Signs of the Dragon: Earthbound Immortals

by TheTrueBlackRose

This is the sequel to the Signs of the Dragon series. Like the first one, this is a revised version of my take on Yu-Gi-Oh 5d's. Just like before, Yu-Gi-Oh 5d's takes the majority of the story, while the characters of Sailor Moon play a very minor role. To avoid any confusion, please read Fortune Cup Duels first. Thank you.

21. Chapter 21

Chapter 21: The Man With The Mark Of The Monkey Geoglyph!

The mark of the spider has burned a scar into the dusty, quiet landscape of the Satellite. Somewhere near the middle, the five Signers and their friends face off against the five Dark Signers.

"Dark Signers… I shall never forgive you!" Sakura says. Grim's standing at her side, between her and Jack, prepared to attack if necessary.

"Young girl…" Says Demak. He holds up a card.

"Huh! That's..." Luca says.

"This is supposed to be your card. If you want this card back, battle me. I won't run or hide. My name is Demak." Demak rolls up his sleeve. "I'm the Dark Signer with the Cusillu mark." Says Demak.

Luca stares back up at him, resolutely. Aki has the same expression on her face as she gazes up at Misty, and Yusei as he watches Kiryu, and Sakura as she glares up at Rudger. Grim's blazing red eyes are fixed on him, his teeth bared and his fur standing on edge.

"Huhahahahaha! For every star of destiny, we'll meet at our destined location." Rudger says. As one, the Dark Signers turn and leave. As Carly turns away.

Jack glimpses her face and gasps, in absolute shock. "Wait! We're ending this here!" Says Sakura. She runs after them, with Grim keeping pace at her heels.

Yusei reaches out a hand. "Sakura!" Yusei says.

Jack runs after them, too.

Jun, Mitchan and Takuya, flanked by Minako, who's holding Jace in her arms, Usagi, Kakyuu and Saiga, are crying. "Master Atlas!" Says Minako.

Sakura and Grim are now surrounded by only mist, down some empty alley in the Satellite. "Dark Signers! Don't run away! Let's finish this!" Sakura says.

Rudger's voice can be heard somewhere in the mist, but she is alone, with the exception of Grim. "Mmhehehehahahaha! Don't be impatient, Sakura. We've already prepared the final stage for our battles." Says Rudger.

"I don't care about that! Battle me right here, right now!" Sakura says.

"Come to the locations marked by the stars of destiny. Obey your fate. Hahahahahauah!" Says Rudger.

Sakura is looking around. "Wait! Battle me! Duel against me!" Sakura says, shouting to the sky.

Jack's running headlong into the mist. "Hey, wait!" Says Jack.

Carly stops and turns, with a gasp.

"I need to talk to you!" Jack says.

Carly backs up a step and tries to run away, but he tries to grab her by the shoulder and instead pulls off her hood. Even the back of her head is distinctive. Jack gasps, in shock and horror. "Like I thought, you're… Carly! Am I right?" Asks Jack. As Carly turns her head, her eyes appear normal, she blinks and they become dark again. Her manner is regretful, mournfully dramatic and condemned. "Jack..." Carly says. "No way… Why are you a Dark Signer?" Asks Jack. Carly turns and walks away, pulling up her hood. She looks back at Jack one more time. "If you want to know the answer… Come meet me, Jack my love." Carly says. As she walks away, tears sparkle in the air in her wake, and her hood billows behind her. Carly walks and then runs away.

Leaving Jack standing in the mist, staring after her.

Sakura and Grim are still walking through the mist. She suddenly stops, sensing something. Grim comes to a halt at Sakura's side, he can sense something, too.

They are soon surrounded by familiar figures, all five Dark Signers have approached them. They all keep their distance though, except for Rudger, who steps out of the shadows. Grim moves to stand in front of Sakura and encircles his unnaturally long tail around her, getting into a defensive stance, with his teeth bared and snarling at him. "I had a feeling you were all still here. So, what are you waiting for?" Asks Sakura. "Don't you worry yourself. We have no desire to settle things by taking you out. But, you don't have to fear us." Rudger says. "Well, considering I don't fear any of you. I guess, we are on the same page." Says Sakura. "I have a proposition for you." Rudger says. "Proposition?" Asks Sakura. "Yes, would you consider joining us? The Dark Signers." Rudger says. "Why would I do that? In case you haven't noticed, I bear the mark of a Signer, not a Dark Signer." Says Sakura.

Demak steps up next, she turns to face him. Grim doesn't change his position, but his attention has now been turned to him, his fur standing on edge and teeth exposed. "That may be so, but a Signer can be turned into a Dark Signer. It's not an easy thing to accomplish and it's never been done before, but it's possible to turn you from a Signer into a Dark Signer. If you wish, that is." Demak says. "If you are asking me to turn on the others, then I refuse. They may be just Signers to the rest of you, but to me that is not all they are. I shall not deceive my friends and my brother." Says Sakura.

Kiryu then steps up next, she turns to face him. Grim changes his focus to him, snarling at him. "My lovely, don't you understand? You're meant to be with us, not those pathetic weaklings that were chosen to be Signers. If you choose to fight alongside them, then you'll surely fall alongside them." Kiryu says. "You speak quite highly of yourself. Although, I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Kyosuke." Says Sakura. "Allow me to ask you this. Why do you think you are able to feel our presence and why you were given abilities that deal with darkness and shadows?" Demak asks. "My dragon is Cynder the Black Dragon. The Guardian of the Underworld. I don't entirely understand my abilities myself. However, as long as I'm able to control my abilities. That should be enough." Says Sakura. "How deceptive of you. You're so misled. You're my one and only child, my daughter. Because I'm your father and that I'm a Dark Signer. I'm afraid that makes you half-Signer and half-Dark Signer." Rudger says. Sakura gasps, it's hard for her to hear. "No, that can't be true." Says Sakura. "But, I'm afraid it's the truth. You can deny it all you want, but you can't run away from what you truly are." Rudger says. He tries to place one of his hands on Sakura's shoulder, but at the slightest touch, the Crimson Dragon awakens inside her.

As soon as that happens, the other four Signers run up from different directions and join her and Grim, facing their particular opponent for the battle to come, everyone's basically glaring at their respective rivals. The five Signers are all back-to-back with each other. Rudger pulls his hand away and steps back, the other Dark Signers do, too.

Sakura then opens her eyes, her irises are glowing in bright red, while her scleras have turned black, with glowing red veins across her eyes. The gradated half of her hair is also flaring in fiery red, brightly.

"Hm, so it's true. The Crimson Dragon has chosen you as its Host. It's already become one with you. Ever since you were born, it's lied dormant within you. So much power you possess within you. My own daughter, my flesh and blood." Says Rudger.

"You may be my father. However, that does not make me your puppet. Now, take your Dark Signers and leave." Sakura says, echoic and menacingly.

Lightning clashes and it begins raining.

The five Dark Signers then take their leave and disappear into the mist.

Sakura's irises soon return to their natural dark-crimson red hue, her scleras revert back to white, and the glowing red veins disperse from across her eyes. The gradation in her hair has also gone dim, shifting back to its usual shade of red. The five Signers relax themselves, but they can all feel the pressure on their shoulders. Sakura suddenly collapses to her knees, out of weakness, but before she can fall further, both Yusei and Jack are able to keep her from hitting the ground completely. "Sakura!" Says Luca. "Is she alright?" Aki asks. Jack and Yusei both kneel at either side of Sakura, who has more or less already lost consciousness. "Becoming one with Crimson Dragon is taking its toll on her. It's frustrating seeing her like this and not being able to do anything for her." Says Jack. "Being around the Dark Signers and Earthbound Immortals aren't helping her, either." Yusei says. Sakura winces, slightly, as she starts regaining consciousness. "Sis?" Asks Yusei. Sakura opens her eyes, weakly, and glances over at him. "What can we do?" Yusei asks. He and Jack help Sakura to her feet, holding onto her by either arm, neither one of them are leaving her side. Aki and Luca both seem just as determined to help her as the boys do. However, Sakura's already fighting to stay conscious again. Yusei notices and grips at her face, firmly yet gingerly, trying to keep her from succumbing to unconsciousness. "Sakura, stay with me." Says Yusei. Sakura opens her eyes and meets his gaze, he can already tell she won't be able to fight it off much longer. "Please, you have to tell us. What can we do to help you through this?" Yusei asks. "We want to help you, Sakura." Says Aki. "Yes, please tell us how." Luca says. "We'll do anything to help you." Says Jack. Sakura's starting to fade again, wincing, slightly. "Please, we can't do this battle without you. We need you, sis." Yusei says. With the last bits of strength she has left, Sakura looks her brother dead in the eyes, dark-crimson red gazing into royal blue. "A blood pact… must be made… from each of you. A blood bond… needs to be created… between Signers and Host." Says Sakura, weakly and pained. And with that, she succumbs to weakness and loses consciousness. Yusei and Jack keep Sakura from collapsing and continue to hold onto her. The four Signers are all taking in what she just said, they each must make a choice and have a lot to think about.

At Martha's house, the mood is grim. The boys are still crying. "I'm sorry! It's my fault. It's because Martha saved me." Takuya says. They're in the dining room, and the windows have been cleaned up since earlier. In fact, they're as good as new. Jack's sitting at the dining table, which is de-extended after dinner earlier, apart from the group. Sakura, still pretty out of it, is leaning against the end of the table, standing near him, with Grim and Aurora lying on the floor at her feet. Saiga's leaning against the wall on the side Jack's sitting, and in front of him are Ushio, Kakyuu, Usagi, Minako, Yusei and Aki. Lua, Luca and Hotaru are standing at the foot of the table, shamefaced, Subaru, Jace and Velvet are all snuggled up against a wall, they've fallen asleep, and the five little kids are standing in front of everyone else, crying before the doctor who helped Martha patch up Yusei and helped with the deep lacerations Sakura sustained. "I see. Martha was…" Says Dr. Schmidt. Ushio falls to his knees. "I'm sorry. It happened while I was with her." Ushio says.

Flashback to the moment when Martha pushed Takuya forward into his arms, then slid away before he could pull her up too. "If I was able to grab Martha's hand..." Says Ushio, in voice-over.

Martha fell backward to the edge of the roof, off the edge, fell almost gently through the air, glowing blue. The flashback ends.

Back to the present. "Forgive me!" Ushio says. Takuya and one of the other boys are instantly at each of his shoulders, encouraging him. "You're wrong! It's not your fault, Ushio!" "If I never went there in the first place…" Says Takuya. The remaining boy stands away from Ushio, crying. "It's all our fault!" He holds up his head and wails. Everyone is silent. Ushio's sitting on the floor on his hands and knees, and the boys are grouped around him, all four of them crying. Jack stands up and pounds his fist on the table, fed up. "Stop crying! It's not your fault!" Jack says. "Exactly. It is not your fault." Says Sakura. The boys stop crying and listen. "It's the Dark Signers' fault. They not only did that to Martha, but also to Rally." Yusei says.

Flashback. Yusei runs over to Rally, limp in Sakura's arms. He evaporates into shadows in her arms, smiling up at him, serenely. The flashback ends.

Back to the present. "In order to get Martha and Rally back, we have to defeat the Dark Signers!" Says Yusei. Ushio and the five kids turn to him and gasp. Jack looks at Yusei, frowning. Sakura's expression is closed. Aki seems uncertain. Lua, Luca and Hotaru are listening, intently. "Wait, does that mean Martha isn't dead?" Dr. Schmidt asks. Yusei nods. "That's right." Says Yusei. "What do you mean?" Dr. Schmidt asks. Yusei then looks over at Sakura, still leaning against the table. "You want to take it from here, sis?" Asks Yusei. "Right now, something unbelievable is happening in Satellite and the City." Sakura says.

