On My Own
Chapter 21
Author Notes: Damn i've hit twenty chapters? The exhaustion is real right now. I figured I'd have finished this series by now. But as per usual, take an idea, run with it, only to get bombarded with too many chapters to fit in all of my ideas and plans. Here we go. I do not own Yugioh.
3rd P.O.V
"Alright Yusei you got this man!" This was the moment they had all worked hard for. "We'll be in the stands waiting for you and that trophy!" Their fingers were raw with scrapes, reeking of oil and metal. "Bring us a swift victory." Now it was game time.
With a determined nod and smile Yusei grabs his helmet. Giving each of his friends one final glance. Crow, Jack, Kalin, Blitz, Nerve, Tank...together all of them made this chance happen. "I'm off." And no matter what he would not fail them.
So...why did things go wrong?
"Kalin! Kalin why?" The silver haired male glared at him, his posture tense as he scoffed. "Why what Yusei? You'll have to be more specific." Yusei stood there, surprised, confused, hurt. He could feel the bandages tight around his ribs.
Could still feel blood seeping through his clothes. "Why did you do it? You busted the duel runner we all made." The man before him wasn't his friend. There was no kindness or mirth filled gaze as he laughed.
Was he always like this? "Really Yusei? You're blaming me for your ride crashing and burning? You sure it wasn't just because you took too harsh a turn during that final round?" Something was wrong, it was on the tip of the blue eyed male's tongue.
Yet he couldn't place it as his vision wavers. "But Jack said-" Kalin laughs again, this time louder and higher pitched. It sounding horribly familiar. Within an instant Kalin is in front of him, this time wearing a black cloak.
"And you believe him? Him? Over Me? He took your duel runner didn't he? And Crow ran away the moment he realized you couldn't keep your end of the deal. YOU. FAILED. US!" Stiff hands gripped his face.
Forcing his head in place, unable to look away as his old friend closes the distance. "And you're going to fail again. Blister put too much faith in you. Leo and his sister, that Blackrose girl, Crow and the others? Their blood will be on your hands."
Yusei was struggling to breathe as those fingers wrapped around his neck, nailed purposely digging into the soft flesh. "And I will watch you writhe and struggle." This had to be a dream. An absolute nightmare.
HE NEEDED TO WAKE UP.
NOW!
Gasping Yusei sat up, his entire body shaking as he wraps his arms around himself. "H-hey!" He couldn't hear the worried voice over his own panic induced state. Everything within him ached, a deep pain that was felt in his bones.
It didn't matter how many gulps of air he takes, there was nothing he could feel but the raw sores he was experiencing and the chills that spread throughout his spine. "Snap out of it!" Tears were pricking the corners of his eyes as he felt someone grabbing his shoulder.
Causing him to flinch before feeling warmth enveloping his body. It's another several minutes of deep breaths for him to calm down enough to take in his surroundings. Starting with the woman in front of him. "Are you ok?"
It was Blackrose...without her mask. Looking at him with deep, concerned purple eyes. "Where?" His voice reminded him of a gutted frog, it sounded awful. But she was able to understand as she glances towards his neck.
"I took you to your room after you passed out." Her face scrunches with guilt, and it takes a minute for him to remember what happened. She very nearly killed him with her monster card. "I see..." He shifted, feeling something tight around his throat.
Bandages thankfully instead of thorny vines. "I...owe you such a huge apology." It'd been a long time since she allowed her powers to go out of control like that. And it terrified her. When she saw him faint, she nearly panicked.
Rushing as fast as she could to get him to his room. Due to her childhood being more dangerous and chaotic then most others, she knew some things about first aid and was able to patch him up. She had laid him down, trying to calm her frantic heart as she prayed he wake up soon.
There would be moments while waiting she would pace around, her gaze finding the documents he had mentioned to her before she nearly choked him to death. She didn't dare let her gaze linger, stayed as far from the evidence laying around as she could.
Even though Yusei had told her his room, practically giving her permission to look through them herself, she couldn't. It didn't feel right after what she had done to him. And besides...she couldn't afford to have anymore emotional bursts.
Her anger, paranoia, and anxiety allowed for her monster to come to life. And it was her distrust and feeling betrayed that caused the blue rose dragon to strangle him. Again, something that hasn't happened in months at least!
If she read any of those papers in depth, who knows how she would've reacted-let alone what creatures she could summon. Blackrose had expected to see hatred, fear, even rage at what happened. She wouldn't have blamed him in the slightest.
And...she was used to it. "How long have I been unconscious?" Yet, there was none of that to be seen on his face as he gingerly sits up, mindful of his new injuries. "A few hours..." She blinked, surprised as he stretched his arms over his head, cracking his back.
Acting as if he wasn't just nearly murdered by a psychic. "Have you eaten?" The questions continue, making Blackrose nervous as she bites her lip. "Why are you asking me that? You-you shouldn't be calm about this!" His gaze was steady, watching her fidget in her seat.
"You're panicking enough for the both of us. You obviously feel guilty about what happened, you apologized...why hold a grudge?" It wasn't that simple-he shouldn't be making it that simple! "I could've KILLED you!" The words spewed with self loathing as she wrapped her arms around herself.
Trying to still her trembling frame. "You're right...but frankly you're probably the safest danger I've come across here." The mechanic had the absolute gall to give her a smile, holding back a chuckle. How the hell was he finding amusement in this!?
She couldn't understand him! Did the lack of oxygen screw up his brain? Did her blue rose dragon have poison on its thorns!? But his smile leaves as he takes in her reaction. Instead he sighs, grabbing her shoulder. Forcing her in place despite her harsh flinch.
