Hi Guys!

Thanks for continuously reading this fic! Of course, if you weren't reading it I wouldn't have allowed the story to get this far.

So, thanks for those who've reviewed:

Anemos

xXYuseixAkikoXx

SnapeisLoyal

Sugared-spice

Hayato Arisato

1supergirl4

Like the usual, you guys are just truly inspiring ^^,

Anyhow, I know that this is early or too soon, but I'm actually thinking of starting a new project after this fic. (Yes, after this fic, though I did tell someone that I'll probably start while doing this but then again I decided against just recently it so I can concentrate on this fic.)

It can be a new story, or another sequel of THOCD? (if you guys wanted to, if not then of course this can be the end XD Well, it depends. *shrugs shoulders*) Or even stop writing per se.(unless you don't want that XD I mean, I can end my internet writing career or whatever with this XD because, I can say that I felt satisfied writing this XD) thit is all of course under the Yugioh 5d's genre, and the main couple is a Yusei X OC fic. :D So, if you have suggestions, state it or forever hold your peace XD I'm serious. If an idea caught my eye and I felt so inspired I'll definitely do it =)) Or I can take the concept and integrate it with the rest of the other suggestions and my own plans XD

So, there. Oh yeah, know what after writing the last chapter I got so engrossed in writing the duel that my mind was no longer haunted and instead that night I dreamed that I was actually dueling in a tournament =.= Swear. (I think it's because of the fact that I was trying so hard to write it perfectly with the rulings correct and everything and calculating the right amount of etc to make the duel arrive at it's outcome)

Anyway, finals aren't really finished until tomorrow, but I got home early from one I mean I went out of the house around 6:30 am and went home at about 8:30-9:00am (the exam started 8:00), so I was like why not spend a few hours writing a chapter XD

So, yeah, anyways please enjoy the new chapter of Autumn Tryst.

[Note to old readers: If ever you got confused due to me switching the story overtime, just tell me via review, pm or even email and I'll explain everything. Like what changed, and what's happening now. That's all XD

Another side note: I hope you don't mind but, Autumn Tryst is not just in canon with story, instead of emphasizing of the 'real story' like what I did with the prequel, this time it emphasizes on something else, which you'll see as you read along. So, I'm just giving you all a heads up :) It's not that I'm making someone mary-suish, but I think the person deserves a back story once in a while, if you have complaints do tell me. I'll be happy to hear them.]

The Heart of the Crimson Dragon: Autumn Tryst

Where we go we don't need roads [roads],
Where we stop nobody k nows [knows],
To the stars if you really want it,
Got, got a jetpack with your name on it,
Above the clouds in the atmosphere [phere],
Just say the words and we outta here [outta here],
Hold my hand if you feelin' scared [scared],
We flyin' up, up outta here.

Rocketeer

By: Far East Movement

-Chapter 08-

Hikari definitely didn't know what to do now as her mind when int panic mode, as curious eyes stared at her intently waiting for a very good explanation.

"I-I know, it's very absurd isn't it?" She stuttered a bit. 'I wonder what Yusei thinks of me now. Would he even believe my reason?' But, what even made her panicky was the piercing amethyst eyes of the blond, whilst he had his arms crossed in front of his chest. 'Scary!'

"Yusei, you sure you really didn't do anything to her? I mean, we can understand that anyway." Jack stated in dark low tone, as it somehow caused Hikari's jaw to drop in shock, whilst her face became flushed, deep red.

"No, I'm sure I didn't do anything to her Jack." Yusei said in as-a-matter-of-fact tone, as he felt perplexed himself. Of course, he was sure the he didn't and will not do anything to her, since he is just not after that. Not that he has no healthy libido, its because that he highly respects her himself, and would only do that if they're ready, no rather if she's ready for that.

"Wow, these guys are pretty intense." Cylde gulped whilst he whispered carefully at Hikari's ear.

"I mean seriously, the kid looks like Yusei! Look at the hair and eyes, and especially the attitude!" Crow said, as he eyed the young kid that's carried on Hikari's arms, whilst the kid glared in return.