Series of flashbacks. Kiryu's giant sign carves line after fiery line through the piles of debris, and the entire mark shines on the landscape. "The appearance of geoglyphs, the mysterious fog covering Satellite, everyone who vanished…" Says Sakura, in voice-over.

The stones on the side of the crater-well suddenly see way too much light and then shadowy fog, and a massive column of violet fire shoots into the air, then spreads into a beam of light. Smoky shadow-fog rolls over the landscape of the Satellite. "Martha and Rally…" Sakura says, in voice-over.

People in the Satellite streets back away, tentatively, but not fast enough to escape, and disappear into the mist. "The Dark Signers have caused this all." Says Sakura, in voice-over. The flashback ends.

Back to the present. "So if you defeat them, Martha will come back?" Dr. Schmidt asks. "Yes." Says Sakura. "Is that true, Sakura?" Takuya asks. Sakura stops leaning against the table and walks over to them. "Yes, it's true." Says Sakura. She puts a hand each on Jun and Mitchan's shoulders. "We are going to defeat the Dark Signers, so you have to stop crying. We promise to bring Martha back." Sakura says.

A little bit later. The kids and Hotaru are standing around Schmidt, at the door to the dining room. Sakura is standing on the other side of the doorway. "We shall leave when we are ready. You don't need to see us off." Says Sakura. "I see. I'm counting on you, Sakura." Dr. Schmidt says. Sakura nods and ruffles one of the boys' hair. "Now, go to bed." Says Sakura. "Good night, Sakura." Takuya says. Sakura closes the door, pausing a little to watch Dr. Schmidt, Hotaru and the kids walk away, and turns back into the dining room, not meeting anyone's eyes.

"Sakura, is what you said true? If we defeat the Dark Signers, will the missing people return?" Asks Jack. Minako, Usagi and Kakyuu look worried. Saiga seems suspicious. Sakura still won't look at anyone. "Well?" Jack asks. "I don't know." Says Sakura. "What?" Jack asks. "What do you mean, Sakura?" Asks Ushio, angrily. "It is just what I want to believe." Sakura says, vehemently. Jack clenches his teeth and sits down, hard, pounding his fist on the table. "Damn!" Says Jack.

Subaru, Velvet and Jace are woken up from the commotion. Ushio grabs Sakura by her coat, possibly forgetting who he's addressing, unknowingly hurting her in the process. "What's the point of lying? What, did your dad finally get to you?!" Ushio asks. Grim, who's gotten up by now, growls at him, prepared to pounce on him if necessary. Aurora is still lying on the floor, but her eyes are locked on Ushio, she's prepared to defend her mistress, as well. Subaru gets up and grabs his wrist. "Stop it! Since Martha and Rally are gone, mother is sad!" Says Subaru. "Ugh!" Ushio says. He lets go of Sakura and turns away, overcome with emotion. "Damn!" Says Ushio. Grim walks past him and over to Sakura, and sits down beside her. "I'll believe that Sakura spoke the truth." Aki says. She, Minako, Usagi and Kakyuu are facing the wall. Aki then looks over her shoulder. "If we defeat them, everyone will return." Says Aki. "You just want to believe that because you feel guilty for everything you've done!" Jack says, bitterly. "You may be right. But starting now, things are different! I want to duel in order to protect everyone!" Says Aki. She's standing strong and is the center of attention. "I want to believe that our futures are connected beyond the duel! And I have already decided... that I will make a blood pact with you!" Aki says. Sakura looks up at her, meeting her in the eyes. "Aki, you do not have to…" Says Sakura. Aki returns the gaze. "I want to. You believed in me. So, I trust you. I will even be your first blood bond, if I must." Aki says. Sakura breaks her gaze from her. "Very well." Says Sakura. "Aki may be right." Minako says. "Minako..." Says Ushio. "We must close the door to the underworld." Minako says. Sakura nods. "Exactly. We have to believe in our future." Says Sakura. Yusei then puts a hand on her shoulder and nods, basically telling her that he's with her on this. "I'll also make a blood pact with you. I've always trusted you, sis. So, I'll form a blood bond with you, too." Yusei says. Lua and Luca nod. "Me too! You've taken care of me and Lua for a while now, even though you had kids of your own. I'll create a blood bond with you, too!" Says Luca. Jack looks at Sakura, out of the corner of his eye, then straight ahead. "Our future… I've never doubted you before and I'm not about to start now. You can believe in me to make the blood pact with you, Sakura." Jack says, cranky and cynically. "They said that they'll be waiting at the four stars of destiny. What are the stars of destiny?" Asks Saiga. "They're probably the four control units that maintained the previous Moment." Minako says. "Control units?" Asks Saiga. "Their seals were broken right before the previous Moment went out of control. Those control units had four codenames." Minako says.

As she speaks, cut-scene to a control panel with four indicator lights beside images well recognized as the card pics on the Earthbound Immortals. They light up one by one as Minako names them. "Ccapac Apu, Ccarayhua, Aslla Piscu and Cusillu. In the Quechua language, they mean giant, lizard, hummingbird and monkey." Says Minako, in voice-over. Each has a corresponding Nazca formation that appears as she names each creature. A carving of a giant, a lizard Nazca line with a road built right through its back legs, a hummingbird Nazca line, and a monkey Nazca line with other terrain lines cutting through its arms and the curl of its tail. The vision ends.

Back to the present. "Those were the geoglyphs that vanished." Aki says. "But the spider is missing." Says Luca.

Spider Nazca line, then it fades into the first Moment in its former glory, a spinning centrifuge of rainbow light. "The spider is Uru, the codename for the previous Moment itself. In order to seal the previous Moment, you must turn on those control units." Minako says, in voice-over. The vision ends.

Back to the present. "So Rudger is the boss of the Dark Signers?" Asks Aki. Sakura nods, in her form of answering her question, not at all surprised at that possibility. "He's telling us to face him after we defeat the other four." Saiga says. "The cards that you're using… Ancient Fairy Dragon is still in the enemy's hands, but those cards were used to seal the control units." Says Minako. "Is that true?" Sakura asks. "Professor Fudo entrusted those cards to the director." Says Minako. "My dad? Can it be? Then that means the seals were…" Yusei says.

Flashback, the Security headquarters in Domino City. "Professor Fudo was the one who broke the seals?" Asks Minako.

Godwin's looking out the window, and seems solemn and somber. "No, that's incorrect. He tried to stop the previous Moment from going out of control. Professor Fudo took the removed cards and entrusted them to me." Godwin says. He looks at Minako from across a desk. The flashback ends.

Back to the present. "Did Godwin say anything about my dad?" Asks Yusei. "No, that was everything he told me." Minako says. "Why does Yusei and the rest have those cards?" Asks Saiga. "Because…" Minako says.

Flashback. Godwin looks even paler than usual. "As for the cards that Professor Fudo gave me, I released them into the wild. The Signers will eventually use the cards and serve the Crimson Dragon." Says Godwin. He has been standing at the window, and as he speaks, he can still see Stardust, Archfiend, Cynder and Black Rose fly off into the sky, borne by the wind. Godwin turns back to Minako. "Until then, the cards will pass from person to person, in search of owners who can master them. Using the power of the Public Maintenance Department, I observed who attained those cards. I confirmed that the cards passed into the hands of Jack Atlas, Sakura Kuraitaiyou, Yusei Fudo and Aki Izayoi." Godwin says, intensely and slightly fanatically.

As he speaks, he sees a vision of Jack, Sakura, Yusei and Aki heroically standing opposite the five Dark Signers, who loom over them atop a pile of trash. "These duelists are the Signers who will battle against the Dark Signers!" Says Goodwin, in voice-over. The flashback ends.

Back to the present. Yusei stares at his Stardust Dragon card, Sakura glances at her Cynder the Black Dragon card, Jack glares down at his Red Dragon Archfiend card and Aki looks at her Black Rose Dragon card. "Even after everything, Godwin has always been controlling us." Jack says, tetchy. "However, the director has no further predictions. The die has been cast. Only you Signers can stop the Dark Signers. The future of the world is in your hands." Says Minako, solemnly. The Signers are silent, each feeling the weight of the world placed on his or her shoulders. Yusei, Jack, Sakura and Aki return their signature dragon cards into their respective decks. Sakura then glances over at the door behind her. "I know you are there, Hotaru." Sakura says.

Hotaru, who's been standing on the other side of the door, opens it and stands there in the doorway.

"Hotaru? How long have you been standing there?" Asks Yusei.

Hotaru looks down at the floor and holds at one of her arms, nervously. "I... I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean to eavesdrop. But..." Hotaru says. She steps up further into the room, stopping to stand before Sakura and Yusei. Hotaru then looks up at her two older half-siblings, looking them in the eyes, violet meeting dark-crimson red and royal blue, respectively. "I want to go with you." Says Hotaru. "But, Hotaru. It's not safe out there." Yusei says. "And we can't guarantee your safety if you go with us." Says Sakura. "I know. But, I don't want to lose you two again..." Hotaru says, on the verge of tears. Yusei moves to reach for her. "Hotaru..." Says Yusei. Hotaru moves just out of his reach. "No, you don't understand. Neither of you do. I've been alone for two years." Hotaru says. She looks up at Sakura. "For two years, I didn't know what happened to you. All I knew was that you were gone and I didn't know if you were ever going to come back." Says Hotaru. She then looks up at Yusei. "And after she went missing, you were barely around." Hotaru says. She lowers her face, looking down at the floor. "After two years, I finally got my family back. I can't lose you two again. So please, take me with you." Says Hotaru. Sakura and Yusei exchange glances. "What do you think, sis?" Yusei asks. "I honestly don't know." Says Sakura. Hotaru still won't look up at them, as she fidgets with her fingers, nervously. "I know I'm not special like you two or have ever been as strong as either of you. But, those Dark Signers took Martha, Rally and many others. They can't be allowed to take anyone else. I'm aware of the risks going out there with you. But please, I can't just stay here and wait, hoping that everything will be okay. I'd be so worried, I couldn't take it. Not just about you two, but all of you." Hotaru says. Sakura places one of her hands under her chin and lifts up her face, having her look up at her, meeting her sister's gaze. "You are more special than you give yourself credit for, Hotaru." Says Sakura. She takes her hand away. Yusei then places one of his hands on Hotaru's shoulder, making her look up at him, meeting her brother's gaze. "And you're a lot stronger than you realize. Yeah, you're still battling a constant illness that keeps you more or less bedridden on a daily basis." Yusei says. "And yes, Yusei and I left you feeling rather lonesome these past two years." Says Sakura "But, you've grown stronger as a person." Yusei says. Sakura nods, subtly. "That is all anyone can do, is be the best person they can be." Says Sakura. Hotaru smiles, shyly. "So, does that mean I can go?" Hotaru asks. Sakura and Yusei exchange glances with each other and seem to come to an agreement, nodding in unison. Hotaru runs over to them, embracing them both. "Thank you." Says Hotaru. Yusei and Sakura return the hug, holding her close to themselves.

A short while later. Minako unrolls a map of Satellite on the table. Four red stars mark out a quadrilateral around the crater. "The location of the four control units are giant, hummingbird, lizard and monkey." Minako says. She points to the four stars that seem to form a diamond. If they assume the map is oriented North-South, giant is the East point, hummingbird is the West, lizard is the South and monkey is the North. "These four locations." Says Minako. "Should we go to each location one-by-one?" Ushio asks. "That's a waste of time. Besides, the duels are one-on-one. I'll go alone." Says Jack. He bares his sign. "If this mark of the Crimson Dragon yearns for a duel against a Dark Signer, then there's no point in sticking together." Jack says. "But we just finally became a team…" Says Luca. "Jack's right. Even if we are apart, we are still a team." Sakura says. "Sakura…" Says Luca. "Who'll you face?" Ushio asks.

