Ruka doesn't make it to couch before she drops. Although I warned her earlier, she went and overworked herself during our search. Laying her body out across the cushions is straightforward. The girl weighs even less than Pinoko. I drift into thought, slipping a blanket over her person.
It's been less than a week and the Satellite woman has become fiercely protective over the twins. Ruka's observation outside the duel field before its destruction was closer to the truth than he knew. The more time we spend with them the more attached she gets. Thinking back, she'd been the same around Rally.
There were days I would come back with a pile a scrap only to find the two of them cleaning the D-Wheel or playing with Rocky. Even on that first night, she jumped into action when Rally was at risk, banging out a code straight from memory to scramble the marker signal. How she does it, I don't know.
"I'll explain it in a moment, mama bear." The deep voice of Bommer resonates at my back.
"Fine. I can wait a little longer but don't push your luck." The lilting, high voice of the woman I call friend is twisted with suspicion. She's gotten snippier for each minute she waits, eager to know why Rua was out cold. Turning to them both, I hear the rush of breath from her lips. "And please stop calling me that."
Bommer lets out a laugh, relocating to the pool deck where we congregate. Facing the surface of the water, the sparkling reflection of the night greets us.
"Start talking, Bommer," Pinoko orders. She's growing more irate at every passing second. It's much unlike her usual self. She only ever uses this kind of tone when she's feeling threatened.
"He was sleeping in my garage." It isn't what either of us were suspecting. She loses her steam almost instantaneously. "The security system activated and he was trapped inside. He probably came to spy on my D-Wheel."
"I see." It makes me worry for the boy. What else might he do in his misguided attempts to aid me? I pray he learns from this experience. The commotion that arises is entirely from the woman on my left.
"WHAT?! What in the world was he- Why would he think- Ugh! I'm going to rip him a new one when he wakes up!" Her feet stamp on the pavement, delicate hands curling into fists. "How could put himself in such a dangerous situation! He's lucky it wasn't rigged with anything deadly!"
"Don't punish him. I know that you didn't order him to spy. You're not a sneaky person." The muscle bound duelist is speaking directly to me. "That kid likes you. He did it because he was thinking of you."
Pinoko won't let this go undisputed, however. "Still, he put himself at risk. If he were to get hurt..." She brushes off the thought. "In any case, I'm grateful that you brought him back safe. Thank you, Bommer."
"It's no trouble at all," he replies. "When I see those kids, they remind me of my younger brother and sister that I left behind in my hometown. The way you two pick up after them, it's clear that you want to keep them safe."
"You have siblings?" I question the other male.
"Yes, they're at about the same age." He walks a few paces toward the water. "You can't see the stars from this city. Yusei, why do you fight?"
The answer is ready on my tongue without hesitation. "I fight for my hometown." Satellite. First it was Rally, Nervin, Blitz, Taka, and Pinoko, but the list grows every day. Himuro. Yanagi. Ruka. Rua. Saiga.
"I see. Then we're alike."
"You also fight for your hometown?"
The dark skinned D-Wheeler nods. "I came from the other side of the world. According to the Inca legends, my people are the descendants of those who served the people of the stars." I'm surprised by his admittance. Pinoko looks to me intently.
"The people of the stars? Yusei..."
I say what we are both thinking. "Does that mean you also know the story of the Crimson Dragon?"
"Yes. After so long, the Crimson Dragon is now trying to revive here. Director Godwin wants to use its power to lead the world in a better direction."
"You really buy the crap he's selling?" the woman's words are harsh but her voice is soft. She will respect his reason to fight, even if she doesn't like it.
"Yusei, Pinoko, I know you understand because you also came from a poor background. My village suffered constantly from poverty and discrimination. The Director promised that if I helped him, he will rebuild my village."
"Bommer, don't trust him." The woman is quick to back me up.
"Please, he's not a good man."
"We're alike, but our stances are different." Bommer raises his head to stare into my eyes. "Neither of us will waver from what we believe in."
"That's why we'll duel."
He starts to pass us, but stops at my side for but a moment. "It was good to find out you're a duelist with honor. But don't forget. I'm going to win. That's my mission." He leaves us. Our next meeting will be in the arena.
"Ha," scoffs the other Satellite, standing near enough to rest her head on my arm, a silent comfort. Comfort... For me or for her? "You'll show him. There's one star you can see from the city, you know."
"Really? Which star?" She's beaming as I take the bait. I can't help it when it comes to her, the simple joy she recieves from it never gets old.
