Author's Note:

Here is Chapter 6 of "The Kingdom [be]Comes"!

It's got feelings. And drama. And swearing. Also, plenty of Aki and Yusei.

Let me know what you think!

Thank you for reading and thank you so much for your reviews!

Update 5/3/2017: this chapter has undergone some minor writing revisions as I went back to it after some years and thought my writing style improved a bit since then. Also I'm a crazy person with these OCD things, so yeah.

NineInchNailed.

"Your future is created by what you do today, not tomorrow."

~Robert Kiyosaki.

That night, for some long hours, Yusei lay on the bed with his arms folded behind his head and studied the ceiling.

All while figuring out the intricacies of his heart.

He knew that he had practically asked for this – for Aki to be with somebody else. After all, why wouldn't she? She was single. She was beautiful. She was…actually amazing, in every way. He was hard-pressed to pick up on something he didn't like about her. But, anyway, of course other guys noticed her. Of course it was only a matter of time before someone made a move on her and she reciprocated. Frankly, he should've been surprised it took this long for someone else to come into her life. What was he thinking?

Well, they have been friends for two years now and there was always, always, sexual tension between them. Yes, he had some doubts and uncertainties about its nature and possible outcomes but he could never be so naïve as to admit that it wasn't there. But then he had two years to make his move and what did he do? Nothing. He did nothing and he had himself to blame for losing her and for being in this situation.

Was he waiting for her to make the first move? Honestly, if she had made a move on him when they first became friends – and at certain points it looked like she was hinting on it – then he would have probably turned her down, as ludicrous as it was to think of now. She didn't need another person like Divine to guide her and to approve of her; she needed close support of her friends instead while she took the time to rediscover herself. So friendship was the best and the most rational state that they've both settled-in for this time. It made sense. It worked. But now… And besides, did he expect her to wait for him? To wait for him to make up his mind and to be the one to make the first move? The thing was, he couldn't make up his mind. He liked her, very much. But was this liking, this crush, this borderline lust, was it worth all the risks? Worth losing her as a friend if things didn't work out? Worth losing an irreplaceable ally and a Signer if things went wrong? Yusei had lived his whole life with a burden of responsibility, of always being the leader, and of always knowing what the right thing is. Those were the things expected of him; carelessness and an incorrect judgment on his part could potentially cause irreparable damage. Thus, when he couldn't decide on his emotions and on the right decision, he resolved that ignoring feelings for Aki was the best possible solution. And it was a great solution and it had worked quite well…until now.

Did he go so far as to expect her to be single forever? Now that he was alone and open with his thoughts, he realized that perhaps he never even considered the possibility that Aki would be with someone else. Selfishly, this situation didn't occur to him. And, getting to the bottom of it, he didn't actually consider a possibility that anything would really change for any of them, for that matter. That they'd be Signers forever, dueling forever, friends and together in Neo Domino exactly as they were now…forever. Almost as if they were that still photo in the picture frame, of their Team 5Ds win of the WRPGs. That nothing would ever be different, that everything would stay exactly the same; perfect, simple, easy.

But now, things have started changing and he wasn't ready for it. The revelation that Aki was seeing someone or dating someone legitimately shocked him yesterday. It shook him to the core and he was surprised to have felt that way. He's had occasional twinges of jealousy when it came to her, but they were pricks and needles compared to this which hit him like a fifty tonne truck. It had to have meant something, but what? Was he finally able to figure out this out and decide what he wanted to do?

Did he want to risk what he was afraid of – losing her, screwing up, ruining everything – in order to take a plunge into Unknown but with potential for Happiness? Would that be worth all this risk?

Yesterday it had been proven to him that yes, maybe it was. Maybe it was worth trying something. Maybe the risk was kind of worth it. Honestly, fuck the risk.

This was Yusei's state of mind when he awoke, tired and mildly depressed, at 11:15 in the morning. He was determined to see Aki today and admit to her that he didn't mean what he'd said yesterday; that he didn't care if she was dating (he cared very much) or that he's happy for her doing it too (because he was quite unhappy). He'd be admitting that he was jealous. And because he couldn't yet decide what his true feelings were, he'd leave it at that and maybe that'd be enough…

Today was Sunday and that meant going to the gym with Crow and Jack. He was running a bit late so when he came downstairs they were already waiting for him on their D-Wheels and chatting.

