Hi guys! Can't believe it's been...two years since i last wrote?! (wow, that was one long break)

Well, don't worry. Like I said, I'll finish this!

I made sure that this is one special, extra-long chapter to make up for the time I was gone. This chapter is really special as it was made during the moments my aunt died. I started writing this happily then it just happened it was so unexpected, but I believe that the influence of that event helped me out a lot.

So, I dedicate this chapter to my wonderful Aunt Flordeliz.

Anyway, for those who have read, followed and especially reviewed, thank you so much. I'm sorry if I wasn't able to reply to your reviews, I haven't really kept up with the reviews.

But, one thing is for sure...

You guys inspire me to keep on going and I appreciate the time you have invested in my fic.

Anyway, here is the long-awaited Chapter 24! Enjoy!

The Heart of the Crimson Dragon: Autumn Tryst

If you gave me a chance I would take it

It's a shot in the dark but I'll make it

Know with all of your heart, you can't shake me

When I am with you, there's no place I'd rather be

Rather Be

by Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne

-Chapter 24-

The elimination round finally ended and the finals are drawing to a close. Yusei and Hikari solidly won the matches along with Jack and Crow.

The duels were so intense that the moment they all got back to the apartment, Yusei didn't even give a damn in anything in relation to tuning up their D-wheels for the WGRP. Crow didn't even bother trying to go over his list of deliveries for tomorrow nor did Jack went through his usual routine of his rounds of "evening coffee" or strolls. All they did was took a bath and respectively went to their rooms to snooze.

Though tired, Hikari decided to catch up with her work in the living room for her company to make up for the absences due to the tournament. Quietly, together with Clyde in the living room assisting her, each of them were focused on their respective phones, laptops and gadgets. The both of them were making various management related decisions, approving project proposals and payment endorsements with Hikari giving the final seal of approval.

The hours passed fast, the two of them slumped on their chairs the moment the clock hit 12 midnight.

Clyde yawned loudly on his seat. His eyes already betraying him but the blonde just kept her sapphire orbs staring on the ceiling with her left hand just holding a hot cup of tea but barely taking a sip.

'That's odd.' He thought. 'She was just happy moments ago. Maybe she's...tired? Or maybe something happened?'

Hoping to lighten up the mood:

"Damn. Can't believe we had this much back lag for being gone for two days. Just TWO DAYS and it looks like a damn mountain?!" Clyde complained, but all the blonde just responded with was a mere "Mmmmmm..."

"...you're sure quiet there." Then he took a sneak peak at her, who still bade him no attention.

Feeling concerned, he stood up from his seat. But before his hands could touch her shoulders, Hikari's holo-pen started beeping. It woke up the blonde from her daze as she absentmindedly answered the call.

It was one of her secretaries. To be specific, it was her dad's most trusted person. It was a man, probably would have been around her late father's age. Despite the inconvenient time, he was still wearing his coat and tie-totally professional.

As her father once told her, this man was one of the best employees he ever had.

"Director Yuki, I'm sorry for calling on such an inconvenient time, but I have something to report urgently..."

The raven-haired lad was sleeping soundly on the bed. His handsome face illuminated by the moonlight shining through his bedroom window.

Being used to sleeping beside the blonde girl, his free arm instinctively stretched to where she would be sleeping only to feel the fabric of his bed covers.

His eyes fluttered groggily.

'...she's still not here?' He thought as he stretched a bit and sat up from his bed. Then he looked at the clock on the wall. 'It's this late already and she's still working?' Looking again at the space beside him his lips formed a small smile.

Despite being born in tops, as a person who used to live in the used-to-be hellish place called Satelite, somehow he couldn't believe that he was able to meet someone like Hikari who is an owner of a company and a duel prodigy.

Remembering how he first met her, never in his wildest dreams would he have expected her to be this great of a person. That person with those innocent sapphire eyes and her petite body clad in white.

She looked like a child.

She looked like an angel.

Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined to end up with a girl like her.

Yes, he is definitely proud of her and most of all madly in love with her. She was the best thing he ever had.

Remembering her gone, remembering how he thought she was dead, it was a nightmare.

