Disclaimer: I do not own the properties of the Yu-Gi-Oh franchise or the work of the cards; I only own the OCs that could or may be involved in this series. I own nothing of the real OCG cards, just the formal OC character.

Chapter 9: Epiphany Bondings

Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon stands in a white area with no universe. Yasuko was right in front of the dragon. She's been having the same dream on some occasions. A white world with nothing but Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon in front of her. The girl does not fear the dragon because the beast always means something to her. Just like before, she reaches over to the dragon, and sees Odd-Eyes Phantom lowering its head down to the girl's hand. The jewel glows in a bright light when her hand touches the orb on its forehead. The light expands outwards, nearly blinding the girl.

Yasuko had to cover her eyes because the light was showering over the area. Just then, something else happened to Odd-Eyes Phantom. The body was glowing in the light but lost all of its form with nothing but its astral form. The dragon started to morph, changing its shape to a bigger one. The red and green eyes were still there, but its silhouette was reshaping itself into something more.

When the light dimmed, Yasuko tries her hardest to get a clearer picture of the dragon, but its silhouette was still there. Odd-Eyes Phantom was not the same dragon as before, but just as it can do anything.

Yasuko wakes up.

Yasuko snapped her eyes open, and the room was filled with the bright shine of the morning sun. She lifts her head and props up, realizing she's only awake. Yuya and Riley were still asleep, and she was the only one up.

She gets off the bed and ties her boots to her feet. After washing and brushing herself, Yasuko comes into the living room, where she can find something to eat for breakfast. Considering that Crow and the kids are very impoverished, she doubts anything is left. She takes out a protein bar and eats it, sitting behind the table.

As she minded her business, she considered what had transpired since then. Almost three days after the others came to the Synchro Dimension, there's no sign of them in Neo Domino City. Things haven't been progressive for any of them. Sylvio's still a spunking idiot, Serena still has attitude problems, and Riley is awfully quiet and timid. They're not making any progress at all. Sylvio and Serena were always leaving Yuya and Riley to find some information they would never get, leaving Yasuko to deal with Riley and Yuya at Crow's place. It's frustrating for her. Everyone was nearly incompetent to work alongside. The only one who was causing more problems for her was Serena.

Serena is so stubborn that Yasuko doesn't care whenever she leaves because if she was trained as a warrior, she surely wouldn't get caught by security. As she was lost in her thoughts, someone else entered the living room. Yasuko notices Serena coming in.

"Early bird? Aren't you?" Yasuko quipped.

"Last night was a waste of time, so Sawatari and I came back," said Serena, sitting across from Yasuko.

"Like, we're ever getting anything during night hours," Yasuko replied.

Yasuko and Serena were both alone at the table. The cynical girl doesn't shy away from Serena. Since they will be stuck with each other for a while, only their cooperation will help them survive against anything coming their way.

Yet, Yasuko is still having trouble dealing with Serena's hard attitude. She's so stubborn that Serena can't even help anyone other than

"What's your big deal?" Yasuko asked.

"What?" Serena replied.

"You. What's your problem?" Yasuko questioned the girl. "Cuz I know you don't like working together."

"Neither do you," Serena responded.

"Only because I have to," Yasuko replied. "It sucks, but it's the only way I can survive this hellhole."

Serena snorted, crossing her arms with disapproval. "I'm a Fusion warrior," she claimed. "I have no need for allies who can't help me."

"But we're the only allies you've got," Yasuko interjected sternly. "So you better get used to it, gal."

Serena scowled at Yasuko. "You don't seem to like me at all."

Yasuko slams a fist on the table with irritation crawling on her skin. "That's because you're so stubborn," she retorted. "What do you have to prove? Recognition? Pride? Ego? You're impossible to work with. You don't realize how hard it is right now. We're all separated, and the others are still missing. You're a wanted fugitive, and I can't work with this attitude of yours."

Serena narrows her eyes at Yasuko with anger. "Like you have anything to say about it. You're even more impossible if you constantly complain, treating others like they're all useless idiots," she said.

"Because they are idiots," Yasuko affirmed. "The only one I can rely on in this team was Yuya, not Gongenzaka, Shun, Sawatari, and certainly not you. Declan's MIA and we're the only ones left in this city." Her scowl never falters, keeping a closer eye on Serena. "For all I know, they're still probably on the streets waiting for your sorry ass to get them."

Serena is fueling anger into her veins, completely outraged by Yasuko's accusation. "If you don't like it, then you can just quit and go back home," she said.

"But I can't," Yasuko snapped. "I made my decision, and I will see this through. I'm bringing Zuzu home and stopping this whole Dimensions War your people caused in the first place."

"I'm not the enemy here," Serena pointed out. "You wouldn't understand what it was like in the Fusion Dimension. It's a living nightmare compared to here. I had no one. I have no parents, no brothers and sisters, nobody. Then Academia found me, took me in, and raised me my whole life. I trained every day and night until my bones cracked, dueling the best of the best nonstop until my lungs couldn't breathe. That's who I am. A soldier. Not some posy wannabe duelist who thinks dueling is fun." It was the first time Yasuko heard Serena call her out for everything she was.

What really caught her off-guard was that Serena was also an orphan. She thought Serena had someone to guide and care for when she was in the Synchro Dimension. Instead, Serena's life was even harsher than she thought. For some reason, Yasuko felt something she never thought would be possible toward Serena.

Empathy.

She can't deny that Serena's like her, but they are different. Yasuko had her foster mother back home in the Standard Dimension, while Serena had no one else besides herself.

"You don't have someone to think about?" Yasuko inquired out of curiosity. "Like any family you have back at home?"

