AN: Hello, I have the next chapter here. Thank you for the support on this series returning. I am also glad people like the first of the new cover arts. I swapped to one of just Ruby so could see her in more detail as a Slifer Red. With the Domino City ark, we will start with the Jaden and Ruby group as they meet up with Neo and Sora. Not only will this give more context to them, but you will see the return of a special person to this series for a bit. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.

See Datasheet Chapter for cover art details.

Chapter 43 – The Desperado

Jaden led the four down the streets of Domino City, but Ruby had a look of confusion on her face, "Uh, are you sure you know where you're going?" She asked the spirited Slifer Red.

"Trust me, I know how to find them." Jaden responded, continuing to look around, "I just need to listen."

"Listen?" Weiss commented, then heard a slight humming sound, "Huh, what was that?" She said before Jaden smiled, causing him to run, "Hey, wait up!" the heiress Obelisk Blue said before she and others ran after him.

Suddenly, a voice spoke from behind the four, "Hold it!" Ruby, Weiss, Blair, and Alexis turned to see the short light-blue hair boy speak to them, "Let them have their moment." Sora said before putting a sucker in his mouth.

Jaden continued to run, following the humming sound. In turning the corner, he saw a large crowd of people. However, in the group, a small set of tiny wings was seen for a second. Jaden had a look of focus before walking into the crowd. The spirited Slifer Red searched but was unable to hear any humming through the walking of others. Suddenly, he felt a tapping on his back shoulder. In turning around, Jaden only saw a person hidden by a pink umbrella. As the umbrella was lifted, he saw the mute pro duelist underneath. "…" Neo smirked as she looked up at Jaden, changing the orientation of her eye colors. Poking from under the umbrella's canopy, a tiny-winged angel of brown fur poked out.

"Hey," Jaden responded, causing Neo to blink, changing her eye color orientation. Winged Kuriboh then flew out and nuzzled the spirited Slifer Red's chest, his bulbous eyes slightly watering.

A short time later.

The group of six sat at an outside table of a shop with a sign that read, Café La Green. The waitress brought over their orders: five cups of coffee and a sundae each for Neo and Sora. The heiress Obelisk blue sipped the coffee, then had a look of bliss after the taste, "Ah, I haven't Blue-Eyes Mountain in a long time." She said before looking over to Jaden, who had five sandwiches placed before him, "I get that those free came with our coffees, but you don't have to eat them all."

"Can't let them go to waste," Jaden responded before biting into the first sandwich.

"I don't want to imagine what Jaden is like with coffee." Alexis said under her breath, then looked back at the menu, "Even if our expenses are covered, these are still overpriced."

"Yeah," Ruby said as she started to put sugar cubs in her cup, but then looked over to Blair, who looked down at hers with slight worry, "Why did you order one, you don't like coffee."

"I'm a grown-up, so I can drink coffee!" Blair said before picking up the cup, blowing a bit, then chugging over half the beverage in one gulp. However, as the cup went back to the plate, the maiden Slifer Red grimaced with her tongue sticking partway out.

"Uh, maybe add some sugar to it," Ruby said before dropping a cube into Blair's cup. The hooded Slifer Red then looked over to Neo, "So, how have you been?"

"…" Neo smirked.

"…Uh," Ruby responded in confusion.

"That means good," Sora answered.

"Oh… that's good." Ruby responded, "I saw that tag match you had against those two rhyming brothers, you two were amazing!" She said with Neo smiling with her eyes closed.

"She says thanks." Sora said, "And yeah, that battle was something else." He said before looking over to Neo, "Defiantly raised our ranks in the league."

"So, where does that put you two now?" Jaden asked after finishing his first sandwich.

"Well, it's a bit complicated." Sora responded, "Basically, after that win, the two of us are rank three in the tag team pro league category." He said before building a spoon full of ice cream, "We're just behind two sets of twins sisters now." The petit pro duelist then ate the spoonful before continuing, "However, I don't have a ranking in the singles division because I am too young."

