Duelling was meant to be a cathartic experience yet a full day with Yusei had burned through Musume's limited patience. They had been trying to see if it was even possible to travel back in time but their conflicting personalities had made even reaching an Accel Synchro unattainable for both.
Musume had brought Dilucesco up to the penthouse to work on the balcony. Unfortunately, her progress was being hampered by a lack of experience with the machine and numerous components which seemed designed to do nothing except take up space.
"C'mon, c'mon." Removing another set of screws, she tried for the third time to remove an extra protective plate which separated two parts of the machine. "Ah! Shit!" Sucking at a bleeding finger, she wanted to punch the vehicle clear across the city. Yet another component seemed to be blocking the panel and she had to start again.
"How's it going?" Stepping out into the cool evening, Luna resisted the glare coming her way. "That bad?"
"No, I just love to smash my fingers into random bits." Pulling the wound from her mouth, she examined it under a lamp she had dragged outside for better light. The cut had already healed over by courtesy of the creatures lurking inside her.
"You should probably stop doing that." Looking at the progress, she no longer knew as much about Duelling as her brother. Dozens of cards had been released since she last picked up her Deck and the exact mechanics of a Duel Runner were a mystery to her.
"What do you want?" Wiping the remaining blood on her trousers, it was a bad time to be in her proximity.
"Did you have any luck?" Both twins knew the general plan. If all went well, they'd have two new guests to house, since staying at Poppo Time long-term would inevitably lead to discovery.
"Oh, yeah. That's why I'm squatting here. Because Yugi Mutou got trapped inside my Runner." It was certainly big enough to hide a person but her sarcastic tone indicated that nobody was inside.
"I'm looking forward to meeting him." Not as much as his successor but Yugi Mutou was the legend. Leo certainly seemed more concerned with meeting his ultimate idol than with the reason he was coming.
"Word of advice." Crouching back on the floor, she spoke from experience. "Don't get your hopes up." No matter how grand heroes were said to be, reality rarely lined up with the stories.
"Do you want anything to eat?" Standing behind Musume let her see the progress of unravelling the Runner.
"No." Unbuckling another bolt, she tugged at a panel which resolutely remained in place.
"Are you sure? I can bring it to you out here if you want?" Gritting her teeth, Musume removed another latch impeding her work and continued without answering. "If you're having trouble, I could ask Yusei to give you a hand. I know you don't like each other but," A ratchet embedded in the wall as Musume finally lost her temper.
"I don't want any food. I don't want to talk about Yusei fucking Fudo. What I want is to fix whatever damn problem is fucking everything up and I don't need anyone prattling in my ear and screwing it all up." Face twisting with rage, she could feel the lines across her body starting to glow as she lost control of her emotions. "Got it?" Glaring at Luna, she could see the effect of her words set in.
"Y-yes." Her face was starting to change colours as eyes began to water. "Sorry."
"I don't have time for this." Turning her back, she continued to delve deeper into the complex circuitry. "Just leave me alone." Footsteps shuffled off inside as she refused to let herself feel guilty. Luna was smart enough to recognise the urgency of the situation. There wasn't time to sit around and talk about feelings.
Show me again. Standing with folded arms, Phantom had spent most of the day teaching Leo how to get out of a headlock. He had picked up the theory easily enough but it required precision more than complexity.
"Grab," In a low squat, he mimed grasping an arm about his neck as she mirrored his moves. "Drop, dip, elbow." It appeared that he had the moves in place.
Come here. Beckoning with her hand, she always had mixed feelings about the next step: practical application. Securing Leo in a chokehold, she played along as her pupil tried to master the art of getting out of it. In a real fight between them, he had no possible chance of escaping. Tightening her grip a fraction, she turned her mask as the door opened as it opened in a complex swirl of emotion. Are you okay?
"Mm-hm." Nodding distractedly, Luna hurried towards the stairs with one hand covering her face. "I don't think I'll stay up for dinner. 'm not feeling well." Her voice started to swell by the time her door shut.
"Grab, drop, dip," From the angle she had been pointing Leo's head, it had been impossible to see the state of his sister. "Little help?" Slipping as he failed to switch from 'drop' to dip' in time, he nearly throttled himself. Removing her arm, his teacher dumped him unceremoniously on the floor.
Cool off and take a shower. Helping him back up, she moved over towards the kitchen area and filled the kettle. We are done for today.