"Sentiment is a weakness I cannot have," Serena replied. "I've shed anything that weakens me a long time ago."

Yasuko would not expect anything from Serena. Like the other Fusion Warriors from the Fusion Dimension, she is raised to fight for the sake of their Academia. There is no way people her age knew anything other than fight. "How pitiful," she thought to herself.

"Don't feel bad for me just because it's a hard life; I chose to accept it," Serena rebuked. "I have an obligation to make, and I will not stop until Zuzu is safe."

"Why'd you even care about Zuzu? She's not even your friend," said Yasuko.

Serena had kept that thought in mind. She never knew Zuzu, and it was only for a day she met her. Yet, Serena knows Zuzu is in danger in the Synchro Dimension, and Yasuko is right. She's not her friend, but Serena will make it up to Zuzu for her mistake.

"Yeah, she's not my friend," said Serena. "But that doesn't mean I can't make up all the wrongs my people did."

The girl snorted with skepticism. "Good luck trying to win back the Xyz Dimension," Yasuko rebuked. "Especially when it is your people who destroyed the Xyz Dimension." She still can't forget what Shun told them about his homeland being destroyed by Academia and the Fusion Dimension. "Don't forget, you're the ones who turned people into cards," she pointed out. "Is uniting the Four Dimensions into one worth it? The lives you destroyed? The people you're hurting? You can't expect people to forgive you because you've already done a lot of damage to them."

The rising tension between the girls was still strong, even after the Arc League Championship. Yasuko watched Serena ease on her scowl and seemed to be deep into her thoughts. After a pause, Serena spoke with less anger and more sympathy.

"For what is worth, there is no justice in that, no honor," said Serena. "I've never been outside of Academia my whole life. I had thought Academia was doing the right thing, but it's not. It's all wrong. Academia and the professor betrayed everything I stood for. So, I'm here because I will right the wrongs of every classmate who's done this to the Xyz Dimension."

Yasuko props her elbow, supporting her head. She seems to notice Serena has changed since they first met, but it's a long way to go since she cannot be sure if Serena will do what she intends. "So, like, you've never been outside of Academia? Like ever?" she asked out of curiosity.

Serena turned to Yasuko with a raised eyebrow. "No, of course not. The Professor said I was an important tool in their conquest, but I was being held against my will while the rest of my classmates headed out," she said.

She couldn't figure it out, which was hard for Serena. Being caged like an animal or being forced to train to fight. Yasuko is sure the Professor is more insane than those in the Xyz Dimension.

Someone else enters the living room with them at the table. It would seem everyone in the house was already wide awake. Yasuko spots Yuya and Riley entering right behind the three kids. Sylvio was the last one to enter the living room, yawning loudly.

"What a night," said Sylvio. "I never thought looking for the others was such a long work."

"Mornin', everyone," Amanda yawned.

Since it was another groggy morning, Tarren and Frank grumbled something under their breaths. Tarren rubs his eyes and walks to the fridge. He pulls out a small juice box and takes a sip into it.

Frank looks around and notices that the girls are at the table. "Aren't you hungry?" he asked.

"Nah, I have protein bars to keep me alive," said Yasuko. She digs into the bag for something to eat and pulls out a granola bar. She throws it over to the kids for them and to the boys. She pulls out one more since it's the last one for the day. Yasuko had second thoughts and turned up to Serena. She hadn't thought of who Serena was right now since she was just about Zuzu's age. If she's ever going to find Zuzu in Neo Domino City, she'll need everyone's help, but it's just one step at a time.

"Here." Yasuko offers the last granola bar to Serena. The girl looked curiously before gazing up at her. "You're gonna need it." She didn't like giving away her food, but Yasuko thought Serena would need it because if she went out again, Serena would need her strength.

"Uh…thanks?" Serena replied, taking the bar from her.

Yasuko gets up from the chair to recheck the kitchen. The girl heads to the counter and grabs a banana from the bowl before peeling its skin to eat it. "So, what's the agenda?" she asked everyone.

Serena puts the granola bar into her pocket. "Same thing we're gonna be doing," she answered. "I need information, and I'm heading out again."

Yuya heard her saying it and turned to her in annoyance. "What? You're going out again? Don't you know Sector Security's looking for you?" he reminded.

"Oh, let her be," Yasuko called out, making Yuya turn to her perplexedly. "I'd think you should let her. She's a warrior, after all." Her eyes rove over to the surprised Serena. She doesn't know what to do with Serena since she's stubborn, so Yasuko just lets her.

"Right, I'll out," said Serena.

"I'll go too," Sylvio indulged, throwing the granola wrapper over his shoulder. "If there's anything better to do, we need to know more about this city and their best duelists." He digs his hands into his pocket and follows Serena out the door. Right before Serena could exit, Yasuko called out to her.

"Serena,"

The girl paused momentarily and turned back to Yasuko. For about a minute, the two girls stared at each other, wondering what they thought of each other now. It wasn't much of a friendly conversation they'd been having, but this morning was just the first casual one.

"You be careful out there," said Yasuko.

Serena blinked in surprise. She never thought Yasuko would tell her to be careful. It's the first time for them to start getting along. She nodded and left without saying a word.

Yuya raised an eyebrow and turned to the girl with an inquisitiveness. "Wait, I thought you hated her," he said. "After last night, you seemed to not care about her."

In turn, Yasuko stared at Yuya and said, "Let's just say…I've had this phase before."

Yuya heard her facing Yasuko after eating the granola bar. "Something happened?" he asked. "This is the first time I've seen you talk to her without hostility." He watched Yasuko throw the banana peel away and divert her attention to him.

