As I lay here, amongst all these other bodies, all I can think about everything that I had seen, and everything that I wish to see…
All of these memories that were not mine, all of these paths that I have not walked upon, all of those choices that I could have made but never did...does that make me selfish that I wanted to know them all?
In such a short time, I was a witness to so many things, and there was so much I wanted know. As a person who loved movies and stories, there were so many ways to tell them, but in the end, a person only lives one story...their own.
Was my story good? Beautiful? Pitiful? Filled with darkness? I can't tell for certain.
All I knew was that my story wasn't over...hopefully.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
5th Sign
0-0-0-0-0-0
The Garden of Forking Paths
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Primo stays still as Shooti looks through his phone, looking at the last conversation he had with Bel before his mother came to wish him goodnight. A few seconds of waiting is nothing to someone who looks through the timestream on a daily basis alongside his "brothers" for lack of a better term.
He has learned from experience to never get too attached to people, but Shooti...interests him.
Why would this green-haired boy pique his interest when countless humans dying over the years make it seem like it's just another Tuesday for him? Shooti's drive to know the truth isn't unlike detectives and lawyers over the years, his heartbreak over learning terrible news isn't unlike those who have lost their loved ones…
Perhaps...perhaps it isn't just about Shooti is showing on the surface. There must be something within him that is making Primo want to observe Shooti Hayami a bit longer.
Shooti is unaware of Primo's silent observations as he looks through his messages, smiling at Bel's words.
BrilliantBlackbird: I had lots of fun tonight! I wish you didn't have to leave so early.
TripDeckard: Sorry about that, but you know that I'm not like one of the Lost Boys.
BrilliantBlackbird: Too bad; I definitely can see you in adorable animal pajamas and fighting off Captain Hook! ;)
TripDeckard: The other Lost Boys, Bel.
BrilliantBlackbird: Ohhh….
BrilliantBlackbird: Seriously, though. After Haruka tried to battle JACK ATLAS of all people, I decided to have some fun against a girl who used some strange Dark Beast-Warrior ladies with a Fusion Gimmick.
BrilliantBlackbird: You should've seen the type of moves I played in front of everyone. The look in that girl's blue eyes was such a shock!
TripDeckard: Blue eyes…
TripDeckard: Um, Bel, did that girl also happen to have red hair in pigtails?
TripDeckard: And a black choker with a crescent moon on her neck?
BrilliantBlackbird: Good eye! :)
BrilliantBlackbird: I see you spotted one of our newest Acolytes. Her name is Rui, and I challenged her to see whether she's up to the task of….
BrilliantBlackbird: ...
BrilliantBlackbird: Sorry,
BrilliantBlackbird: I shouldn't be explaining this on the phone.
BrilliantBlackbird: If someone happened to read these messages…
BrilliantBlackbird:...I gotta go. It was nice talking to you.
TripDeckard: Take care, Bel.
BrilliantBlackbird: I will.
BrilliantBlackbird: Oh and Shooti?
TripDeckard: Yeah?
BrilliantBlackbird: Whether you finished it or not, please return my copy of The Egypt Game on Monday, okay?
BrilliantBlackbird: It's very important to me.
TripDeckard: I will. Good night.
BrilliantBlackbird: Same to you.
Shooti sets his phone down on his bedside desk before he turns his attention to Primo, the latter returning a copy of The Invention of Hugo Cabret back on its proper spot on the bookshelf before he returns the gaze with his own.
So, boy. Primo's cold robotic voice echoes in Shooti's mind. I take it that you want to see something in the past?
Shooti nods his head. "Do you have any limitations?"
My only limitation is that what you want to see has to have happened, and if you can give me a date for it, it will make it easier.
"So I can't just ask you to show me why my mother looked suspicious of Bel then," Shooti murmurs.
Not unless you ask her yourself as to why she feels that way.
It is obvious at that point that the boy isn't going to get a clear answer from his mother right away, and it is too soon to tell just what made his mom so jumpy except that it has to relate to blackbirds.
Sure, blackbirds like crows and ravens were associated with the dead and the Underworld, but it isn't like Bel is going to come to the boy's house with a kitchen knife in hand to stab him to death…
...Right?
Shooti sighs as he stares at the notebook on his bedside table, the one he used to rewrite all of his notes after Carly tore them apart. A part of him wants to go back in time to see what Carly has been doing in regards to the report of the "Suicide Club", but decides not to. It wouldn't be right to snoop around like that.
Well, not yet at any rate.
So, little boy...says Primo, tilting his head. Do you have a suggestion or are we here to have some pillow talk?
"I'm thinking, I'm thinking," Shooti mutters, closing his eyes. Seconds later, he opens them. "Oh, Crow mentioned that Kiryu and Yusei encountered two strange cloaked beings two nights ago. And Bel said that one of them was a new Dark Signer Acolyte so…"
Primo stares at Shooti for a moment, before a smile forms on his stoic face. That can easily be arranged. Now, hold still.
The strange android places his hand over the gem above Shooti's left eye. Then, Shooti feels everything become silent, his bedroom slowly replaced with an empty black void until all that remains is him and Primo floating in the abyss...
