Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds

And Miles To Go Before I Sleep

By Lucky_Ladybug

Notes: The characters aren't mine and the story is! A friend, Ella Pegasus, came up with a role-play idea where Malcolm has his men kidnap her character to get at Radley, in a verse where she is also one of Radley's employees. That eventually gave me the possible plunnie of wondering what would happen if Malcolm tried kidnapping Kalin. So, with her permission, this happened. It is, of course, vastly different from that role-play. It also veered off into directions I wasn't originally planning on taking it. It started out so simple in plot, and then showed it wasn't so simple at all. As always, Radley is a nice guy, which is how I honestly see him and believe is a canon possibility.

One night, in the mining community of Crash Town, Duel Gang leader Malcolm was fuming after yet another loss to his rival Radley.

"That rat Radley," he snarled after taking a long gulp from his latest bottle of alcohol. "Ever since he got that new Duelist Kalin, they've beat us every single time!" He finished the bottle and threw it at the wall, where it shattered into pieces. The Crew nearest to it cringed and leaped away.

"So the solution is to get Kalin away from him," Robbie finally spoke up.

"Well, of course that's the solution!" Malcolm boomed. "That's what we're trying to do each night!"

"You don't have to stick to the rules of the dusk duels, though," Robbie persisted. "Why not just . . . kidnap Kalin or something?"

Malcolm snorted. "Kidnap him?! And then what? You know Radley would immediately suspect us if Kalin was suddenly gone!"

Robbie cringed. "It was just a thought," he said. "Just because Radley'd suspect doesn't mean we'd havta confess to it! Kalin doesn't care about anything or anyone. You know he probably wouldn't even put up any resistance if we tried to take him?!"

"And then what'd we do with him?" Malcolm frowned, still not sold on the terrible plan.

Robbie shrugged. "Keep him hidden . . . kill him . . . try to get him to work for us instead?"

". . . Hmm." Finally Malcolm was starting to look a bit interested. "He really don't seem to care about ol' Radley, does he? We could probably turn his head easy enough. Alright, gentlemen. I want several of you to go to Kalin's room tonight and talk to him. Radley don't guard the place, so it should be easy enough for you to get in. If Kalin won't agree to switch sides, just . . . take him by force and we'll figure things out from that point."

Now Robbie looked a bit intimidated. "Who should go, Boss?"

Malcolm gave him a look of annoyance. "It's your plan, but you're scared of him, aren't you?"

"He's just so creepy, how he gives everyone that soulless look," Robbie said with a shudder.

"Yeah, he only comes alive when he's dueling," Malcolm mused. "Seluga, you take charge. Get some of the men together and go . . . talk to Kalin." He sneered. "We'll just stay behind and get things ready for our guest."

Seluga looked worried, but he just nodded. "Alright, Boss. Whatever you say."

xxxx

Kalin walked up the steps at Mrs. Rickshaw's Bed and Breakfast and headed for his usual room. He always stayed there unless there were so many new Duelists that the space was needed for them. Tonight he just wanted to be alone . . . at least for a time. Being alone was taxing after a while, although it was only what he deserved. It never failed that when he was by himself for too long, his demons would creep up on him again. He was haunted by what he would never forget, by the horrible things he had done both before and during his time as a Dark Signer. He could never forget, nor to stop thinking about his crimes. That would be disrespectful to everyone he had hurt. He had to pay, and pay hard. No penance would ever be good enough for his sins, but he had no other recourse.

And now there was Radley. Every day he tried to reach out to Kalin, and every day Kalin rejected him. It was wearing on him. He wanted to accept; Radley's friendliness was working on him in spite of himself. But he couldn't have nice things anymore. He had seen to that with Yusei. Now he had to suffer the consequences. He could never reciprocate Radley's feelings, no matter how it tore him up inside to reject the man.

He paused as he opened his door and listened for a moment in the darkened silence. "I know you're here," he said flatly. "I can hear you breathing in the darkness."

The light turned on. "We just want to talk," Seluga told him. Several of Malcolm's toughest Crewmembers surrounded him, all giving Kalin their very toughest looks.

Kalin grunted. "About what?" He stepped inside but stayed by the doorway, his hand on the knob. He wasn't about to shut it and seal himself in the room with his enemies.

"Malcolm wants to offer you a job," one of the others spoke up. "Come work for him and he'll double what Radley gives you! Triple it, even!"

Kalin gave a dark smirk. "You think this is about money for me?"

"That's what it's about for everyone!" the Crewmember retorted. "That's why the duels are so successful! There's always more people willing to risk their freedom for a chance at getting rich!"

"This is about something much more important than money," Kalin said.

"And what could be more important than that?!" a second Crewmember groused.

Kalin looked him right in the eyes. "Justice."

"Justice?!" The Crewmember spat the word out like it had an unbelievably terrible taste. "Does that mean Radley's convinced you we're the Devil incarnate and our miners all get tortured?! That it's justice to beat us?"

"You two are both fighting over the mine for selfish, greedy reasons," Kalin said. "Frankly, I don't care what either of you do or why. I only want justice for myself."

Seluga looked even more concerned at that. But before he could even respond, an impatient Crewmember shoved his way into the front of the group. "You're talking crazy," he snapped. "Malcolm said if you wouldn't come peacefully, we were to bring you in any way we could!"