"Okay." Rubbing his throat, he didn't argue with the orders or question her distracted air. Phantom was a good teacher until it came to taking a break. Either they slowed down or stopped the lesson entirely. It had been about three hours since she had last let him get as much as a glass of water.
Only a few minutes after her outburst, the door slid open again and Musume growled her impatience as a firm hand set down a steaming cup of noodles beside her.
"I told you," Growling as she loosened another nut, she could feel herself growing irritated with her host. "I'm not hungry." Looking up, she saw instead the impassive face of her erstwhile benefactor. "What do you want?" The wrench she threateningly raised was torn from her hand and carelessly tossed aside. "Hey!"
You need to rest and eat. Slipping out the upper half of her outfit, she tied it off at the waist. I will continue your work in the meanwhile.
"I don't need food. What I need," Turning back to her work, she blew off this interruption easier than she had the last one. "Is to be left alone."
You have not stopped or had food in hours now. It is making you... irritable. With the dark outline looming over her like that, Musume remembered Phantom was just as capable of inflicting great pain as she was intense kindness. Next thing she knew, an icy grip had fasted about her arm and pulled her upright. Eat. The. Noodles.
In response, Musume coldly slid the Tender Hands through one of her legs. "Don't tell me what to do." Looking down at the mystical weapon, Phantom seemed uninterested in the attack.
When you have worked it out of your system. Sliding her leg from the blade, she was unsurprised when it was instantly sunk into her other limb. I expect you to apologise to Luna.
"What?" Standing with a knife in her leg and only a change of heart from death, her one demand was an apology for another.
There was no need to be so... abrupt with her. Snapping the cheap chopsticks in twain, she stabbed them into the pot and held it out. Take a break. Eat some food.
"Screw you." Taking the blade back, she snatched the cup and moved to throw it over the edge of the building.
Do not even think about it. Catching her wrist as it barely began to move, she knew exactly the impulse behind those shining eyes.
"Why. Doesn't. This. Thing. Work?!" Each word was punctured by another stab.
Because you do not think I am evil. She hoped that sentiment didn't change in the next few minutes. It would be quite embarrassing. Which means you know I am right.
"Know this." Slamming her head forward, it was caught in an unexpectedly gentle palm which blanketed her eyes in a freezing cover.
Let me be perfectly clear about something. It would only take a tighter grip to shatter the skull and kill Musume instantly. Even supernatural healing couldn't cure that in time. I will not let you harm yourself. Am I understood? Letting go of the glowing head, she ignored the sword now buried in her chest.
"You only care because of what I am. You don't actually give a damn what happens to me." For the first time since she had stepped outside the apartment, the coldness about her vanished.
That is not true. Physically lifting Musume like a tantruming child, she carefully deposited her precious cargo a short distance away. Trust me, Smiling gently, she waited as Musume extracted the sword again. You will feel better after a break.
Turning around, she knelt down beside the exposed components and began by organising the pandemonium Musume had left behind. This is a mess. Spanners, screwdrivers, spare parts, all mixed in together. How do you find anything?
Slurping noodles into her mouth, Musume spoke with a snarl. "With my eyes." She felt an unearthly chill as those blue ovals turned her way. "I mean,"
I know what you meant. Turning back to her work, the unspoken tone was pointedly despairing. It just seems so... messy.
"I like it." Thankful that her words hadn't been taken as an insult, she continued to swallow noodles by the mouthful as she watched the mess sorted into clusters.
Tools in place, Phantom removed both gloves and stretched her fingers as she looked over the state of dismantling. Eyes dimmed as she gracefully moved her hands through the empty gaps to figure out what had been done already. Okay. Moving to the tools at her sides, she slid into the machine with a precise touch.
Fingers had blurred in movement, tools seemed to suspend in mid-air as they were put aside only to be picked up again just as quickly. Bolts and screws were left partly attached to viable components and the irregular sound of metal hitting stone sounded as sections were removed at inconceivable speeds. Through it all, the worker said nothing.
"You're... not bad." The ease with which she had dissected the machine was impressive. Parts were carefully grouped together and placed shorted distances away. Tools ducked and weaved through the machine as she disconnected sections far faster than Musume could have done.
For the first time since taking over, Phantom spoke. I know machines. Slipping a wrench over several bolts in succession, she loosened them all in turn until the engine could be gently extracted. Carrying it in a low crouch, she laid it near the glass window. They... make sense. Reaching into a covered corner of the machine, she unerringly removed a series of tiny screws and tucked them into a pocket. Here. Disconnecting a series of wires, she carefully withdrew a tiny box no bigger than a booster pack.
