Chapter Text
Birds twittered in the branches above. Leaf rustled in the wind. Somewhere in the scrubs he heard the noise of an animal seeking its way through the underwood.
The atmosphere here was… unfamiliar.
He readjusted his glasses before continuing his way over the narrow path that wound between the trees. After what felt like forever, he saw light shimmering through the trunks and stepped out of the forest and onto the bright green meadow that sloped gradually down to a little valley.
He blinked a few times, irritated by the force of vividness that washed over him. The warmth of the sunlight that bathed the meadow into this blazing green crept into him and he noticed how he began to feel tired.
Vigorously, he shook his head and marched forward, until he spotted his goal. The face beneath the red and green thatch stirred a little when his shadow fell on it. A crimson eye opened a bit, squinting up at him, before it closed again.
“Why did you come here?” Yuya muttered from below.
Reiji considered him for a moment. He looked… peaceful, Reiji guessed. His hair had grown a little longer since he had last seen him, but aside from that, he looked just like always.
“To give you this”, he answered, taking out the envelope he had kept in his pocket. He offered it to Yuya, but the boy made no attempt to take it.
“It contains an invitation to the Junior Youth Championship along with detailed information about it.”
“And you came all the way here just to give me that?” Yuya muttered with a faint smile. “What an honour.”
Reiji’s face twitched for a moment and he readjusted his glasses.
“Actually I sent this letter to your home two weeks ago. But when I called, your father told me you hadn’t opened it. Nor anything else you’ve received.”
He thought back to the pile of letters which he had found at the Sakaki’s house. They had been from Yuya’s friends, a few from Nico Smiley, and one from Mr Hiiragi. The last was the only one which had been touched, one of the edges crinkled as if Yuya had been torn on whether or not he should open it.
He sighed.
“I’m leaving this here then”, he said, placing the envelope on Yuya’s chest and turning to leave.
“I’m not going to come”, Yuya’s voice replied from behind.
Reiji stopped and counted to three before he turned back. Yuya hadn’t moved, hadn’t even opened his eyes. For the first time since he had faced his father, Reiji felt a hint of anger arise inside him.
“What do you mean by that?” he asked, watching the distant smile on Yuya’s face.
“I’m saying that I am not going to come to the Championship. Which part didn’t you understand?”
Reiji narrowed his eyes.
“What about your dream to become a pro duellist? What about how you wanted to make people smile through your duelling?”
He stared as Yuya’s smile grew a little wider.
“Pretty childish dreams, huh? I realise that now.”
Something inside Reiji snapped. He knelt down, grabbed Yuya’s collar and pulled him up until their faces were merely inches away.
“Don’t you say that so casually, Yuya”, he said sharply. “This isn’t who you are. The Yuya I know wouldn’t just lie here in this meadow when there is a crowd waiting for him.”
“I gave up on my dream, Reiji. That’s all. The world will need to smile without me.”
Reiji found it hard to believe his ears. Yusho had already told him that his son had changed, but he hadn’t expected him to be like this. The a little too soft tone of his voice… The unmoved expression on his face… They made him want to slap him so he would become himself again.
His fingers dug into the cloth of Yuya’s shirt.
“Listen, Yuya”, he said in a dangerously calm voice. “I do not care about what you intend to do with your life. But you still owe me. I made sure nobody aside from your comrades learned that you are Zarc.”
“And you owe me for dragging me into this war. I guess that means we’re quit.”
This time Reiji did slap him. With a shock he realised how heavy he was breathing all of a sudden. This was… very irritating.
Never before had he used physical violence outside of a duel and he had never expected anyone was going to make him. Least of all Yuya.
“You… are going to participate. Or else…”
Despite the red imprint on his face, Yuya cracked a smile.
“So after appealing to my pride and my responsibility, you try to threaten me?” Yuya muttered wanly. “And what could you do to me? Punch me again? Handcuff me and drag me into the arena?”
Reiji’s hand let go of Yuya’s collar and wandered to his nose, to push the glasses up the bridge again, before he stared down at the crimson-eyed boy. It felt so wrong to see him like that. This wasn’t the cheerful entertainer he had known.
“Are you trying to isolate yourself from the world? Is it that what you want?”
Yuya didn’t answer.
“Is it because of Yuzu?” Reiji added calmer and for a moment he saw a glimpse of pain flash across Yuya’s face. Nevertheless, he made no attempt to get up and punch him like he was supposed to. He didn’t even talk back.
Reiji sighed and got to his feet before he turned to leave.
“You’re powerless, Reiji. You always were. You couldn’t stop your father. You couldn’t stop Zarc. And you couldn’t protect Reira.”
Reiji froze, trying to ignore the stab of pain in his chest.
For so long he had blamed himself for being unable to help. And when he had discovered Reira’s condition, silent and without the tiniest hint of happiness or interest, he had almost broken down.
“You’re powerless”, Yuya continued. “That’s why you needed to use people like me or Reira–”
“Shut up!”
Reiji darted around, feeling bile rising in his throat.
“You have no idea what you are talking about.”
Yuya merely gave him a sympathetic glance.
“We’re both wrecks, Reiji… Start fixing yourself, before you try to fix others.”
Reiji wanted to shout, wanted to throw all his pain and frustration at Yuya, but no words passed over his lips.
Yuya was right.
He ducked his head and left.
The meadow around was a mocking contrast to the swirl of emotions inside him. At the edge of the forest he turned around, letting his gaze wander over to the small hollow in the grass where Yuya was lying and a bitter laugh rose up in his throat.
What horrible irony. He had come here believing that he was the mature one, able to control his feelings, while Yuya was the one who always showed what was on his mind. Now that he left, their roles had switched entirely.
Nevertheless, he wasn’t able to go back and face Yuya a second time.