Chapter 19: Battle! The Man With The Spider Mark!
The empty streets of the Satellite. In the middle of one of them, Crow's D-Wheel lies unmoving, abandoned on the ground. It's lit up briefly by lightning from the sky above.
Up there, in the black fog around the Satellite, more lightning crashes.
Deep in the crater that was once the old Moment. Carly's standing on a balcony connected to an interior room, looking out at the lightning. The lightning flashes, and she appears as she once was, jeans, vest and geeky glasses, then it fades and she appears as she really is, a Dark Signer. Carly watches it rip across the sky through the portal above.
Meanwhile, the Signers' helicopter is flying among the lightning bolts. As the second bolt strikes, Jack's gazing over his shoulder out the window. The Security helicopter flies through ever-thickening clouds, with blue lightning crashing around it. This helicopter would probably be about as safe as if it were flying into a hurricane. The passengers are fighting nerves. Yusei, Sakura and Jack are sitting with their arms crossed, with the latter having Jace nuzzled into his chest, asleep, Lua, Luca, Velvet and Subaru are looking around, and Minako, Aki, Kakyuu and Usagi are keeping their hands decidedly in their laps. Sakura also has one leg crossed over her other one. Grim's lying down on the seat beside her, with his head resting on his paws and his unnaturally long tail dangling off of the seat to the floor. Lightning crashes behind Yusei out the window, momentarily silhouetting him.
Flashback. Before they took off, Godwin speaks to the Signers on the helicopter pad. "Destiny is guiding the son of Professor Hakase Fudo, the creator of the previous Moment." Goodwin says. The flashback ends.
Back to the present. Aki turns to Minako, who's sitting next to her. "I want to know the details about the previous Moment and Yusei's father." Says Aki.
Flashback, as Minako replies. "Seventeen years ago, Zero Reverse altered the earth's crust and separated Satellite and the City." Minako says, in voice-over. A huge white explosion beneath a murky dawn sky in the middle of a forest of buildings, it domed, then shot straight into the sky. The city trembled, and its buildings got further apart as it split, and the chasm between the buildings got wider.
"It was actually caused when the first Moment, located in the innermost part of Satellite, malfunctioned." Says Minako, in voice-over. Next came a massive tidal wave, swamping some buildings and filling the distance between with water. When it was more or less over, part of the city, epicentered by a massive crater, was alone and surrounded by ocean, several whirlpools around it still swirling menacingly. The remaining mainland formed a half-circle around it, all area for miles around, except ground zero of the explosion, which survived as the Satellite, was sunk in this devastating disaster.
"The person in charge of MIDS, the Moment development section, was Hakase Fudo, Yusei's father." Minako says, in voice-over. In the crater, what sparse light reaches down there hits a metal spire, all that remains of the reactor that exploded. And when Minako mentions Yusei's father, a silhouette, a cast shadow with even spikier hair and a long coat. The flashback ends.
Back to the present. "Whoa! That means due to the accident, Yusei's dad was…" Says Lua. "Uh..." Luca says. Yusei's silent throughout, Aki is watching his face. "Yusei's father was… That's why he knows why family is important." Aki thinks to herself.
Ushio glances over his shoulder and joins the conversation. "Wait a second. Why would someone born in Satellite be in charge of such a large project?" Asks Ushio.
"Yusei was born in the City." Jack says.
"What? He's not Satellite garbage?" Asks Ushio.
"I was born in Satellite! Do you have a problem with that?" Jack asks, fiercely.
Jace wakes up with a huge yawn and rubs the sleep from his eyes.
Ushio cowed, goes back to piloting. "No…" Says Ushio.
"So, since Sakura's dad was there during the explosion, too. What happened to him?" Lua asks. "Lua!" Says Luca, chiding. "No one knows what happened to him or who her father really is. Sakura's birth record only discloses Keiko Kuraitaiyou as being her mother. Her birth record doesn't have her father disclosed on it at all, it's as if someone didn't want Sakura's paternity to be revealed. But, I found out from Director Godwin, that he knew the identity of Sakura's father, only that he gave up his rights to Hakase Fudo. So, he could be alive or he could be dead." Minako says. "It doesn't concern me." Says Sakura. Her eyes are closed. Minako, Aki, Kakyuu and the kids face Sakura with surprise. Jack and Yusei aren't as surprised, but they face her, too, they expected that kind of statement coming from her. Grim looks up at Sakura and places his head on her lap. She places one of her hands on his head and strokes him, petting him. "What do you mean, Sakura? He's your father, don't you care?" Minako asks, a little bemused. "He doesn't concern me. If he's dead I could care less, if he's alive then so be it. It has been seventeen years. I have gone my whole young and teenage life without a father figure in my life, I can continue the rest of my life without one. So Minako, does that answer your question?" Asks Sakura. She then opens her eyes, facing Minako. The lightning flashes again. "Oh, of course, I understand." Minako says. Usagi fidgets with her fingers, which are still in her lap. Kakyuu sighs, lightly.
"This is bad. This isn't normal lightning. If we're struck, it's all over. Shouldn't we go back?" Asks Ushio.
"We're not allowed to retreat!" Minako says, determinedly.
"I'm just worried about you." Ushio thinks to himself.
Sakura places one of her hands on his shoulder, having come up behind him to navigate over his shoulder. "Land there." Says Sakura, pointing. Ushio hesitates. "Huh?" Ushio asks.
"Land!" Says Minako.
"Aaagh!" Ushio says, groaning. Fine, he'll obey Sakura, once, for Minako.
The helicopter descends into the park, and lands in front of Martha's house, where she and Saiga stand in the doorway, in front of a gaggle of kids, protectively.
