A/N: I just went back through every chapter because Yusei's eyes are blue not purple and somehow I'm dumb enough that I didn't notice that. Blue eyes in the future lmao.
"But when Nitro Warrior is synchro summoned-"
"I know this one! Yusei gets to draw a card!" I supply happily. Speed spells and I don't exactly get along, but I knew the rest of Yusei's deck pretty well by this point.
"Correct." Himuro says, crossing his arms.
"Is that what Yusei was aiming for?" Rua asks.
"That's right," I tell him. "Yusei believes that his cards will answer him. He's betting everything on the next draw."
Yusei's visage onscreen is perfectly calm to onlookers. Knowing him for almost two months, however, I can pick out the little cues he gives. His brow is furrowed, head forward. Then he closes his eyes. He only looks like that when he's putting all his focus into one thing.
He draws, totally zoned in on the act of taking the card and swiping his hand straight out. Our group sits in wait for the result.
The corners of his lips quirk, yet not enough to be called a smile. He always finds some way to enjoy himself even in the riskiest duels. "I activate the speed spell Gap Storm! I can activate Gap Storm when the difference in our speed counters is ten or more. All spell and trap cards on the field are destroyed."
"Damn. Yusei!" The other duelist doesn't take it well. It does nothing to slow Yusei's roll.
"Next, my monster effect!" Nitro Warrior is engulfed in a brilliant beam of brightness. "When I activate a spell card on my own turn, Nitro Warrior gains 1000 attack points. Battle! Go, Nitro Warrior! Dynamite Knuckle!" Nitro Warrior's attack rises to 3800 points, and with no spell or trap cards, Enjo's monster is finished. His life points decrease, down to 1100. If I remember the monster effect right, this is the end of the duel.
Yusei continues his attack. "When Nitro Warrior destroys your monster, one monster on your field in defense position switches to attack position, and Nitro Warrior can attack it."
"What? Attack position? Then that means Junk Synchron will..." The fiery D-Wheeler is a bit slow on the uptake. Junk Synchron is changed to attack position on his side of the field before being forced to fight.
"Battle!" Yusei has cinched the win, destroying Junk Synchron and bringing Enjo's life points down to nothing. The pom-poms return to my hands as soon as his counter reaches zero.
"WHOO! Yusei won, he can't be beat! Yusei has the power to knock you off your feet!" I shake the sparkling balls so much that bits of tinsel start falling on Ruka and Yanagi who are sat right next to me.
"It's in my hair!" The girl complains. Yanagi doesn't care in the slightest, only shouting in support of Yusei.
"He did it!" screams her brother. "Yusei won!"
"It's over!" barks the emcee. "With an excellent combo, Yusei has seized a come-from-behind victory!"
"Alright! He made it to the second round." Himuro, though not one to cheer, is excited for his friend's triumph.
"Was there ever any doubt?" It's not really a question, more a statement. Tenpei is brought to life by the duel, eager to see more.
"That was a really heated battle!"
"Right?" his buddy responds. "Yusei is an incredible duelist."
His sister, as usual, has a snarky reply. "That's right, unlike a certain someone who lost in the first round."
"What are you talking about? Ruka, you were the one who lost! It doesn't count against my official record!" I chuckle at the siblings.
"You should be nice to one another. Be good while I'm gone, I have to go congratulate Yusei."
Himuro is a nonplussed, my plan going against Yusei's wishes. "Should you be going on your own?"
"It's fine, my goodness! I'll be alone for like two minutes tops."
As I'm rising from my seat, however, the announcer starts again. I decide to wait for his announcement before absconding.
"Everybody!" he yells. "There's a sudden turn of events! Godwin has just given a surprise announcement! Are the people who lost in the first round listening? There's going to be a second chance battle!"
I turn to my fellow adults, looking at their concerned faces. "Godwin again. You don't think...?" Yanagi finishes my thought.
"Yes! I think he's definitely up to something!"
"Maybe." Himuro is always on the fence it seems. "I don't know, but if he's involved it could be ugly." The lights are cut, drenching us in shadow.