"Hell, no!" Hikari screamed in great annoyance, as she allowed Ares to slide down from her grasps. "It's not like that! I'm still a freaking vir-!" But before she can say anything further, the brunette beside her quickly placed his hand on her mouth as it muffled what she was about to say. As he kept her secured under his arm.

"Okay, I think that's enough." Clyde sighed. "I know it's hard to believe. I mean, of course little Ares here looks like Yusei. But, don't worry I can assure you, nothing happened to her." Clyde said as he winked playfully, whilst Hikari on the other hand tried to struggle under his grasps. But Clyde was just too tight on his hold, to the point that she just has to bite him to breathe. "Ouch! Hey! That hurt!" But, Hikari just sent him scowls, and let out a hmf, whilst she puffed her cheeks.

"Serves you right." As it caused her to stomp away from the scene as she went outside through the front door of the apartment.

"Hey, wait,"Yusei tried to call out, but Clyde stopped him, as he shook his head.

"It's okay, just leave her be. Don't worry, she's not that mad. She's just irritated. She won't go that far." Clyde said in a casual tone. "Anyway, I guess we didn't really had any formal introductions, my name's Clyde Yagami, and this little youngster here is Ares. Nice to finally meet you guys." He stated as he beamed them a friendly smile.

"Nice to meet you too, I guess. But, you seem to well Hikari enough with the way you talk." Jack stated feeling a bit skeptical and unsure himself.

"Well, I guess it's just we've been together for a long time. We're kind of like childhood friends, or more likely 'frenemies'. Even before she met Aki. It's actually quite funny, before if she really was irritated she would definitely throw around her books at me."He chuckled as he reminisced his bittersweet Duel Academy days with the blond.

"I see the familiarity?" Crow uttered in a sarcastic tone.

"But, why are you with her under such circumstances?" Yusei asked as he stared at Clyde intensely. Hikari might trust him, but he doesn't even know Clyde well enough to see what's his motives are. Especially, that he's a guy. He could have other kinds of motives, regardless of whatever relationship that they had.

"Good question." Clyde uttered as his face quickly got plastered with a smirk. "Well, you see I bet you guys already know what she's going through right now, right?" He asked as the guys nodded in response. "It's not like I'm particularly involved in all these things, but I'd rather run away and be with her under such circumstances. You see, our families actually had a strong connection with each other, so side by side our companies has been helping each other ever since. However," He said as his tone suddenly became serious, as it also reflected on his light hazel eyes as they lost a bit of its usual liveliness. "ever since she returned, without her parents taking care of the company a lot would want to get a hands on Illusions Corp. It may not be the best out there like Kaiba Copr., but the fact that they're the ones making the graphics of the Duel Monsters that comes out from our Duel Disks makes their company a good asset. It's actually in the parent's written will, as long as Hikari's under 18, she can't have full ownership of the company, and it may be vulnerable to buyers."

"You really know a lot, but what about you? We've been asking you but all you did was fill us in?" Jack stated impatiently.

"I'm still getting in to that. Well, it was all of a sudden, I mean we even met together at a bar once to get into an agreement with a contract between our companies, but suddenly for some unknown reason, my dad also wanted to buy Illusions Corp. He even forced me to marry Hikari to form a partnership." He stated, his face a bit pain-stricken at the same time disgusted. "Sure, I may like her as more than a friend, but I wouldn't want her to force herself into me. Plus, she also has someone she likes." He stated as he beamed at Yusei, and went towards him as he gave him a pat on the shoulder. "I don't know what you did, but dude you didn't even allow me to compete for her."

"Seriously? Your dad even forces you to do those kinds of things? *Sigh* I really don't get rich people at all." Crow sighed as he shook his head disapprovingly. "I mean, they would even go that far for profit? That's just insane."

"Well, that's the reality of it. We may have a good life and have everything that we wanted, but we don't have the liberty to completely control our lives. Nor do we have the liberty to act the way we would want to. Especially, if you have so much reputation to protect for the image of the family, and the company per se. Anyways, that's why I ran away with her and hid ourselves from the public."

