First of all, I'd like to thank:

KirbyStar64

1supergirl4

Crystal-Wolf-Guardian-967

Miss-Shadow

For reviewing. Other than that, I'd also like to thank those who faved, alerted, and read the story. ^^,

Well, I was supposedly going to update Love Written In The Stars due to reader demands, but Autumn Tryst has been left behind for A VERY LONG TIME already, so I just have to update this. After all, I should already finish this so I can finally lessen the story load on me lol.

Well, as I have announced on my other fics, I already went back to school last week, and so far, I have a good start, and I thank God for that though there were terrors. Lol Well, of course, since I'm back to school, and with all the redemption that I have to do due to my epic fail from last term (well, I didn't make it to the dean's list sadly oh well. I guess, I did become a bit cocky and arrogant last term, I guess that low grade was a wake up call for me lol.), I have to dedicate myself more to school, so yeah. I might not be updating much like before.

But, I promise to try my hardest!

Anyway, well, obviously last chapter was a filler chapter, and I had the idea from its predecessor. I was like, for some reason, I myself is kind of forgetting as to what Hikari is as a person, physically. So, yeah I have to remind myself and the readers as to what Hikari is really like. Thus, last chapter was conceived.

I hope you don't mind the fillers, but I have a reason as to why. I mean, I could have ended the story in like four chapters since Clyde and Yusei's duel. But, due to some reasons, I have to take a detour to make this epic ending that everyone wants. Thus, the fillers are there. I won't say why though, but you'll know soon enough. XD

Moving on, please do enjoy another installment (that's not a filler) of The Heart of The Crimson Dragon: Autumn Tryst.

The Heart of The Crimson Dragon: Autumn Tryst

-Chapter 22-

It's been two days since the first day of the World Tagforce Grand Prix. Also, two days since the day Hikari got sick.

Truly, it wasn't one of the best times, nor the best place to get sick, especially with two guys battling it all out with a game of tug-of-war, just to know who can and will take care of a certain blond.

For some reason, it was a miracle that Hikari did survive and got well.

Well, as they say all's fair in love and war, and one way to solve that in the fairest way is a duel, which was, of course, easily one by the blonde's raven haired boyfriend, who nursed her back to health privately.

Though all's well between the three of them, there has to be a certain person's heart that's in a disarray, as the person found herself up in the middle of the night in Poppo Time's garage, with a simple table lamp from the computer desk giving the semi-small, simple room sufficient light.

She sighed, with her hands just pressed the keyboard with a single finger, her sapphire eyes lazily staring at the computer screen, as her head rested on her palms, which is supported by the elbow resting on the table.

'Darn it, I can't get far with just doing things theoretically!' She exclaimed in her mind, as she frustratingly banged the table with her free hand that's balled into a fist, whilst her hand miserably scratched through her blond hair. She scowled at her screen as she stared at her dear boyfriend's virtual deck.

'And staring at it, studying it by reading each card is definitely not enough.' She thought, as she stood with her hands now banging slightly on the table. 'I need a hands-on experience. Battling with it against the computer tons of times won't get me anywhere. Damn it. I think I need a drink.' She sighed, then stared at the front door of the apartment, then stared at Yusei's bedroom door.

'Like he'd let me.' She sighed once more, as the temptation in her chest grew rapidly, whilst her eyes now became a bit weary, or rather lust-filled.

Lust for a certain taste.

Well, I bet you're wondering why shouldn't she just walk up to Yusei and say:

"Hey, Yusei, love, dear, babe, honey, whatever, is it okay if I borrow your deck?"

Just knowing how Yusei cherishes his cards, and the whole deck itself, as if it is one of his vital body parts, it is like she's asking to give Yusei his heart.

Not that she doesn't have it, as the both of them gave their hearts to each other with an implied oral contract of love, but decks are just a different story.

But, she's his girlfriend, shouldn't that be easy?

Well, if you were a girl, and you love a person, would you demand him giving his heart to you, when he's not willing?

