Why?

Red, velvet bangs fell toward her half-opened eyes. With one hand, she wiped whatever drool was on her face, while the other covered the embarrassing reveal. Slowly, she sat up, rubbing away the sleep stubbornly lodged in her gaze, as she turned her attention to the clock. It only took a second before she broke out into a small, gentle smile; only ten minutes left.

Subtly, she gazed around the classroom, her golden orbs surveying her fellow peers, her ears taking in whatever stray words that were floating aimlessly around the air. The teacher was busily chatting on the phone, talking about that free trip to Italy she'd won over the radio contest, while her classmates gathered around their regular cliques, trying to come up with something exciting to do over the weekend. Some were attempting to drag their friends into a few harmless pranks, some vibrantly bragging about the latest of their future plans, whether that be college, a job, studying abroad. Akiza simply shook her head, and returned to the empty space in front of her .

She tugged at her white sleeves, her red blazer comfortably nestled along her torso. She then pulled at her dark, navy blue skirt, as she, once again, stared up at the clock.

Eight minutes.

The dull sunlight felt warm against her hand. Already she could feel her fatigue lulling her back to sleep, though of course, Akiza ignored the temptation. She yawned slightly, as she pulled her attention to the front of the classroom, rereading the homework assignments for the weekend.

"Aki!"

She gasped frantically, and turned, only to find a girl, around the same age as she, standing right beside her desk. She couldn't help but smile then. "What're you doing? Class isn't even over yet."

"Teacher let us out early," Alexis whispered happily.

"So?"

"Jaden had to go somewhere."

Akiza blinked. "Really?"

"You know that really big news station, in downtown Neo Domino?"

"No.

"Well, he was invited over there for an interview," she continued, brushing aside Akiza's confused expression, as she plopped herself across from her. "Says if I went there with him, I might as well have just burned down the whole station."

"I'm…not surprised-"

"So, until that's over with, I'm with you!" she concluded finally, as she laid her head down.

Akiza couldn't help but chuckle at Alexis's antics. Dark blond hair cascaded down the girl's shoulders, and wide, warm caramel eyes kept taking in the colors around her, trying to memorize each and every shade that came her way. Her creamy, clear complexion matched her perfectly, considering all that time she spent outside. Out of everyone at the Academy, people considered her to be the school idol; Alexis knew everyone thought of her that way, so she composed herself as such. An intelligent, sophisticated young woman, on her way to the Pro-Leagues, or college, or wherever she decided to go; in the end no one suspected of her as anything more than that. It was only around Akiza did she reveal her real character; a bubbly girl who, though still smart, was incredibly naive, more so than any child Akiza had ever known.

The same could be said of Jaden Yuuki, though he was a bit less innocent. Chestnut hair, with dark, hazel eyes, and a look that seemed like he knew more than he was letting on; unlike Alexis, his gazes never really bothered with the light-filled colors around him. Though he wasn't as popular either, in a way, he did have his own small band of followers, students who fell for the same act that nearly half the school had with Alexis. In his portrayal, the character he followed was a carefree slacker who couldn't care less about worries and whatnot, instead spending his time on winning and anything non-school related. It wasn't at all the case, but Akiza never really called him out for it; it'd only serve to piss him off.

Akiza stared at the blonde for a brief moment, then laughed. "Wow."

"Hmm?"

"No fight?"

"Nope."

"Nothing?"

"No."

Akiza smirked, scrutinized Alexis. "Should I believe that?"

"…Sure."

Considering everything the couple put her through, it really was hard to believe. Ever since those two came to the Academy, never once did Akiza ever seem them apart. Then again, that might've just added to their charm; their characters did provide a good contrast to one another. It was that very contrast that attracted everyone to begin with, those stereotypes that, somehow, made the two stand out. Gradually, they did open up some of their shallow secrets to their audience, no matter how nosy they seemed, or even how rude. It was as if during that time, there was nothing that could be said about them, about any of them.

Still, Akiza knew that the two carried their own scandals. Even as they talked with the other students, they always seemed to hold back. Whenever one fell silent, the other always jumped in, covering for each other, like two alibis with nothing else to do. Sometimes, they'd tell half-truths about themselves, where they came from, what they'd been doing before they came here, while other times, the stories were completely falsified. For example, if Akiza asked Alexis right now which school she came from, she would probably look up, and just give her the name of some random asylum, as she had so many other people. To this day, Akiza didn't know where she stood with the couple; on some days, it looked like they were the best of friends, while on other days, something else took over them entirely, causing them to shun her for the rest of the week. The trend was so unpredictable Akiza stopped paying attention.