"You took your sweet time," Crow said, starting up his bike, "And what's with the leather?"

Yusei still had to wear the leather jacket instead of his favourite blue one because that one was still damaged by Sky Dragon of Osiris "incident." He was also wearing a long sleeved shirt underneath to conceal his new dragon "tattoo." It was unfortunate because it was a hot day out.

"It's laundry day. Perhaps you've heard about it?" Yusei replied and Crow rolled his eyes.

"I don't have all day, are we going or what?" Jack asked and Yusei nodded, and soon the three of them were driving on their way to the fitness centre.

They were in the changing room where Crow saw Yusei's long sleeved shirt and, with confusion, asked "What's with the long sleeves?"

Yusei just glared at him, annoyed, while Jack commented: "Why do you care so much about what he's wearing today?"

"Fuck off Jack, I don't care," Crow mumbled and hurried into the training room and Yusei and Jack followed him.

As Yusei was doing his work out he thought about Aki. To be perfectly honest, unless he was actively trying to distract himself or was preoccupied with dueling, he thought about her all the time.

And right now he was rehearsing the conversation he'd initiate when he'd see her later on today, assuming she'd come to see him.

He moved on to work on bicep curls and noticed Crow talking with a few particular giggling girls who visit gyms for no other reason than to meet guys. Crow was quite noticeable due to his multiple criminal markers and a lot of girls always went for Jack since he was a former King, a player and, well, Jack Atlas and Jack Atlas was always a chick magnet.

Yusei, himself, preferred to stay far on a side, away from public view or where people could recognize him as a still ruling King of Games and ask for an autograph or, worse, ask to duel him. He had a challenge for a duel at least once every day and although he loved dueling with all his heart, at some point, it started becoming quite redundant. Nonetheless, some fangirls always managed to find him and squeal things like, "You have such pretty eyes, Fudo Yusieee-sama!" but he had long learned to shake them off with a polite smile. Crow always remarked how he could have gotten laid with more girls than any of them could count if he had only responded in any way other than his usual cold shoulder. But honestly, Yusei was always so preoccupied with some new taunting evil at hand, or another dueling tournament, or new engine upgrades invoked by Bruno that he never truly had any time to act upon anything beyond that (except now). He never had time for romance (except now). And besides, Yusei wasn't that interested in a quick anonymous lay and it irritated him that his friends were not able to understand that: he narrowed down his interest to only one person and issues with her were kind of complicated.

Issues with her preoccupied him so greatly that he had forgotten to pay mind to other strange events that happened yesterday and a new potential enemy. He hadn't even mentioned a single thing to Jack and Crow still, about Aki's duel and the troubling circumstances surrounding it. He didn't even realize how unlike him this was but he couldn't help it. Last night's revelation changed and turned everything completely upside down.

His long sleeves were frustrating him during a workout so, without realizing, he rolled them up while still lost in his thought.

Or maybe Crow and Jack were all right. Maybe it was time that he'd moved on from Aki. After all, she'd moved on. Maybe he really did wait too long to make a move. Maybe, since he'd had all the opportunity and never bothered acting on it for these two years, maybe this meant that Aki and him were never really meant to be. Maybe it was time that he looked at other women. Maybe a casual night of hot and steamy sex was all he needed at this time. But the thing was, the few recent times he was on the verge of getting laid (to the point where a girl would be straddling his lap and trying to suck on his neck), he backed out, much to Crow's and Jack's amusement. They couldn't possibly understand that, to him, it felt like he was cheating on Aki, as silly as it sounded because the two of them were not an item.

But maybe, just maybe, next time he goes bar-hopping with Crow and Jack (perhaps even today) then he'll try going all the way with whoever is responsive to his liking. Perhaps the knowledge that Aki has moved on will fuel him and disable that inane guilt he's been feeling whenever he'd made a move on someone else.

