Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Faithshipping One-Shot Collection

Chapter 5

Become

A/N: With Valentine's Day just a week away, I figured I'd write something for the holiday. There won't be any smut in this chapter and it's more focused on how one celebrates Valentine's Day rather than the traditional romanticism that's involved with the holiday. Remember, it doesn't matter who you spend Valentine's Day with; whether it be with family, friends and/or significant others, as long as you enjoy it with those that you love, and who love you. I still haven't grown away from my tendency to name chapter titles after songs/albums. The name of this chapter comes from the song of the same name from a band known as The Goo Goo Dolls and their album "Let Love In".

February 14th, 20XX

Valentine's Day. A day to give gifts to those that you love, and celebrate with loved ones. A day that couples around the world participate in, each country with their own unique traditions. Take Japan for example. Unlike most western cultures, Valentine's Day in Japan is usually celebrated with the women giving presents - most commonly chocolate - to their family, friends and significant others. The gifts that are given to their friends and family are usually more "formal" than those given to the people that they like, or are in a relationship with. Whereas the gifts given to their SOs are more "personal" in nature, such as giving away homemade chocolate, rather than store bought.

It isn't until March 14th that gifts are reciprocated to the women of the relationship; more commonly referred to as "White Day". The day was so named because the color of white is considered a symbol of purity, and is closely associated with an innocent kind of "teen love" in their culture. On White Day, men are expected to present women with gifts roughly two or three times the value of what they received a month earlier. But that is neither here nor there, for now. Why is all of this important? Because a certain, red-haired young woman is currently dreading what is to come from today of all days.

Akiza never cared for Valentine's Day, not since the day she received her powers and the Mark of the Crimson Dragon. When she was a little girl, like most her age she was infatuated with the idea of a prince charming sweeping her off her feet. A knight in shining armor, if you will. However, after receiving her "gift" or "curse", all she wanted was for someone to take her away. As she grew older, she was shunned and feared by all those around her. Her friends, peers, and even her parents were terribly frightened of what the young girl could potentially do, and so she was stifled and isolated, and eventually her love was transformed into hate, resentment and anger.

By the time she was "recruited" into the Arcadia Movement, any fantasies of a knight or a prince in shining armor coming to save her from herself and her wretched mark were long since buried deep beneath her hatred and anger. That is until she met him. Yusei Fudo. Satellite's Shooting Star, and the most insufferable, infuriatingly kind, and most forgiving person she had ever met. At first, she admittedly did not like him. More specifically what he represented and what he said. The words that she had longed to hear from anyone when she was younger, to tell her that she wasn't a freak, or a monster. That she had a purpose in this life, more to her than just being a puppet on someone's strings. She was her own person, and that she could do whatever she wanted. They were everything she had hoped to hear, but she believed it was far too late. It wasn't until nearly the end of their conflict with the Dark Signers that she took his words to heart, broke free from her shackles, and was born anew.

If her younger self had to describe Yusei, she'd definitely believe him to be a knight in shining armor. But as she is now? There's a quote from a man that lived in the western part of the world that she feels describes Yusei perfectly; "The noir hero is a knight in blood-caked armor. He's dirty and he does his best to deny the fact that he's a hero the whole time". As she's learned from those closest to him, he's just a guy that tries to do the right thing.

Before she can continue with her thoughts on the raven haired, blue-eyed signer, she sees a couple of students, a young boy and a young girl about the same age as her nearby. She watches as the young girl seems to be a little nervous, but appears resolute, and hands the boy a box of what Akiza can only assume is a box of chocolates. She turns away from them, giving the couple their privacy, and ignoring the other student couples around her, and makes her way to the doors of Duel Academy, exiting the building.

Once outside, Akiza finds a resting spot waiting for the twins, while she wrestles with her thoughts. Although her faith in all things that are good within the world has been restored, her opinions on "what is love" and "how to love" aren't as clear as she once believed. Even now, she still cares little for Valentine's Day, and if it wasn't for this stupid holiday she most likely wouldn't have her mind so preoccupied with these thoughts.

