Crimson Star Priestess - Adulthood

by Crimson Priestess of Miracles

With Iliaster no longer threatening New Domino City, Estelle and the Signers are now facing the next challenge by the fork of adulthood where it's time for them to choose to stay together or leave the city and plow their own path to their dreams. Even if they decide to split up, they know the bonds between them will never die. Yusei/OC, Jack/Carly, Aki/Sherry, and other shippings.

4. Vacation Time

We're getting close to summer now, so it's only fair Team 5D's gets to go to the beach and have fun of what's left of their summer vacation.

In this, I'll be focusing more on the other couples/shippings to develop their romance.

This chapter was actually inspired by the DeviantArt user pink-hudy's YGO 5D's comic "Vacation Inconvenient". Make sure to read it because it's really good.

Special thanks to CitrusUnshiu who is my beta-reader!

The chapter begins in normal point of view.

Disclaimer: I do not own any Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's characters! I only own my OCs!

Chapter 4: Vacation Time

The heatwave had finally hit New Domino City. Very few people were outside getting scorched by the intense heat. The Satellite Trio was home suffering dressed in tank tops and shorts to endure the heat as much as they could. Crow laid on the floor in the living room sweating bullets while fanning himself with a paper fan while Jack sat on the couch dipping his feet in a basin full of cold water and ice cubes. The fan that Yusei had built a while ago broke down just before the heatwave arrived, so he was busy repairing it.

"It's so hoooot!" Crow complained loudly. "We've had heatwaves before, but this is ridiculous!"

Jack took a sip of his iced coffee, only to grimace by the now lukewarm beverage. "Hey, Yusei! You done with the fan yet?!" he called, irritation clear in his voice.

"Almost, Jack…", Yusei replied as he tightened the screw of the last fan blade. He grabbed the net protector and reattached it to the main frame. "Okay, it's done now. Let me just-"

The mechanic was about to switch the fan on when Jack snatched the electronic from the floor. "Finally! I'm dying here!" the blonde man said as he reached for the switch.

"Jack, wait! I need to check if it's really-"

BOOM!

The fan exploded just as Jack pressed the ON/OFF button. Black smoke engulfed the blonde Signer for a couple of seconds before it faded away and revealed the young man covered in soot. Jack coughed out a tiny breath of smoke he had inhaled before he dropped the remnants of the now unusable electronic.

"What the hell?! Yusei, what did you do?!" Jack growled as he wiped his face with his hand, but ended up smearing the soot instead making a worse mess.

"I did nothing, Jack!" Yusei retorted. "I wanted to test the fan first, but you ripped it out of my hands before I could!"

Crow groaned loudly as he stared at his bickering foster brothers. "Just great…", he sighed. "Our only fan's broken and we don't even have a pool… Wait! The twins got a pool! We should ask them if we can come over to cool down in it!"

Yusei and Jack quit fussing and looked at the carrot-head as if he had grown a third head. "Why didn't you think of that sooner?!" Jack snarled.

"'Cause my brain's mushy", Crow replied, not having his usual strength to argue with the blonde. "I can barely think…"

"I get it", Yusei nodded. "I'll call the twins and ask them if we can go over-"

For the second time of the day, Yusei got interrupted, but this time it was by his cellphone that rested on the coffee table. The young man picked it up and saw the number and name on the display. Judging from his smile, Jack and Crow knew exactly who the caller was and snickered silently behind his back.

"Hello?" Yusei answered the call.

"Hi, Yusei. It's Estelle. How are you and the guys doing?"

"Hi, Estelle. We're barely enduring the heat over here."

"You too, huh? Well, I actually have some good news for you. I got the keys for Goodwin's beach villa, so I'm inviting you, Jack and Crow and everyone else to come over for a week or so before the summer vacation ends."

"Goodwin's got a beach villa?"

"What about his villa?" Jack asked in the background while he walked to the kitchen sink to wash his face clean.

"Yeah, apparently. I didn't hear about it last summer because we were busy forging my identification papers. Goodwin thought it might be a good time for us to enjoy ourselves, so he gave me the keys and told me to invite you guys, Team Royal Knights and Team Ragnarok."

"This came at the perfect timing. I was just about to call the twins and ask them if we can come over and cool down in their pool, but this sounds better. When can we come over?"

"Goodwin sent a couple of people to clean up the villa and stock up on food, so we'll go tomorrow. We can meet up by your place in the early morning before we head out. Don't forget to pack your swimsuits."

XXXXXXXXXX

A caravan of Duel Runners and a small yellow VW Bug drove on the highway for a couple of hours in the scorching morning sun, following the red dragon Runner to their destination. The twins looked out the window of Carly's car when they were driving right next to the glittering turquoise ocean, awed by the sight of the lovely nature. They were now eager to play in the clean water and the white sand.

The group drove past a small town that was a popular tourist resort. Kids and adults in all ages walked to the beach or to the cafés with outdoor serving area or just strolled around in the lovely weather while the temperature was still endurable.

Goodwin's villa was located ten minutes from the town on a private property. It was surrounded by a barbed fence and the only way in and out was through an automatic gate with the help of a card key or a password. Estelle scanned the card key and held the gate open for everyone to drive onto the property and up a tiny hill where the villa rested on top.

"We've arrived!" Estelle called as she and the others parked their Runners outside of a garage next to the villa. "I'm not sure if there's enough space for the Runners inside the garage, but Goodwin said there's some rain covers we can use if the weather gets bad."

"Let's check how large the garage is first", Yusei suggested while Estelle pressed a button so the shutter moved up. "Then we might have to cast lots of whose Runners can stay inside."

"I'd prefer to keep my Runner indoors from the harsh sunlight!" Jack demanded.

"Of course you'd say that…", Crow muttered quietly.

The garage was accessible and revealed a large space. There were some shelves with tools and extra parts for urgent repairs, and some motor oil and other chemicals that were stored in a corner. It smelled clean and not a single dust flew in the air, so the cleaners had done a great job in less than twenty-four hours.

"Hmm… There's not enough space for all ten Runners", Estelle said after she inspected the garage. "I think we can fit five or six of them."

"We could maybe Duel for the space?" Brave suggested.

"In the middle of this heat?" Dragan pointed out as he shielded his eyes while staring up at the cloudless sky. "Brave, we know you're used to this weather, but the rest of us can't regulate our body temperature. We could get heatstroke if we Duel right now."

"Estelle should definitely keep her Runner in the garage", Harald said. "After all, she's our host."

"Can the rest of us go inside so we don't get baked under the sun?" Mei asked after she had grabbed her duffle bag from the trunk of Carly's car.

"Yeah, sure", Estelle nodded before she picked up a keychain from her pocket and threw it to the blackette. "We can split into groups for the bedrooms once we're done here."

Mei caught the keys with her free hand with ease. "Thanks!" she waved. "We'll wait for you! Good luck with the Runners!"

Aki's classmates, Carly and the twins stepped inside the villa and were greeted by the stunning interior. There was a large living room with a massive flat TV screen, bookshelves, a couple of video game consoles connected to the TV and large windows where they could look out and view the nature. There was a section of shelves that was full of different board games and card games besides Duel Monsters.

"Wow! This is huge!" Leo exclaimed in awe as he dropped his shoes and ran to the living room. "Look! These are the latest games for the PlayStation 5! And even Nintendo Switch! There are even two of them!"

"Let me see, Leo!" Luna called excitedly as she ran to her brother to check the collection of video games.

"We won't get bored while we're staying here", Sakura giggled as she sat down on one of the sofas in the living room.

"Goodwin must've thought of everything", Mei agreed as she placed the keys on a small table.

"T-This is…beautiful!" Carly gasped in awe. "I've heard about Goodwin's other properties being stunning, but this takes the cake! I feel like a celebrity just by being here! It's a good thing the villa is properly secured; this is the main course for paparazzi!"

