Crowds had gathered outside every airport within fifty miles of New Domino as rumours and misleading information spread like wildfire through gossip chains. The SRC had to call in police to try and quell the groups literally trying to climb their walls. Martha simply unleashed the full might of her most energetic wards upon the reporters sneaking about her grounds and calmly met their screams for reparations over broken equipment with promises of suing the papers they each worked for over trespassing. It was absolute madness until a solid lead emerged by way of several social media accounts posting photos of the new King of Games trying to sneak into the city through the mountain pass. Then the entire city tried to force itself up into the rocky roads in an effort to be the first to get a signature or 'exclusive' photo.

"I wonder who posted those photos." Seated comfortably in the padded seats in the back of an innocuous van, Yusei and Akiza had watched the movements of their fans with both fear and wonder.

"Probably someone looking for a quick payday." Though he had other suspicions in his gut, Yusei had no way of finding out. He was right though, the dark figure was behind the coordinated confusion. Similar false photos had let Jack simply slip away into New Domino traffic as the Runners were unloaded with the utmost care. In all the confusion and hubbub of sneaking the three Duellists away, nobody had noticed Musume simply turn and walk back onto the borrowed plane.

"You're going to struggle to keep a low profile." It had been hard enough being the absent World Champion. There wouldn't be a single spare moment now that Yusei was the third ever King of Games.

"Look on the bright side," Feeling their vehicle slow to a halt, Yusei stretched himself upright. "Yliaster is going to have a hard time coming us now." A panel leading to the driver's cabin slid open to reveal the equally innocent face of a perfectly ordinary civilian.

"Looks like this is your stop." Hefting a door as gently as she could, she slid open a side of the wall to reveal the back alley to Poppo Time. It was technically trespassing to enter and there was no chance of a decent shot so no photographers were waiting. "I'll keep them distracted for as long as I can." Grabbing the bulkiest package in the back, she nodded familiarly to Yusei and Akiza. For legal reasons, the woman was on paper as 'outsourced contractor' for the SRC. She was less politely referred to as a 'fixer', somebody not really part of any company but able to do things they couldn't legally do. Yusei regretted the necessity of such people but usually used them for nothing more harmful than organising a surprise party. Fixers loved working for the SRC because it was easy work with good people and decent pay.

Hefting their bags under his arms, Yusei nodded to Akiza in a way didn't need explanation. As their driver distracted the reporters and photographers by trying to deliver a phoney parcel to the wrong address, Akiza unlocked the door, held it open just long enough for Yusei to dive in behind her and then locked it again before anybody could even realise that it had been open in the first place. In the breathless silence as they tried to listen for the sounds of the media crashing through the shop out front, they exchanged twin smiles.

"It's good to be home."

After they had unpacked, Akiza went to ask Yusei about what to do for dinner only to find his door ajar. Yusei himself was sitting on his bed under the window and holding a picture in either hand. "What are you looking at?" Broken from his reverie, Yusei shuffled to the edge of the bed where she could perch beside him and look at the photos for herself. One was the picture of their previous victory at the WRDGP and the other was a faded picture of three people in a family portrait. "It was weird not having you on the team." Smiling at the happier memory, he tapped the image of their mechanic with the frame of the other picture. "Bruno thought about trying for the King of Games but didn't want an unfair advantage." They infrequently heard about Bruno winning the odd competition here and there whenever he needed some extra funds. There weren't that many people who even gave him pause in a Duel.

"Maybe the next time." It had been decades since the last King of Games had been crowned but there was no telling how long their enhanced friend might live.

"Maybe." Putting the photo to one side, Yusei focused on the only family picture he owned. "It's weird to think that my parents weren't that much older than me." Touching his mother's face one more time, Yusei gently put the frame back on his desk. "People always talk about their work like they were these big, untouchable heroes but they had a tiny flat and a mortgage. They even managed to squeeze having a kid into the mix, somehow." In the morose silence, Akiza finally asked the question that had been picking away at her mind for hours.

"What was that... about in the tunnel?" She managed to skip over the word 'kiss' in a way that made it even more obvious than actually saying it.

