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A Mother's Touch

A Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V Rewrite starring Yoko Sakaki

by Green Phantom Queen

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A mother's love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible.

-Marion C. Garretty

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Chapter 1- Mom Bomb

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Yuya Sakaki could not believe what happened.

He dozed off during Shuzo-san's lectures on Tribute Summoning when his childhood friend, Yuzu Hiragi, randomly asked her father how one could execute an Xyz Summon. Shuzo paused, stumbling to answer his daughter’s question, then answered that Xyz was considered a "very difficult" summoning technique. He went on in his explanation despite the lack of class attention. 

Ayu fell asleep dreaming that she swam with mermaids in a purple sea. Futoshi day-dreamed of eating pasta curry. Tatsuya enthusiastically answered all of Shuzo's questions with his hand raised in the air, the only other person besides Yuzu paying attention. The newcomer to You Show, and Yuya's self-proclaimed apprentice, Sora Shiunin, decided to eat donuts with a side of mashed potatoes and yogurt. Strange taste to begin with, as was where he got the money to buy all of that.

But back to Yuzu, Yuya couldn’t help but note that she had been acting weird ever since the night before. He had never seen such concern on her face and panic in her eyes. They’d known each other long enough, and as an entertainer, Yuya became accustomed to noticing such body language. He began to think back as to what happened…

Yuzu confronting that pompous arrogant blowhard Sawatari wasn't new – the Leo Duel School student had it coming. He’d stolen Yuya’s cards a week before and put Yuzu, Ayu, Futoshi, and Tatsuya in mortal danger. Yuya soundly defeating Sawatari led to the dart-throwing blowhard to beat Yuya to the ground regardless of casualties -- but Yzau looked flustered, as if she had seen a ghost just when Yuya had arrived at the warehouse the night before. 

The entire time he walked Yuzu back to You Show, she had been unusually quiet. Even in the face of her angry yet relieved father, she never uttered a word. Yuya didn't want to overstep his boundaries; whatever she went through, she would tell him later.

However, Yuzu’s XYZ summoning question puzzled him even further. Mentally, he noted the request sounded ridiculous. Xyz was one of three summoning methods monopolized by Leo Corp. Only students from that school could enroll in classes to master it. A few sporadic schools taught Fusion, and Synchro had maybe one or two schools with skilled enough practitioners. But Xyz? How did that relate to Sylvio?

Before he could hear Yuzu's story of the night before, Yuya's other close friend, Noboru Gongenzaka barged into the classroom. He explained that a few very important and very angry people wanted an audience with Yuya.

Much to Yuya's disbelief, and the entire school’s, Sawatari's lackeys seemed to believe he had "assaulted" Shingo at a warehouse the night before… Despite plenty of witnesses from the school watching him leave after Ayu returned with a bag of melted ice cream, a request from the You Show boys that Yuzu and Ayu were trying to fulfill until Yuzu spotted Sylvio and chased after him. Ayu stood her ground, insisting she saw Yuya leave You Show with her own eyes. But she was just a little girl, and bigger, stronger Leo Duel Students never listen to little girls. 

None of these witness accounts were enough for Sawatari's "self-esteem team" of kiss-ups. They continued to whine and complain that Yuya used Xyz Summoning to defeat Sawatari's Monarch deck and nearly killed him with a spear to the torso! 

"For the love of Exodia, Yuya doesn't use Xyz. And even if he did, he wouldn't kill Sylvio! Maybe scare him off, but not kill him!" Yuzu retorted.  

Gongenzaka also put a good word in for Yuya, as the two shared text messages about the Sylvio warehouse incident the night before. 

But the elitist Leo Duel School students still wouldn't listen. Then again, it’s not like Leo Duel School students ever listened to those not like them.

And just when things couldn't take a turn for the worse, Yuya saw a pearl white limousine driving up Stepping out of it was a woman who looked like she grew up on Alice in Wonderland idolizing the Queen of Hearts. Her magenta suit and equally magenta, poofy, heart-shaped bouffant were incredibly nauseating. Accompanying her was her son with grey hair, a blue sweater, magenta scarf, and red framed glasses.

Reiji Akaba. CEO of Leo Corp., winner of the Arc League Championship three times running, and master of all known Extra Deck Summoning methods.

Yuya’s heart sank to his stomach. Reiji’s glare was cold and merciless behind those glasses. Even as a master of body language, Yuya could never tell what Reiji was thinking. Why did Reiji want to approach him now of all times?

"Hmph," The woman harumphed, staring down her nose at the class. “I never thought I’d ever step foot in this place. Yusho would be rolling in his grave if he saw this school turned into a dump.”

Yuya remembered her name: Himika Akaba, Chairwoman of Leo Duel School. Just as intimidating as her son, if not more so with her impressive height. He scowled up at her. How dare this woman sully his father’s school! As if she had any right. 

"Enough talk” Himika added with a tsk of her tongue. "I think we should speak… business ." She broke into a smile reminiscent of her outfit; a Queen of Hearts villainess indeed.

"Oh, oh, oh! I know all about business!" Ayu waved a hand in the air. She put her hands on her hips and said in her best woman's voice, "Business, business, business, numbers!"

Normally, Futoshi and Tatsuya would snicker at the joke, but Himika would've demanded “Off with their heads!’’ if they decided to do so. They had no choice but to cover their mouths with their hands, futile as it was. 

Shuzo put a protective hand on Ayu’s shoulder. His voice shook, but he wouldn’t let Himika hurt Ayu if he could do anything about it. "U-uh, sure," he stammered as he swiftly steered Himika towards his office. "P-please, right this way!"

Himika nodded, followed by Reiji. Behind the adults’ backs, the three other students Himika brought with her from Leo Duel School jeered at Yuya. Yuya stayed silent as he observed the three students, composed, confident, smug in their forgone victories. He heard things in regards to them, and all of it spelled out how dangerous they were.

First was Hokuto Shima of the LDS Xyz Division. He had a 95 to nada win streak and hoped to make it to a proper 100. A prominent duelist identified by the yellow stars on his hair that made the Big Dipper and the constellations that made up his deck. Most people called him "Dipper" behind his back, mostly because he was also a prick, but no one could deny that he did have potential in the art of Xyz Summoning.

Was he the reason why Yuzu brought up Xyz summoning? Then again, that wouldn't make sense for Hokuto to duel Sylvio for Yuzu's sake.

The next duelist, and the only girl of the trio, was Masumi Kotsu of the LDS Fusion Division. Her father ran a successful jewelry business reflected in her deck. A lovely assembly of knights whose armor shined bright like rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. She possessed a mind sharp as a diamond, allowing her to pinpoint minute details with those spinel pink eyes of hers. Even now, she smirked when she locked eyes with Yuzu, knowing that victory was sealed before the first move. 

Last was Yaiba Kido of the LDS Synchro Division. Heir to a dojo specializing in kendo. A rival dojo to Gongenzaka as heir to his own father's dojo of Strong Style dueling. Kido's sword wasn't just for show; from what Yuya recalled, Yaiba could swing the blade strong enough to create a gust of wind strong enough to help him obtain Action Cards. Yaiba also had a notorious combo that made most duelists scream in terror. Despite his smaller stature, Yaiba had proven himself a fearful opponent in previous Championship matches. 

This...wasn’t good. Even after mastering the basics of Pendulum, Yuya's knowledge was nothing compared to duelists who knew these summonings. And even if they were "difficult" as Shuzo proclaimed, Yuya didn't carry a Polymerization card for Fusion or a Tuner for Synchro. If he learned Xyz , he could probably use that in combination with Pendulum if he put more time into it or if there was such a thing as a Performapal Xyz monster.

Why had he wasted the past few years solely sticking to Tribute summoning?! He hated to admit that it was only through the unexpected arrival of his monsters turning into Pendulums that he defeated The Sledgehammer.

Yuya hastily texted his mother about the messy predicament he’d found himself in. If anyone could fix this heap of trouble, Yoko could…. Somehow…

Slipping the phone into his pocket, Yuya followed Yuzu, Shuzo, Reiji and Himika into the office. 

...

"What do you mean you and your son want to buy out You Show?!" Shuzo exclaimed.

Through meager refreshments of instant coffee in paper cups and individually wrapped butter cookies on paper saucers, Shuzo, Himika, Reiji, Yuya and Yuzu had their talk. Everyone else watched outside through the blinds, only seeing mouths moving. 

Masumi, Hokuto and Yaiba kept periodically smirking at Himika and Reiji, followed by looking disdainfully down their noses at You Show Duel School’s facilities, clearly believing their school to be superior. Sora calmly licked his oversized strawberry lollipop, Gongenzaka glared at the trio with his arms folded, and the kiddos tilted their heads in confusion.

"For one thing, this would be such a scandal if the media ever found out that Yuya Sakaki, son of the founder of this…” Reiji hesitated before he went on. “School...would assault such a prominent student of my father's Duel School." 

He leaned forward, his face unreadable, the lens of his glasses shining as he clasped his hands over his mouth 

Because of course he would … Yuya noted to himself. 

"The second is that the only students that are actually enrolled are three kids and a newbie. It’s nothing short of a miracle that this school has stayed afloat for three years. I expected that it wouldn’t last six months after Yusho left."

"But I didn't duel Sawatari that night!" Yuya exclaimed, digging his nails into his palms. "Even if I did, it would've been registered on my Duel Disk. And I have plenty of witnesses with Ayu, Tatsuya, Fujoshi, and Sora seeing me at You Show, and Yuzu could even confirm that I only arrived at the warehouse after the duel concluded. Plus, I don't use Xyz monsters; I barely even know how they work!"

"But if Sawatari said he was forced into a duel with a person that looked like you, there’s no reason to believe he’s lying," Himika remarked, her magenta painted lips curled into a tiny smirk. “I mean, how many people in the world could possibly look like you?”

Yuya stayed silent. He never questioned why his hair was different from his parents, but it didn’t stop people calling him tomato head.

"That is utter bullshit !" Yuzu had her signature harisen ready, eyes blazing with anger. 

She didn't care if Himika was the Queen of Everything. That bitch had no right to immediately take that slimeball's side without listening to the witnesses. How hypocritical of them to check Sawatari's own dueling history too! 

"I saw the duel with my own eyes! One, it wasn't Yuya who dueled him. And two, the spear didn't kill Sawatari. It pinned him to the wall , but it didn't kill him. But wait a sec,” Yuzu paused thoughtfully. Eyes roaming around the room to ensure she had everyone’s attention. All except for Yuya, feverishly typing something on his phone one handed. “Didn't Sawatari try to kill me, Ayu, Futoshi and Tatsuya just a few days ago with that Castle of Chaos Action Field?"

There was a slight pause as Himika shifted her gaze towards Reiji. 

Shuzo looked ready to strangle this smug CEO to bits, having remembered the panic and fear in Yuzu's voice as she explained to him what happened that night. It took all he had in his hot-blooded frame to not march towards Leo Duel School and demand to see Reiji face-to-face for letting a student put his daughter in harm's way. Along with his plans to sue the school for emotional trauma. 

For a second, it looked like Reiji was going to deny that the duel even happened. But before he could open his mouth, the five could hear someone knocking on the door.

"Ugh, who could it be at this hour?" Himika muttered. 

The answer came three seconds later when the door opened.

"Excuse me," said a motherly voice, followed by a head popping in from the opened door. They belonged to Yuya's mother, Yoko Sakaki.  

Her sunny yellow hair tied up in a ponytail, and wearing a light green sweater, mom jeans, sneakers and white ankle socks. She carried two black plastic platters of sushi along with dollops of wasabi, soy sauce packets, and slices of pink pickled ginger in her hands. Along with a stack of paper plates and disposable chopsticks. Draped over her shoulder she carried a simplistic leather handbag that had clearly been through a lot compared to the luxury scarlet clutch in Himika's painted nails. 

"Sorry I'm a little late for the meeting,” Yoko said. “I decided to purchase sushi along the way so no one got hungry. It's been a long time since we had guests over to discuss business!" 

"Y-yoko-san!" Yuzu exclaimed, watching as Yoko put the sushi down on the coffee table and opened the plastic lids. She had no idea whether to be happy or terrified. "W-what are you doing here? Why are you even here? Do you even know what's going on?"

