Chapter Text
“Make every move count. Make every move with purpose. Because the second you falter, will be the second of your downfall.”
Dennis sighed softly as he watched Sora. Maybe it wasn’t the best idea to let his duel with Kurosaki Shun go on, especially when the person orchestrating the entire thing had chosen Heartland City as the duel field. It only served to make Kurosaki even more hostile and Sora was rather pouty about it too. Dennis crossed his arms, leaning against the wall of the corridor that led out to the stands. Had Sora truly forgotten his training to such an extent?
He couldn’t be mad at him. If Sora had forgotten any training, it was his fault for being on and off with mentoring him for years now. Only showing back up at Duel Academy from his own mission in the XYZ dimension for Sora’s birthday, and even that he had to fight Aster on to get. He missed Sora’s tenth birthday, he wasn’t going to miss his eleventh too. Whoever took over for him, if anyone had, was to blame for Sora’s actions.
At least, that was an easy lie to believe. Sora was just a kid, he shouldn’t be in the war at all . He should have been back in Fusion, a scrappy little brat pleading for Zane or Atticus to teach him just the dueling basics. Instead, he was dueling like a seasoned fighter. Because that was what he was .
Dennis ignored the voice in the back of his head that whispered he himself had been eleven and already a high-ranking member of Obelisk Force, well on his way to the title he would earn just two years after that. The entire war was just one huge, deadly joke. He closed his eyes, not wanting to see the heavy hit Sora was going to take from one of Kurosaki’s Raidraptors.
He had his missions. His reasons for being there in Maiami City. The Professor had been quite clear with his praise for Dennis’ spying. Synchro had been too easy, the girl had her guard up and was quite the little spitfire against Yuri, but hadn’t noticed Dennis tailing her at all. XYZ though, that was where things became interesting.
He was able to get the job done at least. Kurosaki Ruri was an interesting duelist, but no match for Yuri in the midst of the all-out onslaught from Academia. That had taken him a few months as he scouted out areas for attack as well. And a little bump in the road named Sakaki Yusho. He had taught Dennis a few new tricks, but in the end, he was just in the way of things. Letting Aster handle him was the best choice.
He had returned to the Academia expecting a month’s break, but it seemed everyone else had other plans. Sometimes the incompetency of some baffled him. Well, it had, until he came to Maiami City and found true incompetency and naiveness. The first thing he heard upon returning was that he had new orders. Sora had yet to report back and was defiant about returning from Standard, and as his handler, Dennis was tasked with bringing him back. Not only that, but Serena, the Professor's little princess , had gone rogue too. Since when was Dennis a babysitter for her? She was spirited, he’d give her that. But no discipline. She acted worse than Sora sometimes.
And finally, the third reason. To scout out Yuzu for Yuri. His actual mission, what he was trained to do. Not to herd cats, at least, that was what it felt like going after Sora and Serena. Maybe he had messed up somewhere down the line in the three years he had trained Sora, if he was acting out this badly. Dennis had tried to keep him on track, but the honest truth was that he didn’t even want Sora in the war at all.
His nightmares were still haunted by Sora’s screams that day, seeing what happened to his twin. The day he had swore to keep Sora as safe as possible. He owed the kid that much, since he had already broken his promise to Alexis. And the best way to do it was to take him on at the same time when Yuri was given to him to train. He had already proven himself in the Professor’s eyes, but he knew his request wasn’t one given as praise. If Sora failed, Dennis would be the one punished for it, the same with Yuri. A way to keep him in line. A spy’s position in Academia was always precarious, especially since his partner had turned traitor with one of Academia’s legends. He didn’t fault her for leaving, just like she didn’t fault him for staying.
As much as Dennis hated to admit it, Sora was a natural. No matter the training he would pass it with flying colors. His drive for survival was one that nearly matched Yuri’s, just less bloodthirsty, there was still an innocence to him. It wasn’t long before people were praising the boy for being one of Obelisk’s youngest soldiers. On track to be as great as his older brother, without the whole traitor thing. Maybe it was anger at what happened, maybe it was fear that drove him that far. Whatever it was, Dennis was going to put a stop to it, since he finally had an answer to the problem of how to do it.
The answer was the one sitting down in the stands just below him, shouting at Kurosaki to stop the duel as part of a building came crashing down. None other than one Sakaki Yuya. He looked so much like Yuri, and that one duelist who was close to Ruri, there was no coincidence about it. Dennis knew something was up about that, and was willing to bet there was a fourth one just like those three in Synchro. Maybe he could get some answers, after he was certain Sora was safe.
