Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds: The Judgement of the World

Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix

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While back at the condo where Asuka and her group waited with the twins as their 'protectors'. Already the food was in the final stages of prep, the cooker was keeping the rice warm while plates and bowls were out and ready. Even the first aid kit with other similar medical themed supplies were ready and waiting, placed on a small stack of towels over on the couch.

No one wanted to believe they were necessary. Just the very thought of the gang showing up bloody was upsetting alone.

While Ancient Fairy was currently coiled up in the living room, the tip of her wedge shaped nose was right over the medical supplies. Fubuki was near by, flipping through the cards in his deck and looking incredibly thoughtful at the moment.

"I've never seen you so introspective, would it be rude of me to inquire what has gotten you so interested in your deck?" Ancient Fairy politely inquired.

Fubuki, for his part, started before looking up at the ruby eyed dragon and gave this interestingly awkward smile. "Uh well... Its just I had this thought about Mr. Jounouchi's deck and Ms. Carly's deck," he began.

Ancient Fairy had to smile at that, she had easedropped enough to know that Fubuki didn't use polite suffixes to names normally. It was often just 'Jounouchi' and 'Carly' none of this 'Mr' or 'Ms' stuff. "Do go on," she encouraged as she extended her neck so she could lay it down next to the sweet boy.

"Well, Mr. Jounouchi had a warrior deck mixed with a gamblers deck so a lot of warrior fighters, but the spells and traps were about flipping coins or rolling dice to affect the outcomes. Watching Ms. Carly and her fortune wheel made me think, 'wouldn't these spells and traps work better with her?'"

"Not necessarily, Carly herself has a talent, these cards were made to be played by anyone with or without a gift. Its doesn't mean it would extend to dice or coins as you are looking at it. A person gifted with a voice for singing may only bring out that potential when songs that move their heart are what they voice. So to speak... And what brought this doubt in your heart dear child?" Ancient Fairy asked the woodland colored haired child.

Fubuki was the unique boy among the crowd, though to speak of it from the others. This change came from his time with the Darkness. 'Yet he seems to naturally goes into this introspective moments nothing outside is pushing him into these spaces. Do they really never notice? Or perhaps choose not to notice since inquiring would be considered invasive...'

"Oh haha, its not really a 'doubt', just... I don't know if I deserve to have his cards in my deck. I mean," Fubuki gestured to the outside world. "I can't help anyone, and watching Ms. Carly has me starting to wonder if its just me. If she can predict the fortunes of others, why can't I change the fate of others... I mean..." Fubuki gave Ancient Fairy this side eye look before jerking his head towards where everyone else was. 'Everyone' being the spirits that were hanging out, a silent reminder that these spirits were 'copies' of dead ones created by Yugi.

"They were gifted to you, and in a sense are like you as well. You have a warrior poet spirit, yet you hide it like a coin that holds two different images on either side. Though you do not flip between the two with casual disregard." Ancient Fairy pointed out gently, "it could just as easily be a mere gift, remind me... Most of your original deck was destroyed, and in these times replacing the cards would be difficult. At the best his deck could help you supplement your deck until you find proper spirits..."

"But I don't want to abandon his spirits! They're alive!" Fubuki protested automatically with a stricken look on his face. "But I'm too tainted!"

"'Tainted'? In what way? Dear child, speak to me with the truth, I was once a part of Little Ruka and we were the elders of our group." Ancient Fairy implored as she observed the boy's mounting distress. This was beyond gambler deck or warrior deck, beyond changing fates... 'Tainted' implied defilement...

Fubuki pulled out his side deck with all the grace and pose of a bull in a china shop, yanking it out, flipping the lid open. He spilled the cards on the couch in a manner that was so out of line with him that Ancient Fairy wasn't sure what to look for. Nothing felt off or wrong about the cards... Fubuki grabbed a particular card and flung it at the edge of the couch closer to the dragon.

Which ok, she was a very big dragon and that was a really tiny card.

She faded herself out so she could essentially, plunge her face into the floor to get a better close up... Only to faintly hear mortified shrieks of 'Ancient Fairy NO!' from the older boys who must have been changing clothes or something. Drawing back her head she slitted her eyes with a soft sigh of frustration.

"Dear child, I'm going to traumatize your friends if I try to see the card... if you would be so kind..."

Fubuki glanced up and felt like a heel the way the poor dragon looked. Ancient Fairies ear fins were down, with her mane of hair just tumbling down to either side. For a face with barely any real features she 'still' pulled off the polite but suffering look. He pushed back his hair as he leaned back, making no effort to clean up the spilled cards, "Mask of Darkness, the same wrenched thing I wore for years... Now a 'card'."