"Of course I do, Yuya texted me!" Yoko pulled out her phone from her purse and showed her son's text. "It was a bit of an inconvenience for me, though. I had to grab a few things and drive back home to drop the groceries before arriving, but it looks like I made it just in time~!"

The way Yoko said the last three words made the air feel...tense and cold. Only Yuya and Shuzo shivered a little. Reiji looked in disgust, the same with Himika. They could afford better quality sushi wrapped in gold leaf, if they so desired. This was nothing more than a foolish shot by Yusho Sakaki’s housewife to butter them up. Like bribing a bodyguard with 300 Yen and seeing what they could make of it.

"Hmph," Himika grunted, only giving the store sushi a five second glance. "How…considerate of you to bring food as we discuss the last days of your husband's school."

Yoko ignored her and snapped her chopsticks to pick which pieces she wanted first. 

"Despite your generosity, this business doesn't involve you at all, Yoko Sakaki. You Show Duel School is going to be bought out and there's nothing you can say or do to change our minds."

"As a matter of fact, there is something I can do," Yoko countered with that beatific smile still on her face. "After all..." She leaned forward, raising her eyebrow as she inquired, "Why are you all having a meeting about acquiring my husband's school without consulting the co-owner of it first? "

All eyes swiveled to Yoko. Shuzo nearly spat out his coffee. Yoko sat down on the only armchair that wasn't being used at the moment, leg crossed over another, smiling all the while.

"D-did you say c-co-owner ?" Reiji whimpered as Yoko set her plate and chopsticks down.

"Yep!" Yoko answered with a nod as she pulled out a blue plastic folder sporting a couple of papers from her purse. "You see, Shuzo here is the principal of You Show Duel School. He runs the day-to-day business of keeping the school's lights on, teaching kids, and promoting the school via social media."

She opened the folder, pulled out some papers before slamming them on the table. Reiji picked up the first paper and lifted his glasses, skimming through the legal jargon before leaning back in disbelief. The bottom of the paper had the signatures of both Yusho Sakaki and Yoko Sakaki. Himika’s powder-covered face turned chalky white. Mouth agape in open horror. 

Yoko used a pair of chopsticks to dump wasabi and pickled ginger onto her plate, eyes locked on the Akabas. "But if you wish to make any serious transactions , you talk to me. Plus, I don't see you carrying any of the papers needed for an immediate sale on the table. Considering that you run a multi-million dollar company, you should know that it takes such a long, long time for any transactions to take place." 

She set her chopsticks crosswise on her plate, narrowed her eyes, shifting from a playful kitten to a ferocious lioness. "And in all honesty, why the hell should I give up my husband's school to the ones who allow their students to steal my son's cards and nearly let four kids die ?"

The instant coffee seemed to cool at Yoko’s question. Yuya and Yuzu held onto each other as Shuzo mustered up the courage to finish his train of thought. 

"EXACTLY! Sawatari put four children, one of them my own daughter , in immediate danger, and you didn't stop the duel so they could bring them to safety?! You didn't tell Sawatari's friends to intervene?"

"B-but, I would n-never..." Reiji stammered as it dawned on him and his mother potential lawsuits were coming their way.

"All true!" Yoko confirmed with a slow nod, each one like a drummer banging a taiko drum. "Yuya told me everything when he got home. How Sylvio Sawatari led four kids up into the spire of his 'favorite' Action Field to physically endanger and intimidate them to their potential deaths, o r perhaps fall into comas! If Yuya's Magicians, who Sawatari stole , didn't save them in time, I don’t know what kind of different situation we’d have on our hands. What I do know is the ego of this Sylvio Sawatari boy endangered five children all because he wanted to upset my son .” 

Yoko snatched a soy-sauce packet and tore it with her teeth, eyes never leaving Reiji as she spat the bits of plastic out of her mouth and onto the floor. 

"And when I mean 'stole', I don't mean stole like using an Exchange Spell Card..." she growled, her eyes locked in a chilling stare. "I meant in the sense that Sylvio snatched the cards out of my son's hands and proceeded to mock his kindness!”

But Yoko wasn’t done there. Far from it.

"Oh, and Sylvio couldn't stand losing after using such dirty tricks, so he tried to assault my son! Were it not for Sora-kins coming to save the day, my boy wouldn’t be here!" Yoko added thunderously. 

When Himika and Reiji weren’t looking, she spotted Sora through the blinds, and gave him a wink. Sora himself pretended that he couldn't be seen by hiding behind Futoshi in vain. 

"So tell me, Reiji Akaba...why exactly is a student from your school escaping punishment for his crimes when my son , who never hurt a fly and is being falsely accused of assault, is being attacked? Let me guess. Is it because he's poor ? Is it because he was a coward's son? Or....is it because you want his cards for yourself ?"

Himika looked ready to swallow a toad as she stared at Reiji. "You didn't tell me this!" 

Reiji couldn't respond, his pupils shrunk as Yoko stood up, ready to discipline him.

"So, run this by me again. You tried to steal my husband's school without running it by me first?!" Yoko’s rage barely held back any longer. "Is this nothing more than some excuse to steal my son's cards? For you to mass produce them and make more money? To acquire the rights without labeling my son as the creator of Pendulum? Who are you supposed to be, taking credit for someone else’s work?"

"B-but, I...I mean..." Reiji usually had a quick, emotionless response to everyone’s accusations. He’d played the corporate and business games long enough to be incredible at the ripe old age of fourteen, but it didn't matter. 

Yoko looked ready to pull on his scarf and make him choke on his double standards. Judging by the muscles hidden underneath the sleeves of her blouse, she looked capable of slamming him into the nearest wall. Repeatedly.

"If you want my son's Pendulums so badly, then why didn't you ask him for them?!" 

Silence fell. Yoko smartly let this particular question linger. 

She spoke up again. Voice a deadly whisper. "And did it have to be only Stargazer and Timegazer Magician? Two of the oldest and most precious cards in Yuya's deck? You could've asked for some of the other Pendulums in my son’s possession. Heck, it took my son around two hundred tries before he figured out how he could Pendulum Summon again."

"H-he h-had...others?" Reiji repeated, feeling like Yoko just grabbed his scarf and wanted him to choke on it.

"Of course he did." Yoko began counting on her fingers. "He had Performapal Bubblebowwow, Performapal Camelump, Performapal Turn Toad, Performapal Cheermole, Performapal Drummerilla...you could've asked for any of those to check for legality since they're technically your cards! Or you could've asked Yuya to come to show off a demonstration in your fancy-schmancy dueling arena without using such shady tactics. 

“All of the cards had different abilities, not just those arrows of theirs. Iit would take days, maybe weeks , to make sense of it all. But of course, you wanted them in your hands immediately . Time is money after all! And you didn’t want to do anything logical or intelligent because that meant you’d have to pay Yuya and me. Both in attention and money. I mean, Exodia forbid, any of you use any common sense, but NO . Greedy, impatient people like you don't want to do that, right ? 

Reiji stammered for his life, his pale skin turning paler, hands digging deep into the armrest. Shrinking at the sight of this stay-at-home mother and practically begging for mercy. But Yoko would not give it to him. Not even if he handed her a million yen.

Yoko set her sushi down. "Now that we have that out of the way... Give me one good reason why I don't sue you for everything you’re worth !" 

Reiji's soul practically left his body at this point. Yoko had him cornered.

And she knew it.

"Bad enough my husband’s been missing for three years with nary a clue as to why he left and where he shipped off to. In that time I've had to protect my son from the ridicule of being a 'coward's son' because he wanted to defend Yusho’s pride. Bad enough that I'm working two part time jobs without anyone to help me pay the bills. 

“But NOW you want to take what's left of my husband and the only safe place my son has? NOW you want these cards that have given him hope?" Yoko ground her teeth, hands balled into fists. “You of all people decided to pick on us just when we have a little hope? Selfish greedy bas–"

"Listen, we can assure you that there's a good reason for all of this!" Himika spoke up, her voice wavering. "M-my son is trying to..."

" Shut up !" Yoko snapped and Himika complied. Yoko pointed a finger towards Reiji, arm trembling with her rage. "You know what I'm gonna do with you, Reiji Akaba? I am going to call up my former Sirens, bring them all here with their pipes, chains, and razors, and they are gonna ---!!!"

-----

Even through a tiny crack in the blinds, Yoko towered over Reiji, screaming obscenities on what she would do to him involving a frying pan, a box of kitty litter, a stack of pancakes and...oh...oh my . Oh my!

Yuya knew his mom was bad ass, but he’d never seen this side of her! Yuzu must have felt the same. Her eyes were as wide as Yuya's. Both knew Yoko to be incredible to watch when she unleashed her anger, even more so when she’d be giving what was coming to someone who deserved it. Still a Siren at heart. 

Gongenzaka hastily covered Tatsuya's ears. Sora dropped what remained of his lollipop, eyes bugging out, as he covered Ayu’s ears. He and Gonegenzaka shared a look of horror when they realized they didn’t have enough hands between the two of them for Futoshi. Now what?! They couldn’t ask the LDS trio for help. They’d all frozen in place. Hokuto even had tears in his eyes!

They decided to give up. Shuzo would tell them not to repeat the words later anyway. 

"Wow…" Sora breathed, green eyes wide. "I think I have a huge crush on Yoko…” 

…

Yoko finished her rant and sat, picking up her paper plate topped with sushi. She quietly poured a small puddle of soy sauce onto it to mix with the wasabi. She ate with eyes locked on the Akabas. 

Reiji and Himika were both speechless. Like a bomb had gone off right in front of them. 

Well, technically, one erupted in their faces. And it came in the form of Yoko Sakaki.

…

"The man, Gongenzaka, never wants to be on Yoko's bad side," Gongenzaka vowed.

“How is a simple house-wife that terrifying?!” Hokuto found his voice, and wiped away his tears. 

"Yoko was once the leader of the toughest biker gang Maiami City ever had," Gongenzaka said casually. "The Sirens."

"....WHAT?!" Everyone shouted. 

"You cannot be serious," Masumi noted. 

Coming from a girl who could read people like the number of karats in a crystal, this was the last thing she ever expected. Nothing in Yoko Sakaki’s face or eyes when she entered the school with sushi for everyone revealed that she had a rebellious past.

"But…but she's only a housewife!" Hokuto stammered. "T-there's no way she can be that threatening."

"You mean to say that Yoko kaa-san was a biker?!" Ayu exclaimed, imagining Yoko on a bicycle with a helmet racing on the roads without a care in the world.

"No, no, she rode a motorcycle," Gongenzaka clarified. "Back in the day, she was nicknamed Shooting Star Yoko, Queen of the Sirens. She and her gang tore up the streets of Maiami City in the way a sukeban can."

"Suke... what ?" Yaiba questioned, an eyebrow raised in curiosity. 

Even Masumi leaned in to learn more, while Hokuto shivered.

Gongenzaka shrugged. "They're girls-only delinquents. Female gangsters who rode the streets and didn't give a...heck...at whoever stood in their way. While most gangsters would go for leather and shades, the sukeban went for their school uniforms and handkerchiefs as their symbols of rebellion. It was a convenient way to conceal their weapons."

Many gulped at the idea of a younger Yoko pulling out a katana from the back of her blouse, or perhaps pulling out a razor from her sleeves. Even the thin chain necklace she wore could be an improvised weapon to choke the opponent to death.

"Unlike most gangs, the sukeban had a code of honor amongst their sisters," Gongenzaka continued. "They fought not only for the thrill of battle, but also to rebel against what they felt were stifling societal restrictions, combined with the realization that there's no hope for them for a better future. 

“The only reason Yoko decided to step down as boss of the meanest group in town and be a housewife was because Yusho reminded her that there was no reason to hurt people. There were other ways to fight, like being kind and making people smile through performances. 

“Although,” Gongenzaka took an extra moment to reflect. “I suspect that Yoko has a lot of... frustration to deal with her husband gone these last three years and her son being bullied for his cards..." He looked pointedly at Masumi, Hokuto and Yaiba. All three of which had the wherewithal to look elsewhere in shame.

...

