Now I've Found You

The Bunch were all too eager to leave and show this gang what-for. Perhaps they mainly wanted to show that they would never leave Radley again. Within ten minutes they had all been rounded up and Radley and Kalin were leading them the few minutes drive to the town square. It was more a show of being tough than anything else; they could have easily walked up the street.

Kalin briefly pondered on their formation as they rode. Radley was always out front, of course, with his most trusted friends right near him. He wanted Kalin to ride by his side, and Scotch usually came up on his other side. The others spread out in rows so that the road was a sea of motorcycles.

Unlike many gangs and motorcycle clubs, Radley had no official dress code for the Bunch. Some choseon their own to wear dark vests, but Radley didn't enforce that or anything else. He encouraged individuality. They also weren't a typical club with officers and private meetings, at least not to the extent of some Kalin had heard about. They met more informally to discuss problems and solutions. But in spite of Radley's easy-going approach, they could be tough when the situation called for it. Now they were about to be tough again, and for the first time during such a crisis, Kalin would really consider himself a part of them.

The gang they were facing off with looked big and tough, like stereotypical bikers. They were hanging around their motorcycles but starting to spread out to the buildings. They only stopped and looked up as The Radley Bunch approached and pulled up in front of them. Radley made a show of taking off his helmet, while the others kept theirs on for added toughness.

"So, what's this we hear about you guys planning to tear up our town?" Radley smoothly and calmly asked as he got off his motorcycle.

"Only if you wouldn't come out and see us," a grizzled biker grunted. He walked out in front too.

"We put a lot into this town. We always have. And we're just getting through putting it back together after a sore loser literally blew it up." Radley folded his arms. "Even if the dusk duels were still going on, your threats alone would disqualify all of you from working for us or being part of the Bunch."

"You look like a strong wind would blow you over," the burly man mocked. "We heard your gang is all yellow except for you and the blue-haired guy with you."

Kalin could feel the shame rising from the Bunch. Radley no doubt did too, but he didn't bat an eye. Instead he just gave a wide and dangerous smirk, one that Kalin had learned meant Watch it, you're treading on thin ice.

"So what is it you're really hoping for?" Radley asked. "To prove you're better than our friends? Or maybe you really want to overthrow us all and claim this town for yourselves."

"Is there anything you can do to stop us?" the rival gang leader replied.

"If you're really game enough to find out, we're ready for you," Radley said. "Are you going to duel us or race us?"

"Why not both?" was the sneering reply. "That's what you guys do, right? Turbo Duels?"

Now some of the Bunch looked worried. Hardly any of them Turbo Dueled. And of course, right now no one had a Duel Runner with them.

"I'll tell you what," Radley said at last. "We'll race. Then Scotch and I will pick up our Duel Runners and we'll go into the desert to duel."

Kalin clenched a fist. He had just come from a very bad experience Turbo Dueling, but he wasn't going to stay out of this. He wanted to be involved. "I have a Duel Runner too," he said. "You'll also have to face me."

Radley looked to him in concern, his eyes saying what he didn't dare say aloud. Kalin, are you sure?

Kalin just nodded. He was sure.

For a moment there was silence. Then the rival biker leader gaffawed. "Fine then! Are you boys ready?" He looked to his gang. They all sneered and nodded and called insults at Radley.

Radley just sneered back and climbed back on his motorcycle. "Alright then. Let's go, if all you two-year-olds think you can keep up."

Their enemy snorted. "We'll keep up alright, you beanpole!"

Laughing, Radley sped off. Kalin and the rest of the Bunch swiftly followed.

The race was intense, going through the main street of the town and out to the desert. Radley led the other gang on a serious chase, and despite not having his Duel Runner, managed to lose them and duck into the residential area of town to grab his Duel Runner. Kalin was right with him and got his, while Scotch hastened down the street.

"Let's hurry," Radley said. "I don't want them finding where we live. Not that it would be too hard regardless in a small town."

Kalin nodded. "How are we dueling them? All at once, or tournament style?"

"I was thinking tournament style," Radley said. "Scotch first, then you, then me. But unlike tournaments, we'll each duel one guy instead of one person dueling until he loses."

"That's the best way," Kalin agreed.

"You're sure you're up for this?" Radley asked again as they climbed on and headed down the driveway.

". . . I have to be," Kalin said after a moment. "When I failed earlier, it was when we were practicing for something more inconsequential. But this . . . this is the real thing. This is dueling to protect. I was always at my best that way." His eyes narrowed in determination.