"The shooting star of Satellite. And he's right here with me."
"Pinoko... Yusei... I'm sorry about yesterday." With us in the back room is Rua. I've patiently sat by the laptop while he spews his apology, foot tapping at the speed of light. There's nothing even on the screen, but I'll explode on the child if I speak to him right now. "I..." The blue eyed D-Wheeler interrupts him.
"I know. Don't say anything."
The boy argues. "But even Pinoko is mad! Why aren't you?" I remain mum, catching the blue orbs with my pale greens for a second, then return to my listless staring at the blank screen.
My protector is now my translator. He speaks in my place.
"She's upset because you went into a dangerous place without telling anybody. She was sick with worry over you. Ruka too."
"I..!" The boy nearly shouts, but stops himself. "I understand. I'm sorry, Pinoko."
"However," the man continues. "Whether I win or lose, you have to apologize to Bommer after the duel." I'm nodding my head in agreement. Yusei is such a good person. Sharp as a tack too. I lucked out finding him.
"Right! I promise!" At the affirmative response, Yusei speeds out of the bay and onto the course. "I'll be good from now on, Pinoko!" Looking to his face, a tender hope shines in his deep forest greens.
"I can't stay mad at you." I open my arms to him. "Come here." He does so, sprinting into my embrace. I hold him to me, nose in his hair. He really is nearly my height, only needing to stand upon his tip toes to be equal. "We couldn't find you and we looked everywhere. Do you understand why I was mad? I was scared."
Pulling back, I level him with a glassy stare. He nods vigourously, not faring much better with tears starting to collect at his ducts, but he whips them off. "Y-yeah."
"I can't stop you, Rua... But I want you to be safe." I hope even a small bit of this experience sticks with him. I don't want him getting involved in anything dangerous if I can help it, but that won't always be the case, I fear.
"I'll be more careful! I'll always come back, okay?"
"Don't worry! I'll always come back to you! You're my precious little sister!"
The tears I'd been willing away are spurred from me.
"Wha- I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you cry!" He jumps to action, handing me a tissue from a counter nearby.
"It's okay, Rua." I'm grinning when I look back up to the boy, tissue in hand. "I'm happy!"
We were calm once we return to the stands. The fresh air helps to bring the emotions back to normal levels, cooling my head greatly. Rua's small hand is gripped in mine, keeping me close as we descend the aisle to sit with our friends. They're making a bit of a ruckus and the duel hasn't even started yet. "Ruka!" The boy tugs my hand in an effort to get to his sister.
"Rua, Pinoko," his twin points to the stage where the duel takes place. "Look there!"
"Oh my stars!" I start at the sight of it. A gnarled metal thing stalks the track, snarling like a wild animal. The D-Wheel is a trike, it's face accented with chrome over the profile of a horned beast. The rider pilots the machine with skill. "Kill it with fire!"
"That's..." Rua begins. "So what I saw was a D-Wheel."
"Right! Just a D-Wheel..." I chuckle, feelish sheepish. "Okay, enough dallying. Himuro, move your legs!" The duelists are just now taking their places at the starting line as we seat ourselves.
The Incan duelist starts taunting at the instant he arrives. "I might accidentally squash your D-Wheel." The metal monstrosity is raised at least two and a half feet off the ground, three wheels enabling a high suspension while still able to make the turns.
"Just because a D-Wheel is bigger doesn't mean that it's better." The shorter man has his own taunt in the chamber. The pom-poms are placed in my hands this time, Ruka smiling up at me. Ruka! What a sweet girl!
"Yusei! Do your best!" I'm reinvigorated by the younger girl's support. "And it's all about how you use it, Bummer! Skill beats size!" I stick my tongue out at the man, but I start feeling childish almost immediately. It had taken me a good minute to think of the "Bummer" insult. What am I doing? I should just be cheering for Yusei, but I got caught up in his taunting. Shame on me for having my mind in the gutter.
If Yusei can stay calm in a situation like this, so can I. I'll keep on cheering. "Yusei! Clean his clock!"
Bommer dueled skillfully, having summoned his ace monster by his second turn. His first attack took away Yusei's only monster, all of his speed counters, and more than half of his life points.
The whole stadium thinks he has Yusei on the ropes. Even my companions are fetting over the possible outcomes. Rua bickers with Himuro over the man's false prediction. Blocking out the white noise, I key in on the close up of Yusei's face. His visored orbs have gone from their natural brady blue to a shade matching the depths of the ocean. He's laser focused and I'm positive his plan has just come together. I love the look on his face when the gears are turning in that pretty head of his.