He finally stood up and walked out to the living room hoping to finally drag her to bed with him.

The light was shining brightly in the living room, which slightly hurt his eyes.

Then he heard an unfamiliar voice of a man.

"Director Yuki, I'm sorry for calling on such an inconvenient time, but I have something to report urgently..." this was the first time he heard Hikari called like that. It felt so foreign, as if she was someone different and a person way beyond his reach. Instinctively, he concealed himself in the dark hall just right in front of his room.

Curious to know who that man was, he took a small peak only to see a holographic image of an old man in a business suit.

He kneeled quietly on the ground to watch and hear more clearly.

"Alright, go ahead." She uttered, whilst finally taking a sip on her tea. Her stare was serious with a tinge of coldness in them. Though before he had seen this expression of hers the moment her memories returned, he still wasn't used to seeing it. Actually, not much getting to see her do her work, he never got to see this 'Director Yuki'. No not just that, actually he doesn't know much about her past and the world of the Hikari before she lost her memories.

But does it matter?

Though some say that it doesn't, somehow a part of him wished to know. He wished to know the part of Hikari that befriended Aki and the Hikari that Clyde Yagami fell in love past that made her give off this cold aura and stare.

"I know that it is in the best interest of the company to live as a fugitive, however, due to your public appearance in the WTGP, a lot have been wanting to meet you in person regarding that..." he stated as he coughed. "Also, we have been receiving a lot of threats from among the other members of the board and outside the company...wishing for..."

"...me to sell my shares and the ownership of the company." She finished the sentence with a sigh and had another sip from her cup. Just looking at her tired eyes, she was obviously stressed out. "Or perhaps, they wanted me dead?" She said with a smirk and a tinge of bitterness in her voice.

His eyes went wide in surprise. 'How come she didn't told me about that?'

"I knew it!" Clyde exclaimed angrily as he slammed the table with his hands. "I knew you shouldn't have joined the tournament." But Hikari just smiled bitterly.

"But, wasn't it you who orchestrated this to happen? For me to meet everyone again? For me to meet him again?" Clyde fell silent as he bit his lower lip.

"So I noticed that the heir of the Yagami Enterprises is still with you. Even your people have been looking all over for you. I'm quite surprised they haven't found you yet."

"Whatever, I'd rather die than betray Hikari!" He roared at the man. But turned back to the blonde with aa forlorn expression. "I just wanted to make you happy. I love you and I still do and I didn't want you to suffer like this." For some reason, Yusei can't help but feel jealous all of a sudden and just plainly surprised. He just never knew any of it and Clyde of all people had to know it.

"But I do not blame you. Actually, I wanted to thank you, Clyde because you did make me happy." Her eyes finally giving off kindness. "You helped me meet the man whom I wanted to be with. The only man that can make me happy. Everything since then was my choice. The tournament... staying here... and not once do I regret any of it." Hearing her confession brought comfort to his heart, but somehow he wished he knew all of this. He wished that she relied more on him.

"...so, I believe that you have other things to tell me, yes?" She asked the old man.

"Yes, I do. Though usually we have everything under control but somehow things are getting out of hand especially with Yliaster's involvement and I believe that your personal appearance would help make the situation better."

'...no wonder she's concerned with Yliaster.'

"...I see." Hikari finally placed down her cup and massaged her temples with both hands. Clyde slumped back on his chair not knowing what to do but to blame himself. "You know, I've been thinking about it. I believe that my parents wouldn't wish for me to be in this kind of situation. Based on the will, I am sure they wanted me to inherit it. Is there something else that I should know?"

"NO! Definitely not." Clyde commented once again with another slam that made Hikari raised her brow then smirk.

"Then I guess the more I should be more curious about it. Please, enlighten me. I want to know so I could help the company."

"But..." Clyde just stared at her worriedly.

"If this is what you wish. Actually, there is more to the will than just inheriting the company completely and lawfully until you reach your 18th year, but there was actually another way. Your parents always thought you and Clyde would one day be together and thus made a condition that if ever the current Director wishes to get married before she reaches her legal age, then she may inherit the company legally."