Alexis shyly peeked up from her arms, her shoulders tensing at whatever thoughts flew through her head. Finally, she grinned, and hid herself in her arms once more. Automatically, Akiza leaned over. "What?"

Alexis shook her head.

"Come on; what is it?"

She mumbled something.

"Alexis-"

The bell rang.

The blonde quickly stood up, and grabbed Akiza's arm. She dragged the witch out of her seat, and immediately made a beeline for the door, carefully avoiding the curious looks they'd gotten from the rest of their classmates. "I'll tell you later!" she teased gladly, as she almost shoved Akiza out the door.

She silently groaned. Usually, whenever she said something along those lines, either one or the other got into trouble with the Public Security Bureau. That, or they accidentally got yet another student expelled. Or they might've started a nuclear war. Or they might've invited terrorists into the school, or a mass serial killer. Or they've scheduled the school of destruction later today.

I'll tell you later could really mean anything.

Akiza paused for a moment, before sighing, and followed the stream of bodies through the hallways, with Alexis eagerly leading. Large, glass windows reflected the bright, warm light onto her skin, while the entire city gazed up at her, the modernity of its beauty stunningly appearing along the boundary of the horizon. The tall, steel buttresses soared over her as she walked down the stairs and into the main lobby. Portraits upon portraits clung onto the walls, as the students nonchalantly walk pass by, their lifeless eyes taking in the reality drifting lazily from them. Tall, plastic trees decorated either side of the hallways, along with wooden benches which housed whomever was fortunate to be, at the very least, weary from the long day. Flyers plastered their colorful phrases all over the walls, some about politics, others about social problems, and yet still, about the WRGPm and how to get tickets for free (probably just another scam). Rays danced around the students' silhouettes, the ground reverberating with footsteps as everyone leisurely made their way toward the large, glass doors. If Akiza turned around, it really would look like just another regular school, untouched by the destruction which befell Neo Domino so many years back.

It'd been so long since their confrontation with the Dark Signers. The city has improved a lot; surprisingly, there was no prejudice between Satellite and Neo Domino residents. In fact, the Satellite was actually in the process of being rejuvenated; poverty was rapidly diminishing, and unemployment was already starting to drop again. Not only that, but, much to her amazement, everyone seemed to just…get along. Even the psychic duelists from the Arcadia Movement found someplace to belong, some with their old homes, others in the service industry, and even still, others remaining duelists. In retrospect, it might've looked like Goodwin was the problem.

But that wasn't a very convincing lie, was it?

As soon as the two girls came outside, the calm warmth shrouded them. Light green leaves covered the vicinity, with tiny, white buds popping out from those fragile branches. Tiny, yellow petals fluttered in the air, as so many students joined their friends for yet another carefree moment. As their conversations dragged on, soon enough, Akiza found herself mindlessly shifting through her brain. Her parents were out of town, so she could just hang out at the garage with the guys. She didn't know if Alexis and Jaden had any plans yet, and there was Leo and Luna to look after too…

A few blocks later, Akiza let herself fall just a few steps behind Alexis. She clutched her bag tightly, as her gaze flickered toward the various bystanders standing around, waiting for friends, family, whomever they were ordered to meet. Some were on their cellphones, others on computers, and even still, strangers talking here and there, trying to find some common ground between them and the world around them. Where were they going? Who were they going with? Did they have jobs? Families? Friends?

"Hey."

Akiza snapped back to Alexis. "What is it?"

She stopped then. They just stood there, in the middle of that wide sidewalk, taking in the afternoon rays. A few moments later, Akiza leaned over. "Lexi?"

"Hungry," she murmured.

Akiza blinked. "Huh?"

"ARGH! The idiot was supposed to call!" she whined, as she promptly dropped Akiza's hand and swiped out her phone. "Where is he?!"

"He…you said he had an interview, right?"

"Yeah, but he wasn't supposed to take this long!"

"Alexis, give him some time-"

But before she could finish, Alexis already had placed the phone on her cheek, her normally vibrant eyes darkening at the muffled conversation going on. The witch immediately fell silent, and looked away, as the argument began. It wasn't long before she sighed, as she slowly backed away from the blonde, all the while trying to come up with yet another excuse as to why she ditched the girl that afternoon.