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
And seconds later, he finds himself not in the outskirts of Domino Below, but inside an apartment.
Shooti takes the time to look at his surroundings. It looks like a living room with white walls, a large grey divan, a long oak table topped with two mugs of coffee and a collection of video games, a large television at the corner with a PS4 connected…
And there is a loveseat with two people laying on it, covered by a large blanket.
Shooti takes a glance and blushes at what he sees. The two people are Kiryu and Yusei, lips pressed together as Kiryu has his hands gripping onto Yusei's shoulders while Yusei's hands go down past Kiryu's shoulder, to his chest, towards his waist…
Right, let me skip past this. Primo mutters moving his pointer finger aside to some time later, when both Kiryu and Yusei are exhausted, eyes glazed over in lust as Kiryu runs a finger down the yellow line down Yusei's left eye.
"That...was so good…" Yusei shivers. "Will you always be 'feeding' like this?"
"Sometimes, but not all the time," Kiryu teases. "It's a shame that I have to feed on other people's desires; they'll never top what I feel from you."
Yusei sighs as he snuggles into Kiryu's chest. If he was alive, he'd smile at hearing Kiryu's heart beat. "Say, Kiryu."
"Yes, love?" asks Kiryu, fiddling with the spider choker adorning Yusei's neck.
Yusei opens his now black eyes. "I'd like to be serenaded," he whispers. "Think you can say something that will make me feel ready to have my first feeding?"
Kiryu tilts his head up towards the ceiling for a moment as Shinji turns to Primo with a glare.
"This isn't what I asked you!" he hisses, even though he isn't going to be heard at all. "I asked for when Yusei and Kiryu went off to fight!"
You'll get to it soon. Primo stated, silently observing Yusei with the look of a cheetah stalking an antelope. What's the rush?
Just before Shooti can answer, Kiryu turns to Yusei and says, "I got just the thing for you, my shooting star.
"Give me a thousand kisses, then a hundred.
Then, another thousand, and a second hundred.
Then, yet another thousand, and a hundred.
"Then, when we have counted up many thousands,
Let us shake the abacus,so that no one may know the number,
And become jealous when they see
How many kisses we have shared."
Yusei coos in delight as Kiryu places a kiss on his forehead, the two nuzzling each other and gazing into each other's eyes as they lean in for another kiss.
"How long are you two gonna be doing that?"
Kiryu and Yusei turn to see both Crow Hogan and Jack Atlas seated across from them. Crow leans forward onto the table while Jack silently takes one of the coffee mugs on the table into his hands.
"You guys have been acting weird ever since you came back two nights ago," Crow notes. "Care to tell us why you like being so touchy-feely to each other lately?"
"If I tried explaining this to you, it would go over your pretty little head," Kiryu teases.
This hits Shooti in the gut; this is exactly why he couldn't just tell the truth about Kiryu and Yusei's new "purpose" to the real Crow.
Crow slams his hands on the table. "Ever since that thing with Magician's Four, you haven't been the same, Kiryu! You started babbling on and on about invisible reapers, got into a brawl with Kaibaman, and then you just vanish to who knows where!
"And you, Yusei!" Crow turns his gaze to the black haired man. "You just go and disappear the night before and this morning, you act like...like…"
Yusei sits up, the blanket falling off his shoulders and into his lap. Shooti can only sigh in relief to find that Yusei is wearing a pair of black boxers. Yusei tilts his head like a curious dog to the right, his blue eyes resemble glass.
"Like what?" Yusei asks, his voice empty. Crow struggles to string a sentence together as Yusei adds, "Go on. Finish that sentence."
"Like that!" Jack exclaims, pointing at Yusei. "You're acting like some sort of...robot!"
Yusei blinks and places his right hand underneath his chin with the left hand underneath the elbow to support it.
"Is that so?" he asks. "Well then, if I were to be acting like you say I am…" Yusei leans close and smirks. "What are you two going to do about it?"
At this, Shooti feels like he can just take Primo's sword into his hand and cut the tension in the air into a million pieces. Jack's left eye twitches while Kiryu bursts out laughing, hiding his face with a hand as he nuzzles into Yusei's chest.
"Yeah, you two," Kiryu chuckles, baring his fangs. "What are you gonna do about it?"
This catches Crow and Jack off guard. Shooti just watches Kiryu stretch his arms and roll over, also relieved that Kiryu is wearing grey boxers (although he doesn't understand why there's a bulge pressing out until it hits him and he covers his eyes in disgust).
"I...I don't know, but you guys are acting…" Crow blinks. "Yusei...why is your neck glowing?"
Yusei looks down at the black choker snug around his neck like a noose. There, a light flickers in the abdomen of the spider pendant like a strobe light, flashing spots of red across the room.
"...It's time, huh?" Yusei murmurs, placing a hand over the spider.
"What's time?" asks Crow, noticing Yusei slowly stand up and approach the door. "Hey, Yusei! You just can't go out looking like that! Yusei, are you even listening to me?!"
