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After being freed from the world of Darkness the entire Duel Academy ran happily towards Judai for saving the day.
Yusuke was feeling giddy as if the entire world became blank, he feels good looking at the sun again after staying 5 years in World of Darkness, however he feels a pain in his head and the world around him became giddy and he collapsed.
When he woke up few days later he found himself laying on hospital bed, the adjacent window streaming in an afternoon's light and letting it fall over his wrists, his face. Blankets covered in his lap.
A series of white monitor were positioned by bed, their electronic beeping difficult to separate from each other. Opened to the waist, he was dressed in white hospital PJ. Different clothes were piled on a table set against the far wall, and a duel disk rested over the folds of black. The deck inside would likely be his own.
He looked away as a door slid open. The nurse whom he recognize stepped inside smiled as their eyes met. Her red hair was tightly pulled back, she wore a pink shirt and a jacket version of his Obelisk Blue Uniform
"Fujiwara-kun, I'm glad to see that you're awake! Do you have any pain in your head?"
"No," he said, wincing as the word dragged its way out of his dry mouth, and the woman maneuvered around the bed -- the centerpiece of the room, positioned adjacent to the forest beyond the glass -- and directed a glass of water into his numb hands. A pill bottle stood tall on the side table. The name of the medication meant something to him.
"Here, use the straw. Also, if you press this call button here, one of the nurses can bring you more after my visit," she said brightly.
"Thank you Ayukawa-sensei"
She then bring a chair over to the side of a bed and adjust the clipboard previously held under one arm. "Welcome! you should also press it if you experience any sharp pains, especially in your head. Do you understand that?"
He nodd.
"We're glad you came back alive and we thought we lost you ". Ayukawa replied, lifting a penciled eyebrow, and she transitioned into an examination, checking the monitors. Fatigue should not have set in so rapidly. Even lifting an arm made his vision blur. Restlessness was a fanged prisoner caged inside his chest, striking out at whatever walls it could find.
"Fujiwara-kun? Should I put the blinds down for you?"
"No," he ground out, pinching at the space between his eyebrows. "I need to know when I will be discharged."
"I guess after 3 days," she answered, smoothing out her pink dress as she stood up. She checked the monitors. "We've had a case like this fairly recently, many students are also hospitalized with similar case to yours. Your data during intake was even similar, although it's steadily returning to normal levels. Given what we've learned, it's important to take things more easy."
"I can handle more than that."
"Hm… Then I should emphasize that rest is an important part of the healing process," Ayukawa observed, stowing her clipboard under her arm again. "Please, trust in us. Everyone at the hospital and Duel Academy will support you." With that she trailed off.
Despite what he did to her under Darkness influence she was still kind and caring towards him and he felt he doesn't deserve those kind of compassion.
He blinked, and then he was staring at his own wrist, the tube that merged with his skin leading to an IV bag -- the fluid clear. In other words he had IV attached to his wrist. The blinds hung halfway down, golden light over the slates and framing horizontal sections of the wind-tossed leaves.
Yusuke hated being confined to a bed all day to recover. Before he would enjoy staying in Darkness and have nightmares but now he preferred to spend the day outside the sun. He hated the whiteness of the hospital especially being forced to rest because of the trauma he had of losing his parents. He still remebered more than 10 years ago he had to witness his parents dead body at mortuary and staying in hospital makes him think about that awful moment. But the World of Darkness gave him solace where there is no winners or losers, and everyone shares their negative emotions but now his perspective has changed after Judai saved and reunited him with Honest.
Yusuke didn't left the medical wing once since his and others return to Academy. But for once, he wasn't complaining. He was able to stay in hospital with minimal visitors to insure that he gets his rest and needn't face the outside reality of the world for at least a week. Sometimes he thought it was better to live in dream rather than face the reality.
In fact majority of what happened after his and Darkness's mutual defeat as soon as he escaped the World of Darkness with Honest and return to real world he had flashes of faces and scenes with familiar and unfamiliar faces Fubuki, Kenzen, Sho, Chazz, Ryo, Rei, and Asuka etc.
But those weren't really his memories, yet somehow he just knew. Maybe it was Darkness' remaining presence that left these imprints in his brain, in his memories. Those memories so dark and disturbing and rightly real and he wanted to forget them so badly. After all it was because of him the entire world went to World of Darkness and it was because of him everyone had to suffer with nightmares of their hopes and dreams getting crushed.
