Chapter Text
“Hurry up Yuya !”
“Hold on a moment Sora ! I’m not as fast as you aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaare !”
The young student misses to trip on the sidewalk, his shoulder bag tanging dangerously. Yuzu reacts almost instantly and helps him regain his balance.
“You’ve been incredibly clumsy those last days.” says his best friend, worried.
“I went to bed too late yesterday.” He answers with a yawn. “Besides.” as he shakes his head a little. “With the training after school, I have to stay up late to finish my homeworks. It’s not like I can do anything about it.”
“Yes but still …”
“Stop chatting, your two, we’re late !” screams the bluenette, far ahead from them.
Yuya and Yuzu freeze, before taking a sprint too.
It was a casual day for the three of them. Except that Yuya overslept a little and they had to run through their way to highschool.
In the end, they arrived just in time, as the bell was ringing.
“Good morning everyone. Today, we’re studying linear function.”
As the math teacher writes on the board the lesson of the day, Sora lets his mind wander on the dream he has that night. A very long and painful dream in fact.
This one was involving Yuya, but Yuzu too. In fact, it was easier to list who wasn’t there than who was. If he recalls correctly, it was back when they were watching the final duel of the Miami Championship, Yuya VS Reiji. A splendid duel indeed, as Yuya uses every technique his deck had, plus the other dragons of his counterparts, to pass through the barrier of D/D/D monsters Reiji made. A fiery opponent that he lost against the first time, as he heard of. But meanwhile, Yuya grew, polishing his skills day after day while running across the dimension to find Yuzu. And the evidence was there : Sora remembered very well their first duel. Pendulum was new, he didn’t even think of mixing it with other summoning methods. Not relying only on Odd-eyes Dragon, or Smile World.
He remembered seeing a lot of silhouettes : the one belonging to Crow, to Shingo, to Kaito, to Shun. There was a cut, as he saw him in the stadium then, with all of those Yuya met during his journey. Hell, even Enjoy Choujiro was there, and Sora only heard of him when he was wandering across the City, in the Synchro dimension, as his match against Yuzu was displaying on big screens.
At first, everyone was elated : Yuya did it, he made Reira smile ! Dimensions were definitively safe, aren’t they ? The Lancers could finally breathe again.
Then, the big bulb of light appeared from nowhere. And inside it, there was …
The young girl smiled at Yuya. And Yuya smiled at her.
Sora could hear gasps from everywhere. He’s pretty sure that everyone saw one of the four reincarnations of Zarc and Ray. How could they not ?
Sora did even see, from the corner of his eyes, Shingo rubbing his eyes while muttering “I have to hallucinate, it’s impossible to see at the same time Yuya AND Yugo.”
But it was.
Sora saw Yuya and Yuri in him. Afterall, he didn’t know that much about the purple duelist, only from reputation at Academia. As Shun was standing at his right, he wondered if he did see Yuto and Ruri. Both of them smiling.
At that time, Sora thought that the older Kurosaki had moved on. He interpreted his smile like a goofy one, the same that someone has when they see old acquaintances.
He couldn’t be so wrong.
Shun never truly admitted that Yuto and Ruri were gone. Definitely. Without any chance to say goodbye. After the war, Sora alternated between the Standard and the Xyz dimension. Fusion was still his home, but somehow, he found a place at the Sakaki’s house. One of the few places where he wasn’t wary of his surroundings. He didn’t learn to heal - he wasn’t hurt in the first place - but he learnt to live the life of any students of 15 years old in Standard. He let his hair grow a lot at that time.
On the contrary, Shun didn’t seem to heal. Didn’t seem to even initiate something to heal.
He was … letting himself go.
“Sora ! Could you please tell me, what represents the letter a in the function ?”
“The leading coefficient Madam.”
“Correct. But try to pay a little attention to the class. Or at least, pretend to.” she adds with a slight laughter.
With this little remark, Sora focuses on the black board. He knew he should but …
It is so boring to see stuff that didn’t seem so far away. It feels like it was the last year that he studied linear function. One of the many advantages of reincarnation.
One of the downsides was that he is the only one to remember. And the fact alone filled him with emptiness.
Sora goes from class to class, along Yuzu and Yuya who are in the same group. For a long time, he thought the two were an item, until Yuya blurted out that he was gay, after he teased on their way back home. This was the first time Sora was caught out of guard, to hear something new concerning his friend. In his previous life, he had stayed long enough with him to know his character. To know his habits.