Kalin just gave him a dark and soulless look. "Does that mean alive or dead?"

The Crewmember fell back, more than a little disturbed.

". . . Malcolm wants you alive," Seluga said at last.

"To keep as a hostage or to use as a bargaining chip against Radley?" Kalin countered. He shrugged. "I don't really care what you do with me."

The second Crewmember regarded him in disbelief. "Is he even worth taking?!"

"Malcolm wants him," Seluga said.

Kalin just spread his arms. "Go ahead then."

The first Crewmember just stared at him. "It's an act, right? It's an act so we'll lose interest and back off!"

"I don't think it's an act," Seluga said. "He really doesn't care." He started to turn towards the window. "Let's just go. We don't need to take him like this."

The second Crewmember was not impressed. "He's just trying not to be caught!" He jumped at Kalin, shoving a sweet-smelling cloth over his face. "We're not falling for that!"

Kalin slumped back in his arms, unconscious from the chloroform.

"He didn't even put up a fight," the second Crewmember said in annoyed frustration.

"I don't like this," Seluga said as he opened the window. "There's something not right with him."

The second Crewmember draped Kalin over his shoulder and climbed out. "Malcolm'll be glad we came back with him anyway," he insisted. "That's what we came here for!"

Seluga sighed. "Yeah. . . ." Still not liking it, he followed his allies out.

xxxx

Malcolm was on his third bottle by the time they got back to the villa. "What kept you?!" he boomed.

The second Crewmember dropped Kalin's limp body on the floor at Malcolm's feet. "We got him!" he crowed. "He wouldn't duel for you, Boss, but we took him anyway!"

Malcolm sneered. "Well, good on you, gentlemen! Take our guest upstairs to his new quarters. I'll talk to him myself when he comes back to himself."

Seluga stepped closer to him. "Boss . . ." He sighed as he watched the others haul Kalin up and drag him to the stairs. "I don't think taking Kalin is a good idea. He didn't put up a fight at being taken at all. He said he doesn't care what we and Radley do, that he just wants justice for himself."

Malcolm snorted. "And just what's that supposed to mean?!"

"I don't know, but I don't like it," Seluga said. "I really don't think having Kalin will help you the way you hope it will."

"Keeping him away from Radley is all I want!" Malcolm shot back. "It'll only take one duel without him to get us back on track again! Radley doesn't have any other Duelists right now unless he wants to start risking members of the Bunch."

"They're pretty strong, from what I've heard," Seluga said.

"Who cares?! They wouldn't be better than Kalin or Radley would have been using them!" Malcolm insisted. "No, everything's going just the way I want it! If Kalin doesn't even care that he's been kidnapped, all the better! He won't try to escape!"

Seluga sighed. On that, at least, Malcolm might very well be right.

". . . Radley really will come looking for Kalin, though," he said. "What do you plan to do about that?"

Malcolm just gruffly shrugged. "I dunno. I haven't worked that one out yet. But as long as he can't prove we have him, we can keep denying it."

"He'd know it would be foolish for you to admit it, unless you are planning to use Kalin as a bargaining chip," Seluga said.

"What kind of bargain could I even make?" Malcolm snorted. "'Get Kalin back if you turn the whole town over to me'? Radley only wants Kalin to overthrow me, so that'd be pointless!"

"Are you sure, Boss?" Seluga asked.

"Am I sure what?" Malcolm growled.

"Are you sure that Radley only cares about Kalin as a Duelist," Seluga said.

"Well, of course I am!" Malcolm snapped. "What else could he care about?!"

"He could care about Kalin as a person," Seluga said.

Malcolm just stared at him for a long time, as though that hadn't occurred to him in the least. "That's crazy!" he finally spat. "Radley's just as cutthroat as me! And even if he wasn't, he wouldn't put one guy's safety above the entire town! That's how the duels got started to begin with! He was willing to do the dusk duels to keep me from further terrorizing everyone!"

"You're probably right about the town, Boss," Seluga relented. "No matter how much Radley might care about Kalin, he'd have to think of the town first."

"So the ultimatum is pointless, just like I said!" Malcolm said. "We'll just keep Kalin here with us, nice and cozy-like, and watch ol' Radley lose his mind and then the town!"

Seluga sighed. There was no convincing Malcolm otherwise now that he was determined to go through with this. So he simply said, "Alright, Boss," and stepped away again. "I'll go see how Kalin's doing."

"You do that!" Malcolm called after him.

xxxx

Radley frowned as he downed another glass of cactus cider. As usual, Kalin had walked out on him after barely participating in the celebration of the nightly victory. Radley was growing tired of it. He was trying to offer a hand of fellowship and friendship and Kalin clearly wasn't interested. It was true that some of the Duelists Radley had hired in the past had been more secretive, but he didn't recall any of them being as rude as Kalin often was.

"Don't you think you should just give up, Radley?" Billy asked him. Billy had never really liked Kalin beyond his dueling skills. He hated seeing his friend turned down again and again when Radley only had good intentions.

"Yeah, I probably should," Radley grunted. "I don't know why I keep trying, really."

"He's not worth it," Billy said.