"Have to...so hungry…" Yusei murmurs, scrambling for the door. "Must...feed...and soon…."
"Yusei, hey! Come back here!"
But the minute Yusei opens the door, everything stops as if someone has pressed "Pause" on a remote control. Shooti blinks before Primo smiles.
Let's get to the good part, shall we?
Primo lifts his hand to the side and flings it to the left. The apartment fades away until the two ghosts stand in the outskirts of Domino Below at night. There, they see Kiryu and Yusei - dressed in their Team Satisfaction outfits - standing amongst two people in blue military outfits and silver helmets. Yusei picks one up and grins.
"So hungry…" he hisses, eyes glowing black. "Get angry for me, little one...you'll make my meal even tastier!"
"S...screw you, you bastard!" Yusei's meal screams out, struggling to activate something on his Duel Disk.
Yusei tilts his head. "Nah, I already screw Kiryu enough. And he's already eaten."
Kiryu howls in laughter as he watches Yusei press his lips on the mouth of his meal. The prey can only scream in terror as Yusei holds the kiss for three seconds before pulling his head back. Strands of red silk thread connect their mouths together before Yusei tugs at them and swallows them whole.
"Oishii…" he murmurs, dropping his meal to the ground. "Now, what else is there to eat?"
"You!"
Yusei tilts his head as he sees Crow and Jack approach them, looking somewhat bored. Crow pants for breath as he asks, "What's going on here?"
"These two," says Kiryu, pressing a boot onto the back of an unconscious soldier. "Were causing trouble here. We gave them a bit of a warning."
"Warning?" asks Jack. "It looks like you murdered them!"
"They deserved it," Kiryu hisses while narrowing his eyes. "They were gonna…" He pauses. "Yusei...do you feel it?"
"Feel what?" asks Crow, looking around. "What's going...hey, get back here you two! We aren't finished yet!"
Just as Crow is about to chase after Kiryu and Yusei, Primo waves his hand again, transporting him and Shooti to the remains of an abandoned house littered with trash. Standing in what would have been the living room of the abode are two familiar figures: a teenage boy with grey hair and a blue longcoat, and a teenage girl with her hair in two short pigtails, a long blue jacket with pink lining and a black choker with a yellow crescent moon pendant.
"Rui," Shooti whispers, pointing at the girl. "And...who's the boy?"
Wes. Primo answers. The best member of Team Snagem before he defected. The two are currently cleaning Domino Below for...He pauses and chuckles. No, you'll learn that much later. For now, let's watch.
"Wes," Rui whispers, looking around. "Why are we here?"
"Can't you sense it?" Wes answers, his blue cloak darkening to the color of shadows. The red trim on the sleeve of his coat glow violet. "So much sin is about to come and we can feast."
"Feast?" Rui gulps, her clothes also turning black and the image of green lizard appearing on her skirt. "I...I don't like the sound of that."
"I don't either," Wes whispers. "But at least...wait, they're here."
He turns around as he hears someone approach them. Wes narrows his eyes, the white stripe across his nose turning red as he watches two people enter the building.
"It couldn't be…" he gasps. "Is that…"
But it is. Wes watches in fear as he sees two figures approach them, both of them wearing cloaks trimmed in blue and red, respectively. The one with the blue colored cloak approaches him, the moonlight from the unfinished roof revealing the last person Wes wants to see.
"Kiryu Kyosuke," Wes whispers. "But that means…."
"The other one is Yusei Fudo!" Rui finishes, her eyes widening in fear. "Wes, their auras...they're filled with anger and lust…"
"How…" Wes looks at Yusei approaching him. "How did you die? Why did you just toss your life for those arrogant bastards?"
Yusei smirks, his eyes resembling clear glass as his free hand glows. Then, four-inch razor blades emerge from underneath his fingernails as he raises a blade to his throat.
"I chose this," he answers. "My father gave up his life so that the Gates of Hamunaptra will open some day. And I and the rest of Team Satisfaction intend on following in his footsteps."
Kiryu approaches Wes and stretches an arm out to him. "You search for food too, correct? Tell me, little boy...why don't you join us on tonight's hunt?"
"J...join you?!" Wes exclaims, sounding like a kid meeting his idol. Then, he slaps himself across the face. "I mean...I would be honored to do such a thing...but no." He shakes his head and frowns. "Rui and I are like this only to get revenge on the assholes who killed us. And we already dragged more people into this mess."
"Where are the other members of Team Satisfaction?" asks Rui. "Are they also…"
"Not yet," Yusei whispers, his voice so swift that it quickly quiets out Rui's voice. The stoic look on his face turns to one of maniacal glee. "But soon, soon our brothers will join us in unleashing pure satisfaction upon this land. The Gates of Hamunaptra will open and all of the lost souls shall flourish! The Dark King demands it and we. will. comply!"
He lifts his head into the air and laughs as Wes, Rui and even Kiryu look slightly uncomfortable. Then, Yusei activates the Duel Disk on his arm.
"Oh young acolytes," he says. "I wish to see how you shall prepare yourself for the upcoming task at hand. Do you have what it takes to cleanse Domino Below of its sins?"