"How old are you?" Blair asked.

"Fourteen," Sora answered, causing Blair and Ruby's eyes to widen at meeting a duelist younger than them, "But the tag division does not have an age restriction. So, that was how Neo decided to introduce me to the league."

"I see," Alexis said before looking to Neo, "However, you have not dueled in the singles division for a while. Aren't you worried about your rank falling?" she asked with Neo shrugging.

"What is your current rank?" Ruby asked with Neo holding out her right palm, with all fingers and thumb extended, "Five, that's still pretty high."

"What is Zane at again?" Jaden asked Alexis.

"Currently, he ranked one in the league." Alexis answered before looking to Weiss, "However, that is only for Newcomers' Division made for those who joined within the last three years."

"Yes, in Veterans' division, Winter is ranked number one." Weiss answered before looking over to Sora, "I think that's enough about the league, I'm curious how did you two meet?"

"Oh, it was half a year ago when I finally found Neo." Sora responded before taking a spoonful of his sundae, "I thought it was going to be hard to convince her to take me in. Yet, it was easy."

"Really," Alexis commented, turning to the mute pro duelist, "What was it that convinced you?"

"…" Neo swallowed a spoonful of her sundae before glancing back at Sora.

"Simple," Sora answered Alexis, "I met Roman in the past."

"What!?" the others responded in a gasp, while Blair had a look of confusion.

"Who's Roman," Blair said with Neo having a slight glare, but quickly calmed herself.

"He was Neo's manager," Sora responded, looking slightly up, "I meet him just over a year ago." He said before moments of the past started to replay.

Sometime in the past.

In the school's duel arena, Sora student before a defenseless student, "Now, Frightfur Tiger attacks you directly!" he ordered with the cyan stuffed tiger slashed the student with its claws and scissors, reducing the life points to zero. The fusion monster then faded as petit duelist smiled, "Better luck next time." He said before the defeated opponent ran away.

Sora smiled, but looking around, discovered no one else in the stands. He then sighed before taking out a sucker, removing the wrapping from the candy. However, just before he could put it in his mouth, a clapping was heard. Sora turned to discover a man in a white trench coat with black pants and gloves. He wore a bowler and held a can under his right arm, "Not bad."

"Who are you?" Sora asked with a scowl, "You don't look like a new teacher." He said before smirking, "But you might pass for a student who failed a few years."

"School was never my style," the man said before removing his hat, showing more of his orange hair as he bowed, "I'm Roman Torchwick, and I guess you could call me a Duelist Manager."

"Oh, here to recruit me for the pro leagues?" Sora responded.

"Well, yes and no," Roman responded, "I'm looking for a partner to my current client. One she can count on when I'm not around."

"And where is she?" Sora asked.

"She is off at a special event, testing out her new cards." Roman responded, "You'll meet her in due time."

"Sorry, but I already get a lot of calls for my awesome skills." He said before putting the sucker in his mouth, "Unless you got something to sweeten the deal, I'm already out."

"That's the problem with kids these days," Roman said with a sigh, then put on his hat, "They talk way too much for their own good." He then smirked, "I don't have much to offer, but how about a wager?" the duelist manager said with Sora raising an eyebrow, "If your skills are that good, then you should be able to beat someone like me?"

"Oh, without issue." Sora responded, "Let me guess, if you beat me, then I partner with your client." He said before crossing his arms, "And if I beat you?"

"You'll never hear from me again." Roman offered, "I would take this offer, as I can be quite persistent."

"Heh, fine then." Sora said before chomping in the sucker, "I'll show you my frightening side."

"Whatever you say," Roman responded as he walked over to the other end of the arena, equipping a classic model duel disk, "Little Boy Blue." He said with a smirk, causing Sora to scowl.

"Duel!" both declared at the same time.