"Well, we need everyone to fight Academia as a whole and…I guess I need her to trust me," said Yasuko.

Frank and Tarren approach her. "Hey Miss Yukihana, are you a duelist?" said Frank, suddenly out of the blue.

"What?" Yasuko inquired.

Tarren pointed at her duel disk holster. "You carry a duel disk in that thing. Do you think you can teach me and Frank about dueling?" he requested, leaving Yasuko with her mouth agape.

The whole morning was nothing but waiting for Sylvio and Serena to return after another hopeless search for the others. While Yuya and Yasuko waited, the kids practiced dueling in their cards. "What am I, a dueling tutor?" Yasuko doesn't know how or why she has to teach everybody how to duel. It's not that hard if they put in some effort.

"I Synchro Summon," said Yasuko.

"Huh? What? How? You can't do that. That isn't a Tuner Monster," Tarren accused.

"Ah, that's true, but thanks to Buten's effect, that monster is treated as a Tuner," Yasuko explained.

"Whoa," Frank gasped, leaning closer to see. "I didn't know you could do that!"

Yasuko raised one eyebrow. "Yeah, you can," she said. She takes the hand setup back to Frank. "Now that you have a Tuner and a non-Tuner, you can do a Synchro Summon since that monster was treated as a Tuner."

"Right," Frank nodded.

Yasuko gets up from the chair to let Frank take over as the two boys play the game between themselves. While doing so, she approached Riley, sitting at the stairs. She moves him to get some space so she can sit beside him. Like always, Riley was quiet and not bothered by Yasuko's presence.

"Still worried about your brother?" Yasuko asked. Riley looked up to her. "Yeah, I know, you're worried sick about Declan. But wherever he is, I'm sure Declan is fine." She does the unthinkable, and her hand pats his head. Riley was taken back by surprise, making him look up to her. "Just be glad you have me and Yuya."

Speaking of Yuya, he came by the door and checked on them. "Hey, Yasuko," he said. "Are Serena and Sawatari still gone?" He had to wonder if Serena and Sylvio were still searching for information or their comrades.

"You mean that big scary sis and that stuck-up punk?" Frank inquired.

"Haven't seen them, aren't they back yet?" Tarren added with a question of his own.

Yasuko shakes her head. "Nah, they're still looking for the others and probably allies we can trust." She turns to the high-rise buildings in the city. Even from looking down at the Commons, the Tops are so full of themselves living in a city where they look down on people. "They must be somewhere in the city center where the Commons congregate," she assumed.

Yuya looked up at the high-rise buildings. "Do you think they could get up there? The Tops, I mean?" he wondered.

"No," Yasuko answered. "Anyone caught trespassing will get arrested if you're not one of them." She put her hand on her knees and looked at the high-rise buildings. "It's only by luck I managed to find somebody who can help me."

Yuya faces Yasuko on the stairs, pondering about the other girl who came with her yesterday. "Akiza didn't come by yet?" he asked.

"No, I haven't seen her since yesterday," Yasuko responded. "Why? Didn't she say she'll be here first thing at dawn?"

"I haven't seen her all morning," said Yuya. For some reason, Yuya feels uneasy since a girl from the Tops came to Crow's house. "I'm just hoping she could help us get over there."

Yasuko was starting to have second thoughts regarding Akiza, too. She hasn't made any calls to her or even came to the house. She thinks it's likely Akiza's running late or preoccupied with something from the Tops. "It's unlikely," said Yasuko. "Akiza has connections, but if she gets us involved, they'll get suspicious and report back to Sector Security."

As Yasuko and Yuya converse, Riley abruptly gets up from the stairs, catching their attention.

"Riley, what's wrong?" Yuya asked the kid.

The first response Riley made to both was the same as yesterday. "I'm going to find my brother," he declared.

Like yesterday, Riley starts heading down the stairs, making Yasuko stand up. "You stop right there!" she exclaimed. Her voice caught the boy's ears, and the kid suddenly halted right there on the spot. Yasuko and Yuya came up behind the boy. Yuya was apathetic toward the boy, while Yasuko had a stern look on her face. "Riley," Yasuko began. "I understand you want to find your brother, but you can't. Right now, the city's a dangerous place to walk around."

"Yasuko's right," Yuya agreed. "Crow told us about it. We can't leave when Security is all over the place." As a form of assurance, Yuya placed a hand on his shoulder. "Look, we'll help you find your brother, alright? Right now, let's just wait, okay?"

Riley was hesitant to listen to Yuya. Despite his comfort, Riley doesn't believe in his words. This made Yasuko come around to get in front of the kid. Riley looked up to her. The girl crossed her arms and stared at the boy cynically.

"Now that we're all settled, let's just wait for Akiza," said Yasuko, pointing at the house. "Get back inside, Riley, and help me prepare the kitchen for lunch." Riley seemed stiff at first when Yasuko ordered him to, but he relaxed and turned around, heading back upstairs and into the door.

Yuya had something in his mind, with Yasuko ordering Riley around. "You don't have to be hard on him all the time," he cautioned. "He is just a kid, you know."

Yasuko snorted. "You obviously have no idea what kind of hell Riley went through, haven't you?" She was deep into her thoughts before Yasujko continued on. "Riley's like me. A kid who has no soul. The boy only does things because he was told to." She digs her hands into her jacket pocket. "I know he's just a kid, but he's also scared. Probably thinking of his brother all day since you guys came here." Yasuko doesn't have the faintest clue of how to get Riley to open up more. So far, Riley's only responded as if he's being ordered to. Nothing more.