"I will now announce the matchup of the second chance battle!The lucky participants are..." He pauses for effect. The emcee's face is displayed in the air, between pictures of all the contestants who lost their first match. "Though she lost to Bommer, Godwin recognizes that she has skills at only eleven years of age! There's no ceiling to her potential! The dueling angel who came down from the heavens! Miss Ruka-chan!" Althoug Rua stands to accept the duel, a spotlight shines on his sister.
"Uh oh." The statement jumps from my mouth. She looks unhappy at all the attention.
"What should I do?"
"What should you do?" repeats the cyan haired duelist. "Ruka is a participant, after all."
"But I'm Ruka!" the girl's twin argues. The oldest of us chimes in as the crowd chants her name.
"I dont want to duel... It makes me tired."
"But judging by the atmosphere, it'll be bad if Ruka doesn't participate."
I'm not taking that kind of negativity. "Now, hold on. Ruka is the one we're talking about." I turn to the girl, hand upon her shoulder. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to. We can leave right now and go see Yusei if you want, or I can walk you down to the duel field if you decide to participate. I'll support you no matter what." My eyes are locked on her, searching for any subtle cues to her mood. She's conflicted about she wants to do, but the final decision is hers.
Rua sits back down, crossing his arms behind his head and giving an exaggerated sigh. "You finally get the chance to battle Yusei, but you're going to let it go to waste."
"Rua." I give the boy a stare. "This is your sister's choice."
She thinks for a moment before she gives us her answer. "Fine. I'll duel this time and win. Afterwards, you take my place Rua."
"Really? That's great! I'll cheer you on!"
"But! It would be fine if you decide to back out, okay? No pressure." She's only eleven.
"Thanks, Pinoko." She glances at me shyly. "Will you... still walk me down?"
"Of course, Ruka."
Under the stage platform, she's lost a bit of her fire. "You're sure you want to do this? You can back out right now. We can go get ice cream or something and come back after."
"I... I'll be fine. Cheer for me?" She's walking to her spot. Soon the platfrom will rise up to stage level.
"You know it, kiddo. Knock 'em dead!" I pat her on the back. "And I hope the Duel Disk is okay. I, uh, I did the adjustments on that one. Yusei was the brains behind it though. Anyway, good luck." She grins at me.
"I'm sure it's great. Thank you."
It's only a few doors from the contestant's room from here. I leave her in the moments before they cue her introduction. The hallway is a bit chilly. When I find Yusei, I'll give him props for his victory, then go back to the stands. That's my plan, anyway.
I close the door behind me, shutting out the frigid air. It's warmer in here, likely from the computers and machines that generate heat. Only two people reside in the back room.
"Pinoko." Yusei's deep blues penetrate my seafoam orbs. "What are you doing here alone?"
"I didn't... really go alone?" He closes in on my position by the door, leaving Bommer resting on one of the two sofas. "I walked Ruka to the stage. Rua was really pushing her to compete, so..."
"I see. You wanted it to be her decision."
"Yes! Exactly, so then I came here because it's the closest." He takes my wrist in his hand, leading me to the sofa facing the holographic screen. Ruka's smiling face is in the center.
"You can stay here until the end of this, then I'll walk you to your seat," Yusei decides, pulling me down to sit next to him.
I sigh, but a smile finds its way to my face. "You're so..."
"You're so... protective. It's sweet." The other man in the room has chosen to speak, a small laugh coming out after. "This is your girlfriend, Yusei?"
I shake my head calmly in response. Most people jump to that conclusion. In any case, it's easy to want to protect her. There are so many threats that converge around us. It's because she stands by me that she's in need of protection in the first place.
"We're just friends." She's shy, not looking at the narrowed eyes of the room's other occupant. "Yusei is the kind of guy who protects his friends." Bommer takes it in stride, leaning over to offer his hand to shake. She takes it. "I'm Pinoko. Bommer, right? I appreciate what you said in you speech."
