Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!, Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx, or Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds or any characters from the Yu-Gi-Oh! Franchise. I do own any OCs I make, but most will be likely be minor characters (even more so than the minor characters in the show - save for Nozomi and Hiroshi. My fingers ran away with them, and I like the dynamic they made too much to change it. I find them amusing). I make no money from this fanfiction as it is a tribute to a fandom I really like and want to play around in. If you see this on a paid site, please note that someone has plagiarized me and let me know so I may take steps to prevent fines or whatever. Also, I will be using the Japanese names, so if you're only familiar with the English, 4kids swapped two names: Blitz is Nerve and Nervin is Blitz.
Took me a bit to figure out how I wanted to start this chapter. I had several things that could occur next, but the order of quite a bit is interchangeable in the near future, though what order occurs will change how certain things play out slightly. I've decided on where one of those events will happen. And that's what finally got me able to write this chapter since the scene will occur in it. It might not have, and happened later, had I not been inspired, causing the muses to click some pieces of the puzzle together. Thanks Farana123 for writing that scene that inspired my own here. xDDD (I beta her story "Uncle Judai - the Supreme King". *hint hint, nudge, nudge - gocheckitout*
Oh, and apparently Dr. Schmidt doesn't have a name in the original Japanese (if he does, I can't find it), so that's an exception to the "no dub names". Since, you know, if I'm going to have what seems to be the Satellite's only doctor be referenced, I need a name.
So without further adieu, let's get on with the show! *opens the curtains she set up in the middle of the road to reveal Sapphire Pegasus once again*
Pony! *hops on*
Sapphire Pegasus: I should really contact my agent… *flies off with me on his back again*
"You want to go to the Diamond Area?" Yusei asked, wanting to be absolutely sure he heard Lua right.
"Uh huh. The Black Rose Witch is rumored to show up there sometimes. She's this really powerful Psychic Duelist, but she causes a lot of destruction with her powers. I wanna see if I can talk to her. Maybe Uncle Johan can help her if I can get her to listen," Lua explained. Yusei glanced over at Yusuke, who was still at the dining room table, pouring over invoices from his company, Millenium International. Just because the job he did for "Uncle Judai" was able to be put on hold didn't mean he could ignore his company. Though, at least he was able to work from home for awhile. He co-owned it with Misawa Daichi, who was more than happy to pick up the slack for a bit.
"I'm fine with it. The Diamond Area may be a bit rough and I wouldn't let Lua and Teipei go there on their own, but it's no rougher than the Satellite, so I'll trust you to keep the kids safe," Yusuke commented as he took out his Deck, pulling out a card before getting up. "Though, take this with you. Honest is my Duel Spirit and powerful enough to cross into this dimension on his own. He'll need to absorb some Dueling Energy to stick around for any length of time if I or someone else with abilities doesn't summon him, but there'll be plenty if the Black Rose appears and he needs to come out."
Yusei nodded in understanding and carefully placed the card in an inside pocket of his jacket. "I'll be meeting up with some friends on the way there. Himura and Yanagi get out today, and the more backup I have heading to unfamiliar territory, the better. I don't have a reputation here like I do back home in the Satellite, and I'd prefer to avoid conflict if possible."
Yusuke nodded. "Understandable. I'd like to meet your friends anyway. Especially Yanagi. I'd like to ask him a few things about when he met the Herald. Judai doesn't always give all the necessary details when talking about his travels."
That gave Yusei a double-take. "Uncle" Judai was the Herald? Though thinking about it, it made sense. Judai obviously knew what was going on with Yusei, and Burst Lady - one of Judai's signature monsters, apparently - told Yusei that the Herald would tell him what's up when the time was right. Yusei wondered what it meant to be a Herald if Judai wasn't aging. Were they immortal? Or was Judai just, as Nozomi would call him, a "special snowflake".
(Yusei was seriously becoming homesick. Yes, having a secure place to sleep was awesome, yes he loved the newer members of his growing family just as much as those still back home, but he missed his Satellite family. He seriously wanted to pay a quick visit soon, if possible, despite what he still had to do.)
"I'll bring them here when we head back this afternoon," Yusei promised. Yusuke nodded and returned to his work. The Satellite's Hope looked to Lua and Luka. "Ready to go?"
"Yes!" Lua cheered, while Luka gave Yusei a nervous, but determined smile. Both siblings were adamant about helping whoever the Black Rose Witch really was. That is, if she really wasn't in proper control of her powers like they suspected. Luka would be able to confirm whether that was the case or not by seeing her Duel Spirit(s). Hence why she was tagging along. Yusei would be borrowing Yusuke's sedan, having taking a driver's test over the weekend.
(Yusuke had used his influence to rush things. Yusei was a self-taught Turbo Duelist and a damn good one, plus he knew how to drive a truck. Dr. Schmidt had taught him using his own pickup, that way there was someone the good doctor knew he could trust to run errands if he was too busy at the clinic. So the driving test was just a legal formality since Yusei didn't have an actual license. They got his D-Wheel license out of the way too, with Yusuke once again using his influence to make any legal troubles vanish.)
"Hey, Aniki, do you think the Black Rose really will show up today like the forums say?" Lua asked after they picked up Teipei and headed to the car. Word had spread within the Tops of Yusuke finding his long-lost godson and of Yusei's situation, so no one even looked twice at his marker within that district now. There were some that still looked like they were holding back sneers, but apparently Yusuke was not someone you wanted as an enemy, so those sorts usually just ignored Yusei's existence entirely. The teen didn't mind. Their prejudice was their own loss.