Sora: 4000 Life Points

Roman: 4000 Life Points

"I'll make the first move," Sora said as he drew his sixth card, smiling as he played the spell card, "I activate Polymerization, fusing my Edge Imp Sabres and Fluffal Bear," the petit duelist said as a pink stuffed bear merged with multiple pairs of scissors, "For my Frightfur Bear!" Sora said as a massive, stitched toy bear was seen with protruding scissors from its stomach, (2200 ATK / 1800 DEF). "That ends my turn," Sora said before taking out a lollipop to put in his mouth.

"Careful kid, too much sugar is bad for you." Roman said as he drew, looking at his hand, "I set one monster and one card face down." He said as two hidden cards laid vertically and horizontally on his side of the field, "You're move."

"That's all? What a joke," Sora said as he drew, then pointed, "Frightfur Bear, attack his set monster!" he said with the stitched toy-bear rushing in, the scissors ready to cut the card in half, "And when I destroy the monster, it will equip to Bear and give 1000 more attack points."

"Oh, you want my monster," Roman responded, causing the card to flip over, "Then take it!" suddenly, a red spider-like bomb shot out and attached to Frightfur Bear's body, locking down with its five legs to stop the attack, "That's Blast Sphere, a ticking time bomb that will blow up you stuffed animal next turn. Then, you take damage equal to its attack." He said as the timer dial was seen on the Blast Sphere.

"You," Sora said with a scowl before grinning, "Hehehehe, I can't be stopped by this little trick." He said before playing a spell card, "I activate De-Fusion, returning my Edge Imp Sabres and Fluffy Bear to the field." The petit duelist said before Frightfur Bear flashed in a white light, causing its body to split into two parts. One formed a set of scissors with glowing red eyes, (1200 ATK / 800 DEF). The other was a pink bear with tiny wings, (1200 ATK / 800 DEF). "With its target gone, the bomb has been defused." Sora said as Blast Sphere vanished, then pointed at Roman, "Now, have a taste of a double direct attack!" he said with both monsters rushing the duelist manager. However, they were stopped as the spider-like bomb blocked their path, "What!?"

"I still had my face down in the spell and trap zone," Roman responded, "Call of the Haunted, which allowed me to bring back Blast Sphere in attack mode." He said with his monster slashing at the air, causing the Edge Imp and Fluffal monsters to jump back in fear of destruction. (1400 ATK / 1400 DEF). "Sorry, but it looks like my toys are a bit more dangerous than yours."

"Grrr!" Sora gritted his teeth, cracking the lollipop in his mouth, "I end my battle phase, but I still have my second main phase." He said before pointing, "I tribute Fluffal Bear to add Polymerization from my graveyard to my hand." He said as the bear stuffed toy vanished, allowing the petit duelist to swap it with another card in his graveyard, "Now, I play Polymerization again, but with my Edge Imp Sabres and Fluffal Wings," Sora said before clasping his hands, "To fusion summon Frightfur Tiger!" he said as cyan toy tiger was created with scissors bisecting its midsection, (1900 ATK / 1200 DEF). "Not only do all Frightfur monsters gain 300 attack points for each Frightfur and Fluffal on the field, but it can also destroy cards on the field each to the fusion materials used to summon it." He said before Frightfur Tiger gained a red aura, (1900 + 300 = 2200 ATK). It then leaped over to slash both of Roman's cards, causing a massive explosion, "So, how's that?"

"Heh, not bad kid," Roman said as the smoke cleared, "Even when cornered, you find a way on how to survive." He commented, but saw Sora smirking back, "Short, but resourceful." The duelist manager commented with the petit duelist now scowling, "Heh, you two will get along well." Roman said before drawing, putting the card in his hand before playing a different one, "I activate Shallow Grave, allowing us to set a monster from our graveyards onto the field."

"Fine, I'll set Fluffal Bear," Sora said as he picked the monster to set. However, he already knew the monster that Roman picked, a bomb is set to attach to its target again.