"Ah, yes. The members of the audience have no right to complain. A marker is such a trivial thing when it's between duelists. Well, here's hoping he keeps you safe. Is the girl up there also your friend?" His head twists in the direction of the screen. Ruka's duel is just beginning. The man she's up against is Professor Frank, a creepy guy with a sly smile. He's trying to play her head, get her in a mood so she can't focus on the duel. It's working well so far, she's totally caught up in his pace.
"She is. We both want to protect her too." The woman stares at the onscreen duel, fidgeting with her thumbs placed between her knees. She glances over at me for a moment. "She didn't want to duel at first. Ruka... she said dueling makes her tired, so I'm worried about her health, you know?"
"I think that's probably a good thing." I nod at the screen. "You care for her. She will be alright as long as she has friends to worry over her."
"Thanks... Oh! Did you see us in the stands? We were cheering really hard for you." She timidly smiles up at me. It's contagious.
"Yes. I heard everyone supporting me." I chortle, thinking back on the manner in which she cheered. "You were loud like always. I spoke with Enjo after the duel ended. He wasn't all that mad in the end about what you said. He said you have a "fiery spirit.""
"Bah! He wouldn't know fire if it rammed into him on the highway." She's silent for a few seconds before going on. "But... he did much better than the time we saw him from Satellite. He's become less short-sighted."
"I'll tell him you said that. He'll be overjoyed. In fact, I think he has a crush on you."
My statement sends Bommer into a fit, raucous laughter ringing from his lips. "You're funnier when she's around!"
There's truth to what he says. When her shining soul is close, I feel at ease. It's a weightless feeling. She makes life simple, fun. I'm like a different person when she's not by my side. Since I've brought her along to the city, she's changed as much as I have. We're made better by the other. It's an odd feeling, but I hold it close to my heart.
"I don't know about this duel... That professor gives me the creeps." She's viewing the screen now, the duel having begun in earnest. "I have a bad feeling, but it could be nothing." She isn't on the wrong track. Something is strange about this duel. Even with her field spell in place, the professor is pressuring her. No battles are allowed in the forest she played, but he's gotten around it by attacking her with effects, trap, and spell cards. He's used traps to make Kuribon into a punching back, slowly chipping away at her life points. He's able to battle with his monster, Id the Extreme Devil, is able to ressurect during the end phase after being destroyed.
On each of her turns, if Kuribon has anything other than its original attack and defense points, she takes damage due to his trap card Homeostasis. The young girl draws, taking 300 points of damage. She places Sunlight Unicorn on her field and equips it wiht Horn of the Unicorn, raising its attack points to 2500. It can only be in attack position due to her field spell.
Their monsters do battle, destroying the professor's Id the Extreme Devil. Sunlight Unicorn falls to her own field spell. Pinoko is no longer looking at her, choosing to grab my attention by pulling my sleeve. "Does she look okay to you?"
"Something's strange... She doesn't look like her normal self." I'm standing before I know it. "Stay with Bommer, I'll go up there-"
"No! She, she's my friend too. I want to help. I'll be safe if I'm with you." Her gaze is pleading, and I hope she's right. I hope I can protect her and Ruka both. But can I?
"Fine, let's go."
Yusei tugs me through the tunnel, our hands attached. We race to the side of the field, finally laying our eyes upon our minute companion. He stops me from setting foot on the field, his right arm coming to block my path. That's right. If we enter the field while the duel is ongoing, she'll be disqualified. "Ruka!" I cry.
Yusei also says her name, quietly, looking at both contestants. "They're both in that state. What happened to them?"
"I don't know." I whip my head from side to side. "Maybe... could it be related to Ruka's power? She told me she can speak to the spirits of Duel Monsters cards." Both of the duelists on the field are bizarrely silent, eyes glazed over. On the girls right forearm, however, there's a bit of red light eminating.
Yusei gasps, shocked at the revelation. "That light..."
I'm afraid of what this could mean for her. So many cruel people had hurt Yusei because of it... What could happen to her scared me. "You think it's... the same as yours? But she's just a child!"
"Maybe. I hope not, but..." He trails off, not wanting to verbalize what he suspects. "It's like they've lost conciousness." The professor speaks as though he's possessed.
"My turn."
