On My Own
Chapter 22
Author Notes: Man has it been awhile...busy bee be busy and forgetful lol. So here we go, diving straight in. I do not own Yugioh.
3rd P.O.V
It took another string of voices to once more wake up Blackrose...or rather Akiza from her deep slumber. Though she kept her eyes shut, hoping to fall back asleep. While unconscious more and more of her memories were being remembered.
So much so that she was able to find out what truly happened to her. Who she really was. "Why don't you trust me!? I can give you whatever inside info you could need." At least until she heard another woman's voice.
Stroking a gravely unwanted jealousy. "Carly listen...I don't know you except that you're a reporter and the girlfriend to one of my ex friends. Even if I needed another pair of eyes and ears you'd be the last person I'd confide in!" Cracking an eye open, her gaze immediately falls under Dust.
Or rather Yusei's, who was glaring back at that Carly girl. "Stop stereotyping me! I may be a reporter, but I have morals dammit! At the very least I know when to keep my mouth shut when there's trouble. If you can't trust me then trust Jack!" That...looked to be the wrong thing to say as Yusei growled.
"Fuck off Carly-I don't trust either of you! Jack took my busted duel runner and made the big leagues here in the underground after I fell into a coma! He knew Kalin backstabbed me and when I needed him most, he ditched my broken ass." Akiza...found herself sitting up quietly.
Glancing at the arguing pair before taking in her surroundings with a look of disbelief. The whole room was full of people. Gumshoe-er Trudge, Crow, Jack, a little boy with green hair(why does he seem...familiar?) and a man that she's never seen before were all there.
They were watching, listening with faces full of discomfort. "Wh-what!? Jack would never do that! He's not that kind of guy." It was so strange to see the man she had been crushing on so informal and...rude as he snorted, shaking his head.
It seemed so strange to her since he was still wearing his formal wear. As if replaced with a malicious twin. "Well why don't you ask him? He's right there. Go ahead Jack-give me your reason for why I never saw you after I woke up. I already heard Crows."
There was a lot of tension in the air. So many feelings and words left unsaid. YEARS worth of pain reaching the surface. "Jack?" Especially with the blonde male not answering or even looking their way. A reaction that the mechanic didn't seem surprised of in the slightest.
If anything it looked like he expected it. Snorting again after a few moments of silence. "Typical Jack-got nothing to say when you know you fucked up. Didn't think you'd ever see me again after hitting the Underground did you?" It was then Yusei sighed, raking his nails in his hair. Did...he ever look so tired before?
"Look Carly...I know i'm being an unfair bastard to you but here's something you-all of you need to get. This mission may cost me my life. I was told not to blow my cover or get others involved-and even if I wasn't-i've been backstabbed before and I can't afford a repeat."
Akiza bit her lip, her eye meeting the unknown strangers' gaze for a brief minute before he spoke up. Cutting into the conversation. "Alright Yusei chill out. I know things haven't been ideal, but...i'm not going to lie, we can use all the help we can get." The sharp expression that formed spoke volumes.
Yusei did NOT agree. "Bullshit Blister! You're the one who told me that we couldn't afford involving people or their lives would be at risk. You told me straight up with your boys holding me and Rally at Gun point WHY I couldn't refuse and WHAT was at stake if I screwed up." Gun point?
Several of the individuals there stood, horrified at the implications. A justified reaction that leaves the man lifting his hands up. "You're right...you have every reason to be pissed off Yusei, especially when I tell you my superiors are dropping this case."
The temperature dropped multiple degrees as the enraged male froze in place. Looking like someone punched him in the gut. "What?!" Akiza was struggling to make heads or tails of the situation, as she was still trying to figure out her own memories-of what happened to her.
But she had to be stupid to not see just how bad things were turning. "The hell you mean Blister!? You said you were sending us backup! What do you mean they're dropping us!?" All of them had expressions of anger and disbelief. Trudge especially as he pushed himself off the wall he was leaning on.
"I was going to. After I had written up my report and gathered my men I was suddenly issued a message from the higher ups telling me that this case was no longer a priority. That there were more important investigations to run and that there wasn't enough evidence relevant to continue."
A scowl formed on the Blister character's face, revealing how he felt about the whole thing. Still he continued. "Obviously the reasoning is bullshit. Either the higher ups are somehow involved, or being paid off...either way no one at HQ is backing me up." All this time and effort...
Dangers that were on the verge of being revealed dropped just like that? "Is there anything we can do? Did my father have any trusted connections we could use?" A twitch of a smile formed on his face then as he shifted his gaze back to Yusei.
"Not going to quit? I told you after discovering Leo that you were free to go home. Why the change of heart?" That...caught everyone off guard. Especially the ginger haired duelist. "Yusei? What's he talking about?" A sigh escapes him then, his fingers lacing together.
Clutching one another so tight his skin turned white. "I decided the moment I was involved I would see it through to the end. As I discovered more and more, I realized that even if I wanted to...I couldn't back out. Not after seeing what happened to these people."
Another sigh, albeit shakier escaped him. "Even if it means going solo, i'm not stopping until these bastards are taken in, and these experiments are shut down for good." There was a strong emotion hidden within that tone, something she couldn't really pin point.
"Typical Fudo attitude. Always one to see justice with conviction. I was right to draft you." It was then Yusei shakes his head, his anger reignited as if it was always there. Like a never ending flame.
