When she fell, she thought, for a moment, that she had heard someone scream her name.
For some reason, the last face in her mind before it all went dark was Masumi's.
The last thought was a silent plea.
Reach me. Please.
Masumi didn't listen to Yaiba's shout for her to wait. That they didn't know for sure that that had been Yuzu. They shouldn't get separated, they had to stay together, they didn't know where this was or what the rules were and are you even listening?
She didn't listen. She couldn't. Yuzu needed her.
Through a haze of pain and tears she saw a blur of blue hovering over her, felt a cold hand press against her neck to search for signs of life. Her fingers twitched, desperate to feel those soft hands entwined with her own.
"Ma-su-mi?" was all she managed to breathe.
The only response was a whispering, a shushing, a murmuring that it was going to be okay, just relax. Her eyes fluttered shut again. She dreamed once of cool brown hands guiding her fingers across piano keys before she fell back into the blackness again.
Yuzu wasn't there. Masumi couldn't hear over the roar of blood in her ears. The place was crawling with men in uniform, helmets and sunglasses and motorcycles that spun with red and blue, lines of hurriedly plastered yellow tape blocking off the wreckage. The pink motorbike—a memory of pink flowers dancing in a breeze, a poor substitute for her—sighed unto the ground, mangled and smoking and was that a spark of flame leaping from its engine?
Not here. She left. How? Had the police officers taken her away already? Had there been an ambulance she hadn't seen? How had they moved her from this top floor without Masumi seeing them as she darted from hallway to hallway? Instinct more than anything told her to duck out of sight of the police officers—she wasn't so rattled not to recognize that she was out of her element. She did not know the rules of this world, she did not even know what kind of game was being played. She didn't know what worked and when and how and she couldn't yet trust anyone.
Yuzu wasn't here. That much was clear.
So where?
"Goddamn," swore an officer feet away from Masumi's hiding place, pressed against the wall in the hall, heart hammering and cold sweat plastering her hands to the wall behind her. "Where the hell did she go? She grow wings or something?"
"Well, she certainly wasn't fucking walking after this...nasty shit. Man. Surprised it's not more of a mess than it is."
Masumi's breath caught in her throat and she choked. She slapped a hand over her mouth to still the sound. She did not want to think about the possibilities.
"Well, wherever she went, she won't go far. People on the street'll find her."
In Masumi's panicked brain, she decided that these men were Yuzu's enemies. She had nothing to back it up, only panic and instinct and a desperate desire for Yuzu.
She had to find Yuzu first.
She drifted in and out of consciousness. There was no one near, she knew that much. She felt cold and alone. Helpless. She couldn't move. Could barely even hear, think.
Broken, she thought. Something in me. Broke when I fell. A lot of things, maybe.
Getting up would be impossible. Moving would be impossible. Escape, if it was necessary, would be impossible. Would they be here soon, to send her below ground? Force her to work in the underground facility in her condition until she dropped dead right there on the ground?
A terrified tear rolled down her cheek.
She tried to get up. She tried and tried and tried. But she could only get the barest twitch out of her fingers, and that sent a wash of pain over her. She had to get up. Yuya would be worried. Selena would be worried. Gongenzaka would be worried. Everyone would be worried. She had to let them know that she was okay. She had to...let them...
She had to reach that small blur of blue, the only thing that she could think about. She had to...reach Masumi.
Masumi...please...help me...
Yuzu had caught her, that day only a few weeks before that felt like a few years. She had caught Yuzu in the arms of her flower singer and Masumi had thought that Yuzu's arms must feel just as warm as that.
But Masumi hadn't been there to catch her. If she had left a few moments earlier. If she had convinced Yaiba to leave with her at midnight instead of four am. They would have been here in time for Masumi to catch her.
She could have been there. She could have been there.
The thoughts rolled over and over in her head as she ran. She wanted to scream Yuzu's name but she bit the impulse down. She couldn't attract the attention of the searching police.
A frustrated sob bubbled out of her throat. This was impossible. She was only one person. The police were everywhere searching for Yuzu. There were probably cameras, security, every piece of networking out there that they had that Masumi didn't. It was impossible for her to think that she could find Yuzu first.
Impossible. Too impossible.
She had to try anyway.
Wait for me, Yuzu.
The blue hadn't been Masumi. As happy as Yuzu had been to see Sora, she couldn't deny the stab of disappointment at not seeing a familiar Gem Knight swing into view. Had she dreamed Masumi's voice calling out to her in the distance? She had fallen a long way, Sora said. It was a miracle she had come out as unscathed as she had. Sora's Frightfurs had cushioned part of the fall, but honestly, she shouldn't be walking right now.
Yuzu only nodded, only half listening to him scold her for getting up and walking around without her.