"What's this?" Catching the component, she couldn't figure out its use beyond the cable ports on one side.
Computer system. Wiping her hands clean on the lower half of her outfit, she didn't seem to realise just how fast she had dismantled the Runner.
"Where's the rest?" Only framework was left now but she couldn't see any hint of any more electronic works. Phantom's unwavering gaze questioned her sanity as she looked at the box again. "You mean, this is it?"
I would... appreciate if you did not... mention you have that. Straightening the tools into ready positions, she stretched upright. It hadn't been physically uncomfortable bending down for so long but she needed to acclimate to standing again.
"You don't get it," A Duel Disk was designed for stationary Duels. They could render a limited stable holographic environment but any new objects would distort the illusion. Runners were built with an incredible amount of processing power to accommodate for the perpetually changing surroundings they passed through. "This should be eight, ten times bigger."
Really? She seemed disappointed as she inspected the remaining innards. Everything was in working order. No signs of damage or wear at all. I calculated closer to twenty.
"Wha.. I mean.." Spluttering as she tried to figure out which impossibility to address first, Musume recognised those numbers made this box twice as powerful as most others available. "Where did you get this?" Had it not literally been lying in her hand, she would have wanted one.
I made it. Pausing, she rethought the statement. Technically. Deciphering the flabbergasted look, she expanded her point. I assembled and programmed the components. The underlying technologies... She wiggled her fingers in a suggestive fashion. Five-finger discounts were implied.
"Fuck me." Looking down at the system, she realised it would be advanced even in the year she had come from.
Now, would you mind getting this sword out of my back? As she had initially turned away begin the work, Musume had embedded the blade in her back. Since it hadn't impeded her work, Phantom had let it stay where it was but it would get in the way of covering herself back up.
"Fine." Tearing the blade free, she was growing continuously disenchanted with the magical weapon. It should have at least done something useful.
Anyway, Gesturing to the piles of metal, she diverted the course of conversation before it could turn to more difficult areas. Whatever problem you were having, it is not mechanical.
"What makes you think I'm having a problem?" The words instantly flared her temper back up again.
Why else would you do repairs? That linear mind was driving her mad. Every time Musume thought she had it cornered in some subterfuge, it slipped away again with unassailable logic.
"Whatever." Tossing the technological marvel back, she dropped her empty ramen cup while heading in the direction of the sliding doors.
Are you not going to help clear up? Standing amidst the components of machinery, she couldn't figure Musume out. Enraged one minute, inquisitive the next before landing on apathy. This was why she didn't really like people.
"Apparently, I need to get some rest." Stepping inside, she slid the door shut and locked it from within. "Night." Pulling the curtains on her argument, she hid in the apartment before turning out the light.
Standing in the dark with a complicated machine that needed putting back together and absolutely no idea what sort of fallout she would be dealing with in the morning, Phantom had the strangest urge to smile.
Like Musume, Yusei had decided to fix up his Duel Runner. Using it all day had highlighted a few areas that still needed attention from the Pegasus Trinidad. A couple of screws deep in the machine were loose and he was midway to reaching them when Akiza returned from the SRC.
"Where're your brothers?" She would have expected the three of them to be working together but only Yusei was digging around with his tools. There was no noise upstairs so either one brother had finally killed the other or both weren't home.
"They went out. Crow took his Runner and Jack was wearing that weird outfit." It didn't take either of their genius to figure out where one of the pair had gone. Jack would only that peculiar ensemble when he went to see Carly. Crow had likely gone for a ride to clear his mind.
"I guess we're alone for the evening." Every time there was an imminent danger, the three would seek their own diversions. It was a tradition which dated back to their days in the Satellite. As their freedoms had grown, so had their distance when enjoying what could be their last hours. The only two people in Poppo Time had plenty of time to themselves.
"Well then," The same thought had crossed Yusei's mind. "Can you give me a hand tuning over my Runner?" And yet, his mind had gone to more mechanical areas than hers. "It'll be easier with two pairs of hands." When his thoughts returned to that moment, he would recognise just how insanely fortunate he was.
"Of course." Because Akiza readily agreed without a pause. "Just let me get changed." Five minutes later, she returned downstairs in a pair of faded shorts and raggedy shirt already covered in stains. It was the outfit she wore when there she needed to get her hands dirty. Her hair had been pulled back in a loose bun with a few strays dangling past her forehead.