Sighing heavily, Akiza groans as she thinks, "Why can't I get these thoughts out of my head? Of course I know there's different types of love. Friendly, familial, romantic, etc. But why am I thinking of such things? Is it because today of all days just HAD to be Valentine's Day? Or is it because I keep seeing all of these couples wherever I go? Do I subconsciously or unconsciously secretly desire to have that kind of connection with someone? Why, though? It's not like I need to be in a relationship to find happiness. That's just absurd. Or am I thinking about this because I'd wish, or want someone to put in the effort to try to give me a gift? To be someone else's Valentine's?"

As this thought crosses her mind, her brain conjures up an image of herself sitting in a garage as a young man works on his duel runner. Sitting next to him, she just watches him as he works, enjoying the silent ambience between them. Before her mind could go any further down that particular rabbit hole, Akiza remembers where she's at, and blushes up a storm, her cheeks reddening to the same color as her hair. But as quickly as it comes, it disappears as her thoughts and fears of self doubt and melancholy spring up. "Get it together Akiza. There's no way that'll ever happen. He'll never like someone like me anyway. Just because he helped me out doesn't mean he, nor I have feelings like that for each other. I'm not even sure if I like him for being 'him', or if I like him just because he helped me in the past, or if I just think he's ho- uh h-handsome. Y-yeah, that's what I meant…. Ugh…."

Before she could continue the self-deprecation of her thoughts, she notices Leo and Luna, and their group of friends. As she watches the group get closer and closer, she puts aside her internal self-loathing, and for once smiles as she continues to watch the young children talk amongst themselves. She's broken out of her reverie by the very same children she was admiring.

"See ya later, guys!"

"Hey, big sis!"

"Everytime I hear them call me 'big sis' I always get a little giddy inside. It makes me feel special, like I'm actually an older, big sister. I'll never understand how their parents could just up and leave, and expect them to take care of themselves. Then again, I know all too well about taking care of yourself when you have no one to rely on. I'm glad I don't have to live through that experience anymore. And I'll stand by and help these two out as much as I can."

As the group separates, Leo and Luna head towards Akiza, while Dexter, Bob and Patty go their separate ways, waving goodbye to their friends. As Leo waves back, Luna approaches Akiza, and notices that she looks a little down and put out, more so than usual, but she quickly schools her expression and replies with a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes.

"Hello to you too, Luna. You guys seem to be especially happy. Anything that I should know about?"

Leo turns his attention towards his big sis and replies, "Nothing special really. Just that Luna had given a box of candy to Bob and Dexter and I got one from Patty."

"Leo! You said you wouldn't say anything!"

Akiza raises her brow and has a teasing smirk while Leo can't control his laughter anymore at his sister's embarrassing expense. "Oh? My, oh my, Luna. I didn't know you were so bold! And both of them too?"

Luna hides her face into her hands as she blushes up a storm, and mumbles something that's muffled by her hands. Knowing that the teasing has been going on enough, Akiza calms herself and Leo down, and apologizes. "I'm sorry, Luna. I didn't mean to upset you. I assume you must like the two of them to have given them gifts, right?"

Taking a deep breath, and sending a glare at her twin brother, who holds up his hands in surrender, she replies, "Well… I like them as friends, but I don't think I like them like that. I was just embarrassed because Leo said he wouldn't say anything, and I didn't know how you would react."

Sending another scathing glare at her brother, she refocuses her attention on Akiza and asks, "What about you, big sis? Did you give any gifts to anyone you might've liked?"

Dreading the question, and the curious glances from the two younger signers, Akiza's facade seemingly crumbles as she admits, "No. I don't particularly care for Valentine's Day, and there isn't anyone at school that I'm… fond of like that. C'mon, we should head to Popo Town before it gets too late."

The older signer hops up, and walks behind the younger siblings as she's brought back to her regularly scheduled program of melancholy and self-deprecation. Meanwhile, Luna is rummaging through her thoughts, catching onto the fact that Akiza said "at school". Did that mean she did like someone? And if she did, who was it? Leo on the other hand didn't bring up anything along the way, afraid of his sister's wrath.

As the trio of students entered their friends' apartment, they were welcomed by the familiar sight of Yusei in the garage tinkering away at his duel runner. The twins, especially Luna, noticed how much more "lively" Akiza seemed to be when they saw her looking at Yusei. Taking her brother's hand she drags Leo into the kitchen, before he gets a word with their "big bro". Noticing that, Akiza is just about to ask what's up before Luna abruptly tells her, "Go on ahead big sis. I just need to talk to Leo about something."