"Talk, Reiji!" Yoko demanded, remnants of Shooting Star Yoko interrogating an arrogant blowhard who invaded her turf coming back up. Only this time, instead of a cigarette in her hand, she pulled out her cellphone from her handbag. "I want the truth! And if you want any hopes of buying this school from me without consulting me first, why would you go as far as using such underhanded tactics to put my son under arrest. Do you hate You Show? Do you hate my husband and my family? Do you ?!"

Reiji did his best to stare at her like a snake charmer hypnotizing a cobra. Yoko never blinked, keeping her steely gaze on this boy as if drawing down a coil of silence around her body. Tightening it, constricting it, until the quiet was ready to downright suffocate Reiji in a bubble of white noise. 

He swallowed. Breaking their game of cat and mouse. He acted as the cat for so long. But this time? This time he played the role of mouse. 

He decided his best, and only, bet was to talk, so talk he did. Yoko already had her phone out and recording. 

After ten tense minutes, all viewers in and out of the office watched Yoko stop recording, thanked Reiji and his mother, and stepped out of the office. A satisfied smirk on her lovely features.  

Reiji and his mother exited a second later. Reiji whiter than usual, but trying to hide it beneath his glasses and scarf. Himika also looked disheveled, her hair sticking out like a bunch of kids forcefully rubbed a balloon on it. Her face flushed even with all that makeup on, and even more wrinkles forming on her face. 

Ayu, Futoshi and Tatsuya had to resist laughing. Mostly because they had seen Yoko either glaring, asking questions, or eating sushi with the aura of a king ready to send a thief to the gallows. Sora himself wished he had a bag of caramel corn instead of his usual lollipops.

“How did it go?” Sora asked, not even trying to disguise his curiosity. 

"Oh, I learned some wonderful news that I'm going to share later," Yoko answered, granting him an extra wink. She laughed with the roar of a lion before swiveling her head towards the three students who were supposed to duel for the fate of You Show. "So, who's next ?"

The trio quietly, yet politely, followed after Reiji and Himika. None of the LDS personnel spoke, but the others heard the roar of an engine slowly disappearing from the entrance of You Show. 

Yuya came rushing out after his mother. "Mom...wha… what was that?" he asked. 

If Yoko could be that intimidating to the CEO of LDS, he couldn't imagine if his mom had been physically present when he dueled Sawatari. He worried she’d try to track Sawatari down, bring the rest of her gang to burst into the Sawatari residence, and teach him not to bully her baby boy again!

Yoko sighed, inviting everyone to partake in the sushi platter in the office. She waited for everyone to seat themselves and place sushi on their plates before explaining. 

"Well, let's just say that I returned to my Siren days for a few minutes. And thanks to that little dip into my old self, I learned that Reiji Akaba is the source of all our problems. Financially, emotionally, Sawatari, and Yusho."

"He is?" Shuzo gasped, nearly choking on some unagi . "And wait a second, how is he involved with Yusho?"

"Didn't he disappear like a magician?" asked Ayu.

"Yeah, he did," Yoko answered as she picked up a piece of sushi topped with an octopus tentacle. She shoved it into her mouth, teeth chewing on the suckers before she spoke. 

"To make a long story short, Reiji's daddy is currently holed up in a dimension where all the duelists there only know Fusion summoning and plans to invade another one where everyone uses Xyz."

Yuzu gasped. “So there is an XYZ dimension!”

‘’Other dimensions?!” Tatsuya gasped. “Whoa!”

“They only know one summon method?’’ asked Ayu, frowning. “But what happened to the rest of them?”

“Invasions?’’ Futoshi finished. “Like aliens?!” 

‘’That’s ridiculous!’’ Shuzo chuckled. ‘’Other dimensions? That’s absurd! As if there’s any possibility for us to be eating sushi with Sliders at this very moment.” 

“Yeah,” Yuya chuckled. The first time in his life that he could remember hoping his mother would be wrong. “Like a multiverse or something? There’s no way… right?” 

Sora, who had taken a salmon roll into his mouth, gulped. Thank Academia he didn't put wasabi all over it; he hated wasabi. 

Yoko darted her eyes to Sora loudly inhaling. “Is everything okay, Sora?”

Sora laughed and flicked a grain of rice off of his face. “Y-yeah, everything’s fine. Yoko-san.” 

Yoko blinked, but went back to her son’s question. ‘’It’s true. Yuya. Reiji stumbled upon a machine that transported him into another dimension where he ended up in this military academy. Kids learn about  Fusion monsters there. Before he confronted his father about this, Akaba slapped some device that kicked Reiji back here. Without anyone by his side, Reiji decided to speak to the next best thing: Yusho .”  

Yuya couldn’t believe it. Reiji talked with his father before he vanished?

"And instead of helping Reiji create an army to fight back in case his father decided to attack our home, Yusho interrupted him by saying, 'I have a better idea, Reiji. How about I leave my wife and son behind to talk to Akaba himself!'" Yoko looked ready to slam her hand over the puddle of soy sauce and wasabi on her plate. Her voice more a growl. "Reiji knew of Yusho's disappearance the whole time and didn't bother to tell us! Leaving my son to become the laughing stock of the entire world instead of having the audience rooting for him to have a friendly duel with a champion. I'm sure The Sledgehammer would have understood and called off the duel if he knew the truth! 

“Speaking of which, I should message Nico Smiley while I'm at it; I'm sure he would be shocked at what Reiji kept from him."

Yuya felt his heart shatter. Like someone had struck himself at just the right angle to completely fall apart. Everything he suffered was because of Reiji? The humiliation, the insults, You Show's tarnished reputation... all because of Reiji ?!

He dropped to his knees and looked ready to puke. Hands over his mouth as his breath came out in short pants. Thank goodness he hadn't eaten anything yet. He felt ready to run away to cry, and scream, or silently chase after that limousine to demand answers. How could he smile over this horrible news? 

"Yuya!" Ayu gasped, racing towards the water cooler and grabbing a styrofoam cup. "Hold on, drink some water!"

"That...that can't be possible!" Tatsuya exclaimed. "Reiji is the CEO of Leo Corp, and the best duelist in the city! He couldn't be that heartless...could he?"

"I suddenly feel like I ate a bad piece of sushi," Futoshi whimpered. 

Whether or not he did, Yoko wasn't sure. Sora pulled the trash can towards the boy shivering in fear.

Yuya took the cup of water from Ayu's hands into his own, taking a loud gulp before dropping the cup onto the floor. He curled into a ball, unsure what to do, what to feel . His breath hitched, his eyes watery.

Then, for the first time in so long, he started crying and pulling out his hair in anguish. It was a horrid sound, one like a thousand undead, rising from ashes and begging for sunlight. It terrified everyone. 

"I can't believe it..." Shuzo whispered, shaking his head in disbelief. Or perhaps denial. He knew Yusho for years, he thought there was nothing they kept from one another. "Reiji is...He has everything he ever wanted, so why does he want to add You Show to the fold?"

"Why would he agree to let Yusho go?" asked Yuzu, staring at an old poster of Yusho with his signature monster, Performapal Sky Magician. She couldn’t believe the man she called a second father would abandon everyone without a second thought. "Couldn't he have stayed here? Or at least perform his vanishing act after his duel with The Sledgehammer?"

"The man, Gongenzaka, feels very upset with Yusho's recklessness," Gongenzaka grumbled, watching Yuya sob and pound the floor in anger. His heart broke in two to see his friend so shattered. "Running away, not telling anyone where he's going, expecting us to deal with his disappearance for the past three years..."

"He didn't ask Reiji to keep an eye on the school or explain what the hell was going on..." Yoko snarled, ready to rip apart the poster of Yusho and Performapal Sky Magician on the wall or throw it into the trash bin to set it on fire. "But since this idea of sending my husband off to another dimension and to keep mum wasn't made official in a contract , there's no NDA involved."

"NDA?" Ayu repeated. "Is it short for a sports league, like 'National Duels of Action'?"

"Or a type of candy bar?" Futoshi brought up.

"Oh, maybe it's a device like a PDA!" Tatsuya suggested.

"It stands for 'non-disclosure agreement'," Yoko explained patiently. "Imagine two people keep a promise and you're not supposed to tell anyone of its contents for a set period of time. An NDA usually lasts for up to five years."

"FIVE YEARS?!" The kids shouted.

"H-how do you know all this, Yoko-san?" asked Yuzu, piping up for the first time in a long time that day. Maybe this was the start to answering all her new questions.

"Online college course on law," Yoko explained with a shrug. "Had to acquire new skills so I could pay the bills."

"Did Reiji or Yusho think this entire thing was going to take five years to stop?" Gongenzaka exclaimed. "How long was Reiji going to keep quiet?"

"I don't know myself," Yoko admitted. "But knowing him,  he would reveal the truth to the world upon learning Yusho returned to Maiami City in a box. Still, since there was never an agreement that Reiji had to keep quiet, guess what it means?"

"...Lawsuits?" asked Shuzo.

Chapter Text

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Chapter 2 - A Privileged Heart

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The privileged man, whether he be privileged politically or economically, is a man depraved in intellect and heart.

-Mikhail Bakunin

-----

It didn't take long for Yoko to contact a lawyer in regards to her husband's disappearance, Sawatari's involvement in stealing her son's cards, endangering the lives of four children, the false accusations on "Yuya" assaulting Sawatari, and everything else she gathered from Reiji's confession. There was a lot of material to go through. 

Shuzo decided to prepare a lawsuit of his own. He talked with the parents of his students to sue Leo Duel School, Reiji, and Sawatari for the emotional trauma Shuzo was the principal of a dying school, but no way in Hell would he let corporations and the suits get away with their crimes so easily. 

…

"Breaking news," Reporter Takahashi announced early in the morning on the Maiami News Network. "An anonymous tip has uncovered that the CEO of Leo Corp, Reiji Akaba, attempted to frame Yuya Sakaki for an assault on a student from Leo Duel School. Additionally, he allegedly endangered four children in a duel between Yuya and Sylvio Sawatari. Our sources confirm the incident occurred due to a dispute over new Pendulum cards Yuya Sakaki developed himself during his showcase with the former duelist Strong ‘The Sledgehammer’ Ishijima.

“Moreover, it has also been revealed that Reiji is connected to the disappearance of Yusho Sakaki, who vanished prior to his championship match against The Sledgehammer three years ago..."

Reporters swarmed Reiji, trying to further uncover the scoop. While Reiji himself had done interviews before, he at least had Nakajima on hand in case things got rough. Unfortunately, not even Nakajima could stop these relentless info hounds from acquiring more dirt on the teenage CEO.

"Reiji Akaba, why didn't you tell the world what happened to Yusho?"

"You asked a student of your school to steal cards from Yusho's son?!"

“Four children in danger and no one brought them to safety?!”

"What do you mean you sent Yusho into another dimension?” 

“Is your father going to declare war on us?"

"Is this connected to your recent mergers with other duel schools?"

“Why did you frame Yuya for a crime he didn’t commit?”

“Did you repeat this tactic to acquire the other schools?”

The news, along with social media spreading this announcement like wildfire, resulted in You Show Duel School gaining a surge in popularity that it hadn't seen in years. Students saw Yuya in a new light. 

All this time, this boy carried his father’s sins on his shoulders. He’d endured the ridicule of everyone who quickly judged Yusho incorrectly, and saw a coward in a little boy. All Yuya had wanted was to reclaim his family's honor with a smile on his face, and do his best to continue Yusho's dueling philosophy.  As a result, calling Yuya the "son of a coward" wasn't funny anymore...

Nico Smiley lost his trademark grin when he heard the news. He wept through two boxes of tissues. 

In an airport in America, The Sledgehammer silently shook his head in disgust. He’d been such a fool to turn a blind eye when 11-year-old Yuya demanded to fight for his father's honor. What type of a champion duelist lets a child be subjected to laughter and mockery? What was he teaching all of the aspiring duelists who looked up to him? He silently vowed to become stronger so he could really give Yuya a proper duel; it was the least he could do.

But at You Show Duel School, this change felt worrisome.. Shuzo never expected a large influx of students and needed help to shift through everyone's applications. He actively interviewed students for lessons, stressing out over purchases for newer tech. Tech that would take weeks to install and even longer to order. Ayu and Futoshi were ecstatic to reunite with former friends who left for "better" schools, hoping to reconnect and learn about their time apart yet afraid their dueling skills wouldn't measure up. Tatsuya felt nervous at being the newbie, but did his best as a tour guide and answered questions about You Show's vision and future plans. 