Radley still looked concerned, but he finally smiled as they met Scotch and drove out the other end of the street. "Then let's show them why we won't be beaten!"

The rival gang was searching the town for them when they rode out again. Radley led them to the desert, explaining the rules on the way. Scotch, eager to help and to strut his stuff, zoomed out ahead to start the first duel. The gang sent out one of their top men to face him.

Kalin watched in amazement as the duel got underway. Scotch's deck was filled with zombies, powerful ones and not silly cartoonish ones. His ace cards, including Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon, eventually led him to victory against his opponent.

"Yes!" Scotch grinned, punching the air with a fist. "How does that feel? Not too good, I bet!"

The rival gang member growled. "Your friends will be in for even tougher fights."

"Well, bring it on!" Scotch replied. "They can take anything you've got!"

Radley looked to Kalin. "You're up, Bro," he said quietly. "Unless you wanna switch our positions?"

Kalin shook his head. "You're the leader. You should go last. And . . . if I freeze up, there needs to be someone available to take over for me."

Radley couldn't deny he had been thinking the same thing. "Okay then. Good luck."

Kalin nodded, giving him a smile as he rode out to meet the next man.

The tough biker sneered at him. "We know a lot about you, Kalin Kessler," he remarked.

"I'm not here to talk about me," Kalin retorted.

Ignoring that, the guy revved his engine and took off, still talking as they raced to determine who would make the first move. "You're the one they called Kiryu Kyousuke in the Satellite, the dragon who took out all the Duel Gangs. But you fell and fell hard when you turned against your friends. And yet these people trust you? How long before you turn against them too?"

Kalin set his jaw and sped out ahead to the first cactus. "I go first," he said coolly.

The duel was tense and hard. Turbo Dueling was stressful enough with Kalin's flashbacks to dueling Yusei, and with his enemy constantly needling him, it only drew the memories out all the more. It wasn't long and Kalin's hands were trembling, his knuckles white as he gripped the handlebars.

Still, he couldn't break. He had to do this. Radley was counting on him. The whole town was counting on him. He couldn't let this gang get a foothold here!

"Now you'll see why they called me Kiryu," he said, his voice dark and determined.

His Infernity cards came through, forging his path to victory with their powerful effects. But at the end, it was one other card in his deck that delivered the final blow.

His eyes widened when he drew it. It wasn't an Infernity monster, but he had kept it in his decks all through the years, a treasured gift from a childhood friend he had met only once but had never forgotten. It was perfect.

"Now, Vorse Raider!" he cried as he summoned it. "Take him down and show him that this is our town!"

Radley's eyes widened in shock at the sight of the monster. Somehow it had never worked out that Kalin had drawn it in their duels. This was the first he had seen of it. "Vorse Raider," he whispered as the beast lowered his sword and delivered the final blow. "It couldn't be . . . could it?"

The biker yelled and swerved, grinding to a stop as dust and dirt flew in all directions. He snarled in frustration, slumping over the handlebars. "I'm sorry," he said to his leader. "I let you down."

"I'll bring us to victory," was the reply. "You dueled the hard one. Radley will be a pushover. Don't you know? He never duels. He always delegates that task."

Radley sneered at him. "If you think that means I can't duel, then come and get me." He rode off into the desert.

Sneering right back, the rival gang leader took off after him.

Radley was, of course, anything but a pushover. Kalin knew his strategies well by this point. Soon Radley was overwhelming the man with his combination of Crystal Beasts and monster-destroying traps and spells. But even Kalin was surprised when at last Radley was ready to bring out one of his ace monsters.

"This monster is rare," Radley said, "and this might be the only time you'll ever see it. Consider it an honor to be taken out by the majestic Rainbow Dragon!"

His deck began to glow in all the colors of the Crystal Beasts. Then, as he Summoned his card, a huge and beautiful rainbow-colored dragon appeared in the sky and let out a roar.

"Rainbow Dragon," Kalin gasped.

Scotch grinned. "Radley is so awesome! There's only one other Duelist who even has that card!"

The rival biker was certainly quaking now. "How do you have a card that rare?!" he cried. "Did you steal it from Jesse Anderson?!"

"If I did, he wouldn't obey me," Radley said. "He's mine, fair and square. Rainbow Dragon, please give this man a good stomping, won't you?"