The back hatch of the helicopter opens, revealing Yusei, Jack, Sakura, with Grim standing beside her, Aki, the kids, Minako, Kakyuu and Usagi. Yusei waves.
"Yusei? Sakura?" Asks Saiga. Martha gasps and hurries down the steps, as they walk down the ramp out of the helicopter. "Oh! Jack! It is you, Jack!" Martha says. "Martha." Says Jack. "I can't believe how much you've grown!" Martha says. "Because it's been years since I left." Says Jack, solemnly and guilty. "Now just like before, do your king thing." Martha says. Jack's aghast, big-time public humiliation, doing something he did when he was a kid in front of the other Signers.
Yusei and Sakura, unobserved, are laughing, quietly, they've seen this before.
Jack kneels before Martha. "A king admires a lady." Says Jack. He kisses Martha's hand, and she laughs with delighted reminiscence.
Minako is pretty stunned that Jack actually did it and Aki appears a bit concerned. Lua and Luca are fairly stunned also.
Jack then stands up. "You really are a good kid!" Martha says. She hugs Jack around the elbows, laughing, merrily, completely oblivious to his trampled dignity. "Martha, that's enough!" Jack says.
Meanwhile, Yusei's meeting the five kids also at Martha's house, three boys and two girls. "Welcome back, Yusei!" "It really is Jack!"
"I thought Satellite would be a scarier place." Says Lua. "There are happy kids here." Luca says. She and Lua don't stray too far away from Sakura and Grim, for now anyway. Subaru's staying close to his mother, gripping at her tailcoat, while Velvet clings to his coat sleeve. "You think so? Satellite is still Satellite." Says Ushio.
"You never change." Saiga says.
"Uh." Says Ushio.
Saiga walks over to them. "Why are you hanging out with them?" Saiga asks, in deadpan sarcasm. "Hey, you're..." Says Ushio.
Flashback, to his last duel with Yusei and Sakura, when the former stole his D-Wheel from the Security vault.
Saiga helped them escape by kicking Ushio in the head. "Ughwaaaah-Ohh! Aaaagh!" The flashback ends.
Back to the present. "From before! I only came because the director forced me! No one intentionally wants to come here!" Ushio says.
He stops, noticing the two young girls from Martha's watching and listening to every word, as he tears down their home, fearfully. "What?" Asks Ushio. They scamper off in a hurry.
"Hmph." Saiga says. He looks over towards Sakura, who gives him a small smile. She then walks away, with Grim walking alongside her, and both sets of twins following directly afterward.
Saiga smirks at Ushio, very tactful, nice job scaring the little kids, and wanders away, too.
He speaks to no one in particular, rolling his eyes. "It doesn't matter if I'm not popular with the kids. I just want to be popular with her." Says Ushio, talking to himself. He looks at Minako, who appears to be in conversation with Kakyuu, quite oblivious, and blushes.
Then Ushio notices that another one of the kids has approached him. "Who are you?" Ushio asks. "Mister, are you Security?" "What if I am?" Asks Ushio. "You're cool! I want to wear that uniform, too!" Ushio's suddenly interested, flattered, this kid looks up to him. "I see! No one else looks this good in a uniform! Hahaheheheheh!" Ushio says. "Ha ha ha! Ha, ha!"
Meanwhile, the other four kids seem to be gathered around Jack, probably because he's famous.
Sakura approaches Martha nearby. "Martha, is everyone in Satellite safe?" Asks Sakura. Martha looks upset, then solemn.
Exterior, then interior of her house. Everyone, but the five little kids, is seated around Martha's dining table. She is at the head of the table, with Yusei and Sakura sitting on either side of her. Grim's lying on the floor at the latter's feet, between hers and Martha's chairs, asleep. Jack's sitting next to Sakura, with Jace sitting on his dad's lap, Minako is sitting next to him, Ushio's sitting next to her, and Saiga's sitting next to him on the far corner. Velvet is sitting next to Yusei, Subaru's sitting next to her, Lua's sitting next to him, Luca is sitting next to him, Aki is sitting next to her, Usagi is sitting next to her, and Kakyuu is sitting next to her on the far corner. "Yesterday, a black fog suddenly covered Satellite. When the fog cleared, the people in the area mysteriously vanished." Martha says. "Vanished?" Asks Sakura. "Yes, most of them. Since the fog didn't reach here, we were safe." Martha says. "Rally, Taka, Nerve, Blitz and Crow haven't returned." Says Saiga. "What?" Yusei asks. "I hope it's some mistake." Says Martha. "I specifically told Crow not to interfere." Sakura says. "You know Crow, he doesn't listen to anybody." Says Yusei. "Are those people your friends?" Lua asks. "Yes." Says Yusei. Lua and Aki react sadly. Martha then turns to the latter. "Huh. Are you Congressman Izayoi's…" Martha says. Aki has a small smile. "Yes, I'm his daughter Aki." "I see. Yusei, you were able to open this girl's heart. That's good." Says Martha. Aki looks aside, flattered. Martha smiles, satisfied. She then brings her attention to Subaru and Velvet. Both young twins notice. Martha's taking in Subaru's scarlet red eyes and Velvet's facial features. She gasps, and turns to Sakura. "Sakura, are they…?" Martha asks. "Yes, they're mine." Says Sakura. "And you neglected to tell me about them." Martha says. "Not necessarily. Martha, meet my son Subaru and my daughter Velvet." Says Sakura. Martha stands up from her seat and walks over to the two young twins. She leans down and grips at Subaru's face, looking over the young boy's features, brushing his bangs aside, only for them to fall back over his right eye. Martha then turns to Velvet and touches the young girl's face, gingerly, noticing the remarkable reminiscence to Sakura, with the exception of the eye color and skin complexion. She straightens herself up and smiles down at the two young twins, almost grandmotherly. "Such cute kids you have, Sakura." Martha says. She pinches at Subaru and Velvet's cheeks each, wholeheartedly. Martha stops and walks back over to her seat. Subaru and Velvet reach for their respective cheek and hold at it, both pouting, slightly. Martha seats herself. "How old are they?" Asks