Yuzu was the only one who felt like this looked too good to be true.

Were people only interested in learning how to use Pendulum Cards? Was this nothing more than a belated, half-hearted apology? Or worse, were they acting nice now, but would leave You Show when they were in trouble again? After all, Yuya already had a horrible experience with those new kids who only wanted to use Pendulums. Not to see Duel Monsters as a way to spread joy to others. Could this renewed interest in their school all be an act?

When Silvio found out Yuya became “famous” for his determination and courage to smile when things were down, he was furious! It took a bit of coercion on her part, but Yoko obtained the security footage of his and Yuya’s duel. Footage that clearly depicted moments like Sylvio stealing Yuya’s cards and pushing him to the ground. When Yuzu, Ayu, Futoshi and Tatsuya nearly fell to their deaths if Timegazer and Stargazer Magician hadn’t rescued them in time. Oh, and how Sylvio, “Sore Loser,” as the press had started calling him, Sawatari attempted to assault Yuya for defeating him cleanly. 

It didn't take long for Sylvio Sawatari's name, and that of his self-esteem team, to be tarnished.

"This is unacceptable !" A popular, yet controversial, DuelTube creator named V Liscio shouted to the world. "What type of LDS Student steals another duelist's cards, endangers children, and tries to assault the winning duelist when they won fair and square ? There were three other people that could've convinced Sylvio to stop the duel but refused not to? Is Leo Duel School a school that trains duelists or savages? Certainly not students I’d be proud to associate with! If I were you, I'd boycott that school and everything related to Leo Akaba! "

V Liscio wasn't alone. More critics were equally disgusted at Leo Duel School allowing Sylvio to continue his studies after such disrespect. Online petitions demanding Sylvio be expelled and for a thorough investigation into LDS’s business practices circulated quickly. Chairwoman Himika posted a video on Leo Duel School's official website three days after a petition reached 25,000 signatures. The video announced that Sylvio Sawatari and his amazing friends – Mamabe, Ootomo and Kakimoto – were suspended until further notice. 

Many of Sylvio's classmates who despised this prideful, obnoxious prick were glad to not hear his voice for a long, long time. Other students were pulled out by the droves. Parents demanded refunds and sent emails requesting answers. Sylvio's actions had broken the Internet.

But on the bright side, at least he's famous . Or infamous. 

Sylvio had been banned from dueling until he proved to be on his best behavior. If someone caught him dueling anyone while under suspension, he’d be banned for another year. Qualification matches to participate in the Arc Championship Tournament started in a few weeks and Sylvio needed just enough wins for the 50% win ratio to qualify. This was bad. 

And to rub more salt in his wounds, news broke about Yuya and You Show Duel School being compensated with large sums of money in exchange for You Show not suing them. Leo Corp also paid money to the families of Yuzu and the three little stooges caught in the crossfire. Additionally, Leo Corp permitted Yuya to practice his Pendulum Summoning in their facilities to procure data for new Pendulum Cards. Which meant that everything he did for two measly cards was for nothing !

Sylvio ruminated on his negative thoughts as the day ended. He played the good little boy act at school, but he didn’t have to be a good boy over at You Show Duel School. 

Yuya and Yuzu walked out of school together, hand in hand. UGH, how nauseating . Seconds later, Yuya blinked down at the suction cup dart stuck to his nose, more amused and annoyed than hurt. Sylvio and his goons approached them with sick grins on their faces.

"What do you want now ?" Yuzu groaned as Yuya pulled the dart off of his nose and threw it back at Sylvio. 

Sylvio caught it between his fingers before twirling around and posing for an uncaring student base. Show-off. 

Yuzu ignored his antics. "For the last time, Yuya didn't duel you at the warehouse! And because of your lies, you and your cheer-up squad nearly made him lose his father's school!"

"The only reason that your precious Yuya is the center of attention is because he called his mommy to fight his battles for you!" Sylvio exclaimed, poking Yuya's chest hard enough for Yuya to stumble back. "If she wasn't here, I…I…I’d pound you to pieces with my superior Monarchs deck!"

Yuya tilted his head, and raised an eyebrow. 

Yuzu exaggeratedly looked in all directions. “Whataya know, Sawatari, Yoko’s not here now. Still wanna try to pound us to pieces?” 

Sawatari swallowed thickly. "The only reason that you won some shitty lawsuit against Reiji was because you got your mommy to come in and save your ass!” 

Sylvio cackled, regaining his confidence. “Those cards should’ve been mine! And that ridiculous excuse for a school should’ve been turned into a public toilet!” 

SMACK! Yuzu's familiar harisen thwacked him across the face.

"OW! What was that for?!" Sylvio snapped, the fan shape already reddening where Yuzu had smacked him.

"That was a wake up call," Yuzu answered. "Also, turn around."

Sylvio gasped. Yoko Sakaki leered at him, smiling icily. Even more intimidating in her red crop top, and white leather jacket with matching white pants. 

A white limousine parked behind her. The door opened. Out stepped Reiji Akaba, much to everyone’s confusion. Reiji’s gaze remained unreadable despite the dozens of people live-streaming his public appearance. Yuzu was the only observer to notice the bags under his eyes.

"T-there you are, Reiji!" Sylvio exclaimed, pointing to Yuzu. "She assaulted me! Arrest her like you were going to arrest Yuya!"

"He's not doing anything except asking his driver to take all of us on a little drive while we talk things out," Yoko said calmly. She glanced at Mamabe, Ootomo, and Kakimoto backing away. "This includes you three . I finished having a lengthy ZuZuum meeting with your parents. They are disappointed how you all caught a terrible case of bystander syndrome ."

…

A few seconds later, the limo driver drove him, Yuzu, Yoko, Reiji, Sylvio and his goons on a drive across Maiami City. Yoko, Yuzu and Yuya sat on one side, and everyone related to Leo Duel School were at the other.

"Uh, before you ask, this was all his idea!" Sylvio exclaimed, pointing at Reiji. " He told me to lure Yuya to the Central Court and test out the Pendulum monsters! Reiji rewatched the end of Yuya's duel with Sledgehammer like he was binge watching the latest Korean drama!"

As Reiji shot Sylvio a dirty look, Yuzu snickered. Yoko had to admit that Sylvio made a good point. Reiji didn't look like a CEO, with his grey hair, pale skin, and casual attire.

"I know," Yoko said. "I also know that he told you not to attack Yuya after the duel was over."

"W-well, Yuya had it coming!" Mamabe insisted. "Weaklings like him deserved to be crushed by the strong!" 

Yoko gripped her seat so hard she left scratch marks. "By your logic, the four kids stuck on that tower deserved to die? They were so weak that they deserved to be put out of their misery, right?"

"Er..." Mamabe sputtered, trying to take back his statement. Sylvio's other bootlickers couldn't string two thoughts either without making them sound bad. 

Reiji wanted to sink into the limo and never reappear. Yoko’s glare kept him in place.

"Reiji, answer these questions for me. How much would you have paid to borrow my son's cards for a few days?"

Reiji paused, deer in the headlights. "Uh, I was...I could..."

Yoko held two fingers, palm inwards. "How much is a person's life compared to those two cards?"

"They're...just... they're worth…"

Yoko added two more fingers, voice calm after a storm had passed. "Are the lives of four children worth the price of your little scheme? Is the risk of my son losing his dueling license or being labeled as a bully worth the shoddy ambitions and greed of third-rate rich boys with fourth-rate social skills?"

Reiji shook his head and uttered a broken "No."

It all finally clicked for Sylvio. The children screaming and begging for help while he focused more on Yuya stealing his cards… . If Yuya didn't play that Spell Card to take those Magicians back, or if the Magicians were a few seconds too late...

He winced as he envisioned them hitting the floor, heads cracked open, blood mixing with the Solid Vision water. Now he wanted to sink into his chair and never reappear.

"It was...." Ootomo stuttered, mouth dry. "He…Sylvio was so focused on the duel that he didn't notice..."

Yoko interrupted him by pointing a finger at his heart like she was going to shoot him. "Well, what about you? You egged him on! You told him to keep focusing on Yuya and not care about the consequences! Why didn't any of you ask Sylvio to stop? Did you not hear them screaming for help or how they were seconds away from falling to their dooms? Why didn’t you try to help? Or were the three of you blind to the children of butchers, marine biologists, and engineers? Are all of us poor and middle class people the same in your eyes?"

Mamabe and Kakimoto clammed up as the limo made a sharp right turn.

"Why the hell is this coward's son in possession of such rare cards?" Sylvio demanded, throwing a hand towards Yuya. Maybe changing the subject would save him. "Why is he allowed to duel The Sledgehammer when his dueling ratio freaking stinks and he's not even acting like a true champion! A champion should use serious cards, powerful cards, manly cards!"

Yoko breathed deeply, leaving more scratch marks on the leather seats. Yuzu and Yuya kept their eyes on Sylvio. Yuya slipped his goggles over his eyes to cover his tears. There was no way he would cry in front of Reiji. Yuzu grasped the hem of her skirt to restrain herself. Plus, there probably wasn’t enough room to swing her harisen anyway. 

After counting to three, Yoko inhaled then exhaled. Breath leaving her chest like taking a long drag out of a cigarette. "I don't know how or why things turned out this way, it just happened. Nico Smiley chose Yuya to honor the three year 'anniversary' of the legendary duel that would never be. So if you have a problem with the arrangement, bring it up with him. Yuya was acting like his father, the former Champion of Maiami City. Something you could never hope to come even close to in your silly, rich little life. Is that enough for you?"

Sylvio sputtered, struggling to conjure up a witty comeback. 

Instead, he silently observed Yoko snatching a can of beer from the ice bucket in the corner, opening it, drinking the contents down in one gulp, then crushing the empty beer can in her bare hands. The temperature in the limo dropped so fast Sylvio shivered. 

“I've been dealing with a lot of emotions over these past few days. All because the principal of the most powerful Duel School in town would protect you of all idiots despite your wrong-doings. Leo Corp focused more on accusing my son of crimes he didn't commit. My son, all I have left in this world, was going to be arrested! And you didn't care ."

"B-but Yuya did attack me! See?!" Sylvio removed his jacket and shirt to reveal the scar on his shoulder. More like a tiny scrape that would heal in a few days. “This is all the proof you need to show that Yuya is a menace that should be locked up!”

Reiji lowered his face into his hands in disbelief. He should have asked to see Sylvio’s “mortal wound” before making a move. He’d been CEO too long, and hadn’t thought twice about some nobody going to some nowhere school attacking a Leo Duel School student. He’d just defended the student without looking into anything. Normally a situation like this would have been easy to deal with. Yet here they all sat. 

Yoko broke into a hearty laugh at Sylvio proudly displaying his red badge of courage to her. As a former sukeban , she’d tended to knife wounds, bullet grazed shoulders, bleeding foreheads, and broken fingers. She'd seen paper cuts worse than Sylvio's scrape! Reiji, Sylvio and his three musketeers leaned back while Yoko slapped her knee and snorted. Yuzu and Yuya only glared at the scar, in disbelief that this was the wound that started this mess in the first place! 

“Oh, you - you think that’s a terrible wound?!” She laughed so hard tears puddled in her eyes. “That’s too funny !” Yoko sighed, wiping her tears away. 

She smiled to herself. She needed that. It had been some time since she’d laughed that much. 

Yoko calmed down and clapped her hands together. "Sylvio, answer these questions for me with either a ‘Yes’ or a ‘No’. Does my son use Xyz monsters?"

"Uh...no."

"Did this Xyz Yuya wear a pendulum neckchain or not?"

Sylvio looked at the blue crystal dangling over Yuya’s heart. "Uh...I don't think so..."

"So did my son attack you or did he not ?"

"....no?" 

Yoko looked ready to crush Sylvio's skull with another beer can. Instead, the temperature dropped even more. She raised her hands over her face, curled them into fists. Using more of her body to breathe and calm down. No one said a word, afraid that she would sucker punch Sylvio. But she lowered her hands and stared Sylvio straight in the eye.