"Maybe. If she doesn't show, she doesn't show," Yusei replied as he checked the mirrors and steering column, making sure things were set properly for him. Some minor adjustments and they were good to go. "Everyone buckled in?"
"Yes/Yup/Uh huh," came three different replies simultaneously.
"Alright then. We'll be picking up a couple friends of mine on the way, I got word that their paperwork's finished for their release." Well, more like Yusuke lit a fire under the Security officers in charge of that to make sure they weren't kept as "insurance" against Yusei.
Driving in the city with traffic was vastly different from driving in the desolate ruins of the Satellite. For one thing, the roads were much smoother. For another thing, there was streetlights. It was annoying having to constantly stop for them, but Yusei clamped down on that. They were taking the car for Luka's sake. He didn't need her feeling bad for inconveniencing anyone. Reminding himself of that made it easier to soothe away the irritation before it could show through his neutral mask.
Yanagi and Himura were waiting just outside the gate. Both seemed confused when a very nice car pulled up, only for surprise to replace confusion as Yusei stepped out. The Satellite-raised smirked as he leaned against the open door, calling out, "Heard you were finally getting out. Thought you'd like a lift."
Himura laughed. "That is one sweet ride. Where'd you get it?"
"Apparently I have a godfather in the Tops District. He's very unhappy about everything that prevented him from carrying out my parent's Last Will. I think he's attempting to make up for lost time. I'm just borrowing his car for the day, but I won't be surprised if he buys my one. I just hope it's a fixer-upper - I like fixing things."
"I think you've read Dad's mind, I saw him looking at ads for old cars last night!" Lua called from the backseat. Himura raised a brow.
"Kids?"
Yusei nodded, "My godbrother and godsister, and their best friend. It's a six-seater, though, so we have just enough room. I've already converted the front into a bench. Though, Luka," Yusei called into the car, "could you move up front in the middle? Himura can sit in the front passenger while Yanagi sits in the middle of the back. Would make it less crowded that way."
There was a chorus of affirmatives from the back of the car, one door swinging open to let out the twins. Luka moved to the middle of the front while Lua waited for Yanagi to climb into the middle. Thankfully, the old man was still quite spritely and didn't need help.
"So who's your godfather? Anyone I've heard of?" Himura asked once they were all settled and on their way again. Yusei shrugged.
"Maybe? He seems to have a reputation, what it is, or where it's from, I have no clue, but people go out of their way to not get on his bad side, so… Have you heard of Fujiwara Yusuke?" Yusei asked, pulling into a garage. Judging by the sharp whistle, yes, Himura had definitely heard of Yusei's godfather.
"Yeah. And if others know of him, they'll be walking on eggshells to avoid causing problems. Fact that he's pissed at Godwin already on your behalf - I assume that's who his anger is directed at at least - makes me think we'll be having a new Director soon. Last time someone messed with the guy's family - it wasn't pretty."
Yusei glanced down at Luka as he pulled into a parking space, noticing she seemed a bit upset. He ruffled the girl's hair, shooting Himura a look. The rough man had the good grace to feel some shame in upsetting the girl at least. Yusei may not know the story - he'd be getting it out of someone later - but it was clear the kids weren't happy thinking about whatever happened.
"So where are we headed, sonny? This is pretty close to the Slums," Yanagi asked.
"Diamond Area. The Black Rose Witch is apparently showing up there today, and the kids want to see if there's any way to help her."
Himura scoffed. "The Witch? She's just an urban legend meant to spread fear about Psychic Duelists."
Yusei said nothing. He had heard from Nozomi a bit about the Witch - who was actually named Izayoi Aki. Aki had been the first to approach Nozomi for the Arcadia Movement, but while baffled at Nozomi's polite refusal, accepted it. Divine didn't take "no" for an answer. Yusei hoped she wasn't too far gone to be saved.
"The Black Rose is real! You'll see!" Lua declared.
"You sure it's a good idea to have the kids here? This area's pretty rough," Himura asked Yusei, sotto voce.
"No rougher than Satellite. Besides, that's part of why I swung by to pick you two up. You'll be a good deterrent, Himura. Anyone who takes a chance will be handled by me as an example. After that, we'll likely have no problems," Yusei replied just as quietly. Himura nodded, accepting Yusei's reasoning and deciding to just follow the guy's lead.
"Hey, you! Never seen you here before. Up for a Duel?" someone called out. Yusei glanced over to see a guy with a lightning bolt-like marker over the bridge of his nose looking at him expectantly.
"Any idea when she's supposed to show up?" Yusei asked Lua and Teipei.
"Sorry, no. But I'm kind of interested in seeing you duel…" Teipei trailed off uncertainly.
"Oh, yeah, you haven't seen Yusei Duel yet. He had a mock one with Dad the other night, it was awesome! Yusei's really, really strong, he nearly beat Dad! Aniki, you gotta Duel!" Lua demanded, excited at the thought of seeing his big brother in action again. The Turbo Duelist nodded before facing his opponent. He pulled his Duel Disk out of the bag he had slung over his shoulder - going anywhere without one was unthinkable for a Duelist.
"Heh, we'll see if your as tough as the kid says. Around here, respect is earned by how well you Duel," Yusei opponent explained, slipping his Deck into his own Disk, letting the Disk auto-shuffle.
"Duel!"
Did not plan on an original Duel, so that happened. I'll have to plan out the Duel now - I have no script from an episode to follow after all. Though I suppose this is the perfect opportunity to start the prequel. I've changed some things in my plans and now the prequel must be written sooner than later to avoid plotholes. So if you're interested, hit whatever button will give you alerts as to a new story by me, and watch for a Gx-era story. I've been spinning the first chapter around in my head already, so hopefully won't take too long to get it up.