Yusei looks off into the distance, and sees Kiryu and the carved giant. "Kiryu probably has the mark of the giant. I'll go there." Says Yusei.

Aki, similarly, is juxtaposed with Misty and the lizard Nazca line. "Misty is the lizard. I'll go there." Aki says.

Luca is thinking of the monkey geoglyph, and the Dark Signer who bears its mark. "Demak is the monkey. I want to get Ancient Fairy Dragon back!" Says Luca.

Lua breaks into the dramatic moment. "I'm going to support Luca!" Lua says.

Sakura, similarly thinks of the spider mark and Rudger. "The spider is Rudger, he and I have some father-daughter issues to discuss. So, I shall go there." Says Sakura.

"The hummingbird is..." Jack says. Carly's voice echoes in his ears, as he thinks of the hummingbird design. "If you want to know the answer, come meet me." "I'll go there." Says Jack.

Ushio suddenly turns to Luca and Lua. "All right, I'll take Lua and Luca in my car." Ushio says. Luca nods. "Hm." Says Luca. Velvet and Subaru walk up to Sakura. "Mommy, can we go with them?" Velvet asks, innocently. "Please, Mother." Says Subaru. Sakura sighs, lightly. "Fine. However, behave yourselves and try not to give Ushio too much trouble. Understood?" Sakura asks. "Yes." Says both Subaru and Velvet, in almost perfect unison. Minako then turns to Aki. "Aki, you'll take my car." Minako says. Aki shrugs. "Okay." Says Aki. Kakyuu walks up to her and Minako. "If you don't mind, I'll go with you, as well." Kakyuu says. "Sure." Says Aki. Hotaru approaches Sakura and Yusei. "What about me? Who am I going with?" Hotaru asks. Sakura suddenly turns to Aki, who catches her glance and nods, in acknowledgment. She then turns to Hotaru. "You shall go with Aki, Minako and Kakyuu. Understood?" Asks Sakura. "Yes." Hotaru says. Aki walks up to her, Sakura and Yusei. "Don't worry." Says Aki. She places one of her hands on Hotaru's shoulder, gingerly. "You'll be safe with me, Hotaru." Aki says. She smiles at Hotaru, warm-heartedly. Hotaru returns the smile, shyly. "Okay." Says Hotaru. "Thanks, Aki." Yusei says. "Of course." Says Aki. Jace walks over to Jack, tiredly. He picks him up and holds him with one arm. "Minako, do you mind taking Jace with you?" Jack asks. "No, not at all." Says Minako. Usagi walks up to Sakura. "If it's not too much trouble, may I accompany you, Sakura?" Usagi asks. Sakura nods, slightly. "So I have to stay home again? I'll watch the kids, so don't worry." Says Saiga. "Okay!" Yusei says.

And the heroes are assembled, Yusei, Hotaru, Aki, Kakyuu, Minako, Usagi, Ushio, Luca, Lua, Subaru, Velvet, Sakura, with Grim and Aurora standing at either side of her, Jack and Jace. "We leave first thing tomorrow morning!" Says Sakura.

Sometime later. Sakura is sitting on the side of a bed in a room, she looks to be deep in thought, hunched over slightly, with a hand to her head. Grim's lying on the floor at the foot of the bed, asleep. "Yes, Jack?" Sakura asks.

Jack's standing in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. "How do you feel after making the blood pact?" Asks Jack.

"A little tired." Sakura says. She straightens herself up and looks over at him. "However, I don't feel as weak as I did before." Says Sakura.

Flashback. Sakura is kneeling in the center of a dark room, with the four Signers, forming a circle around her. Her attire is dissolving into shadow, leaving most of her body covered in black smoke. The Seal of the Crimson Dragon etched into Sakura's abdomen glows. "You must each produce a decent amount of blood and have it drip into every marking or design along my body that corresponds to your sign. This will start the blood bond. However, before each of you make one, I must start it off with my own." Sakura says. She closes her eyes and takes a small breath, trying to concentrate. The center of Sakura's chest glows red and a crimson-red blade is formed. She holds the blade and looks down at it. As she lifts up her right arm, the black smoke evaporates from Sakura's hand and forearm, bearing her left-wing sign. She sighs, lightly, and closes her eyes, bringing the blade down, breaking the skin as she cuts into her right palm, with blood oozing from the wound. After she finishes, Sakura looks back over her shoulder and pulls her hair aside, slinging it over her right shoulder. The black smoke then evaporates from the left side of her shoulder-blade, bearing the design and scars that run along the flesh. Sakura places her hand over her left shoulder and lets her blood run down into the design etched into the left side of her shoulder-blade. As her blood seeps into the design, it starts glowing in bright-red. When she finishes, Sakura brings her hand into her lap. "My blood bond is meant to create the link between Signers and Host." Says Sakura. She looks down at her hands lying in her lap. "Now, I must make one with Crimson Dragon itself." Sakura says. She breathes, lightly, and cuts deeper into the wound in her hand, fresh blood spilling out and running through her fingers. Sakura closes her eyes, prepared for the creature within her to surface. "Crimson Dragon, hear my voice. I beseech you, come forth." Says Sakura. A wave of crimson-red rushes over her and she's suddenly thrown into a type of void.

Sakura opens her eyes and a familiar creature is swirling around and over her. "Crimson Dragon." Sakura says, calmly. The mystical being brings itself face-to-face with her, who reaches her hand out towards it. The Crimson Dragon lowers its head, showing how much it truly values Sakura as its Host. "My name is Sakura Kuraitaiyou, I am the one you chose as your Host, as well as one of your Signers. I have already started the blood binding ceremony. Now, I wish to create a blood bond with you, Crimson Dragon." The creature wraps itself around Sakura, similar to how a serpent would, coming to rest its head on her shoulder. "I have been waiting for this day for a long time." The Crimson Dragon's voice is very otherworldly and echoic, betraying how mystical this creature really is. "What day is that?" Asks Sakura. She looks into the glowing yellow eyes of the Crimson Dragon, who is returning the gaze. "The day when you finally accept me and we become one. I chose you as my Host as far back as when you were in your mother's womb and I breathed life into you the moment you were born. The night of your birth, my life became intertwined with yours and our journey together began. However, in order to go undetected until the world truly needed me, I stayed dormant deep within you and slept for what felt like an eternity." "You have been living inside me my whole life. However, I never felt your presence up until recently." Sakura says. "My long slumber and staying dormant concealed my presence. Doing this was my way of keeping you out of evil's reach, which seemed to work up until you started reaching adolescence. You became a target for prying eyes, especially for one man with ill intentions." "Are you speaking of Godwin? He believes what he did was an act as one of your followers." Says Sakura. "I would never wish for harm to come to my host body or my Signers. I am meant to protect the one I deem as suitable to be my Host, which makes you very valuable to me. Even the ones I choose to be my Signers, I consider valuable. What that man did to you was just a means to try and have the power for himself. However, his theory was proven wrong." "Explain." Sakura says. "Once I decide on a suitable Host, my life becomes intertwined with the one I choose. My powers also become theirs. That being said, no one can just simply take my powers for themselves. Those machines that they always placed you in were doing much more than just hurting you, they were also trying to take my powers through you, thus causing me pain, too. Every emotion you feel, all the pain you went through, I felt it all just as you did. Our lives are intertwined, they've always been so and will remain as such as long as I am needed." Sakura lowers her head. "Meaning, my life shall end the moment you are no longer needed in this world?" Asks Sakura. Crimson Dragon brushes its face against hers, in a sense of security. "Don't think about it too much. When that time comes, it will feel like everything was just a dream. It will be peaceful and painless." "I understand." Sakura says. Crimson Dragon moves its head to face her, locking eyes with her. "Now then, do you accept me?" Sakura reaches to touch the legendary creature's face, who accepts the gesture. "Yes." Says Sakura. "You are loyal by nature, something I sensed in you from early on. Sakura Kuraitaiyou, Signer of the left-wing mark, as well as my Host, I accept you. From this point forward, you and I are one. If you ever need me, don't hesitate to summon me. Now, proceed and complete our blood bond, as well as the blood binding ceremony, my child." The Crimson Dragon's eyes flash in a blinding light and the void around Sakura has dispersed.

The Seal of the Crimson Dragon burned into her abdomen starts flaring in bright red. Sakura places her hand on the Seal, her blood seeping in and being absorbed into it. A red outline pulses around her body, her blood bond has been accepted and is now complete. Sakura places her hand into her lap, along with her other one. The glowing outline around her diminishes and she opens her eyes. "It is done, my blood bond with the Crimson Dragon has been accepted and is complete. Now, it is time to continue the blood binding ceremony." Sakura says. She sighs, lightly, and stands up to her feet. She then glances over at Jack.

He returns the gaze.

Sakura makes a quick gesture towards Jack. "Your first, lucky you." Says Sakura, somewhat sarcastically.

Jack gets up and walks up to her, stopping to stand before her. The center of Sakura's chest glows red and a second crimson-red blade is formed. She holds the blade and meets Jack's gaze. "I take it, there is no stopping you from this?" Sakura asks. In response, Jack lifts up his right arm and removes his glove, bearing his right-wing sign. Sakura sighs, lightly. "All right then." Says Sakura. She hands the blade to Jack, who takes it, with barely any hesitation. He glares at the blade and then looks up at Sakura. "For you, it is the design on my shoulder-blade. However, only the right side of the design." Sakura says. Jack lowers his gaze onto the blade in his hands. He looks down at his hand and without any hesitation, brings the blade down, cutting downward as he breaks the skin. Jack bites at his lip and stops, with blood spilling out from the wound. Sakura turns herself, slinging her hair aside and over her left shoulder. The black smoke then evaporates fully from the shoulder-blades, bearing the design and scars that run along the flesh. Jack actually looks heated, he's seeing not only the scar from her torture at the hands of Godwin's mad scientist, but parts of the whip lashes, which are deep enough that they will remain as scars, that she received at the hands of Divine. He brings his unwounded hand up and traces his hand along the lesions that mark Sakura's skin, tenderly. Jack's mad at himself for not being able to stop any of it from happening to her. Sakura keeps herself from looking back at him. "It's not your fault, Jack. I don't blame you for what Godwin put me through. And what happened at Arcadia, had absolutely nothing to do with you. So, quit blaming yourself for what you had no control over." Says Sakura. Jack stops and lowers his hand to his side. "I just wish I could've gotten to you sooner. What Godwin allowed that psychopath to do to you, and to his own blood, sickens me." Jack says. He looks down at his bloody hand. "I just hope that this makes up for it all." Says Jack. He turns his hand over and runs it down the exposed skin, letting his blood run down into the design etched into the right side of Sakura's shoulder-blade. As Jack's blood seeps into the design, it starts burning, brightly. When he finishes, he pulls his hand away and clenches it at his side, ignoring the wound in his palm. Sakura turns to face Jack, who refuses to look her in the eyes. "Our blood bond is complete." Sakura says. She touches Jack's face, bringing his attention to her. "Now, you must make one with the Crimson Dragon." Says Sakura. Jack puts his hand on top of hers. "Bring it on. I'll show that beast I mean business." Jack says. Sakura takes her hand away from his face. "You will have to deepen the wound in your hand. Then, you must call for the Crimson Dragon to show itself to you. If it comes forward, you may place your hand on the Seal of the Crimson Dragon and the blood bond between you and the beast shall be complete." Says Sakura. "I'm ready. Let's do this." Jack says. Sakura nods. "Very well. I shall be waiting." Says Sakura. She breathes, lightly, and closes her eyes, prepared for the creature within her to surface.

