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Chapter Text

By all means and metrics this was an ordinary day. The sun as slowly falling down and with Ayu by her side Yuzu was simply walking back to You Show Duel School to deliver the ice cream everyone eagerly waited for. Walking beside the river the blue sky now coloured orange with the wind pleasantly flowing. 

How naive she was. Because on this everything would slowly but surely change. 

"Sheesh" she couldn't help but let out a sound like that out "If they want ice cream they should go and buy it themselves!" 

And an image of four overexcited boys sprung into her mind. 

Sometimes she can't help but wonder if she was their mother. 

"You are saying that but you still bought a lot." Ayu said with a smile. "You are so nice Yuzu." 

Suddenly Yuzu stopped. 

"Yuzu?" The small girl questioned. 

In response the older girl kneeled down to Ayu's level gesturing her to keep silent. Above them walked two boys Yuzu recognised as Sawatari's underlings. 

"Sawatari is to fired up." One of them spoke. "He is willing to do whatever it takes to crush Yuya Sakaki"

"And he is more then cruel enough to attack his weaknesses" The other boy added.

"C'mon let's hurry, he is even more self-centred when he is hungry then he usually is."

The two boys quickly left the scene.

At first Yuzu was horrified at what she heard, then horror transformed into fury, she clenched her fist and teeth.

"Sawatari." she gritted out.

Couldn't that boy leave them alone. First he steals Yuya's cards, held her and the children hostage and almost got them killed if not for Yuya. Now he thinks he can hurt Yuya for what? Just a single loss.

Not if she had any say in it.

She quickly ran in their direction, Ayu running beside her.

By the time they reached the coast and the line of warehouses the blue sky was now dyed orange.

They hid themselves behind the boxes near Sawatari's warehouse, which had No.52 written on it, is.

"Yuzu." Ayu called out to her. "I think we should go and tell Yuya."

"The last time Yuya saved me." She thought to herself. "Now I will protect him."

Aloud she said "Ayu go to school." She told the girl and quickly ran towards Sawatari.

"But ..." Ayu's words did not reach Yuzu.

Unbeknownst to either girl there was a pair of gray eyes watching.

With a great amount of force Yuzu opened the door of the warehouse interrupting Sawatari's dessert.

With the door now open the orange light from the outside entered, now tainting the dark colours orange.

"You coward!" She shouted, not bothering to keep her voice down.

"I won't let you do whatever you want to beat Yuya" She kept marching towards a seated Sawatari with an angry expression on her face and her fists clenched, now facing him and his goons.

"Yuzu Hiiragi!" Sawatari said while choking on his food with an expression of surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"I don't need to explain myself to you!" She said and with an disgusted expression she continued. "There is pie crumb on your mouth."

"Huh!" He panicked like it was some great world ending problem, until one of his underlings gave him a handkerchief to clean himself up.

Now all cleaned up he made gestures with his arms and looked far more confident then he likely was.

"Now Yuzu you have fallen into our..."

"Duel me!" She interrupted him.

"You have lept into the..."

What was he trying with these theatrics, drive her mad? Well he was successful in that endeavour.

"I am going to pummel you!"

He looked shocked but continued with his tirade "The lady of victory is ..."

"What's wrong, afraid of losing to me!?"

"Let me talk!"

"I don't need to listen to you!" She was close to screaming."You are a coward, a loser and a second-rate duelist!"

"Second-rate." Sawatari asked with a noticeably lower voice.

"No you are worse! Third-rate, fourth-rate!Hundredth-rate duelist!"

"How dare you say that!" He asked with clenched hands, his head lowered with his bangs shadowing his face.

One of his goons closed the door, blocking her exit. The light from the outside no longer dyed the inside of the warehouse, leaving only the cool grays and monochrome colours.

"You can still take your words back." Sawatari said in what she thinks is an attempt to be menacing. However it fails.

"I don't feel like that you loser coward hundredth-rate duelist!"

"You don't know your place." He attached his duel disk to his arm. "I will make you regret that!"

And just as Yuzu was about to attach her own duel disk...

"AHHHHHHH!!"

The goon guarding the door was pushed inside, the door was open and once again the orange light bathed the room. However, what stole Yuzu's and everyone's attention was the person standing there.

He looked out of place, like he didn't belong here.

His clothing was tattered, from the cape that he wore which seems to have specific places for his shoulders to the out-of-place red scarf on his neck. His hair was spiky, with it being pushed on his right. The hair was dual coloured, with a dark purple on the front and black on the back.

Yuzu would comment on his face but it was covered with a mask and goggles, goggles which unlike Yuya's seemed more streamlined.

Despite the warmth of the light entering the place suddenly felt colder.

"Who are you?" Sawatari asked the question everyone had.

The masked man did not give a response, instead he simply stared at Sawatari. With calm and precise steps he walked towards him and positioned himself in front of Yuzu.

"Are you a knight who suddenly arrives to save the princess?" Sawatari asked mockingly.

This time he received a response, but instead of words the masked man revealed his arm and activered his duel disk.

"That's a unique duel disk." Sawatari observed.

And it was. Unlike all the others that she had seen which had an angular model the masked man had an irregular shape with a round touch screen and purple body with a purple blade which seems to be the only resemblance between his duel disk and theirs.

"You don't feel like answering my questions?" Sawatari was once again ignored.

"Hey who are you?" Yuzu broke her silence. "Don't interfere! This is my duel!"

And just as she was about to place her duel disks on her arm , he simply touched her forearm. It was a surprisingly gentle action, it had no real force behind it. I was just that, a touch. But it was enough for Yuzu to simply stop and look at him, and she could see grey eyes behind his goggles.

"I don't want you to get hurt anymore." Those were the first words the masked man spoke. They calm and perfectly even, as if this situation was completely under his control.

She looked at him, her mouth open, he was talking like he knew her. But he didn't, she was sure they never met. And yet...

Why did those words feel reassuring?

She didn't know.

"You are so cool," Sawatari interrupted them."But that is enough Mr.Knight. You are going to embarrass yourself."

The masked duelist simply looked at Sawatari.

"You are perfect for testing my deck." Sawatari continued to talk despite the fact that he wouldn't get a response. "I will crush you."

""DUEL!""

Unknown - 4000LP

Sawatari - 4000LP

"I will go first." The Dark Duelist declared.

"Fine Mr. Knight." Sawatari replied with a cocky grin on his face, Yuzu badly wanted to punch it off his face. But she stayed silent for now.

"I set all the cards in my hand face-down." Yuzu and Sawatari gasped at the display. "I end my turn."

Sawatari looked at him with shock and disbelief, but then...

"Hahahaha." He bursted out laughing. "You Show up acting cool, but that is all you can do?" He spoke through his laughter.

"You don't even have a single monster. Too bad but luck isn't on your side."

"Didn't you hear me?" The masked duelist spoke. "I ended my turn."

"I'll show you my perfect dueling! My turn, draw! Allow me to use those set cards of yours." Sawatari said to his opponent.

"What does he mean by that?" Yuzu silently thought to herself, suddenly she couldn't help but feel worried for the masked duelist.

"If my opponent has two or more Cards in the Spell/Trap Zone, I can Special Summon this Card! Come forth, Escher the Vassal of the Ice Monarch! Sawatari exclaimed as his Monster appeared.

Escher: WATER/Aqua/Effect/L:3/ATK:800/DEF:1000

"Now I release Escher in order to Advance Summon Mobius the Ice Monarch!" Sawatari exclaimed.

Mobius the Ice Monarch: WATER/Aqua/Effect/L:6/ATK:2400/DEF:1000

"Alright! In an instant he Advanced Summoned a 2400 Attack Monster!" Henchman 3 exclaimed.

"Mobius the Ice Monarch's effect activates, when it is successfully Advanced Summon, I can destroy two Spell or Trap Cards on the Field! Freeze Burst!" Sawatari exclaimed as Mobius let out a wave of wind and snow, revealing two of set cards, destroying them.

"I'm just getting started! I activate the Spell Card Advance Carnival! I can now Advance Summon again after one Advance Summon succeeds!" Sawatari exclaimed.

Yuzu gasped in shock. "He's going to release the 2400 Attack Mobius and Advance Summon another Monster?"

"That's right! I release Mobius the Ice Monarch to Advance Summon! Come forth, Mobius the Mega Monarch!" Sawatari exclaimed.

Mobius the Mega Monarch: Water/Aqua/Effect/L:8/ATK:2800/DEF:1000

"Now, usually I would need to release two monsters but if it is a monster that was successfully Advanced Summoned, you can release it as two Monsters!" Mobius the Mega Monarch's effect activates! When this Card is successfully Advanced Summoned, I can choose three Spell or Trap Cards on the Field and destroy them." Sawatari explained as Mobius' fists began to surge with ice.

"Hey Knight-kun. How about using those Cards before they get destroyed." Henchman 3 taunted.

"It's pointless! If this Monster was Advanced Summoned using a Water-Type Monster, the targeted Cards can't be activated. Blizzard Destruction!" Mobius let out a large breeze of wind as the last three set cards were destroyed.

Yuzu gasped in shock as she looked at her hand. "Why can I feel the wind even though this isn't an Action Field?"

"Your hand is at zero. You don't have any set cards anymore either! Furthermore, you don't have any wall monsters on the Field. This is pretty pathetic after you showed a cool entrance." Sawatari taunted.

"Hey, you need to get it together! If you can't do this then you should let me-" Yuzu was caught off guard when the purple haired duelist looked at her, the look told her to stay and wait. He doesn't seem to be worried at all.

"What is he planning?" She thought.

"Now, my gloomy Knight-kun. I am so sorry for the rude awakening… but I would appreciate it if you stepped down from the stage. Battle! Go, Mobius the Ice Monarch, attack him directly!" Sawatari declared as icicles appeared from Mobius as a gust of wind came.

"From the Grave, I activate the Spell Cards, The Phantom Knights Shadow Veil!" He declared.

"What?!" Henchmen 1,2, and 3 exclaimed.

"A Spell Card activated from the Grave?" Sawatari bellowed in shock.

"When a direct attack is declared, I can Special Summon as many Shadow Veils as possible! Now, when they are destroyed, they are banished." He explained.

3X The Phantom Knights of Shadow Veil: DARK/Warrior/L:4/ATK:0/DEF:300

The Spells turned monsters were knights riding horses, however they were covered in blue ghostly flames.

"Three monsters just like that!" Henchman 2 exclaimed.

"Did he anticipate all of this?" Yuzu couldn't help but think.

"Hmph, they are just wall monsters! I can still destroy one! Go, Mobius the Mega Monarch! Attack a Shadow Veil! Imperial Charge!" Sawatari declared that one Shadow Veil was stabbed and destroyed.

"The destroyed Shadow Veil is banished." The masked duelist said.

"Looks like you barely held on." Sawatari told him. "I set a card and end my turn. I guess I will spare you for this turn."

"There won't be another turn for you." The mystery duelist told him. His voice carried a hint of finality.

"What?" Sawatari asked.

"My turn, draw." He looked at the card he drew. "Weak." It was a single word but everyone heard it.

“What’s the matter, knight-kun?” Sawatari sneered. “Did you have a bad draw? If that’s the case, too bad for you. When my next turn comes, I’ll pulverize you mercilessly!”

“That’s wrong. I wasn’t talking about my card. I was referring to you.” He spoke directly to him, but he wasn't done."I thought you would put more of a fight but… you're dueling… I don't feel the sharpness of a blade or the power of a bullet in it. Not even a fragment of it." He told Sawatari coldly.

"What is this guy saying?" Henchman 2 asked.

"My sides!" Henchman 3 exclaimed while laughing.

"Cut it with the jokes!" Henchman 1 said.

However Yuzu didn't think so.

"While we wouldn't use terms like blades and bullets. In You Show we were taught to put our heart into our dueling." She looked at him directly "Could he be talking about something similar."

"All conditions have been met. When there are two Monsters with the same Level on my Field, the evolution of my Deck manifests itself! I use the two Level Four Shadow Veils in order to construct the overlay network!" He declared as his Monsters turned into purple energy going towards a galaxy looking portal.

"It can't be!" Sawatari exclaimed.

"That is!" Yuzu exclaimed.

"Relentless dragon formed from pitch-black darkness, to fight those foolish enough to oppress it with its treacherous fangs! Now, descend! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon!" He chanted as his Xyz Monster appeared.

Dark Rebellion: DARK/Dragon/Effect/R:4/ATK:2500/DEF:2000/OU:2

"Xyz Summon." Yuzu said as she stood there frozen with shock.

The dragon was bipedal primarily purple in colour, it was covered in black armour with orbs imbued in his wings which contained purple lightning. It had a single mandable protruding from its lower jaw with golden eyes that pierce through everything they see.

However that wasn't what disturbed Yuzu, it was what she felt from that dragon that was worth worrying about, the sheer anger and hatred from it.

"He Summoned a Monster from his Extra Deck!" Henchman 2 exclaimed. Despite the initial shock, however, Sawatari started clapping.

"I admit,.I was surprised when you Xyz Summoned so quickly. But are you planning on battling against Mobius with that Monster? Dark Rebellion's Attack is 2500. My Mobius is 2800." Sawatari pointed out with a grin. "Your Xyz Summoning turned out to be a bluff it seems."

The dragon, as if understanding those words let out a growl of displeasure and Yuzu could see it's owner tightly clenching his right hand.

"You have to be rather shallow to think that the only value of a monster is its attack points." The Xyz duelist said.

"Huh?"

"Xyz Monsters' true power is to use their Overlay Units in order to annihilate their foes." The masked duelist replied.

"Enough with your Xyz lessons, I am not interested." Sawatari waved him off.

"Then, I will have you bear witness to their true power! Dark Rebellion's effect activates! By detaching an Overlay Unit, until the end of the turn, a Monster's Attack is halved, and Dark Rebellion gains the lost amount! Treason Discharge!" He yelled.

One of the purple lights around it disappeared and with the orbs on its body glowed and its wings extended, now surrounded by purple lightning. The lightning went and restrained Mobius.

Dark Rebellion OU 2->1 

Mobius ATK 2800->1400

Dark Rebellion ATK 2500->3900

"Dark Rebellion's Attack is over Mobius!" Yuzu yelled in shock.

"No way!" Sawatari exclaimed.

"I'm not finished. I'm detaching Dark Rebellion's last Overlay Unit, Treason Discharge!" The dark duelist exclaimed as purple electricity covered Mobius.

Dark Rebellion OU 1->2

Mobius ATK 1400->700 

Dark Rebellion ATK 3900->4600 

"An Attack of 4600!" Yuzu exclaimed.

"No way!" Sawatari yelled.

"I activate the Equip Spell Card Xyz Unit." He activated his Spell. "By equiping it to Dark Rebellion it gains 200 attack points per Rank, so a total of 800."