"Only you would know what attracts paparazzi", Mei chuckled sheepishly at the eager journalist while she placed her bag on the couch before sitting down next to Sakura.

"But I'm not part of paparazzi, I'm a reporter!" Carly replied as she proudly patted herself on the chest. "I interview people to write my articles, not stalk them to get my information."

"Are you going to write something while we're here?" Sakura wondered, looking curiously to Carly. The twins had successfully switched on the television, so they were busy playing a game on one of the Switchs.

"Well, I didn't get a chance to interview Team 5D's after the Grand Prix because of everything that happened, so I hope I can do it now", Carly explained, rubbing her chin a bit. "And perhaps Team Ragnarok and your team too."

"Our team?" Mei blinked in surprise. "I think you'll have to ask Sherry about it."

"What about me?" said French spoke just as she, Aki and Mizoguchi entered the living room.

"About an interview with our team, Sherry", Mei explained, looking at the tall blonde woman. Sherry didn't really seem to be fond of that proposal, but she didn't say anything to it either.

"Are you guys already done with the Runners?" Sakura asked the Turbo Duelists.

"We are, but the others are still struggling", Aki explained with a tired expression as she threw a thumb over her shoulder. "We played rock-paper-scissors to decide who can park the Runners in the garage. Jack lost, so he almost threw a tantrum when Estelle sent him away to cool down by the beach."

"I win!" Luna suddenly yelled out.

The group turned to the television and saw Luna's chosen character doing its victory pose. "Oh, c'mon, Luna!" Leo whined in defeat. "How can you be so good in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate?! You don't even play video games!"

"I sometimes play video games when I go over to Patty's house", Luna replied calmly.

Leo growled in response before a fire ignited in his eyes. "I want revenge! Game 2!"

Carly bounced up from the couch and hurried to the hallway where everyone had dropped their shoes. "I better go and check up on Jack", she said while she put her shoes on. "I don't want him to get a heatstroke."

"Just don't agitate him, Carly," Aki warned the reporter.

"He won't get angry at me", Carly replied before she walked out of the villa to search for her crush.

XXXXXXXXXX

Jack kicked some sand as he walked across the soft beige beach. He was still fuming over the fact that he lost to a simple game of rock-paper-scissors. He knew he shouldn't get upset over a small game like a spoiled brat, but he couldn't help it. His desire to be number one in everything was burning strong in his soul. He still hadn't given up on the goal of become the King of Games once again.

The Signer stopped pacing and turned to the vast ocean with his arms crossed. The waves splashed up onto the sand and barely touched his shoes before they withdrew to the sea. Jack's amethyst eyes stared at the ocean where his next adventure was waiting. In order to restore his pride, he had to sail off on a journey and challenge his opponents from the time of his past career to redeem himself.

This meant he had to leave New Domino City and Japan for some time, including his friends…and that special person whose eyes glowed bright by constant curiosity behind her thick spectacles and the camera lens. He hadn't told his friends about his plans yet, so it was about time he spilled the beans for them.

"Jack? There you are!"

The tall man blinked his eyes at the sound of Carly's voice, but he didn't turn around to face her. He kept his eyes glued at the ocean as Carly walked up next to him. "Are you okay, Jack?" the reporter asked.

"I'm fine", Jack exhaled deeply, sensing his anger had calmed down. Staring at the sea and listening to the waves and smelling the salty air had a calming effect on him. It soothed his soul when he was a little too agitated.

Carly didn't really buy Jack's answer, but she didn't want to bother him about it. "Shouldn't you go back, Jack? I don't want you to get heatstroke", she said.

"I've dealt with worse", Jack frowned. However, he was lying now, but he didn't want to express any signs of weakness due to his stubborn personality. There was no shade on the beach and he had been walking around for quite some time, so he started feeling a little dizzy. He had underestimated the heat thanks to his own hothead.

Carly noticed immediately that Jack wasn't feeling well. He started rubbing his eyes and wiped the sweat off his forehead. Determined, the reporter grabbed hold of Jack's hand and pulled him toward the woods. "We're going back, Jack", the woman told him in a serious voice. "I don't want you to collapse in the middle of nowhere."

Jack stared at the petite girl who dragged him up the path to the villa with ease. There was just something about Carly that made his heart feel in peace. Just a glance at her and his frustration is gone like the waves of the ocean that wash away the footprints in the sand. She had this effect on him ever since they had their fateful encounter in the hospital where Jack faced Trudge who got possessed by the Dark Signers. They have become a unique team, especially after the ordeal with the Earthbound Immortals. It's like Carly carried the last missing piece of the puzzle in his heart.

That's why…he owed her something very important.

"Carly", Jack spoke up all of the sudden.

Carly stopped in her tracks and turned to the man of her dreams. "Yes?" she said. The shade of the trees cast over them as wind ruffled the leaves and the couple's hair.

Jack squeezed the woman's hand gently before he released it and cleared his throat. "I'm not good at expressing my feelings… But there's one thing I need to tell you", he confessed.

Carly's eyes expanded behind her glasses in surprise. Her heart pumped the blood faster as her mind spun around in a panic. Is Jack going to confess his feelings for her?! She had dreamed about this moment, but she didn't expect it was going to happen right now! Maybe by a table in a fancy restaurant with candlelight, but certainly not in the middle of a forest.

"Jack, I-"

Jack surprised Carly by bowing his head. This was not what she had expected from the tall and prideful but handsome man. "Thank you", the Signer said wholeheartedly. "For everything you've done for me, even when it appears I don't appreciate it."

Carly couldn't help but stare at her crush in surprise. Did Jack really just bow to her? The Jack Atlas bowed to a girl?! She was aware that she didn't express his feelings that often, so this came out of nowhere. But the fact that Jack showed Carly this tiny vulnerable side of him made her feel honored that he trusted her so much that he would drop his stubborn act just for her. The reporter gently cupped Jack's cheeks. "Jack, look up", she told him. The blonde straightened up as Carly still held his cheeks on her tiptoes, staring deep into his eyes. "I've always known you appreciate me", she smiled. "You may not express it verbally, but your actions show me enough how much you care about me. Although, I admit you can act like a jerk sometimes", the reporter giggled at the end.

Jack sweat dropped inwardly by the last statement. He knew he could act like a coldhearted jerk, something Crow often called him, but he was considering of changing. "I know", the blonde Signer said with a sheepish expression. "I'll try getting my act together."

"You don't have to change that much, Jack", Carly shook her head as she removed her hands from the man's cheeks. "Just be yourself, like how you've always been. Be passionate about your dreams and your friends; you never hesitate to save them when they're in danger and that's one of the many sides I love about you."

There were times Jack felt like he didn't deserve the affections from the petite reporter, but then he couldn't help but yearn more. Love was still an unknown territory for the blonde because all he could think about was to reclaim the throne that got taken from him. Only after he gets crowned as the King of Games will he pay attention to what else life can offer him.

That was the original plan before it got messed up by the encounter of the reporter who wanted the best for him without receiving little to almost nothing in return.

In Jack's eyes, Carly was a true gem that deserved nothing but the very best.

The myths say that dragons love to hoard their gold and treasure and wouldn't hesitate to kill the thieves if they were to enter their lair. If Jack was a dragon, he would definitely consider Carly his biggest treasure next to Red Dragon Archfiend. However, first he had to earn it by becoming a man greater than he is today before he could take Carly as his queen.

XXXXXXXXXX

The next day, everyone decided to go down to the beach and take a swim in the ocean in the morning while the weather was still endurable, so the occupants of the villa were getting dressed into their swimsuits either in their assigned bedrooms where they slept in pairs with someone of their gender or in one of the several bathrooms all over the giant villa.