Jack closes his eyes and brings the blade down, cutting deeper into the wound in his right palm, fresh blood spilling out, running down his hand and through his fingers. "I'm not afraid of this beast. I'll show it just what I'm capable of, not just as a Signer, but as a man, too." Jack thinks to himself. He opens his eyes, fearless and determined. "Crimson Dragon, hear me. I'm calling you out. Show yourself, beast." Jack says.

Sakura's eyes open, her irises turning from dark-crimson to golden-yellow, with silverish-white split pupils, her scleras go from white to red, with glowing yellow veins across her eyes. "Who dares call me forth so forwardly?" Crimson Dragon, though using Sakura's voice to speak, has a very echoic, otherworldly voice. Jack lowers himself down to one knee, in a type of bow, out of respect to the Crimson Dragon. "Jack Atlas, I'm one of the Signers that you chose to aid both yourself and the one who houses you as your vessel." Jack lifts up his right arm, showing his wing sign. "I already created a blood bond with your Host. Now, I'm going to complete our blood bond and make one with you, crimson beast." Says Jack.

Aki and Luca are almost shocked at his forwardness, while Yusei isn't very shocked about this coming from someone like him.

Sakura smirks. "Rise, Signer." Jack stands up. Sakura's irises start glowing in bright yellow. "Such arrogance. However, I can't really blame you. You faced hardships during your youth. You lost your parents at a young age, due to the incident that was caused by human error, which left you a lonesome orphan." Jack crosses his arms and sneers, Crimson Dragon isn't holding back. "You're also one of the few who I chose to burn my mark into at birth. In fact, I chose you as one of my Signers even before I chose this vessel to inhabit." "Don't you dare speak of her as just an object! She's a person, a living being!" Jack says. "Careful how you speak, boy. I know all too well how you feel towards my Host. And if I recall, you even bred with this vessel and she bore your child. Against her own will." Jack clenches his fists at his sides, his teeth are also clenched. "How dare you! I wasn't myself, I was hypnotized and brainwashed to do what I did to her. If I was in my right mind, I would've never forced myself on Sakura." Says Jack. Sakura places her hand up, in a gesture to get him to stop talking. "No need to explain yourself to me. I'm well aware of all that has happened between you and my Host. In fact, I know all of you more than you know yourselves or even each other. I choose my Host and Signers very carefully. I chose all of you for many reasons. Reasons which I shall never reveal openly. That is something you will all have to figure out for yourselves. Now, back to you, former King." Jack's glaring into the eyes of the beast that Sakura houses within herself. "Do you hate me? Despise me for choosing the woman you feel so deeply for as my vessel? For burning my mark into your flesh and choosing you as one of my Signers at birth?" "You must've saw something in me to choose me as a Signer right at birth. I don't particularly like you, but I don't hate you, either. As for choosing Sakura as your Host, you would've had to already been part of her when she was still in her mother's womb. So, you decided on her even before she was born, making her both a Signer and your Host at birth. Just as I was made a Signer at birth." Jack says. He smirks, slightly. "Sakura being just a Signer like the rest of us would've been the right move alone. But, making her your Host, was the same as playing the queen on the board. You chose wisely in her, and in us as Signers." Says Jack. Sakura's eyes dim down, slightly. "You speak words of the honest truth, which has never been a problem for you. Therefore, Jack Atlas, Signer of the left-wing mark, I accept you. Proceed and complete our blood bond, King." Sakura's eyes start glowing once more and the Seal of the Crimson Dragon etched into her abdomen lights up in bright red. Jack places his hand on the Seal, his blood running down and being absorbed into the Crimson Dragon's Seal. Sakura closes her eyes and a red outline pulses around her body, his blood bond has been accepted and is now complete. Jack takes his hand away.

The glowing outline around Sakura diminishes and she opens her eyes, which have returned to normal, indicating that Crimson Dragon has receded back into her. "You fared well, Jack. Your blood bond with Crimson Dragon and myself is complete." Sakura says. Jack touches her face, gingerly. "I only did it to help you, Sakura." Says Jack. "Go rest yourself and gather up your strength for the blood pact." Sakura says. "Fine." Says Jack. He walks off to the spot he was sitting before.

Sakura kneels down on the floor and sighs, lightly. She then looks over at Aki. "Aki, your next." Sakura says.

Aki steps forward and kneels down before her. The center of Sakura's chest glows red and a third crimson-red blade is formed. She holds the blade and meets Aki's gaze. She lifts up her right arm and removes her glove, baring her claw sign. "Are you sure you wish to proceed with this? There is no going back once it is done." Says Sakura. "I know, and I still want to keep going. I don't regret my decision and I never will." Aki says. Sakura nods, subtly. "Very well. For you, it is the markings along my legs." Says Sakura. She hands the blade over to Aki, who takes it, gently. She looks at the blade and then at Sakura. "Just a small slice into the palm of your right hand will be enough. Once the blood binding ceremony is over, the wound shall heal and leave a scar in its place, solidifying your bond." Sakura says. Aki lowers her gaze onto the blade in her hands. She takes a breath and looks down at her hand, which is trembling slightly, but she gathers all of her courage and brings the blade to her palm, breaking the skin as she cuts downward. Aki fights against tears, as she finishes, with blood oozing out from the wound. The black smoke evaporates from Sakura's legs and feet, bearing the markings and scars that run along the flesh. Aki almost seems afraid to touch the exposed skin, she's looking over the scars that mark up her legs and feet. Sakura breaks her attention from her scars. "You won't disturb the scars, if that is what you are concerned about. Touching them won't hurt me." Says Sakura. "No, it's just. What Godwin did to you, it's unforgivable. I mean, you're his niece and he put you through so much. I, I'm so sorry." Aki says. She turns her hand over and traces her fingers along the exposed skin, letting her blood drip into each marking that is burned into Sakura's legs and tops of her feet. As Aki's blood hits a marking, they start lighting up one-by-one until she hits each and every one that marks up her legs. When she finishes, she pulls her hand away and holds at it, gingerly. "Our blood bond is complete. Now, you must make one with the Crimson Dragon." Says Sakura. Aki nods. "This time, you have to cut into the same open wound in your palm. However, you must cut in a little deeper than before and plead for the Crimson Dragon to show itself to you. If it comes forward to your pleas, you may place your hand on the Seal of the Crimson Dragon and the blood bond between you and the beast shall be complete." Sakura says. "All right. I'm ready." Says Aki. Sakura nods. "Just so you know, I shall still be here." Sakura says. She breathes, lightly, and closes her eyes, prepared for the creature within her to surface for the second time.

Aki gathers up her strength and courage, brings the blade down and digs deeper into the wound in her right palm, fresh blood oozing, running down her hand and through her fingers. She bites her lip a bit and closes her eyes, tears stinging the sides of her eyes. "No, no tears. I have to prove to the Crimson Dragon that choosing me as a Signer wasn't a mistake. I have to show it how strong I truly am." Aki thinks to herself. She wipes the tears away and opens her eyes, full of determination. "Crimson Dragon, hear my voice. I beseech you, come forward and show yourself to me." Says Aki.

Sakura's eyes open, golden-yellow irises, with silverish-white split pupils, and red scleras, with glowing yellow veins across her eyes. "Speak, child." Aki closes her eyes and lowers her head, in a type of bow, out of respect to the Crimson Dragon. "I'm Aki Izayoi, one of the Signers that you chose to aid both yourself and the one who houses you as your vessel." Aki lifts up her right arm, showing her claw sign. "I already created a blood bond with your Host. Now, I wish to complete our blood bond and make one with you, Crimson Dragon." Aki says. "Raise your head, Signer." Aki lifts up her head and opens her eyes. Sakura's irises start flaring in bright yellow. "You once called the mark I bestowed you with detestable. Do you still feel this way towards the mark I burned into your flesh as a young child? Do you still resent me for all the hardships you endured during your young life?" Aki lowers her eyes from Sakura for a moment, recalling all that's happened to her since receiving the sign on her arm. She places her hand on her mark and looks back up at her, gazing into the eyes of the very creature that gave it to her in the first place. "I no longer think of it as a detestable mark. I see it as a means to a brighter future. I don't resent you, your Host or my fellow Signers." Says Aki. "And what of yourself? Do you still hate yourself? Or have you come to accept yourself as the Signer whom I chose as a young child over ten years ago?" Aki doesn't once break her gaze from the glowing beacons of the Crimson Dragon. "I may not know why you chose me as one of your Signers. But, you chose me for a reason. As for me, I admit there are still things about myself that I'm not sure about yet. But, I do know that loving myself is what I'm learning to do. I don't hate myself anymore, but it's a start. The new start for me, the girl who used to be feared as the Black Rose Witch." Aki says. Sakura's eyes dim down, slightly. "I can sense your trepidation. However, behind that, I also feel how passionate you are, and will become in time. Therefore, our blood bond shall commence and I accept you, Aki Izayoi, Signer of the rear-claw mark. Proceed and complete our blood bond, child." Sakura's eyes start glowing once more and the Seal of the Crimson Dragon etched into her abdomen lights up in bright red. Aki places her hand on the Seal, her blood running down and being absorbed into the Crimson Dragon's Seal. Sakura closes her eyes and a red outline pulses around her body, her blood bond has been accepted and is now complete. Aki takes her hand away and holds at it.

The glowing outline around Sakura diminishes and she opens her eyes, which have returned to normal, indicating that Crimson Dragon has receded back into her. "Well done, Aki. Your blood bond with Crimson Dragon and myself is complete." Says Sakura. Aki brings her hands to her chest. "And was it enough?" Aki asks. "Yes. Now, rest yourself." Says Sakura. Aki nods. "Okay." Aki says. She gets up and goes over to the spot she was sitting before.

Sakura sighs, lightly. "All right. Luca, your next." Says Sakura.

Luca, placing a hand to her heart, steps forward and kneels down before her. "Are you scared?" Sakura asks. Luca clutches at her arm, nervously. "A little. But, if you all can do this. So can I." Says Luca. "That's the spirit, Luca." Sakura says. The center of her chest glows red and a fourth, smaller, crimson-red blade is formed. Sakura holds the blade and meets Luca's gaze. She lifts up her right arm and pushes up her sleeve, baring her claw sign. "Are you ready?" Asks Sakura. Luca hesitates, but nods. "I, I need to hear you say it." Sakura says. Luca takes a breath before answering. "Yes." Says Luca. Sakura nods, subtly, and hands the blade over to her, who takes it, tentatively. Luca looks up at her. "Just like what Jack, Aki and myself did, you just have to make a small cut into the palm of your right hand. For you, it is the markings along my arms. The only one you can't hit is my own sign." Sakura says. Luca lowers her gaze onto the blade in her hands. She takes a breath and looks down at her hand, which is trembling slightly, but she gathers all of her courage and brings the blade to her palm, breaking the skin as she cuts downward. Tears are trickling down Luca's cheeks as she finishes, with blood oozing out from the wound. The black smoke evaporates from Sakura's arms and hands, bearing the markings and scars that run along the flesh. Luca, like Aki before, seems scared to touch the exposed skin, she's glancing at the scars that mark up her arms and hands. Sakura touches her face, gently, bringing her attention up to her and away from her scars. "Don't worry, you won't hurt me by touching the scars." Says Sakura. Luca looks away from her and turns her hand over, running it along the exposed skin, letting her blood drip into each marking that is burned into her arms and hands. Similar to what Aki's did, when her blood hits a marking, they start lighting up one-by-one until she hits each and every one that marks up Sakura's arms and hands, except for her sign. After she finishes, Luca pulls her hand away and clutches at it. "Our blood bond is complete. Now, you must do the same with the Crimson Dragon." Sakura says. Luca lowers her gaze, holding her hands close to her chest. Sakura places her hand on her head, making her look back up at her. "Don't worry, I will still be here." Says Sakura. She takes her hand away and places it in her lap, over her other one. "Cut in a little deeper into the same open wound in your hand. After that, you must plead for the Crimson Dragon to show itself to you. Obviously, it will question and challenge you just as it did with Jack and Aki. However, do not allow it to strike fear and doubt into you." Sakura says. She sighs, lightly. "If it comes forward to your pleas, you may place your hand on the Seal of the Crimson Dragon and the blood bond between you and the creature shall be complete. After that, rest up." Says Sakura. Luca takes a breath. "I-I can do this." Luca says. She takes another breath and nods. "I'm ready." Says Luca. "Very well." Sakura says. She breathes, lightly, and closes her eyes, prepared for the creature within her to surface for the third time.