Yuya nodded, understanding what Riley was feeling. "I'm sure he really does care for his brother," he said. "But we'll find him. I promise Riley we'll find Declan."

A loud motorcycle duel runner sound caught their ears. Everyone outside heard the sound of two duel runners coming to the house. Yasuko and Yuya recognized them as Crow's Blackbird and Akiza's Bloody Kiss.

"It's Crow!" Frank called.

"And Big Sis Akiza!" Tarren added.

Two duel runners parked at the front entrance with Akiza's outside. Crow removes his helmet and greets the guests. "Hey," he called.

Akiza removes her helmet and shakes her head to sway her hair, turning to Yasuko. "Good Morning," she said.

"Hey, Crow. Akiza, welcome back," said Yuya, delighted to see familiar faces.

Crow notices that only Yuya and Yasuko are at the house with the kids. "Huh? Where are the others?" he asked.

"Where do you think?" Yasuko responded.

Akiza's shoulders sagged, disappointed in their same routine for days. "Again? Are they out in the city?" The way Yasuko cocked her head tells Akiza and Crow what the answer is.

The older ones are back inside the house with Crow scowling in anger at their recklessness to get caught while they're still wanted fugitives.

"Those two idiots…" Crow hissed. "They went out on their own again? Damn it, I told them not to go!" His voice rose in anger for their stubbornness. He turns to Yasuko, who he assumed to be in charge of their little group. "Why didn't you stop them?" he demanded.

Yasuko, washing her hands, responded in a very drawling monotone. "I don't care about them. They can do whatever they want and get caught. The only ones I'm here for are Yuya and Riley." She turns the nozzle off and grabs a towel. "Riley's too young, and Yuya's the only one I can trust." She turns to Riley, who is sitting on the couch. "Riley," she called to him. The boy stiffened upon his name being called and turned to her. "Get over here now. Come wash your hands; we're making Napolitan," she stated, not facing the boy.

Riley did what he was told and washed his hands at the sink. Yasuko moves a stool over for Riley to get on so he can reach over and wash his hands at the sink. She picks out a box of pasta and ketchup, courtesy of Akiza and Crow's grocery shopping. "Riley, don't forget to fill the pot with water," she reminded.

"Okay," Riley responded. He dries his hand before picking up a pot to fill it with water. While they were starting to cook, the older ones heard footsteps coming from the front door, and the door opened. A young man with double-colored purple hair with strands of blue in the base of his hair and green eyes came through the door, holding grocery bags.

"Hey, I brought the stuff you asked for," said the young man. He paused, noticing Yuya and Yasuko. "What? You guys are still here?"

Yuya realized that the guy was one of the bikers who saved him and the others from security. "Aren't you…" he uttered.

"My friend, Shinji," Crow introduced.

Shinji turns to Akiza. "Oh, still coming back here?" he asked the girl. "I thought you had someplace to be."

Akiza narrows her eyes at the young man. "Don't take me as if I'm another one of those Tops," she defended. "I'm not like one of those you may have known."

Shinji comes to the table to drop the groceries on it. "I'm just surprised, that's all. You're from the Tops and have the nerve to come here, in the Commons? I thought you would've stayed back home, where you belong," he reproached.

Crow waves at him dismissively. "It's okay, Shinji, she's a friend," he assured. "Besides, she's done a lot since she came here."

Yasuko comes to the table to find something in the grocery bag. She found what she had hoped for: a can of spam. "Perfect," she said. "Thanks for the food, Shinji. Now my Napolitan is complete." And with that, she heads back to the counter to start making some Napolitan.

Shinji was staring at the girl with suspicion. "I thought you were supposed to be helping your comrades," he assumed. "But whatever you are doing, you better not involve the kids."

"They'll be fine," Yasuko reassured, chopping some spam. "You just have to trust us." She turns the stove on and starts making pasta while Riley watches beside her.

Amanda came into the living room, excited to see a friend of Crow in the house. "Shinji, you came!" she beamed. Everyone else came to the front door and saw Shinji with a smile.

"Shinji!" Frank and Tarren exclaimed altogether.

Akiza waves at the kids, beaming them with a soft warmth. "Hi everyone, sorry for the wait," she greeted.

"I brought something for all of you!" Shinji grabs the grocery bag to dump its contents, showing the kids the delicious sweets and treats. They gleam with happiness when they see the contents.

"What is this stuff?" Tarren asked.

"Did you steal it?" Amanada assumed.

"Good job!" Frank boasted.

"Don't be stupid!" Shinji retorted. "I bought these cuz there was a cheap sale discount." The kids' look gives Shinji a skeptical look at him. "What's with that look? It was cheap," he said.

"Well, it will have to wait, I'm just about finished," Yasuko called from the kitchen. She was done making the Napolitan and brought the big plate over to the table. "Alright, everyone, grab a fork and a plate, and make sure you wash your hands," she announced.

As she sets the Napolitan on the table, the kids are overjoyed that their lunch will be very good with the food Akiza brought for them.

"That looks delicious!" said Amanda.

"But I want to eat the candy first!" Frank whined.

"Me too!" Tarren added in.

Shinji was giving the kids a stern look. "Hey now, first you finish that, and then you can eat whatever you want," he said. "And that goes for you, too. There's plenty, so help yourself." He offered to Riley, who was sitting beside Yasuko, as the girl removed the apron from her waist. He held a fork for himself. "Come on, it's the courtesy of your fellow Commons, so be grateful and eat them." He turns to the door. "Well, Crow, I'm heading out," he said.

"Sure, thanks," said Crow.

Shinji turns to Akiza. He still had a hard time accepting Akiza in the house, but he showed respect for the girl since she brought some food for the kids. "And miss, thank you for your help," said Shinji. "I'm grateful of you."