Sherry decided to get dressed in one of the bathrooms to give Aki some space in the bedroom they shared together. Actually, she was already finished preparing, but she couldn't help but feel nervous to go back to Aki's and her bedroom, mostly because she wasn't used to wearing revealing clothes at all. Not that her white swimsuit was all that revealing, but it surely was something different than her usual long-sleeved shirts and pants.

She sighed as she looked down her right arm. She had quite a nasty scar on her elbow, a scar that was usually hidden under her normal clothes. She looked back into the mirror, her right hand slowly touching the scar on her left shoulder, her mouth slightly frowning at the memories that were linked with all of her scars. She sighed again, knowing she couldn't stay that long in the bathroom, otherwise Aki would start to worry. She shook her head slightly and decided to braid her hair. It didn't take long for her to finish the braid that she then put neatly into a bun, so that her hair wouldn't stick to her back. After a quick look into the mirror to see if everything was in place, she decided to get back to her bedroom.

Before Sherry entered into her bedroom, she knocked softly on the door. After all she didn't know if Aki was finished yet. "Come in", Aki said from inside, so she did. Sherry tried her best to not stare too much at Aki's exposed body as the red-head was just wearing a dark red bandini. She averted her eyes to the bag Aki was filling with some essentials, like two towels, sun cream and water.

"Do you have everything?" Sherry asked, sitting down on the edge of the bed a bit farther away from Aki than usually. Aki just replied with a short hum, probably double-checking if they needed other things as well. Somehow Sherry was nervous, especially since she had to share the room with Aki. The fact that she had feelings for the smaller woman made it difficult for her to maintain her usual neutral expression. And especially the fact that there's only one huge double bed made it even more difficult for Sherry to not be a complete mess around the red-head. Hopefully the smaller girl didn't notice that though.

"I think I have everything", Aki said, zipping the bag and finally looking at Sherry, her brown eyes meeting Sherry's green ones.

"That's good then", Sherry said standing up. Aki did too, but before Sherry could go to the door, she felt Aki's hand on her shoulder. Sherry turned around, looking confusedly at Aki.

"Are you alright?" Aki asked and Sherry knew exactly what Aki was referring to.

"Of course", Sherry answered lowly, which didn't seem to convince Aki that much.

Sherry sighed slightly. "Do you want to know how I got the scars?" she asked.

"Only if you want to tell me", Aki replied her hand still on Sherry's shoulder.

The blonde went back to the bed and sat down again. Aki did the same looking attentively to Sherry. Sherry lifted her right arm up, pointing with her left hand to the scar on her elbow. "This one I got when I was in Quebec", Sherry began and Aki looked attentively at the big scar.

"I was following a hint that Mizoguchi had found out. I had to convince them that I was French-Canadian and it went quite well, but one word I was pronouncing like we would in France, so they figured out it was all a hoax", the blonde continued explaining. Aki's eyebrows twitched, worry written all over her beautiful face.

"So one guy took an iron-pole and actually he was aiming for my face, but I could shield it with my arm", Sherry continued. "I somehow got out of it without getting more scars though, but it was a tough fight."

Aki placed a hand on top of Sherry's. "You went through a lot", she whispered staring at their hands.

Sherry just nodded, placing her other hand on top of Aki's. "I did", she whispered as well.

"But that's all in the past now", Aki said turning her attention back to the blonde's face. Brown eyes meeting green ones yet again and within less than a second all of Sherry's negative thoughts were replaced by a warm feeling that was spreading. She smiled slightly, which in turn caused Aki to smile as well.

"It's all in the past now", Sherry repeated Aki's words. They sat like that for a while, just looking into each other's eyes, before Sherry stood up again, holding her hand out to Aki. "Let's head to the beach", she said happily to which Aki responded with an eager nod.

XXXXXXXXXX

Crow combed his hair in the bathroom, only dressed in a pair of dark gray swim shorts. He had decided not to wear his headband and just let his hair flow down to his shoulders. He stared at his reflection of the mirror while tucking a few strands behind his ear. He noticed his hair had gotten a bit longer than what he would like. He even noticed some split edges. He made a mental note to visit Nervin for a haircut as soon as he gets home.

A knock on the door snapped Crow out of his thoughts, remembering he was sharing the bathroom with his roommate. "Crow? You done, buddy?" Brave called from the other side.

"Yeah, I'm good!" Crow responded quickly before he put the comb down on the sink and hurried to the door. He opened it and took one step out before he stopped in his tracks. Brave was standing in front of him wearing dark orange swim shorts and an orange Hawaiian shirt that was unbuttoned and exposed his fit abdomen and tanned skin. A pair of large round sunglasses rested on top of his head like a crown and his ponytail coiled around the nape of his neck like a scarf.

Even in such simple clothes, Brave looked regal and mature in Crow's perspective, but the Signer knew better. Beneath that mask, there was a trickster hiding in plain sight. "You look great, Brave!" Crow smiled and gave the Swede a thumbs up and a playful wink.

"Thanks, Crow!" Brave laughed heartily before he took a closer look at the Signer. "I didn't expect seeing your hair down like this. I thought it naturally stood up."

"Yeah, it takes lots of time to do my hair", Crow confessed with a sheepish laugh. "I've never really liked how it was down since I was a kid, so that's why I wear a headband."

"Well, maybe you should keep it down more often?" Brave asked with a genuine grin. "You look nice."

It was just a tiny compliment, but it made Crow's heart take a leap and heat blossomed in his cheeks. He rarely got complimented for his hair. Then again, he barely had it down; it was only for special occasions. The only times he received a compliment for his hair was from Martha and Yusei shortly after the orange-haired orphan moved into the orphanage more than a decade ago.

However, receiving nice words from somebody else felt refreshing.

"T-Thanks!" Crow stuttered softly before he snatched his towel from his bed. "But I've gotten used doing my hair, so I tend to forget that I can keep it down."

"I get it; old habits die hard", Brave nodded as he grabbed his stuff for the beach. "Ready to hit the beach?"

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be", Crow grinned.

The duo walked out of the villa and down the path leading to the beach. Mizoguchi had chosen to stay in the villa and do some preparations for lunch, so he was going to watch the house while the youngsters enjoyed themselves.

XXXXXXXXXX

Crow and Brave were the last to arrive at the lively beach. A couple of parasols and lounging chairs had been set up in the sand and towels were spread out with beach bags resting next to them. The group had scattered around; some were playing and swimming in the water, another group was building sand castles, and a few sunbathed or rested under the shade of the parasols. A volleyball net had also been set up a little farther away from the main beach where a group was currently playing.

"Well, the party started without us", Crow commented as his brown sandals sank in the sand for every step he took. He picked out a free spot and spread out his towel. He walked over to another towel where Yusei's beach bag laid and grabbed the bottle of sun cream.

"You need help applying the sun cream on your back, Crow?" Brave asked as the Signer walked back to his towel.

Crow blinked in surprise when he realized Brave had placed his towel next to his. He had expected the Swede to hang out with his own team, but he didn't mind the company. "Sure!" he nodded as he handed the bottle to Brave.

The two young men sat down on the ground before the Sweden sprayed sun cream onto the palm of his hand. "It's gonna be a little cold", he warned the Signer.

"Gotcha", Crow replied.

Even with the warning, he gritted his teeth and let out a hissed yelp as soon as the cold substance made contact with his skin. Brave chuckled in amusement by Crow's reaction and continued spreading the cream on the Signer's back. Crow quickly got used to the different temperature and started relaxing as Brave's hands massaged him. It nearly made him fall asleep, but he didn't want that to happen so he decided to strike a conversation.

"Hey, Brave", Crow said. "You mentioned before you used to be a treasure hunter, right?"