Rainbow Dragon roared and attacked, taking out the rest of the man's lifepoints. The biker yelled, tumbling off his motorcycle to the ground. His gang was immediately there to help him up.

Satisfied he was alright, Radley stopped his Duel Runner and leaned back, folding his arms. "Now, will you all kindly leave us alone?" he smoothly asked.

"We're going, we're going!" the rival leader replied. "And we'll let everyone know this area's taken!"

"Good," Radley said. "Yes, please do spread the word."

They all watched to make sure their enemies really left, some of the Bunch riding out to see them off into the desert. Finally Radley relaxed.

"That was so epic!" Scotch gushed. "You guys did so great!"

Radley smiled. "So did you, Scotch. We really do make a wonderful team."

Kalin nodded. "We do."

"You were amazing Turbo Dueling, Kalin," Radley praised.

"I wasn't sure it was going to work, but I knew it would have to," Kalin said.

"I could tell you were struggling, but I don't think your opponent noticed," Radley said, laying his hand on Kalin's arm. "And you pulled through with flying colors."

Kalin smiled a bit. "I had to." He stared at Radley. "And just how did you get a card like Rainbow Dragon?!"

Radley gave him a playful wink. "I'll tell you over dinner. But first, Kalin, I have to ask about your Vorse Raider."

"What about him?" Kalin returned. "I know he doesn't fit with my Infernity theme, but even after I changed most of my deck from what I used in the Enforcers, I couldn't set that one aside. That card is . . . very special to me."

Radley hesitated. ". . . Was it given to you by a kid you were playing with at an old airfield in the Satellite? A kid whose family had been forced to make an emergency landing there to fix their plane?"

Kalin froze, his mind going blank. ". . . Yes," he said at last.

"A kid you said was your brother?"

Kalin just stared at him. Was it possible? Really, conceivably possible?

". . . You couldn't know that," he said. "Not unless . . ."

Radley stepped closer to him, gently brushing the hair away from his eyes. "Your hair is longer, but it's still that same shade of blue," he said quietly. "And your eyes . . . I've never seen anyone else with eyes so golden. I don't know why I didn't put the pieces together before. It's so obvious now."

Abruptly Kalin hugged him, pulling him close. "It was you," he whispered. "All along it was you. . . ."

Radley smiled, returning the hug. "I missed you so much."

"I looked for you all the time," Kalin said. "I wanted so badly for you to come back. . . ."

"I wanted to go back," Radley said. "I was never allowed. . . ."

Scotch, who had been watching the whole exchange with starry eyes, whooped. "You guys met as kids?! I love it! That is epic! It's way more epic than the last most epic thing!"

Radley laughed. "It is pretty amazing," he said, smiling at Kalin.

Kalin just stared back and smiled, joyous. He had missed that boy all through the years, berating that they hadn't been allowed to write to each other and didn't even know each other's names.

Now they were together again at last.

"And we all did our first tag duel!" Scotch continued. "That was so cool! Just imagine how cool it'll be in a tournament someday!"

Kalin had to smile as he pondered on that too. "That will be pretty amazing," he mused.

"Do you think we might make the WRGP after all?" Scotch asked.

"I don't know," Kalin said. "This was a duel that needed to be done. The other is more for fun, even if we're also promoting the town."

"Well, whenever we enter, I know it'll be epic!" Scotch said. "Nothing stops Team Satisfaction Town!"

Radley smiled. "That does have a nice ring to it, doesn't it?" he mused. "Team Satisfaction Town. . . ."

Kalin hugged him close. "We're going into a new era together," he said. "And I know one day we'll proudly ride Team Satisfaction Town to victory in a tournament."

Radley hugged back. "So do I."

xxxx

Everyone was celebrating at the diner that night. Defeating the rival gang and showing them it was their town was not a small thing. Cactus cider overflowed, the jukebox played, and Scotch organized a video game tournament. The party went long into the night.

"I still can hardly believe you're the one I met all those years ago," Radley said when things finally began to wind down.

"You can hardly believe it!" Kalin shook his head. "I believe in fate, but I'm having a hard time with this myself. All this time . . . and I didn't know you. . . ." He looked down, sobering. "And I treated you so poorly. . . ."

"Hey . . . at least you were trying to protect me," Radley said. "You gave me a start when you first showed up with your blue hair and gold eyes, but I pushed that aside. Or I thought I did. Maybe deep down, I always knew it was you. Maybe that was what drew me to you." He smiled.