"But, what about the kid? What does he have to do with all of these things?" Yusei finally asked. "Did nothing really happen to her?"

"Ares? Not really. Literally, we just found him on the streets. Hikari doesn't really like getting anybody involve, but seriously she just couldn't let the kid go." Clyde uttered with a sigh. "Since he was an orphan, and especially that he looks like a certain person here." Clyde stated as he emphasizingly insinuated the last three words. "Well, she might not look like it, but she is kind of depressed with the things happening all around her to the point that she became an alcoholic-freak, and so far I'm actually thankful that she hasn't resort to drugs. The kid actually helped her a lot as she somehow felt better with him around. However, with the way things are I don't think we could hold on to little Ares here for any longer." Yusei bit his lip, he doesn't know if he should really feel good or bad about what he just heard. I mean, the fact that the kid reminded her of his presence actually made him feel elated, at the same time bad because of the dog-eat-dog business world that she's in.

"Though, its normal. She could have handled it. I mean, she's a strong person. But, Yliaster is making it harder."

"Is it because of exposing their identities?" Jack queried.

"Yeah, we really don't know what they're currently up to right now to the point that they got all companies turn against something as small as Hikari's, but really it's suspicious. It would have been understandable if they're trying to bring down Kaiba Corp., who actually has a lot of power here in Neo Domino City. Anyway!" He suddenly exclaimed as he stretched his arms. "I'm getting tired with this drama. So, please act as if you didn't know anything at all. I mean, she'll kill me if you guys found out about what I just told you. I'm actually thankful that she has you guys. Whatever you had with her, she became a very different person." With that said the door quickly opened as the blond now entered the room, her face plastered with a less frustrated expression.

"Clyde, I think we should go now. It's getting late, and we still have to find a place to stay." She stated apathetically as she stared at him with a blank expression.

"You guys have to go?" Yusei asked her a bit taken aback for the suddenness of her decision. She stared back at him painfully. As much as she felt so delighted to be with him, of course she was reluctant. But the fact that they're kind of involved already, she just wouldn't want them to get too much involved.

"Yeah, I mean we've bothered you guys well enough." She said, a bit reluctant. "But, I do promise to contact you guys more often."

"What are you talking about?" Jack quickly exclaimed as he faced her with his usual piercing amethyst eyes, with his arms in front of his chest. "Do you think I can allow you out in the streets in that kind of clothes? Much as more with him?" He stated as His voice had its usual dominating feel to it, whilst his finger pointed at Clyde, who raised a questioning brow at him in return.

"Hey, do I look like a maniac or something?" Clyde questioned with great disbelief.

"Yeah, we're friends here, and if you don't have a place to stay, then you can come crashing here! This apartment has three rooms anyway, and I think we can spare you guys some space, and I bet Yusei couldn't agree more with this, right?" Crow exclaimed with his usual playful grin as he nudged Yusei, who couldn't agree more.

"Of course, we would want you guys to stay here with us. Regardless of your circumstances, because I would rather have you by my side to protect you, Hikari."

"You guys-"

"Really? We're really thankful!" Clyde quickly stated escastically before Hikari could uttered another word.

"Hey, Cly-" Hikari stated irritatingly.

"Oh yeah, you two come here." He referred to Crow and Jack as he quickly pulled them in under his arms, forming a collusion as his whispered something enough for the two boys to hear, causing the three to form a smile maliciously.

"I like it." Crow uttered as he grinned even wider.

"Really, you sure that you wouldn't regret this?" Jack a bit surprised himself.

"Of course, I'm sure." Clyde stated in a playful tone.

"Clyde! What the hell? I can't believe you!" She exclaimed angrily. It's not that she didn't like the idea of her staying with Yusei and the rest, it's just she feels very embarrassed and shy right now.

"Whatever, I'm having Clyde at my room." Jack stated. "So, hurry up and take your stuff to my room already before I change my mind."