"That's right", Brave replied as his hands smeared the cream across Crow's shoulder blades. "I used to go treasure hunting in rivers and lakes in Sweden when I was a kid, so it quickly became my passion. I left the country after I had saved up enough money to travel around the world and explore uninhabited islands where I suspected pirates hid their loot. A year later, I stumbled upon an island in Indonesia with orphans who had been abandoned because of a war that involved Iliaster." The Swede's eyes got hazy as he recalled the impactful sight of the poor and malnourished kids who had been dumped for dead. "I sold all the treasure that had value and built a house for them and taught them everything I could so they can have a good life. It was then I made the wish to find a way to save the kids. Lucky for me, Harald and Dragan showed up and I got recruited to Team Ragnarok to stop Iliaster." Brave's eyes returned to normal as he reminded himself of all the work he had in front of him with the kids. "Now that Iliaster's gone, I'll head back to Indonesia and find a place where the kids can live in civilization and go to school and live a normal life again. It's a long journey ahead, but I'll do anything for them to have a long and healthy life."

Crow could tell by Brave's voice that he was very passionate about the orphans' safety and well-being. He knew exactly what the Swede was talking about because he had gone through the same thing for his little nest of orphans. "I get it", he said as he turned around now that Brave was done with his back. "I'd break my arms and legs to make sure my kids are safe too. I did everything I could while they were under my care. I didn't care if I had to steal for them; I just wanted to give them a good life to the best of my abilities."

"I guess we have more things in common than just being the tricksters of our respective teams", Brave chuckled softly before his eyes shifted into a glance of mischievousness. The next thing Crow knew, Brave had smeared a handful of sun cream on top of his head, making a sticky mess of his hair.

"Hey!" Crow exclaimed in fake anger while Brave laughed at him.

Harald rested on one of the lounging chairs beneath a parasol with a book in his hands. He had no intentions of taking a dip in the sea today, so he was dressed in a white unbuttoned shirt and a pair of light grey shorts. His eyes traveled across the row of words of the book, but the laughter from the tricksters caught his attention. He peeked from the corner of his eyes and saw Brave and Crow playing around with the sun cream. A tiny smile erupted on Harald's face by the sight. He knew Brave missed the kids he looked after and his teammate had been down ever since he left them, so it was nice to see him lively and all smiles again.

"De är lika som två bär (They're like two peas in a pod)", Estelle spoke up as she walked up next to Harald where her towel and beach bag were lying in the sand. She was dressed in a black bikini and had her hair up in a ponytail. She had just taken a swim in the ocean, so her body glittered in the sunlight.

Harald nodded in agreement. "Jag har en känsla av att deras vänskap kommer bli väldigt speciell (I have a feeling their friendship is going to be very special)", he commented.

"Jag håller med (I agree)", Estelle smiled as she grabbed her towel to dry herself. "Tänker du verkligen inte bada, Harald? (Are you really not going to go swimming, Harald?)"

"Jag hoppar över idag (I'm skipping today)", Harald replied as he flipped a page of his book.

"Okej, du gör som du vill (Okay, you do what you want)", Estelle shrugged. "Du kanske är med på ett parti volleyboll lite senare? (Maybe you'll join a game of volleyball a little later?)"

"Gärna (Gladly)", Harald nodded.

Leo and Luna were playing in the sand building sand castles. The male twin wore a pair of dark turquoise swim shorts while his sister had a pink strapless swimsuit with some frills on both the top and bottom. Luna had her hair down so she could wear a straw hat to shield her head from the harsh sunlight.

"We're gonna build the best sand castle ever!" Leo exclaimed enthusiastically as he thumped the shovel against the upside down sand bucket.

"Yeah", Luna nodded as she carefully carved windows and decorations on the few stacks of sand that Leo had already made for their sand castle with a thin stick. She hummed in realization when she realized something was missing. "We should get some seashells for decoration."

"Hmm… Yeah, you're right, sis", Leo nodded while he removed the bucket, revealing a perfect stack of sand mixed with seawater. "I'll walk around the beach to find some."

Sakura, dressed in a magenta skirtini, overheard the kids talking about seashells. She had just walked around the beach and collected some pretty seashells she was going to bring back home. She had found a lot, so she didn't mind sharing some with the twins.

"Leo, Luna", Sakura called as she walked over to the kids. She held her hands out to show them the seashells. "I found some seashells if you want to use them."

"Really?" Luna's eyes brightened by the offer and took some of the shells. "Thank you, Sakura! We'll give them back to you later."

"No problem", Sakura smiled as she crouched down next to the twins. "Do you mind if I help you with the castle?"

"Not at all!" Leo grinned as he flexed his right shoulder. "Alright, my fellow architects, let's build the greatest castle ever!"

"Yay!" Luna and Sakura cheered with Leo to express their excitement for the project.

The rest of the group was playing volleyball as there was a fierce match ongoing. The teams were still split into boys versus girls. Mei was dressed in a black swimsuit. Jack wore a pair of white swim shorts which looked unexpected good with his fair skin. Dragan wore the opposite color of Jack's white swim shorts, which were black swim shorts. Yusei had a pair of navy blue swim shorts that matched his eyes.

Carly sat on the side and kept tracks of the points for the teams. She wasn't the athletic type and was clumsy by nature, so she got to be the referee. Her light blue bikini had a single strap that went around her neck instead of the two usual straps of the top.

Right now, the points were 20 for each team. It now all depended on this last match.

"Take this, girls!" Jack shouted as he smashed the ball over the net with all his strength after Dragan had passed the ball to him.

The volleyball flew to the back where Mei was. She quickly jumped forward and performed a dive to save the ball before it could touch the sand. The ball bounced onto the blackette's wrists as she passed it to Aki.

"Take it, Aki!" Mei yelled before her face got buried in the sand.

Said psychic Duelist braced herself and raised her hands to pass the ball over to Sherry with both palms. "Sherry!" Aki shouted.

"I've got this!" the French responded before she leapt high up for the ball.

Yusei, who was in the back of the sand court, quickly realized that Sherry was about to perform a jump serve. "Guys, heads up! We have to block this!" he told his teammates.

"Gotcha!" Dragan responded as his eyes watched the ball, trying to predict in which direction Sherry was going to serve it.

"I'll catch it!" Jack shouted as he raises his arms in preparations for a block.

Sherry smirked to herself before her hand made contact with the volleyball. In the middle of the serve, she snapped her wrist and gave the ball an extra push. It dropped faster than the men anticipated, so it flew over Jack's fingers. Yusei jumped immediately to the right to catch the ball, but his reaction came too late. The ball bounced onto the sand and rolled away just as the Signer crashed down on the soft nature cushion.

Carly whistled with her fingers to get the teams' attention. "That's twenty-one to the girls! Team Ladies win!" she announced.

"Alright!" Aki cheered after she helped Mei stand up from the sand. The blackette spat out some of the sand that got in her mouth, but she was still smiling by the victory.

"I still got the touch", Sherry smirked as she flexed her wrist before she shared high-fives with her teammates.

"A feint…", Dragan muttered before shrugging. "Still, that was a good play."

"That was a feint?! Isn't that cheating?" Jack asked irritably.

"Not according to the rules", Sherry responded. "You don't have to be a sore loser, Jack."

"Excuse me?!" Jack exclaimed angrily. "I'll show you who the real loser is! Next time, I'll beat your team in the Duel lane!"

"I accept the challenge", Sherry replied calmly with the confident smirk still pasted on her lips. "I'd love to Turbo Duel Team 5D's. Our team got to Duel and defeat Team Ragnarok in the WRGP when we battled for the third place of the competition."

"It threw me and my teammates off guard of how you were able to defeat us and the Aesir", Dragan nodded. "It was very impressive."

Yusei got up on his feet and brushed the sand off his face before he joined the conversation. "I wouldn't mind having a Turbo Duel with you guys", he smiled to the girls. "Although, I have a feeling you'll be extra prepared against us."