For example, he knows that Yuya always eats his cereals with cold milk. That if he loves drama, he finds it even more interesting when he is an actor, rather than a spectator. That he still sleeps with the same plushy, a pink hippo that strangely looks like his old Perfomapal. That he complains that he couldn’t slide down the guardrail of his stairs since he doesn’t have one. And the way he moved, when they were in the same gym class … Sora only saw the Yuya Entertainer, the Yuya duelist who lifts his arms toward the sky, shouting his famous catchphrase “Ladies and gentlemen ! The fun has just begun !”.
Not the Yuya who was more worried about his next physics test than entertaining his audience. Not the Yuya who said that it was a great idea to add his own old catchphrase when he will have to do the introduction of the play the drama course does at the end of the year. Not the Yuya who is a normal teenager with sleeping issues, who appreciates to live the three next year in Miami highschool, who is currently doing his best to not fall asleep during the literature.
Sora feels sympathy for him. He knows what it is to lack sleep. Academia didn’t let him sleep more than 6 hours per day, and he somehow carries his old habit to wake up at 6am sharp.
“Come on Yuya, there is only one class left for this afternoon ! After this, you can sleep.” cheers on Sora.
“I’aaaaaaaam (Yuya yawns) supposed to finish … homework … Zzzzz …”
“You’re going to fall asleep even when standing straight. Honestly Yuya, I’m beginning to wonder about what you’re doing for your evenings.”
“What did you say ?” asks the concerned one, eyes half-closed.
“Geez, here we go again. Why don’t you grab a coffee ?
“Good idea Yuzu !” says Sora. “Let’s go Yuya ! We still have a lot of time before the next class begins.”
“But I don’t haaaaaaaaave (another yawn) money on me.”
“I’ll pay for it, you’ll pay me back later. Now let’s go ! I’m not going to drag a tired tomato for the rest of the afternoon.”
“I’m not a tomato, for the millionth time !” shouts back the now well awake Yuya.
They were standing in the line at the coffee machine, when Yuya waves all of the sudden.
“Yuto !”
The boy with black spikes walks toward him, a soft smile on his lips.
“Good to see ya. What’s bringing you here ? You didn’t tell me that you drink coffee.” says Yuto, pointing at the machine. “Not that you needed to.” he adds quickly.
The reaction of Yuya was almost cute, by the way he giggles before answering.
“Indeed, I’m not a coffee type. But my friend dragged me here because, and I quote : I don’t want to drag a tired tomato for the rest of the afternoon.” He giggles even more after finishing his sentence.
“You’re right for the tired part but … tomato, really ?” declares Yuto, a little insure as he is now staring at Sora.
“Look at his hair and tell me, there isn’t similarity with a tomato.”
“I’m not a tomayo for the damn 1000th ti-”
“He’s right. The red and green parts don’t help it. I’m sorry Yuya.”
“Yuto, even YOU are betraying me ?” whines Yuya, a hand on his supposedly broken heart.
“I just say that he was right.” defends Yuto, raising his hand in sign of innocence.
“Yuto ! Why did you have to move so suddenly … Oh.”
The newcomer stops right in his sentence, before he finishes with.
“I guess it’s not surprising since Yuya is here but please, you give me a freaking heart attack.”
“You’re exaggerating Shun.” replies Yuto. “Anyway, it’s not like I was lost. The highschool isn’t that huge, you know.”
“I don’t like to see you out of my range vision.”
“I know. I think I didn’t present you to Yuya so I’m doing it. Yuya.” He says, while his left hand is showing Shun. “It’s my best friend, Shun Kurosaki. It’s his last year here currently. Shun, he’s Yuya, the one who …”
“Is in the drama option, loves to draw hippos everywhere, especially pink hippo since he has a plushy of it, has broken his arm while doing ice skating and wants to become a professional actor. Yeah yeah, know this already.”
Yuya is agape, as Yuto is slightly blushing. But it’s so faint that Sora thinks he is imagining it.
“Well, I didn’t think you have done the endeavor to remember everything …” slowly pronounces Yuto.
“I didn’t even need to : You talked about him all summer long. It would have been impossible to not know who was Odd-Eyes Dragon.”
“SHUN ! Gosh, I’m sorry Yuya.”
“Don’t worry.” The boy is doing his best to not burst out laughing. “I’m honored that you talked about me to your friends. And since we are introducing everyone, Yuto, Shun, this is Sora. A really dear friend.”
“Oh, you’re the one who is completely hooked up on sugar, don’t you ?” Asks Yuto.
“I prefer to say that I know how to properly appreciate the food of this world, and I may have a preference for sugar.” replies Sora. “By the way, do you want a lollipop ?”
He takes out one of his pockets.
“No thanks. Sugar is not really my thing.”