"You're a very lucky and very privileged boy, Sylvio Sawatari. Your father is a high-ranking official for the city. And despite his work, he's always there for you, willing to protect you if things go wrong because of your bad attitude problems. He'll use his money and reputation to pay for whatever you want. You’re able to put your greedy little hands on the best cards, the best decks ever printed by Leo Corp, while Yuya duels with cards he's had for years. Yuya never had opportunities to learn advanced summoning techniques, or to face The Sledgehammer, but you were granted this special privilege to test Pendulums because you were hand-picked by Reiji in spite of your chicken shit dueling record!”

If she wasn’t sitting in a limo, Yoko would’ve stood up to prove her point. But sitting like a queen on her throne was more than enough to drive the point home.

"You have Reiji Akaba at your corner if things go wrong for you. You can hire the best lawyers to twist the narrative to make you the victim and my son the bad guy. Which is exactly what you tried to do, except this time it’s come back to bite you in the ass. 

“I worked my ass off at two part-time jobs, and got my GED and my Bachelor’s Degree in two years. I made sure my son had a warm home to come back to and food to eat after his father vanished.

“But you, Sylvio Sawatari, want to throw all our hard work away because, for the first time in your little rich-kid life, you didn’t get what you wanted .”

All eyes glued to Yoko with rapt attention. She leaned forward; a menacing lion about to devour her antelope dinner. Green eyes boring into Sylvio like knives. 

She spoke in a whisper, but no one had to strain to hear her. “So tell me, after everything that’s happened, I’m extremely curious to know. Was your pride worth it ?” 

Sylvio sat there in horror, mouth open, trying to speak but only squeaking like a mouse. His three caballeros stunned into silence. Whether it was from Yoko's frank statements, or fearing her wrath, that much was unclear. But none of them dared speak. 

"Mom..." Yuya whispered. He’d seen how hard things had been for her, but he hadn’t realized just how hard she’d been pushing herself. It was hard to hide the tears filling up his goggles, fogging the glass. 

"Reiji put his complete faith in you," Yoko continued, pulling out her phone and showing Sylvio a photo she’d saved. Staring at him in the face was his profile back when he was still a student at Leo Duel School. 

"Apparently, the only reason Reiji required you to duel Yuya and 'borrow' his Magicians was because you were the top student in the Tribute division. He said that learning how to Pendulum Summon monsters to circumvent Tributes would've been a game changer. It would change how duels are played and the strategies involved! You did something fantastic , you know! You were taught how to set the Pendulum Scale thanks to Reiji, while my son had to practice two hundred times before he got it right. And it was all at the expense of poor people's lives! Congratulations !" 

Yoko felt bile rise in her throat. Alcohol and emotions are always a bad combination. The turns made by the limo didn't help either. Yet she smiled proudly and barked in laughing approval as she applauded Sylvio.

A standing ovation. Or a sitting one, technically. They were still in the limo. 

Sylvio sniffled. Eyes watering. But Yoko wasn’t done.

"When Leo Corp produces more and more Pendulum monsters, take them! Use them to prove that you're better than Yuya if you want! Use them to show the entire world that the son of Furio Sawatari will offer up children, and falsely accuse an innocent boy of assault all for a taste of power . Watch as the world bows at your feet while you gorge on cubed watermelons, fatty tuna, and wagyu beef in your mansion and I lose everything to your blind arrogance. If you lose one duel, you can pick yourself up and try again because a single loss isn't the end of the world. If I lose You Show Duel School, Yuya, or any of those kids...it'll be the end of my world. But that’s not your problem, is it?"

Yoko said all she could say. She was empty. 

The limo stopped at its destination. Yoko's head spinning. The driver left his seat and opened the door. The limo parked at the steps of You Show Duel School.

Yoko stepped out of the limo with Yuya and Yuzu silently following her. Yoko held a hand over her chest, heaving heavy breaths as Yuya grasped her shoulder to keep her steady. The limo driver looked at Reiji, who signaled to leave. 

“Mom…” Yuya finally said once the limo was out of sight. “I-I knew you were hurting too, but…I didn’t… I’m so sorry I didn’t see the other stuff! I should’ve been there for you more, and-”

Yuya stopped talking. Yoko had swept him up in a big hug. Yuzu smiled and casually stepped away to give their small family some privacy. 

Yuya let the tears fall. Squeezing his mother tightly. “Mom, please tell me. Tell me everything . You’ve always been there for me. Please let me be here for you.” 

Yoko ran her fingers through her son’s hair. She cried alongside Yuya. “I’m so sorry, Yuya, my beautiful boy. I should’ve told you from the start.” 

The two separated. They sat down on the front steps to talk. 

Yoko cleared her throat. Wiped away a tear with her thumb before telling more of her story. “I've been taking on two types of finances ever since Yusho left. I've gone through hell to borrow money from the bank so you and I weren’t thrown into the streets. I worked and studied hard because I wanted the best for you… I should have shared with you more. Told you all the scary things because I’m sure you’ve had your own scary thoughts too, Yuya. Losing someone is…so hard no matter how you lose them.  

“There are days where I feel like riding my bike and never coming back…but I stay because I have you, Yuya.” Yoko reached for her son's hands, clasping him tightly like the precious child he was. “You need me more than anything. Sometimes I feel like I won’t wake up. Some days, it’s impossible for me to open my eyes. Sometimes…I feel like ending everything . I’m tired. So very tired .”

Yuya had to take one of his hands back to rub at his eyes. “I’ve felt like that too, mom. It is scary. It’s so scary! I… All of our special places just remind me he isn’t here anymore. It made me so mad, like he ruined them somehow. 

“But now… We found out dad is missing in another dimension, not…gone… I’m mad for a whole different reason!”

It was rare for Yuya to be angry. To hear Yuya say that he’s mad at his father was a surprise for Yuzu, given how he idolized Yusho. Worshiped his advice enough to don his makeup and costume, convert his tears and anguish into the merriment of a clown.

“I’m mad at him, but I still believe in dad’s entertainment duels. I still wanted to smile, for his sake, for your sake. Like I could keep dad here with us if I kept smiling…” 

They fell into silence. Sniffling together. Yoko pulled Yuya in for another hug. 

“Let’s promise to share more, yeah?” Yoko whispered. “And let’s agree that we don’t have to smile for each other when everything sucks, okay?” 

All Yuya could do was nod. “O-okay.” 

Yoko pulled away to hold up her pinky finger. Her smile small, but more genuine than Yuya had seen in a long time. “Promise?” 

Yuya smiled a real smile too. He hooked his pinky around hers. “Promise.” 

“WAIT!” 

Yuzu had been so happy to see Yuya and Yoko bonding that she jumped out of her skin at someone’s shout. Her pigtails whipped around with her head to see who it was. Yuzu couldn’t believe her eyes. 

“S…Sawatari?!” 

…

Sylvio didn't know what to say. He felt numb as the limo carried him away from You Show.  

Yoko spoke the truth. He demanded to have his father notice him by being the best duelist in the Tribute Summon division, only for the old man to not even look at him nor his Leo Duel School Tribute Summon Tournament trophy. There were many nights when his father couldn't eat dinner with him, and a maid delivered the usual ‘busy with work’ message.  There were times Sylvio tried socializing with Masumi, Hokuto, and Yaiba. The trio barely even noticed he existed, even though they were all considered top LDS students. 

Worst of all, he’d changed decks so he could destroy some loser who stood against him. He realized the real loser, the real coward, was himself. His insecurities almost ruined the lives of five families. All so he could feel like the big fish in a tiny pond. He hated to admit that's all he'd ever amount to be.

What did he gain from all of this? Was his self-worth tied to how he dueled? Were so many lives worth two stupid cards ? 

Sylvio made a decision right then and there. He could amount to more. No, he would. 

“Stop the car.” 

…

"I...I'm so sorry," Sylvio hiccuped. He threw himself down on the staircase, below where Yuya and Yoko sat. His bow low, keeping his eyes down.  

"I really am sorry...I didn't know what I was thinking, I swear! I was caught up in a power high! I saw those cards and...and yeah, Reiji buttered me up by saying that I was the best duelist around and I like it when a person strokes my ego like that!"

Yuya and Yuzu shared a disbelieving look. Yoko cocked an eyebrow. This apology sounded more and more like an excuse. 

"But I would never ever want to endanger a person’s life," Sylvio went on. "Or four! I...I'm not a monster! I'm not a murderer! I just wanted to prove I'm the best! Tribute Summoning is the weakest form of advanced summoning there is. So when Reiji gave me a chance to be stronger, I felt... recognized and…and…!" 

“If that’s all you want, why not enroll in Leo Duel School's advanced courses?" Yuya suggested. 

Yuzu detected a slight edge in his voice, in how he bared his fangs. 

"You're a student in the best dueling school in Maiami City, if not the entire world. You have more advantages than any of us in You Show will ever have. You have so many cards as well. Like Block Spider ." 

Yuya felt a sudden sorrow in his heart when he uttered the card’s name. As if…as if the soul of that card cried out in agony. Asking why Sylvio tossed them away.

“No one in the advanced courses respects me!” Sylvio insisted. He raised his head. Tears and a hint of snot dripping from his face. “All I’ve ever wanted was to be noticed! For my dad to pay attention to me and the amazing things I do! Why doesn’t he care? Why doesn’t anyone care?!” 

"You want people to respect you?” Yoko had had enough. “How about you put a little respect towards yourself first. You keep using your father's name and money to compensate for the fact that you don't have the ability to love yourself or speak for yourself. People only tolerate you because of your dad, not because you're a great duelist. 

“There will come a point when your father is no longer a politician. When you no longer have that money, and you no longer have Reiji’s protection. You'll have no choice but to learn how to operate in the real world and see that not everyone you meet is someone you're allowed to hurt or extort, or a sycophant whose main job is to kiss your ass or your feet, whichever one gives you greater satisfaction. And what'll be left of Super-Duper Sawatari in the end?"

Yoko looked at Sylvio with smoldering rage, but the rage quickly disappeared. She couldn't help but feel pity for him. He reminded her of the younger girls she took under her wing back when she led the Sirens. Hot-headed, arrogant, believed that they could conquer the world because they didn't need apathetic adults or busy parents to guide them. What they truly needed was emotional support against an unkind world that chewed them and spit them out like used bubble gum to be scraped off the soles of a businessman. 

For all of Sylvio's arrogance and lack of empathy, he wasn't heartless. He was only a child who needed an adult figure to teach him how to be kind.

She pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to Sylvio. Sylvio looked up, wanting to say that it was so embarrassing that he was crying in public. But Yoko shook her head as she wiped the tears away. 

"What a crazy and messed up world we live in. We think that there's only a limited amount of seats at the table, and it's first come, first serve. If you don't grab your slice of pie, you end up stuck with the crumbs. Once upon a time, I thought that's how the world worked. That if society couldn't help us, if boys didn't want us in their little clubs, we girls had to be the stray cats who strut across alleys like they owned the city. 

“But one day, my whole worldview changed because a strong and courageous man showed a bit of kindness towards me. And that man was Yusho Sakaki."

Sylvio blinked. It never crossed his mind how a former biker fell in love with a clow… ringleader like Yusho.

"A rival gang captured one of my girls, and I was forced to come alone to the abandoned arcade. I was ready to fight to the death to bring her to safety. But before any of us could throw hands, Yusho arrived out of nowhere with confetti, flowers, and a charming smile. He defused the fight without even throwing a punch. 

“For me, it was love at first sight. Of course, it took time to let go of my violent ways, to disband the Sirens, and a part of me will always be Shooting Star Yoko. But I'll also be willing to show compassion and kindness for those who need it. Because, as Yusho told me, being kind is the only thing he knows how to do when we don't know what the hell we should be doing." 

Yoko inhaled through her nose before exhaling through her mouth. "So, what I'm trying to say is, maybe we can all have our cake and eat it too if we shared what we have with others instead of stealing it all for ourselves. You can develop into a powerful duelist without having to resort to violent methods. Wouldn't that be nice?"

Sylvio blinked more tears away, puzzled at Yoko’s statement. Why...why would a woman like her show him compassion after everything he’d done? No one at Leo Duel School would hear his side of the story or let him apologize the minute he entered the school. 