It's like someone doused her with cold water. She blinks and her eyes are clear.
"Ruka's eyes are back to normal," says the man on my right.
I'm pacified, seeing her look aware. "Thank the stars..." She still has two monsters, having resurrected Sunlight Unicorn with the same equip spell and she has some traps set. With focus, she can come out on top.
"I flip over my card! Galley Trap Pixie Ring!" She's finally counter attacking. "When I have two or more monsters in attack position on my field, the opponent can't attack the monster with the fewest attack points! I won't let you attack Kuribon anymore."
"Then from my hand, I activate the continuous spell Wave of Ill Intent!" Professor Frank cackles, malice clear as day. "Every time a monster on my field is destroyed in battle, you take 300 points of damage! Id the Extreme Devil attacks Sunlight Unicorn! Violent Egoism!" It blows back at him, destroying his monster and dealing 300 points of damage. Sunlight Unicorn's attack was higher than Id's. His continuous spell takes effect, dealing the damage back at the girl.
He activates another magic card, Spirit Contamination. It allows him to destroy one spell or trap card on Ruka's field. He chooses Pxie Ring, meaning Kuribon is no longer safe from his attacks. He ends his turn, his monster resurrecting once more.
Ruka draws, earning herself another 300 points of damage due to Immortal Homeostasis. "I set one card. Then, from my hand, I activate the spell card Healing Wind! For every monster on the field, I regain 200 life points! I end my turn!" Yes! She's back to 1500 life points!
"Id the Extreme Devil attacks Kuribon! Feel agony, Kuribon!" The man continues to show his true colors. "Violent Egoism!"
"I won't let you! I flip over my trap card Fairy Wind! All faceup spell and trap cards on the field, other than this card itself, are destroyed!" Ruka's trap frees Kuribon of it's restraints.
"Yes!" I can't stop the small cheer, I'm so happy for the girl. I don't know what's happening to her, but as long as she can fight, I'll stand by her. Yusei's eyes go tender, sneaking a glance at me, but swiftly return to the field. The field magic starts to fade and the forest disappears entirely. However, the card has another effect.
"Both players take 400 points of damage for every card destroyed due to this card's effect. Since the equip spell is gone, Kuribon's attack points return to 300! Let's continue the battle." Ruka has only 300 life points remaining.
"Even if it's back to 300, what can you do?" The professor attacks with Id, seeking to destroy Kuribon.
"Kuribon's monster effect. When Kuribon is attacked, I can return it to my hand. Your monster deals no battle damage, and you gain life points equal to the monster's attack points!" His life points are up to 4400 now, even more than he started with. "My set card Oberon's Prank!" What? She's going to bring both of their life points to zero! Why?
"This negates the effect that would have restored life points, and both players take damage equal to the amount that would have been restored." I have to remind myself that it doesn't matter why she chose it. Ruka's choice wasn't to lose, it was to not let him win. This duel is over wihtout a clear winner.
"Ruka!" I'm at her side in an instant, kneeling to look her in the face. She looks at me briefly before turning her eyes to Professor Frank who writhes on the deck of the field.
"Is he okay?" she says aloud, smiling when he starts to stand up. "Thank goodness."
"Forget him. Ruka, are you alright?" I grab her shoulders and force her to face me. She says nothing, just falls into my chest. "Ruka?!"
"I've got her." Yusei is behind her, hoisting the girl into his arms. I grin at the sight of him, thinking he'd make a good father someday. Wait! Stop it, this is not the time, girl! "Come on." I shake off the thought, following them off the stage.
When I'm near, Ruka jumps from Yusei's arms. "I'm fine. I can walk by myself." She beams at the both of us. It's impossible not to reciprocate.
"Do what you want," Yusei says with a smile. The crowd shouts her name. She's quite popular, turning to wave to them.
"It's not everyday Yusei offers to carry you, you know. You should take advantage!" I call after her, but she only tosses me another smile over her shoulder as she leaves. After a moment, the two of us follow in her tracks.
"You think about me carrying you?"
"Well- I mean, no! I just, if someone was going to carry me anywhere..."