Dark Rebellion ATK 4600->5400

"WHAT!!" Sawatari yelled as understood what was going to happen.

"Battle. Dark Rebellion attack Mobius. Go Revolt of Lightning Disobey!"

The dragon's wings charged up and acted as jet which propelled it towards the Monarch. The mandable glowed blue and pierced Mobius.

However what surprised everyone was that the shockwave did actual damage.

"AHHH!" Yuzu screamed as the masked duelist ran in front of her to protect her, a pebble shattered his goggles. Fire was currently in the Warehouse, but not too much.

Sawatari: 4000->0 LP

Winner: Unknown

"What? How? There is no Action Field but we felt that!" Henchman 1 exclaimed.

"This guy... Did his monster damage us?" Henchmen 2 gulped in fear.

Despite the duel being over the dragon still stood over its owner almost possessively.

The duelist moved closer to Sawatari, his dragon following him.

“S-Stay away from me!” Sawatari cried out with evident fear in his voice. “Don’t you know who I am!? I’m the great Sawatari Shingo, and my papa is going to be the next mayor of Maiami City! If you so much as harm a single hair on my head, he—”

Sawatari’s next words were interrupted when the dragon roared, causing Sawatari to cry out in alarm.

“I will only ask this once so you’d better answer me properly.” The masked Duelist spoke in a menacing tone and took out some sort of badge. “This is from LDS, right?”

“Y-yeah, that’s right…”

Sawatari said with a whimper, his former high-and-mighty attitude gone. A part of Yuzu was happy about it, another part of her worried about how far this stranger would go.

“What’s the connection between LDS and Academia?”

"Academia? Is that some kind of Duel School?" Yuzu questioned.

“A-Academia? What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb with me!”

The masked Duelist shouted, prompting Sawatari to flinch.

“I’m not! Everyone from LDS has a badge like this! I don’t know anything about any Academia or whatever! Believe me!”

“I see…” The masked duelist said with a sigh. “Then, we’re done here.”

At that moment, the stranger removed both his damaged goggles and his mask. The illumination from the residual flames was more than enough to allow Yuzu to properly see his face.

“Yuya!”

Yuzu cried out in surprise.

And yet he looked at her confused like he didn't know what she was talking about.

“So…it was you…Sakaki Yuya…”

Sawatari muttered before passing out, forcing his flunkies to carry him while they limped outside as fast as they could, swearing revenge. There were differences between Yuya and the boy in front of her and if the lighting were better or if Yuzu wasn't in too much shock to notice the differences.

“Yuya…is that really you? Why are you dressed like that?”

Before the mysterious boy could say anything, Yuzu’s bracelet shone intensely. When the light died down, the duelist was nowhere to be found, much to Yuzu's shock.

"What in the ..." She stood there shocked. "Yuya!!" She shouted.

"Yuzu!" She hears her friend from the outside.

"Yuya?" As he moved closer to her she couldn't help but ask. "Yuya ... You are Yuya right?"

"Huh?" Yuya had a confused expression on his face "Yuzu what are you talking about?" He questioned her.

She didn't know what to say.

"Yuzu, did you make a bonfire here?" He pinched his nose so doesn't smell anything. "The smoke here stinks."

But Yuzu couldn't register his words.

All she could think about was purple and black hair with grey eyes on the face of her best friend.

Chapter Text

As she was lying on her bed one question was going through the mind of Yuzu Hiiragi.

What was going on?

She was still replaying the events of the night in head. No, she was seeing only one person.

A person that has the same face as her best friend, however he couldn't possibly be Yuya.

Yuya had a flair for theatrics, couldn't keep his mouth shut for the sake of his life, and had an almost ever present smile on his face. Yuya doesn't have any Xyz Monsters, Yuya can't do any real damage outside of an Action Field, Yuya most certainly doesn't threaten people with a dangerous beast behind him.

But...

"I don't want you to get hurt anymore."

The tone of his voice was so gentle, even through a mask. She saw how behind his goggles his grey eyes softened.

The masked duelist acted like they knew each other, but they didn't. Yuzu would remember a person who uses Xyz.

However, if he was Yuya...

A line like that would make sense. An expression like that would make sense.

"Arghhhh!!" She couldn't help but let her frustrations out on her pillow.

No sense, none of this makes any sense at all.

She was tossing and turning on her bed but that didn't help her at all. And despite the comfort of her bed, sleep still eluded her. No matter how hard she tried, that duel still played inside her head.

Some time later she would fall asleep, however even in her dreams she would see black and purple.

_________________________________________________

The day was normal, but Yuzu was anything but and she is quite confident that people noticed but simply didn't care. She went through all the motions of how she usually does things. 

Going to school, behaving properly during class hours, talking if needed. So far she managed to do well. If she couldn't look at Yuya because instead of red eyes she would see grey ones no one would need to know and Yuya being Yuya likely didn't even notice.

Now she was sitting in one of the classrooms in You Show, listening to her father as he was talking about the basics of summoning. 

The curtains in the room were completely closed so that no light could enter, while an old projector served to display monsters and Levels.

She was sitting in the back row with Yuya and Sora, while Ayu, Tatsuya and Futoshi were in the front. With the exception of Tatsuya they were all rather bored. Sora was mixing his sweets while Yuya was warning him.

Yuzu herself wasn't sure if she was even there with them in the room or still in that warehouse.

"Next we have Fusion Summoning." Her father started with a rather excited tone. "We will have Sora explain it."

Unfortunately...

"Its donut effect activates!" Sora was seamingly in his own world as he was playing with his food. "Now my Vanilla Prince powered up even more! "

"Don't eat in class!!" Her father yelled at Sora for his misbehavior.

"Father!" Yuzu stood up. "What about Xyz?"

"Huh?" He looked at her confused.

"We never taught Xyz Summoning here, right?" She asked.

"Of course not. Only those big schools like LDS have access to Extra Deck methods, so I can't teach them even if I wanted to." He paused, then looked directly at her. "Why are you suddenly bringing up Xyz?"

"Because last night I saw someone who looked like Yuya perform it, because I still see that purple dragon, because I saw him doing real damage with it. Because something could have crushed me if it weren't for that person."

"No reason." That is what she said aloud. Her eyes moved towards Yuya but instead of seeing the boy she knew since she was a little girl, the boy with round red eyes she saw a pair of sharp grey ones.

"What?" Yuya's question brought her out of her stupor.

"Nothing." She quickly responded.

“We’re still in the middle of a lesson. Now, let’s continue with—”

Shuzo’s next words were interrupted due to several raised voices that could be heard coming from outside. Although she wasn’t certain, Yuzu could hear Gongenzaka and other familiar voices.

Shuzo turned to Gongenzaka.

“Gongenzaka, what’s all the fuss about? What happened?”

“I, the man Gongenzaka, was in the midst of my daily running when I noticed these three skulking around You Show.” Gongenzaka explained. “When I confronted them, these rascals had the nerve to accuse Yuya of ambushing someone the day before yesterday! As a man and a friend, I couldn’t contain my anger at this slander! It’s completely unforgivable!”

“Ambushed!?”

“I did!?”

Both Shuzo and Yuya looked shocked at this accusation.

“That’s right!” Underling A cried. “And we won’t let you say you forgot about it!”

“After all, we saw you with our own eyes there!” Underling B continued. “You attacked us and then threatened Sawatari-san!”

“And it’s not just us who saw that!” Underling C stated. “There were five witnesses present in total!”

“Five?” Gongenzaka wondered.

“That’s right, five.” Underling C repeated. “Sawatari-san, us three and Hiiragi Yuzu!”

Needless to say, being pointed out like that made Yuzu highly uncomfortable. And what was worse she couldn't deny that she was there, she did attempt to strike Sawatari before he could strike them.

"You saw it too?" Gongenzaka questioned her.

"Saw what?" Her father asked her.

"The criminal's face!" One of the underlings spoke.

But all that Yuzu wanted was to get away from this situation, she needed distance to just breathe.

"The face of Sakaki Yuya who attacked the next mayor's son, Shingo Sawatari!"

Couldn't they just shut up?

"You are lying." Tatsuya quickly came to Yuya's defence.

"Sawatari was the one who tried to attack Yuya." Ayu quickly joined. "Yuzu dueled him because she wanted to stop him."

"Wait!" Her father joined the conversation. "Doesn't that mean that Yuzu attacked Sawatari!"

"WRONG!!!" The children shouted in unison.

"Like we are saying it was Sasaki Yuya who attacked." Even the trio seemed exasperated at her father's antics.

"Poor Sawatari, he is now hospitalized." One of them said that while looking at the ground.

"Hospitalised!" Yuya shouted.

"There is a high chance that he won't make it."

"But that guy didn't hurt him at all." As far Yuzu remembers, Sawatari was simply unconscious.

"Say something Yuzu." Yuya was now in front of her. "You saw everything right?"

"Yes..." She really didn't know what to say.

“Explain to me what happened from the start, Yuzu!”

This prompted everyone to sigh.

“If you require explanations, allow me to fill you in.”

The one who had spoken was a woman with magenta-colored hair that stepped out from a limousine.

“Aren’t you…LDS’s current chairwoman?”

Shuzo addressed the lady with evident surprise.

“Indeed.” The woman confirmed Shuzo’s words. “My name is Akaba Himika. How about we take the discussion for this matter inside your school?”

Everybody apart from Sawatari’s flunkies followed Himika inside. After Shuzo and Himika were seated across from each other, Himika spoke.

“Everything these students said about Sawatari Shingo-kun and themselves being attacked by a Duelist resembling Sakaki Yuya-kun is the truth. As such—"

"I didn't assault Sawatari!"Yuya declared with a strong tone.

“I, the man Gongenzaka, believe in my friend Yuya.” Gongenzaka stated with conviction. “Isn’t that the same for all of you as well?”

“Of course!”

Futoshi shouted while Sora, Ayu and Tatsuya nodded in assent.

“And what about you, Yuzu?”

Gongenzaka addressed Yuzu next. However, the pink-haired girl was still hesitant.

"Yuya…” Yuzu addressed Yuya with evident reluctance. “That truly wasn’t you back there, was it?”

Although surprised at first, Yuya responded resolutely.

“Yuzu, I still can’t understand what exactly you saw back then, but I’ll say it once more; I wasn’t the one who attacked Sawatari!”

Following that declaration, Yuzu nodded with a smile.

“I got it. Then, I’ll believe in you, Yuya!”

“My, such strong bonds you people share.” Himika commented with a sarcastic smile that made Yuzu want to hit her with a fan. “I guess it’s impossible to ask you to hand Yuya-kun to us without a fuss.” Then her expression became serious once more. “However, we cannot back down here. If word got out that students from LDS, the number one school in the world, were defeated by Duelists from some backwater school, our reputation would receive an immense blow.”

“But we keep telling you that Yuya didn’t—”

“That doesn’t matter anymore!” Himika interrupted Shuzo’s words with a furious expression. “The issue is that the symbol of LDS has been dragged through the mud! As such, the only way to clear this disgrace is through a showdown between schools!”

“A…showdown, you say?”

Shuzo said so with an expression of disbelief.

“If your school wins, we will ignore the case concerning Sawatari-kun.” Himika stated with a sly smile. “However, if we win, this You Show Duel School will become a part of our Leo Duel School!”

Needless to say, everyone was astonished by this sudden announcement.

"Chairwoman Akaba, I hear that the Leo Corporation is buying Duel Schools all over the globe. Did you purposely set the assault on Sawatari?" Her father sharply questioned the Chairwoman.

“That’s not the case!” Himika denied Shuzo’s accusation. “However, it’s true that I took full advantage of the chance given to me. My aim is for the Pendulum Summoning wielded by him and Yuya-kun to be incorporated into LDS’s curriculum and become one of the pillars supporting it alongside Fusion, Synchro and Xyz. Furthermore, the number of applicants will soar once we obtain it, since there are quite a few Duelists out there aspiring to use Pendulum after all. Isn’t that the case for you as well?”

Himika’s question was addressed to the younger trio of students.

“B-but it’s impossible if you don’t have Yuya-oniichan Pendulum cards…” Tatsuya said.

“That can also be resolved through the power of Leo Corporation.” Himika stated. “That’s why it’s necessary for us to unite.”

"Dueling—isn’t a tool for fighting!” Yuya spoke while grasping his pendulum. “But, I don’t want You Show Duel School and Pendulum Summoning to be taken away by someone else! This Duel School was created by my father to teach everyone that Duels are to be enjoyed and bring smiles to others! There’s no way I’ll give it to someone like you, who thinks they can control anything through money and power!”

"Well said, Yuya!” Gongenzaka placed his hands on Yuya's shoulders. “I, the man Gongenzaka, agree whole-heartedly with your sentiments! I’ll also fight alongside you to defend You Show!”

“But aren’t you an outsider?” Sora pointed out, causing Gongenzaka to freeze with his mouth hanging open. “Since the challenge was directed to You Show, it’s strictly Yuya, Yuzu and I and that should fight as its students, right? But as for me, I always wanted to fight against an LDS student.”

“T-to think you would exclude a man such as I, Gongenzaka!” Gongenzaka complained with a furious face. “T-t-that’s unforgivable!”

“You heard everyone, Chairwoman Akaba.” Shuzo spoke with a determined expression. “Our feelings in this matter are one. This You Show Duel School—”

"We won’t hand it over!"

Himika let out a small laugh at this declaration from everyone.

“Well then, shall we begin the battle?”

The Chairwoman introduced their opponents. Three students from LDS who are at the top of each summoning method. And Yuya would be facing someone who used Xyz.

She saw the white knight he summoned with two swirling yellow lights, she couldn't help but compare it to the purple dragon, it seemed lacking for lack of a better term. Which seemed irrational.

Yuzu is no expert on Xyz but wouldn't a higher Rank make a monster more difficult to summon and by extension stronger to be worth the effort and yet...

If she were to base it on instinct she thinks that when it comes to Xyz the masked duelist would be superior.

However what caught her attention was when Yuya said:

"I don't want to hurt anyone."

"I don't want you to get hurt anymore."

The image of grey eyes overlapping with red came to her head.

NO! That wasn't Yuya, that couldn't have been Yuya...

So why can't her head stop this.

Fortunately Yuya won his duel by switching his Scales, using Stargazer Magician monster effect in combination with a Spell - Magical Star Illusion.

But now...

It was her turn.

A young girl with a dark skin tone, shoulder-length black hair and red eyes approached them.

"I am the Fusion Course's Kuro Masumi." She pulled out her duel disk and placed it on her hand. "Who will be my opponent?"

"Me!" Yuzu stepped forward with determination, she could not allow herself to lose, she couldn't show any weaknesses. She had to win.

To protect You Show.

To clear Yuya's name.