He didn’t know Yuya, not beyond what he had seen so far in the tournament. But he did know Sora was close to him and Yuzu. He knew that look in Sora’s eyes, the kid was always one to get attached easily. But at least this time, it seemed mutual. Yuya acted much like Dennis himself tried to sometimes, as an exasperated older brother. And as a bonus, his mother seemed to adore Sora too.
Dennis wouldn’t just pawn off his little brat on them fully. Sora would truly rebel against him then, but having someone he could trust to watch him while things went on wouldn’t be so bad. He could trust them with him. After all, Dennis knew the Sakaki name well. Yuya was his teacher’s son. He followed the man’s teachings, and had a kind heart. Perhaps too kind of one. Yuya sat there, completely oblivious about what was going to happen all because of the girl that shouted next to him.
Yuzu. Dennis fought back a sneer as he looked at the pair. She was an alright duelist, Sora had taught her fusion summoning and she handled it well. But her dueling was just a game. She was too innocent, with such a broad outlook on life. She didn’t even question Kurosaki’s hostility until it was aimed at Sora. He knew she had a run-in with the other XYZ duelist too, and yet she still didn’t have a clue.
Naive. That’s what she was.
Dennis didn’t feel bad about the message sent to Yuri. Target found. Location tracked. Obelisk Force would take just a day to prepare and get to Standard. He wasn’t the only one who knew that, he was well aware of the fact. Akaba Reiji was quite interesting. Dennis wasn’t a fool. Akaba was running the show, and he figured out Sora was from Fusion, sending out his rabid dog after him to prove it to everyone. Unfortunately, he had guessed right that Sora would get frustrated with the duel not going his way.
He was just a kid. If Sora had acted like that in the Academia, Dennis would have sent him to face the Battle Beast a few times. Much to his relief, they weren’t in the Fusion Dimension.
24 hours. Keep Truesdale from interfering too much. Was the reply sent back to him from Yuri, just as he expected. Yuri wasn’t one for partners. Dennis knew he was the exception because the two of them managed to actually work easily together. But his hunter had no patience for Sora’s antics.
Neither did Kurosaki, it seemed, as the duel came to an end. Dennis watched Sora closely. He was injured, but nothing that would require too long to heal. It seemed as if most of the damage was to his pride more than anything else. Honestly, Dennis was grateful to Kurosaki for that, a little bit. As good as Sora was, there was always someone who could best him. A lesson Dennis tried to teach him.
And one that Kurosaki had delivered heavier than Dennis ever had. Maybe it would stick finally.
“Things are about to get interesting.” Dennis mused, grabbing his decoy duel disk. “There won’t be any time for me to duel in this thing anymore.” Pressing a few buttons, he sent in his withdrawal request from the tournament.
The timing would look suspect. He hoped it did. Having Akaba’s attention on him was exactly what Dennis wanted. If there was ever a chance to get Sora out of the war, it was then. Dennis stepped back into the shadow of the hallway as Yuya and Yuzu ran past, possibly to try and get to the hospital to meet Sora. They wouldn’t be able to, he was sure on that one. Sora had spilled a lot of information. No doubt Akaba would try to get more from him.
Which would activate the failsafe on his duel disk. If Sora started to say too much, it would send him back. Dennis frowned. Of course, it could only send him back if it was in working condition…
He had to get to Sora before anyone else did.
It was a lot easier than Dennis thought it would be. Security was too busy with Yuzu and Yuya out at the front of the hospital. Or, perhaps, they were expecting Akaba to come collect him sooner rather than later. Either way, Sora’s room was left unguarded, and it worked in his favor. Dennis slipped into the room, looking at the fitfully sleeping boy there.
“I knew you weren’t ready for this.” Dennis murmured softly, walking over to the bed just as Sora’s eyes flew open. He sat up quickly, on edge with wide eyes until he realized who was in the room with him.
There was a flash of fear, gone as soon as it came when Sora truly recognized him. “Dennis! Where’s Shun! He cheated- he had to!”
“He didn’t, Sora.” Dennis said calmly. There had been no cheating in the duel, Raidraptors were just a powerful archetype.
“He did! There’s no way I would lose to some XYZ scum!” Sora spat, sitting up and wincing in pain. “He owes me a rematch! A fair one!”
“Sora-”
“He can’t win against me! He can’t he can’t he can’t! I’m gonna kick his ass and card him and then rip it-”
Dennis snapped his fingers to catch Sora’s attention. “What would Syrus say if he saw you right now?” He asked coldly.