And that's just how Hikari views everything as of the moment, and she definitely don't want to look desperate here.

Surely, she has given Yusei her deck, and entrusted it to him to defeat the Ghosts that went on a rampage at Satelite, but can Yusei entrust it to her like that too?

Plus, she didn't want Yusei to entrust it to her, because it's a tournament policy or rule, but it's the fact that Yusei entrusted it to her because he wants to willingly.

Nothing more; Nothing less.

"Rawr," She irritatingly muttered, as both of her hands made its way through her blond hair.

'No, I'm not going to drink. I am not going to drink!'

"Hikari?" Someone suddenly called her, somehow making her jump from her place, as her hands just opened themselves abruptly, along with her eyes and mouth, almost screaming, which was only muffled down by her own hands that made it to her mouth just in time.

She bit her lip, whilst finally letting out a very long sigh, and her right hand holding on to her forehead.

"Oh Yusei, it was just you." She laughed almost nervously and slowly made her way to the computer, and tried to shut it down with just a few buttons pressed on the keyboard. But, much to her dismay, whatever she was up to, Yusei actually saw what was on the screen just now, before it showed the shut down screen.

Yusei now eyed her skeptically with a brow raised on her.

'Was that my deck just now?'

'Drat, I hope he didn't see that. I really don't want him to hand it to me just because of that. Damn, the more I'm becoming tempted.' The lust-filled look on her eyes returned causing her to bite her lower lip. It's like an Edward Cullen-moment, where blood lust, is starting to rush through her veins, and taking over her rationality.

Yusei became somewhat concerned at her, as he found herself walking towards her almost closing the distance between them. His hands making its way on her head; gently grazing on it.

"Are you okay?" He asked, somehow causing Hikari to take control of herself again, as she just looked away while she held the top of his grazing hands.

"I'm fine. I think I need to go our for the night alone. I hope you don't mind."

'Yeah, just tonight. Just one drink to help me think straight.'

"But, isn't it dangerous to go out right now? Especially, at 12 am?"

"Then I'll just take Clyde with me." She simply stated, as her eyes still looking away. If only she would look back at the person in front of her, she might have taken that back immediately with the way his azure eyes stared at her with hurt-filled eyes, causing his hand to limp back at his sides.

But, like she could just disappoint him like that.

"Unless, you'd go with me and allow me to drink for the night." She puffed her cheeks, somehow feeling embarrassed.

I mean, ever since the first time she drank alcohol, she just can't help but feel addicted to its intoxicating taste, as it gives off a warm feeling as the cool and sometimes lukewarm liquid, sliding down through your throat like a menthol-like burning sensation.

"What's the problem?" He suddenly blurted, after all, knowing her she never really drinks unless she feels bad enough to make her drink. Just like the first time he met with her again when she finally regained her memories, which also happens to be the first time alcohol ran through her system.

He can definitely not forget that day. After all, it was the first time she said that she loves him.

*Yusei quickly rushed towards her side, as he held her in his arms, and tried shaking her a bit.

"Hikari! Hikari!" he called out, with anxiety in his voice, as Hikari weakly fluttered her sad sapphire eyes in response.

"Know what," she uttered, somehow making Yusei a bit happy since she's still awake."You really looked like the guy I like you know that." she slurred, somehow causing an unknown pain to Yusei's heart.

'Why does my chest hurt all of a sudden, so what if she likes someone else? Why, why do I feel this way?' he thought, but was quickly disturbed, as Hikari pulls him in closer to her, as their faces were only just a few inches apart.

'What's wrong with her? How come she's acting differently. Wait, what's that smell? Do I smell alcohol? Is she drunk? Maybe that's why she doesn't seem to recognize me.'

"But," she sighed."He sort of likes someone else already." her voice was sad, as it also manifested on her face and eyes. "Even though, I'm happy, since I'm going to die soon anyway; I'm happy because he picked my best friend instead, and since you look like him," she stated as she closed the distance between them, as their lips met each other's. He felt her soft lips touch his, as it made his heart beat faster than usual, and his face blushing tons of red, as it felt hot.