"I have enough common sense to know that you are absolutely off your rocker!" Wes snaps, activating his Duel Disk. "Come on; it's always been a dream of mine to eventually go toe-to-toe with a member of Team Satisfaction.
"Fight me, Yusei! Let's go for a ride!"
"Let's rev it up!" Yusei exclaims. "Duel!"
"Stop it there," Shooti announces, watching as everything freezes at the point when Yusei is about to draw cards from his deck. "I know how this is gonna end."
Do you now? Primo chuckles.
Shooti nods his head. "Yusei wins, Security tries to arrest Wes, Yusei and Kiryu get into another fight and then Crow and Jack drag Yusei and Kiryu the hell outta Dodge. The End."
"The End" indeed…Primo whispers, taking a red eyed glance at the younger boy. You sure about your decision?
"Yeah, I'm sure."
Primo chuckles. Very well. I think it's time to move on to greener pastures as they say.
As the scenery begins to fade away, the boy does not realize that he is making mistake number 15. To him, he has just seen all that he needs to see of that particular scene.
If only his future self could have appeared right now to slap the boy across the face and tell him to continue it until the end. If he did, then he would've noticed a clue that could've prevented the deaths of Jack Atlas and Crow Hogan
But it's too late to take that back now; that and every other mistake the boy has made and shall continue to make until the very end.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Shooti blinks and soon finds himself sitting at the edge of his bed. He picks up his cellphone and takes a look at the time. Half an hour has passed.
"That seemed a lot longer," Shooti mutters, setting his phone down.
Time always seems longer when you're just observing people doing their own routines. Primo notes. When you actually are living life, it tends to go by much quicker.
"Ah."
Shooti then goes to online and types something onto his phone. A familiar headline pops up, causing him to wince. The headline that caused his entire world to change for the worse.
But what hurts him even more is that he was oblivious to what his friend was going through. Those last few months together at school, talking about what their summer vacations were like, studying, watching any and all episodes of whatever Kamen Rider series that was on their minds, having dinner together...all of this time, Shooti had no idea that Jun was faking it.
Taking a slow breath, Shooti looks at Primo all while trying not to show that he is crying on the inside.
"Primo," he says, showing the news article to the android. "Take me to the time of the suicide on Monday night."
Primo blinks; surely the boy cannot be this serious.
You know how this all plays out, though. Primo points out. Twenty five children die, with one of them being your best friend. Chaos ensues, people scream to the heavens, your mother has to tend to two dozen corpses and a boy who is more dead than he is alive, and your babysitter has to interview everyone in regards to what they have seen all while praying that you haven't join this Suicide Club...yet.
Shooti nods his head. "But I want to see it...I want to see Jun. He...he was trying to warn me Monday afternoon, but I ignored his warning, like usual."
It probably was better this way. Did you truly want to be there when he jumped to his death?
Shooti shakes his head as he grips onto his phone to the point that it could crack. "No...but I...I at least want to know what it was like to be there. What his last 'moments' were like...please Primo."
Fine, fine. But don't say I didn't warn you for this little field trip.
Primo places a finger onto the gem on Shooti's forehead once more. Shooti can feel a cool wind and the sound of a train whistle off into the distance...
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
And one second later, Shooti sits on a bench, waiting for a train to arrive.
He looks all around him. People are on their cellphones, or pacing around, or talking to other people. Children hold onto the hands of their parent's, eagerly awaiting to go to their next destination. This type of scene happens every single day, and it seems like nothing could ever change it.
Of course, Shooti knows that it would very, very soon.
"When are they coming?" he whispers, feeling the tension in the air. He shivers, even though he can't feel the blast of cool wind that blows through the train station, and wraps his arms around himself in a futile attempt to stay warm.
Right about...now. Primo answers, pointing toward the stairs.
Shooti turns and watches numerous students all dressed the same - white shirt and black skirt for girls, white shirt, black tie and black pants for boys - go down the stairs, talking, laughing and otherwise acting normal. He counts them in his head and only finds twenty-four going down the stairs.
Until he spots Jun, number 25.
Jun looks out of place amongst these suicide club members in the white shirt, black tie and black pants combo; he moves his head around like a swivel chair but doesn't really pay attention to his surroundings. He runs a hand over his arm as if covering a rash. Jun gulps as a girl beckons him to come hold hands with the others at the platform. And Shooti can only watch as Jun smiles and races towards them, taking his place as they hear the train approach the station.
If this happened in real life, Shooti would be shouting Jun's name. And Jun...he would pretend to ignore it.
But if the Shooti in the past didn't know about his friend's reason for being there, he would have felt like Jun stabbed him in the back to hang out with his "new" friends. The fact that the real Shooti knows just what is about to ensue only makes it worse.
All twenty five students approach the railways. Twenty-five mouths turn into happy smiles and more than forty arms swing arms back and forth as everyone around them wonders just what they're about to do.
The twenty five students, oblivious to their confused and puzzled audience count out loud.
"1, 2, 3! 1, 2, 3! 1...2...3!"
And then, the boy and Primo watch all twenty five students jump in front of the train.