The words rang out in the room like a gunshot. It was enough to silence Sora, who stared up at him. His breathing was labored, from his own anger and injuries. It was the lowest blow Dennis could do, to bring up Sora’s lost twin like that. But it was an effective way of getting him to still for a few moments. It kept him from continuing on with his outbursts for a moment.
It didn’t stop him from getting out of the bed, shoving Dennis away. “No! I have to do this! It’s my mission, not yours !” He screamed.
Dennis sighed, not hiding his frustration with the tiny agent. He was impulsive at best, and at worst he was downright reckless. He was really worked up if the mention of Syrus didn’t stop him fully. Of course, Dennis knew all too well what was going through Sora’s mind. He was an Obelisk Force soldier. Nothing was more important than a mission.
It was one of the first things Dennis had taught him. But he had also taught him self-preservation. Which Sora seemed to forget in the heat of the moment. Something Dennis couldn’t train out of him with Sora being so young. That worked in Dennis’ favor for that moment.
Sora was angry. Angry at Shun for winning and angry at himself for losing. He was also injured, which meant Dennis was faster than he was. When Sora moved to grab his duel disk, Dennis snatched it from the table first. “Hey! What are you-”
Dennis removed the deck from the holder, tossing the duel disk to the ground and slamming his foot down on it, destroying it with a few sparks flying out of it. The screen flashed once, Dennis knew Academia would take it as Sora’s demise. “Why did you do that?!” Sora screeched. “I have to find Shun and defeat him! I can’t do that without a duel disk!”
“Sora.” Dennis said firmly. “Forget about dueling, I’m taking you to Yuya-”
“Give me your duel disk! I have to do this! I have to-!”
Dennis closed his eyes even as Sora moved to attempt to punch him. He stopped the smaller duelist, grabbing his wrist firmly and glaring at him. Sora was a fighter, struggling to get out of his grip and even kicking at Dennis to try and get away. Dennis set the cards down on the table, grabbing Sora’s other wrist just as firm as the first.
“Sora. It’s time to count sheep, before you fully disgrace your brother’s memory.”
Just the first five words alone would have been enough. The second the phrase came out of his mouth Sora had gone limp in his hold. ‘It’s time to count sheep’, a phrase Dennis made certain Sora could never disobey. No matter how much he would fight any other order.
The words were used to bring him down out of missions and training. A way Dennis could be certain Sora would listen to reason no matter how bad things became at Academia. It was something the Professor knew nothing about, only one other person knew the system like he did. She had helped him create it for each other, after all. The Professor would have him carded if he knew, if Dennis was caught conditioning Sora to take the command as an unavoidable order to drop any masks, to listen to what Dennis was saying.
If he knew Dennis’ own… he and Alexis vowed to card themselves if ever caught. No one could know. It was a matter of life or death, and both would rather die than allow the Professor that control.
He could see the conflicting emotions in Sora’s eyes. The conditioning to listen to the words versus his anger and drive to continue going. Eventually, the words won out over everything else. Sora sobbed in his grip and Dennis pulled him closer into a tight hug. The last part of his sentence had been to drive home just how far Sora had gone. To get him to think instead of just rushing around running on whatever programming Academia had forced into him. It was harsh, it was cruel, but Syrus never failed to get Sora in the end.
“Calm down. You’ve done your mission.” Dennis whispered to him. “I told Yuri already-”
“No! He can’t- Yuzu- I-” Sora stumbled over his words, shaking his head with tears in his eyes. So, he had gotten close to her too. Explained how she had one of his Polymerization cards, Dennis had recognized the slightly faded parts of the card. He sighed, wishing that he had been able to get Sora out of his habit of getting attached to anyone who showed him positive attention. It was too late though.
“M-My mission here-”
“Was to scout her out. I was sent here after Serena.” Dennis explained. “But you. You are done with Academia.” Sora sobbed against his stomach, shaking his head again.
“Sora I told you. I promised I would keep you safe and Academia isn’t safe. I’ll explain more, but you need to calm down first.” It was never safe. And Dennis finally had an out for him, if the footsteps outside were anything to be believed. He kept Sora hidden, looking slightly over his shoulder as the door opened.
It wasn’t who he was expecting.
His eyes widened. At first, he thought it was Yuri in the doorway. The guy had the same sharp, duel-hardened eyes and face shape. But instead of the reddish-purple the hunter had, these eyes were a steel-gray. His hair wasn’t purple and pink, but purple and black. He looked just as startled as Dennis did, almost looking closer to Yuya in appearance with his face like that.
