Chapter Text
"Bwuh...?! Sora?! What are you doing here?" Yuzu halted mid-jog as she caught sight of that familiar shade of light blue hair out of the corner of her eye. ... It was very eye-searing.
The Frightfur user beamed as he waved innocently, running on over once he spotted his fusion student amidst the crowds of LDS pricks going every which way - clearly they were in-between class periods or exhibition matches, or... something. That many kids milling around? No doubt.
"Hiya~! I'm not late for the party, am I? Please tell me they're not dismissing for lunch yet. It's barely 10~!"
Yuzu wrinkled her nose, shaking her head with a befuddled expression. The LDS kids just kept strutting by, not paying the two students from You Show any mind.
"Of course not. It's a short fifteen-minute break. Now what are you doing here?!" She squawked again, clutching Yuya's pendant around her neck somewhat defensively, even though she's 85% sure Sora won't try and pull something.
Sora flashed a cheesy toothy grin at the pinkette's typical high strung nature.
"Chill~! Dad said to go have a ball since Kaito, Shun, and Allen wanted to come out here! So the Tylers and I tagged along while Dad stayed behind with the kids, Saya, Ruri, and Yuto~... They'll stop by later."
It took a few moments for Yuzu to put two-and-two together that Sora was talking about Uncle - Yuya's dad - and... and... he also said...
"Why'd those damn hussies have to come?!" Yuzu grumbled sourly, a tick mark manifesting on her temple, flicking her irritated gaze around but seeing no Amazoness headaches. "... Where are they?? Sora...?"
At her lowly growl and the way she brandished her fan, Sora chuckled meekly and held up his hands peacefully.
"We got separated at the entrance cuz of all this cacophony~... I remember my way through this place, and I know Shun will be able to help Kaito and Allen find the Xyz branch of duel fields~... The Tylers will probably find their way here eventually! Gloria's got a good head on her shoulders."
Yuzu growled lowly again, maintaining her pose for a few tense seconds as if ascertaining Sora's sincerity. Then she huffed and sheathed her fan. ... For now.
"You're incorrigible. You could've at least helped Shun out." The Melodious user grumbled before planting her hands on her hips. "Why'd those guys even wanna come, anyway? I thought the plan was to visit You Show cuz it's where Uncle started out?"
Sora shrugged nonchalantly.
"Kaito was itching to get some duels in, and it didn't take much convincing for Shun and Allen to hop onboard~... Kaito also said that for all that Yuya's great with Dark Rebellion, he doesn't have other Xyz strategies."
The tomato-headed spirit snorted impishly as he chose to not materialize while so many people were walking around them.
"Yeesh! Kick a guy while he's down~! Y'know Dark Rebellion takes offense to that. He asks how often Kaito branches out from Galaxy-Eyes and Neo Galaxy-Eyes~? Cuz those dragons have been his go-to since forever!"
The candy enthusiast stuck out his tongue petulantly.
"Don't shoot the messenger~! They're from the Xyz dimension, Yuya, what'd you expect? Your thing is combining the styles. Their specialty is Xyz."
"... Dark Rebellion and I still feel emasculated. We're gonna prove you jerks wrong." Yuya sounded decidedly pouty, earning a short bark of laughter from Sora, who shook his head while rolling his eyes.
Sora turned his attention back to Yuzu.
"... So it's a bit of a pride thing. ... Which I get. The students here aren't that imaginative with fusions... for the most part. I guess that Masumi chick you dueled did alright. For a neophyte. But even she's got a lot to learn~... I dunno what the heck Kaito's gonna say after today's over. Just that I'll find it very entertaining."
Yuzu slumped with visible relief as she gazed at her fusion guru with sparkling eyes.
"R-Really? Those boys wanted to help take over the Xyz exhibitions? Thank goddd...! The LDS kids were starting to get bored with Dark Rebellion and Odd-Eyes Rebellion Dragon... Yuya didn't know what else to show off-"
"What I had was good enough!!" Yuya whined insistently. "The Extra Deck can only hold so many cards, y'know. With all the dragons and what else I have, I'm already at eleven cards outta fifteen. And I got a possible twelfth on the way. Not like I can include Phantom Knights! Those are Yuto's specialty."
Yuzu sweatdropped and continued like her boyfriend hadn't just interrupted with his tantrum.
"-and it's not like I had any Xyz tricks!!" The pinkette shook her head with a sigh of relief. "If that's the case, I'll prioritize the Synchro side of things from now on. It's not like Yuya's got a bunch 'more' of those, but... Aside from Clear Wing and Odd-Eyes Wing Dragon, he does have Nirvana High Paladin... And the trick with Tuning Magician is fun... And I've got my 'The Agent' cards..."
"... Now you're gonna get on Clear Wing's case?! And after he worked so hard to help ya against Serena!!"
Yuzu twitched a little as she sagged at her dorky boyfriend's incessant complaints.
"You know damn well I appreciate what you and Wing Dragon did for me, Yuya!! But Clear Wing won't keep this audience entertained all day... People are back to not knowing what the heck Pendulum Summoning is, so these aren't tricks they can imitate! They want variety!"
"... Nirvana High Paladin can cover the deficit." Yuya remained stubborn as hell.
Yuzu groaned theatrically. Sora softly chuckled as he shook his head.
"Sounds like he could expand his repertoire there, too~... But I guess Yuya's major staple is Pendulums. Well, Pendulums mixed with the other summoning styles. So~... Yeah. It's no biggie! I think I saw Yugo and Rin in the entrance earlier, so they're probably here for the Synchro exhibitions. We'll give these LDS jerks a real show from all sides~!"
The fusion enthusiast sweatdropped as Yuzu started weeping tears of unbridled joy.
"I didn't know if Rin got my message...! That's a load off my mind... I know she and Yugo aren't big on the whole 'school' thing, but I hoped the prospect of duels would reel them in... Reiji didn't tell us to hold back or anything. Just duel like normal. Show everyone here what we learned~!"
Sora snorted dryly as his grin became slightly subdued.
"What we learned while fighting for our lives... Well, whatevs. It should be fun to get back to dueling without the high stakes~..." He glanced around curiously. "So whatcha doin' out here? Heading back to the fusion exhibitions for a bit?"
The Melodious user stiffened at the reminder of her previous engagement, eyes bulging as she got a little sweaty.