"Next, I summon Mechanicalchaser," Roman said as a metal hunter with numerous attached weapons was seen, (1850 ATK / 800 DEF). "While he is a bit weaker now, I will double his attack with Limiter Removal," he said with Sora gasping watching Mechanicalchaser gain a radiating green aura, (1850 X 2 = 3700 ATK). "Go, hunt down that tiger!" the duelist manager ordered causing Mechanicalchaser to charge in, ripping apart the Frightfur Tiger into bits of suffering and scissor blades.

Sora: 4000 – 1500 = 2500 Life Points

"Tsk," Sora commented as his fusion monster went to the graveyard, "That's why you used Shallow Grave at the start, otherwise I could have picked my tiger to bring back." He said before seeing Mechanicalchaser start to convulse, "Still, the negative effect of Limiter Removal will destroy all face up machines effected by the increase." The petit duelist said before the metal hunter exploded, causing him to smirk and he thought during the smoke cloud, "I just need to figure out a past that Blast Sphere and then-" Suddenly, the smoke cleared to reveal a massive metal dragon with revolvers for its head and arms. "What is that!?" Sora spoke in dread.

"Desperado Barrel Dragon." Roman spoke as the metal gun dragon roared a metallic screech, (2800 ATK / 2200 DEF). "I was able to summon this bad boy from my hand since a dark machine was destroyed." The duelist manager boasted with his arms crossed, "So Little Boy Blue, ready to give up now?"

"You," Sora said with a scowl, "Don't…call me," he said before grabbing the stick of his lollipop, "LITTLE!" the petit duelist said before chomping on his candy, reducing it to pieces.

"Heh," Roman said with a smirk, "Then show me what you got."

"Fine then, I draw!" Sora said before playing the card, "I play Fusion Recovery, giving me back my Polymerization and Edge Imp Sabre." He said before taking the two cards from his graveyard and holding them with a third, "Now, I use Polymerization one more time with Edge Imp Sabres and Fluffal Dolphin!" he said as the scissors combined with the pink dolphin in a floaty tube, creating a dark aura as it expanded, "I fusion summon," Sora said while clasping his hands, "Frightfur Cruel Whale!" suddenly, an aura broke to reveal a massive stuffed orca, one with blades for its fins and tail. As the stitching tore, a glaring set of eyes was seen under the throat, (2600 ATK / 2400 DEF).

"So, it's a big fish this time." Roman mocked, "And it's weaker than my Desperado Barrel Dragon." He said before looking to his set monster, "However, if you want to save me the trouble, then run it into my Blast Sphere to wipe out the rest of your life points."

"Sorry, but your Blast Sphere is about to go bye-bye," Sora responded, "Cruel Whale lets me destroy a card on each of our fields." He said before the massive stuffed orca flailed with its mouth open, devouring both set monsters. They revealed themselves as Fluffal Bear and Blast Sphere before they were crunched.

"Well, that's one way to defuse a bomb." Roman commented, then smirked, "Still, you should have destroyed the monster with more attack points. Next turn, I can just-" he was saying until seeing Sora chuckle, "What's so funny?"

"Hehehehe, it's you," Sora said while showing another fusion monster in his hand, one depicting a red devil stuffed animal, "Cruel Whale also has the effect to let me send a Frightfur card from my deck or extra deck to the graveyard to give a targeted fusion monster a boost of half its original attack points." He manically laughed with one almost bulging out. As the daredevil vanished, the massive stuffed orca gained a reddish aura, (2600 + 1300 = 3900 ATK). "Go, attack with Killer Crush!" Sora declared as Frightfur Cruel Whale bounced into the air, then slammed down on Desperado Barrel Dragon, smashing all the guns with the bullet exploding in the chambers.

Roman: 4000 – 1100 = 2900 Life Points

"There, that gets rid of both of them." Sora spoke, "Now whose ready to give up?"