"But of course", Aki smirked. "We've seen your best cards in action, so I think we can give you a good challenge."

"Don't underestimate the power of Team 5D's, Aki!" Carly exclaimed as she hugged Jack's arm. "Especially Jack's power! He'll burn your roses into a crisp! Right, Jack?"

"Obviously!" Jack stuck his nose high up in the air. "My blazing soul will incinerate every opponent that dares to walk on my path!"

"I'd love to see you try harming my beautiful roses, Jack", Aki retorted calmly.

"The competition is already heating up…", Mei giggled in the background.

"Then let's have a Turbo Duel match when we're back in the city", Yusei said as he held his hand out to Sherry.

The French woman nodded before sealing the deal with a handshake. "I look forward to the Turbo Duel", she smiled.

XXXXXXXXXX

The heat hit its peak before noon every day, so the group mostly stayed inside the villa to relax in the cooling environment. They filled their days with different activities as playing board games, video games, even some karaoke and other hobbies. Leo came up with the idea of doing a test of courage the next night. There were no objections about it, so the next morning Jack showed Estelle a path in the forest that went around the whole property where they did some preparations for the activity later that evening. The brunette had a sketchbook and colored pencils with her, so she drew large arrows in bright colors that the blonde taped onto the tree trunks. While they were marking the path, the poor souls who got chosen for the haunt crew drove to the nearby town to rent costumes.

The sun had just set when everyone prepared themselves for the test of courage. The haunt crew consisting of Crow, Brave, Aki and Carly changed into their costumes and applied makeup before they headed out to the forest. Of course, no one was allowed to see them or else their costumes wouldn't have that much of an impact when they scare the others.

After getting the OK through their mutual LINE group, the others gathered in the garden to get paired through lottery. Mizoguchi was going to wait by the villa and count the pairs who made it back, so that made the numbers even.

The first pair to walk into the forest was Leo and Jack. The young boy felt uncomfortable with the darkness, so he held onto Jack's shirt while they walked down the path, only lit by the flashlight in the blonde's hand. Leo held back whimpers and tried not to flinch in fear by every little sound coming from the dark woods. Jack wasn't affected by the haunted environment at all. In fact, he was a little annoyed by the boy who jumped as soon as the bushes ruffled right next to them.

"Yaaah!" Leo screeched in fear when an innocent rabbit jumped out from the bushes and ran away to find its nest. He managed to trip on his feet and landed on his backside. His eyes quickly got full of tears, both from fear and pain.

Jack sighed loudly, unimpressed and bored by the whole test. "Seriously, Leo! Why did you even suggest this courage test if you're so scared of every single thing?" he couldn't help but ask in an irritating voice, but he made sure to keep the volume down to not frighten the boy even more.

Leo blinked the tears away before he quickly got up from the ground. "I-I'm not scared!" he insisted as he patted his chest. "I'm Luna's big brother! I'm as brave as I can be!" He flinched again when he heard the leaves of another bush ruffle by the wind.

Jack rolled his eyes unamused at the weak statement from the male twin. "Whatever", the blonde clicked his tongue. "Let's keep going-"

The eerie silence got disturbed by the noise of soft and ominous feminine giggles. Leo shrieked through his teeth and rushed to Jack. He grabbed onto the young adult's shirt as he looked frantically around. "W-W-What was that?!" he asked.

Jack moved the flashlight around them to find the source of the sounds. They couldn't find anyone among the thick vegetation. It only got worse as five eye symbols appeared in the darkness, all of them glowing in five different colors as they surrounded the pair. Leo's body shook violently as he got frightened for each second. It didn't help that the giggles still echoed around them.

The taller Signer recognized the eye symbols immediately, so he knew who was trying to scare them. This joke didn't work on Jack, as he barely got scared over trivial things. Leo tugged his free hand and tried pulling him forward. "L-Let's go, Jack!" the young Signer cried. "This forest is haunted!"

"Calm down, Leo!" Jack told Leo. "This is just some special effects. Nothing to get scared about." He noticed from the corner of his eye a shadow crawling out from the bushes next to them.

"B-But-!"

Leo flinched when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He slowly turned his head to the left and got greeted by the grotesque face of a zombie with half of its head wrapped in blood-stained bandage. "Braaaaain…", the zombie moaned with blood and green slime smeared on its face.

"KYAAAAAAAH!" Leo screamed so loud that Jack's eardrums almost started bleeding. He quickly covered his ears as the boy crashed onto the ground again with fresh tears in his eyes.

The zombie couldn't help but giggle in delight. "I did it! I managed to scare you!" she laughed.

Leo blinked his eyes away when he recognized the voice of the zombie. "It's-"

Jack turned the flashlight at the zombie and revealed its true form. "I knew it was you, Carly", he said unamused.

Carly was dressed in some torn clothes and had bandages wrapped around her, all of them stained by fake blood. She even had some fake blood on her face and green slime that glowed in the darkness. She had dumped her glasses and instead used contacts that she had bought back in town.

"Did you get scared too, Jack?" the reporter asked, eager to hear the verdict from her crush.

"No", Jack replied in a flat voice.

Carly dropped her head in defeat by the response. "Aww…", she groaned disappointingly.

Leo wiped his cheeks clean after he had calmed down and slowly got up from the ground. He brushed his hands clean that hurt a little from the gravel, but he didn't sustain any injuries. "H-How did you do all those other effects?" he asked.

Carly winked before she picked up an active Duel Disk that had been hidden in the bushes. Five different cards of her Fortune Ladies rested on the blade just as said Duel Monsters flew down from the trees where they had been hiding; Fortune Lady Light, Fire, Wind, Water, and Dark. "It was easy to do the special effects with the help of my Fortune Ladies", the reporter explained.

"That scared me the most", Leo confessed. "I almost peed myself when you came out of nowhere."

"So you think I can scare the others?" Carly asked.

"Oh yeah! You were wicked!" Leo nodded as he now felt better and excited.

"Let's go, Leo!" Jack called as he walked away. "Let's get this over with so we can go back to the villa!"

"Ah! Wait for me, Jack! See you later, Carly!" Leo yelled as he ran after the Signer.

Carly pouted irritably at Jack's retiring form. She had expected more praise from him, but he wasn't really the type who threw praises randomly. Her Fortune Ladies gestured with their hands that she shouldn't be so disappointed and continue having fun. Carly understood their behavior and walked back to the bushes and hid behind them to scare the rest of the pairs.

XXXXXXXXXX

The next pair was Harald and Yusei. Ever since Team 5D's' victory over Team Ragnarok, the two leaders have grown respect for each other and it only got stronger after their collaboration with the Ark Cradle incident. Both young men were silent as they walked down the eerie path. Harald held the flashlight, but Yusei carried an extra for safety purposes.

"What were you doing before you formed Team Ragnarok, Harald?" the Signer wondered.

"As I mentioned before, I joined the Swedish military as soon as I graduated high school", Harald answered. "I spent two years of training and joining missions before I noticed the signs of Iliaster tampering with the world's balance. I quit the military and traveled across the world for more than two years to see what damage Iliaster had done and hone my skills so I could earn Odin's power. When I returned home, Odin blessed me with his power and the Ansuz Rune Eye. He gave me the clues of Thor and Loki's whereabouts, so I recruited Dragan and Brave to join me and eliminate Iliaster."

"Right. I remember now you said something about the military…", Yusei nodded.