"Maybe." Radley stared off into the distance. Why did he keep trying so hard when Kalin clearly didn't care? The logical thing to do would have been to throw in the towel long ago. But some of the Bunch had been wary of him at first too. He had kept reaching out to them until they realized he really was sincere. He wanted to offer Kalin the same amount of chances.

Radley's silence got through to Billy and he frowned. "That's what everybody said about us too," he remembered.

Radley smiled faintly. "Yeah. And they were wrong."

". . . What do you see in him, Radley?" Billy asked. ". . . What did you see in us? In me?"

"I see . . . a lot of potential. In all of you," Radley said. "I see the capacity to love."

"In Kalin?" Billy snorted.

"Yeah. I do." Radley was still smiling in that faint, far-off way. "And I'm not willing to give up on him yet. Even if logically I should."

Billy sighed. "I just . . . really hope you don't get hurt."

"Me too," Radley said wryly.

"Were any of us as bad as Kalin is?" Billy couldn't help but ask.

"Hmm. Well, Scotch was pretty standoffish at first, as I'm sure you remember," Radley mused.

"Heh. It's weird to think about now, though," Billy said. "He's so nuts about you."

"He sure made a 180-degree turn," Radley agreed. "Kalin still could too."

"I guess," Billy said.

"But you don't think so, huh?" Radley poured some more cactus cider.

"It's just . . ." Billy pushed away from the counter. "We know what we heard about him and what he did to the Enforcers. It was his fault they all broke up."

"If I had to guess, I think he still regrets that," Radley said. "Maybe that's why he acts the way he does."

"Maybe," Billy said. "Or maybe he's a loose cannon ready to go off any time. All the rumors said he snapped so suddenly after all the Duel Gangs were beat."

Radley sighed. "If he had even half the passion he had back then, we probably could've booted Malcolm out long ago." He looked to his friend. "I'll let you in on a secret. When we first came out here and found the mess everything was in, I was hoping to emulate the Enforcers in cleaning things up. Malcolm's gang was just too strong. We've kept him from taking over, but we just can't bring him down."

Billy frowned a bit. "Does Kalin know you were trying to imitate his gang?"

Radley wearily shook his head. "The few times I've mentioned the Enforcers, Kalin has been quick to disparage that era and say it's over. He acts like the Enforcers were a mistake. I've tried to point out how they really did clean up the Satellite and make it a lot better than it was, but he doesn't care. When I've said we're trying to do what they did, Kalin just says I'll go on a power trip if we win. He says all leaders do."

Billy made a face. "You wouldn't do that!"

"I sure hope not. I can't deny I want control of the whole mine and all of its wealth." Radley leaned back. "But I don't want anybody to be hurt. If the rumors are true, Malcolm doesn't care who gets hurt as long as he gets rich." He passed a hand over his eyes. "And some people think the same thing about us."

"That's not true!" Billy insisted. "We're the opposite of them!"

"I know that's what I want us to be," Radley said. "But no matter how happy I am about every victory we have, there's not a night that goes by that I don't wonder if the dusk duel system is really the only way to keep Malcolm in check."

"You know how he and the Crew were acting out before the duels were set up," Billy said. "They've been pretty good at playing by the rules ever since then."

"We hope. But if he's really torturing his miners, then this can't be the right way." Radley looked tired now.

"If there's a better answer, you'll find it, Radley," Billy said. "You've always figured out all our problems."

Radley managed a wan smile. "Yeah." I've sure tried.

He got up. "I think I'm calling it a night. You guys lock up when you're done here, okay?"

"Right, Radley," Billy nodded.

Radley was deep in thought as he went outside and down the porch steps to his motorcycle. Soon he had his helmet on and was riding off down the street, a cloud of dust kicking up behind him.

He slowed as he approached the bed and breakfast. All the lights were off, except the dim light Mrs. Rickshaw kept on in the living room as a nightlight. Was Kalin awake and sitting in the dark? It sounded like something he'd do. Or maybe he was asleep, like normal people.

A dark smirk played on his lips. Was Kalin ever normal? He certainly hadn't acted it in all the time Radley had known him.

Why was Radley so drawn to him? It wasn't just his dueling skills. Even before Radley had quite realized who he was, something had pricked his heart the first time the man with the long blue hair and deadened golden eyes had walked into the diner. Something had told him Kalin was important . . . special. Something had made him want to get to know Kalin.

He was still trying to do that.

Sighing to himself, he finally drove on past and headed home.

xxxx

Kalin, as it turned out, had been given quite a strong dose of chloroform. When he started to wake up at some unknown point in time during the night, the resulting headache pounded through his temples. He grimaced, holding a hand to his head. He deserved to suffer, but he couldn't hide that it hurt.

"Well, welcome back," a man sneered as he came to stand over Kalin in the dimly-lit room. Despite the sparse light, Kalin recognized him as Malcolm from his voice. "You're in our headquarters now. This will be your room for as long as you're here."

Kalin grunted, not impressed. "And that will be for the rest of my life, which you'll cut short?"

"Now, Kalin, you've been listening to too much anti-Crew propaganda," Malcolm chided. "We don't do things like that."

Kalin just gave a dark smirk. "The town's definitely afraid of something going on here, and from what I've seen, they're not afraid of Radley and the Bunch. So it must be you."