He summons Fortress Warrior from his hand, taking 800 points of damage from Giant Bomber Air Raid on Bommer's field and having his monster destroyed. The monster's effect is a tough puzzle to crack, dealing damage and destroying the card once a turn if Yusei sets or summons a card. It's a pickle for sure, but the smaller D-Wheeler must power through to win.
He's passed by the Incan duelist and activates a speed spell. The one he chose is Zero Reverse, allowing him to ressurect Fortress Warrior with zero attack points. His plan materializes behind my eyes when he special summons One Shot Booster.
"Rally's card!" I nearly choke up thinking about the young lad. "He's going to destroy it by releasing One Shot Booster," I say to my friends, never turning my head from the battle. If I were to look at Rua, I would only see the sweet face of Rally staring back, marred by the gold tattoo that we now have in common.
"How do you know? Himuro was wrong last time," the green eyed boy wonders aloud, startling a soft giggle from my lips.
"I've seen more of Yusei's duels than any one of you. He's a sentimental duelist." I'm grinning again thinking back to his dramaticism.
"Fortress Warrior attacks Giant Bomber Air Raid!" Yusei declares from the field.
"Why would you do that with zero attack points?" Bomber speaks through clenched teeth.
"One Shot Booster's monster effect. By releasing it, your monster that battles against my monster is destroyed."
I stretch my arm behind Ruka, nudging Rua in a playful manner. "I told you so."
The larger D-Wheeler still tries to come out on top. "However, due to battle damage, you'll take 300 points of damage!" The blue eyed man meets his challenge.
"Once a turn, Fortress Warrior can make battle damage become zero. I release One Shot Booster."
The Incan man hasn't run out of tricks yet. "I activate the continuous trap Chariot Pile!" Menacing spikes spring from his wheels looking all too sharp. "Until I accomplish my misson, I can't lose to you! My turn!"
With 300 life points left, Yusei better have something up his sleeve. The Yusei I know always has a contingency plan in times like this.
"Chariot Pile's effect activates! Once a turn, you take 800 points of damage!" Bommer is acting odd, inching his way closer to Yusei's tires. The tire shredders look so sharp that they may as well have been real. Fear coursing through me at the thought, not wanting to believe it's anything but Solid Vision. "You can negate this effect by releasing a monster. What will you do, Yusei?"
"I release Fortress Warrior to negate the damage!" The man's blue eyes are locked on the spike belt, Fortress Warrior negating it not a moment too late.
"You managed to block it by releasing a monster. I end my turn."
Yusei's turn begins with him summoning Junk Synchron, using its monster effect to special summon Speed Warrior from his graveyard. By now everyone knows what he's setting up for. "Junk Synchron tunes Speed Warrior! The stars come together to call forth a new power! Become the path that lights the way! Synchro summon!" There's that dramaticism again. "Come forth! Junk Warrior! Attack Bommer directly! Scrap Fist!"
"Not good enough, Yusei! Chariot Pile has another effect!" Bommer cuts in. "When your monster attacks me directly, I can pay 800 life points to negate that attack and destroy it!"
"Ah! Just when he's managaed to summon Junk Warrior..." whines the green haired boy.
"Have faith in him, Rua. This is when Yusei needs out support the most." I'm lifting my sign up again in preparation, smiling at him.
"I set one card and end my turn."
"Go, Yusei! Flatten him!" I hold one end of the sign, the other gripped by the boy, strecthing it over his sister's head. She doesn't look pleased.
"Do your best, Yusei!" Rua cheers as well.
"It's my turn." The long haired D-Wheeler draws a card and places it on his field, a round ball-like bomb appearing at his side. "I summon Black Bomber! When this card is successfully summoned, I can special summon a level four dark attribute monster from my graveyard in defense position! Appear, Trap Reactor RR! Level three Black Bomber tunes level four Trap Reactor RR!"
"A synchro summon?"
"That's right! You're not the only one who uses synchro monsters! Appear, Dark Dive Bomber! Dark Dive Bomber attacks you directly!"
Yusei flips over a trap card in defense. "Synchro Spirits! By removing a Synchro Monster in my graveyard from play, I can special summon the monsters used as synchro material from my graveyard. I remove Junk Warrior from Play! Ressurect, Junk Synchron and Speed Warrior!" The two monsters are summoned in defense position, but their defense points are too low to challenge Bommer's monster. Junk Warrior takes the attack, but reappears from the smoke.