By the time she returned, Yusei had already cleared a small area around his Runner and begun removing the primary panels. "Can you give me a hand with this?" The largest section covered the engine. Whilst not impossible to remove alone, it was far easier with two.
"Where are we putting it?" Holding the section in place as he undid the last bolts, she knew there was a method to his taking apart the machine.
"Over here." The other sections had been stacked just behind the rear wheel. They would appear to be stacked by size unless you knew they had been done in the easiest order to reattach. "It's probably doing okay." Grunting slightly as they arranged the plate, no word of rebuttal came. "But it's better to be safe than sorry."
"I know." Dragging a toolbox over, she spread out the tools into the lid. "It looks like a few bits are loose." Poking them with the end of a screwdriver, the weakness was minimal. Not many people would have even noticed it. "Have you fixed it since getting back from America?"
"No." He admitted. "I've been a bit busy." What with being arrested, charged for crimes and dealing with everything Musume and Phantom carried in their wake.
"Hmm." Attaching an external pad, she began a routine diagnostic of the electrical systems. Most people would claim that diagnosing systems while repairing them was dangerous. Most people's worries usually topped out at social niceties. "When did you last purge the junk data?"
"Haven't had to do it since the WRDGP." Each Duel Runner kept extensive logs of each Duel and the functions of the machine during them. The data itself served little purpose if nothing went wrong but would gradually build up in the computer until it could barely function. Turbo Duellists affectionately referred to it as 'junk' data for this reason.
"Ha! I knew the others did all the work in the Pegasus Trinidad." Giving a warm smile, he knew she was joking at his expense as she attached a spare memory card and began downloading the files. "It shouldn't take long to clear."
While the data trickled into the external storage, they continued to work on the mechanical aspects. Brakes were checked for faults and tightened to perfection. The steering was measured and adjusted to the most infinitesimal degree. Hydraulics examined. Lights checked, wheels inflated, storage compartment cleared out. Screws tightened or replaced, nuts secured and bolts fastened. By the time they were finished, the machine was as good as it had ever been.
"The oil should be fine." Even though the lubricant had slipped out into the machine, there were no leaks to be found. Just enough to tar the hands. "I checked the fluids before the Pegasus Trinidad. They'll be okay for long enough."
"Let's leave the panels where they are." Moving the panels had been difficult enough before getting their hands coated in oil. "We can put them back once we've cleaned up." Standing up, she stretched in the late hour. They had been working for too long without a break and her muscles were stiff.
"Yeah, you've got a smudge." Standing up opposite her, Yusei could feel the soreness in his own muscles as she wiped her hands cleaner on her shirt.
"Where?" Brushing away the hairs that had been trailing across her face all evening, she accidentally smeared the stain further across her cheek.
"Let me get it." Rubbing his thumb across the mark only spread it further. "Oops." Snatching down his hand, she glared at his guilty expression as the oil on his hands lay in incriminating evidence.
"Yeah? Well," Dragging some oil onto her own thumb, she slid it across his cheek in revenge. "Now you've got some on you." Her thumb trailed back on itself, turning to follow the criminal brand already there. The oil slid across the surface and coated it in darkness as her thumb continued to glide up and down the yellow inked road.
"Akiza?" Maybe it was because they hadn't had a break in some time. That was probably why his mouth was drier than a desert.
"Yes?" Drawing her hand back only pulled his face with it. Like the oil was sticking them together.
"This is a bad idea." Crow could be back any minute. Jack might walk back through the door.
"Yes?" Close enough that he could see the tiny flecks in her iris. Close enough that the stain on her cheek was drifting beyond the edge of his vision.
"This might be a bad idea." Wait, 'might'? When had he become this uncertain?
"Yes?" Then her lips made the softest impact. Just for a second. Or an hour. Time stopped passing at the contact.
"Bad." Time wasn't the only thing lost. His intellect seemed to have been sucked out in that same kiss. Enough that he was reduced to one word at a time.
"Yes." Then his hands balled up the material of her shirt and pulled them together. Dragging at his own top, Akiza pulled them in the direction of the stairs as they remained connected. "Akiza?" He mumbled against her lips as they stumbled up the steps.
As always, she was on the same page as him and a few lines ahead."I like bad ideas." Pivoting on the interim landing, she pushed him against the wall dividing the sets of stairs as her hands slid beneath his shirt. "Don't you?" After the words managed to make it through to his brain, he carefully lifted the fabric of her stained top and slid his nails across her back in tender scratches.
