt so similar.

Would they accept someone like her who couldn't speak their language? Someone who didn't know a thing about their culture? She became the Black Rose Witch because no one wanted anything to do with her. With no one to turn to, she was forced to do things she couldn't put her heart into.

But I won't make the same mistake again. This time, I know I'm not truly alone.

No one would mold her into their heart's desires or manipulate her the way Divine did, ever again. This time, she had her own destiny to live.

"Don't forget to smile," Yuusei had said the night before she left. "For there is no one with a smile more beautiful than yours."

Aki took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet smell of the air. Somehow Mannheim no longer seemed so bad. The future appeared brighter and she had so much to look forward to.

I'll do my best… for you, because you believe in me.

That was her unbreakable promise.


* German for 'excuse me'