"... Crap. I need to get back to Serena... It's her turn with Yuya, and things are gonna start back up if I don't hurry...!"
"Found you." Serena huffed, materializing seemingly out of thin air - like she was summoned by Yuzu merely reciting her name. The Lunalight user thrust her hand out to her sister demandingly. "Yuya. Deck. Now."
Yuzu recoiled slightly at how pushy the indigo-haired beauty was being, and anxiously stuttered out.
"L-Look, I'm sorry, okay?! Sora showed up, and...!"
Serena's eyes panned to the Frightful user before snapping back to the pinkette.
"That's fine. Still my turn. I want my strategy meeting before the duels." Her extended hand didn't drop in the slightest.
Yuzu moaned slightly before withdrawing Yuya's deck and verifying she'd returned Timegazer and Stargazer.
'Thankfully, Odd-Eyes isn't an issue anymore... You really didn't need to do that for me, Yuya.... But thank you.' The Melodious user earnestly thanked her boyfriend, who chirped back mentally.
'Sure I did~! You and your sisters did so much for me, Yuzu. Now there's exactly three copies of each dimensional dragon~... Even if you don't always use Odd-Eyes, at least you have the option!'
Yuzu grinned meekly as she fingered the top of her own deck, where her copy of the Pendulum Dragon resided. The cloned creature rumbled contentedly in the back of her mind.
'Seriously... Thanks. I'm glad you offered the other dragons to Serena, Rin, and Ruri, cuz I just don't feel that connection with them. Starving Venom works well with Serena's Lunalights, and Rin has a bond with Clear Wing as strong as Yugo's... But uh. Did Ruri take Dark Rebellion after all??'
She could practically 'feel' Yuya shake his head in the back of her mind.
'Nah. We compromised, and Yuto agreed that Shun should have the third copy of Dark Rebellion~... His deck can more easily incorporate it than Ruri's can. ... Boy, did Shun fight the offer, though! He only reluctantly accepted after Yuto assured him this is what he wanted, and there's no one he trusted more than Shun and Ruri.'
Yuzu giggled softly to herself. She could see Shun hard refusing like that... Even if he was better these days accepting cards from friends, Dark Rebellion was kinda pushing the envelope because of how significant it is to Yuto. ... And Yuya.
Serena similarly fanned the cards out to inspect them herself and nodded tersely as everything seemed to be in order. She then accepted the pendant from Yuzu and slipped it around her neck without fanfare.
"Okay, okay...! Geez! You should probably know Shun and Kaito are here, so the Xyz exhibitions won't be an issue now. You can remain in Fusion or try some Synchro duels out, if you like?" Yuzu offered, trying to not feel too annoyed with Serena's typical impatience.
The bluenette pursed her lips at this news. Serena was well aware Yuya wanted to spread himself out more so the other Leo Institute kids outside of the Fusion Course could be inspired. Yet with their friends showing up now, there wasn't a huge need for Yuya to shoulder that burden alone. Serena could return to the Fusion Course and not feel guilty. It's where she was most comfortable.
... Even so. These exhibitions weren't about her. Yuzu was making an effort to branch out because that's what Yuya wanted. Serena should likewise oblige.
"In that case, maybe I'll scope out the general admissions bunch. Sawatari's been headlining that side, right?"
Yuzu blinked owlishly while Sora tilted his head curiously.
"Well, um... yes..." The pinkette re-confirmed this point for her sister, who must've been holed up in the Fusion Course for the past hour. "I'm not saying you can't go that way, but... why? I thought you'd be thrilled staying where you are?"
The Melodious user twitched mildly as Serena's eyes darted to the side as she coughed awkwardly. Very suspicious.
"Some of the professors over there are getting bitchy. It was mainly about Yuuri at first, cuz he keeps dueling several students at a time and hasn't lost once. But then I started taking two or three at a time, and suddenly I'm a problem child?? As if I'm a bad guy for giving the jerks a handicap?"
"... And you haven't lost either. Have ya?" Sora's tone betrayed he hardly needed the confirmation.
Still, Serena gave it regardless as she scoffed.
"Of course not. Reiji said to just duel naturally, so that's what I've been doing. It's the teachers who need to remove the poles from their asses. When I win, I give everyone feedback; that's better than Yuuri just lining them all up to destroy!!"
Sora grinned like a monkey, sucking on his lollipop and propping his arms behind his head. As he giggled away, Yuzu sweatdropped and combed a hand through her hair, appearing mildly chagrined.
"... Right. Maybe a breather is best... I'm gonna see if Masumi's class has any pride left. I doubt I can get Yuuri to back off, but maybe if Sora and I-"
"And the Tylers~!" Sora chirped brightly, earning a scowl and a throbbing tick mark on the pinkette's temple.
"... And the buttheads... If we step in for you, that'll hopefully cool some heads over there. Listen to Yuya and chill out, okay? I promise you don't have to go corporal punishment on everyone here! Even if they can be snobby..."
The indigo-haired beauty huffed as she scowled sourly.
"I said I've been giving feedback. I'm not even going Liger Dancer on their rears every time, so can you really say I'm going extrajudicial on them? Cuz I'm not!!" She shook her head in frustration. "Whatever. Dennis is here too, and Iggy. Dennis has been bouncing between the Fusion and Xyz Courses. Go play nice if you seriously doubt me that much."
Yuzu winced sympathetically before she reached out to squeeze her sister's shoulder comfortingly.
"I'm... sorry about that. I didn't mean to rag on you, Serena. I just wanna make a good impression here, y'know? We're all representing You Show, and this is the first time you guys are making a splash. Up 'til now, it used to be me and Yuya for our age group, and we never got invited to a 'cultural exchange' with LDS before. Something like this is unheard of! If we ever got 'invited' to anything, they always wanted to see us fail or be humiliated."
As Serena's eyes sharpened with indignation on Yuzu and Yuya's behalf, the Melodious user beamed kindly.
"I'm sure you've been doing great~! Go duel with Yuya, okay? I'll give ya two hours with him. Take it as my apology for... nagging. We can meet up later!"
The Lunalight user's brows pinched together as she frowned uncertainly.
"... I'm not hogging Yuya for two hours. We agreed to swap every hour for maximum... fairness." Serena grumbled stubbornly.