"Maybe," Kalin said. ". . . You still haven't told me about Rainbow Dragon." He honestly wanted to know, and right now he wanted to change the subject.

Radley accepted that. "Oh. Well, Pegasus reissued those very rare Crystal Beast cards along with some new support cards, like Crystal Master," he said. "I spent a long time getting hold of each one. Rainbow Dragon was one of the most difficult. Kaiba had one, but he wouldn't give it up for any price. Solomon Muto had one, but he also didn't wanna sell. I had to pay a lot to finally get one from a guy in Germany. Not that prissy businessman von Schroeder, but some art collector."

"An art collector?" Kalin grunted.

Radley laughed. "Yeah, that was a weird one. Von Tassle or something like that."

"I've never heard of him," Kalin said.

"I hadn't either before I started looking for the card, but I guess neither of us are up on art," Radley chuckled. "Anyway, that was how I got that."

"Have you ever met Jesse Anderson?" Kalin curiously wondered.

"Nah, but I'd like to someday," Radley mused. "He's a real legend with his original Crystal Beasts." He hesitated. "I wonder if he'd like me, though. . . . Maybe he'd think I'm not worthy to have them. . . ."

"Of course you are!" Kalin insisted. "I've seen how much those cards mean to you. He would too!"

Radley smiled a bit, touched. "Thank you, Kalin. I hope he would.

"You know, we still haven't got back to the villa. Of course, I'm sure that's coming soon."

"Scotch will probably want to go back tomorrow and pick up where we left off when that gang interrupted," Kalin agreed.

Radley chuckled. "Oh, naturally. And I'm still curious myself. After all, it belongs to us. I wanna know everything about it."

"That's reasonable," Kalin had to admit.

"And the town's grateful we kicked out another threat," Radley mused. Most of the townspeople had joined the party at one point or another and personally thanked them.

"I wonder how Bettina's group feels," Kalin grunted. "I haven't seen any of them."

"Interesting how they hate me but come here anyway since it's the only family-friendly eating place in town," Radley said. "You're right, though; I haven't seen them tonight."

"Maybe they're too cowardly to face you and say Thanks, so they're staying away," Kalin said.

"It's probably a bitter pill to swallow," Radley chuckled in agreement. "But they're probably thinking both gangs are tough and we shouldn't be here either."

"We had to be tough to rout them out," Kalin said.

"We know that, but I'm not sure they do," Radley said. "And you know what's really wild to think about? After we're officially sworn in, we'll have the power to handle threats by arresting them if we have to."

"Kalin Kessler, law enforcement." Kalin shook his head. "Of all the careers that would have been least likely for me, that one would have been at the top of the list. I can still hardly believe Sector Security is going to step back and allow it."

Radley smiled. "Talk about a new lease on life, huh?"

"Yeah." Kalin smiled back. "With you."

"It's different from anything you're used to," Radley said.

"In good ways," Kalin said. "Of course, I have known kindness and true friendship before, with Yusei, Jack, and Crow. But being with you and the Bunch is its own unique experience."

"You're sure you don't regret it?" Radley asked. "Not going back to the City with your old friends, I mean."

"I want to be here," Kalin assured him. "I found my purpose in rebuilding this town and helping the people get it back on its feet. I will always care deeply about Yusei and the others. But I care deeply about you too. I want to be with you."

Radley smiled. "I'm glad. I will always do my best to make you happy, Kalin."

"You always do," Kalin said. "You always have. Thank God I didn't accept the truth too late."

"Yeah," Radley said quietly. "Thank God for that . . . and that He let me come back to you when I realized my mistake in giving up and letting myself die."

"I will never forgive myself for my part in pushing you to that point," Kalin rasped.

"I don't think you will," Radley agreed sadly. "And I don't think the Bunch will forgive themselves either. But I'm glad I can forgive all of you."

"You are an amazing person, Radley," Kalin said.

That brought a smile. "You're pretty amazing yourself. Maybe you'll never be able to believe that either, but I can hope." Radley winked.

"With you and Yusei and all the Bunch in my corner, it's actually possible," Kalin said with a smile.

"That makes me very happy to hear," Radley said. "You're a good person, Kalin. We all want you to recognize that." He reached across the table and laid his hand on Kalin's.

Kalin smiled more, laying his other hand on top of Radley's. "I'd like to myself."