She doesn't have the luxury to be distracted by anything.

But...

She could feel those grey eyes looking at her.

The duel started and Masumi immediately Fusion Summoned a monster, but it only had 1800 attack she could deal with it.

"You have to be rather shallow to think that the only value of a monster is its attack points." 

A voice critique her.

No.

It wasn't just a voice, it was his.

After she finished her turn she hoped that she could survive, she did have her 2600 ATK Mozart with the 2000DEF Cannon.

Masumi bested her.

I couldn't even be properly called a duel.

By using her Trap to Fusion Summon Master Diamond and using its effect to banish Topaz. 

"Why?"

"Because she is up to something." A calm and collected voice told her and when she looked at its direction...

Only to see a head of spiky dual coloured hair looking at her.

Her eyes impossibly widened. Because he was supposed to be anywhere but here.

And with that she lost.

She doesn't really register much of Gongenzaka's duel, but he fought to a draw.

But then Akaba Reiji entered the scene.

And it was during his duel with Yuya that she realized just how weak they were. 

Just how weak she was.

Because that man used Fusion, Synchro and Xyz.

Because he made his own Pendulum Cards, a thing everyone believed was exclusive to Yuya.

Because that man could have likely beaten Yuya if he wanted to. But he chose not to.

To them this was a matter of protecting their School, a place they love, a place where they learn to duel.

To Akaba Reiji this was likely just an experiment for his Pendulum Cards.

The sole reason why they were safe, why You Show wasn't taken ...

Was because of the whim of one man.

At that realization she wanted to cry and scream. Was all of this meaningless, that their dreams and hopes could be so easily crushed on a whim.

A part of her wanted to blame the ghost that was following her, because of him it was that she was distracted, because of him she couldn't even properly sleep, it was because of him that she was losing faith in Yuya.

But she knew better.

This had nothing to do with him.

This was all on her.

Had she been better none of this would have happened. Had she been stronger Gongenzaka wouldn't have needed to duel. Had she been better Yuya wouldn't have dueled Akaba Reiji.

But because she wasn't, those things did happen.

And they almost lost what they loved for it.

Chapter Text

Now that school had finished, Yuzu, alongside a depressed Yuya, was walking toward You Show Duel School.  

The reason for her friend's less-than-ideal mood?  

His realization that he couldn't participate in the Maiami Championship because his win rate was below 60%.  

Tatsuya calculated that Yuya needed four more wins to qualify. Yuya immediately wanted to duel her and the children, but he was denied—the later were in the Youth category, and Yuzu had already qualified.  

And yet, she didn’t feel any better.  

Her loss to Masumi had devastated her confidence, but when she thought about it, that was only the most recent blow.  

The first would be Yuya inventing his own summoning method. While she was happy for her friend's success, it made her feel inadequate.  

Then there was the whole Sawatari situation, which could be broken into two parts:  

1. Being reduced to a damsel in distress and needing to be saved from Sawatari of all people.  

2. Watching Sawatari’s duel against the Xyz user. For all the insults she had thrown at him, Sawatari wasn't a terrible duelist. But the Xyz user made all her criticisms come true, dominating the duel from start to finish.  

Witnessing all the other Extra Deck methods only reinforced how small she felt.  

But now, she focused on Yuya.  

“Why don’t you ask Gongenzaka?” she suggested. “Didn’t most of your duels come from his dojo?”  

Gongenzaka, being a loyal friend, would likely see it as his duty to help Yuya.  

Yuya’s reply, however, surprised her.  

“I’m thankful for that,” Yuya admitted, bowing his head. “He always helped me whenever I needed it. Even the fact that I’m aiming to become a pro now is thanks to Gongenzaka. But that’s exactly why I don’t want to rely on him anymore! Instead, I have to become someone Gongenzaka can rely on—with my own strength!”  

The others stared at him in awe. Yuya had the strangest ability to surprise people when they least expected it. His words resonated deeply with Yuzu.  

“With your own,” she repeated. “You’re right!”  

Yuzu immediately turned and started running, much to her friends' confusion.  

“Hey! What are you doing?” Yuya called out.  

“Don’t worry about it! I just realized—I want to get stronger too!” Yuzu shouted back as she continued running.  

Her friends called after her, asking about Duel School, but she just told them to inform her father that she wouldn’t be showing up today.  

“Yuya is trying to change. Now I know I can’t stay like this!” Yuzu was determined. “I have to get stronger—strong enough to protect You Show Duel School! And there’s only one way to do that—I have to learn other summoning methods!”  

To grow as a duelist, she needed to expand her deck. Advanced Summoning alone wasn’t enough. She needed access to Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, or even Ritual Summoning.  

And there was only one person she could ask.  

“Sora!” she thought. “If he teaches me how to Fusion Summon, I might stand a chance against Masumi! He might even know how to counter her since he’s a fellow Fusion user!” Then she stopped. “Wait! If Sora knows how to deal with Fusion users, wouldn’t Masumi be the same?”  

It was a sobering thought. Masumi was the top student of the LDS Fusion Course. LDS was the best dueling school, and when it came to Fusion, Masumi would know its ins and outs. Only experienced pro duelists would know more.  

But who could Yuzu ask for help?  

LDS had a near-monopoly on teaching summoning methods. While Yuzu could acquire cards on her own, they were expensive. She was confident LDS provided their top students with custom cards, with Akaba Reiji being a prime example.  

“Argh! Why can’t this be simple!?” she groaned. “I don’t even know anyone—” She suddenly stopped.  

She did know someone. A gray-eyed boy with a purple dragon came to mind.  

“That guy! But wait, he caused a lot of trouble for us. Then again...” she pondered. “None of it was intentional, right? Unless he knew about his resemblance to Yuya beforehand. He seemed genuinely shocked when I called him that. So, it was all just a stupid coincidence.”  

“But why would he help me? I mean, he did help me before for some reason, but why?”  

She looked up at the sky, trying to clear her thoughts.  

“That guy is dangerous. He somehow managed to cause real damage outside of an Action Field. But...he isn’t bad. He saved me and even protected me from falling debris.”  

Suddenly, it hit her.  

“What’s the connection between LDS and Academia?”  

“He was investigating LDS and Academia, so he’s probably still near the main building.” Yuzu reasoned. Determined, she began running toward the imposing structure, her mind racing with possibilities.  

"What if he doesn’t want to help me? What if—" Images of Yuya’s defeated face, her father sitting anxiously on the edge of his seat, and her own crushing loss played vividly in her mind. She shook her head.  

"No! I will get stronger. I will protect my friends. I won’t hesitate!"

Increasing her pace, Yuzu rushed toward the LDS main building. Upon arrival, the first thing she noticed was the heightened security presence. The area was teeming with guards, a stark contrast to its usual state.  

"Why is it so heavily guarded?" she wondered. Then, Sawatari’s earlier words echoed in her mind: "A teacher was attacked by an Xyz user."

"Could it have been that boy?" Yuzu thought but quickly dismissed the idea. "He only acted in defense last time. Aside from Sawatari's pride, nothing was damaged." And for the life of her, she couldn't understand why she just couldn't picture that purple-haired boy as an aggressor.

Steeling herself, Yuzu began scanning the area for any sign of him. "If he’s trying to spy on LDS, he’d need a place where he won’t be easily noticed, like the gaps between buildings," she surmised.

She was looking around, hoping to find him, but what she saw instead was a blue-haired boy with a love for sweets.

"Dang, I really wanted to duel him," she heard him mutter.

"Damn you, little!!" She was fuming. "So that’s the reason he didn’t show up at You Show! This is just like with Yuya— the moment someone catches his attention, he immediately goes after them!" It’s not that Yuzu didn’t understand; Akaba Reiji is a master of all known summoning methods, but there’s a problem. "He’s the president of the Leo Corporation! You can’t just walk up to him and ask for a duel!"

A part of her wanted to scold him for his behavior, but she decided against it. She had an Xyz duelist to find after all.

She walked around, doing her best to pretend that she was simply looking around.  

Her search yielded nothing at first, and frustration began to creep in. Just as she was about to give up, a flash of purple and black caught her eye. There he was—leaning against a wall in an alleyway, his sharp gaze fixed on the LDS entrance.  

"He’s here," Yuzu confirmed to herself, her heart racing. She took a deep breath. "Okay, stay calm. Be natural." 

She walked casually, blending with the flow of passersby, until she was close enough for their eyes to meet. His gray eyes widened slightly, but his reaction was immediate—he bolted deeper into the alley.  

"Wait!" Yuzu shouted, breaking into a run to catch up.  

He was fast and eerily silent as he moved, but Yuzu refused to let him escape. He turned left, only to find himself trapped in a dead end. He glanced back at her, clearly searching for an escape route.  

Yuzu couldn’t help but find the situation ironic. "He’s acting like I’m the dangerous one." she thought with a mix of amusement and exasperation.  

"Wait!" she called out again, her tone firm but non-threatening. She was relieved when he stopped trying to escape and turned to face her.  

"I just want to talk," she said, doing her best to mask her frustration with the situation.  

His eyes narrowed slightly, skeptical but curious. "If this is about me interrupting your duel with that guy, I’m sorry."

"No," Yuzu replied firmly. "I need your help."

Now it was his turn to look confused. "Help? With what?"

"Can we talk somewhere more private?" Yuzu asked.  

After a brief moment of consideration, he nodded. "Lead the way."

Yuzu led him to an old warehouse, the same one where they had first met. As they stepped inside, she closed the door behind them, ensuring their privacy.  

He turned to face her. "Alright, what do you need my help with?"  

Yuzu hesitated for a moment, gathering her thoughts. Finally, she placed her hands together and bowed deeply.  

"Please teach me how to Xyz Summon!"  

His composed demeanor faltered. "...Excuse me?"

Yuzu straightened up, her resolve unwavering. "I need you to teach me how to Xyz Summon!"  

He raised an eyebrow, skepticism clear in his expression. "Why do you want to learn that? And why me, of all people?"  

Yuzu knew earning his cooperation wouldn’t be easy. They weren’t friends or even acquaintances. She had to be honest.  

"Because I want—no, I need to get stronger. Right now, I’m not good enough!" With each word, she took a step closer to him.  

His gray eyes softened, reflecting an understanding she didn’t expect. "That much I can understand. But that still doesn’t explain why you’re asking me specifically."  

Yuzu let out a sigh, preparing to explain. "Before I tell you, promise me you’ll hear me out until the end."

He nodded. "Fine."  

"I lost a duel to an LDS student," Yuzu began, watching as his brow furrowed in thought. "It wasn’t just any duel, though. It was part of a showdown between my school and LDS—a best two-out-of-three match. If we lost, You Show would’ve been taken over by LDS, and Yuya would’ve been forced to transfer there."

He listened intently, his expression neutral but focused.  

"Yuya won his match. I lost mine. The final duel ended in a draw, but then Akaba Reiji stepped in." Yuto’s eyes widened at the mention of the name. "Reiji is a master of all summoning methods: Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, and even Pendulum. He’s on a completely different level." 

Yuzu chuckled bitterly. "The only reason our school wasn’t taken over is because Reiji got an urgent call and had to leave mid-match. We technically won, but it didn’t feel like a victory. That’s why I need to get stronger—so I can protect the people and things I care about without relying on luck or others stepping in."

She took a deep breath before continuing. "As for why I came to you… You weren’t my first choice. I thought about asking a friend of mine to teach me Fusion Summoning since I lost to a Fusion user. But then I realized she’d know how to counter that method too. That’s when I thought of you. You’re skilled with Xyz Summoning, and since LDS is the only place that teaches them, which is why I am asking you. " 

When she mentioned Fusion, Yuto’s demeanor shifted. His eyes widened in panic, and he took an unconscious step toward her, as if to check if she was okay, but stopped himself.  

"You lost to a Fusion user," he repeated, his voice tight.  

Yuzu nodded. "Yes. That’s why I thought learning another summoning method would give me a fighting chance. I know we only recently met, but will you please teach me?" 

Yuto remained silent, his expression conflicted. After a moment, he exhaled and nodded. "Very well. I’ll teach you how to Xyz Summon."  

Yuzu’s face lit up with relief and excitement. "Really?!" 

He held up a hand. "But there are conditions. First, I’ve never taught anyone before, so this will be new for me too. Second, I’ll have high expectations. If we’re doing this, we need to make sure you’re strong enough as quickly as possible."  

Yuzu nodded eagerly. "Understood!"

"We’ll also need to exchange contact information," He added. "My schedule’s tight, so we’ll need to coordinate training sessions."

Yuzu hesitated for a moment, then chuckled awkwardly. "I just realized… We don’t even know each other’s names." 

He blinked, momentarily taken aback. "I suppose introductions are in order."

She extended a hand. "My name is Yuzu Hiiragi. It’s nice to meet you." 

He took her hand in a firm shake. "Yuto. Likewise."  

Their moment of introduction was interrupted by the sound of the warehouse door creaking open. Yuto immediately pulled Yuzu close, leaping up to hide them behind a stack of cargo.  

Yuzu froze, her heart racing as she struggled to contain her surprise. She peeked through a gap in the crates and saw none other than Masumi Kotsu scanning the room.  

"What’s she doing here?" Yuzu whispered, more to herself than to Yuto.  

Masumi, not knowing that there were people watching her, was simply scanning the room, looking for something.

"This is the site of the first encounter, where Sawatari was attacked," she heard the other girl mutter.

Yuzu felt Yuto's arm move and saw him taking out his duel disk. Quickly, she placed her hand on it. He looked at her, waiting for a response.

"Don't duel her, not here, please," she whimpered to him.

"I will lead her away from here," he whispered back to her. "Let's meet here in about two hours. Does that work for you?"  

Yuzu nodded in agreement.  

With that, Yuto leapt down and dashed out in front of Masumi, who immediately gave chase. Once they were gone, Yuzu let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.  

"What was Masumi doing here?" she muttered as she left the warehouse. "Could it be… She’s investigating the attack on her teacher? Was he the one who taught her Fusion?" 

It was a possibility that made sense, but there was no time to dwell on it. For now, she had to prepare for the training that awaited her. 

"Sawatari mentioned that it was someone using Xyz. Could it have been—" She shook her head. "No, Yuto seems to be more reactionary than anything. And wouldn't LDS being more guarded be worse for him? He seems to prefer to watch and observe first before doing anything. Boldly attacking a teacher doesn't seem like something he would do."

She pulled out her duel disk and noticed messages and calls from her father. It annoyed her to no end. She had told them not to worry, but it seemed that nothing would change how protective her father could be.

"Yuzu!" she heard a familiar voice.

"Oh great, Dad must have gotten worried and sent Yuya to look for me," Yuzu realized. "Oh well, it doesn't matter. I'll just have to bend the truth a little to get them both off my back. The main issue is meeting back here in a few hours' time."