"Look. From the moment I arrived at the underground, I knew there was a possibility I'd be killed. I've been in deaths' hands before this, and at the very least you didn't mean for things to happen like they did. Right now, i'm more worried about you having an anxiety attack."
A harsh breath was sucked in as Yusei gave her a gentle pat. No lecture, no hateful insults-it made no sense. She didn't deserve his comfort, his warm hands that brushed the bangs out of her tear stained face.
Nor the careful, gentle embrace as she takes in the scent of his cologne. "Wh-why?" Now it was her turn for her voice to crack and croak, her mental barriers broken as she sobbed into his chest. Faintly feeling soft pets into her hair.
"It would be ungentlemanly of me to let a lady cry like this. Joking aside, I was taught that holding grudges, keeping my negative feelings bottled up only makes things worse. Any emotional wounds you have don't heal that way, if anything it eats away from you. And it took me a long time to truly realize that. And currently is my biggest struggle."
Martha had told him time and time again after his friends ditched his ass exactly that. He didn't listen, finding it hard for him to forgive and move on. Instead of honoring his aunt's wishes he picked himself from the ground up out of spite and obligation to take care of his sibling.
Having no intention of ever finding peace with what happened. To an extent he still didn't. Yeah he forgave Crow, but he still didn't trust him or Jack to have his back. It honestly would've been a lot worse had he not been approached by Blister(still mad at him too.)
It took being here, nearly dying on multiple occasions and seeing such horrible sides of humanity to understand. Life...was too short. Things happen whether you like it or not, and it was easy to point fingers. To find excuses or blame something else to make yourself feel better.
"I think it's been a long time since someone outside of your group has treated you like a person." He had done that with Crow, Jack and Kalin. And they to an extent did that to him in turn.
With all of them asking why things happened the way it did(well...at least that's what he assumed. Jack never said anything regarding their high school days and he hasn't seen Kalin since this whole thing started.)
"I don't know why you and the Arcadia Movement are here Aki-Blackrose, but I know you're good. I'm not your enemy. If anything I'm here to investigate the individuals who have gone missing." That confession just made her feel worse. Her sobs grew loud as she gasped out sorry after sorry.
Words didn't feel enough to describe how much ashamed she felt, how much she messed up. But all while she cried, acting like a little girl in his arms, Yusei rubbed soft circles over her back while giving sweet, calming assurances. And that only made her cry more.
She didn't deserve any of it...
xXxXxxXxXXxXXxXxXxXxXxXx
Akiza wasn't sure when she fell asleep, but what she did know was that her eyes were closed and there were soft voices. "I don't trust her Yusei. If what you told me is true-then she tried killing you." It was Gumshoes, she'd recognize his rough tone anywhere.
Automatically she tensed before she heard a tired sigh next to her. "Trudge leave her alone. It was an accident. Besides she's just as much a victim as Leo and the others reported missing." She kept her eyes closed, listening intently.
"We should have her in for questioning man. Blister would want to know what the Arcadia Movement is up to." Feather touches danced across her hair. Soothing her as Dust or rather Yusei hummed softly.
The psychic really wanted to know how he was able to seem so calm no matter the circumstance. "She doesn't know anything about her organization. If anything Sayer is playing mind games...something I don't intend to allow continuing."
She could hear a frustrated groan coming from the older man. "Unbelievable. All the girls in this whole underground you could fall for and it HAS to be the damn Rose Witch!" Her protector huffs, removing his hands before standing up.
His weight leaving her side. "I told you I found records right? I told you about Leo and his sister, but...there was more. Blister knows already but there was a few more names found and put in the system. One specifically was Akiza Izayoi." Her body shifted, trying to remain natural as her blood runs cold.
"What does that have to do with anything?" There was a tired sigh. "Before Blister brought me into this mission, I had met a woman named Setsuko remember? The poor lady that was getting harassed down at the Satellite?" That name sounded familiar to her...why?
And it seemed Trudged remembered as he took a breath. "So again what about it? You're saying there's a connection?" Her head was starting to hurt, making her eyes shut tighter then they already were. "She was looking for her missing daughter. She had posters that was getting hung up wherever she could."
Memories were swarming in her head. "And?" And none of it was making sense. Her life up until now was straightforward. Her powers developed when she was younger, injuring anyone who dared to duel her, including her parents.
Those parents couldn't handle her, feared her, so they abandoned her on the streets, allowing for Sayer to find and offer her a home. Giving her the chance to control her abilities and repay the man who helped her.
"I shouldn't have to even say it Trudge. Blackrose is Akiza! Setsuko's daughter who went missing last year. I had my suspicions, but seeing her without her mask and the files I found prove it. She was kidnapped and experimented on. And Arcadia's involved."
However the more Yusei spoke, the more that those memories were replaced. Changing into something far darker and sadder. How she had two loving parents, the three of them living a decent life. She was able to see the spirits of her cards.
Not too many people believed her but the few that did, Sherry and Misty especially were her good, loyal friends. She was happy, things were fine. But then one day, a man-Sayer approached her, curious about her abilities. After that things fade to black.
Men.
Cages.
Electrocution.
Needles.
IT HURTS!
to be continued
Author Notes: Honestly this chapter feels a lot longer than I remember it typing, then again I did it in droves where i'd write a bit here and there until something forced me off my computer. Ah well, ce la vie. We got some memories of Akiza popping back up.
The bigger the rabbit hole, the more to fill in, meaning more for Yusei to dig up and uncover. Next time we shall see how that goes. guys as always thank you all so much for reading my story. If you like feel free to fav/follow/review as I would appreciat it immensely. Tchao for now.