Yusuke shifted uncomfortably on his hospital bed and turned onto his side to face the chair next to bed. On top of the chair was the clothes here wore when he was still possed by Darkness. Fubuki wanted to have those cloths thrown out but for some reason, Yusuke couldn't allow it. Maybe it was a reminder of what he had done, though technically not his fault and no one blamed him especially Fubuki, Judai and their friends because they know Darkness was using his body but Yusuke still feels guilty about his crimes.
He then shift to the straight position and began staring at the ceiling aimlessly not knowing what to do and he was getting bored seeing the whiteness of the hospital. His aimless thoughts are interrupted when he again looked away as the door slid.
"Hi Fujiwara". It was a student who is around the same age as him and he is dressed in a inverted Obelisk Blue uniform and he stood tall and had long chocolate brown hair and eyes and he greeted him cheerfully with a warm smile on his face and was holding a boutique flower.
"Fubuki!" Yusuke greeted with a small smile.
Fubuki saw a empty vase on the nightstand and went to place the flower over there which is next to his bed and then took a seat by his bedside.
"So how are you feeling now"? The burnette asked
"I am honestly having a migraine and my body is feeling numb". The seaweed haired sighed.
"Even after I wore that mask I also got severe migraine like you, but trust me it gets better".
"I guess you're right Bucky it does get better after all I used to feel comfort and solace whenever I wore that mask but not anymore."
"I hope you're back to your old self".
"Yes I am and its all thanks to you, Honest and Judai."
"Fujiwara you're just pure and you really want to make friends and connect with them but your fear of being forgotten is preventing you from doing so".
"Yeah I just wish I could learn to trust you, Honest, Ryo, and some of my friends sooner than later." Yusuke replied as he narrowed his eyes towards Fubuki. "Judai was right! their was hope in me but I was being pessimistic if I had understood it sooner then maybe we both would never become Darkness and I would have never send an-" A guilt and remorseful expression was seen on his face and before he could finish Fubuki interuptted him.
"Fujiwara I understand how you feel but whatever you did it wasn't your fault and Darkness is very strong and when he takes over our body our negative emotions amplify us and we lost control over ourself".
"But still I commit a major unforgivable deed and I don't understand why you're being so kind to me despite knowing what I did?".
"But me, Ryo, Judai and our friends forgive you easily and even if you apologize to entire school they will forgive you and everyone is giving you a second chance so please accept it".
Fubuki always loved to cheer up his friends whenever they are down and he understands the guilt Yusuke is feeling and he wants to do whatever it takes to cheer him up and make him feel better so he decide to change the subject talking about their good times..
"Do you remeber during our welcome dinner when we were on first year their was a punk in our class named Shida and he attacked everyone using his cards and when he attacked Chronos-sensei we all saw his underwear and we all couldn't stop laughing our ass off including Ryo". Both of them began laughing as they remebered that day.
"Yeah and Chronos-sensei gave him 6 month detention and I got to admit despite being strict Sensei can be a bit funny at times". Yusuke replied with a chuckle he then snorted before turning towards Fubuki "Are you trying to change the subject?"
"Actually I want to talk more about our good times than bad times". Fubuki replied sheepishly while scratching the back of his head.
"If that's what you want then I am fine with it"
"Back when we were in our 1st year their used to be a huge competition between me, you, and Ryo and you're the genius one who would overwork when we have exams."
"Back then you would often try to cheer me up and when my mind almost got exploded you took me on a beach night walk during midnight and the weather during that night was so cool, calm and peacefu which made me relax."
"Rain came and we both got drenched and started to play in the rain".
"But the worst part was we both got cold the next day and I worked so hard for my Physics exam and and ours got post-poned because we weren't fit to do the exam that day."
"And Ryo was the one who took care of us".
"Fubuki among we three you were the least serious and troublemaker one! You tend to humiliate and embrass me and Ryo and even set us up with our annoying fans."
"Yep, to be honest I just want to have some fun with you guys but you two tend to be boring at times and always with the books and when we tend to talk it's always about studies and dueling". Fubuki hissed
"Boring! Are we seriously that boring for you?". Yusuke snickered "I hope you remember during weekends we stay up all night to watch movies and play board games".
Fubuki sneered in return and then added. " Yeah you were a champion in chess, Ryo was a champion in mine craft games, and me I was a champion in monopoly."
"And not mention we tend too cook our dinner and deserts during weekend and when Ryo cooks he tends to burn the entire food and even injuries and burn his hand"
"We would often treat him and then we both would takeover the kitchen from him and it becomes to much work for us, and then we forbade him from entering the kitchen when he messed up his cooking for the 5th time in the row,". Fubuki added.