Yuzu managed to come back just on time. While Yuya did question her about what she was doing, she distracted him easily enough by asking about how he would qualify for the Maiami Championship. He surprised her by saying that Nico Smiley and he had come to an agreement about his next four matches. She was rather suspicious, but it turned out that Strong Ishijima had resigned from his position as Champion, leaving Smiley without a duelist to manage.

Her father was worried about her as well, but she managed to trick him. She hated lying to him, but it was necessary.

"You came." She saw a surprised Yuto.

"Well, you did tell me to come here," she pointed out.

"I thought that you wouldn't come because of the incident with that girl."

"I don't care about that." Yuzu needed to get stronger. "I committed myself to this, and I will see it to the end."

Yuto gave a nod.

"Speaking of which, what happened to Masumi?"

"She was surprisingly quick, but I lost her," he told her. "Who is she to begin with? You seem to know her."

"She is the one I lost to," she replied. "The one who uses Fusion."

At the mention of it, he flinched and clenched his fist but quickly breathed in and out.

It seemed that Fusion was a bad topic for Yuto. Whenever it was mentioned, he seemed to panic.

With his regained composure, he asked, "What do you know about Xyz Summoning?" It seemed that he didn't want to waste time, and Yuzu didn't mind.

"You need two monsters on the field with the same Level. Then you overlay them to get a monster of the same Rank as the Levels used," she answered him. "And the monsters used as material become something called Overlay Units, which are used for the Xyz Monster's effect."

"That is the simplest way." He gave her a nod. "But you don't need only two monsters; some require more, and there are other ways to Xyz Summon. But that is more advanced, so we will stick with the basics for now."

Yuzu gave a nod. It didn't surprise her that there was more beyond her knowledge.

"Now then," he said, pulling out his duel disk. "To see how compatible your deck is with Xyz and to gauge your current level of skill."

"With a duel?" she questioned.

"Don't worry, there won't be any actual damage done." He turned his head, almost in shame. "Last time that happened, it was an accident."

She had wondered about that ability of his, but for now, she had other things to focus on.

She pulled out her own duel disk and activated it.

"DUEL!"

Yuto: 4000LP

Yuzu: 4000LP

Chapter Text

"Ladies first." She looked at her opening hand and then at her opponent. And she knew that she held one sole advantage over him. She had some idea of his playstyle while he didn't know anything of her's.

"Last time he used cards from his Grave against Sawatari, first to build a wall of monsters then to summon Dark Rebellion." She was deep in thought. 

There wasn't much she could do about his Grave but...

"First I activate the Continuos Spell, Slow Tempo!" The green card materialized itself in front of her, on were a performer with an watching audience. "As long as this card is on the Field monsters can't attack during the turn that they are Summoned!"

"Next I activate another Continuos Spell, Vallhala, The Hall of the Fallen. With it I can Special Summon a Fairy-Type from my hand." She picked her ace and placed it. "Enchanting melody echoing in the heaven. Awaken the sleeping virtuoso. Come forth! Level 8! Melodious Maestra - Prodigy Mozart!"

Her ace made her appearance, the female humanoid with a red regal dress with two wings behind it.

"I activate Mozart's effect, once per turn I can Special Summon a LIGHT Fairy-Type monster from my hand. I chose Aria the Melodious Diva in defense mode!"

Another monsters appeared on her side of the Field.

"If Aria is Special Summoned then you can't target my Melodious monsters with effect or destroy them by battle."

"This should seal the effect of Dark Rebellion." She thought. "Powerful as it is it still targets so Aria should keep me safe from it. And Mozart has 2600 attack points so he can't even beat her with that dragon."

"With this I end my turn." She said aloud.

"Draw." Her opponent was looking at his card and then at her field and finally at his duel disk. He was looking at her direction and yet she was sure that he wasn't looking at her.

This went on a little longer then Yuzu would have liked.

"Are you okay?"

"Oh.. sorry." He went out of his stupor. "This just feels nostalgic, people used to similar strategies against me."

He sounded like he was recounting a fond memory, but for Yuzu it made her just feel dread.

"First I Summon The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak." What looked like a blue ghost possessing a torn cloak appeared on his Field. "Then since I control a The Phantom Knights monster I I can Special Summon The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots." Another blue ghost possessing boots appeared.

Ancient Cloak : Dark/Warrior/Effect/L:3/ATK:800/DEF:1000

Silent Boots : Dark/Warrior/Effect/L:3/ATK:200/DEF:1200

The monsters themselves weren't anything impressive if one were to look at their stats but Yuzu was worried about something else.

"He has two Level 3 monsters!" She thought in panic.

"With my Ancient Cloak and Silent Boots I construct the overlay network." The two monsters turned into purple energy swirling towards a galaxy-like portal. "Souls of knights who fell on the battlefield. Revive here and now, and become the light that breaks the darkness! Xyz Summon! Appear, Rank 3, The Phantom Knights of Break Sword!"

Dark/Warrior/Xyz/Effect/ATK: 2000/DEF: 1000/R: 3/OU: 2

Unlike the the other two which possessed tattered clothing this instead possessed armour, not only that but one part looked like armour worn by knights which extended to the hip but was fused to an horse shaped armour.

Do all of his monster need to be so scary looking?

"I activate my Break Sword's effect." He declared. "By using one Overlay Unit," one the purple orbs surrounding it went to the broken blade."I can target one card on my Field and one on yours to destroy them both!"

Break Sword OU 2->1

"What!?." She exclamed. "But you only have Break Sword and the only card you can target is..."

"Your Slow Tempo." He finished and both card were destroyed. "Now my Break Sword's second effect activates, when he is destroyed I can target two of my The Phantom Knights monsters in my Grave with the same Level and Special Summon them."

The monsters he used as material returned from the grave in defense mode.

"In addition to that their Levels increase by 1."

Ancient Cloak L: 3->4

Silent Boots L: 3->4

"Now he can..." An image of his dragon appeared in her head, but she quickly shook her head. "Summoning Dark Rebellion won't help him, so he is up to something else."

"I construct the overlay network once more." Once again his monster entered the portal. "Nameless souls forgotten on the battlefield," He chanted "Let your rage pierce your enemies! Xyz Summon! Appear, Rank 4, The Phantom Knights of Forgotten Bow!"

The Phantom Knights of Forgotten Bow: Dark/Warrior/Xyz/Effect/ATK: 2400/DEF: 2000/R: 4/OU: 2

The monster was once again a blue ghost possessing armour, but this one was thiner and sleeker and overall had a more agile build. It had a mask with no distinctive features. In his left hand was a bow, but the limbs of the bow reminded Yuzu more of a blade, it's string was made out of the same blue flame the other ghost were.

"By using a Overlay Unit I can target a The Phantom Knights monster on my side of the Field it can attack directly this turn, but the damage dealt is halved." With the command the purple orb entered the monster's chest. "Now I attack directly. Go Forgotten Bow."

Forgotten Bow OU 2->1

In the palm of its right hand an arrow made out of blue flames, putting it in the bow it pulled the string and shoot it right at her.

Yuzu LP: 4000->2800

While she did feel it it was closer to sting, it didn't hurt her at all.

"I set three cards face-down. I end my turn." He declared. "Now your turn."

Yuzu knew that objectively she still had the advantage, her Aria seems to nullify most of his cards since they need to target, and he can't get rid of her with battle either.

But...

He still has those face-downs, they could turn the game in his favour.

"My turn! I draw." She looked at her card, her eyes widened. "I activate the effect of Mozart I Special Summon Elegy the Melodious Diva!"

Elegy: Light/Fairy/Effect/ATK: 2000/DEF: 1200/L: 5

"As long as I have this card you can't destroy my Melodious monsters with card effects." She declared, now she was more confident. "That's not all, in addition to that if this card is Special Summoned all Fairy-Type monsters gain 300 ATK!"

Mozart ATK: 2600->2900

Aria ATK: 1600->1900

Elegy ATK: 2000->2300

"Next if I control a Melodious monster I can Special Summon this, Sonata the Melodious Diva!"

Sonata: Light/Fairy/Effect/ATK: 1200/DEF: 1000/L: 5

"And while she is on the Field my monsters gain 500 ATK!"

Mozart ATK: 2900->3400

Aria ATK: 1900->2400

Elegy ATK: 2300->2800

Sonata ATK: 1200->1500->2000

"Now let's battle! First Mozart attacks Forgotten Bow!"

Her ace destroyed the possessed armour.

Yuto LP: 4000->3000

"Is it truly over?" Yuzu wondered. This seemed strange...

Suddenly she felt uneasy this reminded her of the duel with Sawatari, he too seemed to have the duel in his hands until Yuto won by...

... By using cards from the grave, and he used only when he was attacked directly.

Also him having three face-downs isn't helping.

"Is something wrong?" She heard Yuto ask.

"Yes there is, I can potentially win, but I have to think ten steps ahead so you don't pull one over me!!"

"Nothing." She replied. "Did I ever think this much during a duel?" She pondered. Most of the time the opponents she faced didn't force her to think so much. Not to say that they were incompetent, but Yuto simply played differently then anybody she met before.

"Well here goes nothing!" She wouldn't hesitate. "Now Elegy attack directly."

"I activate my Trap Card, Phantom Knights Tainted Chains!" The card showed and old chain surrounding a monster. "First this card negates the attack," her monster's attack was stopped. "then I can banished up to two Phantom Knights cards from my grave to negate as many face-up monsters my opponent controls!"

"What!?"

"I chose to banish Break Sword and Forgotten Bow. And I negate Aria and Elegy. Now your monsters can be targeted and destroyed by effects."

Mozart ATK: 3400->3100

Aria ATK: 2400->2100

Elegy ATK: 2800->2500

Sonata ATK: 2000->1700

"But I can still attack with my other monsters... Unless!?"

"I activate my two remaining Traps, The Phantom Knights of Lost Vambrace." He gestured to his Field. "With them I target a monster on the Field it losses 600 ATK and it's Level becomes 2 and The Phantom Knights monster can't be destroyed by battle this turn." Now he gestured to her monsters. "I chose Aria and Sonata!"

Aria ATK: 2100->1500

Sonata ATK: 1700->1100

"Then my Vambraces are Summoned as Normal Monsters!"

2X The Phantom Knights of Lost Vambrace: Dark/Warrior/ATK: 600/DEF: 0/ L: 2

The monsters appeared as possessed headless and legless armour with a visible dark core which was surrounded by the blue ghostly flames.

"So I can't do anything anymore..." Yuzu said in a defeated tone. "Not only has he broken my formation but he has now he has two Level 2 monsters so he can perform another Xyz Summon."

"I end my turn."

Now her monsters regain their attack and Levels.

Aria ATK: 1500->2100

Sonata ATK: 1100->1700

"My turn, draw." He looked at his card and placed it into his had. "I overlay my two Vambraces. Piercing through ten thousand warriors, the cursed spear of rebellion entombed in darkness, descend now! Xyz Summon! Come forth! Rank 2! The Phantom Knights of Cursed Javelin!"

Cursed Javelin: Dark/Warrior/Xyz/Effect/ATK: 1600/DEF: 0/R: 2/OU: 2

Another possessed warrior appeared, this time the armour was shaped like a skeleton with a javelin and shield in his hands.

"Then I activate The Phantom Knights of Gloom Shroud from my hand! By discarding one card from my hand I can Special Summon this card from my hand!" He discarded his remaining card and placed the monster on his duel disk.

The blue ghost now seemes to wear the shroud.

Gloom Shroud: Dark/Warrior/Effect/ATK:500/DEF:1000/L:4

"When this card is Summoned I can Special Summon one The Phantom Knights monster from my Grave, I chose Ancient Cloak!" The cloak now appeared on his Field for a third time. "Then I can increase the Special Summoned monster's Level by 1."

Ancient Cloak L: 3->4

"Two Level 4 monsters..." And Yuzu could see it, the slumbering dragon who was ready to unleash it's fangs on her.

"Now I overlay my Gloom Shroud and Ancient Cloak! Relentless dragon formed from pitch-black darkness, to fight those foolish enough to oppose it with its treacherous fangs! Now, descend! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon!"

Yuzu couldn't help but gulp at the sight of the dragon. Now she knew it was over. And she swear that those golden eyes were looking at her with disapproval.

"I activate my Dark Rebellion's effect! By using one Overlay Unit I can target one my opponent's monsters- I chose Mozart- to havle its attack and have Dark Rebellion gain the lost attack, i will use it twice. Go Treason Discharge!"

Purple lightning danced from the dragon then to her monster, holding her tightly.

Mozart ATK: 3100->1550->775

Dark Rebellion ATK: 2500->4050->4825

"Battle! With Dark Rebellion I attack Mozart, go Revolt of Lightning Disobey!"

Taking flight with its single mandable glowing blue the dragon pierced her ace's body turning her into nothing. And Yuzu was sent flying.

"What!? Why did this attack hurt!"

Yuzu LP: 2800->0

Winner: Yuto

Yuto was quickly next her helping her get up. "Sorry about that." He sounded sheepish. "Most of my monsters tend to listen, but Dark Rebellion has a habit of not holding back."

Yuzu just stared blankly at him while giving him a nod.

But there was something she couldn't ignore.

"You talk like they are alive." He gave her a confused look. "The monsters I mean."

"You talk like they aren't." He shoot back, but he seemed more amused then anything. "You felt it back then, how angry my dragon was and how he was indignant when that guy insulted him." She couldn't deny any of those. "But enough about that." He wanted to move on from the topic. "You did well. Now that I know how your Deck works we can properly start training. And you are quite compatible with Xyz since you Special Summon monsters easily."

"Great!"That was good it meant that she doesn't need to rework her entire playstyle but simply tweak it. "When can we start." She was eager to learn.

"Honestly I wouldn't mind starting right now." He said. "I don't have anything to do and it isn't late."

He was right and she herself could stay a while longer here.

"Then let's begin Teacher." She said in all seriousness. Sitting down with her knees folded and legs underneath her.

"Teacher?" He questioned.

"Well I mean..." Great now she was all embarrassed. "You are my Teacher. Don't you want me to call you that." She tried her best to regain some dignity.

"Yuto is fine."

"Very well Teacher Yuto." She teased him a little, she was starting to like making that stoic face change expressions.

"Well first thing first can I check your Deck?" He extended his open palm towards her.

Trusting him she handed her Deck to Yuto. Their hands quickly touched. He then sat beside her. Reading each card and their effects. Nodding from time to time. He returned it her.

"Correct me if I am wrong but the primary focus of your Deck is to summon the Melodious Maestra monsters while using the Melodious Diva monsters to act as support. Which means that swarming the Field with monsters is your specialty." He finished his analysis.

"Yes and that was enough until recently." She couldn't help but bite her lower lip. "But recently that wasn't enough."