Everyone believed Newscaster Takahashi announcing his false accusations and stubborness for all of Maiami City, nay, the entire world , to hear. No one at Maiami Public School wanted to eat lunch with him or duel him. And that wasn't counting the huge chewing out from his father when the news exposed what Sylvio's big mouth had caused for his re-election campaign and how the boy sniveled and groused over a tiny scrape that no one would ever see…

Not like he deserved forgiveness anyhow...

"I feel sorry for your situation. But I can't forgive you unless you and your friends truly put in the effort to be better," Yoko concluded. "That’s why I talked with you and your friends' parents, Reiji, his mother, Shuzo, and the other parents about what you will be doing for the next month."

"You're not...putting me into a juvenile correction center?" Sylvio asked. Even he thought that this was too lenient of a punishment compared to his father vowing he’d ship Sylvio to a military school in Scandinavia. 

"To be honest, that is tempting, but I think a bit of community service will help you build character than if you were forced to dig holes. So Sylvio...for the next 30 days, you are working on cleaning up You Show Duel School to make it the shining beacon in Yusho's Entertainment Style of dueling once more."

Sylvio felt his hands shaking. "You're giving me a light sentence...even though I did so much wrong? Even after I…"

Yoko exhaled. "I was going to make it much harder if you refused to admit your mistakes. This means that you will be responsible for purchasing snacks, dusting, sweeping, etcetera. If Shuzo and I name it, you do it. I want no complaints or else I extend your community service. You Leo Duel School students look down on us solely because we don't have money or opportunities to climb the ladder. Well, taking a walk in our shoes will help you be more appreciative of what you have at home." She turned to Yuya and Yuzu. "Is that okay?"

"Uh, I...guess so?" Yuya said. He didn’t really see how that could possibly be a punishment, but what did he know? You Show would look even better if Sawatari kept his word. 

Yuzu glared at Sylvio, resisting the urge to get some catharsis by whacking him across the face with her harisen a few more times. "I don't like it, but I guess that's fair enough.” She jabbed her fingers menacingly into Sawatari’s personal space. “I will be watching your every move, and I have a means of bringing you back in line."

"And with that," Yoko clapped her hands. "Follow us inside, do whatever Shuzo and I ask of you, and if I hear anything even remotely negative about your time here, that's another day of work added. Understand?"

Sylvio scrambled onto his feet and bowed. "U-understand, Sakaki-san. And...thank you for giving me this second chance."

"And thank you for learning to be a bit vulnerable," Yoko replied, ruffling Sylvio's hair. "Go on, shoo.”

She opened the door, feeling the weight on her shoulders lighter than ever. When she looked back, her heart melted at seeing a soft, yet genuine, smile on Sylvio’s face.

One problem down, several more to go. Like who dueled Sylvio? Why? From what Sylvio recalled, the kid had his hands on an LDS badge and demanded answers in regards to the school. And, oddly enough, how did they look like Yuya? And why did he play Xyz monsters?

This couldn't be the work of a doppelganger…could it? What did that mean for Yoko? Could the different dimensions theory be false? Mirror worlds? Dream worlds? Alternate universes?

She'd laugh at how ridiculous it sounded, but if Yoko hadn’t been living it herself, she would have said it felt like a sci-fi movie.

But first, she needed some food to keep that beer company immediately . Sora should have some leftover cake right?

Or better yet, she'd order pizza. After all, who doesn't like pizza?

With a chuckle, she pulled out her phone and started placing an order. Hopefully no one would mind some extra mayonnaise on top.

Chapter Text

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Chapter 3

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A Talk with Mommy

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“I am sure that if the mothers of various nations could meet, there would be no more wars.” 

—E.M. Forster

----

After three years of keeping his head above water, Yuya felt... free /

His father had always told him to smile, no matter what. His last words to Yuya before he disappeared too.Sure, there were times where he had to stop crying and focus on the task at hand, but there were times when Yuya needed to grieve. Once he admitted his feelings, he felt…right… 

Allowed to be vulnerable, he stopped wearing his mask and socialized more with his classmates. He did act like a clown, but more often than not his antics read as charming versus annoying. 

Reiji had humbly requested to borrow Yuya's Pendulum cards to create new Pendulum archetypes and to support older ones. Yuya knew that Reiji wanted a few D/D Pendulums for his own, but let the matter go. He didn't know anything in regards to designing cards, and Maiami City needed an edge against Professor Akaba's war machinations. 

Truthfully, Reiji’s machinations led him to feel so...disillusioned over everything going on. The oncoming invasion and his father disappearing aside. Others were going to duel using a method he created. Dueling Shuzo helped him accept that the Pendulum revolution would happen. Reiji himself would be seen as the pioneer of Pendulum Action Duels. 

Surprisingly, Sylvio kept his promise to be on his best behavior. Sure, he boasted of his accomplishments, but he made sure to do what was asked of him without complaint. Purchasing snacks, teaching what he knew of Synchro/Xyz/Fusion, assisting Shuzo, even giving some pointers to the kiddos. Even Sylvio’s wingmen slowly broke out of their Sawatari orbit and became who they wanted to be.

Yoko looked online for a therapist to help Yuya sort through his feelings. It would be a bumpy road ahead for mother and son.The money settlement from the Akabas made it that much easier to find the best care for her boy. Kids these days grew up too fast, and Yoko knew that there were dangerous things coming on the horizon. 

A war. 

It broke her heart to know her son would participate. They both knew that he could stay at home and work on being an Entertainment Duelist instead. Ignore the war, and enjoy bringing smiles to everyone’s faces. 

A part of Yoko had to admit that Yuya could make his own choices now. For better or worse.

----

"So, let me clarify," Shuzo said to Nico Smiley. Both in the principal's office of You Show one afternoon. "You want to be Yuya's… manager ?"

"Of course!" Nico explained, as he happily chewed on a chicken salad sandwich. "Yuya has plenty to learn in regards to Pendulum Summoning, and since he needs four more victories to reach that golden win-to-loss ratio, I decided to kill two birds with one stone!"

“And what about The Sledgehammer?” 

“He’s on a personal journey across the United States to hone his dueling skills in order to have a rematch. He sends his dear condolences over Yusho’s…disappearance.” Nico tugged his collar as Yuya glared. 

Yuzu leaned forward. "And what's the catch?" She knew that these types of people would want to take advantage of Yuya. Despite his skill in dueling and performing, he could be gullible.

"Oh, there's no catch," Nico cleared his throat. "I'll also email Madame Yoko so that she knows that I plan to support her son. I've heard how...dangerous a mama bear can be when her cubs are in danger."

"We all have," Shuzo, Yuya and Yuzu agreed.

"So, with that, I'll be glad to see you prosper into a blooming Entertainment Duelist, Yuya Sakaki," Nico said, extending a hand out. "The spotlight is on you, Yuya! Show the audience what you got!"

...

Nico’s proposal lingered in Yuya's mind even after dueling practice ended.  He wanted to discuss it with Sora, but Sora wanted to head home. Whenever Yuya asked Sora to stay at his house, Sora refused. Said that he didn't want to inconvenience Yuya or his mom beyond having pancakes in the morning. With everything going on, especially Gongenzaka deciding to go learn Synchro from Yaiba Kido, this honestly felt like the best time for Yuya to demonstrate what Pendulum could do. Perhaps even use this experience to spring-board into learning about Xyz. worked at long last. 

He and Yuzu ate a convenience store onigiri on a bench to watch the sunset. Both of them silently remembering their secret conversation with Yoko… 

...

"Wait a second, the person who attacked Shingo looked like Yuya but used Xyz summoning?" Yoko asked, handing Yoko and Yuya some instant ramen carbonara with extra bacon, cheese and a raw egg for both of them at the Sakaki dining table.

Yuzu nodded. She’d been avoiding Yuya a bit since then. It just didn’t sit well with her; someone out there looking like Yuya… Were there more?   

Yet she answered Yoko with confidence. "Yeah, that's what it was...The dragon felt similar to Odd-Eyes for some reason, and the way he looked at me...like he stared into the face of someone he knew… Does that mean that this mystery boy is a Yuya from a place where they use Xyz?"

"Reiji mentioned these other dimensions," Yoko said. "There's one that uses Fusion, there's this one using Xyz, so there might be one with Synchro. He's not sure about that one yet."

"How are you okay with all of this?" Yuya asked.

Yoko froze. She looked her son straight in the eye. "I'm not okay, in all honesty. But this is the closest e xplanation for Yusho’s disappearance. It also explains why Reiji wants your cards so much. 

“For now, if there is a copy of you running about the city, I know what I have to do.” 

“Wait, mom,” Yuya gulped. His mother stopped with her hand on the doorknob . "Where are you going?!"

Yoko smirked. "Isn't it obvious? It’s time for a little talk with mummy."

“A talk with mummy?” Yuya blinked at his mother. As far as he knew, she wasn’t making any sense. 

"Yoko, listen…” Yuzu hesitated. But she took a deep breath to muster her courage. “I...I could see it in his eyes. He's just scared and desperate. The way he showed off that Leo Duel School badge shows that he only wants answers to whatever is going on back in his dimension. And his eyes ...they look tired. He's been through a lot, like a never-ending battle."

"...I won't hurt him, Yuzu. I promise." Yoko pulled out a long white leather jacket from the closet. "I want to ask him if he saw Yusho. And why he hasn’t come home yet."

"Mom, wait a second!" Yuya exclaimed. "Maiami City is a huge place. He can be anywhere at this point! He might not even be in the city. Are you seriously going to search for every duelist who uses Xyz and match it to see who uses Ghost Soldiers and an Xyz Dragon?"

"They're called Phantom Knights," Yuzu corrected.

Yoko chuckled. "But that's the thing, I have plenty of eyes and ears who can help me find a cute Yuya look-alike.” She winked.

Yuya’s cheeks flushed pink , nearly choking on his instant ramen carbonara. “Mom!” 

"Yep! All my girls who babysat you while Yusho and I were out!” Yoko grinned. 

Yuzu clapped her hands together. “Aw, and they already know what Yuya looks like!” 

“But wouldn’t they be busy with their own families?” Yuya said quickly. He had to change the subject ASAP! 

“Oh, that’s right,” Yoko snapped her fingers, and put a thoughtful finger to her lips. “I suppose I could always ask them to enroll their kids at You Show as a favor…” 

“ That’d be great for the school!" Yuya’s grin fell, as realization hit him. ‘’Wait, you could’ve done this sooner?!”

“It would’ve felt like cheating,’’ Yoko answered. “ It’s against the Siren code, and I could never take advantage of my girls’ loyalty. The moment I disbanded the Sirens, I vowed to never reunite unless absolutely necessary. We all deserved a chance to have normal lives and to try again.’’

"I guess I understand… ” Yuya clenched his hands into fists. ‘’I want to be able to show the power of Pendulum through my own merits. I created it, and I wanna revolutionize it, just like dad did for Action Duels.”  

Yoko couldn't help but crack a forlorn smile. “Like father, like son…”

---

Yuya needed to be stronger. Same with Yuzu. They had to go beyond just Pendulum and Tribute Summoning. Their dreams of being entertainment duelists would be on hold for a while. Their innocent childhood days over the day Reiji entered Shuzo’s office. 

"Yuya? Anything wrong?"

Yuya blinked, so lost in his thoughts that he’d unwrapped his onigiri  and sat staring at it for at least five minutes. Yuzu's words shook him out of his funk. Good thing she hadn't used the harisen . Yuya finished off his onigiri before he answered Yuzu’s question. "Yuzu...there's a war in another dimension, my dad is out there fighting for his life..." 

He struggled to find the right words. "And there's another me who knows Xyz. I’m sure he had to grow up too fast, using dueling as a weapon...and I don't know anything except Pendulum and lived a happy life without struggle. After what happened with Reiji, and your encounter with Xyz me, I have to do more. Be more. I should be stronger, better , instead of focusing on being some idiot clown who won’t throw a punch!” 

Yuzu slapped him with her harisen. He’d been grateful not to feel its sting far too early.  “You, idiot!” she exclaimed, a trembling hand on her harisen . “It’s not your fault you grew up differently from the other yous! All you can be is yourself, Yuya. That’s more than enough for me, and it’s definitely more than enough for Yoko. 