Martha. "Two. However, I wouldn't let their age fool you. They are actually rather intelligent and mature for their age. Well, to an extent." Sakura says. "Twins, correct?" Asks Martha. "Yes." Sakura says. Martha then looks past her and over to Jace, seated on Jack's lap. The young boy looks up and over at her, curiously. Martha's taking in Jace's uncanny resemblance to Jack. She glances up at him, not as shocked about this one as she was with the twins. "Yours, obviously." Says Martha. Jack can feel the sternness she's emanating off of her. "Yes, he's my boy." Jack says. He pats Jace's head, lightly. "This is Jace. He's one." Says Jack. Martha sighs and gets up from her seat, walking up to him. She leans down to Jace and grasps at the young boy's face, looking over his features, seeing Jack in every bit of him, aside from the eye color. He's trembling at Martha's gaze and touch, he may just start to cry. Martha's eyes and face soften at this and gives Jace a gentle, grandmotherly smile instead. "You remind me of your papa when he was little." Martha says. She pats Jace on the head, gently, ruffling up his hair a bit, making the young boy's face brighten up, with a big smile on his face. Martha then straightens herself up. "So…" Says Martha. She pinches Jack's ear, who winces. "Ouch! Martha, that hurts!" Jack says. "You just couldn't keep it in your pants, could you? I know you're a very good-looking young man, Jack. But, that doesn't mean you can just go ahead and take every pretty face to your bed." Says Martha, sternly. "But, Martha… She wasn't just some random girl…" Jack says. Martha stops pinching his ear and places her hands on her hips. "Oh, so where is she then?" Asks Martha. "Right here." Sakura says. Martha's facial expressions change almost instantly, as she turns towards her. "Wait a minute… Do you mean to tell me that…" Says Martha. "Yes, Jace is mine and Jack's son." Sakura says. Martha puts a hand to her mouth, in shock. Saiga and Ushio both seem a little bewildered about this, too. Martha's looking back and forth between Jack and Sakura, while Saiga looks to be trying to restrain himself from going at the former. "I knew you two had a thing over two years ago. But I didn't think you two would go far enough to sleep with each other so fast. Does that mean, you two are back together then?" Asks Martha. Jack and Sakura glance over at each other, neither of them seem to know the answer themselves. She looks back down at her hands on the table. "No. It was just a spur of the moment and reason gave way to passion." Sakura says. Jack looks away, obviously hurt by her words. Sakura just keeps her eyes downcast, she can't bring herself to look at him. Yusei and Aki can both feel the sense of hurt and sadness between them. Martha can almost feel the drastic mood change in the air, she desperately wants to help these two that she raised as young kids, but one look from Yusei gives her every reason to decide against it. "I see." Says Martha. She returns to her seat and sits down. Martha then turns to Yusei. "And what about you? Are you still afraid of Kiryu?" Martha asks. "Yeah." Says Yusei.
Flashback. Kiryu races onward.
As the ground around Yusei explodes and the hand looms closer, casting a shadow over him. He stares it down, then closes his eyes, bracing himself for the end. "Earthbound Immortal is a scary card that activates by absorbing people's souls." Yusei says, in voice-over. The flashback ends.
Back to the present. "Honestly, I'm scared of that card. But, I have my family and this many friends." Says Yusei. "Don't get the wrong idea. My son may be your nephew, but I'm not your friend." Jack says. "When I know how my family and friends feel, I believe I can overcome my fear. Besides, despite Subaru and Velvet being my nephew and niece, Kiryu used to be my friend." Says Yusei. "Well said. That's why you're Yusei." Martha says. She brings her attention to Sakura. "I take it…" Says Martha. "Yes, Kyosuke Kiryu is Subaru and Velvet's father." Sakura says. Martha looks down at her hands on the table. "I see." Says Martha, solemnly. She then looks back over at Yusei. "I know you're going to the Dark Signers' headquarters." Martha asks. Yusei nods. "Hm!" Says Yusei. Martha then stands up. "But it's already late, so stay here for tonight. I'll prepare dinner." Martha says.
"Martha." Says Hotaru. She comes walking out from another room, most likely from the kitchen, carrying a tea tray with her, with Aurora following alongside her. "I was told we had guests. I didn't know how many people were here. So, I just brought all that I could carry." Hotaru says. She then looks up and gasps, in shock, seeing Sakura again. In her shock, Hotaru accidentally drops the tray, the cups and pot break on impact to the floor.
Sakura gets up from her seat and turns to face her.
Hotaru is still grasping the reality that's right in front of her, her eyes wide and her mouth agape. The reality soon starts to set in, as her expression turns from shock to sorrow.
Sakura has a small smile, as she approaches Hotaru, steadily. The latter shifts her stance a bit, not sure what to do or what to say, as the former comes to a stop before her, leaving a respectable distance between the two half-sisters. Sakura and Hotaru haven't broken their gaze from each other, dark-crimson red meeting violet. The latter suddenly breaks eye contact and fidgets with her fingers, nervously. Hotaru looks back up at Sakura, only she's not meeting her sister's eyes, as her eyes start filling with tears. "Sakura, I... I'm so sorry! I'd-I just... I wasn't sure if you wanted me around and..." Says Hotaru, through tears. Sakura suddenly hugs her close, which catches her by surprise, as tears start running down her face. Her eyes are filled with tears of their own, as she holds Hotaru close. "I love you." Sakura says, in reassurance. She then closes her eyes, as tears begin to shed down her face. At her sister's words, Hotaru starts sobbing and buries her face into Sakura's shoulder, as she finally returns her sister's embrace. "I love you, too!" Says Hotaru, through tears. The two half-sisters have finally been reunited at long last.