"If there is a flaw in your Deck is that you have to many cards."

"Huh?" Now she didn't understand what he was talking about. "I have 40 cards total I can't get lower then that."

"That's not what I meant." He took about his Deck and gave it her. "Look at my cards, specifically my Spells."

Now she was looking through his Deck, she saw his Phantom Knights but there were cards that stood out.

"Final Offguard, Cards of Adversity, Allure of Darkness, Card of Demise, Reinforcement of the Army..." She was starting to get what he meant.

"So you are saying..."

"My Deck has 40 cards, but with those the number essentially decreases."

"And you get the cards you need faster." She returned his Deck to him.

"Exactly. So what you need would be draw power and ways to search you other cards. We need to see good LIGHT and Fairy-Type support cards if Melodious doesn't have any in archetype solution."

She gave him a nod. It seems that this would be rather productive, more that she imagined. It seems that Yuto is taking this seriously since doesn't plan on just teaching her Xyz but also general advice.

She was rather grateful for that.

"Now a question for you." His grey eyes were looking directly at her. "What do you think is the advantage Xyz Monsters have over other Extra Deck methods?"

She put her hand below her chin. Thinking about the methods and all the way they worked. She didn't know the details and all of the strengths of each of them. But one thing stood out.

"Oh!" It hit her. "You only need monsters of the same Level, for Synchro you need a Tuner and for Fusion you need specific cards for it!"

He gave her an approving nod. "You are right that the advantage they have over other methods, it is the reason you only need an Xyz monster. Had you wanted to learn other methods you would need to find Tuners or Fusion support cards."

She didn't really think about it, but now that he brought it up it was rather big advantage to her.

"There is also an additional advantage." He looked through his Deck and gave her one card. "Look at its second effect."

The card he gave her was The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales. It second effect was: If another "Phantom Knights" card in your GY is banished, while this card is in your GY: You can Special Summon this card, but banish it when it leaves the field.

"If I were to Special Summon it with its own effect it would be banished, but if I use as an Overlay Unit and detach it, it would go to the Grave." He informed her.

"Huh!?" Now she was confused, and she couldn't help but think she was stupid since she didn't get it. "How does that work!?"

"While it as Overlay Unit it isn't treated as a monster or on the Field." He gently explained to her. "Consider it as a part of the monster more then anything."

"So you can bypass the downsides of monsters like that and use them repeatedly." She was still thinking about this. A card like Torn Scales is limited by the fact he should be able to summon it only once. And yet he bypassed the side effects which means that unless an outside interference occurs he can summon this thing every turn.

It was stupidly useful.

"More or less." He replied, shrugging his shoulder s. "Now do you have any questions?"

"It's not really a question, but since Xyz Monsters don't have Levels you can't use them For Synchros, and cards which influence based on Level don't work on them, right?"

"Correct. In exchange for being easily summoned, an Xyz Monster is limited since you can't use in for Synchros or Rituals."

She nodded. It seems that all the methods have their pros and cons. It was the duelist that made them great.

"Yuto." She called out to him. His grey eyes immediately focused on her. "I have to go. Can we meet up tomorrow... Around five. Does that work for you?" She asked.

"Sure." He replied. "Where?"

"Hmm... How about we exchange contact information. We discusse it tomorrow." She said with a yawn. It seems that she was exsosted.

Quickly exchanging their numbers. Yuzu decided that it was finally time for her to leave.

"Before you leave what incident was that girl talking about?"

Yuzu eyes went wide and she couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. Yuto doesn't even know what happened, it was unlikely that he was behind it.

"I only heard about today, but an LDS teacher was attacked by an Xyz user a few days ago."

"What!?" Yuto's eye twitched and he glared at everywhere but her. "That idiot, what is he thinking. No if he was thinking he wouldn't be doing any of this." He growled out.

"Someone you know?" Yuzu inquired

"Probably. Hopefully I am wrong about this." He massaged his temple. "Anyways, thank you for telling me and see you tomorrow."

"See you too Teacher Yuto."

This time Yuto just shuck his head in amusement as they went their separate ways.

Chapter Text

The plan was simple. He and Shun would go to Standard, find information about Akaba Reiji, use said information to capture him and they would have their hostage.

The plans biggest hole would be if Akaba Leo actually cared about his son in any way.

Considering all the things that he was willing to do, Yuto didn't believe him capable of actually caring about a living being. At best his own son would be tool for to expand his influence, manipulated and groomed for that sole purpose.

If that would be true then Yuto couldn't help but fell some kind of sympathy for the rest of the family. Of course the possibility exists that his family is just as mad as he is.

Of course even that simple plan had to go wrong.

When he teleported to Standard he saw many things.

Buildings, the sky, the sun, clouds, people.

But Shun was nowhere in sight.

"Was there a problem with the transfer?" He mused to himself. It wouldn't be exactly out of the realm of possibility. Honestly Yuto is happy that he wasn't teleported into the clouds, if that happened he likely would have died.

And he isn't of use dead.

"Now then..." The problem could be easily solved, assuming that Shun is in Standard that is.

Using his duel disk he tried to message him. It read not received.

Great.

"Well to find him the old way then."

Of course that wasn't easy, not because trying to find a person who didn't exist in this dimension until a few minutes ago is difficult. No it was because this place brought to many memories. 

In place of these peaceful people, who are simply living their lives, he saw something else.

What could eventually happen here.

However that wasn't what triggered his memories. No it was small alleyways that reminded Yuto of far to much.

Everything was normal.

Yuto considered his life good all things considered.

He didn't know his actual parents, his first memories were of him being on a street on cold and rainy day. All he had were some rugged clothing and Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon, he was his sole friend.

Granted they couldn't talk to eachother, but the dragon's presence was enough for Yuto.

The dragon was warm were everything was cold.

The dragon was there were everyone abandoned him.

The dragon stayed with him no matter how pathetic he was, no matter how much he cried.

He held his companion tightly.

Whenever someone passed Yuto would look and ask for help.

Well not ask, ask implied that he knew how to talk. He didn't. But surely a barely clothed child crying in the middle of the street was enough to send a message.

It wasn't.

Some didn't care. Some people were rude enough to hurt to him. To take Dark Rebellion from. That such a card didn't belong to him.

It did. Dark Rebellion was his, and he was Dark Rebellion's.

In retaliation Yuto would bite them or hit them were it hurt. And despite not being heard Dark Rebellion send his own growls at them.

That was until one day.

A woman in warm clothing with an purple umbrella walked and saw him.

First she was shocked and then she was with him.

"What is a child doing here?" She with a voice so small like she was whispering.

She kneels in front of him. "Child how are you. Do you have any parents?"

He couldn't talk so he shook his head from side to side.

"Do you have anybody?" 

He just showed her Dark Rebellion. That was all he had.

"Would like to come with me?"

Yuto had wondered if the woman understood that he wouldn't have a real choice. It was either being soked or somewhere with a roof.

It not like he had much to lose.

So he nodded up and down.

The woman's expression brightend.

She extended her hand towards him, her movements slow and deliberate, but the gesture froze in midair as Yuto instinctively flinched, his body shifting slightly away from her. It wasn’t dramatic—just a subtle recoil, almost imperceptible—but it spoke volumes. A mild response, all things considered, yet the weight of it lingered in the space between them, heavy and unspoken. Her hand hovered there for a moment longer before she let it fall back to her side, her expression unreadable but her amethyst eyes flickering with something unspoken.

The woman's expression shifted into something Yuto didn't recognise.

She just gestured for him to follow her.

He did.

Her home was a comfortable place, warm, it had for walls and a roof and a bed for him to sleep in.

What Yuto did notice is that it had many pictures. Primarily three figures. An older man and woman together with a woman who had grey hair. 

Parents perhaps. The one who picked him up was younger then the ones in the pictures and looked totally different.

It didn't take the woman to long to understand that Yuto didn't have any idea how to talk.

She introduced herself as Kari Tsukumo.

She led him to the bathroom, cleaned him up-both of them pretended that he didn't flinch at her every touch- gave him oversized clothes and promised him that they would get him some clothes that fit him.

She led him to a room he was supposed to sleep here.

He tried.

He failed.

He cried. Because he still felt cold.

She quickly came to his room. And Yuto was trying to wipe away his tears but they still keept coming.

He needed to get rid of them, he couldn't cry, if he cried she would toss him out. 

He needed to stop, but it won't stop.

She lay next to him, held him tight.

"It's okay." She whispered to him. "You can cry."

So he did and sometimes he thought he hear her cry too.

They fell asleep like that.

Later on he would be officially adopted and his name legaly would be Yuto Tsukumo.

She taught him how to read, write, math and so much more.

They ate warm food, the rain didn't hurt him anymore, and Dark Rebellion was really happy, that was important to.

He tried to ask questions about the people in the pictures. But then she just got sad, and Yuto really couldn't ask her after seeing her face like that.

Yuto himself did his best to make her proud. In school he tried to be the best, and he was always among the top five. Whenever Yuto made some kind of achievement they would always celebrate.

Dueling was something he naturaly picked up over time and eventually his efforts landed him in the Heartland Duel School, well it wasn't just a Duel School since it functioned like a normal one as well.

Dueling he liked, he could always hear monsters and they had a lot of fun. Dark Rebellion too. When he had fun Yuto had fun to.

During those days he would met Shun and later on Ruri.

"Let's bring many smiles with dueling." She said.

"Together?" Yuto asked.

"Together." Shun firmly responded.

If only those days could last.

He doesn't really remember what he was doing that day. Perhaps he was simply going to get groceries. Perhaps he was just walking. Perhaps he was going to met a friend.

None of that matters.

It was all turned to ash in an instant.

The blue sky turned red. Dust filled the air and the world burned.

And Yuto saw them.

Giant machines that destroyed buildings. And all that was in them.

He tried to help.

He failed miserably.

It didn't matter. Men, women, children. None were spared from their assault.

All of them died.

Every. Single. One. Of. Them.

They hunted them like animals.

He heard the screams. But he could do nothing to soothe them.

He saw tears, but he couldn't wipe them away.

But there was more. It wasn't just people he heard. He heard the monsters as well. Anything ranging from roars and cries. Because they to were suffering. 

And only he could hear them. But he couldn't save them either.

It felt as if something was scratching his brain. It was itching and he couldn't stop it. It won't stop, it will never stop.

From this moment onwards he would always hear it and he will never unhear it.

Something was shattering.

He ran quickly to his house. But he was too late.

He saw it.

Those men in blue.

They carded her.

She told him something. But be couldn't hear her last words.

And his glass like heart shattered.

"Destroy everything." 

He said that.

That was the last thing he remembered.

"-uto!"

"Yu-!"

He heard voices. But he didn't care. He simply moved forward.

"Snap out of it!!"

"The Yuto I know wouldn't know this!!"

And he breathed.

He looked around him. Whatever this area was...

It was no longer recognizable. The buildings were reduced to rubble. The rubble covered everything and all that Yuto saw was destruction.

But that didn't scare him.

He saw what kind of damage it was, he could fell who did it.

The mark left were like sword not like the cannons used by the men in blue.

No it was...

He looked at his left hand. On it was a duel disk, a shield with a sword blade were cards would go. On it was his Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon.

He looked and saw a hurt Shun and Ruri. They were surrounded by the carded blue men.

And this moment he realised why they were hurt.

The rain began to fall and each drop hurt Yuto. The cold drops made his warm blood turn cold. His blood flowed in reverse. With each breath the dust was in his lungs made them grind. It wasn't smooth like before but like stone grinding stone. Each breath hurt. His eyes didn't see the beautiful city anymore. It was ugly or perhaps it was always ugly and he didn't see it.

And he realised this destruction wasn't on them.

This was him.

Is him.

And only him.

He hurt them. He hurt them, because when he could have saved them, when he could have been thinking about them. He was only thinking about himself.

He could see them, their mouths moving telling him something but he couldn't hear them. Through his ears he only the endless cries of people and monsters. He couldn't hear anything else.

His vision went dark and he was nothing.

He shook his head. Now it wasn't the time to get lost in tainted memories.

As he saw searching the city, to be precise the warehouses next to a coastline, he saw her.

Ruri.

She was dressed differently, she had dark pink midback-length hair, which were tied up in pigtails, clipped down by blue, spherical hair clips. Her hair also features two lighter pink bangs that fall to the side of her face. She wore a sleeveless light-blue and white shirt with a green musical note on the right collar, along with a pink tie, which she wears with a maroon skirt, dark stockings, and pink sneakers.

But Yuto could still see her bracelet.

"Did she escape?" He let out a sigh of relief. "Good, so that outfit is a disguise."

However his good mood didn't last long, when he saw a guy lock the warehouse.

He didn't think, he just acted.

He was in the warehouse in an instant, nothing could stop him. He saw the LDS badges on them.

"Are they agents of Academia?" He wondered. It would make sense, they for some reason kidnapped Ruri, she was valuable to them.

Why he doesn't know.

Over the course of the duel it didn't take him to long to realise that this wasn't Ruri. Ruri would not be surprised by him setting his entire hand face down. Ruri would not look shocked at an Xyz Summon. Ruri shouldn't be surprised that real damage could be done outside of an Action Field, whatever that was.

The final nail was when she called him Yuya.

Then her bracelet glowed and he appeared in some other part of the city.

"... What?" He believed he wouldn't be surprised by anything at this point. There were four dimensions, each having a lookalike of him and Ruri, Duel Spirits were something he was aware of since he was a child.

But how did a bracelet teleport him to who knows where?

"Could Ruri's have an ability to?" He muttered. "And does Academia know of it?" That would explain the kidnapping, Ruri was important to him and Shun, but in a war she would just another soldier. She isn't anybody special in that sense.

"Now I am at zero."

Some days pass by and he learning as much as he could about the Leo Corporation. What he did learn was ... disappointing.

From what he could learn is that the moment you remove Akaba Reiji from the picture Standard has no relation with Academia. The duelist were taught to duel in the same way he did, as game or sport. Not as a weapon for war.

The sentimental part of him was happy for it, the logical part of him told that these people would suffer the same fate he did because of it.

However he to focused on it since a pink haired girl managed to get closer to him then he liked.

So he did the only logical thing.

Run.

But she caught him, and of all things she could have asked she wanted him to teach her Xyz Summoning.

"Why are you asking a guy who, from your perspective assaulted someone and threatend them with a dragon." He wanted to ask her.

And then he saw that look in her eyes, those two pieces of sapphire blue... were desperate. Desperate to be powerful because she know what it is like to powerless.

"If Academia is after the girls who share the same face she is a potential target too." He thought. "If I teach her the odds of her being captured decrease." After giving himself a good reason he agreed.

Yuto would never forget the sheer joy on her face, how her eyes first widened, how her mouth parted in a 'o', and how she gave him a big smile.