"You forget, my monster has a little effect on destruction," Roman commented, "I can add a level seven or lower card with a special effect from my deck to my hand." He said before doing so, then looked back to the petit duelist, "Is that it for your turn?"

"Tsk, no!" Sora said before he looked at the lone card in his hand, "I set this and then end my turn." He said as a facedown card formed behind the massive stuffed orca, "Your move." In doing that, Frightfur Cruel Whale lost its red aura, (3900 – 1300 = 2600 ATK).

"Fine, my draw," Roman said before doing so, grinning at the result, "Well, lucky me." He said before showing all three cards in his hand, "I activate my Polymerization, fusing my Barrel Dragon I added before with my Blowback Dragon I already had in my hand," the duelist manager said with Sora gasping, "To make Gatling Dragon!" he said as the two mechanic monsters merged into a massive mobile beast, one with a chain gun for its head and arms, (2600 ATK / 1200 DEF).

"There attack points are the same," Sora commented, "Attacking will only destroy both monsters."

"That is one outcome," Roman said as he reached into his pocket to take something out, "However, I can use Gatling Dragon's effect two flip a coin three times." He said before showing a coin in his left hand, "For every result that is heads, I get to destroy a monster on the field. And with only 2500 life points left, I just need one to kill your whale and attack you directly."

"Then, what are you waiting for," Sora responded, his gaze focused, "Start tossing."

"Fine then," Roman said before flipping the coin once, catching it in his left hand, then slapping it on the back of his right palm, "Tails, for the first one." He said with Sora smiling, but the petit duelist hands were shaking. Roman flipped the coin again, say the results, "Tails again, twice in a row." The duelist manager said with Sora's breathing heavy, a line of sweat running down his forehead, "And now," Roman said as he flipped the coin, catching it to his left, then placing it on his right.

"…Well?" Sora asked, seeing Roman not lift his left hand, "W-what is it?"

"…I think that's enough for one duel," Roman responded, "I'll let you win."

"WHAT!?" Sora responded, "Y-you can't do that!?"

"I just did, Little Boy Blue." Roman said as both boss monsters faded away, "Looks like you will never know the outcome."

"Why you!" Sora said while his face boiled with rage, then smirked, "Ha, I know what it is. You're scared of my face down." He said before showing his duel disk, "Even if you destroyed my monster and attacked, my hidden trump card would have turned the tide in my favor again."

"Oh, then how about this." Roman responded, "Show me your face down, and then I show you my last coinflip's result."

"Uh…" Sora said as his face was sweating, "…Just give me that coin!" he said before running over to Roman. However, the duelist manager placed his left hand over Sora's head, stopping the petit duelist in his place while staying out of range of the flailing arms, "Come on!" Sora said before breaking out of his grasp. However, Roman simply sidestepped Sora, who stumbled onto his knees, "D-damnit!" he said before punching the ground.

"You still have some growing up to do," Roman commented.

"Tsk," Sora said before seeing a business card slide in front of him. In examining it, he saw a girl with pink and brown hair which matched her heterochromia eyes, "Who is this?"

"That is my other client, Neo" Roman responded, "When you think you're ready, give her a call and tell her about our little meeting." He said before walking away, "She'll take you under her wing in the pro leagues. And she can be the one to tell you the result of the coin flip."

"Wait, what about you?" Sora asked.

"Well, I should be around too," Roman responded, "That is if I'm lucky." He said before bowing his head, then exiting out the hallway, "Take care."

"…" Sora remained speechless as he stood back up, then looked back down at the business card.

Percent time.

Sora had just finished his Sundae, placing the spoon in the dish, "Eventually, I finally did make that call." He said with a slight chuckle forming, "But with her answering, it was a bit awkward at first." The petit pro duelist said with Neo smirked, "I then told her what Roman said to me back then, and Neo rushed over to take me out of the school and set me up in the pro leagues with her."