The rest of the Signers, Lua, Subaru, Velvet, Jace, Ushio, Minako, Usagi, Kakyuu, Saiga and Martha have all gotten up from their seats by now, they've all been moved by this moment. Martha smiles and sniffles a bit, wiping away a stray tear that had shed. Yusei smiles and pats at her shoulder, lightly.
"Yusei." Hotaru says.
Yusei looks up at the sound of his name.
Sakura and Hotaru are still partially embracing each other, and extend an open arm out to him each.
Yusei smiles and walks over to them, holding both of his sisters close to him. The three half-siblings have finally been reunited under one roof after two years of being apart, coming together in a group hug.
Grim wakes up and walks up to Aurora, nuzzling his muzzle through her mane. She returns the nuzzles back to him.
"Hey, looks like Grim has a girlfriend." Says Lua. "Oh, she's so pretty." Luca says. "That must be Aurora." Says Aki.
Ushio wanders around the back of the house, groaning with disgust. "Ugh. What's with the 'how my family and friends feel' speech? Hm." Ushio thinks to himself. He's standing before a flowerbed blossoming with well-kept red tulips. "A tulip. Maybe it's too early, but so what." Ushio thinks to himself. He picks one. "I'll give this to Minako." Ushio thinks to himself.
Daydream vision, he offers the flower, and his teeth actually gleam. "Minako." Ushio says. "Ushio." Says Minako, blushing. The background is pure fluff, as are the bubbles, they get closer. The vision ends.
Back to the present. Ushio's laughing to himself, blushing pink. He turns, and the little boy who approached him before is standing in front of him, watching him. "How long have you been there? Huh? Oh!" Ushio says. Maybe he's not supposed to pick the flowers. Ushio hides it behind his back. The kid tries to approach him and he starts to jog away. "Stop following me! Shoo! Huh?" Asks Ushio.
He comes around the corner of the building, and sees Jack and Minako standing in the shade of a tree. A tire swing hangs from one of its branches and he's leaning on a set of monkey bars next to the tree with no bars left, looking away from her. "Master Atlas, you said that you weren't his friend. Then why did you come to Satellite?" Minako asks. "Don't ask me any questions." Says Jack.
Pause.
"I know it's because of Carly." Minako says. Jack nods once. "No! Master Atlas, I…" Says Minako, saying it quickly, getting it over with.
"Huh?" Ushio asks.
Jack looks back over his shoulder. "Don't say it! Calm down!" Says Jack, snapping. He takes Carly's glasses out of a pocket. "I owe her. If she's in pain, I'll do whatever it takes to rescue her. And that's it." Jack says. "Master Atlas…" Says Minako, halting and hurt. "Besides, there's only one woman who will ever have my heart." Jack says. He walks away, ignoring her completely.
"Mm." Says Minako.
Ushio saw the whole thing, still holding his flower. The little kid, like his shadow, is watching, too. Ushio sighs, heartbroken, the flower wilts in his hand. The little kid looks at him.
He then notices Martha sneaking up behind them, eyes full of mischief. She's up to something mischievous. Martha puts a finger to her lips to silence him, then snags Ushio by the ear. "Ouch!" Ushio says.
The door opens, and Martha drags him into the kitchen by his ear. "What're you doing?" Asks Ushio. "We're making dinner, and you're going to help." Martha says. "Wait a second! I'm a guest!" Says Ushio. Martha tosses him an apron. "I don't think so! Now, start working!" Martha says.
Ushio chops the top off a carrot. Martha bops him with a metal ladle, his apron has a heart on it, and he also has a white bandanna around his head to keep his hair back. "Ouch!" Says Ushio.
While the stew simmers on the stove, he dips a fingertip in it and hastily takes it out. "Hot!" Ushio says. Another bop with the ladle.
Ushio's grumbling as he scrubs. "Why do I even have to clean the bathroom?" Asks Ushio. This time Martha bops him with a plunger, both of them are wearing blue latex gloves. "Stop complaining!" Martha says. "Agh. You... " Says Ushio. The little boy has followed him once again, and is standing behind Martha. "I'll help too!" "Thanks." Ushio says.
The little boy grabs a broom from a closet in the bathroom and starts sweeping the floor in the first stall.
"Thanks for the help." Says Ushio. He goes back to his scrubbing. "Shouldn't you treat people less rudely?" Ushio asks. "By being physically active, hasn't it taken your mind off of your problems?" Asks Martha. Ushio realizes that it has, and that she did this because she knew about Minako. He stops. "Huh?" Ushio asks. "If you move your body and work, the pain of a broken heart doesn't hurt at all. The people of Satellite are experts when it comes to overcoming sadness and pain. Even him. Takuya's father died during a robbery." Says Martha. "Huh?" Ushio asks.
Flashback. Late at night, somewhere in Satellite. Two Security Officers are helping a bystander, while a third watches from near their patrol car, then hurries over to speak to one of the other officers.
Younger Takuya's watching them, in awe, among other bystanders. "But, he never forgot how Security did their best to try to save his father." Says Martha, in voice-over. The flashback ends.
Back to the present. Takuya keeps sweeping, cheerfully.