Assuming it had something to do with earlier, Akiza smiled and replied, "Well, okay, but be gentle." Giggling at Leo's horrified expression, she walked to where Yusei was working, as Leo was dragged helplessly away to his doom.

Once in the kitchen, away from the others, Leo is about to plead for mercy before Luna tells him, "I'm not going to do anything to you Leo. I just wanted to get your opinion on something, but I didn't want to do it with Akiza in earshot."

Confused, Leo asks, "Um, okay… Uh, what did you want to ask?"

"Do you think Akiza likes Yusei? I mean, like-like him?"

Scrunching up his nose in disgust - give him break, he's still a kid - he looks to where the two are seated, and notices how close they seem. Though she's sitting at a respectable distance away, so as to not crowd over him, he can tell she's very relaxed and open, unlike how "cagey" and "closed-off" she seemed when they met up with her in the schoolyard. Turning to his fraternal twin, Leo says, "Huh. I never really paid mind to it, but she does seem to be awfully close to him. Now that I see them, they do look uh, what's the phrase? 'Chummy together?'"

Surprised by her brother's rather mature response, Luna quickly puts that aside for later and agrees, "Yeah. I was thinking, maybe we should get her something to give to Yusei? I think it would help them both out. Akiza really seems to like Yusei, and I think he feels the same way about her."

Turning towards the two lovebirds again, Leo surprises her again, but for a different reason, "Normally I'd say, 'Yeah, let's do it!' But I think it's best if we leave them to it by themselves. I'm not sure why, but I think that would be the best."

Struck by her twin's level of thoughtfulness, Luna's only response was, "... Who are you, and what have you done to my brother?"

Meanwhile…

As the twins were conversing in the kitchen, Akiza joined Yusei's side. Hearing her approach, he put away his tools giving her his undivided attention. Noticing that there wasn't a comfortable place to sit, Yusei took the chair from his desk and gave it to her, while he sat cross legged in front of his runner. Thanking him for his generosity, Akiza happily took the offered seat.

While looking around, she noticed just how quiet the place was, and realized that Jack and Crow didn't appear to be in the apartment. "Huh. No wonder it's so quiet. I can't believe I didn't notice that Jack and Crow aren't here. That must be a blessing. Not having to deal with their constant bickering."

Snorting, Yusei chuckled as she giggled, and replied, "Yep. I've got the whole place to myself. Since today is apparently Valentine's Day, Jack left pretty early to spend the day with Carly. He wouldn't admit it, but he looked exceptionally excited to spend the entire day with her."

Akiza's expression downed a bit after being reminded of the "special" day today, but was happy for the two of them. Out of all the signers, she got along the least with Jack; never one to cowl beneath his attitude, if he wasn't arguing with Crow, or "supervising" while Yusei worked, she would find herself on the receiving end of his holier than thou personality. Which grated on her nerves to no end. However, while they aren't particularly close, she didn't wish any ill will upon him - usually - and was glad that Carly has managed to reign in some of his lesser qualities. She wasn't surprised to hear that the two were spending the day together, but thinking about the couple put a further damper on her mood. But before her thoughts could drift to how someone like Jack could be spending today with his girlfriend - no matter how much he would deny it, he was hopelessly falling for the reporter - Akiza soon brought Yusei's attention to the other brother.

"I get that. It doesn't surprise me that the two would spend the day together. But what about Crow? Does he have a secret lady-friend he hasn't told any of us about?"

Smiling at Akiza, Yusei shook his head, "That's certainly something I didn't expect, but no. No secret rendezvous with a mistress. On the holidays, if he isn't too busy he likes to go back to Satellite and spend the day with the kids he took under his wing."

Snickering at his pun, Akiza found herself relaxing as she conversed with Yusei. The way he would talk to her and smile at her would send butterflies to her stomach, and a rush of blood to her cheeks. She often forgot how easy going he could be. It always brought her a little joy to see that he was human just like the rest of their friends, and that he could find the time to relax and just have fun. Just like his deck, he was a machine, but every now and then, he even needed a break once in a while.

When the laughter died down, she was struck by how curious she suddenly was. Ever since she was little, she had heard that Valentine's Day was a day meant to spend with loved ones, but she never considered that it could be spent happily with friends and family. She had the sudden urge to ask Yusei how he and his brothers spent the day when they used to live in Satellite, until she opened her mouth without thinking, and did just that.