She had been so sure. So sure that Masumi was here, somehow, looking for her. Like the thread of nostalgic song tugging at her heart.
But then, that was impossible, wasn't it? It would have been impossible for Masumi to come all this way. Yuya...Yuya and the others had made sense. Reiji was smart, and had the technology. But for Masumi...it would be impossible. The odds were too high for her to reach this far. And really, why would she? They weren't...that close.
Her hand twitched at her side as Tsukikage led her down the alleyway with the children in tow. She wanted so badly for a hand to grab hers. A cool, sun-brown hand tightening in hers, crimson eyes narrowing as she scolded Yuzu for going so far without her, for getting herself into such trouble. For not staying to finish the Maiami tournament. "After all, you beat me! That means you have to win the whole damn thing, or I won't forgive you!"
There was no hand in hers. There was no voice to scold her.
There was no song between them, pulling them closer together.
There was no one to stay at her side when Tsukikage told her that he heard "Reira-dono" dueling nearby, and he had to go to him. There was no one to press against her in reassurance when Tsukikage had her and the children crouch inside an abandoned building under a rotting bar to keep them out of sight until he returned with Reira. There was no one to grab her hand and stop her from darting out of her hiding place and running down the hall to distract the police officers getting too close from the children. No one to shout at her about how stupid she was being putting herself in danger when she found herself cornered at the end of a hallway and turned to face no less than four officers all at once.
No one to stand at her side and lift her Duel Disk in solidarity. Yuzu felt frustrated tears bubble in her eyes.
It really was impossible for Masumi to reach her, wasn't it?
She ducked behind another corner. Darting and weaving, back and forth. Yaiba had been lost some time ago, and she felt a stab of guilt, but he could handle himself. Yuzu was laying somewhere, hurt, maybe even dying, probably alone. Masumi had to reach her, no matter what it took.
And then she stopped. She almost tripped with how abruptly she had skidded. She whipped around, hair snapping around her in a black wave, and strained to hear. Was that...
Music. She heard music. The hovering, dulcet tones of a Melodious in battle.
Yuzu.
Masumi bolted across the street. She didn't care if anyone saw her anymore. Yuzu was near, and she had to get to her.
It was coming from that building, half torn down and sagging. Somewhere up above! She exploded into the lobby of an old tavern, wild eyes flashing in all direction. A small face poked over the bar and squeaked before vanishing. Masumi threw herself across the room and leaned over the bar.
The three children hiding there flinched and cowered. She didn't have time to comfort them.
"Yuzu," was the first word out of her mouth. "Where is she?"
The children exchanged glances briefly, and then stared at her with some suspicion. It was the little girl who finally answered, extracting herself from the grip of the older boy.
"She ran upstairs to distract them from us," she said, on the verge of tears. "Please help Yuzu-chan!"
That was all Masumi needed to know. She pushed off of the bar and bolted for the stairs. She took them two at a time despite the ominous creaking and snapping sounds that came with every smack of her foot into the rotting wood. Duel Disk was already turned on, her first hand was pulled into her fingers, she didn't even flinch at the sparkle of electricity and the flashing of her screen that said "interruption penalty."
"I fuse three Gem Knights in my hand to fusion summon Gem Knight Lady Brilliant Diamond!"
Her monster ripped through the wall and they came tumbling into the hallway. Masumi tripped, tumbled to her knees. Her eyes snapped up as she fell.
She met beautiful azure blue eyes, wide with shock.
Yuzu.
For a moment, Yuzu's world stopped. She stood there, frozen, mouth hanging open.
Dream. This was a dream. She couldn't...she couldn't possibly be here. It was...impossible.
No. Those crimson eyes, wide with fright and concern—they had to be real. Then...then she was here? Masumi...
Masumi had come for her.
She felt tears bubble in her eyes.
"Masumi," she whispered.
The word snapped Masumi back to herself, snapped her out of staring at Yuzu. The girl snot back to her feet.
"Normal summon Gem Knight Lazuli!" she shouted. "Then, Lady Brilliant Diamond's effect! I tribute Lazuli to special summon a Fusion monster from my Extra Deck, ignoring summoning conditions! Come, Gem Knight Master Diamond!"
The second brilliant fusion monster appeared at Masumi's side, and Yuzu had to clap her hands to her mouth to still the sob of relief that had washed over her at the sight of those familiar monsters. Her knees trembled and she thought she might collapse.
"Lazuli's effect! When sent to the graveyard for a card effect, I add a normal monster from my Graveyard to my hand! Return to me, Gem Knight Tourmaline!"
Masumi forced her way between the trio of officers, her monsters clearing the way. She darted to Yuzu's side, her face flushed and eyes wide. Almost of their own accord, her hands snapped up to grip Yuzu's shoulders.