"Hey, Ares you mind staying with Big Brother Crow? I'll show you some cool stuff that I have in my room." Crow stated as he called out for the young boy who has been clinging on to Clyde this whole time. The child just eyed Crow from head to toe with a blank stare, as he felt a bit wary. He then stared at Clyde who just gave him a calm smile assurance. He then stumblingly walked towards Crow with his arms raised up. Crow quickly scooped him away in his arms.

"Seriously, you really just look like Yusei! Anyway, I guess Yusei can take care of Hikari, right?"

Hikari just sighed as she felt helpless with the situation.

'I guess, I couldn't do anything it now. Whatever he's up to, I somehow feel uncomfortable.'

Hikari couldn't really believe as to what she got herself into as she stood in front of the door with her face flushed. It's not something new, due to the fact that she did spent sleeping with him alone for three years under the dark subway rails of Satelite.

However, for some reason, she just couldn't refrain from the awkwardness that has completely crept on to her chest, along with the feelings of great embarrassment.

Was it due to the span of time that they've been separated? That she wasn't sure.

"Seriously, you sure about this? I wouldn't mind sleeping outside?" She stated, but suddenly Crow came barging into the room. Somehow taking her aback, since she was already fidgety as is.

"Hey, you mind me getting your futon, Yusei? I don't think Ares would be comfortable with just one. I bet you guys can just share the bed." He stated as he took it, without even letting anybody oppose or reason out with him as he already went out the door.

'What the hell?' Hikari couldn't think straight right now. She just doesn't know what to do, or rather she just couldn't handle herself anymore.

"Hikari," finally Yusei called out her name, as she responded by making her sapphire eyes trail off to him. "Know what, if you want I can just sleep on the floor."

"No-NO! It's okay. I don't mind. You don't have to." She blurted without thinking, as it somehow made her gasp. 'Oh crap, what did I just say right now? That so sounded so wrong!'

"I mean, I'm already crashing in with you and I should be the one sleeping on the floor. I-I," She stuttered, as she tried to find the right words to say so she could try to redeem herself. "I-I mean," She gulped, completely tongue-tied. To remove the tension, Yusei just made his way towards her as held her hand, whilst the other hand trailed on to her face as he raised it to make her eyes stare directly towards his azure eyes. Her heart began to beat in a faster pace, as she felt her face became hotter than usual. She gulped once more; her mind's just completely lost with all the emotions that already clouded her reasoning, and before she knew it, soft warm lips met her small ones. As she felt logic completely abandoning her mind, whilst emotions and hormones completely took over, as she kissed back as she made her hand slowly trail off to his face, feeling the softness of his skin on her fingertips while the other hand held on to his strong shoulders for support.

"Hikari, I love you." He stated, as he finally let go of her, with now their eyes staring once again with each other. For some reason, Hikari smiled as she felt calm and appeased, as she didn't removed the hand placed on his cheek.

"I love you, too, Yusei very very much." She whispered softly;enough for him to her, as her eyes softened as she stared at him lovingly. With that, Yusei carefully carried her in his arms bridal style towards the bed as he laid her there. Their eyes still staring at each other intently, Yusei bent down towards her with their faces now only inches apart with each other, as his free hand started to caress her face gently, and later leaned in for another kiss.

For some reason, he himself doesn't know what he's doing right now as he just let himself express his love for her. He has definitely longed for her for a very long time, her touch, her lips, her everything. He just simply misses everything about her, and now that she's actually here he just can't help himself with all of these suppressed emotions finally flooding out from the depths of his heart. It's true that emotions has completely taken control of his whole body, but there is one thing that he has on mind that agrees well with it's counterpart: Making her his.

"Hikari, I-" He stated in the most tender tone that he can muster, as he made sure that his eyes are still in contact with hers, whilst keeping the near distance between their faces. "I really love you, and I would want to be yours completely." The words were definitely music to her hears, but at the same time it was like a strike of lightning at her as it shocked her totally.

"What?" was all she can say.

"Would you be my girlfriend?"