Malcolm growled low in frustration. ". . . Tell me something, Kalin," he said instead of continuing the topic. "Radley will come looking for you. Does he care about you as more than a Duelist?"

Kalin frowned now. "Why would you ask that?"

"So I know just how valuable you are to him, of course," Malcolm said.

Kalin sneered. "Radley's right about your lack of intelligence if you think I would actually tell you anything that would help you."

He could practically see smoke come out of Malcolm's ears. "Kalin, you . . . ! My men said you claimed you don't care what happens to you! Well, you don't act like it now!"

"Heh." Kalin leaned back into the pillow. "I don't care what happens to me, but I still don't want to help you."

"But you'll help Radley!" Malcolm pointed out. "Why?!"

Why? . . . That was actually a good question. Kalin had joined Radley to duel for him, hoping to one day lose . . . but why had he joined Radley instead of Malcolm? He had looked at both gangs upon his arrival, but soon had chosen Radley and had never looked back.

In any case, he didn't think Malcolm deserved an answer even if he figured one out. He just folded his arms and smirked at his captor. "Because I'm his bodyguard."

Malcolm snorted. "And a useless one! How can you protect him when you can't even protect yourself?!" He straightened and stomped to the door. "You're right about one thing, Kalin. We're gonna keep you for the rest of your life. But as for how long that is, you've got a choice in figuring that out!"

Kalin grimaced when Malcolm stormed into the hall and slammed the door behind him. That only made the headache much worse. Not feeling up to doing anything else, he rolled over and went back to sleep.

xxxx

Radley really hated being awakened before he was ready to get up. But since there could always be important news, he felt he had no choice but to leave his phone's ringer on. When it jangled early the next morning, he groaned and fumbled for the receiver. "Yeah?" he mumbled.

The caller's words soon snapped him awake.

"Oh, Radley! Kalin is missing!" Mrs. Rickshaw exclaimed.

"Missing?!" Radley sat up. "You're sure he's not just out wandering around?"

"His bed doesn't even look slept in," Mrs. Rickshaw said. "He rarely bothers to make the bed, so he very likely wasn't in it!"

Radley swore in his mind. Had Kalin even been there when Radley had driven past last night? It sounded like he might not have been. And for him to not be there, and probably not just out wandering, the other possibilities were most certainly not good.

"I'll get the Bunch together and we'll go out looking," he promised. "We'll find him. Thanks for letting me know."

"Of course!" Mrs. Rickshaw said. "Be careful, all of you!"

"Yeah," Radley sighed as he hung up and swung his legs over the edge of the mattress. "We'd better be careful."

He was sure this was not going to be fun.

xxxx

Kalin didn't wake up again for the rest of the night. When he finally did, it was to the sound of Crewmembers fighting in the hall.

"You - !" A string of curses. "That was my girl!"

"She chose me!" another voice snapped. "She said I was better in bed!"

A punch and more cursing, followed by vulgar exclamations and accusations from both men.

Kalin burrowed into the pillow. "Ugh." This was certainly making his headache worse. And it only emphasized how different these people were from Radley and the Bunch. The Bunch did silly things like video game and karaoke and dance tournaments. The worst they ever did was dance on the counter at the diner—something Radley always scolded them for. They didn't care about what these Crewmembers found of the utmost importance, and despite not understanding either gang, Kalin certainly found the Bunch's company more palatable now.

Well, if he wanted to punish himself, being here with these lewd, dirty-minded people was certainly a good way to do it.

A dark chuckle brought his attention up. A Crewmember was sitting in a chair near the door, apparently to prevent Kalin from getting out . . . and hopefully the others from getting in. "Well, they've got a lot of energy today," he remarked.

Kalin gave him a flat look. "Does this go on every day?"

"Every night too," the Crewmember sneered.

Kalin slumped into the pillow face-first.

"If you hang around, we could set you up with people too," he was told.

The very thought turned his stomach. It didn't look like there was any genuine love here—just lust and worrying about how well one did under the sheets. It was worlds apart from the true camaraderie the Enforcers had shared . . . and what Radley kept trying to give to Kalin.

He wished he was with Radley right now.

"You've got ice in your veins, eh?" the Crewmember jeered. "Just like every night at the duels. Do you care about anything?"

"Yeah," Kalin muttered.

"I know, I know—seeing justice done on yourself, like you told them last night," the Crewmember snickered. "Everybody's been trying to figure out what that even means. What kinda nutcase are you?"

Kalin didn't offer a reply.

"Well, whatever. Just let me know when you want some grub and we'll rustle something up," the Crewmember said.

Finally Kalin turned to look at him. "I'm a prisoner, aren't I?"

"You're our honored guest," was the mocking response.

"Really. So that's what you call jumping people from behind and chloroforming them to make sure they accept the honor?" Kalin grunted.

"You're starting to sound like Radley," the Crewmember chortled. "You've been around him too much."

Kalin looked away. Maybe that did sound like Radley's witty quips. His sarcastic observations always had a lot of truth to them.

"You probably want Radley more than anything we can offer," the Crewmember remarked.

Kalin flamed red. "No," he retorted. "I only want justice for myself. And no, I won't explain to you what that means."

"Does Radley know?" was the pointed question.