Luca musters up all the courage she has, draws the blade down and cuts deeper into the wound in her right palm, fresh blood oozing, running down her hand and through her fingers. She shuts her eyes and cringes, tears threatening to spill out. "I may just be a child and the youngest one of us to be chosen to be a Signer. But, I can't let that scare me. I need to prove that to the Crimson Dragon. I may be the weakest one here, but that doesn't mean I won't try to prove my worth as a Signer." Luca thinks to herself. She wipes the tears away and opens her eyes, full of determination. "Almighty Crimson Dragon, hear my voice. I beseech you, come forward and show yourself to me." Says Luca.

Sakura's eyes open, her irises have already turned golden-yellow, with silverish-white split pupils, and red scleras, with glowing yellow veins across her eyes. "Speak, child Signer." Luca lowers herself and closes her eyes, kowtowing, out of respect to the Crimson Dragon. "My name is Luca. And yes, as you have stated, I'm the youngest one of the Signers that you chose to aid both yourself and the one who houses you as your vessel." Luca brings her right arm to view, showing her claw sign. "I already made a blood bond with your Host. And now, I want to complete our blood bond and make one with you, Almighty Crimson Dragon." Luca says. "You may raise your head, young one." Luca pushes herself up into a seated position, lifts up her head and opens her eyes. Sakura's irises start glowing in bright yellow. "If I recall, you have also been through hardships throughout your young life. Which originated from when you collapsed and visited the Duel Monsters Spirit World. Since then, your parents have become wary of you and barely take the time to visit or even contact you. Thus, leaving you alone with only your twin." Luca lowers her head and closes her eyes, taking in all that the Crimson Dragon had said, recalling all her memories of sadness and loneliness after waking up from coma and returning from the Duel Monsters Spirit World. She places her hand on her mark and looks back up at Sakura, gazing into the eyes of the very creature that gave it to her in the first place, with tears stinging at the sides of eyes.

All Yusei, Jack and Aki can do is wait and watch, unable to help Luca through this.

While Sakura has given the reins to the Crimson Dragon and is locked away in her own subconscious, she can't assist her either. "Just because you are a child, doesn't mean I will go easy on you during this ceremony. And I must ask you. Do you hate me for bestowing the mark that I burned into your skin over eight years ago? Detest me for choosing a young child like you as one of my Signers?" Luca wipes away her tears and looks into the blazing yellow eyes of the Crimson Dragon. "I'm still just a little kid, so I don't understand why you chose me to be a Signer. But, I don't hate you. And I never detested your Host. Even though she had young kids of her own, she still took care of me and Lua for sometime now. I also don't resent my fellow Signers, I feel safe with each and everyone of them." Says Luca. "You may not always have your fellow Signers or my Host at your side on the battlefield. Will you be able to go up against your enemies if they weren't with you?" "Even if they can't always be at my side, I know I'll always have them with me. Maybe not physically, but in spirit. And I'm never truly alone, I have Lua with me." Luca says. "A non-Signer?" "He may not be a Signer, but he's still my brother, my twin. And he may not be the strongest of people, but he has a lot of heart." Says Luca. Sakura has a small smile. "Well said, young one. I have one final question for you. Do you believe in yourself? Do you accept my decision in choosing you as one of my Signers, despite you being just a child?" Luca looks down at her hands, briefly, and clenches them, bringing her gaze back up to Sakura. "Yes. I know I'm just a kid and that I'm not as powerful or strong as my fellow Signers or your Host herself. But, I do believe in rescuing Ancient Fairy Dragon and I'll do everything I can to get her back from Demak. And Signer or not, I'll have Lua at my side." Luca says. Sakura's eyes dim down, slightly. "I think you underestimate yourself in favor of your twin. However, your loving and kind demeanor is quite… becoming. I have had many Hosts and Signers over the years, and I am not allowed to show favoritism. However, you are definitely one of them. And so, I accept you, Luca, Signer of the front-claw mark. Proceed and complete our blood bond, child." Sakura's eyes start glowing once more and the Seal of the Crimson Dragon etched into her abdomen lights up in bright red. Luca places her hand on the Seal, her blood running down and being absorbed into the Crimson Dragon's Seal. Sakura closes her eyes and a red outline pulses around her body, her blood bond has been accepted and is now complete. Luca takes her hand away and holds at it.

The glowing outline around Sakura diminishes and she opens her eyes, which have returned to normal, indicating that Crimson Dragon has locked itself away deep inside her. "You did it, Luca. Your blood bond with Crimson Dragon and myself is complete." Says Sakura. Luca hugs her and starts crying into her chest. "Sakura, I was so scared." Luca says, through tears. Sakura holds her close to herself, patting at her back, slightly. "I know it was hard for you. Unfortunately, the ceremony isn't finished just yet. For now, get some rest." Says Sakura. Luca lifts up her head and looks up at her, with tear-streaked cheeks. "Okay." Luca says. She gets herself out of Sakura's embrace and goes over to the spot she was sitting before.

She sighs, lightly, and stands up to her feet. "Yusei." Says Sakura.

Yusei gets up and approaches her. "You are the final one." Sakura says. She looks up at Yusei. "Last chance to change your mind about this." Says Sakura. "I think I made my choice quite clear. I'll do whatever it takes to keep you out of the Dark Signers reach. Doesn't matter if it's Kiryu or Rudger, I'll keep them from getting to you." Yusei says. Sakura just lets out a sigh, but she won't press him any further on this, he's made his decision and there's no stopping him now. "Very well." Says Sakura. She turns to face Yusei completely, the center of her chest glows red and a fifth crimson-red blade is formed. Sakura holds the blade and meets his gaze. Yusei lifts up his right arm, removes his glove and pushes up his sleeve, baring his tail sign. "For you, it is the design along my lower back." Sakura says. She hands the blade over to Yusei, who takes it. He looks at the blade and then down at his hand. Without wasting any more time, Yusei brings the blade to his palm, breaking the skin as he cuts downward. He winces, his teeth clenched, as he finishes, with blood spilling out from the wound. Sakura turns herself and moves her hair aside, slinging it over her shoulders. The black smoke evaporates from the rest of her back, baring the design and scars that run along the flesh. Even though he has seen them before, Yusei, like Jack, also seems upset after seeing the scars from the experiments that were performed on Sakura, even more so at the whip lashes that were done by Divine himself. He hesitates at first, but then brings his unwounded hand up and traces his hand along the scars and soon-to-be scars that mark her skin, tenderly. Yusei's mad at the people who did this to his sister, his twin. He lowers his head and closes his eyes. "You've been through so much, more than I can even imagine. I hope you can forgive me for not being there to protect you when you needed me the most. Allow me to start making up for it by doing this." Says Yusei. He opens his eyes and turns his hand over, running it down the exposed skin, letting his blood run down into the design etched along her lower back. As Yusei's blood seeps into the design, it starts lighting up. When he finishes, he pulls his hand away and clenches it at his side, ignoring the wound in his palm. Sakura turns back to face Yusei, who keeps his eyes downcast. "You have done well, Yusei. Our blood bond is complete." Sakura says. She places one of her hands on Yusei's shoulder, who brings his attention up to her. "Now, it is time for you to make one with the Crimson Dragon." Says Sakura. Yusei nods, subtly. Sakura takes her hand from his shoulder. "You have to cut deeper into the wound in your palm. Then, you must ask for the Crimson Dragon to show itself to you. If it answers and comes forward, you may place your hand on the Seal of the Crimson Dragon and the blood bond between you and the beast shall be complete." Sakura says. "I'm ready." Says Yusei. Sakura nods. She breathes, lightly, and closes her eyes, prepared for the creature within her to surface once again.

Yusei closes his eyes and brings the blade down, cutting deeper into the wound in his right palm, fresh blood spilling out, running down his hand and through his fingers. "Time to face this creature that decided to house itself inside my sister. I can do this, I have to do this. I'll do whatever it takes to keep Sakura safe from them. From Kiryu. From Rudger. From all of the Dark Signers and their Earthbound Immortals." Yusei thinks to himself. He opens his eyes, full of his signature resolve. "Crimson Dragon, hear me. I'm calling for you to show yourself to me. Come forth." Yusei says.

Sakura's eyes open, her irises turning from dark-crimson to golden-yellow, with silverish-white split pupils, her scleras go from white to red, with glowing yellow veins across her eyes. "Who is it that calls for me this time?" Yusei lowers his head and bows at the waist, out of respect to the Crimson Dragon. "My name is Yusei Fudo. You chose me to be one of your Signers, while you decided on my sister as your host body." Yusei lifts up his right arm, showing his tail sign. "I already created a blood bond with your Host. Now, I'm asking to make one with you and complete our blood bond." Says Yusei. "You may raise your head." Yusei straightens himself up. Sakura's irises start glowing in bright yellow. "You are the most recent addition to my Signers. When I chose my vessel, I also felt your potential while you were in the womb alongside your twin. That being said, I already saw you as one of my Signers. However, I decided to not be so hasty and waited for the right moment to bestow you with my mark." "You wanted to test me?" Yusei asks. "If you want to look at it that way, then yes." "Before you ask, I don't hate you. But, you decided to house yourself inside my sister, my twin. If you've been hiding inside her body this whole time, why didn't you keep Kiryu or Divine from hurting her? Or stop Godwin's sickening experiments on her? From what I've heard, you're supposed to protect the one you choose as your Host. And yet, you sat back and watched it all happen to her. Is she really no more than just a vessel to you?" Asks Yusei. "Unfortunately, I couldn't do anything to help her at those times. I had been lying dormant within this body for so long and my powers had waned tremendously during that time. More appropriately, my powers were being siphoned and giving up parts of my powers to awaken you Signers, had forced me into a deep slumber with just enough to maintain my host body. Those machines that they put her in were doing more than just causing her pain, they were also trying to steal my powers from this vessel." "Steal your powers?" Yusei asks. "Yes. I have always had a connection with my previous Hosts, this one is no different. I do my best to maintain my host body and take great strides in protecting her. However, even with my limitless powers, I can only do so much for my Host. Which is why, I also choose candidates to become my Signers and once I know for certain that these individuals are worthy of that title, I burn my mark into them and give up a portion of my power to the ones I deem as Signers." "You choose a suitable Host in order to maintain yourself and stay attuned to our world. Then, you search for potential Signers as a means to keep your chosen Host safe and by extension you." Says Yusei. Sakura's eyes dim down, slightly. "You have always been generous by nature, a trait that has been more or less a double-edged sword for you. There have been times in the past where I misjudged my Signers and chose wrongly. However, I don't see you as one of them. Therefore, Yusei Fudo, Signer of the tail mark, I accept you. Proceed and complete our blood bond." Sakura's eyes start glowing once more and the Seal of the Crimson Dragon etched into her abdomen lights up in bright red. Yusei places his hand on the Seal, his blood running down and being absorbed into the Crimson Dragon's Seal. Sakura closes her eyes and a red outline pulses around her body, his blood bond has been accepted and is now complete. Yusei takes his hand away.