Yuzu chuckled softly and closed her eyes patiently.
"I get Yuya every night, Serena~... You've been spoiling me too much! As weird as it makes me feel admitting this out loud... He's your boyfriend, too. I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't trust you with Yuya!"
Serena couldn't bring her eyes up to meet Yuzu's. ... She just couldn't. This kind of mushy feely stuff? They shouldn't bring this up in public... Serena wasn't ready for that. She simply was not.
Talking about this mush with Yuya? Cakewalk. They were both in the dark about this relationship stuff, and Yuya didn't judge her for not knowing things. Yuya was a fantastic listener, and Serena loved hearing him out. Work past his insecurities.
Talk about this mush with Yuzu? Doable. They were dating the same guy, and Yuzu was just as patient and understanding as Yuya. Sometimes they disagreed on principles, other times they got along almost too well. Sure, they got a little... greedy... with the pendant as day melted into night, and mornings were a gray area.
... But the key detail here is that Serena talked with them. In private. Too many gawkers were around Leo Institute's halls, whether or not they were looking Serena and Yuzu's way. The fact that they could be eavesdropped on, and that Sora was standing there...
Just... no.
Damn shipping gremlin was grinning ear-to-ear.
"... I'll catch up with you later, Yuzu." The tips of Serena's ears felt like they were on fire as she swiftly departed with her head bowed. She would not give Sora the vindication of seeing her embarrassment.
She would not.
Damn brat lived for this shipping crap. Serena would have her dignity, damnit!!
Yuzu huffed out a sigh as she deadpanned at her fusion guru.
"I was trying to pep Serena up, Sora... Do you hafta ruin the moment like that?"
The bluenet gestured at himself innocently.
"I didn't say no-thin'~!" He chirped brightly.
Yuzu's twitching grew more pronounced.
"... Your face said it all. Be honest: Are we ever going to survive this relationship? Or are we all gonna die from embarrassment and humiliation?"
Sora beamed disarmingly, eyes closed peacefully.
"I could ask you the same thing~...? Are you gonna let Grace and Gloria have their turn, or are they gonna magically disappear~?"
At the pinkette's hissing and spitting, and the furious aura blazing around her, Sora giggled uproariously.
"Let me be the Best Man at the wedding, and I'll think about it~..."
Yuzu twitched violently.
"You'll be a groomsman at best, you jerk. Gong was here first. Yuya and I feel very strongly on this point." Despite marriage being 'way' down the road, it was going to happen. Yuya knew full well that Yuzu expected a wedding ring around her finger sometime in the future, paired with the honorable title of "Mrs. Sakaki."
But some details were already discussed. And both of them wouldn't feel right if anyone but Gong was Best Man. Just like they'd be there for Gong on his wedding day. The three of them were inseparable like that.
"Wellllll~..." Sora dragged out the word and snickered at the Melodious user's lowly growls and how she dragged her fan back out to smite him. "I suppose I'll just hafta settle for that~... I can't promise I'll cut back completely. You guys are just too adorkable~... Just remember you prooooooomised~!"
Yuzu did try to whack him. She did. But his reflexes were too good, and he darted into the crowds of LDS kids and towards the Fusion duel courts. Yuzu sheathed her fan for now and planted her hands on her hips as she glowered after the gremlin sourly.
"I promise to take you out with one whack, next time you're in range!!"
Yuzu would get lucky one of these days, damnit. Sora was extremely overdue.
... And if Sora ever found a girl...
Payback is fair game, bitch.
~*~
"... Kaito. What the hell."
The Clover Branch ace flatly gazed back at his rival.
"If you have something to say, just say it already." He turned robotically to the sweaty, awaiting LDS students and barked out at them. "I said line up, damnit!! If possible, form lines by attribute! I'll get to each of you shortly."
Shun twitched irritably as he gazed at the six LDS Xyz students Kaito had annihilated in two or three turns each. They were all either sprawled out on the floor moaning, or were on their knees.
"Let's see. Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Blade Dragon. Galaxy-Eyes Cipher X Dragon. Galaxy-Eyes Full Armor Photon Dragon. Are you crazy?!" He raised up a twitching hand while gritting his teeth. "This isn't Duel Academy, Kaito!! What the hell's your deal?!"
Kaito turned back to his high-strung rival, arching an eyebrow dubiously while the Xyz curriculum kids scrambled to get in lines as he instructed them to. ... By order of attribute of their main monsters.
"I'm not the one with Rank-Up-Magic cards up the wazoo. Yet you're holding back on using them because you're stuck on what I'm doing and feel sorry for these guys. Would you relax? There's a method to my madness."
"I'm assuming that method is 'no mercy'?" Shun pressed heatedly, shaking his head in disappointment. "This might be news to you, Kaito, but we're not here to kick ass. The whole point's to show these guys how to improve their game. Of course they're not gonna stack up to our level of Xyz, but you don't need to take it out on them."
The dishwater blond-haired boy shook his head pitifully at the older Kurosaki's criticisms.
"If you think I'm doing this just to take 'em out, you don't know me at all. Quit with the mother hen act. I might not be exactly like I was before, but I can assure you this isn't about demolishing these bozos. Sure, I'm streamlining them a bit, but there's no point in dragging out the duel when I can see the kinds of moves and cards they gun for."
Shun huffed in outrage as he narrowed his eyes.
"You're giving them one turn to strut their stuff!!! How is that enough to see what their decks are like?!"
"How is giving them false hope supposed to be 'honorable'?" Kaito sniped back. "I'm not just gonna sit there and toy around with them, Shun. See what they can cook up with their next draw. It ain't about winning. They're all coming at me with everything they've got, so I'm being respectful and bringin' the same heat. Rather than assess 'em one at a time, I'm gonna duel all of them and then hit them with ways to take their game to the next level."
He cast the frantically organizing students a sharp eye as he huffed a tired sigh.
"... You just don't get it, Shun. I can already see I've got my work cut out for me. All I'm doin' with these duels is confirming my hunches about Standard's curriculum. Reiji might be the head honcho, and he might have a good grasp of Xyz, but that doesn't make him a good teacher. ... Hell. He has to appoint others to be the teachers in his stead, and that says a lot."