"Hm? Oh. Not that differently to how Crow is spending time with his kids. Martha wasn't from around here. Where she was from, people could spend the day with friends and family, not just significant others and enjoy their company. Gifts were still kind of expected, but that was more or less just a formality. But for most of us it was just another day in the year."

"That sounds nice. Except for when I was little, I've never really cared all that much for the holiday. I never really thought you could just spend the day with other loved ones besides those that you were in a relationship with. I guess it's just kind of ingrained in society that you'll either enjoy spending the day with your SO, or you'll end up hating it because you're single and on your own."

Akiza's mood seemed to dim just a bit more, but not because she wasn't spending it with someone she loved unconditionally, or at least not just because. She had spent so much of her time loathing in anger and hatred when she was younger, when she could have at least attempted to spend it with her parents, and the few friends she had before she drove them all away. Some of that was out of her control, but some of it happened because she allowed it to get that far.

Noticing how down and out she appeared, Yusei could probably guess why she appeared to be in a melancholic mood. He wasn't one for the holiday either. It was never really important to him. As he had said, it was just another day in the year for him. But there was some small part of him - no matter how insignificant it was - that wanted to spend it with someone he could love unconditionally. For a long time he envisioned himself to be alone for the majority of his life. It wasn't until he met Akiza that he imagined something else.

As much as Crow and Jack liked to call him out on it, he wasn't oblivious. He knew that Akiza was attracted to him. He noticed how flush she would get when they were in close proximity, or how when she thought he wasn't looking, she would eye on him every so often. He also knew that he did the same with her. Akiza was an exceptionally attractive young woman. Beautiful and gorgeous on the inside and out. However, he also knew that she was struggling with herself since Arcadia's fall. He didn't want to take advantage of her vulnerability like that. She deserved better.

"If you could, how would you ideally spend the rest of your time today?"

Broken from his thoughts, Yusei was surprised that Akiza was the one to break their silence. Taking a moment to think, he could also hear the silent question she wasn't asking, "Who would you spend the rest of the day with?" Scratching the back of his head, Yusei seemed to be uncommonly nervous.

Blushing slightly, Yusei replied, "Uh, well, I don't really know. I guess… the same way that I had always spent it; with my friends."

"Oh…"

"Great. Nice going. Now you've upset her even further."

Biting the bullet, and realizing that while yes he did want to spend the day with his friends, he also wanted to spend it with her, he gently took her hand in his, drawing her eyes away from the floor to his sapphire blue eyes. The slightly panicked look on her face was marred by how red her face was with how much she was blushing from their contact. "But… I would also like to spend it with you. Talking like this? Just the two of us? That's the best Valentine's Day I could ask for."

With a sudden intake of air, Akiza if she could was blushing even more now. Nearly hyperventilating, her heart was fit to burst out of her chest. It wasn't everything she wanted to hear, but it was close enough. The only "gift" she could give him was her undivided attention for the rest of the day. Placing a hand over her breast, trying to calm her racing heart, thoughts and emotions, she took a moment to gather herself and her courage before she pecked him on his marked cheek, and replied with a smile so bright and big that it could melt the heart of even Jack at his worst, she replied, "That sounds like the perfect Valentine's Day I've ever had."

When she returned home later that day, she was the happiest that her parents had ever seen her on a Valentine's Day yet. Setsuko and Hideo shared a look between them, as they watched their daughter ascend the stairs of their home with an ear splitting grin that she couldn't wipe off even if she wanted to.

A/N: This was harder to write than I thought. Not sure how to feel about this one. It feels kind of all over the place and a little rushed, and that's probably because I don't know what I was trying to put from my mind onto the page. I debated whether or not I wanted to include characters like Misty and/or Carly to help Akiza with her thoughts on Yusei, or if I wanted to make this into a smut chapter but decided not to do either because I wanted this to be more fluffy and romantic? I guess? And I wanted to try to get this out before, or on Valentine's Day.

The next chapter will most likely be a smutty PWP chapter. Since I haven't done one in a while. Let me know what you guys think of this one. Happy holidays, and hopefully everyone has a nice Valentine's Day. It doesn't matter who you spend it with, as long as you enjoy it!