A/N: I OWN NO PART YU GI OH 5DS! ALL RIGHTS GO TO THE CREATORS!

Chapter 40: The Truth Underneath

Third Person POV

Later that day, Yusei was driving on his duel runner with Era sitting behind him, holding on tight. Yusei looked behind him and at Era. She seemed tense and her mind obviously on something else.

"Era, is something wrong?" he asked her. She looked at her, confusion on her face. "You were tense and spaced out. Are you alright?"

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine," she lied.

"I've said it before and I'll say it again, you're a bad liar, Era. How many times do I have to tell you that you can't hide anything from me until you stop trying to?" Yusei asked sternly. His mate looked down, shame and worry on her face. "Just tell me what's wrong."

"Jack and Crow both told us that by tonight, we had to tell them what Brehnam was talking about. I'm just not sure how I'll be able to explain it," Era explained.

"If you want, I'll do all the talking," he responded.

"Yusei, no. I can't put all that weight on you. Just as you have to be there for me because I'm your mate, I have to be there for you because you're my mate," she retorted.

"Era…" Yusei muttered.

She set her head against his back. "Remember, we'll always be together," Era reminded her mate, "so don't try to do things on your own." She paused before slowly adding, "Not like I did."

Yusei was about to question her last sentence when Crow's face appeared on Yusei's duel runner monitor. Yusei looked at Crow and greeted, "What's up, Crow?"

"Is Era with you?" the said man asked. Yusei nodded. "Good. Jack, Bruno, and I are ready and waiting for you to explain what Brehnam was talking about. Now get back to the garage!" Crow hung up with that.

Yusei sighed before looking at Era who looked extremely nervous. "It'll be alright, Era," he reassured her, making her look at him. "I'll be right by you."

"Thank you, Yusei," she responded. He gave her a small, comforting grin. He then turned his full attention to getting to the garage.

Era's POV

When we finally arrived, we entered the garage where Bruno, Jack, and Crow were waiting.

Before Yusei and I could even utter a sound, Jack stated, "Alright, time to spill it. What did Brehnam mean when he called you 'mates'?"

"Era and I didn't really know about it until she was taken from the Underworld and I went after her," Yusei began. "According to what we were told, when a male angel wraps his wings around a female, it's a sign of protection and a sign that they're now mates. And after one of the scouting, I did wrap my wings around Era unconsciously, without knowing we would be made mates as well."

"But a male angel doesn't really choose to wrap his wings around the female," I added. "He naturally does so."

"So what does being mates mean for you two?" Bruno asked.

"It's quite similar to how demons have their attachments," I explained. "It's an angel's symbol… of marriage." The last part was quiet, but the others still heard it.

"M-Marriage?!" Crow repeated. I looked down, slightly nervous. The bird named man was shocked with how nervous I seemed about admitting it. "Why do you seem like you're so- I don't know- nervous to admit that?"

"Would it be easy for you to admit?" Yusei replied for me, probably knowing well that I wouldn't really know how to answer.

"But is it the same for those who a bisexual or one of those other types of love attractions?" Bruno asked.

"I would assume so," I answered. "I'm not really sure."

"What about Brehnam mentioning something about a child?" Jack asked.

"We didn't know this until I was told by the Crimson Dragon and the first Guardian Angel of Light when Era first went into her coma," Yusei stated.

"Wait, you met the first Guardian Angel of Light?" Crow asked. Yusei nodded. "How?"

"Her spirit stayed in the Afterlife to watch over the angels that came after her own to see if they made it alright," Yusei explained.

"Wow," Bruno responded.

"So what did she tell you that had something to do with a child?" Crow asked.

"When a male becomes mates with a female, the male unintentionally sends his DNA into her, similar to an imprinting process. Only this imprinting process does something else to the female angel," Yusei began but stopped.

"Alright, what happens?" Jack pushed, getting restless with all that was being kept from them.

"With his DNA sent into me, I was gifted with a… child," I answered in a small whisper.

"You don't mean you're…" Jack trailed off from the shock.

I gave a small nod. "I'm… pregnant," I answered slowly.

"But you don't look like you are. You haven't acted like it," Crow responded.

"According to the first Guardian Angel of Light, angels don't have the same side effects that humans do. In fact, this has only ever happened to the Guardian Angel of Light," Yusei explained.

"Wow…" Bruno muttered.

"Is this more of a gift or a curse to you?" Jack asked.

"Both," I answered. "It's using my Spell Energy to keep itself alive while it's forming inside me."

"Is that why you've been so weak and went into that coma?" Crow asked.

I nodded. "As much as it is amazing to be able to have a child of my own, it's almost killing me for it," I stated.

"That's hard," Bruno stated.

"Don't worry, Era. I'll help you," Yusei told me. "I already promised you I would be with you no matter what happens."

"Thank you, Yusei," I responded.

"Do you have any idea before it comes out?" Jack asked.

"Neither the Crimson Dragon or the first Guardian Angel of Light said and I didn't ask. So there's no telling if it's the same time span as a human or if it's longer or shorter time span," Yusei answered. "We'll just have to be ready." The guys nodded in acceptance.

I, however, was looking down in worry, so Crow assured me, "We'll be there to help you, too, Era." I looked at my human friends. "We promise."

"Thanks, guys," I responded. "That means a lot to hear." They all grinned and nodded in acceptance.