He laughs, making me shake my head. Of course he's just teasing. Or is this flirting? Whatever it is, it makes my stomach flip.
The coolness from the corridor recedes as we step into the outside air of the stands. Our seats are several more rows down. Ruka has already made it, finding her place amongst our friends. "Please don't run off again. I don't think we can trust the organizers of this event."
His attitude somewhat reminds me of my late brother. He had strict rules about me leaving the house when he was on the job. He'd never let me leave the house by myself for fear of what I'd get into. I've been prone to criminal attacks for as far back as I remember.
"I understand," I say finally, acquiescing to his plea. "If I come to see you again, I promise to bring someone along."
"Thank you, Pinoko."
We near the others in our group, Rua's complaints carrying down the aisle. "Ruka! Why did you intentionally go for a draw?" His little fists are in the air, clearly frustrated.
"It's better than losing," she replies. "I wouldn't have been able to win anyway."
"I told you kids to be good while I was gone, not throw a fit." I'm only teasing, knowing they would never stop bickering. That's the life of a sibling. She grasps her own forearm looking thoughtful.
"Ruka, do you feel sick?" Yanagi says in concern. Tenpei throws in his own worry.
"Yeah. You were also dazed during the duel."
"No, I'm fine."
"Pinoko and I will take you two home today."
"Why not? There's safety in numbers." I'm quick to agree with the D-Wheeler, not wanting them to be alone on their way to the Tops.
"Really?" Rua is elated to have more time with Yusei. "Then stay with us tonight."
He doesn't speak in time, losing his chance when the announcer starts his auditory performance.
"Everybody listen! The action-packed first day of the tournament is now complete! These are the matchups for tomorrow's semi-final!" Four faces flit upon the floating screens. Yusei, Aki, and Bommer's faces are tiled across the stadium, as well as another I don't recognize. Yusei will be up against Bommer. "Today's excitement will continue in tomorrow's duels! Goodbye!"
"He's a tough opponent," says the former pro duelist to Yusei.
"I thought you two were getting along earlier. It's too bad you have to go against him." I don't love the thought, Bommer is somebody who stood up for Yusei without knowing anything about him. "He's a good guy."
"You're both right," Yusei breathes in response. Himuro has more to say.
"If it's going to be a riding duel, I'm looking forward to finding out what kind of D-Wheel Bommer rides."
Rua cuts in suddenly, rising from his seat. "Actually, you go home first. I just remembered I have to run an errand."
"What errand?" asks his twin, but he can't come up with an answer.
"Um, what was the errand? I'll try to remember." Without saying any more, he's off down the steps and leaving us all staring after him.
"How can you an errand that you can't remember?" I ask, bewildered by his actions.
"You can't." My protector is on the same page, but he decides to let him go rather than look for him.
Yusei rides his D-Wheel very slowly next to Ruka and I. We're almost to the twin's home and still no sign of him. We board the elevator to the top floor, big enough to fit Yusei's bike and all.
Sitting at the dining table, I've been abusing my bottom lip for the better part of an hour. The skin has already split in multiple places, torn from battering it between my teeth. "You... you think maybe Rua just got lost?" I'm hoping it could be something so mundane as that.
"I don't think so, but he is very late." Ruka lifts the cover to check on the food in front of her. "He'll miss the hamburgers, which is his favorite food." Yusei looks up at the wall clock, causing me to do the same.
"It-it's almost a quarter past eight. Where could he be at this hour?" I'm dithering now, truly concerned that Rua may be in trouble. Yusei is standing before I finish the thought.
"I'll look for him. Something might have happened to him."
"I'm going too."
"I'll go with you."
Ruka and I speak in unison, down to the second, rising out of our chairs at once. Yusei shakes his head, giving us a firm rejection. "No. Ruka, you need to stay and rest. Pinoko will watch over you."
The girl smiles giving off a healthy energy. "My body is fine now. I'll feel more sick if I have to stay here and wait, and I don't need a babysitter."
"Hey, is that all I am to you? Well, I can't just let you wander the streets at night, so I guess I'll join you." I pat the girls head, her bright smile bringing out my own. "Yusei, you take your D-Wheel and we'll search the streets together."
