Chapter 2

Yusei watched through the window as his mother figure was being operated on. He was playing in a restricted part of Satellite when security found him and "taught him a lesson" by hurting Martha so bad that she needed surgery.

Being the young kid he was, Yusei couldn't watch the surgery after the first incision was made. He went back into the empty waiting room and sat in the corner with his leg shaking and fidgeting with his hands.

'It's all my fault.' Yusei thought. 'She's gonna die because of me. What am I gonna do? What about Jack and Crow? They'll blame me and I'll be alone forever.'

Yusei came out of his thoughts when a middle aged man in black sat next to him. He had black hair that was grey at the roots slicked back and had a skull cane. His eyes had an orange tint to them and his skin was fairly wrinkly. He turned to Yusei, "Waiting on someone?" he asked.

Yusei just nodded, keeping his mouth shut.

"Not much of a talker, are you?" he said.

"I'm not supposed to talk to strangers." Yusei said, meekly.

"Good lesson." the man said, "Your mom teach you that?"

Yusei shook his head. "My foster mom. My real mom is dead."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Is your foster mom here?"

Yusei nodded and pointed to the door that lead to the operating room.

"Oh… Is she ok?" He asked.

"I don't know. I'm scared she'll die." Yusei whimpered.

"Well… this is a Satellite hospital. So that seems possible." The man said.

Yusei looked at him shocked.

The man smirked. "But it doesn't have to be that way." He looked at Yusei.

"What if I told you I could save her?"

Yusei woke with a sudden jolt but didn't sit up.

"Would you be willing to make a deal?"

He was still in the hospital and as far as he knew he was going to be for a few more hours. Even when he was asleep Akiza refused to leave his side. He looked over to his right where she was sleeping in the small couch using his jacket as a blanket. He couldn't help but smile.

He leaned back and took a deep breath, making steam. Wait… what? Yusei breathed out again, making steam once more. Then there was an eerie whisper coming from his window.

"Yuuuuuuuuuseeeeeeeei."

Just then, Akiza woke up and the sounds stopped. As well as the steam breath.

"Hey." Yusei said.

"Hi." she replied. "Sleep well?"

"Yeah. You?"

"Good. Little cold though." She said as she put Yusei's jacket around her and got up and pulled a stool up next to him and took his hand.

"Yusei, your hands are like ice." she said worriedly. She sat on the bed and hugged him while rubbing his arms, trying to bring warmth to him.

Yusei didn't know what to do, so he just kept his hands at his sides as Akiza held him.

"I was so scared when you crashed."

Yusei turned his head slightly to face her.

"I thought… I thought you were gonna die."

Yusei returned her hug and leaned their heads together.

"I'm not going anywhere." He whispered.

Akiza tightened her embrace and Yusei felt cold drops of water through his hospital gown.

Then the mother of all mood killers came in wearing a nurses uniform.

"Oh," She said, "Am I interrupting?"

Akiza pulled back and wiped her eyes. "No… what is it?"

"Well, I just came to say you're ok to check out Mr. Fudo. Just keep an eye out for any possible side effects like light headedness. And I would strongly advise not participating in the World Grand Prix."

"Not like I could anyway, my Duel Runner was totalled." Yusei said.

Akiza and the nurse left so Yusei could change into his clothes. As he did the cold air came back. Yusei started to shiver and quickly change into his leather outfit. He then got out of the room and headed to the front desk where Akiza was waiting for him.

"Hey, you ok?" She asked.

"Yeah, little cold though. Anything I need to sign?"

The nurse at the front desk handed him a sheet of paper. "Just sign this saying you've checked out of the hospital, sir."

"Thanks." Yusei said as he signed it. He handed the paper back to the nurse and looked at Akiza.

"Any chance I could get a ride?"

She nodded. "My dad sent over a car. It's waiting out front with a driver."

"Thanks."

They left together dropping Yusei off at his place and taking Akiza home.

In the garage was what was left of his Duel Runner. Though Yusei wasn't up to fixing it right now. It was getting dark and he was too cold to be in the garage. So he went upstairs to check the weather channel. It was 70 degrees out yet he was freezing.

Yusei went to the kitchen to make some coffee to warm himself up. Before he could start he heard,

"Yuuuuuuseeeeeei."