It was an image that would always have a place in his mind.

Of course they would have to be interrupted, but tha interruption allowed him to learn something useful. That is that Shun is likely making attacks at people. Did he discover an Academia agent? If he did he should have called to Yuto so that they could deal with it together. But Shun was far to impatient. That idiot could have gotten himself hurt.

After departing from his first lesson with Yuzu he realised something.

"Did I... enjoy myself now?"

He did and he doesn't know what to fell about that.

Chapter Text

Yuto sleept, or as close as somebody like him can sleep that is.

(Because he always sees Heartland, because he hears the screaming and laughing, because he sees his mother in front of his eyes and he can't save her. He remembers how he hurt Shun and Ruri, how he wanted nothing more then to-)

Why does it have to be this way?

Because the world and the people in it are cruel, they don't deserve anything but your wrath.

He shook his head, those thoughts weren't his they couldn't be possibly be his, he wouldn't-

But didn't fell good to finally get rid of them.

He wants to scream but nothing leaves his mouth.

He had to focus. Today he had a couple of task to complete.

First, teach Yuzu Xyz Summoning and generally make her strong as possible so that Academia doesn't get their hands on her.

Second, find Shun. His friend is who knows where potentially fighting agents of Academia here in Standard. He had to find him quickly.

Third, the Fusion user that Yuzu mentioned. He needs be investigated immediately. To Yuzu Fusion is just another method, to Yuto it means that war is potentially on the horizon. And he doesn't want this place to become a battlefield. He has seen far to many of those.

Unfortunately he couldn't exactly say: 'Hey your new friend might be a soldier from another dimension who wants to wipe my -and potentially your - dimension of the map!!'

Of course the possibility that he just an random user of Fusion isn't impossible, but Yuto was someone who thought about the worst case scenario before his home was suddenly attacked, now he was arguably paranoid.

He thought about everything, Yuto would meet Yuzu around five, between that and now he had plenty of time to investigate Standard. He had to think of so much, one of those things being that there is apparently a new Summoning Method know as Pendulum Summoning. Standard didn't have a unique method, but his lookalike -Yuya if he remembers correctly- had invented it out of thin air.

Out one his deck holders, where he holds his special cards, he pulled out two.

Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon and The Phantom Knights Rank-Up Magic Launch. An upgraded version of his beloved dragon. Yuto had an idea how these cards came to be.

Did the same process amply to Yuya? Possibly.

But now he needed to do research, particulary of Akaba Leo. There only so much the Resistance could learn from low ranking soldiers about the leader of Academia, but Akaba Leo actually lived in Standard and was famous so a quick search on the internet made Yuto learn something... interesting.

Three years ago Akaba Leo disappeared and his wife and son took over the Leo Corporation. Then they began what Yuto could only call an aggressive takeover of pretty much every industry know to man, to the point where you can consider Akaba Reiji the ruler of Maiami City in all but name.

However what he did find interesting is the fact that Standard didn't have any Extra Deck methods until Akaba Leo introduced then alongside Real Solid Vision.

The Real Solid Vision in Standard was used only within an Action Field, unlike the Academia one where you only need a duel disk. Akaba Leo likely just made the technology needed smaller and something you can actually cary around.

If it weren't for the sins Akaba Leo committed Yuto would have respected the man for brilliance.

But there was also something else that caught his eye, one particular name.

"Sasaki Yusho." He found the name familiar, but where did he... Oh. "Isn't that the man who Ruri and Sayaka were talking about, the one who taught dueling should be about making others smile." Yuto noticed that he did disappear some time after Akaba Leo did, on the day he had fight in an tournament.

Yuto never really thought dueling needed an ideal, to him it was something he enjoyed alongside his friends. But there was something beautiful about it.

But that ideal no longer suits him. His hands are far to stained to make anyone happy.

However there was one detail that made Yuto want to punch the man.

"Why did you leave your wife and son alone you fool. Do you have any idea of the damage you caused?" He said through his teeth. "You likely had some idea of what Leo would do so you traveled to stop him. But did you inform them at the very least about why you left?"

He breathed in and out. To calm himself. He needs a distraction. Looking at the history of Summoning Methods in Standard seems like a start.

"Before Akaba Leo introduced the Extra Deck methods Standard had none, but he did he even know of one method let alone all of them?" Yuto was trying his best but it seems that he lacks necessary information to piece this puzzle. "And if he can make all of them, why does Academia only use Fusion?"

He then remembered a conversation with Dr. Faker.

It was sometime after the start of the war, he and Kaito had successfully obtained the necessary tools and parts for the Resistance to make their own card printer.

It was a huge victory for the Resistance since they could now produce their own cards to counter Academia and strengthen their soldiers.

'Soldiers, that is what we were turned into.' Many in the Resistance were barely twenty years old, the older population of Heartland doesn't exist anymore. Kaito is one the older ones but he was bearly two years older then Yuto himself.

"Those two actually did it."

"This changes everything."

"We will give Academia hell."

Many cheers were given, but Yuto simply felt uncomfortable. He never expected to be praised for this. He believed that no one should be praised for this.

"Yuto." He heard Kaito, the blonds light blue eyes looking at him. "You aren't fine, are you? What's the problem?"

"This praise... It feels wrong." He breathed out.

He wasn't praised for his skills or ingenuity. No he was praised because of the fact he has likely carded more Academia soldiers then anybody else. A curse of being one the best duelists they had in combination with his stealth.

Add the fact that he was one their calmer members who wouldn't lose control over their anger in the middle of a battle and he was the perfect weapon.

"Yuto. You know why we have to do this." Kaito said, but even he disliked it. Kaito, Shun and Yuto always liked to duel around children, they were considered cool, and awesome. Despite the fact that the archetypes they play tend to be on the scarier side.

"I know." The Resistance had barely resources for it's own members, let alone prisoners of war. Carding them was a mercy in away, they wouldn't starve to death.

But...

'I don't want to hurt people anymore.' He was getting tired of it all.

He could hear Dark Rebellion's growl, his dragon was getting angrier by the second. Each time they complimented Yuto, Dark Rebellion felt obligated to roar at them. He wanted to pet his dragon but unfortunately he couldn't.

"Let's go my father is waiting for us." Kaito gestured for him to follow and he did.

They came to the are where they will set up all of the card making equipment. Faker was patiently waiting for them.

"Oh welcome boys." He greeted them. "I heard you succeed in your mission."

"We did fat..." Before Kaito could finish his father hugged him, likely checking if his son was real, that he did in fact come back.

"Good, good. I was so worried about you."

Yuto couldn't help but feel unnecessary here, in a moment between a parent and child.

"Now then." He detached himself from his son. "Now then since it was the two of you who brought all of this the first batch of cards will be made for you. Any thing in particular you need?"

Both Yuto and Kaito likely have a few books worth of material on that subject.

They gave their lists and he nodded at them.

But there was a question Yuto couldn't help but ask.

"Dr. Faker." The man's attention was now on him. "How are cards even made." That was one the biggest secrets in the world and Yuto needed to know.

"Well that is rather complicated." Of course it is. "But in the simplest terms we turn energy into cards."

Yuto's face likely betrayed his emotions to the point where both of his fellow occupants wanted to laugh.

"You see there is energy inside us and in the world, by manipulating it we can generate cards. Of course their effects are semi-random. While you can get the desired effect the cost and conditions are more random."

"Then how come we never discovered Fusion."

"Yuto!"

"Kaito." Faker simply spoke his name and he stopped fuming. "He is asking a very valid question. How come no one discovered this method." He turned to Yuto. "Extra Deck monsters are bit more specific, their require a specific energy, which I believe native to each dimension. So we couldn't make them even if we wanted to."

"So in exchange of having all Summoning Methods they operate on a lower level." He mused. "There are no mentions of Rank-Up Magics, or anything besides the basic Xyz Summoning."

But now he needed to this Pendulum Summoning, there wasn't much content, only one duel, but it was enough for Yuto to gain a simple idea how it worked.

First the sheer resemblance between him and Yuya Sakaki was shocking, if he weren't wiser he would have believed him to be a lost twin. Not a lookalike from another dimension.

Pendulum Summoning required two Pendulum Cards to be placed in the Pendulum Zones, there wasn't an official term so Yuto will use this one, and then you can Special Summon monsters whose Levels are in-between those Scales.

In addition to that Pendulum Monsters have a Pendulum Effects and a Monster Effect, what effect is being used depends on whether the card is in the Monster Zone or Pendulum Zone.

The method has potential, Yuto can see it used to fuel other methods, it was more used for setup for anything else.

He wondered if his lookalike reached the same conclusion.

But how did Pendulum come into being? He really didn't get it. Again he is likely missing a lot of information to make any reasonable guess.

But something else... Is tugging him.

Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon. It was Yuya's ace. A red bipedal dragon, albeit it had more quadruple stance while his Dark Rebellion had a more humanoid stance. It had heterochromatic eyes, one green and one red.

He could hear Dark Rebellion growling in approval at Odd-Eyes display.

If he wasn't suspicious already this confirmed that there was a connection between him and Yuya.

He had an Xyz Dragon.

Yuya had a Pendulum Dragon.

Both named after their mechanic. And he remembers a report of a Synchro Dragon. And there is definitely a Fusion Dragon out there wielded by a Yuri.

Four people, four dragons, four dimensions. And likely all of them sharing a face.

"What is my life now?"

Ring!

[Hello Yuto!😊]

[I will finish school early today.]

[So would you mind if meet earlier?]

[Around three?]

[Sure]

[Yay!]

[See you later!]

"At the very least this is something I can look forward to." He said with a sigh.

Spending time Yuzu was perhaps the most relaxing thing he did since this war started.

Ever since the start of the war he could only hear the screaming of monsters, but when he dueled Yuzu it was so ... Peaceful, yes that the term. Her monsters liked her, fought by her side, it produced a beautiful melody. He had almost forgot that they could sound like that.

"She could also hear them," he took out his Dark Rebellion. "She felt your anger but she still came to ask me for advice."

She tracked him down, a stranger, just so that she could get stronger.

"Even when Academia comes after her resolve and will are strong. She won't falter, not easily."

He remembers how some the members of the Resistance who simply couldn't fight no matter how talented they are. The hell they witnessed broke something inside of them. Not that Yuto blamed them, he never could.

"Now if only I could find Shun, it would be perfect."

Now he was at the promised location, a beautiful park and in the vicinity stores of all kinds. It reminded him of the time where he used to visit this place with his mother Kari.

He remembered the times when he smiled easily, when he was just a boy, unaware of the horrors of the world, unaware of loss.

His heart hurt, it was still beating, but it sometimes it felt like a hand was holding it it a tight grip.

His dragon was sending him reassuring warmth, the sole constant in his life.

"Yuto!!"

He heard a familiar female voice. Turning around he saw the girl he waited for running towards him.

She was dressed in the outfit he came to associate her with, but she was panting.

"... Did you run all the way to here?" He couldn't help but ask.

"Well I didn't want to be late." She was looking at him strangely, tilting her head to see something he can't place.

"Is there something on my face?"

"No. You just look like my friend." She shook her head. "It's just... Strange seeing the same face."

Yuya Sakaki, his lookalike from another world.

"Shall we go?"

Yuto doesn't really remember how to do small talk. These days most conversation revolved around how to win against Academia, how to beat their strategies and so on.

None of his conversations included how to talk to a peer without the pressure of a war.

"Yup!" She seemed happy, that was a good sign.

She took him by the wrist, he noticeably flinched at her touch.

She removed her hand and looked apologetic.

"Oh sorry..."

"It's fine. Just lead the way." It wasn't her fault he was a mess.

The walked to the shop in silence.

Yuzu didn't know what to make of him.

When she first saw him she could admit to herself that she was a little scared. In all fairness who wouldn't be of a guy who can damage the surrounding area on a whim.

But the next time they meet what little fear she had disappeared and she realised that he was in fact quite kind, calm and reasonable. It probably helped that he had the same face as Yuya and Yuzu can't see that face as bad no matter how hard she tried.

Now however she was bit worried for him.

The first hint was whenever she mentioned Fusion in the past Yuto would panic.

The second when she touched him he flinched.

Yuto wasn't fine, that was obvious to anyone who interacted with him for five minutes.

It doesn't help that she doesn't know what he wants. Clearly Yuto is hiding something. Is up to something.

And she doesn't know what.

"Would he answer me if I asked?"

But now they were walking side by side as they entered the card shop. She directed him to sections where cards that could be of use to her.

She noticed how whenever dueling is involved Yuto would get immersed in it. Despite his outward lack of reaction Yuzu could see the glimmer in his eyes.

Yuto loved dueling.

"Maybe if I talk about it he would relax?"

"Yuto." She called him to draw his attention to her. "I looked it up but there weren't any Melodious Xyz Monsters. I thought about requesting one to be made for me. Any suggestions on what kind of effects it should have?" 

"Well that depends," he put his hand under his chin in a rather cute thinking pose. "Do you want to use it to make your current strategy easier to use or to add more power to your deck?"

"Something knew then." She quickly made her decision. "I am rather weak right now, so even if get something easier to use it won't be enough."

"You aren't weak." He countered her statement.

"Yes I am. If I ..."

"Yuzu." His tone was once again gentle. "The you who wishes to grow isn't weak."

She just stared at him wide eyed. She received encouragement before of course. Be it Yuya, her father, Gongenzaka but it was different when Yuto said it.

Maybe because he was her teacher.

Maybe because of all the people she knows Yuto is stronger then most by a noticeable margin.

Maybe because their first meeting was him saving her.

Maybe because despite the fact that he was busy and has his own worries and troubles he still chose to help her.

"Thank you Yuto."

He then did something that isn't forgetting easily.

He smiled.

Smiling suited him well.

"Don't mention it."

A part of her wanted to take a picture of his face, surely him smiling would be considered one of the rarest things in the world.

"...Yuzu."

"Hmm."

"You spaced out."

"Oh."

"What kind of monster do you want?"

"Well I had a few ideas..." She told him her thoughts and plans for her Xyz Monster. Yuto only looked at her in approval.

"That's good. When will you be able to get you cards."

"Well they should be done quickly." She then smirked at him. "Then the two us will duel again. We will have a lot to test."

"Indeed."

"Now then I will get some of those cards for Fairy and LIGHT decks."

She picked up a few cards that could be used for support. A little support from Yuto here and there and she was satisfied with her purchase.

"Now then." She looked at him. "Where to next."

Before Yuto could respond his stomach answered for him.

He actually blushed and Yuzu couldn't help but let out a giggle.

"Well let's go and eat then."

"No need. I will eat afterwords."

And then something hit her.

"Yuto?"

"Yes?"

"Where do you live, here in Maiami City?" Yuto wasn't from here, so he had to sleep somewhere.