"Know what you're a good guy." Jack stated as he laid on his bed, with his eyes transfixed on the ceiling. "I mean, you like her and yet you're letting her go like this."

"I guess, that's just how much I love her." Clyde stated as he himself laid on the futon just beside Jack's bed, as his eyes traveled towards the window, as it had a view of the beautiful velvet sky filled with stars.

"But, know what. If I have to be honest, there is one thing that could help her get away from all of that. Except the Ghost thing chasing her though." Clyde stated in an as-a-matter-of-fact tone.

"And what would that be? Does Hikari even have any idea about that?"

"Not really, actually she doesn't know a thing. The secret was entrusted to me by her parents. But, I bet she'll find out eventually since she's been trying to find ways to eliminate others from buying the company."

"Why would her parents entrust that to you instead of her?" Jack stated feeling a bit perplexed.

"Well, they weren't sure if Hikari would like the idea. It's just that they highly assume, that we might end up together, so they kind of based the Will around us. Other than the fact that she can own the company until she's 18, she can own it as long as she gets married."

Okay, that's all for now, so how's that for fluff?

Was it okay? Did you like it?;p

I seriously had a hard time composing the last part (between Yusei and Hikari) XD

I mean, I'm not a guy to know stuff like that, though I honestly know how my friends would ask girls out, and a few people has confessed to me about yadda yadda stuff, but I was never asked to be someone's girlfriend =.= (I mean, I stop them before they can even do so... I'm just not up for it...yet...=.= Now, it makes me wonder how I can make up stuff like that XD)

Regardless of how hard I did this (for 4-6 freaking hours omg I wasn't able to review anymore XD) I had fun toying with my mind XD I actually had to fight about the fact of doing something different than my usual style of writing. But, then again, that's just against my ideals. So, nah. I stopped it there. XD

Anyways, I hoped that you guys enjoyed it! XD

(Know what, I seriously can't believe that I took the story onto a next level XD)

Please do review! I would love to hear your thoughts/opinions/comments/criticisms regarding the story ^^,

TC!

Anonymous Review Reply Section:

Anemos:

Hi! Once again thanks for the super special awesome review!

I don't mind replying because, I kind of enjoy doing so. It's just I cherish every single review sent to me, so I tend to reply as much as I can ^^, Also, the fact that I can actually get in touch with the readers, I find it fun as it is expanding my network of friends :)

I'm really glad to hear that you also had fun reading chapter 8 ^^, and I can't believe that you even saw through that (you know regarding the deck thing).

Anyways, about His eyes, I actually noticed that in the Yugioh 5ds game (yeah not the anime the game XD) because each duelists has like a picture of their expression when you go a certain place in the game, and as I checked each one of them, Yusei was the most expressive in terms of his eyes. He may keep his composure and express a few with his face, but the shifts of emotion could be greatly seen in his eyes.

And seriously? There's no such inaccuracy? (because I'm often worried about that XD)

And, well regarding your question. All I can say is, whenever I make a story I usually allow my mind to ponder on all kinds of possibilities. Though I may not write it yet my mind can already think about the future of the story, though they may be chapters away or even a sequel away. That's just how I plan things. Then, I just type and allow the thoughts to flow as it allows me to arrive at a certain point from my train of thought. In short, yes, I have definitely considered that XD But, I won't say if I'll do it or not. I'll let the story itself to answer that with the upcoming chapters :p

And really? You abandoned it because of that? But, really for me you don't have to be the perfect writer just to write. Because, for me all you need is the will to write, an idea and a great inspiration to keep you going. In all honesty, if you check out Free Falling (the first fic I made ) you'll see how bad I was at writing. Yes, I suck or rather sucked at writing XD and with the way you converse, it's just I can see more potential in you if you harness that XD But, then again I'm not forcing you XD (I mean writing does require dedication and passion XD well, that's how I view writing XD)

Anyways, I hoped that you enjoyed this chapter XD Because, I really tried to pour out my best yet again on this one XD

TC!

-jory014