"Sure, no problem," Akiza replied.

"I'm just…surprised anyone from the Tops would come into the Commons," said Shinji.

"I get that a lot," Akiza responded. "But I am not what you think I am."

Shinji nodded. He turns to Yasuko and Yuya. "And you better be careful," he warned. "Security is still searching the city everywhere for you."

"Sure thing," Crow replied.

"Bye!" The three little kids all say farewell to Shinji. He takes his leave and heads out the door. With that, the kids start having lunch with Yasuko's Napolitan. They took as much as their plates could fill and started eating with a smile.

"Wow! This is delicious!" Frank beamed. "Thanks for this awesome lunch, Big Sis Yasuko!"

"Really good!" Amanda agreed.

Akiza and Crow were also eating the Napolitan with amusement. "Wow, best one yet," he commented. "And it's all thanks to your shopping, Akiza."

Akiza nodded. "Not a problem," she said.

Yasuko was eating her batch while Riley stared at his plate and didn't pick up a fork to try it. She notices Riley staring into space once again. "Eat up, Riley," she said. "Don't make me feed you again." She pointed her fork at Riley to show she was serious. "Now, stop hesitating and eat already," she said, eating some pasta with noodles hanging from her mouth.

Riley looked back at the untouched Napolitan. "Is…is that an order?" he asked.

Yasuko rolled her eyes and sipped some water. "It's an order," she replied sarcastically. "Now, eat."

Crow laughs with amusement, watching Yasuko boss around Riley. "It's been three days, and this is the first thing you ask her? Well, you did hear her. Eat now before it gets cold," he said, eating a mouthful of pasta.

"Now, get eating, kid," said Yasuko. Without looking at her plate, she brings her hand to Riley's and pushes it closer for him to eat.

Riley did what Yasuko told him and grabbed a fork. He digs a chunk of pasta before eating it. He did the same thing, with some pasta falling back on the plate before Riley ate it again.

Yuya, eating his own, stared at Yasuko and Riley. He's never seen Yasuko caring for Riley as if she's his relative. Yasuko and Riley aren't family, but Yasuko acts like she's his sister, telling him what to do and bossing him around.

"Hey, Yuya," Akiza called to him, catching his attention toward the girl beside her.

"Yeah?"

"I want to know," said Akiza. "Why's he so…timid?"

Yuya caught on to Akiza's question. He thought about what Yasuko had told him about Riley having no soul. He doesn't want to believe Riley has no soul. The kid's just shy about everything. "I don't know," Yuya answered. "But what Yasuko told me, Riley's got no soul." He faced Yasuko. She seemed more attentive to Riley, especially when she brought up a napkin to wipe Riley's cheek when the sauce stained it.

Crow scoffed. "No soul? Please, Yuya, I know a soul when I see one," Crow rebuked. "He's still just a kid; kids should be free, doing whatever they want." Crow drinks some water before he continues. "If they messed up, they need a hint of improvement."

"Improvement?" Yuya had a flashback to Yasuko making a statement to him before they crossed dimensions. He vowed to make Yasuko smile, and if the Dimension War hadn't come their way, maybe he could've continued where they started.

"Yasuko's the same boat," said Yuya. "She doesn't smile or can't smile. I don't know if she has a soul, but I promised to make her smile. And not just Yasuko. I want everyone in the world to smile and be happy."

Akiza was drawn to Yuya's philosophy of smiling. She felt the corners of her mouth curving up to a smile. "That's a wonderful dream, Yuya," she beamed. "Kids like them could smile with those from the Tops if they want to." She turns to the three little kids enjoying lunch. "I bet even Lua and Luna would love to see this smile."

Yuya had something else in his mind. He faces Akiza to know something. "I saw how Shinji was glaring at you, Akiza," he said. "Is there something you did?"

Akiza shakes her head. "No, it's just how the Commons sees me, a girl from the Tops," she answered. "The Tops control 99% of the wealth in Neo Domino City, and the Commons make up 99% of this city's population, so there's a lot of resentment against the Tops because of this heavy inequality."

Crow nodded. "I'm sure you got it easy," he said. "Smiling when you're rich and winning everything."

"I'm sure it must've been hard for you, Crow," said Akiza.

"Nah, it's all good, even though I'm a Common. The only thing that matters is if you want people to be happy, you need to fill their bellies first," Crow dismissed. "After all, food helps bring smiles to the kids."

Yuya refused to believe what Crow had in mind regarding smiles. "No, that's not the right way. Smiles are a symbol of happiness," he objected.

Crow points his fork at Yuya. "Can smiles fill their bellies?" he snarked.

"No matter how much you eat, it isn't happiness without a reason to smile," Yuya divulged. "It's just sad."

Crow raised one eyebrow. "What are you talking about? You have to fill the bellies first. Smiles come second," he argued.

"That's not true," Yuya disagreed.

The next thing that happened between them was that Yuya and Crow were standing with Akiza, annoyed by their bickering as she ate her lunch.

"Sorry, but your way of thought is a sign of blessed life," Crow accused.

"What was that?" Yuya dared. "Everyone knows having a full belly isn't enough!"

"Wrong!" Crow denied. "You need to fill someone up first. That's the most important thing!"

"That isn't true!" Yuya snapped.

Akiza wasn't the only one annoyed with the bickering between Yuya and Crow. Except for Riley, Yasuko and the three little kids take notice of the argument. Yasuko twitched her right eye, irritated by how annoying Crow is compared to Yuya and Sylvio. "My god, I don't know who's even more annoying in this house anymore," Yasuko murmured.