No, Radley definitely did not know. Kalin wasn't about to tell him. Radley wouldn't understand and wouldn't like it if he did. And if he knew Kalin wanted to lose . . . well, maybe he wouldn't let Kalin duel as much.

Kalin had to duel.

"Well, whatever. We're gonna be here for a while, so you might as well get used to it," the Crewmember said.

"You can't keep me here indefinitely," Kalin said. "When will Malcolm decide what to do with me?"

"Oh, soon, probably. If you really won't duel for us, my guess is he'll pack you off to the mines," was the reply.

Kalin frowned. That was what he wanted, but he wanted a perfect loss to get there. Just going there after being unceremoniously kidnapped wasn't a perfect loss. He couldn't allow that. He would have to figure out how to get out of this mess.

"I wonder if you'll still have ice in your veins then," the Crewmember grinned.

Kalin didn't answer. He laid back on the bed, staring at the ceiling as he pondered his options. Outside in the hall, Malcolm was finally yelling for his men to break up their stupid fight.

Kalin tuned it out. Instead, thoughts of the Bunch and then of Radley crept into his mind—the good-natured fun they were probably having, Radley's friendliness and kindness, his happy smile. . . .

Kalin turned away, shutting his eyes tightly. He couldn't think about that.

That only made it all the more torturous that he was stranded here without him and might never have him back.

xxxx

Radley was not happy. For the last couple of hours he and the Bunch had combed the entire town and the surrounding area, including the plateau where Kalin liked to sit and play the harmonica. Kalin was in none of those places and no one had seen him. Now they had all met in the town square to decide what to do next.

"Maybe he just up and left," Virgil frowned. "He's always been a jerk to you, Radley."

"I just don't believe he'd cut out like that," Radley frowned back.

"So where could he be?" Scotch worried. "He doesn't seem to be laying hurt anywhere. . . ."

Radley tapped the handlebars of his Harley as he mulled the problem over in his mind. ". . . Malcolm might have him," he said at last.

"Malcolm?!" several of the Bunch exclaimed.

"Kalin wouldn't switch sides and go to Malcolm, would he?!" Scotch cried indignantly.

"No, I don't think he would," Radley assured him. "But I think I've been giving Malcolm too much benefit of a doubt. He's been especially furious ever since Kalin came and has been winning every night since. What if it finally pushed him over the edge and he decided to take matters into his own hands to get Kalin out of his way?"

"You mean kidnap him?!" Scotch exclaimed.

"Or kill him?" Virgil frowned.

"I'm praying that if I'm right, it's the former," Radley said grimly. "I wouldn't think Malcolm would be so wasteful as to just kill a powerful Duelist like Kalin. . . ."

But if he's wasteful enough to torture his miners, who knows what he'll do.

Radley let that thought stay silent and ice-cold in his mind. Kalin had to be alright. He had to be. And not just because he was Radley's best Duelist and hopefully the key to taking control of the town. Because . . . Radley couldn't stand the thought of him being gone . . . of never seeing him again.

"Let's go to the villa," he said, and revved his engine again.

The Bunch all swiftly followed without further question.

xxxx

Kalin had somehow dozed off again. Now he awoke to fierce knocking downstairs. He blinked, rolled over, and stared up at the ceiling. He still had the bad headache, but he didn't mind that. He deserved it, after all. So he just listened to the voices drifting up from below.

"Well, well. Radley," came Malcolm's smooth, drawling voice. "Isn't this the unexpected pleasure."

"I'll bet it is." Radley was sneering in response; Kalin could hear it in his voice.

Something leaped in his heart. Radley had come for him.

"So what brings you here?" Malcolm asked.

"Kalin's missing," Radley informed him. "Mrs. Rickshaw called me this morning. His bed's completely unslept in."

"So he went out walking," Malcolm said nonchalantly.

"Maybe. Or maybe you know exactly where he is." Radley spoke completely calmly and coolly. Unlike Malcolm, he rarely lost his temper. He was angry right now; the danger was strong in his voice.

Strange how Kalin already knew such things about him so well.

"And just why would I know where he is?" Malcolm replied. "Are you accusing me and my perfectly upright Crew of stooping to something as lowdown as kidnapping? Or killing?"

"You said it, not me." Still with the sneer.

"Now Radley, I am truly crushed," Malcolm said, to an audible scoff from Radley. "If Kalin's not around, he must have just got sick of you and your kindergarten class. Maybe he wanted to be with real men for a change."

"You're saying he joined you of his own free will?" Radley sounded skeptical at best.

"I'm just saying that's the only reason he'd be around here," Malcolm said.

Radley was silent for a moment, weighing the situation and probably studying Malcolm's face. He was good at that . . . at studying people. Then, "I don't believe you, Malcolm."

"Oh, come off it, Radley!" Malcolm sounded annoyed now, all pretext of being congenial gone. "You don't really think that apathetic creep cares about you, do you?!"

"No," Radley answered. "But because he's so apathetic, I don't think he'd willingly switch sides, either."

Malcolm growled. "You can't prove anything."

"Try me." Radley snapped his fingers. "If you really have nothing to hide, you surely won't object to showing me and the Bunch around."

Kalin could imagine the Bunch coming around him to look tough and Malcolm's smoldering glare in response.