The glowing outline around Sakura diminishes and she opens her eyes, which have returned to normal, indicating that Crimson Dragon has receded back into her. "You have done well, Yusei. Your blood bond with Crimson Dragon and myself is complete." Sakura says. "I just hope it was enough to help you." Says Yusei. "You all being here is more than enough." Sakura says. "What happens now that all the blood bonds have been made and accepted?" Asks Yusei. "With the blood binding ceremony finished, the blood pact follows. However, I don't know if we can perform it with just us five. There is supposed to be six of us, after all." Sakura says.

"Well, the sixth Signer isn't here. He never showed up. So, us five will have to be enough to make this blood pact work." Says Jack.

"Jack's right, we got through the blood binding ceremony with just the five of us. We should be able to commence with the blood pact, too." Aki says.

"Yeah, we have to try at least. The sixth Signer isn't with us, he's not standing alongside us against the Dark Signers, which are also made up of five." Says Luca.

"She has a point. There are five of us and five of them." Yusei says. He touches Sakura's hands, holding them. "We can't stop now. Not when we've come this far." Says Yusei. Sakura sighs, lightly. "All right, I shall commence with the blood pact. However, this won't be anything like the blood binding ceremony." Sakura says. She takes her hands out of Yusei's hold and gestures for him to return to the spot he was sitting before.

He heeds this and walks off.

"You may all rise to your feet." Says Sakura.

Yusei just remains standing, while Jack, Aki and Luca all get up to their feet.

"Crimson Dragon, hear me now. As both your Host and one of your Signers, I beseech you. With your approval, I shall commence with the ceremonial blood pact without a sixth Signer. Do you reject this or accept it?" Sakura asks. The mystical cry of the Crimson Dragon makes itself known, as a form of answer.

"Well?" Asks Jack.

"The Crimson Dragon accepts, the blood pact will commence without the sixth Signer." Sakura says.

"That's wonderful news." Says Aki.

The Seal of the Crimson Dragon etched into her abdomen starts glowing. "Prepare yourselves." Sakura says. The Seal then forms on the floor around them, illuminating the room and the Signers. The marks on the Signers arms all light up, as well as all the markings and designs that are burned into Sakura's body. The gradated half of her hair and irises start flaring, brightly, while her scleras fade to black, with glowing red veins across her eyes. The center of her chest glows red and five, black and red tendrils appear. "The ceremonial blood pact begins now and I am so sorry. This is… going to hurt." Says Sakura. With a slight hesitation, she sends the tendrils straight for them, herself included, which ensnare each Signer by their forearm, honed in on their marks. The ends of each tendril form into what looks like a venus flytrap, that proceed to attach and sink into the marks on their arms, which causes each Signer to either cry out or wince against the pain. If that wasn't enough, ten more of these tendrils appear out from the red glow at the center of Sakura's chest, two each heading for one of the five Signers, herself included. The ends of five of them form into a clawed-handed, which grabs a hold of the hand that each Signer cut into during the blood binding ceremony, while the other five, which the ends also form into a clawed-handed, head straight for the center of a Signers' chest, digging into both cloth and skin alike, blood from each Signer is being absorbed through these tendrils. They are all experiencing excruciating pain, not only is their blood being taken, but a portion of themselves is also being absorbed through these tendrils. "It shall… all be… over soon. Just… hang in there." Sakura says, through her pain. Each of them is fighting to keep going through with this, but the pain and strain that they are each feeling is also quite overwhelming.

As this continues, emotions and memories are starting to flood through each of them. Bits and pieces of each of their lives up until now flick across their minds, from Luca's time in the Duel Monsters Spirit World, to Aki being ostracized by her parents, classmates and random passersby, to Jack's loner days, to Yusei and his friends, and even to Sakura's days of being a human science experiment, the link between each of them is being formed.

As each of them start coming out of their reverie, the tendrils are still attached to them. "I, Sakura Kuraitaiyou, Signer of the left-wing mark and Host to the Crimson Dragon itself, make this pact here and now! As long as I bear this mark, I vow to protect this world and fight against our enemy, the Dark Signers, as well as any other evil that opposes us. I give my blood, my heart, every fiber of my being to this promise. I swear my life and allegiance to my Signers and to the Crimson Dragon that I house!"

"I, Jack Atlas, Signer of the right-wing mark, make this pact here and now! As long as I bear this mark, I vow to protect this world and fight against our enemy, the Dark Signers, and any other evil that stands in our way! I give my blood, my heart, every fiber of my being to this promise. I swear my life and allegiance to my fellow Signers and to the Crimson Dragon, and its Host!"

"I, Aki Izayoi, Signer of the rear-claw mark, make this pact here and now! As long as I bear this mark, I vow to protect this world and fight against our enemy, the Dark Signers, as well as any other evil that opposes us. I give my blood, my heart, every fiber of my being to this promise. I swear my life and allegiance to my fellow Signers and to the Crimson Dragon, as well as its Host!"

"I, Luca, Signer of the front-claw mark, make this pact here and now! As long as I bear this mark, I vow to protect this world and fight against our enemy, the Dark Signers, as well as any other evil that opposes us. I give my blood, my heart, every fiber of my being to this promise. I swear my life and allegiance to my fellow Signers and to the Crimson Dragon, as well as its Host!"

"I, Yusei Fudo, Signer of the tail mark, make this pact here and now! As long as I bear this mark, I vow to protect this world and fight against our enemy, the Dark Signers, and any other evil that stands in our way! I give my blood, my heart, every fiber of my being to this promise. I swear my life and allegiance to my fellow Signers and to the Crimson Dragon, and its Host!"

"Crimson Dragon, hear us! We accept the mark that you bestowed us with! We accept our role as your Signers! I accept my role as your Host! Please, accept our blood pact and complete it." Says Sakura. The Crimson Dragon responds with its mystical cry. The tendrils that attached themselves to her and the Signers soon detach and release them, returning into the red glow at the center of her chest.

There's a sudden flash of red and the Signers are on the floor, down for the count.

Yusei's the first to regain consciousness. He moves to sit himself up and looks down at his hand, to his shock the deep cut that he made in his palm has healed and become a scar. "This must mean, everything worked." Yusei thinks to himself.

Jack's the next to wake up.

"Jack, you okay?" Yusei asks.

Jack sits up, groggily. "I'm fine." Says Jack.

"Hey, take a look at your hand for a sec." Yusei says.

Jack tries to shake the grogginess from his head and looks down at his hand, just to notice the same thing that he did, the cut he made in his palm has also healed and scarred up. "The blood binding, it's been finalized." Says Jack. He takes his gaze away from his hand and over to Yusei. "You too?" Jack asks.

Yusei nods. "Yeah." Says Yusei.

Aki moans, softly, as she starts to come to.

"Aki?" Yusei asks.

Aki holds at her head as she moves to sit up. "Oh, my head." Says Aki.

"What about your hand?" Jack asks.

Aki takes her hand away from her head and looks at it, she too is shocked to see that the cut that she made in her palm has healed and left a scar behind. "Does this mean…" Says Aki. She then looks over at Luca, who's still out cold. "Luca." Aki says. She gets up, dizzily, and runs over to where Luca lies. Aki kneels down next to her and touches her shoulders, shaking her slightly. "Luca." Says Aki, softly.

Luca soon opens her eyes and rubs at them, sleepily. "Luca, are you alright?" Aki asks. She helps her to sit up. "Yeah. I think so." Says Luca. Aki takes a hold of her hand and looks at it, just like them, the cut that she made in her palm has also healed and scarred.

"Her too?" Yusei asks.

Aki turns to him and nods.

Sakura's still unconscious on the floor, with a red outline around her body. The black smoke has dispersed from her and her clothing has returned. Sakura's body pulses, slightly, and the red outline around her ceases and the red glow at the center of her chest dispels. The gradated half of her hair has also dimmed down to its normal shade of red.

Yusei gets up and runs over to Sakura, going down to his knees next to her. "Sakura?" Asks Yusei. He touches her shoulder, lightly.

Sakura awakens, slowly, her eyes have already returned to normal, dark-crimson red irises and white scleras. Yusei reaches for her hand and looks at it, the cut she made in her palm has already healed and left a scar behind. "Yes, Yusei. The link between us five has been made." Sakura says. She sits up. "Both the blood bond and blood pact were accepted then?" Asks Yusei. "Yes. However, neither one is complete." Sakura says. She moves to stand up, with Yusei helping her.

Jack, Aki and Luca walk over to join the half-twins. "I am sure you all feel it, as well. Without the sixth Signer, neither ceremony is truly complete. It may be small, but there is a feeling of emptiness. Until the sixth Signer shows himself, we are not fully attuned to each other or the Crimson Dragon itself. Unfortunately, Godwin was right. The sixth Signer is the final piece that has yet to play on the board." Says Sakura. "Does that mean, you're not fully one with the Crimson Dragon then?" Jack asks. "Not yet. However, it is enough for now." Says Sakura. She looks down at her hands. "I feel numb right now." Sakura says. She then clenches her hands, slightly. "However, I also feel Crimson Dragon's presence more than I was able to before. A more powerful part of myself is emerging. Only, it won't awaken until the sixth Signer completes the ceremonies." Says Sakura. Luca slumps her shoulders. "Then, we've already failed." Luca says, sadly. "Luca…" Says Aki. "If we can't complete these ceremonies without the sixth Signer, what chance do we have in beating the Dark Signers without him?" Luca asks. "We were all chosen for a reason, right? There's five of them and five of us, we still have a chance." Says Jack. "But, what if they have a sixth Dark Signer waiting as their trump card? We would be down a Signer." Aki says. "We'll just have to take the chance. We can't back down now. I mean, we just made a vow to protect this world and fight the Dark Signers. All we can do is go out there and battle them with all we got." Says Yusei. "Yusei's right. Even though neither our blood pact or our blood bond is complete, we still made them and have to abide by them. We have to fight the Dark Signers, there is no turning back from this now." Sakura says. She places a hand on Luca's shoulder, who looks up at her. "I can't promise we will all be standing here once the battle is over. However, that is just the risk we must all take to protect this world and its remaining people. We are the only ones capable of doing this." Says Sakura. "But, what about Subaru, Velvet and Jace? What happens to them if you lose and die, Sakura?" Luca asks. Sakura takes her hand off of her shoulder. "They are the reason I am doing this. If I have the chance to save this world and them in the process, then I shall do it. Even if it comes at the cost of my own life, I will keep my sons and daughter safe. We all have a reason to fight and mine is for the lives of my children. What is yours, Luca?" Asks Sakura. Luca lowers her glance, she doesn't even have to think about it too much. "For Lua. For my parents. And for Ancient Fairy Dragon." Luca says. Sakura has a small smile. "See, you also have people to fight for." Says Sakura. Her smile soon fades. "We should probably try and get some rest before we head out. It might just be our last chance to do so." Sakura says. The flashback ends.