Crow faces the kids with a cheeky smirk. "Hey everyone, you happier with full bellies?" he quipped. "Come on, Riley, what do you think?"

Riley stopped eating his Napolitan and looked surprised, gazing at Crow inquisitively.

"It's actually about smiles, right, Riley?" Yuya gives a slight fake smile to get Riley to side with him.

"Getting full comes first!" Crow argued.

"Smiles!"

"A belly of food!"

"Smiles!"

"Food!"

"Smiles!"

"Food!"

"How 'bout both!" Yasuko suddenly exclaimed out of the blue, having enough of their childish quarreling. Crow and Yuya stopped their quarrel and turned to Yasuko. She was momentarily relaxed before Yuya and Crow had to go on with their belief in smiles through food and ruined their peace. "It's both…" she said. She ate some pasta. "Dumbasses," she whispered so lowly that the little kids didn't hear her.

Crow was giving Yasuko a skeptical look, not believing what she had in mind. "Then there's only one way to settle this, with a duel," he proposed. "Let's duel to see who is right!"

"Bring it on!" Yuya accepted. "I'll show you the entertainment duels my father pioneered!"

Yasuko sighed, hoping this duel would be quick and painless with their lunchtime cut short. "Great, another mess up," she said.

While Yuya and Crow were dueling outside, Yasuko and Akiza washed the dishes for another time to make dinner. She cleans the utensils and plates while Akiza stacks the food cans on the counter.

Akiza giggles when she hears the commotion of the duel outside. "That Yuya is something, huh?" She closes the cabinet and picks up some leftovers to save for later. "I can see why you need to find him," she said.

"You haven't seen anything just yet," said Yasuko.

Akiza peeks outside, watching Yuya going first with his turn. "Hey Yasuko, not that it's personal, but can I ask you something?" she asked.

"What is it?" Yasuko moves on with the question as she takes another plate to wash.

"What are your thoughts on Yuya," Akiza asked, making Yasuko stop at her washing. The older girl gets a perplexing look with one eyebrow raised from Yasuko.

"Where did that come from?" Yasuko wondered. She returned to the dishes and dumped them into the sink to wash them all.

"It's just…you seemed more concerned about Yuya than the others with him. Riley's a kid, that's understandable, but you treat him with more compassion than your peers, better than that Serena girl or that Sawatari guy," Akiza pointed out. She glanced at the window where Yuya and Crow are dueling before gazing back at Yasuko. "Did you grow up with him?"

Yasuko snorted in response. "As if I ever want him in my childhood," she said. "But no, Yuya and I didn't grow up together. He's been with me when I moved to his home city a month ago." She places the cleaned dishes on the counter for them to dry.

"But he's a friend, isn't he?" Akiza assumed.

Yasuko was done placing the dishes on the counter. She had thought about what Yuya had told her about being her first friend. Other than Allie making the same proclamation, Yuya has stuck by her from the moment they first met, which was not a pleasant experience.

"I…guess…," said Yasuko. "He's…my very first friend I ever had." Unconsciously, she felt her hands clenching together. She glances out in the window to see Yuya dueling with Crow. Already, he's got the Crossover Field Spell activated. "He promised to make me smile, and I wanted to believe that, so I'm going to make sure Yuya does make me smile, even if it means I'll have to be hard on him sometime."

Akiza raised an eyebrow, confused by Yasuko's statement. "Promised to make you smile?"

Yasuko waves it off. "Nah, it's nothing important," she dismissed. She notices somebody from the corner. "Hey, Serena and Sylvio came back," she informed.

Akiza looked out the window, seeing Yasuko was right. Serena and Sylvio have returned from their seemingly futile search for the other Lancers. "You're right," she confirmed. "It's them."

Yasuko hurries to the front, with Akiza following behind. She comes to hear Sylvo commenting on the duel between Yuya and Crow. "What'd you look at that? While I was gone, they started doing something interesting."

Akiza calls them to get their attention. "Hey, welcome back, you two," she said. Serena and Sylvio heard her and faced Akiza with a surprised expression. "Where have you been all morning?" she asked.

Sylvio jabs his thumb to direct behind him. "Serena and I were just looking for information about our comrades," he answered. "Say, you wouldn't happen to know Jack Atlas, don't you miss?"

Akiza blinked, surprised at what Sylvio told her. "Jack Atlas? The Duel King?" she inquired.

Sylvio was lit up. He had to know Akiza knew Jack. "Oh, so you do know him," Sylvio blurted out. "That means you can get us to meet him."

"What are you talking about? Of course, I can get you to meet him, but Jack doesn't like to see anyone," Akiza implied. "And I never met Jack Atlas in person."

Yasuko had heard of Jack Atlas from Lua before. "Lua said he was the greatest Turbo Duelist in the world. Is he a pro?"

"A pro? It's Jack Atlas," Akiza stated. "Jack Atlas isn't just a pro. He's the Duel King." The way Aliza spoke of Jack Atlas means it's a big deal for everyone, especially for the Lancers.

"No wonder Lua was so happy mentioning him," Yasuko thought. "How long has he been the Duel King?" Yasuko asked.

"I think it's been almost seven years since he was the first Common to ever win the Friendship Cup. After that, he went off and won other tournaments from the Tokyo Grand Prix to the Hokkaido Series," Akiza divulged.

The three Lancers were interested in Jack's background. They had no idea the strongest duelist in the Synchro Dimension was a Common like Crow or Shinji.

"Oh, he came from the slums?" Sylvio queried, but his response was met with a harsh glare from Akiza. She doesn't like Sylvio calling the Commons slums even though it is impoverished.