"Ugh..." Clyde defeatedly slumped himself on the chair with his face buried in his palms.

"...you knew this? For all this time you knew this, Clyde?" Her voice sounding betrayed, but then she gave a hallow laugh. "Hahahaha... you're so kind. Thinking about it, if I haven't lost my memories, went to Satelite and met him we probably wouldn't have a difficult time to decide about this." Obviously, refering to the condition of her parents.

"...but would you have loved me back then? If ever you didn't and you still lost your parents, knowing how you were before even if you didn't want me...even if you didn't want to be with me forever you will choose to have a forever with me."

"...true. If it was before, like other people like us, I wouldn't have minded to have a political marriage with you."

"But now, I'm not much the person I was. Probably, I'm no longer the person I used to be. Before, all I wanted was to make everyone happy, but now I want to be happy with everyone as well. But thank you for being considerate Clyde; it's okay now..." she smiled kindly towards the brunette.

"...so, what will your decision be, Director? I assume that based on what you said I won't be finding you a partner suitable for you?" The old man asked.

"...or will you ask him?" Clyde added with a dark tone. Hikari let out another hallow laugh as she shook her head slowly.

"...no. I can't." She said as she stood up from her seat and headed towards the window as her lonely eyes travelled towards the silvery moon. "I can't be that greedy. Just being with him is enough... I can't ask for more or the gods might curse me again hahaha."

For some reason, Yusei felt like butting in to say: 'I'll marry you to end your misery and because I want to have my forever with you. You're not greedy, because I want to do it only with you.' But his mind ordered him to stay there, wanting to hear more.

Though thinking about it, living together, sleeping together, and though adopted and not officially under his family registry, they are raising a child together. Technically, they are already like a married couple, only not bound by a legal marriage contract.

Hikari stared on her right hand.

"But realistically speaking, right now in our current situation even if we swapped genders and I'd be the one to give the ring, there is no way we could. I can't have him involved with me like this. Probably, not now." She gave another bitter smile. "Or probably never will."

Hearing that, his mind lost control of his body including his mouth and ran down the stairs.

"...you're wrong. I want to marry you and if it will help you and your situation, I don't mind marrying you right now." Hikari was definitely taken aback as it made her stand up from her seat as well as Clyde.

"Yusei?! I thought you were sleeping! You heard everything?!" But Yusei ignored her bombardment of questions and instead kneeled on the floor then took her right hand.

"Please, marry me. Will you accept?" Hikari was lost for words as her eyes started to brim with tears. She hugged him tightly as she shook her head vigorously.

"...no, Yusei. I don't want you to ask me like this. I don't want you to marry me like this... I want you to marry me because you love me and you feel that it is the right time. Please, I don't want us to be involved in anything in relation to my company."

"...but I do love you." He said as he hugged her back, and this made her cry.

'No... I don't want him to get married to me, especially now that I am unsure if I can do spend "forever" with him. I can't believe that he's the one fixing my problems again.'

'I'm so pathetic.'

'Not only that if we do get married...he will...'

"...no. You probably just feel sorry for me...no, I can't let you ask that question to me like this!" She exclaimed as she pushed him away and ran away towards the door with tears trickling down her cheeks.

Yusei tried to run after her, but the brunette was quick to grab his wrist stopping him.

He glared at Clyde fiercely.

"Let me go!" He bellowed. However, Clyde was resilient as he stared back at him sternly with the hope to convince him.

"Please, leave her alone and let her calm her head. She just needs time to think."

Yusei swept Clyde's hand away in one fell swoop, then walked towards him intimidatingly with hands balled into fists suppressing his anger and confusion. Though calmly this time, he said:

"I may not know about all her worries, but I'm sure that this is not the only thing she is concerned about. She needs us. She needs me, but she needs to know that I need her too. I need her to be with me and to do that, I believe that opening our hearts to each other is the first step."

"If that's what you think, then how much of her world do you know? How much of her thoughts and feelings do you understand?" Clyde was definitely not convinced. "Even if you are there but you can't understand, how can you help her? There's nothing that you can do."

"Then I have to break through her world and know it myself then." With that statement, Clyde was taken aback and Yusei went on his way to catch up to her.