"I see," Ruby commented, "So, what was the result of the last coin flip?"

"Oh that," Sora responded in slight remorse, "Neo told me Roman never got the chance to tell her the result. Or even that he had meet me before their last encounter." He said with Neo's smile fading at the painful memory.

"I'm sorry," Alexis spoke, looking over to Neo, "I only meet him once as an opponent. However, I could tell he truly cared about you, to the very end." She said with the mute pro smiling back, giving a nod of gratitude. The lovely Obelisk blue then looked over to Sora, "I think he cared for both of you and wanted to make sure you at least found each other."

"Hehe, maybe," Sora responded. He said before looking over to Jaden, who yawned as he patted his stomach, having five empty plates in front of him, "You full?"

"Yeah, just about," Jaden said, but then looked over to Neo. The mute pro duelist smiled as she offered a spoonful of her sundae, "Oh, thanks."

From the other side of the table, Blair gasped just before Jaden put the spoon in his mouth, "Th-that's a-an." she thought as the spirited Slifer red had a look of joy at the taste of the ice cream, causing Neo to giggle, "An an-" the maiden Slifer Red said as Neo then took the spoon, scooping herself a piece of the melted ice cream, "An indirect kiss!" Blair thought just before Neo put the spoon in her mouth. Suddenly, Blair slammed her left hand on the table, "NEO!" she shouted while leaning over the table, pointing at the mute pro duelist with her right hand, "I challenge you to a duel for Jaden's heart!" the maiden Slifer Red declared with a dead silence filling the area. The others looked on in confusion, while Neo's iris went white, the spoon still in her mouth.

AN: There you go, Jaden finally meet with Neo and Winged Kuriboh again. They all have a little group chat over coffee, (To those who don't know, this was the coffee shop referenced in 5D's, which that Blue-eyes Mountain coffee cost about 30USD when they made a real-life version of the place). However, the highlight was going back into the past to have Sadistic Sora go up against Roman. The orange haired criminal may be dead, but you always are alive in flashback land. (Also, I know he and Neo finally got a light novel made for them, which I will read when it comes out). I liked showing off his deck a lot more, those cards really do fit him well. While this ending is ambiguous, if you know how sly Roman is, you know what the coin flip was. Now, Blair has had enough and challenges Neo with Jaden as the prize. How will this matchup end for her, and will Jaden even understand what is going on? That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.

Now, time to answer some questions. Only a couple since I posted the last one fast, but I have liked returning to this series a lot. For my favorite link monster, there are a lot of good ones. The charmer links are all fantastic, Hiita again being number one for me. BLS – Soldier of Chaos is so cool I almost considered making him a ritual here because it I love it so much, (but I will not). I:P Masquerena is super cute, and that alternate art is ten out of ten. And Apollousa is also great, but I like her original art more. All of these cards' effects are insane, and in terms of art as a link monster, they are my favorites. Regarding other rematches and information, you will have to wait and see. I also had one regarding why use GX as opposed to other Yu-Gi-Oh series for this fanfic. Well, one is that GX fit a lot more of the tone and settling for what I wanted to go. The other was so that I did not have to worry about the newer mechanics. I debated with 5D's, but the speed world from that series was very complicated for turbo duel writing. Zexel would have been okay, but I did not have as much of a connection with those characters as I did the ones from other series. Arc-V would have also made things a lot more complicated, and I liked the camo method of characters I did here. And Vrains had just started when I made this series, so it was still new, but links would have been a pain to write. I do not know if I will do another series like this, but if I do, it will be after this one is complete. As for the duel monsters in remnant, I like that as a setup to another fanfic, one that would work off the card lore of some archetypes to tell a story in that setting. And finally, I saw someone bring up Winter using Valkyries. That one also fits her, and I do like them a lot. However, I am still happy with what I gave her, especially with what I have planned in her next duel. Those were all the questions I had, feel free to ask more, and I will answer them in the next chapter.