And then Yusei wondered if Aki would even care if she were to find out that he's been seeing others or even sleeping around. Would she have cared a year ago more than she would care now? Would she care at all anymore? Would she stand by his side and encourage it just like all his other friends might? Actually most of them wouldn't care, except maybe Ruka who, a bit over a year ago, randomly said: "I wish you and Aki-san would get together, Yusei. I think the two of you would be great together." Once he got over the shock of her words (she blurted it out to him when Aki had left after her visit to Poppo Time from school), he quickly responded with a tangible truth that sat the strongest within him then: "Aki and I are only friends, Ruka. And we feel for one another as friends do, no differently from how I feel about you or Rua or Crow or Jack. That's all there is to it."

Yusei's thoughts and ponderings were then unexpectedly interrupted by Crow who had abruptly approached him, pointed at his arm, and exclaimed: "What the fuck is that!?"

Startled back to reality, Yusei stared at the fellow Signer and only then realized that he had exposed his new "tattoo" to everyone after he had rolled up the sleeves. He rushed to conceal it but the damage had been done: Jack had joined them and was also eyeing the new mark with a frown.

"Did you carve the image of the Crimson Dragon into your arm?" Crow cried out, summoning unwanted attention from everybody in the fitness centre, "What the hell would you do that for?"

Yusei noticed that everybody was staring at the unraveling commotion and hurried to quiet Crow down. "Keep your voice down and come outside."

In about a minute the three of the Team Satisfaction were back in the locker room, bewildered looks on the faces of his friends.

"First, this is a tattoo, this is how they look the first day after," Yusei attemped, lying through his teeth, as he had finished pulling down his sleeves. It was his luck that neither Crow or Jack were tattooed. "And two, I can get a tattoo of anything I want." He hadn't wanted to lie to them but he didn't want to unnecessarily worry anyone until he'd figured out at least something first. Right now he knew nothing. He didn't know what that thing was on his arm or why it appeared to begin with. All he knew was that it was somehow connected to the God card and, perhaps, connected to the strange duel Aki had.

"So…having the Signer mark and having the whole dragon itself appear on your back from time to time is not enough?" Crow asked, perplexed. "Also, why did you make the Crimson Dragon look so different?"

"Doesn't matter," Yusei hurried to close this discussion. "It's something that I've done for myself. That's it." He knew that even if Crow was harboring doubts, that he'd still trust him. Jack, on the other hand, wouldn't buy a word of it. In fact, looking at him now, Yusei saw Jack's complete lack of belief in his explanation. Thankfully, Yusei also knew that Jack wouldn't say anything. At least not yet.

"Okay…" Crow mumbled, glancing at Jack for support but the blonde ex-King wasn't saying anything. He was just looking back at Yusei, suspiciously.

"Drop it, Crow. It's nothing. I'll show you once it heals. Now, I've got to get home because Aki might be waiting for me," Yusei said, turning to begin collecting his belongings.

"Aki, you say…" Crow hummed thoughtfully and then grinned. "Then we'll come with, it's on our way anyway!"

Yusei shrugged. "Whatever you must do."

The three of them soon arrived back at Yusei's place just to see Aki sitting cross-legged on a sidewalk next to her D-Wheel and flipping through her deck of cards.

Aki looked up to see the three guys approaching and forced a smile. Today she awoke at two in the afternoon after having slept like she was dead. It was as if after facing the materialized monster La Magra her whole life force was practically sucked out. It also didn't help how traumatic the duel and the result was, in the end. But she definitely felt better after over twelve hours of sleep. However, she did remember her conversation with Yusei and she remembered it quite well, unfortunately.

"Hi guys. How have you been?" she asked, attempting at some cheerfulness and deliberately avoiding looking at Yusei.

"Bored," Jack answered while Crow ran up to her, screaming, "Izayoi!" and grabbed her up in a big hug. Aki was startled by that abrupt embrace (especially since he's never hugged her before) and was completely locked in her position while the Signer twirled her around.

Yusei watched this whole performance and felt something inexplicable. Jealousy, frustration, tiredness, all in one somehow?

"Ahem…um…it's nice to see you too, Crow," she said once she was put down, blushing, and still trying to ignore Yusei's presence. She could sense that he was staring at her.

Yusei looked elsewhere and focused on Aki's D-Wheel nearby. Forcing the feeling down into numbness, succeeding in letting it settle down but still it lingered in its unpleasantness.