". . . Fine!" Malcolm snapped. "Come on inside."

Kalin finally sat up on the bed. He could have gone to the window and tried calling down to Radley. He still could, but would he? They were right that he was apathetic. He didn't care what happened to him as long as he suffered. And he was pretty sure he would suffer here.

. . . That was why he had picked Radley to join, wasn't it? He had known that once he lost, he would suffer under the hands of Malcolm and the Crew. Despite what he had said to his kidnappers last night, he knew Radley and Malcolm were different. Radley was a decent person who didn't harm others. His miners were well taken care of.

Would Radley even be safe coming into the villa? Surely Malcolm wouldn't harm him with all the Bunch there, but could Kalin really trust in that?

Radley was coming here for him. Maybe it was just because he needed Kalin's help to overthrow Malcolm and maybe not, but either way . . . if something happened to him because of this, it would be Kalin's fault for not trying to signal him or call to him. It would be one more sin to pay for. At least, that was how Kalin saw it.

And . . . he really didn't want Radley to be hurt.

He got off the bed and went to the window. The Bunch was still filing into the villa down below. He banged hard on the glass, alerting the ones just about to enter. They looked up with a start.

"Kalin!" one called. "Kalin's in the window!"

Immediately the guard rushed over, grabbed him around the neck with his arm, and pulled him away from the window. "So, you do wanna go back to them," he snarled.

Kalin promptly elbowed him in the ribs and stomped hard on his foot. "Yeah, I guess you could say that," he retorted as the Crewmember howled in pain. He tore past the guy and into the corridor.

Radley was already in the villa, but he had heard his friends' exclamation from outside. "Kalin?!" he called. "Kalin, can you hear me?"

His voice echoed in the old Spanish building. It seemed right for him to be there. He was Spanish-American; the villa should have been his.

"Yeah!" Kalin called back. "I'm here. I'm upstairs!"

More Crewmembers were thundering down the hallway after him. Kalin dodged them, punching the one closest to him, and ran down the stairs to Radley.

His boss pulled Kalin close to him, resting his hands on Kalin's shoulders. "Are you alright? Did they hurt you?" he asked, scrutinizing him as he spoke.

"I'm okay," Kalin said. He didn't intend to mention the headache. He deserved it anyway.

The Bunch promptly surrounded them as the Crew caught up. Radley gave Malcolm a cool look. "Now we have who you took from us, Malcolm, so we'll just take our leave."

Malcolm looked ready to bite through metal. "If you say anything about this to the town, Radley, I'll deny any knowledge of it," he said.

"I know you would," Radley said. "You'd hang your men out to dry and disavow any knowledge or support of their actions. And maybe I'll chance it and tell the town anyway, only I'm sure your men will still stupidly stand by you instead of turning against you like they should." He drew an arm around Kalin's shoulders. "Let's go."

Instead of shrugging out of Radley's grasp, Kalin let himself be hugged in that manner as they went to the doors. He could feel the Crew glaring after them as they stepped outside.

"Kalin, are you telling me the truth that you're alright?" Radley asked when the doors slammed behind them. "They hurt you in order to abduct you, didn't they?"

"I'm fine," Kalin insisted. "It's nothing I can't handle."

Radley sighed in resignation. "Yeah, of course you'd say that." He glanced back at the villa. "I'm seriously thinking of telling this to the town tonight. If I could get Malcolm's men to turn against him, he wouldn't have a leg to stand on. And really, why wouldn't they turn against him if he blamed them for kidnapping you and didn't acknowledge he ordered them to do it?"

"Because they're stupid," Virgil snorted.

"Or because he's holding something else over them," Billy suggested.

"Blackmail, huh?" Radley mused. "And it'd somehow be worse for that to get out than for it to get out that they kidnapped Kalin? Kidnapping's a pretty serious crime." He glanced to Kalin. "Did you hear anything that could help us out, Kalin?"

"No," Kalin said.

Radley sighed. "Yeah, I didn't think they'd say anything for you to hear." He glanced back at the villa. "Well, I think I'm gonna take my chances tonight. If everybody would turn against Malcolm, we could take over completely like we've been trying to do for years. Then everyone'd be better off and this sort of thing couldn't happen again."

Would they all be better off? Kalin pondered that. Radley was different than Malcolm, in good ways. He was kind and thoughtful and fair. Yes, if he had control of the town, Kalin couldn't imagine the people would live with the fears they did now. So many of the townsfolk already loved Radley and the Bunch and cheered when Kalin won every night. They wanted Radley to win this war.

"Kalin?"

He started back to the present. Radley was eyeing him questioningly.

"I know Malcolm was just trying to get my goat, but you wouldn't ever really leave me, would you?"

Kalin grunted. Of course, he intended that someday he would leave, that he would lose and then be dragged off to Malcolm's mysterious and likely torturous mine to suffer and pay for his sins. But he wasn't going to tell Radley any of that.

"No," he said instead. "Not for Malcolm."

That seemed to please Radley enough for the time being, and he smiled. "Good," he said.

xxxx

The duel that night went just about as Radley had predicted. He did indeed reveal what Malcolm's men had done, Malcolm denied involvement and blamed certain Crewmembers, and although they regarded him with hate in their eyes, they did not contradict him. Radley attempted to goad them into breaking free of their chains and turning on the boss who was being unfair to them, but they wouldn't budge. It left Radley frustrated, puzzled, and angry, but there was little he could do.