“If I had to guess, I think that's what Yusho was trying to prevent . He wanted to keep you from going down a dark path, and enjoy your youth for a little bit longer. Everyone deserves to have the chance to actually be a kid.” 

Yuzu’s words stung. Sure his father probably wanted the best for him, but Yusho had left behind a heavy burden. Abandoning his family to take on a mission without considering how long he would be gone? Without backup? Or even a farewell letter?

"But...but there has to be something I can do now!" Yuya insisted as he stared at the pendulum dangling from his neck. It was His prized possession, gifted to him by his father, and all Yuya had left of him. The gem meant to be a reminder for when things looked down, like a pendulum swinging back and forth, Yuya still had the power to make a better choice. 

He grasped the chain and let the pendulum lull him into a light trance. The light bounced off of the crystal, shining in Yuya’s eyes. His face reflected in the faces of the pendulum. That's when it hit him. 

"Wait…” Yuya stopped the pendulum’s movements. “Maybe I can approach Xyz me, and teach each other about Pendulum and XYZ! We can help each other!"

"That's a great idea!" Yuzu gasped. "And I can learn Fusion from Sora!” 

“Fusion? But weren’t you more interested in Xyz?”

“I only wanted to know if it was difficult, not because I personally wanted to learn Xyz. But when I locked eyes with Masumi, I felt powerless. If we dueled,  she would defeat me, tear me down, call me pathetic because my best monster needed two tributes and her only effect was to summon another ‘Melodious’ on the field. Then I remembered how you and Sora dueled and I felt like I wanted to duel like Sora does. If Sora is right about how ‘everyone where he comes from’ uses Fusion summoning, then I want to become just like them.”

Yuzu held Yuya’s hand. Her sapphire eyes practically glowing in the sunset’s light. "I don't want you to go through all of this alone, and I don't want someone to fight my battles either. So...maybe you can teach me how to Pendulum summon too?"

Yuya blushed, smiling sunnily."Yeah, but we need more archetypes! After all, no one wants to play the same Performapals." 

He leaned back in awe. "There's so much potential in Pendulum summoning, so we have plenty of room to experiment! Imagine all the strange new archetypes we can make!"

"I know," Yuzu stood up. "Well then. I better go find Sora and start training! Wish me luck!" 

She leaned close and pecked Yuya’s cheek. Her face red as she ran off, nearly tripping on the sidewalk. Hand to her mouth, screaming internally. 

Yuya's face turned red as a tomato. He touched the spot Yuzu kissed. That same hand on his face all the way back home. Nothing else could surprise him anymore. 

----

"Mom, I'm home!" 

Yuya removed his shoes, briefly noticing three pairs of boots he didn’t recognize. 

Yoko poked her head out of the kitchen with a smile. "You're just in time, Yuya!" she said. 

Yuya could hear the sounds of chopsticks clinking on plates. People who matched the boots must be eating in the kitchen… But who? 

Yuya couldn’t believe his eyes. Out of the two people in the dining room, the one with glaring grey eyes locked eyes with him. Yuya’s mouth dropped open. This face was... his own .

The same face but with lavender hair. Dressed all in black, the complete opposite of the boy sitting beside him dressed in all white. The third other Yuya had blue and yellow hair with crescent moon bangs. Incredibly smiley too, green eyes alight. 

“Mom,” Yuya whirled to his mother. “Please explain before I lose it.”

"Oh, right! Yuya, we have a few house guests. Yin and Yang. Black and White. Yuto and Yugo,” Yoko explained calmly. She walked over to the table sporting more omirice. 

It steamed cozily. The scent wafting enticingly throughout the kitchen.

"...What?" Yuya’s mouth watered.

"Mm-hmm!" Yoko beamed motherly. "Come on, Yuya, all this omirice isn’t gonna eat itself! Dig in, boys!”

The Yuya in black nodded shyly. "Yes, ma'am."

Yuya stared blankly at the boys. Yuto ate politely with his chopsticks. Slow and steady like he wanted to savor his food. Like he hadn’t eaten anything decent in a long time. Yugo stuffed his face with omelet rice, looking like he was in culinary heaven as he practically devoured his food. His face a mess of ketchup and sticky rice.

Yoko firmly squeezed Yuto’s shoulder. "Eat up. You're safe in the Sakaki residence. No one will hurt you while I'm around."

Yuto rubbed away a tear. “Th-thank you!”

Yoko turned to Yugo, licking his plate clean. "Same goes for you, Yugo. Don't be afraid to ask for seconds."

"This is the greatest thing I've ever eaten in my life!" Yugo proclaimed, shoving more rice into his mouth. 

At that, Yuya laughed a little. "That’s mom's omelet rice. You should be here when she makes pancakes in the morning. Just make sure Sora isn't here. He'll suck them all up like a vacuum!"

Yuto paused. The name sounded familiar. "Sora?"

"Yeah, this little kid who keeps following me. He saw me duel Sylvio, and has called me senpai ever since. He uses a Fusion archetype called Frightfur, and loves sweets and candy. Although, I always wondered where he got the money to purchase them…

Yuto frowned, eyebrows furrowed. His fists shaking.

"I want him to share some of those with me!" Yugo cheered. "Does he know a guy who owns a chocolate factory or something?"

"No, but you would think he'd have a deck based on candy and sweets," Yuya chuckled.

"Madolche," Yuto offered thoughtfully. "They're an Xyz archetype. Either that are all toys and dolls with a monarch theme, or small fluffy animals with names based on desserts and pastries. For example, there's an Xyz monster called Queen Tiaramisu that is a play on 'tiara' and 'tiramisu'."

"Tiramisu..." Yugo sighed, imagining the soft, spongy coffee cake. He's never had real coffee. Only instant coffee and hot water.  

Yuto continued, shaking his head with a smile at Yugo’s antics. Glad to share his Xyz know-how. "And there are monsters with names based on waffles, pudding, croissants, pancakes..."

"Pancakes?" That got Yoko's attention. "Hmm, maybe I should try this deck out. Although I’ll make sure not to have Futoshi go near them. S olid vision food isn't real food. Oh, maybe there’ll be an Xyz archetype based on sushi next!"

“Sushi Xyz?” Yuto blinked, considering it. 

Yoko giggled. “It’s a perfect XYZ archetype! You overlay monsters just like sushi!” She stacked one hand on top of the other. “ Nigiri sushi is about stacking fish on top of a block of rice. There’s also a type of sushi where you wrap rice with nori then add the topping on top.”

“Oh…ohhhh!!!” Yuto said, lightbulbs flashing above his head. “Very clever!”  

“Let’s get sushi later!” Yugo cheered.

Yuya took his seat at the table. He cut into his omelet rice, digging in like a family dinner with his mom and older brothers. 

Something clicked for him. "Wait, why are there two other mes here?! Were we separated at birth or something?"

"I'm...not sure of it myself," Yoko answered. "But, in the meantime, I got some juicy details. Along with some juicy hamburger steak and roasted vegetables that finished cooking."

"Oooh ooh ooh, steeaaaaak!" Yugo cried, practically drooling. He's never had steak before. Steaks, lobster, and even watermelon were considered luxury foods by Tops. 

Yoko served the steaks before handing Yuya her tablet. She pointed to four circles. Three circles all different colors: purple, white and black. "Reiji said that our world is composed of four dimensions. Each of these dimensions are based on a specific extra deck summoning technique. I think you can tell which is which by their colors."

Yuya pointed to the fourth circle sporting all three colors. "And that dimension is ours?"

"It's the only dimension capable of utilizing Xyz, Synchro, and Fusion at once," said Yuto. "So we call it the 'Standard' dimension."

"How does this relate to dad?"

Yoko went on in her explanation. “Reiji stumbled into some dimensional tech his father Leo used. It transported him to the Fusion dimension. Reiji learned that his father planned to invade the XYZ dimension.When Reiji returned to standard, he asked some of Leo Corp's best geniuses to help recreate some dimensional tunnel technology. With such technology at his fingertips, he could use them to stop Leo Akaba from invading. 

“But Yusho came in and ruined that plan.

“Reiji wanted Yusho to lead the forces that he would train. By buying out many of the Duel Schools around the world via mergers and acquisitions, Reiji hoped to create soldiers to fight against Leo. However, Yusho didn't want Reiji or anyone else to become a child soldier. Thus he teleported alone to Fusion where he and Leo could talk. If anyone could talk sense into Akaba, it was Yusho. 

“Together, they created the Solid Vision tech that led to the creation of Action Duels a long time ago. They revolutionized the Standard dimension, so perhaps Yusho could bring back the old Leo who wanted to bring joy to their home.

"But that didn't happen, obviously,” Yoko finished. "Yusho landed in the Xyz dimension by mistake, but made the most of it by teaching Yuto and his friends. Their lives changed when the Fusion Dimension, Academia, attacked a few years later."

Yuto’s grey eyes fell. He held his shaking hands in his lap. A difficult subject for him, even though Yoko brought it up this time. Not him. 

Yoko waited until he looked her in the eye. He nodded, and she went back to her tablet.

"They appeared and immediately started destroying everything, turning people into cards and unleashing hell with Ancient Gear monsters. They're so dangerous because they prevent your opponent from using their Spell and Trap Cards during the battle phase. Placing monsters in defense mode won't help either; these monsters inflict piercing damage. Many people died or were carded. Those left alive are at the mercy of these soldiers. Waiting to be hunted down or waste away from disease, despair, or starvation. 

“Yusho confronted the commander of the first wave of Academia soldiers. No one saw him again.”

"Afterwards, Yuto's group, the Resistance, managed to find some Duel Disks used by Academia. They recalibrated the technology and came to us. Their goal was to gather information on Leo and his school. That led Yuto to Yuzu, Yuto dueling Sylvio, and me nearly destroying Reiji for framing you, Yuya.” 

Yuya could only nod. This whole thing still felt utterly crazy. He had proof that other dimensions existed sitting at his dining table! Yet it all felt too far-fetched to be real. 

"I’m sorry for causing you any distress, Yuya," Yuto apologized. "I only wanted answers. Instead, I got you and your family in so much trouble."

Yuya smiled. It's okay, you had no idea it was going to end up like this. I forgive you, so don't beat yourself up anymore."

“Hang on,” Yugo raised his hand, wiping steak sauce off his chin with the other. “Yoko said something about Yuzu and you, Yuto. Why did you follow her?” 

"...Ruri," Yuto said. My friend Ruri Kurosaki is missing. She used an Xyz archetype called 'Lyrilusc' that would let her best monster attack the enemy directly multiple times. She loved singing to keep our spirits up, and the last time someone saw her, a stranger in a black cloak with my face ran off with her. I thought Yuzu was her when I saw her trash talking to Sylvio."

"Hey, that sounds like what happened to my friend Rin!” Yugo gasped. “You said Ruri looks like Yuzu? What does she look like?” 

Yoko tapped a folder on her tablet and handed it to Yugo. His green eyes went wide. “She looks just like Rin!” 

“Now you know how I feel,” Yuto remarked. 

"Yeah, after Rin was kidnapped. I figured out how to get my back to follow them. It brought me here, where I met Yuto. We were seconds away from a duel, but we saw our similar faces. Our monsters kinda like…connected? I think? There was a lot of glowing, but we figured out neither of us kidnapped Rin or Ruri, so we decided to work together.” 

Yuto snorted. "Although my friend, Shun, didn't see eye to eye with Yugo most of the time.”

Yugo pouted, cheeks puffed out as he crossed his arms in annoyance. "It's not my fault that my name sounds similar to Fusion! Yuugo Shokan ...whoever gave me that name had a crappy sense of humor!"

"Nothing could make Shun flip his lid...not until a few hours ago," Yuto chuckled. "You should have seen Shun's reaction when Yoko’s old gang found us."

...

"I still say we should just start carding every Fusion duelist we see," Shun Kurosaki grumbled. "You can't trust these guys! They basically work for Academia!”

He, Yuto and Yugo sat down on the floor of an abandoned arcade. They ate their dinner of instant ramen, bottled water and canned coffee with day-old bread and pastries. Not the best meal, but better than nothing. Better than most of the food Yugo had ever eaten. So many shop owners willing to give away food made Yuto wary. They couldn’t last like this.  