Back to the present. Jack has come to sit next to Sakura on the side of the bed. "Sakura. I have a request." Says Jack. "What is it?" Sakura asks. "If I happen to lose my battle, I want you to take Jace and raise him alongside Subaru and Velvet." Says Jack. Sakura turns to look up at him. "Jack, don't…" Sakura says. Jack interrupts her by kissing her, which catches her by surprise. He then separates his lips from Sakura's. "I'm not saying that I'll be outmatched against her. But, I personally feel responsible for her becoming a Dark Signer and because of that, I don't know if I can put my all into fighting her." Says Jack. Sakura lowers her gaze. "It's Carly, right?" Sakura asks. "You know?" Asks Jack. "It wasn't difficult to figure out." Sakura says.

Grim wakes up, suddenly, and gets up, walking over and out the door.

"Where's he going?" Asks Jack. Sakura gets up from the bed. "Probably to find Aurora." Sakura says. She walks over to the door and closes it.

"Sakura?" Asks Jack.

Sakura turns to face him, reaches for her hairpieces that resemble bat wings and takes them out, with her hair falling completely loose down the back, save for the tailbone-length strand that flows in front of her.

"What are you doing?" Jack asks.

Sakura holds the hairpieces in her hands and sighs, lightly. "Have you fallen for her?" Asks Sakura.

Jack looks away from her. "I just feel like I owe her and I'll do that by dueling her. I don't know what the outcome will be. But, my feelings are conflicted." Jack says.

Sakura walks over to him, standing before him. "If you have come to love her, I won't stand in your way." Says Sakura. Jack, shocked, looks up at her. "You and I had our time. We even had a son together. However, I won't stand in your way of being with her just because we have Jace." Sakura says. She touches Jack's face, lightly, and smiles. "You deserve to be with the one you love, Jack." Says Sakura. She takes her hand off of Jack's face and walks away from him, setting her hairpieces on the bedside table.

Jack stands up from the bed. "Yeah, well, the one I love is standing right here in front of me." Jack says.

Sakura turns to face him. "Why would you say that?" Asks Sakura.

"Huh?" Jack asks.

Sakura lowers her gaze from him. "How can you still love me after everything that has happened?" Asks Sakura.

Jack walks over to her. "I never stopped. We've known each other practically our whole lives. I know I wasn't the best to you during our time together. But, I knew we were meant for each other. I just wanted to be better than just a Satellite. I thought that if I was something more than that…" Jack says. Sakura stops him from talking with a kiss, which catches him off guard. She then separates her lips from Jack's. "You didn't have to be some false king. You already were a true one to me." Says Sakura. She touches his face, lightly. "And you still are, King." Sakura says. Jack wraps one of his arms around the small of her back and pulls her close to him, pressing her up against him. "A king is nothing without his queen." Says Jack. He loosens his hold on Sakura, in case his actions feel a little forceful to her. "Sorry, I should get out of here and let you rest." Jack says. He walks away from her, heading for the door. "You've been through a lot tonight." Says Jack.

"Wait." Sakura says.

Jack stops short of the door, his hand inches from the knob.

"Stay with me tonight." Says Sakura.

Jack turns away from the door.

"I owe you, anyway." Sakura says.

"You don't owe me anything, Sakura." Says Jack.

Sakura slips her tailcoat off her shoulders. "Perhaps not. However, if this is our last night." Sakura says. She lets the coat fall to the floor and looks up at Jack, the only lighting in this room coming from the moon outside. "We might as well spend it together." Says Sakura.

Jack walks up to her. "Are you sure?" Jack asks. Sakura nods, subtly. Jack touches her face, tracing the marking under her left eye and face, lightly. He then leans in and kisses Sakura, who returns it back to him.

Meanwhile, Yusei's in the dining room, standing at the window, arms crossed and looking up at the moon, which is the only thing lighting the room.

"Hey, Yusei." Says Aki. She walks up to stand next to him, who looks back over his shoulder at her. "Can't sleep?" Aki asks. "I tried, just too much going through my head. And you?" Asks Yusei. "Same." Aki says.

Back in the room. Sakura's already slipped off her arm bracelets and gloves, which have been draped over the bedside table, lying next to her hairpieces. Jack's signature white trench coat has already been removed, tossed aside on the floor. Sakura is a little more hesitant about removing her top, but eventually lifts it up and over her head, while he watches as her black, bra-cladded breasts are revealed to him. She looks up at Jack, bashfully. He's a little dumbfounded, but soon follows suit and takes off his shirt, tossing it to the floor, leaving him bare chested, showing that he has a six-pack and well-toned pecs. Jack pulls Sakura close to him, capturing her lips in a passionate kiss, his arms wrapped around her waist, while she wraps her arms around his neck.

Back to the dining room. "Do you think we have what it takes to win this battle?" Asks Aki. "I don't know. But, we have to give it our all." Yusei says. Aki nods. "Hm." Says Aki.

Back in the room. Jack's lying on his back in the bed, clad in only his gray boxers. Sakura is hovering over him, also clothed in only her black panties, with one of her legs resting between his, trailing kisses along the center of his chest, who at the moment is in absolute content, his eyes closed. Jack opens his eyes, as she moves, her face inches from his, looking into her eyes. Sakura then kisses him, who returns it, full of passion. She breaks the kiss and lowers herself onto Jack, suckling on his collarbone. With his eyes still open, he's enjoying this, a moment of heated passion, which he never thought would happen between him and Sakura.

In a different room. Jace is sleeping in the bed, tucked in with his stuffed Red Dragon Archfiend. Subaru's slouched on a sofa in the same room, asleep, while Lua's standing at the window, looking up at the moon.

In another room. Velvet is asleep in the bed, curled up. Hotaru is sitting on the side of the bed, and smiles, watching her little niece sleep so soundly. She then turns to look over at Luca, who is also awake, and standing at the window, looking up at the moon.

Somewhere else in the house. Grim has found Aurora, snuggled up against her and nuzzling her, slightly.

Back in the room. Sakura and Jack have switched positions, with her now lying on her back, her raven black, red gradated wavy tresses sprawled all over the bed, and him on top of her, locked in a passionate kiss. They have also discarded their remaining clothes, leaving them both completely naked on the bed and pressed up against each other.

Grim's started mounting Aurora, rather roughly, as he mates with her.

Meanwhile, back in the room. Jack's thrusting into Sakura. He's trying to hold himself back a bit, not wanting to hurt her, but he also knows this could very much be his last time being with her, too. Jack deepens his thrusts, getting a little rougher with Sakura, who doesn't seem to mind. He takes this as a sign and continues to thrust deeper and rougher into her, who arches her back and moans out. At this, Jack keeps going, as Sakura holds onto him as if her life depends on it, clawing into his back.

Back in the dining room. "What about the sixth Signer? Do you really think we can do this without him?" Aki asks. Yusei looks back up at the moon. "We're going to have to, he left us with no other choice. All we can do now is give it all we got." Says Yusei. "You're right." Aki says. She then follows Yusei's gaze, looking up at the moon.

Grim's just finished mating with Aurora and licks her face, nuzzling her. She just returns the lick and nuzzles him back, as they both fall asleep.

Back in the room. Jack does a few more deep and rough thrusts, before finally cumming. Sakura gazes into his eyes, which are both filled with love and passion for each other. She sits up and kisses Jack, who just returns it back to her. While still locked in the kiss, he pulls Sakura into his lap, having her sit astride him and holds her close to him, while she wraps her arms around his neck, with their bodies pressed into each other, both lost in this moment together.

A little later. Jack's lying on his back in the bed, having Sakura snuggled up against him.

He wakes up, almost suddenly, looking up at the ceiling. "Was it just a dream?" Jack thinks to himself. He tries to sit up, only to realize that Sakura's lying next to him, asleep. "I guess not." Jack thinks to himself. He smiles, Sakura's nude body pressed close to his, and traces his hand along her perfectly fit curves until he moves to touch her face, gingerly. "Still beautiful as ever." Jack thinks to himself. He gives her a small kiss to the head. "Sakura." Says Jack.

Sakura opens her eyes, slowly, and looks up at him. "I want to give you something." Jack says. "You already have." Says Sakura. "No, there's something I've been meaning to give you. But, the time was never right. This certainly isn't how I wanted to do things. But, if I don't do this now. I may not get the chance to do this again." Jack says. He sits up, causing her to follow suit. "I love you, Sakura. No other woman could ever have my heart." Says Jack. "Jack…" Sakura says. Jack takes one of her hands in his. "I told you before, that if we both manage to win this battle, I'd follow you anywhere. Well…" Says Jack. He looks Sakura in the eyes, purple meeting dark-crimson red. "We get through this battle, I want to be more to you. I'm not doing this in the heat of passion or because we have Jace together. What I'm saying to you now is my honest feelings. I want you to marry me, Sakura." Jack says. Sakura is shocked speechless, what will her answer be?!

On a rickety bridge in the not-yet-light predawn hours. This bridge isn't the one crossed to reach Crow's nest, it's a different one. Large wooden boards are laid across the wire skeleton of the bridge, two bumpy paths, not bridge slats.

At the near side of the bridge, where two jeeps, Yusei on his D-Wheel on the left side, Sakura on hers on the right, with Usagi sitting behind her, and Grim lying down on his specially built-in platform, his harness is already fastened around him, while the chain is hooked up to his collar, which is hidden underneath his long, black fur, secured safely to both the platform and D-Wheel, and Jack on his on the right of her, are prepared to set off, their headlights valiantly pressing forward into the darkness. "Will you be alright, Luca and Lua?" Asks Sakura. The jeep nearest to her contains Ushio and both sets of young twins. "Yup!" Luca says. "I'll be by her side!" Says Lua. Sakura smiles. "Understood." Sakura says. "From this moment forward, winning or losing will depend on your skills!" Says Jack. "The Dark Signers won't be defeated easily. I am certain that our battles will be tough. However, that is when you should remember each of your friends! Even when we are apart, we are connected by a strong bond!" Sakura says. She looks back over her shoulder at Usagi. "Hold on as tight as you can." Says Sakura. Usagi wraps her arms around her waist, securely, and due to the model of the D-Wheel, her body is pressed up right against hers. Sakura turns away from her, they take off and go right.

"Everyone, let's win so that we can meet again!" Yusei says. He revs up and takes off, turning left.

Jack looks at the two cars over his shoulder. "Give it your all!" Says Jack. He takes off and turns right, but not as immediate as Sakura's.

The two cars leave at the same time. Ushio and both sets of twins take an even more immediate left than Yusei's, while Aki, Hotaru, Jace, Kakyuu and Minako go straight.

Jack, riding alone, is preoccupied. "Carly… " Jack thinks to himself.

Flashback to the end of the hospital duel, when Jack swayed on his feet, exhausted from dueling for real with a broken arm and little strength. Sakura and Carly caught him before he fell. The flashback ends.

Back to the present. "Why are you… " Jack thinks to himself. He races ahead.

The eyes of a crow on top of a junk pile glow the red of a mark of the dragon. Beside this pile of junk, and others like it, drive Ushio and both sets of twins. The dark buildings loom above them. Lua watches them. Luca startles him by putting a hand on his shoulder. "Hey." Luca says. "Uh?! Waaaa-aaa-aaaa-aaa-aaaaaah!" Lua screams. Luca ducks away, scared. "Don't scare me, Luca!" Says Lua. "How about you not scaring me!" Luca says. "Ugh, you and the crows scared me so much that I almost lost my courage." Says Lua. Luca is suddenly worried. "I'm sorry for forcing you to help me." Luca says. "Eh. What are you talking about? We're siblings! I'll protect you forever, Luca! Oh, that reminds me!" Says Lua. Ushio's driving, quietly, and 'huh's when he pulls out his duel disk, what the heck? "Ta daa!" Lua says. "Lua, what's the point of you wearing a duel disk?" Asks Luca. "Heheheh! For spirit! Now bring it, Dark Signers!" Lua says. "Not again… I'm the one who's going to be dueling." Says Luca. "Heheheh. He's so simple-minded." Ushio says.