'I never knew that her lips that looked so soft, would actually feel really soft just like marshmallows...wait! Why am I even enjoying it? Then does this mean that I actually really like her? But, it is fact that I care for her so much, so much that it hurts to even hear from her own mouth that she actually likes someone else already. So, I guess I do like her.' he thought, then they finally parted, as her sapphire eyes started to well up with tears.

'She seems to be so much in pain. I guess she already not just know about her past, and more appropriately, her purpose as a Signer.'

"Yusei," she called out as it somehow surprised Yusei.

"You really remind me of him, the one I love, Yusei," she stated, as she caressed his cheek, where his mark is. Her statement making his azure eyes wide, his face even more flushed than it is, whilst his heart raced faster. Then she finally lost consciousness in his arms as her eyes closed and her arm dropped back to her side.

'Did I just hear her right? She actually loves me? But, I wonder, who is the best friend that she refers to, is it that Aki? I wonder why she thinks that I like Aki.'*

It was actually also the first time they kissed, and the first time that she told him about one of her woes.

Her woes that caused her to submit to the dark side.

Of course, especially after everything that had happened, Yusei will never allow something like that to happen again

"I'll go with you then."

'This isn't how I imagined it.' She thought as she sipped on her Long Island Iced Tea slowly, as her eyes wandered towards the man beside her, who's sipping a simple, non-alcoholic Shirley Temple.

'Though, it is surprising to find him allowing me to drink.' With that, she finally let him go from her mind, as she relaxed and closed her eyes, savoring the drink as it slowly went down her throat.

After all, she did promise Yusei that she'd drink just one glass. Of course, she should be savoring it.

Although, it may seem that Yusei was also just concentrating on his own drink, actually, he has been eying the girl beside him through his peripheral vision; more appropriately, observing her.

'I wonder what's wrong. She hasn't spoken ever since we went out. But, it is making me curious, I wonder what she's doing with my deck? Is it because of the tournament? But, why is she seemingly hiding it from me?' He thought, as he took another sip himself on the sweet, red drink.

'After all, it is MY Deck. Is there anything to hide about it?'

Hikari sighed once more, as she already made her way halfway through her drink.

'Even alcohol's not helping me at all. I mean, sure I can buy the same cards he has on his deck, but there is one card that I can't buy—Stardust Dragon.'

*Sigh*

'Sure, theoretically I may know HOW to run his deck, but knowing how his deck works it's just not enough to handle it theoretically. Especially, a deck filled with a lot of opportunities. Like my water deck, his deck is just as versatile as mine. But, the problem with his deck is, one mistake could either luckily open a new door of opportunity, or cause me to lose, and losing is definitely not an option.'

*Sigh*

'I'm not getting anywhere here, and I only have like five days left to train. I can't let Yusei down. I just can't. I want me to be his strength. I want to be the bestest partner he ever had.'

Yusei now found himself completely looking at her this time. He just can't help it, Hikari has been sighing there for almost every ten seconds that has passed.

'But, if it is my deck that's causing her to be this problematic, I wonder HOW would my deck do that.'

'If she needs to see my deck, she could have just asked me for it. She doesn't need to refer to online sources.'

'After all, she's one of the only people that I can entrust my deck with.'

Ironically, if only thoughts could be said aloud, maybe just maybe, things wouldn't have ended up this way.

But, then again, if we were all omniscient, wouldn't that make life boring and less challenging?

The silence between them wasn't deafening at all. After all, their minds are loud enough to fend off that silence around them.

Though, even if Yusei was unsure himself of what is clouding her mind, his hand instinctively made its way on his deck holder, and took out his deck and slumped it on the table's space between them. Somehow catching Hikari's attention—puzzling her.

"What are you doing?" She finally started, but Yusei just simply slipped it towards her.

"I'm giving it to you." He simply replied, causing Hikari to stare at his deck with disbelief. She just can't find the right words to tell him her thoughts right now, as she just kept her mouth a bit open.