"Don't you look down on them," Akiza snapped. "Of course, Jack came from the Commons; he's the reason why the Friendship Cup was still going on."

Yasuko leans against the railing with her head propped by her elbows. "So, he gets rich, but he didn't do squat with that fame and fortune?" she assumed.

Right on Yasuko's answer, Akiza shakes her head with disappointment. "I'm afraid that's true," she confirmed. "Jack doesn't care about the Commons or Tops, but his selfish ego." The way Akiza speaks about Jack Atlas was more contemptuous than Yasuko thought. There could've been a lot of people who share Lua's admiration, but she guesses not everyone is satisfied with Jack being the Duel King.

"Is he the strongest duelist in the city?" Serena asked.

Akiza nodded. "You have no idea what Jack's capable of," she said.

The three of them glanced at each other, wondering how strong this Jack Atlas is if people say he's the Duel King. Speaking of strong duelists, Serena and Sylvio have returned, so Yasuko wonders what kind of information or people they have met to boost their odds against Academia.

"Hey, Serena, Sylvio," Yasuko called. "Have you got us anyone good?" Yasuko didn't sound hopeful, considering that the Commons do not have strong duelists that can stand up against Academia, and her guess was answered when Serena shook her head.

"Nah, nothing," Serena replied. "These people are weak, not worth my time." She turns to Akiza, recalling who Jack was. "Maybe Jack Atlas is a better duelist."

"Figures." Yasuko rests her hand on the railing as she watches Yuya and Crow duel to stupidity. Yasuko heard a duel runner coming from the road as she was lost in her thoughts. She and the others turn to find out that Shinji has returned, but he looks very alarmed.

"Crow! Security's heading this way! Run! We're surrounded!" Shinji warned.

It was all bad news when Shinji came to warn everyone about Sector Security. Yasuko straightened up. Akiza got tensed. Serena and Sylvio were shocked. The next thing they heard was the loud sirens coming their way.

"Surrounded!?" Yuya gasped.

Yasuko had to know one thing: Serena and Sylvio were always going out on their own without considering the consequences. She glared at Serena and Sylvio. "Damn it!" she exclaimed. "You led them right to us!" She jumps down to the patio and sprints across the yard. "Run, Yuya! Get out of here!"

Yuya heard Yasuko and saw her running to the kids and Riley. "Run where?!" he exclaimed.

"Anywhere but here!"

Serena cursed under her breath. "They followed us?" she wondered. Sylvio looked up and gasped when he saw three Sector Security officers on the rooftop of an apartment building. One of them was carrying a large gun.

"Shit!" Crow exclaimed. Right before he could even have a chance, the officer fires the gun, and a Solid Image of a dark green net catches Crow underneath, making him collapse. The monsters in the yard disappeared after the duel was canceled due to outside interference. Another officer on the rooftop appears with a cannon gun. This time, he was aiming at Yasuko. She reached for Riley and held his hand when she noticed the officer aiming at her.

Yuya notices the net gun aimed at Yasuko and sprints to help her. "Yasuko!" he yelled. The officer fires his gun at Yasuko, but Yuya swoops in and pushes her and Riley out of the way. The net caught Yuya under the tight net.

"Yuya!" Yasuko exclaimed.

"Run!" Yuya shouted, turning his face to her. "Get Riley out of here!"

Yasuko was hesitant to leave Yuya behind, wanting to get the net off him, but it's Solid Image; it can't be removed so easily. She notices it. She grits her teeth, infuriated that she has no choice. "Riley!" she called to the boy.

Riley heard Yasuko as she grabbed his hand. "Come on!" she ordered.

The Solid Image net also shot Sylvio and Serena, forcing them onto the ground. Just before they could escape, more security cars and Duel Runners arrived at the house, making Yasuko halt. Riley was clinging onto her jacket, fearful of the officers.

Shinji tries to flee with his Duel Runner, but two security cars catch the young man in a pit maneuver. One of them got out and shot his gun at Shinji, trapping him in the net like the others. As the officers subdue him, more security officers arrive to arrest the others caught in the net.

"Let go! Let go!" Serena yelled, wrestling against three officers who caught her arms.

Sylvio was pinned to the ground with his back being pressed by the officer's knee. "Wait, hold it! I'm with her!" he called. "Akiza! Tell them we're with you! Call them off!" The officer pressed him hard just as the Solid Image net disappeared, making him grunt.

Akiza saw everything that was happening and moved down. Suddenly, about three security officers get in her way, holding her back against them. "Miss Izinski, please stay back," said one of the officers. "This is a crime scene."

"What are you doing!?" Akiza shouted. "They're with me!" She gestures to the people who are being apprehended.

Once the Solid Image nets disappear, the officers subdue Crow and Yuya. They struggle against them, having been caught. He grunts as two officers hold a tight grip around his arm once he is pressed against the ground. He looked up, noticing three officers approaching the kids. "Hey, leave them alone!" he grunted. "You bastards! Keep your hands off those kids!"

Akiza hurries over to Amanda, Frank, and Tarren, blocking the three officers from getting closer to the kids. "Stop! These kids are with me!" she shouted. "Don't arrest them!"

Yuya was getting roughed up by the officers as they lifted him off the ground. He turns to Yasuko, holding Riley close to her as she is being confronted by the officers. He saw the girl was getting more agitated with the officers closing on her. She looked over to the garage by the house, seemingly having a plan already.

"This way!" Yasuko grips Riley's hand hard and then makes a break for the garage door. With Yasuko dragging Riley, they hurried to the garage door with the officers running behind her. They rushed inside, and by the time the officers could get them, the door was shut closed.