The older Kurosaki hated to admit it... but when his rival put everything into perspective like that, he saw Kaito's point. From what he gleaned talking with Yuzu's dad: Reiji became a Pro after mastering all three major divisions in the Circuit just a few years ago. Xyz existed in Standard at all because of Leo's hazy memories, and he was able to piece together how the other Summoning styles worked and develop lesson plans that groomed the first few generations of Xyz duelists in Standard.
The thing to bear in mind is that Xyz, Synchro, and Fusion styles were all rare and hard to master in this dimension. The Pro Circuit wasn't thriving with these practitioners; the common style was still Standard monsters.
But Xyz, Synchro, and Fusion were new and exciting. That had been the case within the past decade. It's no surprise that so many duelists across the Standard dimension flocked to these unusual yet powerful Summoning styles. The same phenomenon would be happening in the other dimensions soon enough; hell, Fusion dimension already had access to all the styles because of Leo, they just chose to have pride in fusion. Xyz and Synchro dimensions were the ones left scrambling to catch up... But they would.
When Reiji took over as CEO, he did make enhancements to the curriculums because of his plans to fight back against his father. Yet even with the improvements, that wouldn't make Standard duelists automatically on the same level as those from other dimensions raised in such styles since birth. Shun experienced this firsthand.
"... Okay, so maybe you have a point about Reiji..." The raven-haired young man grumbled with a scowl and narrowed eyes. "It's taken him this long to get his act together. He's a force of nature, not a teacher. But still, don't you think the same stuff can be said about you...? How is beating these guys down supposed to help them listen to what you have to say? You're being too ruthless, Kaito. Turn it down a smidge."
Kaito narrowed his eyes right back. His hands balled into fists at his sides.
So many memories flashed through his mind's eye. Happier days back home, Sakaki-sensei showing up out of the blue and... and making everything so hopeful and bright. Inspired kids to take pride in their dueling and be themselves. Duel with showmanship.
Kaito can't convey to Shun the amount of respect and admiration that he holds for Sakaki-sensei. The guy helped Saya to come out of her shell, and helped Allen to have actual confidence - not just bark out for attention. Sakaki-sensei helped all kids, never played favorites. To this day, Sensei hadn't changed; even after how badly the war rattled them all, even after nearly losing his son.
But even with all of that said...
"I never claimed to be a teacher." The Clover Branch ace felt a lump form in his throat at the mere idea and he averted his eyes from Shun's gaze stubbornly. "... I could never do what Sensei does for a living, Shun. Not his teaching gig. And absolutely not his flashy theatrics as an entertainer. That's never been... me. Even with my family back and Heartland restored... A part of me's been changed forever, Shun. I can't deny it."
Shun's expression softened a subtle amount as his lips thinned in concern for his rival and friend.
"So it is the war that impacted you... You're struggling with who you should be from now on."
Kaito snorted derisively and shook his head slowly.
"If you want to look at it that way, be my guest. Fact is that the roots were planted in me way before the war touched our dimension. I admired Sakaki-sensei ever since he first showed up, but all that 'razzle-dazzle' crap never vibed with me. I agree we should duel with purpose. With heart... But I'm not Sakaki-sensei, Shun. I'm not Yuya. I'm Kaito Tenjo. And for me... what I care about... Xyz should be treated with respect."
He glanced out at the students, who were still waiting for him nervously.
"Standard dimension wants to learn Xyz? That's fine. But they ain't gonna use it as a toy for some entitled elite scrubs that think they're better than everyone else. They'll learn it the right way, and I'll make damn sure they respect the fact that every card, no matter how 'weak', has meaning. I am not about to let them spin their wheels with basic, beginner Xyz tactics and cards. This is what we grew up with, and I have pride in our Summoning style, Shun."
Shun recoiled mildly and took a step back, slightly unnerved at how... raw Kaito was being. This isn't the same bullheaded avenger that he dueled back in Heartland, who nearly considered turning him into a card. This is closer to the Kaito that he remembers, even if he's not as 'happy' as before.
And... he's right. Kaito was passionate with dueling, with Xyz. All the ins and outs of the game. Kaito still carries that same passion and pride after he resolved to be a better person in the war. If he seems more tense or wound up... That's just the scars his friend carries.
Shun could feel his own chest tightening up at thinking back to what Kaito said moments ago - "I never claimed to be a teacher." How emotional Kaito appeared to be. Kaito truly didn't think he could stack or measure up to Yusho or Yuya as far as being an inspiration goes. Whether as a teacher or as an entertainer... Kaito strongly believed neither path was for him.
Shun empathized with that so much. Yuto... Ruri... Yuya... Shun had his own set of idols and heroes that he fully acknowledged. He could never be them, but that's alright. They're all individuals in the end.
Kaito held the Sakaki's in extremely high regard. He didn't look down his nose at Yuya... not anymore. Kaito respected the Sakaki's for who they were, and was grateful for everything they've done with inspiring people and bringing an end to that wretched war.
It's just that Kaito's path... was somewhat different. Maybe more typical, if he strived to become a Professional someday. A lot of duelists settled for that. But a Professional with a heart and soul.
... Shun could respect Kaito's position. When he laid it all out like this.
His rival had really grown up.
"... Alright, Kait. I'll let you do things your way for now." The raven-haired young man locked his gaze seriously with Kaito. "But even with your motivations... If I think you're getting carried away with your methods, I'm gonna step in. If the war taught us anything, the road to Hell's paved with good intentions. I won't let any of my friends lose their way again."
The dishwater blond boy rolled his eyes with a huff, crossing his arms over his chest.
"If anyone's changed cuz of the war, it's you, Shun. I keep telling ya to stop freaking out... And you just can't help yourself. The hell happened? You were never this much of a worrywart."
The older Kurosaki twitched irritably before raking a hand through his hair tensely.
"You already know. Between Heartland getting sacked; Ruri getting kidnapped, brainwashed, and temporarily killed; and my best friend nearly merged with Yuya, Yugo, and Yuuri forever... Not to mention understanding myself better through these relentless nightmares, the rigid, unyielding asshole I used to be..."
He clenched his jaw slightly, balling one hand into a fist.
"It's a wakeup call, Kait. I can't let anyone else fall into the same rut I did. I got upset with Ruri years ago because Saya tried giving her Little Fairy... It's not healthy to be that angry and serious all the time. But that's who I was. That doesn't need to be you."