Sora then turns his head toward Shun.
“Guess you’re the black coffee type so it’s a no-go ?”
“You’re right.”
“He says that.” whispers Yuto. “But he’s fond of any cakes with creams. At that point, it’s more cream than cake. And believe me, it’s the most sugarish thing I’ve ever eaten in my whole life.”
“Don’t feel obligated to specify this detail.” groans his friend.
“Because it will break your reputation as a tough guy who only likes black coffee and heavy metal ? Come on Shun, Yuya will soon know how much of a softie you are.”
The older Kurosaki glares at him.
“I have an image to keep, if I don’t want anything to happen to you or Ruri.”
“Yeah yeah, big brother keeping an eye on his sister. Honestly, you’re like a giant mother hen.”
“More like a giant falcon.” blurts out Sora.
Three gazes are now directed toward him.
“It’s huh … Because of his eyes ? You know, yellow and bird prey.”
The answer seems to be satisfying enough for Yuya to redirect his attention to Yuto.
“What do you advise me to take ? The less bitter thing please.”
“You can try vanilla latte. It’s basic and sweet. But in any case, you will make a grimace if you’re not used to.”
“I guess I will have to suffer for the rest of the afternoon.” sighs Yuya. “Okay, here I go !” he says, while walking with confidence toward the machine, now that it’s his turn.
Sora puts the right amount of money in it, and soon, the sleepy student has a hot cup in his hand.
“Man, it’s awful !” declares Yuya, once he finishes the last gulp.
“Told you so. But now, you will be wide awake for an hour or two.”
“I guess I will see you wednesday for the next drama session then.” Sora thinks he heard a small tone of sadness at the end. The lunch break is almost over.
“Yes, tomorrow. Don’t forget to bring the book with you.”
“I will. Take care of you.”
“You too.”
Yuto seems to hesitate, like he wanted to add something, but he doesn’t open his mouth again. Yuya and Sora go through the crowd of students, to meet Yuzu at the door of the literature class.
The beginning of this class wasn't one he would have qualified "exciting". In fact, he was daydreaming again.
“Sora ? Earth to Sora !”
Yuzu elbows him gently, since she didn’t have any reaction from the bluenette.
“Yes ?”
“We’re supposed to work on this extract.” She points out the piece of text they are studying.
“Oh, this one …”
The book brings back too many memories. Too many bad memories. Those lines, even more.
It’s so ironic, that he now has to talk about the point of view of a protagonist seeing a loved one being hurt, hurt so deep in his soul that the protagonist is not even sure it could be healed.
“Alright everyone. Who wants to go first ?”
Sora raises his hand, as fast as he can. Yuzu lifts an eyebrow.
“Sora, you can begin.”
Sora takes a deep breath, before his mouth begins to talk.
“Shun ? You’re here ?
“Leave me alone.”
The Fusion user sighed, before he took off his pocket the duplicate keys. The lock clicked, before Sora could open the door.
“I’m coming. Where are you ?”
“In the living room. Or bedroom. Or whatever you call it. Where did you expect me to be ?”
In the shower, while slowly emptying yourself of your blood. Sora thought.
There was annoyance in his tone, but Sora prefered this to the dull one he too often had, every time he came to visit the ex-resistant.
“Did you eat yesterday ?”
Silence.
“I brought carrots. And pasta. And open the damn window, would you ?”
He heard a shuckle, before some light sneaked out of the curtain.
“Open it, wide !”
Soon, he felt a light stream of air.
“Better huh ? You feel it too, don’t you ? Wind is better for a bird than an airless room.”
More chuckles. Shun seemed to be in a pretty good mood today.
“A bird that has his wings cut. I don’t think it matters anymore.”
“Shush ! Help me store the groceries instead of saying bullshit.”
“You don’t need my help. You know by heart this apartment.”
“I still need you and your height to store those cans.”
“Alright, alright, I’m coming.”
He heard the bed cracking, and a few seconds later, Shun was standing at the door.
“Where do you want me to put them ?”
“Aren’t you the one who … Never mind, just put them over there.”
Sora threw his hand in the direction of the upper cupboard. Shun performed his task.
“You know, you will be so skinny that one day, a gust will take you off the ground. I bet you will be hovering, with this coat of yours.”
“Maybe Sora, maybe. But I’m more worried about a shrimp like you.”
“The shrimp actually prepared your meal so I would be quiet if I were you.”
“Threatens so. Thanks Sora, but I don’t need it.”
Shun stared at him, and Sora wanted to scream that yes, he needed someone to help him, to make him remember how to live. He knew that Shun ate whatever he brought, but the bluenette he was pretty sure that he threw up almost immediately after his meal. His mind wasn’t the only thing broken.