Not even three seconds later, blood starts spraying everywhere. On the windows of the train, on the innocent bystanders who begin screaming in agony, on the walls. A spray of red briefly passes through the boy's pellucid body.
The scene is like a colossal car crash - horrifying yet one cannot help but watch at the madness and destruction that blooms from such mayhem. Everything is a bloody shade of red as the only thing that can be heard over the train coming to a stop is a cacophony of screams.
The boy watches in horror as everyone else tries to make sense of it all...
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
And all too quickly, the bloody train station fades away to the bedroom once more.
The boy places a hand to his mouth, willing himself not to puke at the sight of all of that blood and dismembered bodies around the train track. How...how could Jun willingly accept a command to do something like that?
Better yet, who would let innocent people cheerfully jump to their deaths? And for what?
Bile rises in his throat, but with a few deep breaths, Shooti manages to stop himself from waking his mother up. He tucks his knees to his chest and tugs at the strands of his hair, trying to make sense of it all. But no matter how he tries, he will never be able to.
Boy. Primo states with some underlying concern. I believe that we should end your leaps through time with this.
"No…" Shooti whispers, lowering his hands so they rest on top of his bed. "I want to see one more...just one more."
You have already seen too much.
Shooti grips onto the bed sheets. "I haven't seen enough." He turns to Primo. "Take me to when Kiryu became inducted into the Dark Signers. After all, I already saw how Yusei decided to die for this cause; I highly doubt Kiryu gave in that easily."
Seeing the look in the boy's eyes, Primo submits.
Very well. But after this, you are to go to bed. Just because I am contracted to you so you can do your little 'investigations' does not necessarily mean I will let you push yourself to an extent that you render yourself catatonic.
For the third time this evening, Primo places his fingers on Shooti's forehead. Shooti watches the familiar scene of his bedroom disappear...
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
And this time, Shooti lands on both feet.
He looks around, finding himself in the Ritual Room once more. taking good note of the ceiling up above him, depicting a mural of a magnificent city rising out of the desert. He squints a bit, and he can see that the mural is moving all on its own. There, he can depict four figures that eerily resemble Team Satisfaction, albeit they all wear white linen skirts and golden collars around their necks as if they are personal slaves (which isn't that far from the truth).
"Are those…" Shooti whispers, pointing to the ceiling. Primo nods his head. "Then how did they…"
Shooti's observations are interrupted by the massive doors opening. He turns to see a parade of five cloaked witches dragging a haggard Kiryu Kyosuke towards the large bust of the Dark King, the proud leader of Team Satisfaction silent as the procession ends at the obsidian visage of the Dark King of the Afterlife.. Kiryu is shoved onto the floor as the Dark Signers remove their hoods, ten black eyes waiting for their master to speak.
"He is here," says Kamitsure, bowing toward their lord. "Just as you wished."
Then, the eyes of the bust light up as if someone pulled a pair of curtains up in the morning. Excellent work.
Kiryu looks up and gasps at the ominous statue of the Dark King gazing down upon him. The eyes of the hoary ruler stare deep into Kiryu Kyosuke's soul, as if judging the Team Satisfaction leader for everything he has done in his short life.
"Pay your respects to the Dark King!" Kamitsure barks, pressing her heel onto Kiryu's head, causing Shooti to wince. He wonders if Molly knows about this side of the DJ, or if the girl will ever grow up to become just like Kamitsure.
Don't be so rough with Aharon, Kamitsure of the Spider. The Dark King's voice rumbles. We have plenty of time to get acquainted with one another.
Kamitsure nods her head as Korni places a hand on her girlfriend's shoulder. Nagi then speaks up.
"What do we do with the rest of Team Satisfaction?" she inquires. "They are sure to notice his disappearance and will try to find answers."
Leave them be for the time being. The Dark King answers. I am proud for the way you handled Magician's Four back there, and how you managed to get Aharon back in one piece. You all have all earned a well-deserved rest.
"You are too kind, our lord," says Korni, looking more solemn than her normally perky self that Shooti encountered when they first met..
As the five women walk back to the door, Kiryu tries to follow them, but Kamitsure stomps a stiletto on his head once more to knock him out cold. The only sounds in the room are Kamitsure's heels going click clack click clack on the marble floor and the silent swish of the cloaks as the Dark Signers approach the doors.
Just as Bel is about to leave, the Dark King's eyes glow. One more thing, Bel of the Hummingbird.
Bel stops and turns around, green eyes staring back at the bust of the Dark King. Instead of the quiet image that Shooti saw back at Satisfaction Town when they first met, her posture shows a confident lady who would make the earth shake with a stomp of her foot.
"Yes, my King?" she asks.
I do hope you took notice of that boy back there. The Dark King smiles, or at least it looks like there is a smile on the statue's face. He seems to have taken a fancy to you.
If Bel could blush, her cheeks would've been red from the compliment. "R...really?"
Yes. Perhaps it would be a good idea to know him better. He could be very useful to the cause.
Bel bobs her head and smiles. "I'll ask Jun about it then. Tell me, what is this boy's name?"