"What?" shouts Bommer. "Why can't I destroy it?"
"By removing Shield Warrior in my graveyard from play, I can prevent it from being destroyed due to battle," Yusei rejects the attack, but he isn't yet out of the woods.
"However, Chariot Pile's effect now activates! Once a turn, it deals 800 points of damage!" As the spikes near the blue eyed duelist, he releases Speed Warrior to negate it. "Then I activate the trap card Ultimate Mine! Due to this card, I special summon an Ultimate Mine Token!"
Beside Ruka, her brother pipes up with a question. "What's that token?"
"It's a monster that deals 800 points of damage to the opponent when it's destroyed." Tenpei turns to us at Himuro's response.
"By releasing a monster, Dark Dive Bomber's monster effect deals the opponent damage equal to 200 times the level of the released monster." He's clearly worried about the duel's result.
"Ultimate Mine Token is level 10," Himuro says in addition. Rua has trouble reaching the total calculation.
"That means... Umm..."
"It's 2000 points of damage, Rua. Have you learned your multiplication tables yet?" I wonder at him.
"2000 points?!" Yanagi and Rua screech while Bommer's turn ends.
"It's Yusei's turn again. We have to have faith that he can turn this around!"
"Pinoko, how can you be so blind? This is a bad situation." Himuro is the realist of the group. I send him a sharp look.
"It's not blind faith. I know what kind of pickle he's in." I reign in the harsh words that rest on my tongue, calming myself. "I trust Yusei because I know how much skill he and... He's the first person that didn't leave, so I want to trust in him." I have to trust in him, it's no longer a choice. I thought it was impossible for anyone to keep me around, to even want to have me along. Now I believe that Yusei can do impossible things.
"I'm betting on this card." The red helmet flits onscreen as he starts his move. "I summon Tuning Supporter!"
"Oh my stars! It's adorable!" I can't help but shout. When I see the look from Himuro and Rua, I decide to cheer to change the attention from me to Yusei. "The bigger they are, the harder they fall! Take him down, Yusei!"
"Level three Junk Synchron tunes level one Tuning Supporter! Synchro summon! Come, Arms Aid!"
A red clawed mechanical arm appears on Yusei's field, sparking Bommer's taunting again. "What can you do with 1800 attack points?"
"When Tuning Supporter is used to synchro summon, I get to draw one card from my deck." This will be Yusei's last draw. This card determines the winner.
"Yusei!" All of our friends shout the same around me.
He draws for the last time and a minute smile forms on his lips. "Yes!" I shout although I know my voice won't reach him.
Rua says under his breath, "Yusei smiled." I nod to the twin.
"Well, he loves dueling. He's facing a tough opponent and he's just drawn the best card for the predicament he's in. Yusei believes in his cards, so he'll keep drawing until they answer him." My smile has spread to him.
"I activate the speed spell Synchro Return. When I have five or more speed counters, I can special summon a synchro monster that was removed from play. Come forth, Junk Warrior!" The lavender robot rises again on Yusei's field. "Then I activate Arms Aid's effect! Arms Aid equips onto a synchro monster and increases its attack points by 1000!" After that, Junk Synchron has risen its attack points to 3300 and Dark Dive Bomber's attack points remain at 2600. "Junk Warrior! Power Gear Fist!"
The battle is bright, Bommer's monster sending off shots but to no avail. Dark Dive Bomber is destroyed easily, making Bommer's life points lower to 1900.
"Next is Arms Aid's effect. When the equipped monster destroys a monster in battle, you take damage equal to the destroyed monster's attack points!" A giant hand reaches out and hits Bommer, zeroing his life points. The Solid Vision won't cause him any harm, but it looks like it's hurt his pride. His D-Wheel spins out and is dodged by Yusei who rides past. Bommer tears himself out of the seat before it tumbles over. The sign I brought from home is held high, all six of us cheering for our friend.
"Yusei! Amazing!" I have a hand cupped around my mouth, the other holding the sign's dowel.
"Huh?" I hear Tenpei mutter. "Even though the duel's over, Chariot Pile hasn't vanished." I refocus on the D-Wheel, shaken. He's right! Those spikes aren't Solid Vision.
"What?" I squeak out. "That dirty...! Those tire shredders are the real thing!" I'm out of my seat in an instant, passing my sign to the children. I'm definitely having a word with him.