“Next time, I will try salad. You still like vinaigrette ? What about onions ?”
“Everything will be fine Sora. You don’t need to be so thoughtful.”
“Who will do it for you, bird brain ?”
“No one.”
“Shun …”
“I don’t need your help Sora. It’s kind of you to do it … But stop.”
“But you won’t feed yourself if I didn’t. You won’t clean this place if I didn’t come regularly. You won’t talk to anyone, until your throat doesn’t remember how to make sound.”
Sora went to the main room. He began to clean it, by taking away the empty bottle on the table.
“Is this how you want to live, Shun ?”
He felt the man tensing. But he couldn’t care much. He needed something to make him move on from his lifestyle. Because …
Because Sora desperately wished he could help him.
“I wish I could live with my sister and Yuto. I wish they were still here. I wish to hear Ruri laugh, I wish to see Yuto become a pro duelist. I wish to see them happy and alive. I wish I could see them until my last breath.”
“It’s impossible Shun. You know it. They’re …”
“Gone. Gone because of some crazy reincarnations stuff and a madman who wanted to revive the dead. I could not blame him. I would do it, if I knew there was a chance.” he whispered.
“They would want you to live, Shun. To live decently.”
“I can’t. They are my world. My everything. My responsibilities. I failed to protect them. Twice.”
Sora stayed silent, as he finished to throw away the bottles. What was left was only dust on the floor.
“I don’t want to forget them. I don’t want to. If the pain numb, one day, I will wake up while not remembering that I loved them. That they are what was the most precious thing to me. I forgive Yuya, you know. But I can’t look at him without thinking of Yuto … How unfair it was that only him is alive.”
“Did you take your meds ?” Sora deflected quickly the subject.
Shun laughed. A bitter laugh.
“Of course not. It numbs the pain. It erases the guilt.”
“It will help you to move on.”
“I don’t want to. I want to stay in a world where Ruri Kurosaki and Yuto are still alive.”
“You will have too. Otherwise, you …”
Words were stuck in his throat. For a single second, he imagined the moment when he would find his dead corpse. How his eyes, so brilliant of life, full of a rage and hatred during the war, will become like ice. How his fingers, rough on the edge by the dint of drawing cards, would become cold. How his hair would turn gray, a dirty gray painted by sadness and depression.
Sora knew he was egoist but … He wanted to keep Shun alive for a little longer. Just one more day.
“I don’t know what you see in me. I don’t know what you’re searching here. I’m no longer the Kurosaki Shun you knew. I’m a pale copy of a man that had his hopes crushed.”
“I don’t want you to be strong. I don’t want you to be the fiery opponent I once dueled. I don’t want you to forget them. I want you to let us help you.”
And by us, he meant the Lancers plus his friends from the Xyz dimension, so Kaito, Allen and Sayaka.
But under “us”, there was a “me”.
And as usual, Shun shook his head.
“There is nothing more to say. Leave me alone.”
The conversation - if this was one - was over. Sora took back his bags, before going out of the one-room apartment.
“Thanks for your analysis. Someone wants to add anything else ?”
As the teacher interrogates another student, Yuzu whispers.
“I didn’t think you were THAT implicate when we were talking earlier. Honestly, how did you do it in such a short time ?”
Sora shrugs.
“My skills, that’s all.”
“I can’t believe it, there must be something else.”
“There isn’t …”
“Shiunin and Hiragi ! Would you please stay quiet while your classmate is speaking ?”
“Sorry Madam !”
The bell rings, marking the end of their day. Yuya stretches a little, as they are walking home.
“This class was soooooooooooooooooo long. I thought I was going to die from exhaustion.”
“That would make you learn to go to bed at a decent hour.”
“But I have something really, reaaaaaaaaally important to prepare !”
“And what is it ?”
Yuya stops in his tracks, before answering.
“Something about the drama option.”
“They give you extra work already ? I’m surprised.”
“Well, since we are preparing the play from A to Z, there is a lot to do, aside from learning our text.”
“Why don’t you spend time with Yuto on it ?” Asks Sora.
Yuya blinks a few times.
“I mean, you have the same job after all, isn’t it ? So why not mutualize your knowledge ? Plus, you’ll gain precious hours for sleep.”
“You’re a genius Sora ! Why did I not think about it before !”
Before the mood of Yuya suddenly drops.
“Unless he already had something else to do, or didn't want to work with me, or can’t since I heard that he lived far from the highschool.”
“Come on Yuya ! You didn’t even ask him yet that you’re already supposing his answers !”