"Does it say anything?" Ancient Fairy inquired as she tilted her head from side to side in her continued effort to look at it.

"Does it matter?" he retorted listless in tone, grabbing the card made him feel like he was sticking his hand in some thick oil or something. Slimy and viscous, it would crawl up his arm and he could feel this unnamed panic settle into him! Just looking at it gave him goose bumps.

"You fear darkness?" Ancient Fairy observed as she settled her head down closer to him.

He flinched at her recognizing it before some twisted sense of pride roused up in him, "who wouldn't? Its vile, what they had me do..."

"'They' not the darkness. They were terrible people who have taken advantage of you and your friend in terrible ways. But you only hurt yourself if you do not use what tools are available to you. Remember that we have been told not to involve ourselves with Yubel and their group, that it is left up to all of you. With that in mind, that could very well be why the mask is with you, to teach you not to run." Ancient Fairy theorized as Fubuki scowled.

"You spoke of how your friend lost his parents and through this loss is how he was taken by this group. He ran from his loss and now look at where is where, instead of facing the fact that loss is a part of life and to find strength in the bonds. He chose instead to forget. He chose to run away, if you run from the mask is that not the same thing?" Ancient Fairy asked and could see the war in the boys' eyes.

"Honest is hurt, but I don't know how badly. Getting Yusuke and the others back is not going to go well... And that 'thing'," Fubuki slashed his hand out at the card in question. "Is supposed to 'help'?"

Ancient Fairy leaned herself around so she was snuggled up against Fubuki's side. Clearly the boy had gone through a great deal during his time with that mask. 'Everything he hates he has probably assigned to that mask. Likely as not he sees it as a physical manifestation of problems he can't face in himself yet...'

"Our God has declared that it is you and yours who shall deal with Yubel, yet not a single one of you holds any true power. Right now you are leaning incredibly hard on Aki's power to manifest and see the spirits around you. If you had to choose right now, would you be willing to sacrifice those four souls if it meant you never had to use the mask and all it commands, again?"

In the way Fubuki flung his head into his hands and leaned down over his lap, it appeared to the dragon that she had hit the mark. "You know... there are teachers who can guide you in the ways of Darkness... The Dark Sage, even Black Rose Dragon can, for her darkness is more readily associated with the rich black soil that the most healthy of plants grow from. You don't have to do this alone, the task does not have to be a weight alone on your shoulders. Even Yusei, with Stardust being a dragon of light, once had to learn when we were whole and human. He never likes leadership, its a role he adapts to but does not enjoy. Unlike say Jack who relishes the title but has little talent for it when he's young..."

Fubuki sat there quietly, his eyes tracing the side of the table before seeking his fate in the multiple threads of the carpet under his feet. "Who used to be your leader, if not Yusei?"

"Rua, but he was an old man at that time, and Yusei was his chosen successor. While I was 'in charge' Rua had a fine mind for battle strategies." Ancient Fairy recalled warmly, "I admit I am not well versed in this countries' view of darkness... Maybe if you could explain it to me..."

"What good would that do?" Fubuki asked looking up into her ruby eye.

"If you are predisposition to see Darkness as evil or negative it would make it harder for you to see its value. As I suggested, black can be associated with rich soil for growing things, but I know many who use black to be associated with death."

Fubuki gave a faint nod at that, "yes, we acknowledge there's a balance between light and darkness, Darkness is considered necessary..."

Ancient Fairy's right ear fin extended up in surprise as she let her gaze sweep the room. There, peeking out from the hallway was a little soft pink turban and her dear Ruka peeking out. She was dressed in a bathrobe and Kuribon was by her side looking curious. Ruka began to sink back into the hallway when Fairy called to her.

"Dear Little Ruka, if I may ask you a question?"

"Um yes?" Ruka went back to peeking out but Ancient Fairy kept her head in the way for modesty.

"How is Little Rua doing, I've noticed improvements on his dueling as of the past several months."

Ruka nodded, "oh yes, he's been taking things to heart better. I think its been good that our Big Brothers and Sisters have been here."

"... Little Ruka, wouldn't your parents... I mean..." Fubuki stood up and peered over Ancient Fairy's muzzle only to see Ruka in her bathrobe. It caused him to duck back down to his seat, "why didn't your parents have you join them, how are they so confident as to let you live here given what's been going on?"

Ruka blinked as her fingers tightened on her bathrobe, "they know we can take care of ourselves," she answered. Her lips tightened into this flat lifeless smile that gave no warmth, comfort or reassurance. Fairy felt the disappointment in the honesty, the twins felt safe with their elder Dragons, as they should. But once more the parents were letting their children down, prioritizing their work over their kids.