Both Fubuki and Yusuke laughed when they remebered how Ryo would burn his food.
"Do you remember during eggwhich day if one of us get the sandwich we would often fight like kids and bet through duel". Fubuki said.
"Yeah we were teenagers back then and now we're almost 20 so you'll be graduating this year?"
"Yep, we were supposed to graduate with Ryo but when I return 2 years ago I was held back and completed my studies with Asuryn and graduation is next week. So Fujiwara what are you going to do now?"
"Well I have decided to complete my education rather than being a high school dropout, so once I am discharged I will talk with Principal about it and it doesn't matter if others forgive me or not as long as you and Ryo forgive me that's all that matters.".
Fubuki smiled in relief that Yusuke choose to move ahead in his life perhaps his and Honest presence has a slight postive impact in him even if he feels no one will forgive him.
"And what are you planning to do after you graduate?"
"As for me I am going to Duel College in USA with Asuka and pose with some cute models and Yusuke during summer vacation do you like to come with me for shopping?"
Yusuke rolled his eyes before snorting at this and he thought Fubuki would at least change and become matured after dealing with Darkness but he is still goofy and air-headed as he had been before becoming Darkness and he can't think of going to shopping with Fubuki because he remembered during their 1st year when they went on school filed trip to USA and when he and Ryo accompanied Fubuki for shopping back then the burnett would ask them to buy some Hawaiian shirts, pop idol suits and some khaki shorts etc. So going on a shopping trip with him is embarrassing for both of them and Asuka.
Yusuke sighed. "You haven't changed a bit and even after 5 years you're still childish as ever Bucky. I guess my advice is you need to be a bit matured after all your now an adult".
"Well I am glad the old you is gradually returning back. You, Asuka, and Ryo would often try to act as my mother."
Yusuke chuckled a bit when he remembered how he and Ryo has to keep Fubuki in tabs whenever he engaged in immature antics because of him they would get into trouble. Once they both tied Fubuki on his bed for a day in order to teach him a lesson to never mess up or joke with them.
Suddenly a important question popped up Yusuke's mind. "Their is something I forget to ask, where is Ryo?"
Fubuki lowered his head and frowned and Yusuke could tell something bad happened to him?
"Its a long story but he suffered a heart attack and is currently hospitalized. He also underwent a heart surgery recently but now he is doing better compared to before". Fubuki replied solemnly.
Yusuke's eyes went wide in shock and horrar. He can't believe Ryo had suffered a severe heart attack. How is it possible?
Fubuki explained the timeline to Yusuke from A to Z how he returned as Nightshroud, their battle against the Seven Stars and Kagemaru to Ryo's graduation match against Judai and Ryo's birth and crimes as Hell Kaiser, Yusuke wasn't surprised about the Seven Stars battle because he had seen many crazy things before but was shocked to learn about Banner's death and horrified to learn Ryo's transformation as Hell Kaiser even when he used those shock collars to nearly kill his brother Sho since he knew Ryo as calm and a respectable young man.
"But now he is back to his old self after returning from Dark World thanks to Sho and wants to start a new league with him without using his Hell Kaiser self" Fubuki continued. "I am pretty sure he would be happy to see you again. I disappeared few days after you and when you left Ryo wasn't the same as he was before and he became more distant".
Yusuke sympathize with Ryo despite learning about his crimes. "I understand what Ryo went through because we both are similar and we can relate to each other and if I were him I guess I would have done something similar".
"Why don't we visit him after your discharged?" Fubuki suggested.
Yusuke had mixed feelings he was happy to see Ryo again but was worried if Ryo could remember him and Fubuki assured him he would.
Fubuki then told him about Saiou and Light of Destruction events as well as the battle with Viper in school and Yubel in dark world
Yusuke suddenly clutched his head in pain and Fubuki grow worried and gave him a concern glare. "Are you alright".
"Since removing that mask I am getting severe migraine".
Fubuki saw a fruit basket on the nightstand and he grabbed a apple. "Let me peel some apples for you after all they're good for headache"
Yusuke nodd.
The two continue to talk and share some new embrassing stories and Ayukawa would come from time to time to check Yusuke and give him some new drip
Once Yusuke fell asleep Fubuki pull the blanket upwards and decide to sleep by his side on the chair and before going to sleep he kissed his friends forehead and muttered "Welcome back home Fujiwara".