Kaito's expression softened somewhat as he averted his gaze with a far-off look in his eyes.
"I remember that incident. Hearing about it, at least. Saya thought you hated her after you stormed off with Ruri like that. I did think that was a dick move to reject a gift offered to your sister, but... Back then, I wondered if it was just some Spade Branch pride bullshit. The issue never came up again, so I never confronted you about it. ... Not to mention Saya didn't want to rope me into your guys' quarrel. I was tempted, though."
Shun snorted with some self-derision as he shook his head bitterly, glaring down at the floor.
"If it was pride, it wasn't Spade Branch's. It was just some... bullshit mentality I developed because of how hyper-competitive I got. Duelists never shared cards like that, it was so... foreign to me. I never saw anything like it. Win or lose, everyone just moved on no matter how they felt after the duel. A part of me feared... I dunno. I thought if Ruri began taking pity cards like that, she'd expect them from everyone; she'd never put in the effort to grow on her own if she relied on the 'generosity' of her opponents. Figured she might even get roped into performing 'favors' if she wasn't careful. I was a hotheaded idiot."
"I'll say." The Clover Branch ace scoffed, listening to all that. "There's reasons people say you have a sister complex. If Ruri can't trust even her best friend, your sister might be a lost cause as far as relationships go. Give her some credit. Saya's good people. She doesn't have a manipulative bone in her body."
The raven-haired young man sighed raggedly, closing his eyes in shame.
"... I know. It beats me why I couldn't see that back then, but it just proves my point. I don't want anyone to be that... unreasonable." He reopened his eyes to peer seriously at his rival. "Even you, Kait... You're better than me. I want you to be better. You took less convincing than I did to turn yourself around. Meanwhile it took Yuya and everything going on in New Domino to pull my head out of my ass."
Kaito fixed the older Kurosaki with a dry, half-lidded gaze.
"I'm really not. I wasn't listening to anyone, Shun. Not even you, Saya, and Allen. Time is diluted to you because I changed 'shortly' after you returned. But I was unmerciful for most of the time you were gone... So stop making it some pissing contest. While you were out making new pals, I was carding people. It doesn't get much worse than that."
"So was I!!!" Shun insisted with a low, impatient growl. Then he heaved another sigh. "... Fine. We both got carried away with the anger problems. All the more reason I want to keep us both on the straight and narrow. Happy?"
The Clover Branch ace rolled his eyes at his friend and rival's frustration. Shun seriously wanted to put him up up on a pedestal... Big Baby. Kaito doesn't take the easy way out like that. Too many people were hurt by him to wave off his sins.
"Peachy."
Before Kaito could get back to what he really wanted to be doing, and not this mushy crap... He showed up. (about the 1:11 mark)
"Besides~! Even if you both lost your way, I was the true villain~..."
Shun tensed up as Dennis jumped and landed a few feet away from them (from wherever the hell he eavesdropped on them), one of his ever-present smiles tugging at his lips. Kaito seemed more composed, though he appeared deadpan at this conversation continuing.
"Dennis. Why the hell are you here?" The older Kurosaki attempted to remain calm - at least cordial.
... But it was very hard when this was Dennis.
Shun had more than a few reasons to be angry with this former Duel Academy agent.
"Because you're getting too down on yourself, Shun." The aspiring magician's grin became brittle as he averted his gaze. "Everything that happened to you, the things you ended up doing... A lot of it was my fault. And even when we were both Lancers, I didn't care how much you were affected. Your home getting annihilated - an attack that I initiated - and your sister in our possession... I didn't feel a thing."
Shun clenched his fists so tightly that they popped as his scowl deepened and his eyes narrowed coldly.
"So I ask again: why show your face to me? You're not like Sora where I can just forgive you for changing sides and helping us during the war. What you did is much more personal, and I'm trying very hard not to punch you right now."
Dennis's smile became bland as he raked a hand through his hair.
"And I can't say that I wouldn't have it coming. Like I said, I risked poking my nose out here because you were being much too harsh on yourself. Your anger came from much more understandable sources. ... Meanwhile us from Duel Academy required very little convincing to be horrible. To treat you guys from the other dimensions as less than human."
As the older Kurosaki growled lowly with a fire in his eyes that didn't instill confidence in him remaining calm, Kaito sighed as he took one step forward between Shun and Dennis to keep his rival from launching himself forward.
"Shun. I won't tell you to forgive the guy if you're that pissed. But if we worked together with Aster Phoenix when the time came to rescue your sister, the Commander of the Heartland invasion force... We should be able to give this guy a chance. Dennis has been working with Aster and the Tylers to help save Yuya."
Shun wrinkled his nose irritably.
"Kait... How can you be so calm? It's because of this guy that Duel Academy stormed into Heartland and carded your family!!"
The dishwater blond shook his head briskly.
"If it wasn't him, it would have been someone else, Shun. You need to remember Duel Academy beat obedience into kids' heads; you either followed the Professor's orders, or you became fuel for their Arc Area Project. Maybe that doesn't wipe away what he did, but Dennis is sorry. And he's been working his ass off to be a better person."
Kaito fixed the stunned curly-haired boy with an unreadable expression.
"You weren't there when he turned on Duel Academy, Shun. It happened just before we reunited on that island. Dennis dueled me because he wanted so badly to get at Sakaki-sensei, and I didn't let him. I kicked his ass, and we put on a show spectacular enough to please a luxury cruise liner. After he lost, Sensei tried swaying Dennis to our side, but he couldn't bring himself to fully commit because of how guilty he felt over everything. ... Instead, Dennis told us where Ruri and Rin were being kept."
He flicked his gaze to the older Kurosaki, who had a look of disbelief in his eyes.
"... And then Dennis carded himself."
Shun jolted in bewilderment as he whipped his head toward the aspiring magician.
"You?! You seriously carded yourself?!" After Shun had failed to do that very deed...!
Dennis ran a hand through his hair anxiously as he nodded slowly.
"Yup. Sensei kept me with him for all the time that he was at Duel Academy. I guess I got lucky Yuya - or the universe - decided to unseal me when everything reset, and I've been struggling with how to move forward ever since. Saving Yuya is just a short-term goal; it won't truly wipe my slate clean. I need to make restitutions some other way."
...