"It was something I chose to do because it contributed to my lifelong training to be worthy of Odin's power", Harald nodded as he looked up at the starry sky. "I spent hours researching the Norse mythology and learned about Fimbulwinter in early age. That inspired me to become powerful so I can prevent massive destruction when Ragnarök happens. The older I got, the more I was able to decipher the secret messages that might predict battles in the future, like the war with Iliaster. There's still a lot I haven't uncovered yet, so I'll continue my research when I return to Sweden. There's this myth about the seven Valkyries who joined the Aesir in battle, but I don't know any more details than that. If what Odin mentioned is true, that Estelle is a Valkyrie, then it could be a sign that another battle might take place in the near future. I need to uncover the myth and make preparations if it comes down to the worst, so we can protect the world and keep world peace for the sake of our children's future."

Yusei could tell by the Swede's voice that he was passionate about his dreams for peace. He felt the same with his dreams of perfecting his late father's project. "If…there will be another battle, then my friends and I'll be there to help you", the Signer said.

"I appreciate it, Yusei", Harald smiled softly. "Oh. Before I forget; I actually heard some interesting rumors about your father's research."

"Rumors?"

"I read in an old news article that your father was going to get nominated for the Noble Prize in physics due to the discovery of the Planetary Particles and the construction of the first Ener-D Reactor."

"Really?" Yusei asked. He hadn't heard about that before, so it threw him off guard.

"Yes, but due to Zero Reverse, they revoked the nomination", Harald explained. "Something tells me that if you manage to perfect the Reactor, you could get nominated for the Noble Prize."

"Yusei might get a huge prize?!" Crow exclaimed flabbergasted as he jumped out of the shadows.

The two leaders flinched a bit in surprise before Harald quickly turned the flashlight at the Signer who had just taken a leap out of the bushes. Crow stood in the middle of the path dressed as a humanoid raven with fake wings strapped on his arms and a face mask with a long orange beak. His hair was down in a ponytail so it didn't look mismatched with the costume.

"You heard that, Crow?" Yusei asked.

"Of course I did!" Crow nodded as he pushed the mask up revealing his enlarged eyes and stunned expression. "The Noble Prize is like one of the whole world's most honorable prizes you can ever receive! But with your brain, Yusei, you'll get it for sure!" The young man gave Yusei a wide grin and a thumbs up.

"I hate to interrupt you, Crow, but aren't you supposed to scare us?" Harald asked.

"Huh?" Crow blinked before he realized his mistake. "Oops! Sorry 'bout that! I got a little excited when I heard about the prize thing."

"All's good, Crow. You did surprise me with your sudden outburst", Yusei told his foster brother.

"I'll do a better job with the next pair", Crow grinned mischievously.

XXXXXXXXXX

The third pair to enter the forest was Estelle and Dragan. Dragan carried the flashlight while Estelle walked next to the giant. The brunette was in slight awe of how tall Dragan was. She couldn't remember if she had ever seen someone as tall as the three members of Team Ragnarok back in her world.

The Priestess felt a little awkward by the silence between them, so she decided to try coming up with a conversation. "Så… (So…)", she began hesitantly.

"Hm?" Dragan hummed as he turned to Estelle with a questionable expression.

"Jag är bara nyfiken; vad höll du på med innan du gick med i Lag Ragnarok? (I'm just curious; what were you doing before you joined Team Ragnarok?)" Estelle asked. "Arbetsmässigt. (Work-wise.)"

"Jeg var pappas assistent i en utleieutstyrsbutikk i nærheten av et populært skianlegg i Norge (I was Dad's assistant of a rental equipment shop close to a popular ski resort in Norway)", Dragan replied.

"En vad för butik? (A what kind of store?)" Estelle repeated, since she couldn't fully understand Norwegian.

"Rental equipment shop", Dragan explained in English.

"Aha, okej (Aha, okay)", Estelle nodded sheepishly with a rub on the back of her head. "Jag har lite svårt att uppfatta ett antal ord på norska, trots att våra språk är lik varandra. (I have a little difficulty understanding a number of words in Norwegian, despite the fact that our languages are similar.)"

"Jeg klandrer deg ikke (I don't blame you)", Dragan replied. "Jeg synes det er like vanskelig å tolke en rekke ord på svensk. (I have the same difficulty interpreting a number of words in Swedish.)"

Estelle held back an awkward grimace. She hated to admit it, but she didn't really understand fully what the Norwegian just said. "Um… Jag förstod nästan ingenting av det du just sa, så…kan vi kanske återgå till japanska istället? (Um… I almost didn't understand anything you just said, so...can we maybe go back to Japanese instead?)" the brunette requested.

Dragan chuckled deeply from his chest. "Sure, if it feels better for you", he replied.

"Thank you", Estelle gave him a smile. "To be honest, I feel more comfortable speaking in Japanese rather than Swedish."

"It's understandable, considering you live in Japan."

"Yeah. Was it tough learning Japanese for you?"

"No, I didn't have that much of a difficulty understanding the verbal speech, but I sometimes mix up the signs every now and then."

"It's the same for me. That's why I try writing in English if I have the opportunity."

"Are you using English often in your daily life?"

"Yeah, I speak English quite often in Sector Security during international meetings when Goodwin requests my appearance."

"What exactly do you do again in Security?"

"I used to be Goodwin's secretary for a couple of months before I got promoted as a Special Agent of Sector Security."

"I see… So you have a huge responsibility to protect New Domino City?"

"Yes, and I'll go through every obstacle to protect the place I call home", Estelle said determinedly as she clenched her right hand into a fist. "I'd fight Iliaster again if I have to."

"I like your spirit", Dragan laughed heartily. "You've got a fire burning within you like Jack."

"I'm the Crimson Star Priestess, so it's obvious I have a fire within my soul that cannot be extinguished", Estelle giggled.

"FLÖRTAREEEEE! (FLIRTEEEEERS!)"

Estelle's heart nearly leaped out of her chest when a tall figure jumped out of the woods and screamed at the duo. Dragan also flinched in surprise and caught the brunette as she almost fell backwards by the sudden shock.

Brave stood in front of them covered in a white sheet with a pair of holes where he could look out and see his surroundings. He was clearly playing the classic white ghost.

Estelle placed her hand on top of her chest as she took deep breath to calm down the pumping organ that had tripled its pace. "Herregud, Brave…! Du skrämde livet ur mig! (My goodness, Brave…! You scared the life out of me!)" she yelled angrily as she stood up.

"Sorry, men ni snackade som om ni flörtade med varandra! (Sorry, but you were talking as if you were flirting with each other!)" Brave retorted.

"Vi har en vanlig konversation! Och varför skulle jag vilja flörta med någon när jag har en pojkvän? (We're having a normal conversation! And why would I want to flirt with someone when I have a boyfriend?)" the brunette argued.

"Jag vet inte (I don't know.)", Brave shrugged. "Är du redan trött på Yusei? (Are you already tired of Yusei?)"

That comment struck a nerve on the female. "Vad sa du, punk…? (What did you say, punk…?)" Estelle glared daggers at Brave that could've stabbed him if looks could kill.

Brave sensed the hostile aura emitting from the brunette and backed away from her. "Jag skämtade bara! Coola ned dig, syrran! (I was just joking! Calm down, sis!)" he apologized.

"Bäst för dig att inte skämta om mitt förhållande med Yusei nästa gång, för annars serverar dig till Star Eater som middag (You better not joke about my relationship with Yusei next time, or else I'll serve you as dinner for Star Eater.)", Estelle threatened the poor Swede.

Dragan sighed and stepped in before the situation could escalate. "Ro deg ned, Estelle. Brave mente ikke det han sa (Calm down, Estelle. Brave didn't mean what he said.)", he told the young woman.

Estelle released a deep sigh and let go of the anger. "Förlåt mig. Jag har det lite svårt att uppfatta skämt ibland… (I'm sorry. I have a bit of a hard time understanding jokes sometimes…)", she confessed as she rubbed her forehead.

"Jag är också ledsen (I'm sorry too.)", Brave apologized. "Jag gick lite för långt med skämtet. (I took the joke a little too far.)"