He thought he knew why Crow had done that. He'd done the same thing two days ago when he blatantly began hitting on Aki at the stadium, with everyone around. He was trying to get a rise out of him, maybe get him to react, maybe push him into doing something, but Yusei didn't care for this tactic. And after what he'd found out yesterday, this couldn't have come with a worse timing.

And, frankly, Yusei was now sick and tired of people fucking with him.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Crow," Yusei said, as he crouched by Aki's D-Wheel, not looking at either of them. It was then that he opened his mouth and said something so harsh and bitter, the viciousness of which he never thought he was capable of saying out loud: "After all, her 30 year old boyfriend might object."

Aki flinched and finally looked at Yusei, feeling like all blood was drained from her face. She couldn't believe he'd just said that. That Yusei even thought something like that. He whom she thought cared about her…at least as a friend. She felt so humiliated.

And never before had she felt like punching Yusei Fudo, the captain of 5D's, the head Signer and the love of her life, in the face with all the strength she could master.

"O…kay…" Crow uttered, looking back and forth from Aki to Yusei and then he coughed and said: "Well, I've got to go and do something...somewhere. I'll see you all tomorrow." He motioned Jack to leave with him and the ex-King followed his cue without a moment of hesitation.

When Jack and Crow had sped off on their D-Wheels, Aki propped her hands on her hips, taking deep breaths and trying to calm down. It further infuriated her that Yusei seemed completely preoccupied with the motorcycle and oblivious both to her presence and what he'd just said! "Why would you say that?" she managed.

I don't know, Yusei thought, staring at the broken tail light but not really seeing it. Because it hurt, somehow. He didn't expect it to. Everything felt out of his control and he didn't know how to manage it. He had never experienced anything like this, before. Why did everything have to change so drastically in these few days? Is this what getting older was like?

Yusei got up from the ground, dusted off his hands, and turned to look at her with a blank expression on his face. "Was I wrong?"

Her mouth snapped open. "Are you serious?" she gasped, winded from anger. How dare he suggest that she's dating Mokuba, a totally random man he's met for two seconds yesterday, and how dare he bring out her personal life into spotlight for others? Why did he say something like this anyway, was he just trying to get back at her for 'double dating' him? How dare he use this as a weapon to embarrass her in front of others! "Are you seriously asking me this?"

"Yes," he said calmly. But underneath his cool exterior, his pulse was racing. He was also quite startled her defensiveness. At the same time, he felt even worse. So if it wasn't Mokuba then there was someone else? Just how many other guys has she been seeing and for how long?

Aki narrowed her eyes, refusing to back down from his inquisitive eye contact. "Oh yes, because you are never wrong, Yusei. No, no, you are always right about everything. Always right to assume the worst but only when it comes to me it seems!" she exclaimed in a supposed sarcastic tone but her last words came from her heart. Her embarrassment turned to hurt. Was this what he'd actually thought of her?

Yusei winced at her words. "Wait," he shook his head. "No, it's not like that. I-"

"You what? You didn't really think about what you were saying? Or did you want to hurt me? To make me pay for skipping out on your birthday? I've never even thought you were capable of holding a grudge!" Aki shouted, having gotten so agitated that she couldn't stop rambling out all her frustration. I…I actually hate him right now! Absolutely hate him!

Yusei frowned but held his ground. He didn't mean for his words to hurt but he also didn't mean for himself to be upset about this. This conversation wasn't going the way he imagined it would. Things weren't really going great right now. He was quite unhappy. As far as he was concerned, she was the one who skipped out on his birthday because she decided to have some anonymous date (or dates?), and all of this just screamed that she didn't care about him, not the other way around. Additionally, she still hadn't provided any answers.

"So it was someone else?" he asked, folding his arms on his chest, and bringing the discussion back to where it's started.

"…You're actually serious, right now? You're still asking me about this?"

"You don't want to tell me?"

Aki's face was red now. Her whole body was shaking and she didn't know if it was because of her accelerating anger with him or because he was consistently reading right through her. This was beyond maddening. And she hated that he wasn't taking any responsibility for what he'd said to her and only continued pressing.