Despite everything that's been thrown his way, he still stands tall. Intimidating as hell. This...is the real Dust, the one he had hid behind a polite smile and sophisticated vocabulary. Yet despite the stark contrast between the two personas, Akiza couldn't find herself upset with the discovery.
Because in the end...his beliefs and morals were one and the same. "I'm doing this in honor of my father and for the victims. After this is done Blister-You are still keeping your end of the deal and leaving me and my family alone for good."
XXxxxXxXxXxXXxXxXxXXxXxXx
It took some time for the group to finally leave Yusei's room...or rather the majority of the group. Majority being Blister, Trudge, Jack and Carly. Akiza, Leo and Crow all stuck around for more or less obvious reasons.
Leo had no where to go. Plus out of all the adults he's seen and spoken to so far, Yusei was his favorite of the bunch. Crow was Crow. He wanted to be there and try to hash things out more with Yusei or at the very least apologize for being such an ass(again)
Finally Akiza was still a bit disoriented and well, she didn't want to go back to Sayer, not with what she remembered. In general she wanted to speak with Yusei as well. There were things in her memory that disturbed her, that she felt he needed to know.
However...that type of conversation wasn't really something she felt comfortable speaking about with an audience. Leaving a very awkward situation with four people all struggling how to properly speak to one another without making things tense or pissing off the mechanic more than he already was.
However it was said mechanic that broke the silence, not really in the mood for this old song and dance. Figuring that there was one assured way of getting both them and the atmosphere to lighten up. "Anyone hungry?"
Already he was making his way to the phone, only to snort as three stomachs grumbled. "I'll take that as a yes. And before you ask Crow-no buffets." Akiza bit her lip, trying to stop herself from giggling as the male in question whined.
Which surprised her. "Why?" Even worse, the whine was accompanied by the mint green preteen. Giving his strongest puppy dog impression. "Pleeaaasseee Mr. Yusei! A buffet sounds awesome." It was just so...childish. "No. Hello, good eve, is this the restaurant on the first floor? Excellent!" So...carefree.
Not even ten minutes ago there were important discussions relating to how Yusei was going to continue gathering evidence and stopping the bad guy. Him standing proud and tall, with a strong, passionate gaze.
"Please ignore the shouting in the background. I have with me some guests who aren't paying. Yes, if you could deliver it as soon as you're available i'd appreciate it greatly." Yet he was here, ten minutes later acting like all is completely fine.
Calling food service, doing his utmost to return to his-as he likes to call 'Dust persona' while keeping the phone high and far away from Crow and Leo's grubby hands. "That'll be it, have a good day." All in all it should've felt strange, but it wasn't. "I swear it's like i'm back in high school! I'm too old for this dammit!"
At that remark Crow snickers. "Oh please Yusei you're still young. Only what twenty-four? Twenty-five? Wait what day is today?" The taller of the two rolls his blue eyes, giving his friend a deadpanned expression.
Barely even paying attention to his own actions as he turned on the tv, handing the remote to Leo. "Twenty-four. You're only a few months older then me Crow. How the hell Lyndon asked you out I'll never know!" A horrible crimson blush formed on Crow's face as he jerked away.
Bringing the immature game of keep away to a close, since Yusei is able to gently tuck away his phone in his breast pocket. Pulling out his wallet so that he could pay for the food service. Completely ignoring the look he was getting.
"Because of my awesome looks obviously~ He loves me! Wait-don't bring my love life into this! Rally's told me you haven't been with anyone ever! So don't get all high and mighty you overspent workaholic!" Overspent workaholic was a good way to describe him.
He couldn't even deny it, shrugging his shoulders when the doorbell rings. A small sigh escapes him before putting on a forced, polite smile as he addresses the young man with his order. "Good evening."
Crow could only shake his head before turning to Akiza...who had been quiet this whole time observing. "So you're the Blackrose huh? Didn't know you were friends with Yusei." Was she friends with him?
Considering their past interactions, she'd say no. She's been rude, nearly killed him, and overall kept him at a distance with threats. Hardly good first impressions. And it made her mentally cringe. Her behavior was absolutely terrible-memories or not.
"I met her before the competition started. But like you she dug in too deep into some rumors and got too involved." But...just like every time beforehand, came to her rescue. Even though she's done nothing to earn it. "You gotta love us troublemakers~"
She found her cheeks reddening at that, especially when Yusei gives an exasperated, yet content smile. "I do-now if only said troublemakers would let me do my damn job before they get hurt. Time to eat."
Despite telling Crow and Leo otherwise, Yusei did in fact order a huge variety of food, letting all of them pick and choose what they wanted. "Whoa this looks so good!" Any sort of negativity that was lingering around before was gone.
At least for the moment. There was still a tension in the mechanics shoulders, showing that he still had things on his mind. That he couldn't fully rest or relax, something that Akiza understood more than anything.
"Thank you for this." And that was why she wanted to be honest about herself. To speak with him one on one without her backpedaling behind her mask or stubborn nature. "Don't worry about it." And without him having to pretend to be someone he's not.
The least she could do was offer aid in any way that was possible.
to be continued
Author Notes: So Carly and Jack...Not people I like or hate...but I need conflict lol. At the very least I kept this ship canon haha. We'll see just how useful these two will be. For now though, that is it.
Everyone as always thank you all so much for reading my story. If you like it please feel free to fav/follow/review as it would mean so much to me. Really makes my day. With that I will see you next time. Tchao for now.