"He wants to join Security when he grows up. He changed sadness into gratitude and hope. He's working hard at living." Martha says. "That's why he keeps following me… Ah!" Says Ushio. He then leans closer to Martha. "But since he was born in Satellite, he can't join Security." Ushio says, whispering. "Nothing in this world is impossible!" Says Martha.
Takuya laughs, maybe it's the look on Ushio's face.
Dinner is the stew prepared by him and Martha, served on plates, and glasses of water, plus baskets with little loaves of bread in the center of the table. The Satellite kids love it. The city kids are a bit less enthusiastic. "Thanks for the meal!" Lua's stomach gurgles, and he exchanges a glance with Luca. "Eh!" Lua says. He takes a bite and makes a face. "Uh." Says Luca. She tries a carrot, experimentally. Across the table, Takuya and the other two boys are eating, heartily. "This stew is delicious!" "Yes, it's delicious!" "The Security guy made it." Takuya says. Everyone, but Martha and Sakura, look at Ushio, shocked, since when does he cook? He stops in the middle of a bite, blushing again. "Ah! Well..." Says Ushio. The little girls are the first to speak up. "Thank you for the delicious stew." "Thank you!" Minako, who's sitting next to Jack, is barely touching her food. He shrugs and nibbles on a roll. When Minako glances his way, Ushio takes a bite of what he cooked, and gulps down his whole water glass. "Hot!" Ushio says. All the kids laugh.
Sometime later, everyone eats, happily. Yusei suddenly makes an announcement. "If we win our next battle, they'll build a bridge that connects to the City. And that will end discrimination. Your future will change. It will be an era where you can be whatever you want." Says Yusei. At this ringing speech, everything comes to a halt, everyone's staring at him now, not quite sure what to make of it. "Yusei, you're cool!" Takuya says. "That's right. He may someday be able to join Security. And I…" Ushio thinks to himself. Minako looks at him, as though she heard this thought. "Hm?" Asks Ushio. He looks panicked, did she hear that?! Then Ushio starts eating his roll, innocently.
Grim suddenly wakes up and gets up to his feet, Aurora only a step behind, both facing the window. Sakura's Seal of the Crimson Dragon on her abdomen suddenly starts glowing, as if the Crimson Dragon is warning her of what's about to come. The additional markings and symbolic designs along her body are starting to light up, slowly, one by one. Sakura tries to fight off the pain, without alarming any of the kids, the other Signers or even Martha for that matter. But, it won't help now. Grim and Aurora's fur are standing on edge, as they both shift their stances into defensive ones and let out deep growls.
Suddenly, blue lightning strikes the ground outside, the window shatters, scattering broken glass. Yusei stands up. "What is it?" Yusei asks. Martha stands up. "Is everyone okay?" Asks Martha. By now Jack, Saiga, Ushio, Sakura and Aki have also gotten to their feet, ready for anything. They can now all see that Sakura's symbolic designs, additional markings, Seal of the Crimson Dragon and sign are all glowing, which means they know the Crimson Dragon is warning her and ready to protect her at all costs. Her irises have even started glowing in bright red, while her scleras are fading to black, with glowing red veins gradually appearing across her eyes. The red gradation half of her raven black hair is steadily flaring in fiery red, as well. Neither Grim nor Aurora have once shifted their defensive stance, both sets of eyes are intensely locked on the broken window and teeth bared, growling deeply.
They hear laughing. There's someone standing in the shadows outside, visible through the shattered window. Blue lightning strikes the ground right behind him, silhouetting him, a caped figure, who casts a shadow that looks like the Sign of the Spider. A Dark Signer.
Sakura walks to the window, with Grim and Aurora directly at either side of her.
"Hmhmhmhahaha. Hmhmhmhmhmhm."
Grim and Aurora are both snarling at him, their fur still very much standing on edge, they both look and sound pretty intimidating. "Who are you?" Sakura asks, her voice menacing and echoic.
This individual wears black, highlighted with red, sleeveless tunic and gauntlets with, of course, a cape. He takes off his hood to reveal a face marked with two vertical lines tapering from his temples to frame his chin, each with two horizontal strokes, one beneath each eye and the other on each cheekbone. Framed by the vertical lines, a dot in the center of his chin. He has slightly tan skin, ice blue eyes, with dark scleras, and his bleach-white hair is impossibly spiky and pointy, tied back by a wide bandage-like band in a low ponytail down to almost his mid-back. "My name is Rudger. A Dark Signer with the spider mark." Rudger holds up his right arm, and indeed the spider is glowing there.
Sakura gasps.
Flashback. The five Signers ride or fly over a vision of a massive glowing purple spider wrought over the Satellite. Below them, the landscape is engulfed in purple flames. "Spider mark… Does that mean my vision is coming true?" Asks Sakura, in voice-over. The flashback ends.
Back to the present. "I heard that five Signers arrived, so I'm here to welcome you. We'll celebrate by having a duel." Rudger says. He holds up his duel disk, making clear what he wants.
Ushio, Martha, Kakyuu, Usagi, Minako, Saiga and the kids, including Lua, Luca, Subaru, Velvet, Jace and Hotaru, have retreated to the far end of the table. Aki is standing next to Hotaru, Jace and both sets of young twins, and Jack hasn't moved from about halfway down the table.
Yusei's standing right next to Sakura, as the latter's keeping Grim and Aurora back from attacking Rudger.
"What?" Asks Jack. Sakura lunges in and puts an arm out to stop him. "Jack! We can't duel here. Everyone will be engulfed into his geoglyph!" Sakura says. She suddenly collapses into Jack, who reacts fast enough, trying to keep her up on her feet. "Sakura!" Says Jack. Yusei grips at Sakura's arm. "What's wrong?" Yusei asks.