"But-,"

"Isn't this what's causing your problems?" The blond now find herself staring through Yusei's azure eyes, now completely surprised herself.

'Omg, are you damn psychic?'

Though, no words were stated, somehow her eyes were loud enough to shout it out to him.

"I'm not psychic, but I'm just guessing." She then bit her lip, as she now went back to her drink, and finally sipped it till there was nothing left from it.

"I don't want it." She sighed in return.

'Fine, he may have found out, but I'm certainly not taking that. I don't want him to think I'm pushing him. I don't want him to think that I'm asking for anything.'

But, then again she reflected to how she retorted, was it even the right way to respond?

Though it was negative in whatever way you looked at it, Yusei didn't take it personally. For some reason, he thinks that he's starting to understand why.

"But, I'm entrusting it to you. I mean, yes, it is a tournament requirement, however, that doesn't mean that I wasn't willing enough before to let you handle it." Hikari was even more baffled.

'Seriously, you must be reading my mind!'

"Really?"

"Of course, I am. I love you more than my deck and everything else in the world." Then he finally cracked a small smile at her. "Even more than Stardust Dragon." Hikari blushed at his statement. Somehow not knowing if she should take it as a compliment or what, but Hikari just giggled.

"Seriously, more than Stardust Dragon?"

"Don't tell me you're jealous of a card." Hikari just puffed her cheeks, somehow feeling irritated at the remark, as she crossed her arms in front of her.

"Of course, I'm not. I mean, who's the silly one chasing a certain friend all the way from Satelite to Neo Domino City for Stardust Dragon?"

"Well, that was a different case." He simply said, and paused, as he finished his drink himself. Hikari just laughed in return. "And I'm using Stardust Dragon as a means to make amends."

"Whatever."

"So, are you okay now?" He asked as he held her hand.

"Yeah, I am." She smiled sheepishly. "Really, you really know how to treat a child like me, huh?"

"Of course, after all. I should know how to take care of the only child that I love."

Okay, this was rather unexpected. I never expected it to happen like this at all! (I just hope that you guys liked it though!)

I expected it to be about Hikari and Clyde instead of having it with Hikari and Yusei. But, it ended up in a way that I personally did not expect it. But, somehow that's good enough for me I guess, and I hope that you guys enjoyed it.

Don't worry, the next chapter isn't a filler YET. Lol. (Though, I personally think it's a nice filler that you all might like. But, not yet. Not now. I'll release that on the right time.)

Also, please don't forget to review!

And note to LWITS readers: Well, I am planning to make another chapter for it, and I just wanted to ask all of you regarding that. Specifically, what you guys wanted to happen next? :p

It's not that I am being lazy. I after all, planned it before hand, but I just wanted to know what the readers wanted to happen for it. :p Certain scenes and moments that you would like to happen between Yusei and Rika. :p

That's all.

Anyways, TC!

Review Reply Section:

KirbyStar64:

Hahaha thanks! Lol, Incredible is such a big word.

Regarding Clyde, yeah I know, but it's just fun making him do those stuff. I mean after all, if it wasn't for him doing that, the last chapter haven't happened lol. But, true, he really blew it during his duel. :p

Hehehe, when I was doing the chapter, all I think about is making the chapter fun, and making Crow the fanatic type of guy he is in LWITS makes it even more fun lol. Thanks for liking the small cameo :p

I see, thanks for the opinion. I've been thinking of making a new story, but that will be AFTER I finish all three of my fics first though. XD

Anyways, I hope you don't mind me asking, as an LWITS reader, what would you like to see happening there after the last update? That's all :p

Hoping that you liked the current chapter of Autumn Trsyt, and you'd look forward for my future updates.

Miss-Shadow:

Thanks!

Yeah, don't worry she will soon enough :P

I can't promise to update as fast as I can like how I do during vacation time, but I can promise to update whenever I can.

Anyways, please do look forward for my next chapter!

TC to all of you!

-jory014