"Allt är förlåtet, Brave (All is forgiven, Brave.)", Estelle replied before she and Brave shook hands to make peace.

XXXXXXXXXX

The second to last pair was Luna and Sherry. It was an odd pair because the female twin and the French had barely interacted with each other. After all, Luna had helped Team 5D's out throughout the Grand Prix, so she knew very little of the blonde woman who walked next to her. That's why she asked Sherry some questions to get to know her. After all, they were allies who fought Iliaster together with the other Signers.

"…So you have ridden a horse before?" Luna asked in the middle of the conversation.

"Yes," Sherry replied with a soft smile on her lips. "It was my mother's idea that I should take horse-riding classes after we had watched a movie about knights together. I was quite fascinated about them, so I was really into my mom's idea."

They were walking a bit further in the dark forest, trying to find the right way. "What about you?" Sherry asked, looking down to the green-haired girl. "Have you ridden a horse before?"

"No… Unless you count Sunlight Unicorn", the girl replied. "I rode her when I was in the Spirit World a couple of times when everyone was in danger."

Sherry glanced at her right arm that was hidden by the long sleeve of her white top. "It's interesting how we Signers have different powers depending on what Mark we have", she commented. "I haven't been able to communicate with my Duel Monsters ever since I received my Mark."

Luna thought about each Signer and what their special skills were. Yusei had Clear Mind and Jack had the Blazing Soul; two abilities that helped the men evolve their Signer Dragons into stronger beings. Aki had psychic powers and could summon Duel Monsters in physical forms. Luna herself could interact with Duel Spirits and the Spirit World. Leo had a spiritual connection with her that helped her increase her power if needed. Crow's and Sherry's skills were still unknown. Perhaps they needed more time to unlock their skills?

"If you could choose skills, what would you choose, Sherry?" Luna asked.

The blonde stayed quiet for some time as she thought about her answer. "I'd like a skill that could benefit me", Sherry replied. "Perhaps a skill similar to Yusei's where I can evolve Beelze into a stronger form to protect the people I care deeply about."

Her response reminded Luna of something she had observed before, but she didn't comment at it back then due to the turbulence that occurred at the time. The little girl remembered back at the Ark Cradle when Sherry looked so desperate to save her and Aki from the unthinkable. Luna had seen the same type of eyes reflecting strong and raw emotions in Yusei's eyes when he found his lover's unconscious body among the heaps of junk before the final battle against his alternative self.

"Sherry…", the girl began hesitantly.

"Hm?" The blonde hummed as scanned the area around her.

"What do you…", Luna paused a bit, questioning herself if she should stick her nose into the blonde's affair. She decided it wouldn't hurt to ask a simple question though. "What do you think of Aki?"

Sherry stopped in her tracks. She didn't expect such a question from the pre-teen. Then again, after spending time with the Signers, she knew Luna was the most observant compared to her brother. And children were usually curious, so it was just a matter of time before Luna would ask her about her relationship with the psychic Duelist.

Of course, she couldn't outright say what exactly she was thinking of Aki. She wasn't scared of the potential weird comments that could follow. In fact, she didn't care about what others thought of her feelings for the red-head. But she didn't need to force it either.

"Aki is a remarkable woman", Sherry replied, trying to be as vague as possible. "She's interesting and passionate, so of course I enjoy her company immensely. If she ever stumbles upon any obstacles, I'll always be there to help her."

Luna just looked at the tall blonde woman with big eyes. "So… You like her?" Luna asked.

"Of course I do", Sherry replied.

Sherry's answers were too ambiguous for Luna, but she already asked Sherry if she liked Aki. Any further push of the topic would be rude, so she decided to just drop the topic. She realized that walking through the forest in the darkness was actually quite tiring, but she held back a yawn.

The French noticed Luna was getting tired. "Let's pick up the pace, Luna", Sherry told her. "It's getting late, so we should get this done so you can go to bed."

"Yeah…", Luna yawned again as the pair walked farther into the woods.

Aki hid behind a tree with her mouth covered by both her hands. She was just about to scare the duo when she overheard the compliments Sherry said about her. Of course she had heard compliments from Sherry before, but this time it somehow felt more special. She smiled softly to herself, thinking about Sherry's words. They may be separated since the blonde will be leaving soon, but Aki after hearing Sherry's words now she knew that the blonde will certainly return to Japan. Sherry said she'll always support Aki, so Aki had to ensure that she could do the same for the blonde!

Aki swiftly realized that she had failed to do her part of the courage test and cursed herself. She got distracted by Sherry's sweet words. She had to redeem herself with the final pair that she heard coming closer to her spot. After quickly dusting the dirt of her skirt, she activated her Duel Disk and picked out a card from her Deck for her stunt.

Mei and Sakura held hands as they walked down the path of the eerie forest. Mei had the flashlight aimed on the path to make sure they could see if something was blocking them. The pinkette huddled closer to her girlfriend when she heard a pair of crows cackle in the trees. "The forest feels so different during nighttime…", Sakura shivered as she thought she sensed a cold wind blow her body.

"Don't worry, Sakura; it's your brain messing with you", Mei assured the scared girl. "The forest is the same as in daylight. It's just…a little darker right now."

Sakura pouted loudly at the statement. "A little darker? It's pitch-black out there", she argued. "I can barely see a thing!" The snap of a crushed twig made her jump while still holding onto her girlfriend's arm. "W-What was that?!"

"It must've been an animal stepping on a twig", the blackette answered. "Let's go-"

The sound of something large crawling filled the air around the couple. The girls felt goosebumps on their arms and shivers run up their spines. A deep groan followed soon after along with footsteps. The couple saw the shadows moving in front of them, so Mei aimed the flashlight at the creature. A tall woman in a purple witch costume and a large hat stood not so far from them. The shade of the hat hid the witch's face, but it moved up when the witch raised her head and revealed one of her eyes and a malicious smirk.

The next thing Mei and Sakura knew, the form of Lord Poison flew above her and hissed aggressively at the girls. They screamed for dear life, especially Sakura. She threw herself into Mei's arms and accidently knocked them down to the ground.

Aki gasped at the scene and ran to her classmates, forgetting her mission. "Are you okay?!" she shouted as she deactivated her Duel Disk and forced Lord Poison to dissipate.

Mei patted Sakura on her back as the pinkette buried her face against her girlfriend's chest. "G-God damn it, Aki! This isn't a movie set!" the blackette scolded the psychic Duelist.

Aki felt terrible for scaring the souls out of her friends. The feeling got worse when she saw tears on Sakura's cheeks. "I'm so sorry…", she apologized. "I just wanted to scare you. I didn't realize I took it too far."

Sakura wiped her face clean from the tears with a laughter mixed with sobs. "I-It's okay, A-Aki…", she said. "F-For a second, you really looked like a real witch. Y-You gave me a big scare."

Mei helped her girlfriend to stand up from the ground and brushed the dust off their clothes. "Maybe we should head back to the villa now", the blackette suggested. "We've experienced a literal horror movie tonight."

"Yeah…", Sakura nodded. "You're coming with us, Aki?"

"Umm… I've seen the other pairs passing by my post, so… If you don't mind me joining you guys", Aki said hesitantly. "I thought…you were angry at me for giving you such a big fright."

"Well, this is a courage test and we didn't get hurt, so we're not that angry at you", Mei said with a chuckle. "But you won't get away with this, Aki."

"I'll accept any punishment", Aki stated.

Sakura had calmed down by now and smirked mischievously at the burgundy girl. "Then… You better treat us next time we hang out after school!" she exclaimed.

Aki let out a sigh of relief that she didn't realize she had been holding back. "I was expecting something worse, but I can roll with that", she said.