There was a red bandana around his arm too. The same color as the one Shun had around his neck. It wasn’t Yuri or Yuya in front of them, but the XYZ lookalike who had been close to Ruri. Dennis had lost track of where he had gone with the tournament and keeping an eye on Sora taking up all of his time. The lookalike showing up wasn’t something he had anticipated happening. Akaba or Kurosaki were to be expected, maybe Yuya and Yuzu if they managed to get past security.
“Who are you?” The shock was off his face as he glared at Dennis.
“I could ask the same question.” Dennis said, turning around and keeping Sora behind him protectively. At least the other duelist didn’t seem to recognize him, Kurosaki and… Yuto, that was his name, being there was far better than Kaito showing up at least. “I’m afraid Sora isn’t up for visitors right now.”
Yuto’s glare hardened. “You’re rather close to that Academia soldier. So I guess I can ask you both the same question. Where is Ruri?” He demanded.
Dennis blinked, of course that would be the first question asked. Yuto seemed a lot calmer about it than Kurosaki was, but there was still anger in his voice under the calmness. He had hoped for Akaba to find them before either XYZ duelist, but he could admit that Yuto was probably easier to handle. “We’re actually in the middle of a different conversation, so-”
“I don’t care if you were discussing the weather or plans to overthrow Academia.” Yuto deadpanned. “I only care about you both telling me where Ruri is.”
Stubborn, or at least focused, Dennis was impressed by that. “It’s a family matter actually.” There were heavier footsteps out in the hall. Security probably, they had to have heard Sora’s outbursts. Time was running out and Dennis wasn’t prepared to be completely found out just yet.
He had hoped to just get Sora to safety, then lay low until reinforcements and Yuri appeared. Then going to Akaba fully. But Yuto had shown up at the worst possible time. Sora clung to the back of Dennis’ vest, still trying to center himself after the sudden halt in his mind. There was no way he could just hand his ward over to Akaba and Yuya and vanish.
At least the appearance of Leo Corps security and Sora’s lack of reaction seemed to throw Yuto off as well, who appeared just as conflicted on what to do. Three sides cornering each other, it was almost amusing.
Until it wasn’t. Security weren’t the only ones to show up.
Dennis’ duel disk was activated the second the door flew open. He raised it up, blocking the blade of Kurosaki’s duel disk as it aimed for him and Sora. His eyes widened at the sudden appearance of the other duelist, Yuto looking on in shock as well.
“Shun! What are you doing?” Yuto asked him.
“So he was right, there are two spies here!” Kurosaki hissed, shoving away from Dennis only to try another strike. “Reiji said someone withdrew the second that brat lost!”
“You’re seriously working with Akaba!? I thought the plan was just to get intel from him!” Yuto shouted at his friend.
There wasn’t much Dennis could do, between blocking blows and trying to keep Sora safely behind him. Even with all of his training, he had never been taught how to defend another the way he was doing. Academia believed anyone and everyone useless, even their own soldiers, were to be carded. Defense was nothing they were truly taught. The only saving grace he had was how small the room was. Though it gave him less area to back away from Kurosaki from, it also gave Kurosaki less room to attack.
Not that it really mattered to Kurosaki. There was no rhythm to his attacks, and no deck in his duel disk. He had no plans on cornering Dennis for a duel, just attacking him. Dennis grimaced at that, he couldn’t keep blocking as he was, and Sora hadn’t even reacted to Kurosaki showing up. There was no help to be had there. He had to make a decision quickly, sidestepping the next punch Kurosaki tried to throw and glancing once at Yuto.
He wasn’t making any move to help Kurosaki, he looked more frustrated with him than anything else. Dennis was going to have to take the risk then. “Keep him safe!” Dennis ordered, blocking the next slash of Kurosaki’s duel disk and shoving Sora at Yuto.
Yuto was caught off guard, but that didn’t stop him from pulling Sora off to the side. Dennis sighed in relief. With Sora out of the way, he could focus solely on his attacker. The blade of his duel disk flipped, the sword aiming towards his wrist as the hilt blocked a blow aimed for his elbow. Dennis shoved back that time, taking a few steps forward to usher Kurosaki closer to the door.
If he could just get Kurosaki out into the hallway it would be an easier fight. But Kurosaki was sheer stubbornness as he continued the flurry of attacks. He was much like a bird, swooping in for quick strikes before moving back out of the way of any retaliation. As easily as he moved away, he crowed back into Dennis’ space soon after. He wasn’t coordinated with anything he was doing, and it was becoming overwhelming.