"Can't you tell? She's weakening considerably due to my dark powers. As long as she remains unbonded to the Crimson Dragon and there's no blood pact between you Signers and her, she won't stand a chance against us Dark Signers." Says Rudger.
Yusei and Jack are both watching as Sakura continues to get weaker right before their eyes, her breathing is becoming shallower, as her markings and designs, even her own sign and the Seal of the Crimson Dragon start fluctuating. "I'll lead him away. I'm counting on you to protect Martha and the kids." Yusei says. "Hmm." Jack growls under his breath, but how can he disagree with him. As Yusei turns to leave, he feels Sakura suddenly grasp at his hand, stopping him in his tracks. He looks, meeting her in the eyes, royal blue meeting bright-crimson, as if it were to be the last time. "I'll be okay." Says Yusei. "Grim. Take Grim with you, he's the only form of protection I can provide you." Sakura says. Yusei nods. "Thanks, sis." Says Yusei. Sakura takes Grim's focus away from Rudger by reaching for his face and holding at it, lightly. "Keep my brother safe, Grim." Sakura says. She then gives Grim a small kiss on the nose, which seems to elate him, as his unnaturally long tail swishes back and forth, in a form of wag. Sakura looks back at Yusei. "Don't let anything happen to my dog. If anything should happen to him, it shall reflect back to me, as well." Says Sakura. Yusei nods, in acknowledgment. Sakura strokes Grim's head, petting him a bit, and soon succumbs to her weakness.
"Take care of her." Yusei says. Jack takes Sakura into his arms and walks off, glaring at him as he passes him, with Aurora following at his heels.
Yusei throws open one of the broken windows. "I'll face you! Follow me!" Says Yusei.
"Fine." Rudger says.
Yusei's D-Wheel, still sitting in the yard, boots up as he approaches it, with Grim following after him. He attaches his duel disk to his metal armband.
Aki joins him. "I'm coming with you." Says Aki. Yusei nods.
Meanwhile, everyone else is walking down a hallway in the house, to somewhere relatively safer. "Hurry up, you guys!" Ushio says, calling back over his shoulder.
The three boys, Takuya included, are standing in the doorway to the dining room. "We're coming right away!" Says Takuya, innocently. They lean in, conspiratorially. "Let's also go. He's a bad guy that kidnapped Crow. We have to defeat him." Takuya says.
Yusei and Rudger square off in the middle of an abandoned street.
Aki is standing at a relatively safe distance behind the former, and Grim's standing directly next to him, he's prepared to protect him if necessary.
"Let's get started." Says Rudger.
Yusei gets into a braced stance, ready to duel. Grim steps back a bit and moves to stand behind him, staying out of the attack range.
Rudger activates his duel disk.
Vivid blue lightning crashes between the two duelists.
"Duel!" Both Rudger and Yusei say.
A misty purple fire erupts midway across the dueling field and spreads, surrounding the duelists, Grim and Aki. It darts back and forth and appears out of the ground at other points to connect, forming the shape of a spider around the duel. This one is smaller, though, than the one from the vision.
"This is..." Aki thinks to herself. She looks back at Yusei. "The shape of this geoglyph is different from the one we saw in the vision." Aki thinks to herself.
Both Yusei's and Rudger's signs glow, brightly, as they face off.
"Huha ha ha." Rudger laughs.
Jack's watching both his own and Sakura's signs, who still lies unconscious in his arms, which are very similar to each other, the former bearing the right-wing sign, while the latter bears the left-wing sign, as they walk down the hallway at Martha's house. "It's started." Says Jack. The symbolic designs, additional markings and the Seal of the Crimson Dragon are all glowing along Sakura's body. Her gradation half of her hair is still flaring in fiery red, as well. Jack's watching Sakura, worriedly. "We should've made the blood pact with her, after all." Jack thinks to himself. Sakura winces, as she regains consciousness, her irises are still flaring in bright red, and the scleras of her eyes have remained black, with glowing red veins across her eyes. "You're awake." Jack says. Sakura looks up at him, weakly. "I'm sorry… I'm so weak…" Says Sakura, softly. Her head lolls into his shoulder. "Shh, you're not weak. Don't even think that about yourself." Jack says. Luca is watching her own sign, somberly, Lua walking next to her. "Yusei..." Says Luca. Ahead, Martha opens a door. "Come inside this room." Martha says. The two little girls look at each other, frightened, and finally speak up. "Takuya is missing." "So is Jun and Mitchan." "What? Uh!" Says Martha.
She soon throws open the back door, Jack, still cradling Sakura in his arms, look outside. They can see the massive purple spider reflected against the clouds. "That's..." Martha says. She hurries down the porch steps, out into the night.
"Martha!" Says Jack. He's about to take off after her, but then remembers the stake at hand, he has to keep Sakura safe.
"I'll handle it! You stay and protect her!" Ushio says. He runs past Jack and Sakura after Martha, and both soon disappear from sight, running toward the spider symbol.