“But I don’t want to put him in a difficult situation !
“The worst that can happen is that he refuses. Nothing more.” adds Yuzu.
‘True enough. But I don’t have his schedule !”
“You ask for this WHEN you’ll see him, dummy.”
“I will !”
Yuya is pumped up now. Sora is happy to see that he and Yuto would probably spend good time together.
Unlike their previous life …
Sometimes, he wonders if he’s hallucinating, if he imagined everything. If this was just a coincidence that he dreamt of Yuya and Yuzu way before he met them. That he dreamt of Yuto and Miami city, that he dreamt of Academia and the Lancers.
But why would Yuya and Yuto be here, if he really has this past life ? It is more logical that he met Zarc and Ray. Did they even exist in this world ?
Sora throws a look to Yuya and Yuzu, arguing about the next suit she’ll be wearing for her singing performance. He shakes his head, chasing out those thoughts.
He’s glad to live this life, and will do everything he can to enjoy it as its fullest.
“Sora ! Help me convince Yuzu !”
“For what ? Stopping her to hit you with her fan ?”
“SORA !”
“I’m home Asuka !”
“Welcome back Sora. How was your day ?”
“As usual. And your ?”
“Quite peaceful actually. I’ve been teaching to third year students and it was a great thing to see a minority passionate.”
“Why didn’t you choose to teach at university ?”
“There is more social contact in highschool. In university, I would have too many students for too little time.”
“True enough. I’m going to do my homeworks, will you need help for dinner ?”
“I don’t think so. Good luck !”
Sora climbs the stairs leading to his room.Once there, he sets the bag near his desk, takes another lollipop, and begins the math exercises he has for tomorrow.
Asuka, as long as he remembers, is what he considers his only family. When he was younger, around 5, his parents died and since she is his closest relative as his aunt, she took care of him. She had been freshly graduated from the Academia of Europe - another fact that he knew way before she told him - at that time, and was searching for a job. Sora remembered that he regularly changed school when he was a kid, since his aunt was working for a year or two at the same place. It was when he went to middle school that he met Yuya and Yuzu. At the same time, her aunt found a permanent job at Heartland highschool so here he is, friend with the two and spending his last years of freedom with them.
Sora feared that he could only find Yuya and Yuzu in this life. Even if technology allows him to search through millions and millions of profiles through social networks, he doubts that he could do a lot even after finding him on the web. What if he was too old ? Too young ? Was not born yet ? Die before Sora could even walk ? Had a family, living on the other side of the continent ? What if ?
When Yuya talked about a “Dark Rebellion” guy, Sora’s heart jolted. He was pretty sure that Yuya, unintentionally, had found his Xyz counterpart. And if Yuto was alive …
The chances of Shun being too were big.
When he appeared, in front of him … Sora would pinch himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. That Shun was alive, not scorched by mental scars of losing at a young age his family, of fighting in a lost war, of seeing phantoms from the past. The Shun of this time was the image of the Shun before the war.
He hopes nothing will go wrong this time.
Maybe he can try spending time with him ? Since Yuya will spend hours with Yuto on their drama project, Sora can take the opportunity to talk with him. Of what he is doing aside classed, what he is doing every morning, what he likes to eat or not, if he still has this obsession of his about birds. Of what Shun is, behind the protecting big brother. Behind the rebel who never ceased to fight, whoever was the enemy. Behind the Lancer who would throw himself into countless battles, either being it duels of fist fights.
Yuto said he likes metal. Sora laughs quietly. Shun always gave him the impression he’s purposely scowling at life itself. He’s pretty sure that his entire wardrobe is entirely composed of black or somber colours. Did Sora ever see him smile ? A genius smile ?
He retraced the shape of his face, how tense his shoulders were, how handsome his scowl was, (this famous scowl. Sora still doesn’t know how he managed to make his heart do a backflip.) how his voice was not hoarse yet. But still incredible to hear. Sora never gets tired of hearing the small variations and …
A cough takes him by surprise. Sora threw his hand on his mouth. Did his saliva go down the wrong way ? Another cough. Something is weird. It’s like something is caught in his throat, taking all the place it can, and preventing him from breathing.
With more force, he spits out what was blocking his breathing.
His eyes get bigger when he sees what he has in his hands.
A flower.
But not any flower. A flower with long petals that are shaped like wings. Navy blue with touches of teal. The edges are darker. It’s small in his palms.
Sora knew what it meant. It’s not a common thing, but since 30% of the population was concerned by this, governments take measures. So, everyone ever heard of the Hanahaki disease.
A medical visit will have to be set.