He is known as Shooti Hayami.
"Shooti Haya…" Bel pauses. "You mean he's related to -"
Yes, but do not dwell on it now. After all, you have to get ready for your first day at school.
"Yes, my King," says Bel, her smile practically lighting up the Ritual Room. "Thank you."
And thus she rushes off to follow her sisters out of the room, oblivious to a transparent Shooti watching her race off like she is chasing after the White Rabbit into Wonderland. When she vanishes, the silence returns.
Nothing ever passes the Dark King's eyes. Primo chuckles. Even he can tell how much you two belong together.
Shooti doesn't know whether that is supposed to be a compliment or not. Instead, he focuses on Kiryu standing up, looking around and trying to figure out the quickest way out of here.
You aren't going anywhere, Aharon. Says the Dark King, the large doors closing with a loud SLAM! that echoes across the empty chamber. Not when we have so much to talk about.
"Who the hell is this Ahara person you're talking about?" Kiryu snarls. "And who the fuck are you?"
At this, the torches in the room flare, casting an ominous glow on the Dark King's stone face.
I am the Dark King of the Afterlife, Ruler of Hamunaptra, Weaver of Souls, Guardian to the Realm of Reveries and Revelry! Is the answer. And you, Aharon, have been brought to me so that you can help me unleash the Gates of Hamunaptra onto this world once more.
"Like hell I am!" Kiryu spits out. "It's already bad enough that I learned that I'm dead, but there is no way that I'm gonna be taking orders from a giant hunk of stone."
...It seems as if we are to do this the hard way. The Dark King murmurs and for a moment, Shooti can almost see the statue smile once more. Hmm…perhaps this 'giant hunk of stone' is not the correct form to convince you. How about...this?
Kiryu watches as a plume of dark smoke forms in front of him, coalescing into a figure in a dark cloak and piercing cobalt eyes. Kiryu's eyes widen as the figure raises his arms into the air to disperse the smoke, revealing the last person he wants to see in this place.
"Y...Yusei…" Kiryu whispers.
But it is not the Yusei of Team Satisfaction that stands in front of Kiryu. The Yusei duplicate dresses in the robes of that of a Dark Signer, aurified in gold hieroglyphics. And their eyes...they are nothing but black holes that suck in the light.
Not yet...The Dark King answers, through Not-Yusei, their lips mouthing the words that echo across the room. The Dark King chuckles as Not-Yusei tilts his head. What's wrong, Kiryu? I thought that if I took the form of a familiar face, it'd make this all the more easier.
"You prick…" Kiryu snarls, slowly standing up. "Why...why are you doing this? What the fuck gives you the right to mess with my mind?!"
Not-Yusei frowns, causing Kiryu to feel slightly guilty until he remembers that this is not the Yusei he knows. You need to remember your past, Aharon.
"Goddammit, my name is Kiryu!"
Not-Yusei shakes his head, a look of pity in his eyes. This situation usually happens when it comes to reincarnation. But do not worry...after I have my way with you, you will remember what I want you to remember…
"W...what do you mean by…" Kiryu takes a step back. "No...you...you're not gonna rape me, you bastard!"
From Not-Yusei, the Dark King laughs before he leans forwards and licks his lips. Into Kiryu's ear, he whispers, Not yet.
In the time it takes Kiryu to open his mouth, Not-Yusei has leaned towards him, pressing his mouth onto Kiryu's own. Kiryu struggles to escape, trying to push the stranger who has the face of Yusei Fudo away from him, but he is unable to stop the shadows from wrapping around his arms and legs like vines, trapping him in the Dark King's grasp. Kiryu's cries of resistance quickly dissolve into moans of delight, much to Shooti's embarrassment.
You see, Aharon? The Dark King coos while Not-Yusei runs his hands over Kiryu's torso. I find it easier for things to get done once one has "eaten". You haven't had a proper meal in such a long time and I have prepared such a delicious banquet for you…
As he says this, the dark vines sink deep into Kiryu's skin, pulsing with a strange blue light. Kiryu pushes Not-Yusei away as he looks at the vines pump their energy into him like a heart pumps blood across the body.
"W...what is this?" he asks, struggling to escape the vines. But their grip is like steel and the energy that they keep feeding him makes him drop to his knees. "What are you doing to me?!"
A meal, my dear Aharon. The Dark King answers. You are not ready to go out and feed on other people's sin yet, so I am "spoon-feeding" you for the time being.
"What, you think like I'm sort of baby?" Kiryu spits out before groaning as more energy seeps deep into his veins. "This...this, oh god...what type of shit is this?!"
That...is the sin that you feed on. The sin of desire, the sin that lies in every person's soul when they find the type of prey that they want to fuck with.
This, Aharon, is the sin of Lust..
"So...you're pumping some weird-ass aphrodisiac into me or something?" Kiryu asks, taking a good look at Not-Yusei and desperately praying that this isn't going where he thinks this is going.
If you want to put it that way...The Dark King chuckles as Not-Yusei places a hand over Kiryu's face. After this is over, I'll be able to get you to understand my vision.