Shun couldn't believe this as he took another stumbling step back, eyes wide in awe and a sense of... loss.
If Dennis really turned himself around like this... Owned up to everything he did, refused to shy away from his guilt even with the excuse he was just like any other Duel Academy cadet following orders...
Then all of Shun's resentment towards Dennis... What the hell was even the point? Who did he have left to be angry at? Yuuri? The little prick was also turning himself around. Aster. The Tylers... everyone that he "knew" to be directly responsible for Heartland's suffering was changing.
Even Obelisk Force. He'd heard those heartless squads were undergoing reform and change. Aster was seeing to their rehabilitation personally so that they'd never bother anyone again with their cruelty and malice.
Naturally, Shun could still hold Leo Akaba and his hardliners responsible... But it left him feeling so empty. So numb. The Doktor and the hardliners were already getting thrown in prison, and after Yuya was saved Leo would be joining them.
The Doktor would make a great target for his rage... Problem is, Ruri didn't want her brother to waste his time hating someone that's no longer a threat, and isn't worth the trouble of lingering on. Ruri was safe and in her own mind again. Yuto was safe and alive again...
Yuya would be safe. They'd all make sure of it.
It's... It's not the same focusing his hatred purely on Leo. Everyone despised that scumbag. And again, Ruri didn't want Shun lingering on this rage and this resentment... She wanted her brother to be happy and free.
Shun doesn't know if he's... if he's ready to "move on". The anger is so easy to fall back on. It's what he's known for so long, even before the war... He was so serious all the time...
But it's impossible to resist Ruri. She was doing so much better these days, making friends with Yuya and everyone else. And there was something soothing about seeing everyone else coming down from all this trauma and heartache... Maybe deep down he wanted that peace of mind, too.
... Shun just didn't know!
Seeing the conflict in the older Kurosaki's eyes, Kaito smiled thinly.
"It may be easier for me because Dennis had been a part of Clover Branch... We never interacted much. But just knowing he holds Sensei in high regard just as much as I do... I'm able to accept this change of heart and move on."
Shun's pupils were still dilated, so uncertain what to do with himself or how to feel.
"... You talked about 'other restitutions'... What are your plans as far as that goes...?" He mumbled softly.
Dennis shrugged nonchalantly.
"For one, I won't set foot in Xyz dimension ever again. You guys are on the up and up, and you don't need me hanging around to remind you of bleaker days. Sensei's got things covered over there; he'll be taking up his position at Clover Branch again. And Aster and Alexis have things well in hand at Duel Academy, allowing You Show to plant roots of Dueltainment there. Of course Standard is covered cuz Yuzu's dad is running You Show there~..."
The curly-haired boy sprawled out his arms as he smiled blandly.
"That leaves Synchro dimension, really. We wanna keep New Domino from spiraling back into what they had before with the divide between Tops and Commons~... Up until yesterday, Sensei never even set foot in that dimension. Jack helped us narrow down a property where both rich and poor can attend; no guarantee we'll get a high turnout, but we'll make the most of it~... I'm gonna try the whole 'teaching' thing since I have Sensei's blessing, and he needs someone over there. At the very least I can keep kids from turning out like I did~..."
Shun is left stunned. It seemed like Dennis had put a lot of thought into this...
Yet he couldn't help quipping.
"You sure you want to settle down in Synchro? You never picked up that style of summoning. ... And they have those bikes you're so fond of."
Dennis beamed meekly as he giggled uncertainly.
"... Yes, yes. Kick a guy while he's down, why don't you? It's not my ideal slice of heaven, but... I heard through the grapevine they tracked Roget down and sent him back to Synchro dimension in chains. I'm sure he won't be a problem ever again, but it never hurts to have somebody on hand in case the staff at the Facility succumb to his wiles and schemes~..."
Shun jolted at this bit of news.
"They found that asshole?! Where the hell did he end up?"
"Here in Standard, if you can believe it." Dennis grinned wryly. "He approached Leo Corp while the war was still going on, but as soon as Himika heard Leo's name come up, she detained him and Reiji returned him to Synchro shortly after the reset. I don't blame him for wanting to keep Roget out of Standard~... He needed to pay for his crimes in Synchro anyway."
Shun deadpanned. ... Of course that monster wound up here while everyone else was transported to Xyz and Fusion dimensions. What a joke.
Well. At least that was one less problem to stress out about. Given the Hell he put New Domino through, Shun didn't doubt that Roget's accommodations and reception at the Facility would be... rough. The bastard literally controlled some of the guards and members of Sector Security. They wouldn't play nice with Roget.
... They better not.
A distant dragon's roar echoed in the back of Shun's mind - Dark Rebellion sure thought Roget's punishment was well-deserved. And after hearing that Roget had attempted to control Yuya the same way...
'I hear ya, pal. All the loose ends from the war are getting tied up... We'll find a way forward together. Somehow.'
Regardless of his own future being so murky and undecided... Shun did know one thing. As hard as it is to let go of his hatred of Dennis... He did. Dennis was one of them, as weird as that is to get used to.
Shun felt a boulder dislodged from his heart, dismissing those dark thoughts.
It felt... right...
~*~
Later that day...
"I can't believe you're still alive." Gloria grumbled in awe as she gazed at her sister hugging Yuya's pendant to her chest after they put whole crowds of people between them and Serena.
... And Grace had one of those smiles that drove Gloria up a wall.
Damn mischievous scamp!!
"I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have swiped the pendant if Yu-Yums hadn't allowed it~..." Grace chirped with an unholy amount of sparkles in her eyes. "Serena-chan made me pursue her for a good hot minute~! The way she kept holding the pendant in one hand led me to believe I'd never succeed. Buuut there's a bunch of peeps here today, and Serena-chan got careless when she bumped into some~...!"
Gloria wrinkled her nose in bewilderment.
"And how... does that equate to Yuya letting you snag him??"
The silver-haired beauty giggled sweetly as she held up the pendant like it was a marvel.
"Well, like! Straps don't lift up on their own, do they~? If Yu-Yums hadn't at least lifted it halfway from around her head like he did, Serena woulda clawed my face off for even touching it~... But cuz Yuya wuvs me best, he became my partner in crime and I snagged him while Serena-chan got distracted ramming backward into kids~!"
...
Gloria fixed the pendant with an incredulous look.