Jack looks down at Sakura, who's trying to fight succumbing to unconsciousness again, she's still very much growing weaker. "We have to make the blood pact with her. And it has to be now." Jack thinks to himself. Sakura looks up at him, severely weakened, she heard his thoughts. Jack places her down, but continues to hold onto her. Sakura's irises shift back to their natural dark-crimson red, her scleras have shifted back to white and the glowing red veins have dispersed from across her eyes. The gradated half of her hair also dims and returns back to its normal shade of red. Before she can say anything, Sakura's suddenly rasped in pain, wincing and gripping onto Jack's coat, as if her life depends on it. "Jack…" Says Sakura, in pain. Jack just tightens his hold on her, keeping her pressed close against him, he's not going to leave her. "The darkness of the Dark Signers is overpowering. It was never like this before." Sakura says. "Do you think you can overcome it?" Asks Jack. "Yes, I can do that. The Crimson Dragon is trying what it can to shield me from the darkness that they possess. I think, it is trying to become one with me." Sakura says. "Perhaps, it's time you became one with the Crimson Dragon. I mean, if it can keep you from weakening like this, who knows how much more you can do if you finally become one with it." Says Jack. "Jack, it isn't that easy. Godwin told me it takes time to truly become one with the Crimson Dragon. Being born with it inside me is one thing. However, becoming one with it is a completely different thing. I need at least one blood bond to a Signer to start the process. However, even if each of you make the blood pact with me. There is no telling what shall happen if that link is ever severed. My life shall become intertwined with the Crimson Dragon, only there is no telling what that will do to me." Sakura says. Jack touches her face, making her look him in the eyes. "Sakura, I know if you do this, you may not be the same person once you become one with the Crimson Dragon. Godwin warned me about what might happen to you once you do this. I know your feelings for me may change once this happens, but I know you're going to need all the powers that the Crimson Dragon bestowed you with in order to overcome these Dark Signers." Says Jack. "I need time, Jack. Becoming one with the Crimson Dragon is going to take a toll on me, both physically and mentally." Sakura says. Jack nods. "Just know that I'll be your strength until then. Take all of the strength and power you need from me in order to sustain yourself." Says Jack. He takes one of her hands and places it on his chest. "I'll even make the blood pact with you. I'll be your first blood bond if it will help you." Jack says. "Jack, I can't just take all of your power. You need every bit of it so you can defend yourself against the Dark Signers. And creating a blood bond is just as draining." Says Sakura. "Sakura, please. If there is one person I truly love, it's you. It's always been you. You gave me my son, who I couldn't be more proud of. Aside from Jace, you're the one person I can't bear to lose. I just want you to know that." Jack says. He then leans in and kisses her, passionately. Sakura closes her eyes, a few tears run down her face, glowing crimson red as they fall. "Jack..." Sakura thinks to herself. There's some sort of red energy surrounding her and Jack, as if the Crimson Dragon is taking what he had offered her. "Crimson Dragon, I shall become one with you now. As your Host, my body is your vessel. However, I ask for two things in return for becoming one with you. Please, allow me to live my life the way I want to without your interference and let me keep my emotions the way they are, I don't want my feelings for Jack or anyone to be changed. Please, accept my pleas in exchange for becoming one with me." Sakura thinks to herself, speaking telepathically to the Crimson Dragon living within her very soul. The mystical bell of the creature sounds in her head, as if in acknowledgement to her pleas. Sakura suddenly seems to become exhausted and her lips separate from Jack's, becoming unconscious in his arms.
The red energy ceases from him as he opens his eyes, looking down at her lying asleep in his arms. The red energy is still surrounding Sakura, though. Jack then goes down to his knees and sets her in his lap, while also keeping her held in his arms. Sakura's shaking in his arms and clutching to herself, she's feeling so much power rush through her all at once. All Jack can do is watch as she goes through all of this. Sakura's body suddenly stops trembling and the red energy ceases from her. "Sakura..." Says Jack.
Sakura's eyes flutter open, slowly, her irises have started glowing once again and her scleras have faded back to black, with glowing red veins across her eyes. The red gradation half of her raven black locks has also started flaring in fiery red, brightly. "Are you alright?" Jack asks. Sakura glances up at him. "Yes." Says Sakura, her voice menacing and echoic. Jack gives a small smile. "So, it's done then? You're now one with the Crimson Dragon?" Jack asks. Sakura nods, subtly. "This was not a blood pact. However, it was enough to initiate the process of becoming one with Crimson Dragon. You have a lot of untapped power within you." Says Sakura. Jack touches her face, tracing at the marking under her left eye and face, gingerly. "You're beautiful, Sakura." Jack says.
"I go first! I draw! I summon Shield Wing in defense position!" Says Yusei.
Shield Wing has 900 defense points and is a Level 2 monster. "I end my turn." Yusei says.
"My turn." Says Rudger. He draws. "I activate the Field Spell 'Spider Web'!" Rudger says.
Spider webs spread across the field, blanketing the ground and crisscrossing through the air around them like a very thin net.
"What's this field?" Asks Yusei.
"Come, Dark Tuner Spider Cocoon!" Rudger says.
Spider Cocoon has 0 attack points and is a Level 5 monster. "I can Special Summon this monster when you have a monster on your field but I have none on mine! Then I Normal Summon Dark Spider!" Says Rudger.
Dark Spider has 0 attack points and is a Level 1 monster. "Dark Spider can increase the Level of an Insect-Type monster on my field by two until the End Phase. I raise Spider Cocoon's Level from Five to Seven." Rudger says. Spider Cocoon's Level changes from 5 to 7. "Level Seven Spider Cocoon dark tunes Level One Dark Spider! When shadow stacks on shadows, the door to the realm of the dead opens. A world without light! Dark Synchro! Come, Underground Arachnid!" Says Rudger.
Underground Arachnid has 2400 attack points and is a Level -6 monster.
"A Dark Synchro monster… However, Shield Wing can't be destroyed until the second battle!" Yusei says.
"It says that it doesn't want to be underestimated. Underground Arachnid's effect activates! Twine Thread!" Says Rudger.
"Huh?" Yusei asks.
Webs cocoon his Shield Wing, and it is dragged over to Rudger's field.
"Shield Wing is now on his field." Says Yusei.