"Well you see..." He wasn't looking at her.

"Yuto." Her tone was sharper this time.

"That warehouse where we first meet."

"... What." He couldn't be serious. "What do you eat?" 

"Rations i brought from ... Home."

"What!?" Yup Yuto will make her lose her temper. His self-preservation skills, or lack thereof will make her mad at him. "That settles it. We were going to my house and you will eat actual food."

"Yuzu you don't need to..."

"Of course I need to! I am not letting you eat rations when we have more food then we know what to do with." She shoot him a glare. "You will eat actual food Yuto, or I will will drag you there."

"You aren't letting this go?"

"Nope. I don't know what you are doing here but can't do it on a half full stomach."

"Won't your parents be mad that a stranger eats at their house?"

If she had any money left they would go somewhere else to eat.

"Don't worry my father isn't at home."

"What about your mother?"

"I don't have one."

"Sorry for your loss." He looked rather guilty.

"Oh no. It's not like that." She waved her hands quickly in front of him. "I never really had one. My father adopted me."

She can't miss what she never had. But she can think about the what if.

Their was an awkward pause.

"So she'll we." She asked him.

He gave a quick nod.

Now they were in front of Yuzu's house.

Yuto didn't know what to think.

On one hand he felt guilty for enjoying himself since he knew what his friends were going through in Heartland.

On the other hand Yuzu was right. Something that the Resistance learned early on is that a hungry soldier can't win.

And he was confident that the girl would find a way to feed him regardless of his wishes so he might as well give in.

And it would be a lie to say that he didn't miss actual food.

And despite himself he felt nervous and anxious entering a girl home. One would think that going through the trials he faced in Heartland would be enough to steel him for this.

It seems there was a part of him that was just a 14 year old teenager not a soldier.

Entering the Hiiragi Residence he and Yuzu took of their shoes and went directly to the kitchen.

"Do you need help?"

"Huh. You know how to cook?"

"A little." It was something he enjoyed to do with his mother. He remembered how when the first time he tried to bake the kitchen was covered in flour.

His first attempts were nothing but a disaster and to this day he wonders how the kitchen survived him.

"Well then," she clapped her hands together. "Let's start."

They were going to make chicken breast with rice and vegetables on the side.

He was cutting down the vegetables while she was cutting the chicken breast in half horizontaly.

"Hey Yuto?"

"Yes?"

"Can I ask you a question?"

This would not end well for him would it?

"Yes."

What would the first question be? There was a million questions she could ask he would at the very least be somewhat honest.

"What are you doing here, in Maiami City I mean?"

"My friend was kidnapped." He could be honest about that. "So I and her brother are searching for her." That was a half-truth, they know that Academia has her but not much else.

"What!?" She raised her voice in alarm. "But wait if she kidnapped why not call the police or something? Why are you helping me at all if you are doing something important?"

"For the first it is pointless." There was no 'Interdimensional Police' for him to call. "As for the second one well," he took his duel disk and quickly found a photo of Ruri and showed it to Yuzu who simply widened her eyes. "When I first saw you I mistook you for her."

"The resemblance is uncanny. Do I have a twin?"

"No this just one coincidence." He highly doubts that now, the dragons and bracelets prove this is by some kind of design.

"Wait so the reason you attacked Sawatari was because you thought he was a kidnapper and what was that Academia you mentioned?"

"Academia is a Duel School that specialises in Fusion. It's leader is Akaba Leo."

"Wait so the reason you are investigating LDS is because it belongs to his son." She had a look of realisation on her face. "Wait but Akaba Leo disappeared three years ago, why would be kidnapping a random girl."

"My best guess is that bracelet you and Ruri have. Yours managed to teleport me after all." He looked at the bracelet. How something like that can teleport him is beyond him.

"Oh." She raised her hand in order to inspect her accessory. "Back then in the warehouse when Yuya arrived it glowed and you just ... vanished."

His lookalike appears and then Yuto gets teleported to another part of the city. The bracelet wanted to prevent a meeting between those who share the same face. 

But why?

"Argh!!" A growl escaped her throat. "What is even happening! First I meet you, then you disappear because of this damed bracelet for who knows what reason. Later I think you are Yuya despite the obvious reasons why you couldn't be and lose in an sorry excuse of a duel. And I learn that you can apparently do real damage outside of an Action Field and that apparently monsters are alive!"

He quickly grabbed her shoulders. "Yuzu, breathe in, breathe out."

After calming herself she stepped away from him.

"Sorry it has just been a lot these days." She did not look him in the eye.

"It's fine." He remembered the early days of the invasion, when they knew little to nothing of Academia, the four dimensions and why they were being attacked in the first place. "Just start on the most manageable problem and build from there."

"Well how about explaining to me about the monsters being alive? That seems the easiest."

"Well they are alive but most people can't really interact with them. People like the two of us rare. In my case I can always hear them." He closed his eyes. "They don't really talk, not in a way we could understand anyway. I can feel what they feel however. The reason I trust you is because your monsters like you. They are happy with you."

He doesn't tell her that when they are forced to obey they scream. That he hears them mourning and crying all the time in Heartland. How they don't want to be used in a war. How they want peace.

His throat is being squeezed tight. His breathing raged.

"Yuto."

He is better and sees her blue eyes looking at him with concern and worry.

This is not supposed to be happening. He was supposed to make sure she was strong enough to beat whoever Academia sends after her.

He doesn't deserve it, her worry.

'I should leave, make some excuse...'

"Yuto. Let's eat."

And whatever excuse he has dies when she looks at him.

They had their dinner and now it was time for Yuto to leave.

He was now by her door taking his leave.

"Yuto." She now had his attention. "Will meet again tomorrow?"

She wanted to. To see him and talk to him again.

"Yes." There was a smile on his face. "Same time."

She nods. "Great! See you tomorrow!"

He took his leave and she closed the door.

Today was productive to say the least.

From getting new cards, talking to Yuto and most importantly getting information on him.

She knew Yuto was still hiding things about himself but she is happy with the progress she made with Mr. Mystery.

But now she had to send a card request to send to Leo Corporation.

Akaba Reiji was on edge.

From the day Sawatari was attacked by an unknown Xyz user, Reiji was aware that soon things will change and the truth will begin to reveal itself.

After interrogating Sawatari and finding out that his attacker asked about Academia, Reiji knew what would happen in the future.

He knew for the last three years that an attack on the Xyz Dimension was planned at the hands of his father, albeit he couldn't imagine why.

And what was worth noting that the attacker could be easily mistaken as Yuya Sakaki means that he couldn't be that older then him.

A boy of mere 14 years old is a soldier because his father decided to wage war.

And since the Xyz Dimension duelist are going after members of LDS it likely that they are under the belief that he was working with his father.

If only they knew how wrong they are.

The two duelist, a high likelihood considering that Sawatari only had a wounded pride while the others have been turned into a card, could be potential allies. 

He needed as many capable duelist as he could get his hands on. His father had the advantage of having years of preparations while Reiji is playing catch up.

Reiji gazed upon Maiami City. This place soon will become a battlefield all because of the ambitions of one man, one man who left a son and wife for no reason.

He doesn't know what his father wants but it doesn't matter. Nothing could be worth declaring war against a group of people who don't even know the other side exists.

"No matter what happens, I will crush your ambitions, Akaba Leo."

Chapter Text

In the ruined city Yuto stood facing his opponent, an Elite of Academia if the unique deck is any indication, his field only had one Myutant Ultimus while Yuto only had his Stained Greaves and Ancient Cloak, both were Level 4 due to his Break Sword.

Yuto looked at his duel disk, the black shield and purple sword slightly disturbing him.

"My turn, I draw!" He drew his card and his eyes widened at what it was, on the cards was a drawing of a stylised 'X' together with a blue and red light mixing into yellow.

'This card... it was her gift to me...'

"What's wrong Resistance rat." His enemy sneered. "Have finally realised that you should give up." His expression turned mocking. "And here I thought the Demon would be a treat, turns out your reputation is only hot air."

Yuto shot him a glare and for a moment the man flinched.

"I overlay the Level 4 Stained Greaves with Ancient Cloak." The two monsters turned into purple energy and went into the galaxy like portal. "Relentless dragon formed from pitch-black darkness, to fight those foolish enough to oppress it with its treacherous fangs! Now, descend! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon!"

His most trusted partner, the one connected with his very soul now stood in front of him protectively roaring in rage. His rage, Yuto's own, and the rage of all those that have fallen.

"Oh so that is the infamous dragon." He looked a Dark Rebellion unimpressed. "What could such a fragile looking thing do?"

"I activate my dragon's effect, by detaching one Overlay Unit I target an opponent's monster it loses half of it's attack points and Dark Rebellion gains the lost attack. Go! Treason Discharge!"

Dark Rebellion OU:2->1

"You really think that would work." His enemy said with distaste. "I activate Ultimus'es effect, when a card or effect is activated I can banish 1 "Myutant" card from my hand, GY, or face-up field, of the same type, Monster, Spell, or Trap, negate the activation, and banish that card."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Huh?"

"I activate my Phantom Knights Tainted Chains from the Grave. By banishing it I can target a card on my opponent's Field it has it's effect negated until the end of the turn."

"Wait that card..." He stepped back, an expression full of fear.

"Now my effect continues."

Myutant Ultimus ATK 3500 -> 1750

Dark Rebellion ATK 2500 -> 4250

"Once more Dark Rebellion!"

Dark Rebellion OU: 1 -> 0

Myutant Ultimus ATK 1750 -> 875

Dark Rebellion ATK 4250 -> 5125

"Battle." The declaration was cold, but the suppressed fury is visible on the Xyz Duelist's face. "Dark Rebellion attack Myutant Ultimus. Go! Revolt of Lightning Disobey!"

The dragon charged itself with it's purple lightning charging towards the abomination of a monster. Piercing it with the glowing mandable reducing it to dust.

Elite: 0 LP

Winner: Unknown

The dragon stayed in the world despite the duel being over.

"Now then." Yuto began walking towards his enemy, intent on capturing him so the Resistance can learn anything of actual value.

However it seems that his enemy had different plans.

"You think you'll take me you bastard!!" He shouted and then pointed his shield like duel disk towards himself. And Yuto's eyes widened impossibility.

"No! Don't!"

"Glory to Academia!!" Purple light shoot from the duel disk turning him into a card.

Yuto just stared at the card.

"Why?"

He asked knowing he wouldn't get a response.

"Why?"

He asked knowing even if he gets a question he won't be satisfied.

"Why are you so intent on hurting us!? What did we ever do to you!?" He was breathing but the air didn't enter his lungs. "How could you do this to us!? Rip families apart, ruin so many lifes for what!? How can you laugh while harming us!!?"

He was one again in that burning place, ash and rubble surrounding him.

"I hurt you and makes me sick! How can you people be dismissive of the lives you took. I can't."

He was on his knees now. Crying the tears he held from the start.

Maybe because this is the first time he was alone since the start of all of this. How long has it been? A month? Two? Three? More? Less?

Maybe he was just letting his frustrations out because he is tired of acting calm, tired of acting like he doesn't want to scream every second, tired of having to be the one who is put together and functioning when he falling apart.

A gentle nudge broke him through his thoughts.

"... Dark Rebellion?" His dragon seemed sad, his head was down so he could look at Yuto directly in the eye.

Yuto pated his head. "Sorry for seeing me like this. I am really a pathetic partner. Right?"

The dragon let out a displeased roar, as if to say that Yuto couldn't be more wrong.

"Thank you." Yuto choked. "Thank you for being with me."

The sound his partner let out was a pleased hum. Something along the lines of 'Always'.

"You know if there is one good thing that came out of this, it's the fact that the two of us could finally interact like this." He continued to caress his dragon.

"We have to go now."

His grey eyes were know wide open.

"Another dream..."

He took out Dark Rebellion from his deck. "Good morning."

He received a pleased hum in response.

It will never cease to amaze Yuto how his dragon could go from 'one of the most dangerous beings alive' to 'an adorable pet' in an instant.

"Morning my Knights." This was for his trusted partners on the battlefield, the spirits of the fallen which possess what they find so they could fight once more.

In response he received what he interpreted as the most formal good morning know to man. It didn't help that his dragon was rather amused by this.

Unlike Dark Rebellion the Phantom Knights tend to be much more formal and only speak when spoken to. Yuto never really understood why that is, but nothing he did changed their disposition.

"Let's go and find Shun. Before he ends up in a mess."

The last he heard of his best friend he fought a teacher from LDS. Could that teacher have been a friend of Akaba Leo, someone who worked in Standard as a spy, or to recruit soldiers for the war.

Well he would find out about from Shun today.

The plan was simple. Since Shun's target seem to be teachers and students of LDS he would spy on them and hopefully find Shun in the process.

Cloaking himself in the shadows he didn't exist as far anyone knew.

How Yuzu easily found him was beyond him since not even some of Academia's trained duelist did. Maybe the pink haired girl had a hidden talent.

Well not like it matters.

From the whispers he heard he narrowed down where a potential Fusion Course Classroom would be. After all the girl that chased after him, Masumi if he remembered correctly, said that her Professor was the one that Shun went after.

As he was observing LDS and learning about the Leo Corporation in general one simple question was bothering him.

"Why did he leave the Standard Dimension and use the Fusion Dimension as his base of operations?" His face set into a frown. "In Standard he had it all. A great reputation, wealth, resources and ,if the way his son was handling the Corporation was any indication, a tight grip on Standard as a hole." 

It didn't make any sense to Yuto, In the Fusion Dimension he would need to build what he already had from scratch. It would be a waste of time, and Standard had access to all the summoning methods.

Sure their potential individualy was inferior to a Dimension that specializes in one specific one, but versatility had it's use. And it meant that the Xyz Dimension would need to make counter strategies for more summoning methods then it did.

"Well it's not like I will discover anything unless I come face to face with the man." He thought with a sigh.

This frustrated Yuto more then anything. The sheer lack of knowledge he had on everything.

The early days of the Resistance, before they were anything resembling a proper and organised force, were marked by confusion, shouting, crying and so much more.

When they were somewhat organised, they went to fight Academia. His comrades wanted to strike them directly, but Yuto had a different idea.

Isolate a few soldiers, capture them and interrogate them for information.

Needless to say the vengeful group didn't like that. It took both him and Kaito to calm all of them down.

And the more they learned the more confused they became.

Yuto shook his head now is not the time.

He noticed the students leaving, and he followed a group which isolated themselves from the others. Shun would likely approach this one so he wouldn't want cause to much attention.

Shun was was patiently waiting for his targets. Just like how his deck contained birds of prey, so to does he wait.

He sees how the students are laughing and smiling without a care in the world.