She could walk away right now. She didn't have to stay there and take this. And why was he acting like this? Why was this of such concern to him all of a sudden? Didn't he say that he didn't care last night? She decided that she wasn't going to give up and that she'd stand up for herself.

"Okay. You want to know? You really want to know? Fine! I met this guy at the Kaiba gala, you see. He was very nice. He asked me out. And I said yes," Aki said, hating every moment. This wasn't a discussion she had ever wanted to have Yusei, of all the people. But he wanted to hear the truth and now he was going to get it, no matter how difficult it was for her.

"That's nice," Yusei responded, his tone of voice indifferent while he was feeling anything but. Did I honestly expect to hear something else? Am I really surprised that someone else has asked her out?

"Oh wait, but I'm not done! I knew that it was your birthday when I said yes."

Yusei winced and had to look away. That stung. That really stung, more than he thought it would. Maybe he never should have pushed for it. Maybe he didn't want to hear the truth after all. But wouldn't the knowledge that she's been lying to him hurt far greater? At this point he couldn't tell.

"Do you want to know why I said yes, Yusei?" she pressed, eyes glistening and hands clenched into tight fists.

"No, forget it," he answered and turned his attention to appraising her D-Wheel again. "I don't want to know. It's fine. It's none of my business." He went so far as to turn his back to her and began pretending like he was thinking about ways of fixing the bike rather than focusing on calming his inner turmoil.

"Oh really?" her voice broke. "Because it's all of your business." It's all because of you. It's always been you. I've done so much, just to get you to notice anything at all. And now here we are…and I hate you. "You want to know, Yusei. Otherwise, why would you continuously and insistently bring this up?"

He said nothing, appearing to be ignoring her.

"I'll tell you!" she went on, despite zero encouragement. "So, I took the date because I was bored, Yusei. Because every day has been exactly the same, because nothing ever changes." She was staring at his back as he was no longer facing her and no longer, it seemed, even listening to her.

Yusei was looking down at the ground but listening intently, absorbing every word. Nothing ever changes, he thought, does it? Don't you see how much has just changed? A place we never thought we'd be six months ago, three months ago, or even a week.

"I think you'd like this part the best, Yusei. Are you ready? Guess what! The guy stood me up! Yes, I went to give you your present and then I left to meet him and he didn't show up! And do you know why? Because he realized that I was the Black Rose Witch! And of course, who in the world would ever want to date such a freak, right?" she screamed out, unable to stop herself. All her hurt, suppressed on the inside, was spilling out, and all because he had provoked her, all because he insisted on knowing.

You are so wrong, Aki, Yusei thought, still looking elsewhere. He heard and felt her pain now. It dismayed him. His own troubles and concerns were suddenly so secondary in comparison to the wounds in her heart. How can you be so wrong? How can you think that about yourself? Do you not know how extraordinary you are? Has nobody ever told you, before? Has nobody ever meant it? He wondered if it was finally the time, if it was now or never. The time to finally do…something.

"So I hope you're happy," she blurted out. "Now you know what happened. How nothing at all happened. I'm sorry I left your party! Because all I got was some humiliation in return. No biggie. I hope it's all as glamorous as you imagined it'd be!" She finally finished and stood, trying to catch her breath. Her face was flushed with anger and embarrassment. It took a lot of strength not to begin sobbing but she refused to shame herself further like that. And she waited for him to finally say something. Ideally some very nicely worded and eloquent apology.

How do I do this? Yusei was lost in his own thoughts. What's the best way? How do I tell her how things really are? What an idiot her date was? That by standing her up that guy made the stupidest mistake in the world? That it's not her, that there could never be anything wrong with her? He was too analytical, too calculated for his own good sometimes, and he was never good with words but he couldn't help it.

He's not saying anything! Aki fumed, staring at his back. What the hell! Was I just talking to myself? She decided she had enough of this now. Yesterday was a terrible day and today wasn't any better. She didn't need this. She could grasp whatever remaining self-respect she has left and leave. And the only way she'd agree to see him again is if he comes and asks for forgiveness.