"Are you okay?" she said, her words coming out so quickly that they tumbled over each other and sounded more like one word than three.
Yuzu breathed out a breath she hadn't known she was holding. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Masumi had reached her.
"Now I am."
Masumi whipped around to deal with the three officers on their tails. Her instincts had been right—these people were Yuzu's enemies.
Yuzu had saved Masumi once—it was time to return the favor.
"Lady Brilliant Diamond, attack!" she shouted. "Master Diamond, you too!"
"Trap open! Chaos Burst! By tributing one monster on the field, I destroy your attacking monster and deal 1000 points of damage!"
Masumi flinched back, throwing her arms in front of Yuzu in a desperate attempt to shield her. Oh, god, she only had two thousand life points left. This hit would drop her in half!
Master Diamond exploded with a scream and a scattering of shards. Masumi screamed too as the effect damage struck her.
"Masumi!" Yuzu screamed. Masumi wobbled, dropping to one knee. Yuzu's hands snapped under her arms in an attempt to keep her on her feet.
"Trap open! Chaos Burst!"
Masumi paled. Oh, god, two of the three had the same trap. This would take her out.
Yuzu—I'm sorry...
"Trap open!" Yuzu shouted. "Paradox Fusion! By removing one face up Fusion monster on the field from play, I can negate the activation of a trap!"
Lady Diamond rippled out of sight, and the effect damage swirled past Masumi without hitting her. The trap card shattered. Masumi staggered, but Yuzu's grip stayed strong. She held Masumi up.
"I-I'm sorry, Masumi, I lost your monster..."
"You just saved my ass," Masumi muttered. "And here I was supposed to be the cool one this time..."
She swallowed, and staggered back to her feet. Yuzu's hand did not leave her side, supporting her.
"I'm sorry," she said, half smirking. "I couldn't do much at all."
"Don't say that!" Yuzu said, tears flying from her eyes. "I'm just—you came for me."
The words sent a shudder down Masumi's spine.
"Thank you," Yuzu said. The tears wouldn't stop rolling down her cheeks, and her shoulders were shaking. It was all she could do to hold Masumi up as well as herself. "Thank you...oh, god, thank you. You came for me."
Masumi had to smile.
"Stop crying, you dummy," she said, wiping the tears away from one cheek with her fingers. "Of course I came. You're going to get yourself into trouble without help, aren't you?"
Yuzu choked for a moment. Then she smiled through her tears, and nodded.
"Oy, you too! It's my turn!" one of the officers snarled. "And I'll get rid of the interrupting bitch this turn. I draw!"
He didn't even look at his card before he jabbed his hand at Masumi.
"Goyo Predator, take her out!"
Yuzu's eyes snapped up with a fury.
"Trap card, Magic Cylinder!" she shouted. "You'll take the damage instead!"
A cry of shock rang out from the other side the attack shot into the cylinder and back out the other side, striking the man in the gut.
"My turn!" Yuzu shouted. "Draw!"
She glanced briefly at her card, and then a dazzling smile spread over her face.
"We can win," she whispered. "Just watch, Masumi...we can win!"
She flashed the card towards their opponents.
"Magic card, Nostalgic Tune! I can declare one monster name—if that monster is any of our decks, we special summon as many as possible to our fields. However, their attack is zero, and they will be destroyed at the end of the turn, with their combined attacks being taken out of my life points!"
"Yuzu—" Masumi started, a flicker of panic shooting through her.
"The name I declare is Crystal Rose!" Yuzu shouted.
Masumi's voice died briefly in her throat.
Oh.
From Masumi's deck, a light shone out. A matching light exploded from Yuzu's deck. Before them, the light congealed and sharpened into the cut facets of twin red roses. Yuzu's eyes shone brighter than the finest diamond that Masumi had ever seen.
They met eyes for a moment, and smiled.
"We activate Crystal Rose's effect!" they shouted as one. "By discarding one monster from the deck to the Graveyard, Crystal Rose's name becomes the same as the discarded monster!"
They both sent their monsters to the graveyard—one Gem-Knight, one Melodious. The chosen creatures shimmered like a haze from the glimmer of light reflecting off of the rose's petals.
"I activate Fusion!" Yuzu shouted, and Masumi found herself shouting with her. As one, they took the card in their hands and slapped it into the disk. The two Crystal Roses glowed and swirled together into an array of glorious light.
"Reflect your glorious melody into the shining world!" they said as one. "Appear, Rose Quartz, the Lustrous Duet!"