Belatedly, Dennis realized with horror that overwhelming him was exactly what Kurosaki was aiming for. It took him far too long to notice that each blow was almost overly exaggerated, so easy for Dennis to see and block yet quick enough that he couldn’t just turn and run. It was something he recognized from the resistance in the XYZ dimension.
Dennis was being run like prey. Not in the sense Academia did it, but in a way the resistance had with any Obelisk Force soldier unlucky enough to be caught alone. He had seen it once before, unfortunately that time it had also been with Kurosaki, and Kaito close behind to finish off the carding of the soldier. Yuto didn’t seem to recognize it, so Dennis was certain he wouldn’t do any carding. But all it would take was one misstep from Dennis and Kurosaki could finish the job himself.
Why hadn’t he carded Sora though? Kurosaki had a chance to, there would’ve been no way for Dennis to intervene after the duel-
Akaba.
Akaba Reiji had told him not to. Which meant Kurosaki wouldn’t card him either all because of his orders.
And there was Dennis’ misstep with the realization. His shoulder slammed into the floor harshly as Kurosaki pinned him on his stomach to the ground. Dennis struggled, trying to get up, but Kurosaki had one of his arms pinned behind him at a bad angle, the other trapped underneath Dennis. He was just beginning to accept the fact that getting away would mean popping his shoulder out of place when someone finally spoke.
“Shun, that’s quite enough. I do not believe he’ll be going anywhere now.”
Dennis turned his head, tensing as he saw Akaba stand there next to Yuto, a hand on Sora’s shoulder. Somehow during the fight, Yuto had moved closer to the door with Sora. And that had put him in just the right position for Akaba to keep them both from leaving.
Dennis grimaced, closing his eyes and going limp underneath Kurosaki. “Call off the dog.” He murmured. “And get your hands off of Sora.”
There was nothing he could do. Stuck with the two XYZ duelists and Akaba– he couldn’t leave Sora with them. He couldn’t tell Sora the mission was back on either to give him a chance at escaping as well. He had wanted to talk to Akaba about Sora’s safety, but there was no way to guarantee it with Kurosaki’s knee digging into his spine.
How pathetic. Academia’s top spy caught so easily between a rock and a hard place. He couldn’t fight against Kurosaki’s hold then, even if he could, it was too dangerous to try and get Sora out of there too.
“Sora and Yuto will be coming with me for now.” Akaba’s voice was too smooth, too even.
Too dangerous. Dennis opened his eyes, hissing in pain as Kurosaki moved over him.
“Leave Yuto out of this.” Kurosaki demanded. “I told you what you needed, he’s not part of it.”
“Sora’s just a kid.” Dennis protested softly. “I’m the one you want. Release him to Sakaki Yuya and Hiiragi Yuzu. I’ve already made sure he can’t go back to Academia.”
Akaba blinked at the two of them. “Sora is part of Academia, is he not? I do not believe he is ‘just a kid’. And Yuto is from the XYZ dimension as you are, Shun. Would it not be safer for him to stick close?”
The two stiffened at Akaba’s words. “Reiji…” Kurosaki growled in warning. “The brat can go die in a ditch for all I care but leave Yuto alone.”
“How compassionate.” Dennis scoffed, struggling in his hold a bit, only to be slammed against the ground once more, driving the breath from his lungs. “Dammit…” He whispered.
Well, at least Serena wasn’t caught with them. Security was quick to come in on Akaba’s order, getting Kurosaki off of him and cuffing his hands. Or, they tried.
Dennis activated his duel disk, grimacing when the teleporter on it failed. But the blade was still in working order. It sliced the first cuff in half as he glared warily at security and Kurosaki, who looked ready for another fight. Akaba was watching them both like a hawk as Yuto took a step forward towards Kurosaki. He was outnumbered. And Akaba still held Sora. After a few tense moments, Dennis sighed, his shoulders slumping. Security wasn’t as kind to him a second time. His wrists were cuffed in front of him and, humiliatingly enough, attached to a collar around his neck. It cut off how far he could move, not that he had any plans on running. Not as he watched Sora still tearing up next to Akaba.
“I’ll talk. If and only if, you let Sora go to Yuya. Let him be safe.” Dennis kept his eyes on Sora as he spoke. “Don’t wanna take after daddy dearest and harm a little kid, now do you?”
If Akaba wanted to play games, Dennis would gladly give him an opponent that wouldn’t bend as easily as Kurosaki had. So long as at least two of his three missions were complete.