"Okay you know what – I'm leaving," she decided out loud and neared her D-Wheel, ignoring him standing right by it and refusing to look at him. "You're not the only person who knows how to fix bikes around here. I'll ask Bruno or I'll take it to some shop. I'm tired and I have to go."

"Aki."

Now he was trying to say something? Too late! "I'm tired," she repeated, lifting the seat and scavenging for the helmet. He refused to look at her earlier so she was returning the favour! She found the helmet and was about to put it on when there was a light touch at the top of her arm, above the elbow.

He was actually touching her.

Ordinarily, Aki would have almost fainted from any physical contact with him, from any such proximity. He'd so rarely touched her, she could have counted the times on her fingers. But right now she was too angry to care about such gestures.

"Don't," she shook her head and pushed his hand off. Because what the hell did he think he was doing? Did he honestly think that touching her right now was a good idea?

"I'm sorry," were his next words and suddenly she froze in place as his hand had closed on hers. Glove off, callused warm skin. His fingers moved to intertwine with hers, her fingers soft and unresisting to the intrusion. Basic, ordinary movements, but suddenly the most important and impactful. Joining the distance as only imagined in a dream.

He lightly pulled her back and she slowly turned to meet his gaze, eyes widened.

"I didn't mean to upset you, Aki."

"I…uh…well…" Staring into those cobalt blue eyes, she's started forgetting what's just happened. Anger and frustration beginning to vanish.

"I didn't think it was like that. It was my bad. And I would never assume the worst about you. Ever."

"I…" her face burned hot. It wasn't just that he was actually holding her hand right now. It was also that he was very close. Like, obscenely close. Like, this is where people in movies start to step in to kiss one another. "Um…that's…okay." Now that he was actually apologizing, the feeling wasn't cathartic but rather more awkward.

"It's not," he said seriously and she thought he moved even closer. His eyes were staring into her, somewhere deeper than they should be allowed to look. "Whatever happened with that other guy. It's his problem. His loss. Not yours, Aki."

"Yusei…?" Does he mean that?

"I'm sorry that's happened to you, like that."

"Yeah…thanks…I'm sorry too…" she mumbled, knowing her face was turning even redder. Sorry for leaving him that day or for what happened to her? She could hear her own heart thump wildly in her ears and not much else. She couldn't look into his eyes anymore. Not while he was saying those things, not while he was touching her like that. It was too forward, too intimate, too embarrassing to do that. Her eyes dropped, somewhere near his collarbone, the top of his chest. He looked almost chiseled underneath those clothes. Did he always look as good in that black shirt as now?

"It wasn't right," he said, quietly. He was still holding her hand. Still close. And that was when it occurred to him, clear as day, what was necessary for him to do. It had taken so long but it had all been leading up to this moment. It was right.

Aki couldn't think. Then in the corner of her eyes she saw that he was leaning in close. Purposeful. And that was when a crazy thought entered her head. Is he…is he going to kiss me? It was crazy. Why would he? With this timing? Again, why? But it looked like it. That's how these things happened. She thought she saw his hand reaching up, maybe about to touch her face. Yes, that's what this was. Her breath hitched. Of course, she'd let him. Her eyes slowly closed, and right before she thought his lips would touch her, they were interrupted by a high pitched boyish yell.

"Fudo Yusei!" a voice screamed, and Yusei blinked, snapping out of his daze (Was I actually about to kiss her just now?), and span around to face the screamer.

Aki realized that she's been holding her breath all this time (which could explain her lightheadedness…or could it?) and quickly breathed in, deeply. She continued staring in the open space where Yusei was seconds ago, thoughts racing in her head. Her hand was empty. Had something just happened or, rather, hadn't happened?

"Yes, you! I challenge you for a rematch, Fudo Yusei, after you've humiliated me and embarrassed me in front of my friends! And this time I will not lose!" shouted the boy named Takashi as he stood alert with his duel disk.

Are you serious? Yusei thought in utter disbelief. Is this a joke? You want to duel me again? This was almost as annoying as when Ushio repeatedly stalked him, challenging him to a duel an insane number of times, all over the course of a couple of days!

He really wanted to tell this kid to buzz off but because he was kind of mean to him yesterday, Yusei decided to let him off a bit gentler.