It reminded him of how he was like that, how Yuto was like that, how all them, from the Kamishiro, Arclight and Tenjo siblings. And so many others

"Why does Fusion scum get to be happy while we are all burning!!"

'Calm down Shun and think. Please you aren't like that.' His conscience,which sounded like Yuto and Ruri, was telling him something but he wasn't listening.

Perhaps that is why he hasn't contacted Yuto by know. His friend would tell him that this was wrong, that dueling shouldn't be used like this, that Shun just needed be calm and not be angry.

He received this lecture multiple times already.

It was rather hypocritical of Yuto to be telling him that considering his rampage at the start of the war.

But that couldn't have been Yuto, that was to destructive, to brutal and ruthless, there was no mercy. And his friend doesn't have glowing purple eyes. And even in war his friend was merciful, one quick strike from Dark Rebellion to finish his opponents. Many thought it was cold and calculated. Shun knew better, his friend was being kind.

But Yuto didn't understand that they need to to do this, they need to find Ruri and get her back, that they need to be willing to anything and everything to destroy Academia, that in order to avenge their fallen comrades they must stain their hands.

If Shun wasn't as angry as he was he would realise that Yuto wasn't telling to stop being angry but to think before he acted, that should just listen instead of being stubborn.

But Shun was furious so he couldn't hear it.

And now he saw the students of the Fusion Course leaving and some in particular leaving their group.

Perfect.

Now to hunt.

The duel was short. His Rise Falcon finishing his opponents off.

In all honesty these Standard duelist were pathetic. Even before Heartland was invaded it had a higher quality of duelist during peacetime.

War simply sharpend them, added an edge to their blade that they didn't know existed.

The duelist here don't know what a blade is.

"Well to send Akaba Reiji a message." But before he could activate the carding function a hand griped his forearm in a tight hold.

"Enough. You won." Even though a mask he could recognize that voice, he didn't need to look at him to know it was Yuto.

"I wasn't finished."

"Yes you are." He looked at the beaten opponents. "Leave now and tell Akaba Reiji that we are looking for him." At his words they left with speed that Shun didn't believe they had.

"Yuto-" He received a punch to the stomach which made him yelp and force him on his knees.

"Calm down Shun." He stressed.

"Easy for you to say!" He wanted to shout but held his tongue.

"Was that-" he coughs. "completely necessary."

"Would you have left after them if I didn't?"

Shun doesn't respond.

"See." His eyes narrowed. "Now Shun would you tell me why you were about to card those students?" Here was that tone. The tone of 'i am not angry just disappointed'.

Did Shun hate that tone.

"That was our plan."

"No. Our plan was to gather information and make a decision based on that." He shook his head. "Before we came here we knew nothing of this Dimension. Attacking carelessly won't do us any good."

"I wasn't being careless! I did it to draw Akaba Reiji out!"

"By carding students." His grey eyes were glaring at him now. "Look me in the eye and tell you weren't about to card innocent people."

"They aren't innocent Yuto! They use Fusion!"

"And we are in Standard." He countered. "All summoning methods are used here. You can't treat everyone as an enemy just because they use Fusion. It that why you attacked that teacher?"

"Fusion is Fusion!" He argued back. "And anyone who uses that method is our enemy!! Did you forget what they did to our home!!!"

"I can't forget Shun." Yuto shot back. "But will you attack anyone from LDS. What about the fact that they don't duel like soldiers! They just ignorant kids Shun!"

"Stop pretending to be on some moral high ground!" Now he would make a low blow. "You carded more people then I did. Tell where is the difference!? Or will you tell me you forgot about that too! "

Now Yuto stepped back his grey eyes went wide and even with a mask on he could see his mouth opening in horror.

"I-"

"What can't speak now? Just because you can't remember you think it didn't happen? I still have the scar you gave me."

His friend couldn't respond to that.

"I just want my sister back." He confessed. "I need some space. See you later."

"Wait." He stopped. "There is a girl here, Yuzu Hiiragi. She looks like Ruri but she isn't." Yuto stressed that part. "So don't go approaching her. And if want to meet me go to warehouse near a river. It is numbered 52."

"Understood." Because if Yuto said it wasn't Ruri it meant he checked it.

Yuto looked at the back of his friend.

Yuto just stood there incapable of moving.

He couldn't respond to Shun at all because what Shun said was the truth.

He did card more people then Shun did.

He did snap at the start of the invasion.

He doesn't remember what he did, but he knows the concequnce of his actions.

Both Shun and Ruri, his best friends, had scars he inflicted upon them.

He never hated himself more then when he realised where those scars come from. The scar that Ruri hide from him. The scar that Shun pretended didn't exist.

At least until now.

Yuto will pretended that those words didn't hurt him more then any wound he received from Academia in battle. That this didn't stab his wound already damaged heart further. 

He heard his dragon's reassuring roar, as if to say 'I will never hurt you'.

Yuto's eyes opened they blurry and he couldn't even see properly.

"Yuto!" A voice- no Ruri spoke. "You are back. You are back." He looked at her face, so full of tears and his heart twisted at the sight.

He sat up and now he could see his surroundings.

A white ceiling and white surrounding him, he was in the nursery that Heartland Duel School uses.

And all the events that lead him to this point flashed in his mind.

The cries and screams. The purple light that took so many lives. The death of his-

"Mom..."

How he snapped and lost it.

How he-

"I killed them. All of them." He said in a whisper. He couldn't help but glance at Ruri. "I hurt you.." His eyes widened at the horrific implication.

He wanted to leave, better then something like that happening around her again.

But Ruri held his arm and wouldn't let go. Yuto could just pull his arm, but he doesn't want harm her.

Before he could get a single word out Shun arrived and looked at him and let out a sigh of relief.

What? Shun should hate him, for so many reasons but he looks happy that Yuto is alive.

"Yuto..."

"Why are like this!" Yuto couldn't help but snap. "I hurt you." He choked. "I hurt you. I am sorry, so sorry."

"Yuto." A pair of hands firmly grabbed his shoulders. And he looked at the golden eyes of his best friend. "That wasn't you."

"Don't-"

"That's wasn't you." His voice was firmer this time. "You don't have glowing purple eyes, you don't act like some animal, you don't repeat one sentence a thousand times." The golden eyes were softer. "You are a kind guy who likes peace and quiet. The guy who likes to read and my best friend. Ok."

Yuto nodded. But a part of him couldn't accept it.

Shun gulped. "Yuto. You need to come with me."

"Brother-" Ruri sounded like she wanted to lecture him.

"What do you need Shun." Yuto decided that he needed to do something, something hopefully good.

Because he needs to take the taste of ashes out his mouth.

His best friend looked rather uncomfortable. "They need you to activate other duel disks."

"What? But how-"

"They use a touch based lock."

So a fingerprint sensor? What are the odds that he had an identical fingerprint to one the invaders.

"Lead the way."

Yuto pretended that the people he saw between the nursery and Dr. Faker didn't look at like some dangerous animal that was let out of his cage.

And so a Academia duel disk ended up his hands.

With one touch the black screen lit up with two single words.

'Welcome: Yuri'.

How did he and Shun end up like this.

Yuto knew the answer.

Ruri.

Or to be more precise the fact that she was kidnapped was the act that broke his friend.

After her kidnapping Shun became more reckless, more stubborn and had habit of disobeying orders if he caught something resembling a lead to Ruri.

Shun was well within his right to be angry, to demand justice for so many reasons.

Yuto didn't even hate him for the things he did in Standard.

But be knows that when they find Ruri, when this war ends...

His friend only look himself in shame for the things he did here.

And wanted to spare him that.

But his thoughts were interrupted by a shriek and cry.

"Dark Rebellion!?" His partner was was roaring loudly. Yuto covered his ears despite knowing how pointless of an act it is. "What is it!?"

His dragon was telling him to move and that he needs to hurry.

"Fine! Fine! I will follow wherever you lead me."

Yuya Sakaki was not not having a good day.

Sure he won his duel but during and after it things were strange.

First he could swear that he heard Odd-Eye's, as in actually hear him, in his head.

From excited roars to frustrating growls, he heard them all.

Then were the other Performapals. Their excitement and desire to show of to the crowd.

And that wasn't the worst of it.

He could see them now side by side.

While he wasn't dueling. Like ghost that followed him.

Was he going crazy.

"Please go away!!" That only only earned him some heartbreaking expressions.

He running to his spot, his goggles already on his face to his eyes. There he could calm himself and think about all of this.

He took off his pendulum, the one his father gifted him.

And where did Pendulum Summoning even come from. Yuya is credited as it's pioneer but he doesn't even know how he has it.

It just came to him 

He was swinging it for more time then he could be bothered to count.

The monsters around him, particularly Stargazer and Timegazer were trying to 'talk'.

Well talk implied that Yuya could actually understand them. But while he could see them he can't understand them at all.

And he could swear that odd eyes let out some kind of roar.

"I am going crazy aren't I." Was the result of effectively being isolated for the last three years. Since his father disappeared. Was it because he almost lost his father's school.

Was it because...

"You aren't crazy." An eerily familiar voice and what was stranger is that Yuya found comfort in it. "And you aren't alone."

Yuya's pendulum stopped swinging and he just stared at the teen dressed in black with a mask covering the lower half of his face.

"Apologies. I didn't mean to startle you." He held up his arms in a gesture of surrender. He pointed at the spot next to Yuya. "May I?"

Yuya just stared at for a good minute. "... I guess?"

Perhaps what was throwing Yuya off was how he was dressed and how he was behaving weren't matching at all.

"Thank you." He sat next to Yuya. "It's rather peaceful isn't it." He was talking way to casually, like he just didn't appear out of nowhere.

"Yeah... " How was he supposed to talk to this stranger. "I usually come here when I have to make a big decision." Or because he feels overwhelmed and doesn't want to bother other people.

Despite not saying that last part the masked looked at Yuya in a way that makes him think he could read minds.

"What decision is troubling you now."

"What did you mean when you said I wasn't crazy. Or that I wasn't the only one." Then a realisation hit Yuya like a truck. "Wait how do you even know that I was talking about." Was this guy a stalker.

Again like he heard Yuya's last thought he made a rather offended expression.

"Well I know the simptoms and you shouting didn't exactly help your case." He said that calm as ever. "But you can hear them, the Duel Monster Spirits."

Oh dear.

"Wait so everyone who saw me on the way here..." He covered his face with his hands to hide the embarrassing blush that formed on his cheeks.

Great now everyone will think he is crazy. First his father leaving, for likely very good reasons because he wasn't a coward, which resulted in people just treating Yuya like garbage and now this.

"I am losing it."

"You aren't and thinking like that won't help you at all."

"But only I see them... I mean why doesn't everyone else?"

"You are partially right. Interacting with them in any capacity is rare. I know of a total of four people -including the two of us- that can hear them. Albeit this is the first time I heard of someone seeing them." He looked at Yuya. "You are rather special."

Again Yuya blushed but wholly different reasons this time.

"How would you know?"

"Because we are alike. I can't see them like you but I hear all of them. Doesn't matter if they are mine or somebody else's." He looked... Well Yuya didn't really understand that look at all.

He doesn't now but next time he sees Sora duel he will. He will understand what it means to perceive the world so fundamentaly different from everyone else.

"Why should I trust you, how can I know that you aren't lying." But for some reason he knew he wasn't being lied to. That this person was telling the truth.

"Simple. One of my monsters will show themselves to you. He is rather eager."

"And if I perfectly describe him but never saw the card..."

"It is confirmation that you aren't in fact crazy."

"Ok let's do it."

He waited. And waited.

"Uh..."

"Come on now. Don't be shy now." He sighed. "You dragged me here to make sure doesn't think he is crazy right."

And then Yuya saw him.

A purple dragon with a teal underbelly covered in black armour appeared letting out a roar.

Yuya almost fell into the water.

"He made quite the impression it seems." He sounded to amused. "What does he look like?"

"A purple dragon in black armour. He had a mandable on his lower jaw. He looked rather scary." 

A chuckle was let out the strangers mouth. "Only when I want hi to be. Most of the time he can act like house cat however." The dragon let out a whine but didn't disagree with the sentiment.

The dragon let out other sounds but Yuya translated it to...

"You want to see someone?"

"He means your dragon."

"Wait, how do you... "

"Mine heard yours cry out and then proceed to drag me here."

Yuya quickly took out his Odd-Eyes and in an instant the red dragon appeared along side them.

The two dragons just looked at each other and let out cheerful roars like they were greeting an old friend.

"I think I am seeing them to." The black dressed teen's voice pulled Yuya out his musings.

"Really." Yuya probably had put more joy in it then he should.

"Strange." His eyes then held a smile. "I am glad you are happy Dark Rebellion."

"Wait." Yuya just had a big revelation. "We haven't introduced ourselves right?" He gestured towards Odd-Eyes. "I am Yuya Sakaki and this is my..." He looked at the red dragon. "Now what to call you. How about my monster best friend." He said with a snap of his fingers. The heterochromatic dragon was very pleased.

"This my partner, my closest companion and the one who always stood by my side. My Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon." He looked rather uncomfortable now. " My name is Yuto."

And then a few things slotted into place.

"Wait your the one who attacked Sawatari."

"Correct and I didn't hurt him, well besides his pride. He was perfectly fine."

So he was the one who wiped the floor with Sawatari. Are all people who use the Extra Deck this strong.

"What's the reason for your mood souring like that."

"Well we just bearly managed to keep our school. Even with a power like mine we almost lost it all."

"Then why not seek something knew?"

"I don't know? I guess I just want to be completely mine."

"Well I don't think we can have everything be completely ours." He looked at his deck, and there was something in that expression that Yuya could place. It was the same face Yuya made because his deck was Performapal one. Just like his father. "Taking and learning from others and using it in your own way. I think that is what matters."

Yuya just stared at him.

"I have to go Yuya."

"Why?" Yuya didn't want him to leave. And his dragon even more so.

"I have a friend who gets himself in trouble. I have to keep an eye on him." He said with a sigh. "It was a pleasure to meet you Yuya."

He took his leave but before he disappeared Yuya called out to him.

"Yuto!" He turned around to face him. "Maybe we could duel some time."

"Duel?"

"I mean are dragons definitely are going miss each other. So next time let's let them play."

"That doesn't sound to bad. I will if I manage to find time."

"See you around."

"You and I are going to have long conversation Dark Rebellion." Yuto was tired. Clearly his dragon knew more then he would let anyone know.

If everything before this didn't confirm the connection he and potentially other boys with dragons share this did it.

He could hear monsters, and Ruri and Yuzu only the more intense emotions that they felt, Yuya could see and hear them.

And by interacting with Yuya he could see them too.

And Dark Rebellion and Odd-Eyes acted like old friends. They knew each other before.

And yet Yuto couldn't help but fell uneasy.

Like there was a storm that was brewing and he was at it's center.