Her feet just ran and ran until she can run no more.

She stopped to catch her breath. She wiped her tear-streaked face and stared towards the night sky.

'The moon is oddly beautiful tonight.' She thought, as it was big, round and purely white.

Looking at how peaceful the city is, she felt awed at how their future looked right now. Specifically, seeing Neo Domino City and Satelite as one. She has never dreamed of such future being possible at all.

Actually, she would have never imagined to have this future with everyone and most especially, to have a future together with Yusei and was offered up the chance to have it legally.

Somehow she wondered, would she ever have a future as peaceful as this? A peaceful forever with everyone and the man that she loves?

She stared back at the path from where she came from, it was dark and empty, she felt lonely, confused and lost.

But is lonely the right word to describe it?

Perhaps, it might be her worries surfacing that she has been trying to suppress?

Although oftentimes it has been Yusei who has been helping her solve her problems one after another.

But, should she always rely on him to help her out?

Is this what it meant to be in a relationship?

It is true that as lovers, you face everything together and get through everything together?

But, up to what extent?

Is there even a limit to it?

But one thing is for sure, she doesn't always want to rely on him. To be specific, she doesn't want to burden him. To be his life-sized "extra baggage". She wants to be happy all the time with him and of course make him happy.

With the events that just transpired just now, not only did he discover another set of her problems but is once again the person who can and will fix the problem with his proposal of marriage.

She shook her head vigorously as lot of things keep flooding her mind, specifically:

Yliaster - How to beat them to protect this peace.

Illusions Corp - How to protect it and the dreams her family has entrusted to it.

Ares - How to make him not feel lonely and abandoned like her.

Her friends - To make sure that they're not affected by anything in relation to her world of business.

Yusei and herself- And this is where things get complicated.

How should she handle it?

Was she supposed to say yes to him?

Does he hate her now that she ran away from his proposal?

Tears once again formed on her blue orbs.

'I really need to get a hold of myself, especially if I wanted to make everyone happy.' She thought as she tried walking, her feet dragging her to the Daimon Area.

It felt so natural for her feet to bring her there, as it is the place where Neo Domino's nightlife is brought to life with all the bars, black markets and motels are open for business.

Yes, before she reunited with Yusei, this was the place that helped her forget her problems. The place that gave her a sense of temporary comfort from her worries.

She really hated her mind and her heart for she just can't forget any of her worries permanently.

Sometimes she can't help but wonder that perhaps it could have been better if her memories didn't return.

But, is forgetting everything the solution? All it does is make her ignorant about reality.

'Actually, it's not complicated between Yusei and I...its with everyone. But it's not them, who's the problem...' She sighed as her feet fell into a complete stop in front of Ozone-the bar she always frequently goes to.

Naturally, she would have went in without hesitation and order her usual vodka drinks or probably a whisky on the rocks and some gin-filled long island iced tea.

But for some reason, she just stared at it as she watched other people walk in thoughtlessly with glee as if it was the natural thing to do.

'The problem is me and this mark.' Her eyes traveled down to her right arm where the mark of the dragon rested. 'Am I really supposed to die?'

'How can I die just like that? I still have a lot of things to do. Things that I must do.'

She bit her lip as she balled her right hand to a fist.

'...I still have things that I want to do. Things to do with my friends and Yusei.'

She could feel her body tremble.

'...I'm so scared. I'm so scared to die. I want to live. But how can I live?'

'How can I say yes to him? Does he even want a forever with me or does he just feel sorry for me and my situation? Even if I wanted to have one...if ever his proposal was genuine, how can I make a promise of forever when I have this damned wretched mark?!' She bit her lower lip, whils slowly forming her palm into a tight ball of fist bitterly.

"Ahhhh, what's a sad girl here doing outside the bar?"

Suddenly, a man came up to her. Probably, as tall or a little bit taller but definitely older than Yusei. Adorned with a black, long-sleeved leather jacket with a white undershirt, tattered jeans and loafers, all of him spells bad news for sure.

Hikari stepped back away from him with her arm equipped with her duel brace shielding her and ready to engage.