XXXXXXXXXX – Estelle's POV

Team Ragnarok had to leave one day early to do the final preparations before they were going to leave Japan next week, so that left me and the others in the beach villa for the last day. We decided to have a barbeque in the garden as the last dinner of this vacation trip. We grilled all sorts of sausages, vegetables and other goodies. Aki mixed together a marinade for barbeque that she was taught by her mother. It enhanced the flavor of the food and made it even tastier.

I sat in a corner of the long garden table with a plate of chicken sausages, some grilled vegetables and a glass of cold water. This week flew by so fast that it had almost felt like a dream. I've played and had fun with my friends, drawn some pictures, taken walks around the property, sometimes alone, sometimes with Yusei or somebody else to stretch the legs, and swum in the ocean. I feel like my summer vacation has been fulfilled.

Yusei sat down next to me with his share of food. "Feeling good, Estelle?" he asked.

"Yeah…", I nodded before I took a bite of my food. "I was worried that we weren't going to be so active during the heatwave, but we survived somehow."

Yusei chuckled at my comment. "It felt nice leaving the city for a change of scenery", he admitted. "It was generous of Goodwin to lend the villa to us."

"I actually heard he and Kaiba had an argument of whose villa we should go to", I explained. "Kaiba's got his own private island with a mansion that's ten times larger than this villa. That would've been too large for us, so Goodwin won that round."

"I wonder if they ever take a break from work…", Yusei wondered.

"They do, but only for a short time", I replied.

The sound of cutlery tapping a glass caught everyone's attention. Jack was standing solemnly while making the noise. "Everyone! I have something important to tell you!" he informed us. Everyone became quiet in anticipation. "I'm leaving Japan."

Crow nearly choked on his drink by the news. He coughed while Aki beat his back to help him clear his throat. "W-What did you just say, Jack?!" the Blackwing Duelist asked as he grabbed a napkin to wipe his chin.

"I'm leaving Japan", Jack repeated. "I'll be going on a world-wide trip to Duel old challengers and fellow Turbo Duelists to become much stronger than what I am today. When I'm back…" He turned to Yusei with a determined glare. "I'll defeat you next, Yusei! I demand revenge after our Duel ended so abruptly!"

Jack must be clearly talking about the Turbo Duel he and Yusei had when we made it to New Domino City on the fateful night when the true adventure began more than a year ago. To think how much everyone has changed since that day and how many people we've met and got connected to, it almost feels unrealistic.

"I'll be waiting for you, Jack", Yusei replied. "I won't forget practicing while studying for the university. I promise I won't be rusty by the time of our Turbo Duel."

"You better, or else I won't forgive you!" Jack smirked.

"I'll be there to witness that Turbo Duel!" Carly exclaimed. "I want to be part of Jack's journey that'll lead him to his rightful throne!"

"Typical Carly…", I giggled softly.

"I also have a confession to make", Crow stood up with a raised hand. "I got scouted by Trudge to get enrolled in the police academy."

"You're gonna be a Sector Security officer, Crow?!" Leo exclaimed in awe.

"Yep!" Crow nodded. "You could say it's atonement for all the bad stuff I've done in the past for the sake of my kids. I don't mind making the city a safer place for everyone."

"So we might become colleagues soon", I smiled. "I'll make sure to teach you the ropes when you graduate. I bet Kalin will do the same."

"Thanks, Estelle!" Crow gave me a thumbs up.

"Umm… If everyone has something important to say, then I have something I want to share with you guys too", Aki said before she stood up from her seat. "Actually, I've been thinking for quite some time about what I want to do in future. Of course with the WRGP and me becoming a Turbo Duelist, becoming a professional Duelist was an option, but after everything that we have been through, I've came to the conclusion that professional Dueling wasn't my path," the red-head explained. She took a deep breath, before she continued speaking, "I've decided to become a doctor."

I didn't really surprise me much, but everyone else got stunned by Aki's declaration. "When did you decide that, Aki?" Mei asked.

"Not so long ago", Aki answered. "I made the decision shortly after the Ark Cradle incident. I reflected on my past when all I knew was to inflict pain to everyone because it felt like the whole world was against me. But everything that happened in my life, especially during the WRGP, made me realize that I could help people instead! I want to heal people's pain and become an influential adult who can inspire people to find their light at the end of the tunnel."

I could tell by her voice that she was very passionate about her new dream. I don't remember if she ever gave a proper explanation of her decision in the anime, but it didn't matter. I may not be her biological big sister, but I was proud of seeing the rose blossom into a beautiful flower. I noticed that Sherry was also looking proudly at Aki. She even had a soft smile.

However, the smile vanished quickly and she had her usual neutral expression. Sherry cleared her throat slightly, before speaking up. "I have some news to share with you guys too," the blonde said. "I'll be returning to France soon."

"You're leaving too?" Sakura said in surprise.

The blonde nodded. "I need to verify some things related to my family's business", the French explained. "It might take months to uncover the truth, but I promise I'll be back for my teammates' graduation."

I actually thought Aki would have a strong reaction to this information, but actually she was smiling brightly at Sherry. Maybe the two of them had a talk already?

Luna looked down at her plate and played with the food. "Does this mean…the team is splitting up?" she asked in a sad voice.

The happy mood dropped among the group by the question. Even Leo didn't feel like eating more as he put down the cutlery.

"Luna, we may split apart, but that doesn't mean the team itself is disbanding", Yusei comforted the twin girl. "After all, we'll meet again when everyone's back in Japan, right?"

"Damn right!" Jack nodded.

"I'll be back in the city before you know it!" Crow said with a thumbs up.

"It's a promise I won't break", Sherry said.

"And I'll make sure you won't, Milady", Mizoguchi spoke up.

"Then… Will you Duel me too when you come back, Jack?" Leo asked after he got over the sad moment. "I wanna see how much I've grown after Luna and I graduate the sixth grade!"

"Sure", Jack shrugged. "But I warn you; you won't be able to beat me."

"We don't know unless I try!" Leo retorted, the fire in his eyes returning.

"I guess we'll all be busy for the next coming months", I said. "I've got enrolled in an art school to hone my skills for the university."

"I didn't hear about that", Yusei stated.

"I recently got the letter of the acceptance from the school, so I'll start taking classes in September", I explained. "That means we won't have much time spending together, Yusei."

"It's alright", my boyfriend assured me before he placed a hand on top of mine. "We'll both work hard to pass the exams for our universities. I hope we can still meet up during weekends."

"Of course", I smiled before we shared a swift kiss.

"Howl hooowl!" Crow howled teasingly.

"Crow! Did you have to do that?!" I yelled at him with red blossoming cheeks. Even Yusei looked embarrassed by his brother's teasing.

"Well, I wanna tease you guys before I leave", Crow chuckled.

"Leave them alone, Crow", Aki told him. "They're still a new couple."

"I think it's cute", Sakura giggled.

The group let out a simultaneous laugh before a cell phone started ringing. I recognized the ringtone and grabbed my smartphone from my shorts. The caller was Goodwin, which was unusual. I excused myself from the table and walked around the corner of the villa to answer. "Hello?"

"Estelle? It's me, Goodwin."

"Hi, Goodwin. Is everything alright?"

There was a moment of silence as if Goodwin was hesitating to tell me the reason behind the call. "How has the week been in the villa?"

"It's been good. We had lots of fun and now we're having a barbecue before we leave tomorrow. We'll make sure to take the trash with us and clean up."

"That's good, but I didn't call you to remind you of that."

"Really? Then what is it?"

"I need you to head straight to Kaiba's home when you return to New Domino City tomorrow."

"Kaiba's home? Did something happen to the Kaiba brothers?"

"No, but they just got words of something outrageous."

"Outrageous? Could you please elaborate that for me?"

"It appears Kaiba Seto has had an heir this whole time."

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The artworks of the girls in their swimsuits can be found on my DeviantArt account.