"Yuya?? Is this true? Or does Grace still have a screw loose?"
The spirit materialized cheerfully, floating right next to Grace and mirroring the mischievous energy.
"Well~... I felt guilty on Grace's behalf. We've got a bunch of strays back home. And Grace reminded me of a baby kitten trying to fetch a toy midair! I know Serena and Yuzu will chew me out. But you sisters are just too cute, I can't help spoiling you a little~...!"
Gloria choked up as her cheeks blazed with searing heat, while Grace cheered boisterously and hugged the pendant to her chest even more.
"Ooh, I just knew you couldn't resist me, hubby~!!!" The silver-haired girl squealed so much she sounded like a tea kettle.
The blonde shook her head rigidly as she stuttered out a reply.
"... Y-You don't really mean that. Grace might have this c-certain... pitiable charm... B-B-But you don't find me cute. Sh-Shut up!!"
Yuya reopened his eyes and peered at the more 'mature' Tyler sister with such warmth and kindness.
... Those smiles of his really took Gloria's breath away. S-Stop it! This isn't good for her heart!!
"But I do~! Beats me why tough, perky girls like yourselves appeal to me... Grace has this innocence, sure, but even you trying to be better is so awesome! You sisters remind me a lot of Yuzu and Serena. It's true~!"
Steam blasted off Gloria's face as she stubbornly turned away. She was not this easy! She was not!!! No boy had ever come close to piercing her... rough and tumble "armor." Yuya had to be cheating!!!
Ugh. Except she knew the kind of boy Yuya was, and foul play was not in his repertoire. If he insisted something, he believed that with all his heart.
Ugh. Ughhh...!
Just go back to letting Grace play with Yuya. She'd more than earned him.
...
Gloria kept stealing glances out of the corner of her eye. As much as she lied to herself and said she was just keeping an eye out for those Hiiragi sisters... She wasn't.
Her gaze was locked on Yuya and Grace, after all.
...
"Don't let Grumple-Puss-san get you down, Yu-Yums~! Glo-chan talks, like, a good game. But we all know she's part of the Yuya Fanclub~!"
Gloria twitched violently at the twit running her mouth. Sh-She only liked Yuya's dueling style a little!!
... The flashy cards were very mesmerizing. And those Performapals weren't half bad. Some cute mixed in with the cool.
Just like her and Grace.
... You shut up.
The spirit barked out a small, entertained chuckle.
"Kind of impossible to miss~! I remember she was the one that noted your Amazoness Tiger and Pet Liger would complement my circus themed deck~... And we pointed out Amazonesses in general could come close to animal tamers, stuntwomen, and the like~...!"
"Right?!" Grace gushed giddily. "It's all about how we present ourselves~! We could be your opening act when we go Pro!!"
Gloria choked up again as she stiffly kept facing away from the two. Opening Act?! If they did go Pro, they deserved some dignity! An Act all their own!!!
Yuya chuckled meekly and scratched his cheek.
"Y-Yeah, well~... Because of talk like that, Serena and Yuzu are plotting similar things. Even though I've been pointing out the circus and the type of drama and elegance their decks possess don't necessarily... line up... I think they took that personally and are doubling down on the schemes..."
"Talk about sore losers~!" Grace chirped. "They're just jelly that our compatibility with you is through the roof~!"
Yuya sweatdropped. When Grace said snooty stuff like that, he could believe she and Gloria were sisters...
But that said. She was still the nicer one. Absolutely.
Gloria afforded herself a small vindictive smirk as her eyes drooped lazily in contentment. That's right~... Despite how Serena instilled Fear into her, Gloria took pride that her Amazonesses clicked more thematically with Yuya's deck~... Serena's deck was all dancers and moon stuff. Yuzu was opera stuff and fairies.
At least they had one leg up on their rivals~...
The tomato-headed boy smiled mysteriously as he massaged the back of his neck.
"S-So... um. I've been meaning to ask. Getting a moment to approach you girls has been rough. But how have you been holding up? S-Settling in Standard, I mean?"
Gloria tensed up immediately. ... There it is. The real reason Yuya let Grace swipe him...
Maybe he did want to hangout. Gloria's not about to claim he doesn't care about them. But she has seen the spirit checking in with everybody sooner or later. And... And Gloria doesn't know how to feel about that.
It'd be one thing if Yuya was alive and checking in. Gloria could handle that, as weird as it will be to adjust to their first... friend... that gives a damn about them.
... But Yuya was in a delicate state. Not dead... But almost.
He should worry about himself first. Gloria truly believed that. No one should have to be that selfless...
But just as Gloria opened her mouth and turned around to carefully wave off his concerns, Grace beat her to the punch.
Because of course she did.
"It's been interesting for sure~! First couple days we settled for a hotel, but that kinda got pricey... Glo-chan tried approaching Sawatari to see if he could set us up somewhere more suited to her tastes, but he blew us off~... I think he's still miffed we beat him back in Heartland. Said he doesn't owe us a thing. Certainly not a house or a luxury suite or whatever."
Yuya blinked owlishly.
"Really...? Sawatari..." He mumbled, unsure how to feel about his rival's... attitude. Not that the Abyss Actor user was obligated to help friends in need, but it felt... cold. "Did he at least point you to Principal Hiiragi?"
... Not that Uncle would have been much better. Uncle had his hands full with Yuzu and her sisters.
Grace shrugged nonchalantly.
"Pretty much. But we didn't want to bother the guy when he seemed all frazzled?? Glo-chan was gonna call Aster next to see if he could hook us up, but I didn't get that memo and... kinda-sorta talked to your pal Gong???" The silver-haired beauty grinned cattily as her sister groaned and massaged her temple while heaving a sigh. "We've been staying at the Strong Dojo ever since~! Gong's Pappy is really cool and lets us stay for free~... Though he does make us help with chores and stuff sometimes. It's like camping out every night~!"
The spirit slumped a bit with relief at hearing the Tylers had some roof over their heads. They shouldn't need a hotel... That'd just get too expensive to keep paying the bills for.
... Although Gloria was groaning to herself and shaking her head. So Yuya tilted his head curiously at the blonde.
"You alright, Gloria?" He had an idea, but seeing the Tyler Sister jolt and flash him a twitchy smile, his guess was all but confirmed.