"...what do you want from me?" She hissed back, but the man just chuckled at her as he stayed calm and relaxed.

"Oh, I don't like anything from you. Rather, I have something to offer you."

"...something to offer me?" She asked with a raised brow; still apprehensive.

"Your problematic face doesn't suit a young lady like you. I can give you something that will make you happy and make all your problems..." He gestured his hand a few inches away from her chest, as if to catch something then stretched out his arms towards the sky as if letting whatever he caught go. "...fly away forever."

She was a little bit doubtful. Of course, she knows better than to trust anybody in the Daimon Area. Although, a part of her is actually interested. Is there actually something that can do that in a pinch?

If there is, then she'd be more than willing to buy it in a heartbeat.

But she just smirked sardonically at the man.

"Yeah right..." then she tried to walk towards Ozone, but the man swiftly caught her arm.

"Hey, I'm not kidding! And there's no strings attached young lady! I'm even willing to give you a free trial..."

She took back her arm with a glare.

The man swiftly dug inside his pockets only to pick up a Ziploc of round pills with various colors.

"I'll give you one for free then if you want more you can call me through this calling card." He said as he handed her the card and the pill.

She is supposed to know better than that, but her arm slowly moved towards it as if in a trance. Her mind says no, but her heart keeps telling her to get it, while screaming "Try it".

Her heart was beating hard beneath in her chest both due to fear and excitement.

Fear for who knows what lies ahead once she drinks that pill.

Excitement for the sensation that man claimed before her.

'I will just try it. Yes, just once. Just this one night.'

'I want to be truly happy...for Yusei.'

But before her bare hand could graze the pill and card, a tanned hand held her hand and clasped it securely.

"No thanks. She doesn't need it. She's with me." Said a man with a tenor voice. His azure eyes glaring at the man in front of her.

She gasped, highly surprised with her eyes wide with slight terror.

"Yusei?!"

"Tch." The man immediately left stealthily not wanting to get any sort of unnecessary attention.

Hikari placed her hand on her face covering the tears that might dare to fall. She doesn't know what to feel right now.

Should it be fear? Anxiety? Embarrassment? Relief?

She could feel her legs weakening as she found herself kneeling towards the ground.

Words weren't spoken, but Yusei immediately pulled her towards his chest and hugged her tightly.

However, she pushed him away still covering her face as tears finally cascaded down on her face after realizing what she was about to do.

"...no! Don't look at me! Don't touch me!" She screamed, her voice cracking. "I don't deserve you. Me...a person who's so weak and...so pathetic!" She cried. "How can you propose to a girl like me?!"

He tried to walk towards her, but Hikari raised her hand signaling him to stop on his tracks.

"I'm not worthy Yusei...I'm not. I may have once in my life considered marriage for political reasons...but that's because I don't love that person. But you...I love you. I care for you...do you know what it means to be with me?!" she tried to voice out stuttering a bit due to her tears.

"...my life is in danger. You will be in danger. Do you know what it means to be with me? Your life will never be the same." And the words that she is afraid to confess finally flowed out of her mouth: "...my life is short, Yusei. I can't promise you a forever Can you handle all of that? Can you accept all of that?"

"I will handle it, because I love you. I love you so much that I will accept all of you. I want you to share your everything with me, your mind and your heart, as I will share mine with yours and that includes your pain and my pain. I love you."

And that's the end for now.

My writing has evolved as I age...so it is far from how I left the THOCD series.

To be honest, writing is a challenge because it is not just the creation of words being put together, but an art.

To be honest, I almost lost my groove in writing...something that I have lost since I started THOCD:AT (refer to my struggles that I have been mentioning since the beginning of this story's chapters).

But, I wasn't content with that.

I love writing and I missed it.

It's one of the things that I love the most. So, I just have to remember what it was that I lost, and thank God I did.

Anyways, like always I hope you guys enjoyed this latest update.

Please do review!

As always, I am open to any comments, suggestions, criticisms and etc.

See you guys on the next chapter!

Btw, As I have been reconsidering it, how does another sequel for the THOCD series sound?

TC!

PS. sorry for the typos and possible grammatical errors as I made this whole thing on my phone.