"I understand." The man finally gives up on the fight. Rua is important to us too, he must know that. "But don't overexert yourselves and stay together."
"Okay!"
"Yes."
The three of us rendevous in an alley by the twins' home. We've searched high and low in the surrounding area and found neither hide nor hair of the boy. Ruka was getting more and more frenzied with each place we checked. She needs a calming presence and I try my hardest to be that for her.
Yusei speeds around a corner and into the meeting spot, stopping right before us and relieving himself of his helmet. "Did you find him?" he asks at our approach.
"No, we didn't." Ruka shakes her head.
"Yusei, we've been at least half a mile out from here and... nothing," I add. We put a pin in the discussion as Yusei recieves a call on his D-Wheel. I slip away from Ruka's side to view the screen. We've been attached at the hip for the last hour at least.
He presses a button on the console, Saiga's rough countenance taking up most of the space. The two of need some good news from him right now.
"Saiga?" The man on my left questions.
"Yusei, Pinoko, I've just arrived at your hideout in Sattelite."
The blue eyed mechanic takes a sharp breath in. "Is everyone okay?" I'm hopeful that the brunette has found our friends unharmed, but he doesn't seem to come bearing any news of them. He shakes his head sadly.
"Sorry you two, but no one's here."
I'm nearly shaking with the knowledge. "That's not good. What happened?"
"I don't know," the image of our friend confesses. "However, I've hacked into the network and there's no indication that security captured them. I'll continue to look for them. I can't risk continuing this transmission... I'll contact you if I learn anything."
"Thanks," comes Yusei's reply as the man salutes us and ends the call. The girl at our side is quiet for a moment, allowing us to digest what we've heard.
"Pinoko, Yusei, your friends are also missing?"
"Yeah." He doesn't say much else, just staring off in thought.
"Yusei, Pinoko, look!" I turn my head to where the girl points. An oversized silhouette inhabits the dark side alley opposite us. It creeps into the light, revealing its identity. "Rua!" she shouts for her brother who is slung over Bommer's shoulder, completely limp. All is silent, Bommer waiting at the edge of the alleyway. The tension has risen considerably.
"Why do you have him?" There is a harsh edge to Yusei's voice.
"I'll explain later." The overtly muscular male shifts his eyes to the young twin on his arm. "He's not hurt. He's just sleeping."
"I'll trust you on this for now since you've been so respactle up to this point." I address the man who's easily twice my height. "But if I find a hair out of place... Well, I'm sure you can guess where I'm headed with this."
"Yes ma'am."
He doesn't explain any further and we don't probe him for answers. If Bommer says he'll explain later, then I'll believe what he says.
Bommer has placed Rua in his bed for me, stepping back and letting me get closer to the boy. I'm smoothing the sheets over Rua's sleeping form when a breathy snicker sounds from behind me. "Think this is funny, do you?" I wonder without turning around. I pull she covers up to Rua's chin. Nice and toasty.
"No. I think you'll make a wonderful mother. Looking at you now, I could almost believe he's yours."
"We don't look anything alike. Hair and eye color are way off."
"Not by blood, no."
A/N: I literally just googled actual cheers for cheerleaders and rewrote them with Yusei's name. I think this makes the most sense in the circumstances. I imagine Ruka would no longer do cheer since she's sickly in the anime, but I like to imagine her as a younger kid wanting to be on a cheerleading squad and not being able to because she's unable to leave home much. If she were teaching some to Pinoko, I think they would be pretty bland ones. I can't imagine her teaching Pinoko anything really creative since in my head she no longer participates in cheer.
To the guest who reviewed chapter 13: "More great chapters?" You flatter me! / I work really hard to make my readers happy, so I'm glad you feel that way. I guess it's just hard to picture Yusei as a lovey-dovey person when he always looks so... cool? And to me it makes a little more sense for Pinoko to make the first move... It's a hurdle I'll have to jump at some point, but I think Yusei is more reserved than that. Thank you again just for leaving a review! I'm so happy~