"Wait, what are you-GAHH!"
Kiryu's scream echoes throughout the room as he feels something penetrating deep into his skull all while the vines pump that dreaded sin deep into his veins. Not-Yusei keeps grinning as Shooti looks in horror, knowing that this scene is going to go into a place that he doesn't want to see.
Right. Primo muses, noticing how the vines are tearing Kiryu's clothes apart. Let me speed this along…
He raises a hand and the scene pauses, with Shooti taking in the agony on Kiryu's face and the look of utter delight on Not-Yusei's own. Then, Primo waves his hand to the right and the scene shifts into one where Kiryu is on the floor, panting for breath, his clothes torn apart but his body embraced by those dark vines that wrap around him to form a shroud.
Instead of the shock and pain that was on his face before, Kiryu looks absolutely relieved with a wide grin on his face. Not-Yusei - who is still clothed - lays down next to Kiryu, legs entangled around Kiryu's own while a hand strokes Kiryu's right cheek. Not-Yusei has a small smile on his face, making the scene resemble the real Kiryu and Yusei at night, away from all of the chaos of the Dark Signers and their Egyptian King of the Underworld.
Do you understand now? The Dark King's voice says through the Yusei lookalike as he places a kiss on Kiryu's lips. How does it feel, Aharon?
Kiryu groans as he feels the vines softly caressing his arms and legs. When he opens his eyes, Shooti notices that they have darkened. Not to the extent as to the ones that Kiryu will eventually have, but they appear dilated, out of focus…
As if Kiryu has been brainwashed.
"It feel...wonderful, my king," Kiryu whispers in adoration. Not-Yusei smiles in return.
It does, doesn't it? But that's not the only way to obtain such a fine meal. Sometimes, I encourage my children to indulge in their sins if they cannot find a nearby food source.
This causes Shooti to turn red as he recalls seeing Kiryu and Yusei in bed all while Primo laughs. Kiryu just purrs as he feels a vine massage his tense shoulders.
Then, someone enters the room through a wall, their robes lined with blue. Not-Yusei turns his gaze to the newcomer.
Ah, Natsume of the Giant. The Dark King purrs, seeing the navy blue haired Psychic approach Kiryu. What brings you here this fine afternoon?
"I came to check an eye on my Umbral Soul, my lord," Natsume answers. "I would've come sooner, but I was busy with an important call from Domino Below" She then turns to Kiryu, watching the leader of Team Satisfaction look so different than the proud warrior almost a week ago. He looks so docile now. "Oh dear, I think you worked him too hard, my King."
Sometimes it is the only way to get things done. The Dark King laughs through Not-Yusei. And I think he is ready to bring in the rest of my Enforcers.
"Almost," Natsume corrects. "I need to imprint him first, if you would allow me."
Of course. Be my guest, Natsume of the Giant.
Not-Yusei moves to the side so Natsume can sit down, crimson eyes lovingly staring at Kiryu as if the man is her child. Then, Natsume helps Kiryu sit up, pressing her body against his back and running her hands down his arms all while Kiryu looks like he is close to passing out.
"Shh," Natsume whispers, hands glowing with a soft blue light. "Having your first meal can be exhausting, but you have a mission to complete."
"A...mission?" Kiryu asks dumbly, his mind foggy from the waves of Lust that has been injected into his body combined with the memories he has just experienced.
"Yes," Natsume purrs, her lips curling into a cat-like smile. "A mission to bring your friends to us. To prepare Domino Below so that the Gates of Hamunaptra can open." Natsume closes her eyes as the vines begin to encase Kiryu's body, crawling up to his neck and covering his head as if she is mummifying him. "But in order to do that, Yusei, Jack and Crow...must die."
At this, Kiryu's eyes snap out of the haze of lust just as the shadows consume his body. Just as quick as they consume him, the vines disperse. Kiryu is now adorned in the outfit he wore back at Satisfaction Town, his arms decorated with blue helix tattoos that flicker like a candle flame, his eyes black as night and the criminal mark that goes down his right eye is now red.
"No…" Kiryu whispers. "I...I can't...not them…"
This must be done! The Dark King roars, the eyes of Not-Yusei glowing blue. The Gates of Hamunaptra will open and you will bring the Enforcers to me one way or another.
"I can't…" Kiryu says, looking at his hands, torn between the memories of Team Satisfaction and the ones of his ancient past along with the feelings of lust stirring in his blood. "They...they don't deserve this."
You didn't deserve to die at the hand of Magician's Four, did you? Perhaps I should take back my gift of resurrection and let your body be buried amongst the hundreds of others who have also given up and then watch as your precious Yusei hang himself so he can be with you again. Do you want that? To see the boy you love so much lose all hope in this world?
"NO!" Kiryu shouts. "No, please don't…" He bows his head towards the colossal bust of the Dark King, hands on the floor, and his forehead placed on his hands. "I'll...I'll do as you say. I promise."
Not-Yusei smirks as he places a hand on Kiryu's head. That's the answer I wanted to hear. Now go, Aharon. Return to Domino Below and, at the very least, bring one of your precious Enforcers here. Understand?