At least Kalin won again, so that was one more Duelist down and safely away from Malcolm. Radley would treat him well in his part of the mine. Malcolm left with smoldering rage, while the Bunch whooped and high-fived and a couple of them even glomped Kalin, to his utter astonishment.

Radley had to chuckle at his expression. "Oh Kalin, don't you know we all love you here?" he said with a wink.

"Just because I win for you," Kalin replied.

Radley sobered at that. "No," he said softly, looking into Kalin's bottomless golden eyes. "Not just because of that."

Kalin looked back, into eyes that were deep and green and filled with . . . not greed, but . . . love?

He quickly looked away again, half-aware that his cheeks were burning red. No matter how he felt, no matter whether he wanted to give in and reciprocate Radley's feelings and embrace the friendship and love he always offered, he knew he could not. He wasn't worthy and it wasn't fair to Radley. Radley deserved someone decent, not someone who was so tainted by sin.

"Kalin . . ." He could hear both disappointment and hope in Radley's voice. Even though Kalin hadn't verbally responded, he had given away enough of the truth visually that Radley realized it wasn't a lost cause. He would keep trying. "I'm pretty sure Malcolm won't try such a stupid thing again, but I don't want to take any chances. Will you come home with me tonight? You can have the guest room."

Kalin knew he shouldn't agree. And yet, one way or another he was pretty sure he would have a bodyguard tonight. Ironic, when he was supposed to be the bodyguard. But naturally Radley would be concerned and he would want to protect his best Duelist.

"Alright," he said.

xxxx

The Bunch was always up for a party. Getting Kalin back safe qualified for one, Scotch insisted, and he promptly set about preparing food and music and video game tournament ideas once they were back at the diner.

Kalin was overwhelmed and amazed by the generosity. Part of him continued to think this must be about him being their best Duelist, because how could it really have anything to do with caring about him personally? But Radley insisted they did, and something in his sweetness and the way he looked at Kalin really seemed to ring true. He wasn't putting on an act.

Even if he cared now, though, that would all end once he knew what Kalin had done. How could he have any interest in being friends with someone who had betrayed his most loyal friend? He would never be able to look at Kalin the same way again, or trust him, and no matter how Kalin tried to deny it, that was a hard thing to think about. Kalin . . . really didn't want Radley to stop caring, even though at the same time he knew such caring was foolishness. He wasn't worth it.

"What's your favorite food, Kalin?" Scotch asked as he suddenly popped up again.

Kalin started. ". . . I don't have one," he said. Not anymore. . . .

"You'll eat anything then?" Scotch chirped, undaunted.

"Pretty much," Kalin agreed.

"Epic!" Scotch danced off to the kitchen.

Radley chuckled. "I'm like that too," he said. "I like almost everything I've tried. I'm lucky I can safely eat just about all of it."

Kalin grunted in acknowledgment. It was nice to be able to do that.

"Of course, I do have special favorites," Radley added. "Cheese and potatoes, or any combination of them. Putting them together makes the food of the gods."

Kalin shrugged. "They're good," he said.

Scotch came back in and set the jukebox to play Elvis Presley. Kalin jumped again at the deep notes that opened Jailhouse Rock, but quickly settled into it.

Radley was amused. "This is probably worlds apart from what it was like with Malcolm's Crew, isn't it?"

Kalin thought back to the ridiculous fight over lust. "Worlds," he agreed.

"And tell me honestly, Kalin—we're more fun, aren't we?" Radley smirked and winked.

"Yes," Kalin said without hesitation. And I missed you. So much.

Radley poured two glasses of cactus cider. "Here's to a long life of fun and frolic and our eventual reign over this town," he said, and toasted Kalin with his glass.

Kalin didn't return the toast, but he did drink his glass.

xxxx

Radley was, as always, a good host. After dinner at the diner, and listening to Scotch's mini concert, he took Kalin to the residential area and into his house. "I always keep the guest room ready in case any of the Bunch decides to stay over," he said as he unlocked the door.

Kalin looked around the modest but well-furnished home. How different this was from last night. The villa had been grand, but filled with the darkness of Malcolm and his Crew. Radley's home was more simple, but cozy and peaceful. It felt good here. Safe.

It was far too good for the likes of Kalin. But he couldn't back out now, so he slowly walked inside with his boss.

Radley smiled as he shut and locked the door after them. "What do you think, Kalin?" he asked.

"It's nice here," Kalin said honestly. He stopped and looked back. ". . . How did you feel when I was gone?"

Radley blinked, stunned by the sudden question. "I was upset," he said. "Worried."

"Why?" Kalin asked.

"Why?! Because . . ." Radley stepped closer to him. "You're my best Duelist. More than that—you're someone I care deeply for." He looked Kalin up and down, slowly, hesitantly. "Do you think . . . you could ever come to care about me too?"

Kalin's heart ached. He wanted to say Yes so badly, to say that he already did care, so much. He wanted to reach out and draw Radley close to him and pledge to always be there with him.

But he knew he could not.