She could just hang out at the garage with the guys.

Alexis and Jaden didn't have any plans yet.

And there was Leo and Luna to look after.

She left Alexis to her plight.

They shoved him against the steel bars, their mocking laughter bouncing off the walls of the cell. The cold, metallic bite slammed against his cheek, as his reddish brown hair falling before his olive green eyes. He bit down his tongue, as he forced down yet another painful grunt. Before long, the emaciated man turned back, his eyes wide with anger and frustration. The iron door shut, and he was left to his lonesome, with nothing but his humiliation and battered body to keep him company.

They took his deck.

They took his deck.

But as fast as the anger came, it just as quickly dissipated. He could only stare after the door, at where the two guards once were, the empty space staring him down with its arrogant smirk. Only a split second later, he had to turn away, the familiar, salty streams running down his face.

There was a cold, black, iron bed at towards the back of the cell. Rough rags housed a variety of lice and insects within the foldings, however barren it might've appeared. Only a flickering fluorescent light kept him warm, though even then, at times that simple luxury came away from him. The faint ticks of that same, unforeseen clock hung above his cell, with its rats constantly racing across the floors from him in perfect harmony. He kept twitching at that cruel pendulum, as he counted down until the end of his time in prison, though he knew that he may as well have stayed here for forever. He knew perfectly well that no one resided on the other side of that big, iron door, praying that he'd be released.

No one from the Arcadia Movement.

No one from Goodwin.

No one at all.

The man silently made his way to the edge of his bed, his wide eyes still lost in the mercilessness just moments ago. How he let things get so bad, he'd no idea. He kept reviewing his plans, over and over and over again, trying to determine where he messed up, where his own arrogance screwed him over.

No, it didn't seem right to blame it on that little mouse, or Yusei Fudo, or that model, or even the Dark Signers. In the end, who was left but he, to take the fall? He was the one suffering, not them, right? And in the eyes of society, he was the bad guy, wasn't he?

But that made no sense.

None whatsoever.

After that little thought, his mind came to a slow, grinding halt. Slowly, he began to close his eyes, his brain gradually drifting away from the painful stings of the struggles he managed to put up with. Gently, the nightmares ebbed away, replaced by a replica of sweet darkness. He held himself, his head dropping lower and lower into his arms, as he prepared for yet another dreamless night. Yes, that's right; he wanted something more, a world, a home, a dominion, a kingdom, to call his own. He wanted it. He was entitled to it. He deserved everything in that world; he did, of course he did.

So why was he here?

Because he wasn't.

He was somewhere else. He was in his office, doing some paperwork, processing whatever connections he had so that the Movement could gain more influence. He was getting Akiza ready for the Fortune Cup, all the while calling in favors from top officials, blackmailing them into doing what he wanted. He could practically feel the words slipping out of his mouth, as he told one story after the other, interweaving statements until finally, only a tangled mess of past mistakes remained. He didn't dare touch whatever he'd said that day; if he did, it'd only make things more complicated.

Then, his most loyal followers would show up in front of him, Akiza included, and they'd begin making plans as to how to recruit more psychics, how to add to their publicity, how to retain members, making them think they'd no choice but to stay, emotionally speaking.

He believed it, even though the lie was so blatantly false.

It was the only illusion he could afford to cling to.

Then, there was a knock on the door.

"Sayer?"

Quietly, his eyes flickered open. Blurred shapes slowly came forth, and with it, a dark silhouette that brought in a new, kinder smell, one he hadn't known in a long time. Ah, it seems there was someone new here too; a guard perhaps? Female maybe, considering how light her footsteps sounded. A shame she had to work here.

"Sayer."

He could only mumble his gibberish. Afterwards, he sat there, and allowed the strangers to talk. He opened his mouth again, only to be cut off by a nearby guard.

Weird; they all sounded so mad for some reason. But that wasn't really his concern anyways; where was he, in the past? Right; he was saying something about the Fortune Cup…

"Get. Up."

He did so.

Slowly, his head turned to the direction of the voice. More complicated terms, more people, more places.

More more more more more.

What were they talking about anyways?

Was it about the food?

How about the art room?

More colors?

"Ms. Amrbosine would like to talk with you."

Amrbosine…

Who?

The guards shoved him away, the disgust clearly evident on their faces. It was all Sayer could do not to stumble, barely managing to catch himself. He remembered seeing a woman there, in front of him, but he couldn't make out anything else. It was just so dark.