Kiryu sits up and bows his head, his voice low as he whispers, "I understand, my King."
Very good. And I hope you do not disappoint me.
At this, Kiryu's eyes return to their normal golden color. His criminal mark becomes a pale yellow. He nods his head.. "I won't."
Slowly, Kiryu stands up as Natsume summons a portal near the wall. Kiryu takes a glance at Not-Yusei, then at the bust of the Dark King, before he rushes into the portal, oblivious to Shooti and Primo watching him.
When the portal vanishes, Natsume turns to Not-Yusei and chuckles, eyeing the clone from head to toe with a smirk on her face.
"My King, you need to tell me how you able to make constructs like that so easily," she says. "I take it that you used that 'body' to good use, correct?"
...Perhaps. The Dark King answers as Not-Yusei fades away into a cloud of smoke. And you should get ready.
Natsume tilts her head. "For what?"
Not-Yusei grins. For the chaos that is about to be unleashed.
As he says this, all of the candles are snuffed out, blanketing the entire chamber with darkness…
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
And Shooti finds himself in his bedroom once again, lying in his bed in horror at what he has seen. The sight of Kiryu Kyosuke giving into the Dark King's will so easily makes him question whether or not it was a good idea to keep silent back at Satisfaction Town.
Primo places a hand on the boy's forehead before tracing a finger towards the gem like it is a massive scab he wants to scrape off. Shooti just turns his head towards Primo, struggling to find the right words to say but only manages to say, "Why?"
Primo blinks. Why what?
"Why does this have to happen?" he whispers. "Why does Team Satisfaction have to die for this?"
Primo frowns. They were going to die sooner or later; you mortals do in the end.
"But Kiryu and Yusei could have had a happy life together," Shooti continues. "I mean, they could've had a family. they could've lived peacefully without having to…" he can hardly get the words out. "...It's not fair."
Who said life was fair to begin with? Primo hums. When Shooti doesn't answer, the android continues. All dreams are built through sacrifice; you know that very well, boy. But when Hamunaptra returns, things will be much better than it is now. Everything that was offered up for the Dark King's return will be worth it.
The boy stays silent as he gets out of bed, picks up his cellphone and approaches the door. He can feel Primo's crimson gaze on him, but the boy ignores it as he opens the door and steps out. It is quiet here, in the darkness. Here, the boy feels as if some elderly being is awakening, hungry for fresh blood, craving for an innocent soul to devour and keep in their enormous a thousand years.
The boy ignores the feeling of butterflies in his stomach as he takes three steps towards his brother's room. It feels like the boy is about to enter a world too confusing or grown-up for him to understand, even if he knows that Shuta Hayami's room has been empty for months. Still, there is something comforting about this emptiness, as if by entering this void, the boy feels like he is making the emptiness less...empty.
The boy opens the door, only to be met with a familiar sight: A cabinet with a door open and five wire hangers with a red sweater and a pair of boots at the corner. Walls covered with pictures of Shuta and his family, and a photo of Shuta with Carly back when the two were dating. The curtains are closed shut. On a desk are numerous books of photography and a stack of CDs, all of them movie soundtracks. And in front of the boy is the same bed he has laid in to look at the ceiling whenever he wants to be alone.
Feeling as if he has pricked his finger on the spinning wheel, the boy collapses into his brother's bed. He looks at his phone and goes through his playlist of music, wincing at the blue light of the screen hitting his eyes before he finds the song he's looking for: "I Need Some Sleep".
...How fitting.
Shooti presses "Play" on his phone and quietly listens to the first verse, then drags the blankets over his tired body as the chorus plays.
"Everyone says, I'm getting down to low
Everyone says, You just gotta let it go
You just gotta let it go
You just gotta let it go..."
Shooti lays his head on the pillow as Primo watches him with the eyes of someone watching a tapir bask in the sun. As the second line plays, Shooti looks up.
"Say...Primo?" he whispers.
Yes? Primo asks, concern for the poor boy briefly showing on his face. After everything he has witnessed, Shooti wants to see another horrifying event?
"As I go to sleep...I wanna see...one last memory," Shooti murmurs, nodding off.
...And which one would that be?
"The one...about Bel dueling at Satisfaction Town," Shooti says, picturing Bel commanding her Fortune Ladies to attack. "I'm sad that I didn't...get to...see it…"
With this, Shooti closes his eyes and falls into slumber as the last line of the song plays out. Primo waits for a few minutes, until the only sound in the room is Shooti's quiet breathing, before he smiles and places his fingers on the gem one last time.
Sweet dreams, dear boy. He whispers. Because this will be one of the last ones you'll ever have here in the waking world.
A soft glow blankets the young boy who looks at peace for the first time in months. Primo then takes his cue to leave by swiping his sword into the air as a silver portal emerges from the slash. As he enters, he takes one final glance at Shooti before he departs for the evening.
And in the world of dreams, Shooti smiles as he observes Bel in Satisfaction Town shouting, "Your fate is mine to decide! Let's Duel!" to her opponent in front of a crowd that would cheer her on and make her feel special for just one night.