"You're going to have to be a bit more specific." He had never told Akiza exactly how much he loved watching the blush spread over her face and down her neck. It was a harmless tease but enough to make her instantly flustered.

"I... the... you know." A sly glance out from the corner of his eye indicated that he knew exactly what but could keep pushing.

"You always hear older people saying they've lived full lives." Staring at the picture of his parents, Yusei hoped that they had had no regrets before the end. "I'm not going to get that chance. Six months, Akiza. That's all I have left. That's not a lot of tomorrows to be worried about. You told me that maybe it was time I asked something for myself. That was it." Not an acknowledgement for any of his work or an apology for the harsh years of his life. All that Yusei had wanted was just one moment for only himself and Akiza. "No regrets."

Leaning over, she gave him a gentle press on his marked cheek. "No regrets."

To say dinner went badly was an understatement. Most of their ingredients had expired with nobody to check on them and there was no way to throw them out without the reporters instantly realising that somebody was inside. What resources had survived expiration were grouped into what Yusei either referred to as 'emergency survival rations' or his stock of 'too tired or lazy to make a proper meal' depending on who was asking. It was a cupboard filled with noodle cups and junk food that was sweetened enough to rot unprepared teeth.

While they would normally talk about their days or reminisce over the events of the Pegasus Trinidad Tournament, both were too exhausted from fleeing the press and an entire country, followed by sneaking into another country and past yet more media, to talk much. Instead, Akiza had managed to find a late-night satire show that covered the weekly news and they were both stifling giggles as they hunkered in the gloomy room beneath blankets and chewing on bland noodles.

"Wait until they find the cosplay photos from when we had to sneak back from registration." Topics covered thus far had included not to mess with 'little Leo lion', how Crow had suddenly become a ninja to get through his challenge and exactly why nobody had counted on Yusei winning.

"I'm more looking forward to interviews with the runner-ups." Neither was exactly missing Musume and simply assumed she had gone to find her own lodgings. Getting in contact with her was impossible anyway.

"They should get Hunter Pace up there." Yusei still hadn't told them about his perfectly replicated Duel just yet. He was going to check up on some details first. A large yawn interrupted his plans. "You should get some rest." Akzia was clearly more tired than he was. Heavy bags were set under each eye and he was worried about how often her head kept drooping.

"Oh no, you're not getting rid of me that easily." With a filled stomach and nestled beneath comfortable blankets, it didn't take either genius to figure out how easy it would be for her to simply fall asleep. "Holiday over, we're back at work from tomorrow. That means I don't get to sleep until you do." Oddly prophetic words though she didn't realise it.

"I'm sure you can also dazzle me with exactly how and why sleep is important for maintaining a clear mind." A withering if bleary glare emphasised that she did know but lack of sleep was making it ironically difficult to explain. "This is my burden to bear, not yours." Slamming herself into his shoulder, Akiza hid herself right beneath his gaze where she wouldn't be seen. "Besides, I had to use the cerebral inhibitor several times in America. It will take a while to start being effective again. Which means..." Stifling a yawn all his own, Yusei missed the obvious. It was literally right under his nose. "Which means I'm going to have several more seizures. Look on the bright side, that means more data for you." No reaction. "Akiza?" A slight snort this time, as she continued to slumber from her gentle tilt against his should. Careful not to wake her, Yusei slid slightly down in his posture so that she could nestle more comfortably in the crook of his neck.

Turning the already quiet volume on the television all the way down, Yusei promised himself this wouldn't last long. Just until the next break. After that, he would carry Akiza to her room and leave her to get some rest. Twenty minutes, thirty maximum until the next break. When day came, they would be back at work in the fruitless search for a cure to his condition.

Before too long, the only sound in the room was the deep breathing of two exhausted young people as the slept in front of a silently flickering television set.

Although I said no updates until next year, I was saddened to hear that Marvel founder, heart and soul, Stan Lee sadly passed away today. I'm not exactly the best one for dealing with grief so I decided to write this tiny chapter instead. Good luck, my friends and see you next year.

Excelsior!