Radley hesitated. ". . . I still haven't looked at Malcolm's part of the mine. I think it's time."

That brought a frown of concern. "You're sure?"

"Yeah." Radley leaned back with a sigh. "Turbo Dueling is probably one of the biggest things you needed to deal with. The mine is my biggest thing. I've gotta face it."

Suddenly Kalin wondered if he himself would struggle to see it again. He hadn't been back since finding Radley laying dead in one of the many tunnels. Could he stand to return to that site? Could he deal with the pain and anguish that might result?

Radley would be with him, though. No matter what they encountered, if he could keep in mind that Radley was alive, maybe he could handle it. He would need to be strong for Radley when they went. He couldn't have a meltdown of his own.

"When do you want to go?" he asked at last.

"Tomorrow, probably," Radley said. "We could go tonight, since the mine looks the same both day and night, but it's been a long day already. We should be well-rested to go."

"I'll go along with that," Kalin said, secretly relieved for a little more time to steel himself.

Suddenly Radley paused. "Are you okay with going, Kalin? You had a hard time there too, to say the least."

Kalin sighed but smiled. Well, it wasn't really surprising that Radley would realize it would be hard for Kalin too. His attempt to keep Radley from worrying about him had failed most abruptly.

"I'll be alright," he said. "You had it worse."

Radley didn't look convinced. "That's debatable. You were just starting to pull out of your depression, but finding me laying dead pushed you over the edge again. Remember, I saw you."

Kalin sighed in acknowledgement. "But I have you here now," he said. "You're alive and safe. I'll focus on that."

Radley smiled a bit. "I'll try to focus on the present too. It can be easier said than done, but I'll try."

". . . Are you going to ask the Bunch to come?" Kalin asked.

"Technically I didn't ask you," Radley smirked. Sobering, he added, "And I don't know if I'll ask them. Would that be cruel, Kalin? Three of them worked as guards there. . . ."

"And abandoned you," Kalin said darkly. But he sighed and shook his head, knowing Radley didn't want to focus on that. "Nevermind."

"No, we shouldn't forget what happened," Radley said quietly. "I don't think we ever will."

"Do you still think we'll get past it?" Kalin wondered.

"I can hope," Radley said. "I know the Bunch is trying, but it's obvious how horrible they all still feel. Billy especially has become a lot more serious and detached."

"He also tried to sell Marty out to the mines to save himself," Kalin said. "Yusei and I both witnessed that."

Radley nodded. "Maybe having even more to feel guilty about is why he's changed in particular. That, and he was my first friend. I've known him longer than any of the others."

Kalin frowned deeply. "That makes it even worse."

"That's probably what he's thinking too," Radley said. He looked tired and sad. "Then I think that I'm probably really the one to blame. I dragged them all here and plunged us into a gang war the likes of which we just weren't prepared for. We held Malcolm off for four years, but it was hard and emotionally draining and we all changed. When I fell, the Bunch lost all hope of ever beating him or keeping the town. They just gave in to Lawton to save themselves."

"I still say it was wrong," Kalin said. "They could have saved you if they'd banded together. It only took four people to bring them down in the end."

"Ah, but you guys were the legendary Enforcers," Radley smiled. "That makes all the difference."

"I guess." Kalin leaned back with a frown. "It looks like I haven't made much progress in forgiving, at least with Billy, Clint, and Virgil. The others I'm not angry with to the same extent."

"And of course, you're angrier at yourself than anyone else," Radley said sadly.

"Yeah," Kalin agreed.

"Well, forgiveness is a process," Radley said. "It can take some people years. I hope you and the Bunch will be able to find peace long before that, though."

"I wouldn't count on it," Kalin said.

"I'll keep hoping anyway," Radley said with a kind smile.

Kalin nodded. "I know. And we should probably be getting home to bed. We'll have another long day tomorrow."

"You're right." Radley started to get up from the table. "It's been a fun party, but all good things must come to an end." But then he paused, really taking in what he had said. "Or most good things, anyway. I hope certain ones will never end." He smiled at Kalin.

Kalin smiled back. That was a nice thought. Was it possible? They did believe in the afterlife, so death would not end their friendship. And he couldn't think of anything else succeeding in doing so either. They would not let arguments or differences of opinion destroy what they had, not after all they had gone through to get to this point.

"I hope that too," he said. He got up, putting an arm around Radley's shoulders as they went to find Scotch and say Goodnight.