Light sparkled all across the room in a scatter of refraction. For a moment, it was too bright to even look at the creature, the new monster created by their double Crystal Rose fusion. But then the light draped away like a cloak. She was tall, her shape obscured by the great billowing dress in shades of pink and pastel blue which seemed to be made of scales of quartz. Her hands were clasped before her, a light golden brown in color, eyes shining in two colors, one ruby and one sapphire. Her lustrous white hair tumbled down her back like it was made of threads of crystal, sending scatters of light across the floor. Beautiful silver wings curled around her, surrounded by a veil of gold that draped over her like a wedding veil. A large red rose necklace nestled at her throat.
Masumi and Yuzu met each other's gazes again. Then they turned together towards the new being that they had created.
"Rose Quartz can attack special summoned monsters once for every monster used to Fusion summon it!" they shouted.
"W-what?" one of the officers said, taking one stumbling step back.
"Rose Quartz!" they shouted. "Go! Harmonic Refraction!"
Rose Quartz drew in a deep breath. Then the sound exploded from her throat. The song was high, clear, melodious. It struck through Masumi's heart like a song from long ago, and she felt tears rise to her eyes.
The music blasted past the opposing monsters. Two attacks was more than enough. There were three monsters, but none of them could stand up to Rose Quartz's four thousand attack. The shining being raised her hands to the sky and took another breath.
"This is the final blow!" Yuzu said.
"Rose Quartz's effect! When Crystal Rose is in the Graveyard, it will deal the combined attack of the monsters destroyed to the opponent at the end of the damage step!" said Masumi.
Almost unconsciously, their hands had entwined together between them sometime in the middle of the fight. They thrust one arm forward as one.
"Rose Quartz the Lustrous Duet! Dispersion of Requiem!"
The girl let the last breath of song go. The music twisted in a battle cry and ripped into the remaining officers. There wasn't even a cry as all three were flung back.
It felt like ages before the song ended. Rose Quartz let her hands drop back to her sides, and looked out curiously at the destruction she had wrought. This building didn't look like it would hold for too much longer, honestly.
But Masumi couldn't find it in herself to move. Her knees shook. Her hand wouldn't release Yuzu's, and she thought she felt Yuzu's tighten in hers even more desperately. Rose Quartz hovered a moment longer. Then without another sound, or even a glance at them, she vanished, fading with the life points hitting zero.
They stood there, silent. Shaking. Trying to catch their breath.
And then Yuzu giggled. And Masumi couldn't help but let out a giggle too, the relief bubbling out of her uncontrollably. She was shaking, Yuzu was shaking, it was all they could do to reach for each other's free hand and grip it, trying to hold each other up but not being willing to release each other's hands in order to actually support each other.
"We did it," Yuzu said.
"We did do it," Masumi said. She felt like a loon, sitting there and giggling after a duel, but Yuzu was smiling so widely and her hands were so warm and solid and she was here that Masumi just couldn't stop.
And then Yuzu, impulsive, without pausing, pushed forward on her toes and her lips crashed against Masumi's. Masumi flinched—but then she realized what was happening and before she could think about it, she was melting into the kiss, dropping Yuzu's hands so that she could slide her arms around Yuzu's waist and pull her tightly against her, feel the warmth and weight and realness of her in her arms. Yuzu's arms tightened around Masumi's waist too, as though desperate, trying to reassure herself that this was real and it wasn't a dream, the way that Masumi was.
They broke apart with a gasping, panting for breath. Yuzu's hands curled into Masumi's shirt.
"You came for me," she whispered.
"Of course I did," Masumi said. "Of course I did."
Yuzu let out a deep, deep sigh, and then she dropped her head into Masumi's shoulder. Masumi could feel the heat spreading across her cheeks, but she didn't flinch away from it. She just let her eyes flutter shut, and pressed Yuzu ever closer.
She had no idea what would come next. They had just fought off three police officers, and there were more down in the city below. There were those kids that were hiding in the lobby that would have to be taken care of, and Yaiba was still wandering around the city, probably swearing up a storm looking for Masumi, and Masumi still didn't know what the hell was going on. Everything looked pretty impossible from here.
As impossible as all the other things, like Yuzu being okay, and me finding her, and...and me falling in love with her.
It didn't matter what would come next.
They would face it together this time.
There will be no more days without you.
A/N: and so ends Lustershipping week, like three days late lol. I hope you enjoyed it! I'm definitely planning some more Lustershipping in the future, so maybe you'd like to stick around?
About the cards, yeah, I made some up because I needed a deus ex machina. "Nostalgic Tune" and of course "Rose Quartz, the Lustrous Duet" were both my creations. Planning on making "actual" card versions of them to post on Tumblr so maybe check out my Tumblr for that! (It's linked on my profile). I was also pretty lenient with stretching card effects so...shhhhh pretend you didn't see it XD
I hope you enjoyed Lustershipping Week, and thank you for reading Facets of a Melody.