"O-Of course~! Nothing wrong at all! Your buddy and his dad are real lifesavers~!"
Grace tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"Well~... Glo-chan does get all grumpy about sleeping on the floor. But all she has to do to earn a few more pillows is some chores around the Dojo~! Gong's Daddy is real cool. He even gives us bigger portions for dinner when I help out~... Though Glo-chan has stuff to say about the 'simple meals', too."
Yuya grinned mischievously as Gloria groaned and drooped her shoulders with a miserable sigh.
"Okay, so the accommodations could be better... I'm used to a more glamorous lifestyle because I worked my butt off at the Academy for ritzier things!!" The blonde huffed as she crossed her arms with a scowl. "But now we're all the way back at square one - even worse than what we first had back at the Academy. Chores are stupid. The floor's killing my back. The meals remind me of what the Resistance had going for them back in Heartland. ... UGH. But it beats going destitute from hotel bills... I guess."
Yuya chuckled and held up his hands peacefully.
"I did warn you guys that moving to a new dimension is a big commitment~...! I'm sorry it's not as glamorous as you'd like. Not all of us are rich like Sawatari and his Pops. I won't force you to stay if it's too much... But it does warm my heart that you wanna... try?"
Gloria grumbled sourly as Grace peered at her, somewhat anxious.
"... No, no. We'll make the most of it. Everything's different from the life we knew, but that... works. As much as I loved the accommodations at Duel Academy, the fact is everything was so... lonely. Everyone was all about furthering their own status, and the fact we were so successful, a lot of bozos just... avoided us. But here... it seems like people don't know how to leave each other alone."
Grace nodded, reinvigorated now that it was clear Gloria didn't want to return to Fusion dimension so soon.
"Gong's great for huggies~! And everyone at You Show's so welcoming~...! Sora, the Chibi's, even Yuzu-chan and Serena-chan when you don't come up~! Sawatari and Yuuri are a bit standoffish, I guess. And Principal H is like an overexcited puppy doggy~! Your dad's really awesome~! We even see Iggy come by the Strong Dojo sometimes cuz he's searching for 'inspiration' or something??"
At the spirit's befuddled gaze, Gloria shook her head with another sigh.
"... Basically, Iggy wants to reform the Dojo that he belongs to, and he's scoping Gong's place out because they behave more like a... family. But Iggy knows that changing his Dojo won't be easy, so he's taking his time and absorbing the day-to-day life of the Strong Dojo."
Yuya's eyes widened in awe.
"Iggy... That's awesome, but I hope you'll be okay..." Because he did remember how cold and ruthless Iggy's Dojo is, and his friend is right. Changing that Dojo won't be easy... He might even get kicked out if he's not careful.
Oblivious to Yuya's worries, Grace continued babbling innocently.
"That fortuneteller girl that visits You Show a bunch is a big grump~... I don't think she enjoyed ya getting together with us, Yuzu-chan, and Serena-chan~!"
Yuya sweatdropped. Mieru was... a handful. But she's a good friend, even if they didn't end up in a relationship like Mieru wanted.
"And the other night we were treated to a feast by that Reed Pepper buddy of yours~! Glo-chan was thrilled to have 'good' food again~..."
Gloria flushed with embarrassment as the tomato-headed boy chuckled.
"Well, excuse me for savoring food with flavor!!"
Grace tapped her knuckle against her temple as she preened bashfully.
"Aside from all that~... It's been fun exploring Maiami! Duel Academy was so isolated and stuffies. We've checked out malls, candy stores, the beaches~... I even tried one of those 'ball pit' thingies, but Glo-chan was so mean and didn't join me~!"
"You're so embarrassing...!" Gloria hissed, twitching violently. "People won't stop staring at us because you react to every little thing!!!"
Grace beamed all too 'innocently'.
"Maybe~... But it keeps the boys off our backs, don't it~? I get to enjoy everything Standard has to offer, and boys keep their paws off the merch cuz I'm too 'high maintenance'~! They even reconsider looking your way, Glo-chan~...?"
...
Gloria and Yuya blinked in astonishment at the silver-haired beauty.
"Y-You actually think about that stuff?!" Gloria couldn't believe it. She did wonder why not a single boy approached them while they were at the beach in swimsuits...
Grace preened again.
"'Course I do~! We're waiting on Yu-Yums to be glompable again~... No way I'm letting just anyone hit on us! We got's to be loyal to hubby~!"
... Gloria still couldn't believe it. Yes, it made sense that Grace had "Yuya" on the brain, but... This just seemed too big-brained for the twit.
"H-Honestly, it's okay if you see other boys you like, Grace... You don't need to hard commit to me..." The spirit mumbled, massaging the back of his neck.
Grace stuck her tongue out playfully while Gloria thinned her lips with determination.
"Well, we are here for you, Yuya... We won't let ourselves be distracted - we're not... not EASY. Just get used to our commitment. We're not going anywhere."
Yuya chuckled sheepishly.
"W-Well..." Whatever he was about to say was cut off by the sound of some engine revving as students cried out down the hall, opening a path for... a duel runner??? Yuya rapidly paled as he saw who was on it. "... O-Oh... Uh. We might wanna hide."
Grace's eyes bugged out.
"Wh-What's that?!"
Gloria shuddered as she pieced together as she vaguely recognized one of the Hiiragi's driving the thing. She hauled her sister to a side hallway before the bike got too close to their location.
"That's a duel runner, nitwit!! Synchro dimension has them. I guess Serena called in for backup."
Yuya giggled nervously.
"Rin's not gonna stop~... She still remembers when you stole me from her, back at that restaurant. Hearing you're at it again... Um. I'm so sorry..."
Grace and Gloria embraced each other in dread as they remembered that particular Hiiragi. If Serena was a lioness, then Rin was a gorilla...
Even Yuzu-chan had her nuke button.
... Yeah. Hiiragi girls were scary...
Which is just another new experience, really, cuz the Amazoness users never had anything to be afraid of up until meeting these sisters.
But who rode a motorcycle around indoors?! That just seemed a new level of crazy!!!
... Ironically, the Tylers never did experience Yugo doing much the same back at Duel Academy. Though unlike Yugo, Rin here seemed much more on the warpath and seemed less worried about weaving around students...
Reiji was gonna have a coronary when he found out. Yuya knew that for sure...