"Okay…Takashi-kun, right? Listen to me: you have got to stop assuming that just because want to challenge me that I'm as thrilled as you are about it. I mean it, this is not a good time," he said, firmly articulating every word. He slipped the brown gloves back on his hands. He clearly wasn't in the mood for this. He clearly had better things to do right now than to entertain some spoiled brat! And honestly, had this kid wanted to duel for a good cause then Yusei would not have only agreed to this duel but would've encouraged it.

"I will not take no as an answer," the kid said and a strange, almost maniacal, grin crossed his features. Yusei felt a shudder pass through him, it was as if he was observing something ghastly. He looked at Aki for support, wondering if she had sensed something similar.

But Aki was too stunned to see or hear any of this interaction. Her mind locked-in that moment between them on repeat, looping it over and over again. What was that just now? Was he going to kiss me? Did that actually almost happen? I didn't imagine it?

"There is no other alternative," Yusei responded to Takashi, facing him again. Every muscle in his body tensed up when the strange sensation of danger systematically increased instead of vanishing.

"Oh yes, I agree. There is no other alternative!" the boy shouted and pulled out a Swiss pocketknife from his pocket. Before Yusei even had an opportunity to realize what was happening, the boy slashed the blade against his forearm with all his strength.

Aki snapped out of her dreamy daze and let out a scream of terror.

Yusei's eyes widened. He couldn't even make a sound.

It appeared that the pocketknife was a bit dull because the boy, once again, hacked the knife into the fresh wound.

Yusei and Aki both winced at the nauseating action and Aki snapped her hands over her mouth, feeling like she was about to throw up. This was a child, a child, doing this!

As if possessed, the boy knelt down, pressed his injured arm against the ground and began chanting, "I offer a sacrifice worthy of a god's glory to possess the divine power of wrath, to withhold the sanctity of retribution …"

"This is it, it's going to happen now," Aki whispered, almost inaudibly, but Yusei heard everything.

"Takashi-kun, stop!" he yelled out having finally regained his ability to speak but it was too late.

"…and to offer agony in return for righteous justice. Out of Order, Chaos to commence," the boy finished and the ground began shaking with what it seemed like a six on Richter scale while a sudden intense current of wind overwhelmed them. Yusei and Aki shielded their faces from the storm while struggling to keep their balance, a task that appeared to be effortless for Takashi.

Multiple crimson red lines rapidly spread out from where the boy's blood dripped, creating a glowing crimson outline of colossal size, stretching out at least one hundred metres in diametre. When the enormous circle finished forming and the ground stopped shaking Aki once again recognized some of the produced symbols as Egyptian hieroglyphs.

Yusei recognized that it was the Sutekh Sacrificō seal about which Aki told him about, the seal which unmistakably required a blood sacrifice to materialize and which gave one of the duelists the apparent advantage of the La Magra monster.

"See? I told you that you didn't have a choice, Yusei!" the boy shouted, oblivious to his own gashing wound. The boy's eyes, including their whites, now attained the colour of deep copper. "And when you lose you'll be the one bleed out to your death, Yusei! Now, let's duel!"

Yusei admitted to finding Takashi rash and a borderline juvenile criminal earlier on but this was not the boy he was facing now. He was now somebody possessed by something fundamentally evil, something that appeared to have taken this boy's primitive instincts and amplified them by a thousandfold. This amplification also appeared to mute common and moral sense in the possessed individual with its "die or let die" guideline.

Yusei had to act quickly. The boy's already greenish and pale skin was more than indicative of the seriousness of his injury, as well as how quickly the time was running out. That wound would soon become lethal.

"You don't have much time, Yusei…" Aki whispered and Yusei nodded, snapping the duel disk onto his arm.

"Duel!"

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooh….drama. Also, a cliffhanger!

And wow, I can't believe that kid interrupted what could have been their first kiss! Yusei better pwn him as much as he pwned in their last duel!

So, next chapter: will we find out what exactly happened to Takashi? Will Yusei win the duel on time or will Yusei lose the duel on purpose just to save the boy? Will Yusei and Aki finally make out? Will we see Mokuba Kaiba again? Will Yusei play the Egyptian God Card?

Stay tuned and you (might) find out!