"It's over!" declares the emcee. "Satellite's shooting star Yusei Fudo versus black storm Bommer! The winner of the Duel of Fortune Cup semifinals is Yusei Fudo!" The man he speaks of rides up to Bommer. His figure is kneeling on the ground, struggling to stand back up.
"The next battle will be-" It sounds like the channel on the PA system was switched, emitting a new voice. Bommer!
"Yusei, well done. I lost." the Incan D-Wheeler's voice reaches every inch of the arena. "I lost! However my mission isn't over!"
"Mission?" Rua is clueless. He was asleep last night, but I know something is very wrong here. I almost trip down the stairs in my haste. "Pinoko, wait!" I leave them behind me. The look in Bommer's eyes... I've known men who are desperate and that's what I see there. When you're in a dark place, you'll do just about anything to get what you think you want. Bommer is in that kind of place now and that makes him a danger.
I can still hear his voice as I burst through the halls. "I planned to win this tournament so that during the ceremonies, I could publicly reveal what Godwin did. However, that's no longer possible. Therefore, I'll get my revenge now!" My shoes squeak againt the polished linoleum. I've always been agile. My brother didn't want me to leave home when he was gone, so I had to be quick about it. He would have tanned my hide if he found me missing when he got back from work. Every step I take is a prayer that Yusei, the closest to him, can get out of dodge.
"My village was completely destroyed!" I pass T.V.s in the hall, each repeating the same image. A cozy village gone up in smoke, totally barren. "This is my village! My hometown! In order to ressurect the Crimson Dragon, Godwin used my village as a testing ground! And my village was..." I'm shoving people out of my way, running by another screen that shows the town's eradication. Bright lights raze the village to the ground.
I push through the doors of the back tunnel. Just a few more minutes! The distance felt longer than ever before.
"All the villagers are missing, including my brother and sister. Yusei! Jack! Don't trust him! You can't let Godwin have the Crimson Dragon!"
My terror flares when he stops. I hurl myself at the doors, tearing through the hall of garages. The last obstacle is the roll up door. It would have given me trouble any other day, but it miraculously works the first time, receding into the ceiling. "No!" Tears start to collect on my lashes when I look ahead.
Bommer and Yusei are airborne.
"Bommer!" I call after the man who speeds away on his trike. He plans to do something he can't take back.
"I will settle things with him with my own hands!" No. He's going to try and kill him! "For my hometown friends! For my dear brother and sister! For this sadness to never happen again!" With that, he rides onto the wall of the track, using the lip just as Jack had during the entrance ceremony. He goes further, though, aiming for the viewing platform in the sky where Godwin watches.
"Bommer!" I rev the engine, shooting off around the other side of the track. I jump the lip, meeting him midair to stop him from dirtying his hands.
"What?" His eyes bulge seeing me. The clash is grand and clanging, my front wheel spinning and disarming Bommer of his stingers before we enter a freefall.
The machines save us from injury, crashing to the ground with us on board. I wince, my wheels making contact with the track. My balance is off, toppling my bike over to the concrete. "No! Yusei!" Pinoko's soprano sounds from not so far off.
Bommer rises first.
"Yusei!" The larger man grabs me by the collar, pressing me against my bike. "Why did you stop me?! Why?!"
"Bommer, I can't forgive him either. But if you try to settle things by force, then you're no better than him." I harden my stare at the man. He had left me no choice but to stop him.
"Let go! Let him go!" Pinoko draws nearer, terror evident in her tone. Bommer releases me, leaning back to release a scream from the depths of his soul. The woman is tearing through the track to reach me, legs buckling and landing at my side. She leans over me, her delicate fingers gripping the sides of my face. "Y-Yusei, are you alright?" She speaks as if she has no breath to spare. I nod, her face curtained by copper tones against the blue of the sky captivating me in the moment. Droplets hit my cheeks. A few of them land on my visor and blur her image.
"I'm okay. Please don't cry." I swipe a thumb across her cheek, a tear soaking into the worn leather of my glove. I wipe another off, smoothing my finger over her marker. She lets out a choked breath, starting to break up in my hands.
"Y-you're th-the one who almost go-got hurt. Don't d-do that ag-again." The most I can do is wipe the tears as they come. "Don-don't do that to me! Don't leave me like that!" I take the hits, her small fists slamming against my chest with no real weight behind them.
Laying against the toppled D-Wheel, I wrap her in my arms. She fits into them like the missing peice of a puzzle. "I'm sorry. I won't leave you behind if I can help it." She sobs harder into my shirt, crushed against the plane of my chest.