He averted his gaze. "I don't care about anyone or anything," he said instead.

Radley sighed, heavily. "Yeah, I know. Okay, nevermind." He stepped back. "The guest room's at the end of the hall. My room is the next door over from it."

Kalin nodded. ". . . Thanks," he said.

". . . Kalin?"

He paused. "What."

"Just for curiosity's sake . . . if I'd been the one kidnapped, would you have tried to save me?" Radley asked.

Kalin still wouldn't look at him. "I'm your bodyguard."

"I believe that's a Yes," Radley said. He started to walk past Kalin. "I hope it's a Yes."

Kalin reached out, his fingertips brushing against Radley's hand. Radley turned with a confused start, his eyes filled with questions. But Kalin withdrew his hand immediately, still refusing to look at Radley. Instead, he started down the hall.

". . . I really don't understand you, Kalin," Radley said. "I wish I did."

Kalin paused and looked back at him from the guest room doorway. "If you really understood me, you'd wish you didn't," he replied.

"Why not at least give me a chance to find out?" Radley quipped. "You might be surprised."

Kalin looked away again, not really knowing how to respond to that. "Why are you so interested?" he asked at last. "I've never encouraged you."

Radley walked over to him. "With your words, no, you haven't," he agreed. "But your eyes and sometimes your hands tell me a different story."

They stood looking at each other for a long moment. Again Kalin wanted with all his heart to reach for Radley, to tell him how much he cared and how much light Radley had brought to a heart darkened by sin and by guilt. He wanted to give in and find happiness here.

But he couldn't betray his victims like that. He had to stick to his resolve to see that he was punished for his crimes against them.

He leaned in, going on tiptoe to chastely kiss the slightly taller man on the forehead. Then he stepped back, starting to shut the door.

Radley, who had been stunned by the sudden action, came to life and grabbed the edge of it. "Hold it!" he cried. "You can't go kissing guys and then closing the door in their face! Either you care about me or you don't, Kalin. You can't have it both ways!" He gripped the door tighter. "I was really worried about you today. I didn't know for sure if Malcolm would keep you alive or not! I thought I might find you laying dead. And that tore me up inside! You're not just a Duelist to me. I care about you . . . so much. But I'm not gonna stand for you playing with my feelings!"

Kalin stood stock still, fighting within himself. He had given in to his longings and it was wrong, so wrong. He couldn't lead Radley on, not when there was no hope for them. He had to be punished, to suffer a long, drawn-out death for his crimes against Yusei and the whole world.

But . . .

But . . .

"Say something!" Radley broke into his thoughts. "Say something!"

". . . I'm not worthy," Kalin rasped, shaking as he clutched a trembling fist at his side. "I don't belong with you or with anyone. I only deserve fire and brimstone! I'm a wretched, twisted person who betrayed his friends and almost destroyed the entire world by accepting an evil force!"

Radley stared at him in shock. "Kalin . . ."

"I should be dead right now!" Kalin continued. "I was dead. But I was brought back somehow. Brought back to relive my actions over and over and never be free of the damage they caused!"

Radley frowned. ". . . You were brought back to have a second chance," he said at last. "Maybe this was the purpose, to come here and redeem yourself by helping me save this town!"

"I can't save anything," Kalin objected. "Not even myself. Malcolm was right—I can't be your bodyguard."

"You've already started to save us," Radley said. "You brought back hope when it was almost dead. You can't throw in the towel now! And tell me honestly, Kalin—do you care about me? Don't say you don't feel worthy. Just tell me if you care."

"Yes!" Kalin cried. "Yes, I care! So much. That's why I can't let you taint yourself with someone as evil as me."

Radley stepped closer, his visage finally softening. "I'll be the judge of that," he said quietly. "I don't think I'm tainting myself." He reached for Kalin, drawing him close in a tender hug.

Kalin stiffened more. He should push Radley away. He knew he should. Instead, his shoulders slumped and he sobbed, falling in Radley's arms as he clutched the other man close. "You're a fool," he choked out. "Why . . . how is it you don't want to run far away from me after everything I told?! I turned against everyone! I joined an evil cult bent on destroying the world! I almost killed my best friend. . . ."

He could feel Radley stiffening after this last revelation. But he didn't let go. He never let go. ". . . Kalin of the past did those things," he said after a long moment. "Not Kalin of the present. Not this Kalin." He hugged Kalin closer. "This Kalin . . . isn't evil at all."

Kalin trembled again and burrowed against Radley's shoulder. How was it he kept ending up with people willing to forgive and move past what he had done? Yusei had never given up on him after everything, and now Radley was the same way. He wasn't pushing Kalin away in repulsion like he really should be. He still wanted to be with Kalin, and not just as his boss.

Maybe come morning Kalin would have pulled himself together and would be back to trying to keep Radley out. Maybe he would resume pushing Radley away and breaking his heart as he had hitherto done.

But . . .

Even though it was selfish to want this happiness . . . and even though he should be trying everything he could think of to keep Radley away from him . . .

He didn't want to let this moment—or Radley—go.

And for as long as he needed it that night, Radley held him.

They had changed their course today. Radley wouldn't forget it, and he wouldn't let Kalin forget it. They would save Crash Town together.

And, perhaps, they would save each other as well.