"Its not right. I don't want to be rude, but making you stay on your own. What if Yusei and the others weren't here?" Fubuki asked as he sat there, finding momentary comfort in resting his hand against Ancient Fairy's neck.

"I... guess they might make us go over to them," Ruka theorized with a slight shrug hidden by the absolute thickness of her bathrobe.

"Little Ruka, does... does this mask I have bother you? I mean it is a Mask of Darkness, its gotta give off some type of vibe," Fubuki asked. 'Why am I bothering a kid with my...'

"No, I remember when I first met Big Sister Aki. She was in a pretty dark place and after I spent some time with her I've learned to be braver from Big Brother Yusei. He wasn't afraid, he faced her scary side and as I've gotten to know her better. I just think how bad it is that her parents just kind of abandoned her because they didn't know how to help. Like if someone did that to Patty cuz they didn't know how to help her grandma.. So I've gotten less scared of the dark. Why? Does it scare you?"

Fubuki mentally choked on his words in his surprise before his humiliation silenced him. 'Well I mean she's a reincarnation, maybe that's why she's so brave...' He thought before giving a weak, "Maybe? Does that bother you?"

Ruka shook her head and gave a small negative sound, "no. Everyone can be scared of stuff, its normal. Its mean to expect people to be brave when facing 'everything'. When I was having my heart problems everyone would tell me 'how brave I was'. But I wasn't, I was scared the whole time and it was just Rua being by my side that kept me from crying."

Asuka's shadow darkened the sliding door that lead to the pool, before fairly throwing open the door. "I saw some colored lights out in the street!" She called out, waving the binoculars she held. "I need to get everyone!" she rushed through the living room, startling the trio as she moved off with such excited expression on her face.

"Colored lights?" Fubuki repeated feeling a little baffled by the remark as he stood up. He gathered the cards on the couch, his eyes on the Mask of Darkness as he lifted up and straightened all the other cards before sliding them into his side deck. He put the cards, Mask included, in his side deck while off to the side he heard the elevator stir to life. 'She's probably gone to get the others...'

"What did she see?" Ruka asked as she stepped out of the hallway in her seriously plushed bathroom, her expressive eyes and hair the only thing visible.

"Your guess is as good as mine," Fubuki answered as he followed her to the door. "She didn't seem alarmed, actually pretty excited... But what would colored lights suggest?" He asked as he turned to look at Ancient Fairy... Who had stuck her head into the floor of the condo... "I guess that's one way to find out..."

"Huh?" Ruka turned around and recoiled in surprise to see her Dragon, head sticking into the ground like some over sized dragon ostrich.

She and Fubuki couldn't see anything going on outside, but she couldn't step out, not after taking a bath and the air was still a bit dirty. When Ancient Fairy lifted her head up, her ear fins up and looking pretty pleased.

"Asuka will be returning up here to tell you as well, she's gathering the others but says she saw a series of colored lights and thinks they correspond with the colors of Carly's fairies!"

"Really!?" Ruka took off down the hallway, her well trimmed hair bouncing off the robe. "Rua! Rua! Hurry up with your bath! Good news!"

Fubuki could hear her bang on the bathroom door and Rua's muffled response. He saw Ruka leave the bathroom door and disappear around the corner bringing to mind her bedroom. The idea that finally the Fairies were free of their cocoons lifted Fubuki's spirits. 'The fairies fortune was a positive one, maybe I should ask about my fortunes regarding the mask...'

Carly 'did' appear to have a talent, but even with that elation there was the dark cloud of Honest and the others..

'No! With the Fortune Fairies free, they could possibly explain what their fortunes mean. I just have to be patient,' he told himself. There was a soft sound that signaled the elevator was starting to rise up from the lower floors. Soon everyone was standing in the elevator and let their gaze lock on Fubuki with this positive feeling in all their expressions. In fact it was their first time in a long time that he saw such energy in them.

"Rua's in the bath but Ruka alerted him," Fubuki gave as a greeting earning various nods.

"We'll wait until the twins are out than," Asuka decided, she was bouncing slightly on her heels as the others moved about to the couches while several spirits began entering the room.

"So how does that mermaid not break her back when she has..."

"NATASHA!"

Ancient Fairy's earfins dipped down a bit as she watched several spirits and children turned to look at the centaur.

"What? I get that fat floats but how does she go underwater? She's just a giant flotation..." Natasha argued until she saw Ancient Fairy and then disappeared.

"I see, so 'that' was why you screamed when I started to enter the room..." Ancient Fairy began quietly as she folded the front of her limbs in a very 'arms crossed' manner...

"Sorry Ancient Fairy..."

Asuka, Junko, and Momoe had these looks on their faces as they turned on the two guys with them...

'And you didn't invite me...' Fubuki mentally grumbled...