But somehow, he gripped something. It was tiny, calloused, cold; was it ice? No, it was too dry for ice. A bar maybe? A bar with knuckles and nails and such?

"Let me talk with him," an odd woman said.

He cocked his head, and tried replying. However, for some reason, he couldn't.

Why?

More words.

More gibberish.

And at an instant, he found himself on the floor, unable to move, to cry out.

How could you?

His eyes shot open.

The dull, afternoon light came through the glass, with tiny dust particles shimmering within his vicinity. The subtle, familiar scent of oil reached his nostrils, along with the unmistakable aroma of smoke; something burned again. Though the fatigue still entrenched his eyes, somehow, he managed to make himself sit up, the soft, velvet couch beneath him. He blinked away his weariness, all the while willing whatever dream's shadows away from his sight. At an instant, the dream slipped from his mind, and at once, Yusei regarded the room evenly.

Cool, blue eyes scrutinized the archaic corners supporting the walls, sheltering the plentiful cobwebs nestled comfortably. Large, rectangular windows gave way to the sunny skies above, with nary a stray cloud in sight. As he sat up, with strands of his raven colored bangs falling to his eyes, his gaze fell toward the big, white computers reflected right back at him, the screens showing the complex systems so eagerly awaiting his commands. He looked down then, and breathed a deep sigh, before standing up, his brown, combat boots quietly hitting the floor. Tan skin contrasted to whatever darkness was left in the room, providing a smooth transition between his own, dark outfit, with that of his surroundings.

He couldn't help but examine the three duel runners sitting in front of him patiently, all of which he knew need to be upgraded. The first was a red, with a half arch settled just behind the driver seat. The silver gleam of the engine underneath radiated with energy, a testament to the practice runs he'd forced upon it last night. A duel disk was sitting there, enthusiastically showing off any new additions, whether they be imagined or not. The second was black, with patterns of gold lodged onto the side. It had all the configurations of Yusei's duel runner, though in a way, the design was more pronounced; after all, it had a set of wings toward the bottom, something akin to a bird Yusei saw the other day. However, the last duel runner was more ostentatious than either of the two; a full arch that acted as an aerodynamic advantage for speed. Along with the fact that its driver was a bit narcasstic, it was a given for the duel runner to claim, at the least, most of his attention.

He blinked, trying to recall what he was doing before. Steadily, he walked toward the computer, as his gaze shifted toward the flyer taped to the upper walls. That's right; the WRGP was coming up. He was trying to fix the engines, wasn't he? Where was Crow? And Jack? The others were probably still at school.

That's right; Crow was working a double shift tonight for another job, but, as it so happens, he didn't need his duel runner. Neither did Jack, since he was still trying to hold down…something.

Slowly, Yusei sat down at the computer, typing in a few random letters as to get the screen running. Automatically, the plans opened in front of him. He narrowed his eyes, as he scanned the frustrating problem over and over again.

Slowly, he started typing again, the program gradually increasing in intensity as he did so; complex formulas began changing over and over again, while he worked out yet another way to make the energy input more efficient. The power surge would need to be rerouted here, but Yusei felt that they could afford the energy storage compartment could loosen up its restraints against the fuel intake…

Again, his eyes flickered toward the empty room.

Crow was working a double shift tonight.

Jack was trying to hold something down.

Akiza and the others were still at school.

The WRGP was coming up soon.

He came back to the computer then, and concentrated on the next data set. Judging from the charts, it seems the energy surge was starting to improve, though not by much. The correlation needed to be a bit stronger, if he wanted to know if what he did actually worked.

He closed his eyes, and settled back in his seat. It wasn't long before his eyes began wandering around, the very thought of upgrading the runners still a pressing matter on his brain. Though of course, there were improvements, it wasn't enough to actually win the WRGP, unless all the other teams mysteriously vanished.

He stared up at the ceiling then, his eyes fixated on the cracks just above his head. How long had it been since their fight with the Dark Signers? How long since they moved in with Zora, since they beat Goodwin, since the Satellite had been rebuilt and everything seemed to be at peace, however eerie it was? How long, exactly, had it been, since there was anything the signers could do to, once again, save the world?

Crow was working a double shift tonight.

Jack was trying to hold something down.

Akiza and the others were still at school.

The WRGP was coming up soon.

He couldn't help but smile.

Have things always been so peaceful?