The low, dim lights along the night sky gave little reprieve to the lonely, graceful atmosphere shrouding him. Golden, scorching lights came from the ceiling above, the tall, glass windows doing little to absorb the harsh reflections. Iron rails supported the windows, along with large, circular columns which gave way to the high, elegant cielings soaring above the grounds. Though barely visible, he could still make out the plethora of cherubs descending below the walls, the dark, golden curtains easily hiding the large, ostentatious chandelier dangling from above. Tables upon tables sat near each other, the low candlelight sitting in the middle giving way to another arrogant display of wealth and arrogance. Yusei stood there for the longest time, before making his way into the restaurant.

An aristocratic air shrouded the guests. Yusei passed through elegant dresses and tuxedos, all of which looked uncomfortable, all of which had little to do anything but the raw, bloody meat slapped in front of them. Jewelry gleamed vivaciously within a sea of blinding lights, and to accompany that, haughty laughter only he would understand. Within the shadows, he saw servants crossing paths with that same, desperate look in their eyes, as they pondered on the consequences of what would happen, should they fail their duties tonight. Blurs of black swept pass him, as they repeated their orders to themselves aimlessly, never minding the strange looks they'd gotten from him.

And yet, somehow, despite the obvious fact that everyone, wealthy and poor alike, were busy with something, they still managed to catch sight of the new Turbo King, who was standing in the middle of the restaurant. At first, there was silence, the very fact that Yusei Fudo himself was here proving more and more impossible with each passing second. However, whispers immediately erupted when he started walking again. He kept his eyes ahead of him, an even gaze embedded within his pupils until finally, he came to a large, glass door. He narrowed his eyes, and pushed it open.

The balcony was pristine, to say the least. Cool, marble tiles covered the ground, and iron railings surrounded the delicate structure, its prideful carvings displayed for everyone to see. Two fragile, verdant plants were settled on either side of the doors, evergreens, it seems. When he looked up, he saw a dark, moonless sky, filled with clouds shielding innocent stars from the world below. He took in the scene for a moment. Before long, his eyes wandered over to a young woman, who sat at a lone circular table in the middle of the balcony.

A white candle sat near the edge of the table, with withered flowers of every kind suffocatingly wrapped around it. A red dress covered her frame, and a small, black jacket she wore over her shoulders. Her blond hair was braided the same way it's always been, though for some reason, he still couldn't get used to the pink ribbon she now happily wore. Her green, predatory eyes scrutinized him, and he returned her questioning glare with ease. Slowly, he started towards her, his instincts already screaming at him to run.

When he came nearer, he made out two tiny wine glasses filled with bloody wine set near the candle. Their pristine conditions reflecting back his own, uncomfortable face. He bit the inside of his cheek, as he looked back up.

"Belletrix," he finally said.

His older sister smirked, as she settled back in her seat. Both hands lay on her lap neatly, with the same, formal smile he's always known. After a brief second, her eyes fell to the chair in front of her. "You're late," she replied.

"I wasn't sure if I wanted to go." Yusei carefully set himself across from her. His eyes never left hers, knowing full well the risks he was taking should he do so. "So, I hear you're a reporter now?"

She nodded satisfyingly. "For the WGGK. Congratulations, by the way, on becoming the new Turbo King. Honestly Nikolai-"

"Yusei."

"Excuse me?"

He relayed to her an emotionless stare, the depths of his irritation waiting to be released. "I go by Yusei now."

She scoffed. "Why?"

"You know why. And besides, I like it."

Belletrix cocked her head, an irritated smile plastered on her lips. "I take it you aren't happy to see me."

"What gave it away?"

"But as much as I love annoying you," she continued, brushing aside Yusei's snide comment, "I'm here on official business." She examined her fingernails then, a wary light entwined in her orbs. "I'm sure you understand."

He folded his arms across his chest, and regarded his sister evenly. "You're here because of that thing then?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

"To anyone else, no."

Her shoulders relaxed. "I'm relieved," she muttered, keeping on as if there'd been no animosity between the two. "You were always a lot smarter than I gave you credit for. Well, both you and Christoph, but never mind that now."

She closed her eyes, and for a brief moment, he could see her weary frame shudder, the lines upon her face a testament to the centuries she'd been alive. Carefully, she leaned over, the strain from the corner of her eyes now visible. "If you know about her, then I trust you're already aware of the rumors."

He stiffened. "Like?"

She raised a delicate eyebrow. "Apparently, you've got a concubine now. A young woman, by the name of Akiza Izinski?"

Yusei froze. He quietly digested Belletrix's words, all the while endeavoring to smoothly remove his hesitation from his mind. At this point, he shouldn't be surprised; after all, there were bound to be a few spies hidden within the coven. And besides which, if Belletrix, of all people, managed to pinpoint who Akiza was, there was a good chance that the spy who relayed the information to sister dearest was already in the game. He didn't have time to comb through each and every candidate, but the again, there was not much else he could do. Jaden and Alexis were going to have to weed them out.