Suddenly, Luca is surrounded by white light and hears a twinkling shriek.

"Haahh." Says Luca. "What's wrong, Luca?" Velvet asks. "I heard a scream." Says Luca. "A scream? Is someone here?" Subaru asks. Luca closes her eyes and puts her hands to her ears, trying to hear it again. "No… I've heard it before, but it's become more frequent since I arrived at Satellite. I think someone from the spirit world is calling me." Says Luca. "Do you mean Ancient Fairy Dragon?" Lua asks. "What do you mean by the spirit world?" Asks Ushio. "Luca can talk to Duel Monsters spirits." Lua says. "Wha!" Says Ushio. He then has a smug. "C'mon, that's nonsense." Ushio says. "It's true!" Says Lua. "You expect me to believe that? Sheesh, this is why kids are lame." Ushio says. Lua grumbles. "Rrgm. Sheesh, this is why adults are lame. I bet Luca was chosen to be a Signer because she has this power." Says Lua.

Meanwhile, Luca has her hands over her ears, trying to hear the spirit world. The air in front of her starts to glow, and she hears a coo. "Huh?" Luca asks. Kuribon, hovering in the air before her, coos imperatively, its eyes concerned. "What's wrong, Kuribon?" Asks Luca. Kuribon bounces violently up and down, the problem is serious and urgent. "Something is happening in the spirit world?" Luca asks.

To Ushio, it appears that she is talking to thin air. "Hm? Who are you talking to?" Ushio thinks to himself. "Okay, I understand." Says Luca. She closes her eyes, holds up her head and starts to glow. "Huh?!" Both Ushio and Lua ask. The light from Luca paints the landscape white, blinding them. A thin column of multi-colored pastel light shoots into the sky with an eerie whistling sound.

Halfway across the Satellite, Sakura and Usagi notice the light. "Hm?" Sakura thinks to herself. She brakes sideways. "That is coming from Luca's direction." Sakura thinks to herself.

"Awaaaaaaaaah!" Lua screams. Ushio's trying valiantly to keep the car on the road when he counts a huge beam of blinding light as one of his passengers. It dissipates, and the car comes to a halt.

"Ugh! What just happened?" Asks Ushio. Lua's still bracing himself. Subaru's holding onto Velvet, while she clings to him, tightly. The seatbelt between her and Lua is empty. Luca has disappeared. "Uwaaagh, uh! Luca!" Lua says. "What's wrong?" Asks Ushio. "Luca is missing!" Velvet says. "What?" Asks Ushio. "That light took Luca!" Subaru says. "Are you saying that she was taken to the spirit world?" Asks Ushio. "Yeah." Lua says. "You idiot! There's no way that's true." Says Ushio, quietly and clipped. "It's true!" Lua, Subaru and Velvet all say. Ushio climbs out of the car and starts looking around. "Maybe she fell out of the car. Let's search the area." Says Ushio.

"Listen to us!" Lua, Subaru and Velvet all say.

"Hey, Luca!" Says Ushio, calling out.

"You're so stubborn. But if she did fall out of the car, that would be bad." Lua says.

"Luca, where are you?" Asks Ushio.

"Luca! You're not here, right? But if you are, answer me!" Lua says.

Ushio climbs a mound of garbage and looks around. "Luca! Damn, she's not here either." Says Ushio, grumbling.

Lua runs, with Subaru and Velvet trailing behind him. "Luca!" Subaru says. "Luca!" Says Velvet. She suddenly trips on something, which causes her to fall to the ground.

Subaru stops and runs back to her. "Velvet!" Subaru says. He goes down to his knees, as Velvet sits up. "Are you okay?" Asks Subaru. "Yes, it's just a scrap." Velvet says. Subaru helps her back up to her feet, with just a scraped knee from the fall.

"Luca!" Says Lua. He rounds a corner and abruptly stops, amazed at something in front of him. "Wow!" Lua says. He's standing within view of a large mechanical device, a spire like the one at the bottom of the crater, with four prongs on top, like an antenna. Lua stands only half as tall as the base of the thing, it's maybe five times his height. "That's the mark of the monkey." Says Lua. There's ancient Latin-American designs carved around the base of the structure, centerpieced with a monkey. "Is Luca trapped inside? Luca, answer me if you're here!" Lua says.

"I was waiting for you, Signer." Says Demak.

Purple fire erupts from the ground behind the mechanism, and spreads, drawing a tail with three coils of parallel lines. The mark of the monkey appears on the landscape of the Satellite and reflects against the clouds.

In the other car. Aki, Kakyuu and Hotaru look up. Aurora's fur is standing on edge, eyes fixed on the sign in the sky. "That's the geoglyph of Luca's opponent." Aki says.

In the distance. Jack has stopped his D-Wheel and climbed off, standing beside it and staring out at the monkey. "It's started." Jack thinks to himself.

Meanwhile, Yusei has stopped his D-Wheel, too, and stays astride it. "I hope Luca has what it takes to go through with this. She's just a kid and also the youngest of us Signers." Yusei thinks to himself.

"This is the monkey geoglyph. That means..." Says Lua.

Demak appears behind him. "Who are you? You're not a Signer." Demak says.

Lua sighs, and turns tough. "So what? I promised to protect Luca!" Says Lua.

Ushio runs up a pile of debris and comes into view, outside the symbol. "Lua!" Ushio says.

Subaru and Velvet come running up behind him. "Oh no!" Says Velvet. "This isn't good, Lua's been caught." Says Subaru.

"You're a fool. You came to this tower even though you're not a Signer? Did you come here to die?" Asks Demak.

"This is what I wanted! All I have to do is defeat you in a duel! If I defeat you, Luca won't have to face any danger. In that case, I'll be your opponent!" Lua says. He activates his duel disk.

Demak follows suit, activating his own duel disk. "I admire your enthusiasm. However, non-Signers cannot defeat us." Says Demak.

"You don't know that for sure!" Lua says.

"Then battle me, kid." Says Demak.

"Duel!" Both Demak and Lua say. 4000 life points each and both draw five cards, simultaneously.

"Stop, Lua! Don't be hasty!" Says Ushio

Sakura and Usagi pull up at the bottom of his vantage point on the former's D-Wheel.

"Oh, it's mother." Subaru says. "Huh?" Asks Ushio. "Mommy." Velvet says. "Sakura, why are you here?" Asks Ushio.

Sakura takes off her helmet, climbs off of her D-Wheel and joins him. Usagi gets off of the D-Wheel, removes her helmet and follows after her. Grim stands up, the chain hooked up to his collar and the harness fastened around him both detach, and he steps off of his specially built-in platform, following after Sakura and Usagi. "I came back after seeing the light. What happened?" Sakura asks. Grim stops to stand at her side, while Usagi comes to stand between her and Ushio. Subaru and Velvet move to stand in front of Sakura, staying close to her. "Luca disappeared into the light, Mommy." Says Velvet. "What? Ancient Fairy Dragon is sealed away in the spirit world." Sakura says. "Sakura, even you believe that fairytale?" Asks Ushio. "It is not some fairytale! Since Luca will use its power, she went to free the dragon." Sakura says. "What?" Asks Ushio. Velvet looks up at him, with a sly smile. "Told you so." Velvet says. "Why you!" Says Ushio. Velvet snickers and sticks her tongue out at him. "You really do take after your mom, don't you?" Ushio asks. Velvet sways on her feet, just like the little two-year-old she truly is. "Actually, she gets her personality traits and antics more from her father. She just takes after me in physical appearance, for the most part anyway." Says Sakura. She pats at her daughter's head, lightly. Sakura then gestures towards her son. "It's him who actually takes after me in personality traits and antics. And mostly takes after his father in physical appearance." Sakura says. She brushes through Subaru's hair, slightly. "More importantly, we have to do something about this duel. Hey, stop! That child is not a Signer! Stop this duel!" Says Sakura.

"Too bad. Once a shadow duel begins, it cannot be stopped. At least, not until the duel ends. You may be Rudger's daughter, but not even you have the power to stop a shadow duel." Demak says.

"Rrrgh." Sakura growls under her breath.

"I'll go first! My turn! I draw! Okay! I summon Morphtronic Magnen in defense position!" Says Lua.

Morphtronic Magnen has 800 defense points and is a Level 3 monster. "When this card is in defense, you can't attack any other monster! Then, I set one card and end my turn." Lua says. "The card I set is the trap card 'Morphtransition'. It negates attacks against Morphtronic monsters. If I bring out another Morphtronic Magnen on my next turn, they'll form a magnetic lock, and he won't be able to attack!" Lua thinks to himself.

"Stop, Lua! Find a way to stop this duel!" Says Sakura.

"Sakura, I'll protect Luca! So I have to defeat him with my own hands!" Lua says.

"Hehehehehehehe." Demak laughs.

"Lua..." Says Sakura. "All we can do is hope that Lua wins." Ushio says.

Meanwhile, in a glade in the spirit world. It's the same as the last time Luca arrived there, with the one difference that this forest is nowhere near approaching sunny. It's misty and gloomy with fog. Luca wakes up on the ground. "Ugh." Says Luca. "This place is..." Luca thinks to herself. She sits up, a bit wearied or aching from the transfer. "What happened?" Luca thinks to herself. Kuribon appears beside her head, cooing loudly. "Kuribon! Huh?" Luca asks. She looks, and Ancient Fairy Dragon's mountain is peeking above the trees nearby. "Ancient Fairy Dragon is sealed in that mountain. This is the spirit world." Luca thinks to herself.

"My turn. I draw. I summon Magician Ape." Says Demak.

Magician Ape has 800 attack points and is a Level 3 monster.

"It has eight hundred attack points. That's the same as Morphtronic Magnen's defense points. That means, Morphtronic Magnen can't be destroyed this turn. On my next turn…" Lua thinks to himself.

"I activate Magician Ape's effect. Once a turn, by sending one card in my hand to the graveyard, Magician Ape can take control of one of your monsters." Demak says.

"Huh?" Asks Lua.

Magician Ape zaps Magnen and it comes over to Demak's field. "Next, Magician Ape attacks you directly!" Demak says.

"Aa-agh-ohh-ogh!"

"Lua!" Says both Ushio and Sakura. Subaru and Velvet cling to their mother, they're both worried and scared for Lua.

"Haa-aaa-agh!" Lua's life points get zapped down to 3200.

His screams echo in the spirit world. Luca stops walking and looks around. "Was that Lua's voice? Is Lua fighting? Why?" Luca asks.

Lua's on his knees, still wincing. "What's this pain? It's stronger than when I fought Divine." Lua thinks to himself.

"It's the pain of a shadow duel, kid. I'll try not to hurt you too much before sending your soul to the afterlife. I'm showing you mercy." Says Demak.

"Luca..." Lua thinks to himself.

"Lua..." Luca thinks to herself.

Sakura, Usagi and Ushio are watching, tensely. Lua's in danger and there's nothing they can do to help him. "Rrrgh." Ushio growls under his breath. Subaru and Velvet are clinging onto Sakura, trembling as they watch.

Demak watches his small opponent, dispassionately. "Mmmm." Demak says.

Lua's determined to fight to the end. "Uuugghh." Says Lua.