"Once a turn, a monster on your field becomes Underground Arachnid's Equip Card. Attack Yusei Fudo directly!" Rudger says.
The attack comes in the form of a tube woven of thick spider webs slamming into Yusei's stomach, with enough force to throw him against the webs of the field spell. He falls about ten feet to the ground, face first, and manages to keep a grip on his hand, in which Quillbolt Hedgehog is identifiable as the top card. Yusei's life points fall to 1600.
Grim runs over to him and nuzzles him, standing over him, slightly.
"He instantly lost two thousand four hundred life points! Yusei…" Aki thinks to herself.
"I set one card and end my turn." Says Rudger.
Yusei's still on the ground, struggling with the effort to raise his head.
Takuya, Jun and Mitchan are running through the Satellite, amidst the rubble probably created by the spider symbol, they're getting close, from the fact that purple fire-mist is visible beyond the debris. Takuya stops at a doorway. "All right!" Takuya says. He runs inside.
But the other two don't see him and keep running along the side of the building.
Yusei struggles to his feet. "My turn!" Says Yusei. He draws. "I summon the Tuner Monster Road Synchron!" Yusei says.
Road Synchron has 1600 attack points and is a Level 4 monster. "Then, I activate the spell card 'One For One'! I send one monster card in my hand to the graveyard." Says Yusei. He discards Quillbolt Hedgehog. "That lets me Special Summon a Level One monster from my hand!" Yusei says.
Tuningware has 100 attack points and is a Level 1 monster. "And when I have a face up Tuner Monster on my field... I can Special Summon Quillbolt Hedgehog from my graveyard!" Says Yusei.
Quillbolt Hedgehog has 800 attack points and is a Level 2 monster.
"The total Level of the three monsters on Yusei's field is Seven." Aki thinks to herself.
"I activate Tuningware's effect! When this card is used to Synchro Summon, it can be treated as Level Two." Yusei says. Tuningware's Level changes from 1 to 2.
"That makes it Eight." Says Aki.
"Level Four Road Synchron tunes Level Two Quillbolt Hedgehog and Level Two Tuningware! Hope comes together to invite a new land! Become the path that lights the way! Synchro Summon! Drive through, Road Warrior!" Yusei says.
Road Warrior has 3000 attack points and is a Level 8 monster.
"With three thousand attack points, it's stronger than Underground Arachnid!" Says Aki.
"Hm." Rudger says.
"Since Tuningware was used to Synchro Summon, I get to draw one card!" Says Yusei. He draws. "Battle! Road Warrior attacks Underground Arachnid! Lightning Claw!" Yusei says.
Rudger takes the hit, and his life points decrease to 3400.
"You did it!" Says Aki.
"Huh?" Yusei asks.
The dust clears, and Road Warrior destroys Shield Wing instead of Arachnid itself.
"What?" Asks Yusei.
"Underground Arachnid can use the equipped monster as a shield to avoid being destroyed. Next, due to the Field Spell 'Spider Web' effect… your monster that battled switches to defense position, and it can't change battle position next turn." Rudger says.
"Huh?" Asks Yusei. Road Warrior has 1500 defense points.
"When Underground Arachnid's thread wraps up your monster again the next turn, your field will be empty. Then I'll attack you directly, and you will dance the dance of death." Rudger says.
"I'm not good at dancing." Says Yusei. He has a small smile. "Road Warrior's effect activates! Once a turn, I can Special Summon a Level One or Two monster from my deck! I Special Summon Turbo Booster!" Yusei says.
Turbo Booster has 0 attack points and is a Level 1 monster.
Flashback. Rally offers him the Turbo Booster card right before he leaves the Satellite and rides for Neo Domino City. "Rally..." Says Yusei, in voice-over. The flashback ends.
Back to the present. "Turbo Booster's effect activates! By releasing this card, one of your monsters that battled against my monster is destroyed! Go, Turbo Booster!" Yusei says.
Underground Arachnid is enveloped in an explosion and cloud of dust.
Yusei and Rudger trade glares.
"Incredible! Yusei thoroughly planned out his strategy." Says Aki.
Suddenly, she hears one of the little boys. "Over there!" The two boys run into view of the duel, beyond the purple mist and spider webs. "Yusei!"
Yusei and Aki turn around, shocked to see them here.
"You're…" Yusei says.
Aki's hand is to her mouth. "Oh no! If a non-Signer enters the flames…" Says Aki.
The boys are surprised, what's so scary? "Huh?"
"I flip over my trap card! 'Altar of the Bound Deity'!" Rudger says.
'Altar of the Bound Deity' is a trap that manifests on the field as a massive temple behind him. "Once a turn during my Standby Phase, it gains one Earthbound Immortal Counter for every face up defense position monster card on the field. When it has four counters, I can Special Summon one Earthbound Immortal monster from my deck!" Says Rudger.
"Earthbound Immortal!" Yusei says.
"That's the card that damaged Yusei's soul. It's the terrifying card that absorbs people's souls trapped inside the geoglyph." Says Aki.
The boys are now cowering together, afraid. "I'm scared!"
"Their souls will be…" Aki says.
Meanwhile, Ushio and Martha are running through the Satellite streets, racing against time. "Jun… Mitchan…" Martha thinks to herself. "Takuya…" Ushio thinks to himself.
Takuya's a few stories up in a building overlooking the purple flames, alone. "Jun, Mitchan, where did you go?" Takuya thinks to himself.
"Looks like some rats have sneaked in. This duel can't be stopped until we have a winner." Says Rudger.
"I have to win before he summons an Earthbound Immortal. That's the only way to save those two kids." Yusei thinks to himself.