What about the game? Are you really going to keep playing it?

"I'm sure you've put the pieces together Nikolai," Belletrix continued, turning her attention to the darkening skies overhead. "Not even Amrbosine could come up with another demon as perfect as her."

"Since you're so informed," Yusei interrupted agitatedly, "I'm going to assume you know the circumstances."

"The fact that you're the leader of that disgusting coven remains evident enough."

Yusei clenched his sleeves; he remembered that smirk on her face, the prideful smile she used whenever she knew she was going to get something done, no matter how brutal her methods. He always hated that smirk, knowing full well what came after it. "Then you should also know that Akiza is dead."

"Oh? After what you've seen, you're still saying that?"

"What exactly do you want here, sister?" he scowled, annoyed by her smug smile. "Does Fallen have anything to do with this?"

"Isn't that why I'm here?"

"Then what about Jaden?" he demanded. "Why couldn't he recognize you?"

"Christoph is dead, Nikolai," Belletrix corrected, causing him to fall silent. The denial in her voice was incredibly strong, so strong Yusei couldn't help but wonder if the strong image she'd cultivated for herself was eroding. "The boy I saw today was just a fragment of him; that's all. You, on the other hand, still have a chance."

He blinked. "What?"

She regarded him evenly, the simplest traces of a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "It's already too late for Christoph. You're different though. You-"

"You still haven't answered me."

"-aren't as idiotic, nor are you as naive. Don't forget, I was Fallen's leader, and because we're siblings, I share the same power as you. I can toy with memories too, if I so desire."

"Akiza was stronger than you," he cut, relishing in the impossible quiet settling over the two. "And besides which, I'm the Black Rose. I can annihilate you, if I wanted to."

"On the contrary, my dear brother," Belletrix smirked. "I've still got Fallen. And just because that little witch annihilated the major branches, doesn't mean the organization is done. As you can see, my successor did well for herself, don't you think?"

"So is that all this was? You're offering me an ultimatum?"

"That's right." She straightened herself, and gave him a withering smile. "I've already waited for so long, and after what'd happened with Mree, I'd rather that witch not get in my way again."

"How many times have I told you?"

"Then why is she here? Why, in this idiotic illusion of hers?"

He clenched his teeth. He remembered what Jaden said, how he looked when he found Aki's name in the files. After a while, Belletrix closed her eyes and continued, a somewhat skeptical smile forming on her face. "Come with me. This coven is in ruins anyways."

"There was a new member in Fallen."

"Pardon?"

He tensed. "A new member, by the name of Amaryllis Nite."

"You already know her, don't you?"

Yusei replayed the scene in his head over and over again. He could still see her there, reaching out to him, that gruesome order still escaping from her lips. He could clearly see the bullet shattering her fragile skull, the tears cascading down his face as he left her body there, the resonance of her words pounding against his head. He could very well see his Akiza in this girl, the menacing similarities stabbing him helplessly. The hypocritical insult she relayed to him, as well as the remarks she's made with the chessboard, proved to seal any doubt he had left of her. He wanted to believe she was just another experiment Fallen had made, in order to toy with him. He wanted to believe she was a girl who'd get in his way again, the way she carried herself having little to do with the innocence his two Queens kept insisting that she had.

But that memory stayed in the back of his mind, refusing to leave, refusing to go anywhere, for that matter. There was no way it could, even as he stood there, trying to refute its existence. He saw Akiza, and then he saw Aki.

And he saw the bullet, which ended her life.

He stood, and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Fortunately, I'm going to have to reject your offer."

Belletrix's eye twitched. "Nikolai, as far as I'm concerned, that coven is holding you back. It's going to die out anyways, what with the way things have been going-"

"It's fine."

"But-"

"I just have one question though, before I go." He turned to back to Belletrix, with cold, callous eyes. A small, empty frown grazed his lips. The very fact that she was here, asking him to return to Fallen was suspicious enough as is, but to simply come out and talk with him, here, in front of innocents…

Belletrix glared at him, removing him from his thoughts. "What is it?" she asked.

"Why now? Why come back?"

She fell silent.

Yusei shoved his hands in his pockets, the cold, endless skies staring him down. "Even after all this time, you should've known what my answer was going to be."

She gripped her wine glass. "And what if I offered to save you? From her, from the coven, even from your own damn arrogance? If I said that I could save you, would you come with me?"

"No," he answered easily. He remembered traces of that an empty promise, echoing through the back of his head. He could only smile sadly then, as he relished in those moments, of when he still hoped that somehow, Akiza's silly words would come true. It was then he chuckled a bit. "I'd rather not risk my own damnation for something as stupid as that."

Belletrix's eyes hardened then. She folded both hands in front of her, the remaining traces of warmth disappearing from her features. "A shame then."

"Perhaps."