One of them tried to kick the door hard, but the door wouldn't budge. He turns to the other officers behind him. "You three, head to the front!" he ordered. The officers surround the garage, with their backup taking the rear, trying to get inside from behind.

"You're surrounded!" the lead officer announced. "You have nowhere else to go! Come out with your hands up!"

As the officer concluded, something inside the garage blares off a duel runner sound. Everyone gasped, caught off guard when they heard something inside the garage come to life. Before they know it, the front garage door bursts open.

Yasuko breaks through the garage door, riding a blue-green duel runner with blade wings on the back and a motif windshield, with the sides adorned in white stripes. Riley was sitting behind her, screaming his lungs out as he held her back for dear life. The officers at the front of the garage door flee as the duel runner slams down and starts revving out. She makes a sharp turn, causing Riley to tighten his grip even more.

There was a small gap between the two security cars that pit-maneuvered Shinji's Duel Runner and a house. She was going to take it. "Hang on!" Yasuko yelled. She kicks the duel runner into overdrive, and before the officers who restrained Shinji can react, Yasuko zips past right through them.

The duel runner scrapes some of the paint from the car, knocking a barrel, and breaking a side-view mirror from the security car, but Yasuko and Riley are home-free.

Yasuko felt her grip wobble as the duel runner rocked a bit due to inexperience. "Shit! Don't know how Akiza or Yugo do it, but I better get out of here," she said. "Don't let go, kid!" She told Riley before Yasuko kicked into the throttle. She could feel her grip tightening, making sure she didn't get into a crash while escaping from the security. And so, Yasuko and Riley flee from the scene, with their figures disappearing in the road.

"We got a runner!" one of the officers shouted.

"After them! Don't let them out of your sight!"

"Someone get a chopper on them!"

While some officers scrambled to go after Yasuko and Riley, those who had apprehended the Lancers and the Commons were astonished at Yasuko, taking the risk of getting to ride a duel runner out of their situation. Yuya was slightly relieved Yasuko and Riley got out of there, yet he didn't find their situation helpful.

An armored car pulls over from the driveway, and all the Lancers and Commons are handcuffed by some red Solid Image binds. Sylvio was resistant to entering the armored vehicle in front of him. "Let me go, you idiots!" he yelled. "Who do you think I am?!"

"Shut up and get in already!" the officer ordered, unpleased of Sylvio making resisting arrests. He holds Sylvio's cuffs and then throws him over to another officer by the door. He grabs Sylvio and throws the boy in the back.

He gets up, angered for being treated like a criminal. "Damn it! My father will hear about—" Sylvio was interrupted when Crow and Shinji were thrown at him, crashing him against the wall painfully. "Damn…" he groaned.

"You two, get inside!"

Yuya was thrown inside the car first. He catches Serena, who was also thrown in before she could go to hell. He turns up to see that the officers have made a clearing, and then one officer appears before him. The boy's mouth let a gape when he recognized the officer as the same as before. Officer Tetsu Trudge had a sneer under his helmet when he saw Yuya.

"It's you…" Yuya uttered.

"Well, well, well, we finally meet again, Yugo," Officer Tetsu Trudge snarked. "I've been chasing your ass for a very long time, kid, but now…I've caught you and your little girlfriend right where I want you." He laughs with pride. "Finally, now I can ship you off to the Facility where you belong. Hope you better behave well once you're released. That is…if you're ever gonna get released." He turns to the officer right behind him. "Have you found that duel runner who escaped the containment?"

"No sir," said one of the officers. "But we're sending a chopper to scan the wider area."

Trudge makes a victorious sound. "Good. We'll start with 2nd and 3rd Broadway. Maybe they're hiding there since it's all gang territory in that sector." He turns back to Yuya. "When I return, I'll bring that runner and the kid back to join you in the Facility."

Yuya felt a seep of anger rushing in his veins. He knows Yasuko took Riley with her, and now officers are all going after her. He charged at the exit, but two officers grabbed him, blocking his way. "You can't! They've done nothing wrong!" he exclaimed. "She's with Akiza! She's from the Tops!"

"They're accomplices for harboring wanted fugitives!" Trudge snapped. "It's my authority to arrest them for hiding you, so I will hunt them down to the very end of the city if I have to find them!" He waves his arm at the officer. "Take them away!"

Yuya struggles to break free, even with the binds holding his wrists. The officers throw Yuya back inside. "No, wait!" he yelled. Before Yuya could get out, the doors closed in front of him. He growled with frustration and raised his head to see through the windows. Crow does the same thing on the other one.

The three kids all came to see Crow through the window. "Crow!" they called, but an officer held them back.

"Stop! Don't come any closer!" the officer commanded.

Akiza gets the kids behind her, getting in the officer's way to protect them. "Crow! Yuya!" she called to them.

Crow sees how protective Akiza is for the kids and gets her attention. "Akiza! I don't know you enough, but please take care of them! Make sure they get enough to eat!" he begged.

The armored car starts up, ready to take them all to prison. Yuya can only hope Akiza will help them since Yasuko and Riley got out of there. "Akiza!" he hollered. "Please find Yasuko and Riley! Find Yasuko and Riley!" He banged his fists against the door. "Find them!" And with that, the armored car started to drive away. The last thing he saw was Akiza holding the crying kids close to her.

Here it is! The 9th Chapter of the 2nd story. I've been on a writing frenzy making some rough draft changes to the story before typing it down. Anyways, if you like what you've read so far, then don't forget to leave a comment on what your thoughts of the story are, and what needs to improve. Don't forget to follow the story if you are interested. If you like it, then just favorite it so you can have the time to read this.