"Be careful," Murmuring the words into the smooth skin of her cheeks, he traced his lips across the bridge of her nose. "Bad ideas can be dangerous." Suddenly slipping his hands further south, he grasped her bountiful rounded cheeks and pulled them upwards until she sat in a nest of barely touching fingers.
Wrapping her legs around his waist, Akiza could feel the strain of holding her up trembling through him. Fastening her lips to his upturned face soothed away any hint of that weakness as he carried them both up the final set of stairs.
Thudding her into the wall beside the opening of the hallway, he broke her hold as she gasped from the impact. It was all the opening that he needed to start devouring the soft skin of her neck as her hands drew him closer. Rolling down the wall, one hand fumbled for the handle of his door until they tumbled in, nearly tripping over the chair kept by the desk.
Falling the last foot together, they impacted onto the bed with exhilarated smiles before returning to their efforts. Gaining the upper hand of the struggle, Akiza rolled them so that she was straddling Yusei's lap as his hands supported her back.
Removing her hands from his neck, she reached down and grasped the edge of her own shirt, inverting it over her head to reveal a teal green bra underneath. No sooner had her shirt hit the floor than the attack resumed as their faces clashed together. Pulling away, it was Yusei who first gasped for air. "Ha," Teeth grazed past his ear as she panted into his ear. "Out of breath?"
"Not at all." Twisting his head, he nibbled at the curve of her earlobe as she shivered from the unexpected stimulus. "But you sound winded." Her nails scratched at Yusei's scalp as Akiza pulled their faces back together. This kiss was absolutely filthy, burning the universe away instead of letting it float through them. Her tongue explored the inside of his mouth until his thrust it back out and they fought for supremacy.
"Not at all." She gasped as he collapsed backwards onto the bed with her still pressed atop. He appeared faintly garbled by the assault as she smiled down at him. "What's wrong?" Leaning down, she licked a path across his cheek and back into his mouth. They grappled one more time until all air was spent again. "Need a moment?" Her hands uncoupled from behind his head and snaked up towards the latch on her bra. Until Yusei's hands pinned them in place behind her back.
"Oh?" Stretching back down, she hissed seductively into his ear. "Is that the sort of thing you're into?"
"Akiza." Gasping from their joint exertions, he was fighting with every iota of willpower he had to not give in to his baser instincts. "We can't."
"Sure we can." Grinding her hips against his, she could feel the instant reaction. "Haven't we waited long enough?" Grabbing his lower lip in her grinning teeth, she fought for another sloppy kiss. Even though he was fighting himself, Yusei gave in until they needed air again. Only the grip he had on her pinned wrists was keeping it from going further.
"No." That actually drew her back slightly. "I mean, we have waited long enough. But we still can't." Sitting upright, Akiza broke his grasp as Yusei leaned back on his elbows. Sweat was beading across his skin, settling into the crevices of his muscles and pooling in spots across his body.
"Why not?" Breathing just as heavily as he was, she forced herself not to give in to the desire to lunge forward again. She could feel a growing urge to lick from his sculpted physique.
"You know why not." The blood rush to his face wasn't anything concerned to the blush that came now. It was the first time he had failed to plan for every eventuality and it would haunt him. "We don't have any... What if...?" Gesturing to her stomach, his fingers accidentally grazed the skin and they shivered at the contact.
"And that's the only reason?" Placing her hands beside his own, she leaned in with an intense growl. "Not Yliaster or what might happen with your condition or the end of the world?"
Swiping his arms inwards, he locked her grip and rolled them over so that he suddenly had her pinned to the bed. "Why else would I pass up this chance?" Looking up and down her heaving form with a depraved smile, he regretted the power play already backfiring on him. "You're the sexiest woman I've ever met. If it was up to me," Kissing the corner of her jaw, his lips tightened in a tortured smile. "I'd fuck your brains out. All. Night. Long."
Snatching one of her hands free, she pushed against his chest and held him at arm's length as she evaluated the look on his face. "One day," Panting as she fought to straighten her mind again, all thoughts swirled with the temptation of that claim. "I'll hold you to that." Drawing his face back to hers, she explored his mouth one last time.
"I think," Trying to think was like swimming in treacle. It would have easier if his brain had been operating with more than minimal oxygen. "I'm going to take a cold, cold shower." Maybe squat in the freezer for a few hours. Or days. Two weeks at the most. Revaluate after a month.
Damn sensible bastards, blue-balling themselves for good reasons.
Damn readers, leaving reviews of good feedback.