"We need attention, but not that kind of attention," Yuto clarified, staring at the LDS pin. in his hand . 

"Have you been hearing the news lately? That Reiji Akaba’s behind all this? We need to blend in until this scandal dies down, see if we can determine if it’s true.” 

Shun scowled. “I thought Leo Akaba was behind everything. If Reiji’s his son, then what would he have to do with all this?”  

Yugo thought hard about it for a moment. “Maybe Reiji knows something we don’t?” 

“Exactly,” Yuto pointed at him. 

"Sure, let’s blend in with the crowd. As if riding around in a silver motorcycle isn't eye-catching enough," Shun retorted, rolling his eyes. 

“Hey, leave my bike out if it!” Yugo snapped. 

He placed a hand on the controls . The silver streamlined motorcycle, with blue diamond decals and black stripes like a hornet, gleamed in the moonlight. Yugo's pride and joy, made with nothing more than a dream for a better life, three years of saving money, and scavenging. Inspired by a bumblebee that landed on his nose, Yugo and Rin painted the D-Wheel's trademark stripes together.

Yugo broke his chopsticks to shove noodles in his mouth. He didn't care if they were hot or the broth super salty and spicy. In the end, food was food, and he wouldn’t complain. 

Shun sighed. “So what do we do in the meantime?” 

Headlights blinded the trio of boys. No police came soldiering in to arrest them. Instead, numerous women wearing biker helmets, sunglasses, leather jackets, studded collars, bracelets, and leather pants approached them.  

"Is this Akaba's doing?" Shun snarled, standing up, Duel Disk ready. "Because if it is, all I need is three minutes of playtime to wipe the floor with all of you!"

The women chuckled at this little boy's boast before falling silent. Someone approached, one hand in her pocket and a smirk on her face. She lifted her head, revealing a head of blond hair tied up in a messy ponytail, drinking a can of canned coffee in one gulp before she tossed the emptied can to the dark. It could be heard making two ‘clunks.’  

Shun’s stoic gaze never wavered. "Who the hell are you supposed to be?" 

"I go by a lot of names," The woman answered. Her black boots barely made any noise. as she kept her Eyes locked on Shun. "I've been called Queen of the Sirens, Shooting Star Yoko, Loco Yoko...but you can call me Yoko Sakaki, or just Yoko.” 

Shun’s steely gaze burned like a bull seeing red. "Sakaki...Are you related to that coward Yusho?" 

Yoko raised an eyebrow. “And what if I am?” 

"He abandoned us!” Shun snapped, standing his ground. He'd fought off dozens of Obelisk Force soldiers. This woman and her gang couldn't scare him! 

"He was supposed to help us protect our home! But he ran away like the fucking coward he is! Smiles don't make someone your friend, and they definitely don’t stop wars!” 

Yoko stopped to pull something from her pocket. A small lollipop from Sora’s candy stash. Immature, yes, but she never liked cigarettes anyway. She popped the sucker into her mouth. 

Shun saw a flash of white before he was nose to nose with Yoko. Close enough to smell the coffee in her breath. Yoko clenched the stem of the lollipop with her teeth. "So, my husband scampered all the way to Xyz without telling his family goodbye?" 

Shun paled. "Er, yes...but..." The grip on his shirt tightened and another hand grasped his left arm. His Duel Disk…

Yoko leaned forward, bumping foreheads. "Start talking, boy . Try anything funny, and my girls will fuck you up in ways you never imagined. Isn't that right, Sirens?" 

Yuto and Yugo gulped. The Sirens must be all the women behind Yoko activating their duel disks. The three had no idea who exactly they’d be up against, but couldn’t fight off twenty women all at once!  

"As for you ," Yoko shot Shun a wide smile. "I’d like to learn everything about Yusho’s time with you these past three years. Can you please do that for me?” 

Shun hesitated, swallowing. He'd stared death in the face multiple times. Yet he’d take a whole brigade of Academia soldiers over her any night. 

…

For the first time since the Invasion, Yuto laughed. "I couldn't believe it! With one smile, she made Shun look ready to run off like a dog with his tail between his legs!"

Yuya also laughed. "You should've been there when Reiji tried to steal my father's school. He practically pissed his pants!"

"Same with Shun. I've never seen anything like it!” Yoko smiled, her green shirt and mom jeans made her look more like a housewife than a biker queen. "Oh, he and I talked about our feelings like normal people would." 

... 

Yuto and Yugo talked to the Sirens. Many of them mothers who had their share of unruly kids themselves. Ready to give all the hugs in the world. A few complimented Yugo's D-Wheel and gasped at the idea of playing "Card Games on Motorcycles".

Yoko smiled down at Shun. "So, what's this talk of carding every single Fusion duelist in town?” 

"B-b-because you shouldn't trust Fusion. They ruined our lives!” 

Yoko narrowed her eyes. "So if I happened to use Fusion, would you card me? Or my son's friend who wants to learn Fusion to protect herself?” 

Shun wanted to phase into the wall. Yuto constantly telling him not to card people came to bite him in the ass. Would he go through with carding an innocent over Polymerization?

“There's no war with Xyz or anyone yet. Seems to me like you’re trying to start one, though. Maybe it’s time to ask yourself who you’re really angry with; Fusion users? Academia? Yusho? The Akabas? Or yourself?” 

Shun snapped. He pushed Yoko aside and stomped off, kicking a soda can in his path. "Yusho is nothing but a traitor!”

Y oko sighed. This kid so much like herself at that age. No one had been able to convince her to do something she didn’t want to do, and Shun would be no different. “Looks like I’ll be giving him a piece of my mind when I see him again. But for now, would you two like to come home with me?"

“Absolutely NOT!” Shun roared, turning on her like a cornered beast. “They’re not going anywhere, especially not with the likes of you !”

“ Then do you want to fight your way through my girls? By all means, be our guest.” 

“Shun,” Yuto placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Maybe it won’t be so bad?” 

“She’s. A. Sakaki! They’re traitors! Cowards!” 

Again, Yoko sighed. “Ya know, it’ll be lonely and hard fighting out there by yourself. Here…”

“Excuse me?”

Yoko ripped off a small razor taped to her sleeve and held it out to him. “Aside from your Duel Disk, you don’t have anything you can use to defend yourself. All Sirens carry a spare blade in case we need to cut ourselves free. Whether it be ropes or our mortal shells.”

Yugo winced. Thanks to the headlights, he could see small marks on Yoko’s wrist. Cigarette burns?

"Wait a second!" he gasped, just connecting a dot. "How did you find us?” 

"Simple," Yoko shrugged, pointing to the pile of food wrappers on the floor. "Some of the food you purchased was from department stores and bakeries these girls work for. After you left, they texted me, we followed you here, and here we are. I have to admit, they’re right, you do have cute puppy eyes, Yugo."

Yugo blushed heavily, waving away the compliment. Yuto shook his head. 

Shun glared at the razor blade in Yoko’s palm like he wanted it to spontaneously combust. His left arm free, itching to move. It would take barely any effort…

But when he looked up, Yoko’s smile lit up the darkness. Maybe this…wouldn’t be a trap…

...

The toilet flushed loudly. Cutting off conversation. 

Seconds later, the door to the bathroom opened. A new person entered the dining room, with a dark blue jacket accented with red scarf, teal hair and piercing golden eyes.

Yuya blinked up at him. Shun as Yuto said. And his mom terrified him ?! He looked like a ‘90s antihero! 

“I hope you remembered to wash your hands,” Yugo joked.

“Shut up,” Shun grumbled, rolling his eyes. 

Yuya stabbed a cauliflower floret as Shun sat down to his left. Yoko placed a serving of hamburger steak and a pyramid of steamed vegetables in front of Shun. The round ceramic plate warm, the meal ready to be eaten with a fork and knife.

"Eat up, Shun," Yoko added extra broccoli to his plate. She followed it up with a motherly head pat. "You need to eat plenty of vegetables, so you can stay big and strong!"

"Yes ma'am…" Shun picked up the fork and knife so he could cut the hamburger into bite-sized pieces.

Yoko sat on the only empty chair, "Tomorrow afternoon, Yuto, you should apologize to Sylvio. I know you needed answers, and it was chivalrous to protect Yuzu, but you also put my son and husband's school in legal trouble."

"Yes, ma'am," Yuto said. 

Yugo voraciously devoured his food. If he needed scolding, Yoko would have to wait until he finished. The boy sounded like a chainsaw when he ate. 

Yoko picked up her utensils. "But don’t worry, I'll accompany you two. That way Sylvio gets a reminder that he's not allowed to touch any of my kids.

Shun and Yuto silently bobbed their heads and began to savor their first warm meal in months. 

Yuya stared at Yugo tearing away at the steak. “So…Yugo? What's your story?"

Yugo put up a finger. He needed a minute to swallow. 

Yoko dabbed at her mouth with a napkin, her heart heavy. "If you thought our lives were hard Yuya, try living in a land where you have nothing to your name. 

“No parents, no home, treated like garbage. Yugo was an orphan, forced to survive with his friend, Rin. They became duelists and part of a handful of the chosen participants for the Friendship Cup. A rigged tournament that allows a ‘chosen’ poor person to get a once-in-a lifetime-chance to rise in the ranks. You thought Sylvio and Reiji are elitist? Try living in a society with thousands of people like them!"

Yugo practically choked on his next mouthful. “It was rigged?!” 

“Oh honey, I thought you knew. It just seemed obvious from what you told me.” 

"Now it makes sense why anyone who loses is thrown into the Facility! The ‘slave work for the rest of your’ life probably didn’t get to me because I never thought I’d lose," Yugo scratched the back of his head sheepishly. If Rin had been there she definitely would’ve scolded him. 

Yuya stared at him in horror. “That sounds horrible!” 

Yugo nodded, feeling guilty that he was in a nice house and eating something that wasn't instant ramen with boiled eggs for once. “It is. Us Commons are never meant to climb the ladder. No matter how hard we fight, it never goes right. Rin and I wanted to win to unite everyone.” 

He stood up and raised a fork into the air. "And that's what I plan to do when I become King of the Friendship Cup. I want the Tops to share money with the Commons and for everyone to have the chance to better their lives! And no one's gonna stop me from -- "

He yelped when he heard the doorbell ring. Yuya got up and peered through the peephole.

“False alarm, guys!”  He opened the door.

“Hello Yuya.”

"Hey Gong!”

The burly duelist with his steel geta and pompadour gave Yuya a bone-crushing hug. “Good to see ya!” 

"Good to see you too!” Yuya squeaked.

"The man was concerned about the news of your old man. Are you doing o...Who are they?” Gongenzaka released Yuya and pointed at Yugo, Yuto, and Shun at the dinner table with Yoko.

"Um, you might wanna sit down...this is a long story."

Gongenzaka nodded. "The man was suspicious. While walking home, after buying groceries for his father, he saw a female motorcycle gang go by. The lead biker looked an awful lot like Yoko, but so did the kid in black riding behind her!”  

The Superheavy Samurai duelist took a seat. Yoko gave him his own hamburger steak to eat while he listened and absorbed the information from Yoko and Yuya. He rubbed his eyes at the sight of Yuto and Yugo. He was seeing double. Perhaps even triple! 

Despite the shocking revelations, Gongenzaka managed to digest the new information without much trouble. By the time his plate was empty, and Yoko gathered the dishes for the dishwasher, they had finished retelling everyone’s stories. 

Gongenzaka pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is...a lot to take in. But, the man wants part of it. Yusho has a lot to make up for, but the man knows that there are more important things to focus on.”

"Still, I'm not sure if I can fight back..." Yuya clasped his pendulum tightly.  "Dad always taught me that dueling is for smiles and the spirit of competition. Why would anyone want to engage in war with Duel Monsters? It doesn't make sense."

Yoko returned with dessert -- small bowls of matcha ice cream. "Fireworks were once used to bring joy but eventually led to the creation of gunpowder and cannon warfare. People will always try to twist something that should be used to bring joy and warmth into something that unleashes destruction."

"Right..."

Yoko reached out and held Yuya’s hand. "I know that you want to follow your father's philosophy. I know you want to fight with kindness and smiles, but that doesn’t work on everyone. This will be tougher than anything we’ve ever done, but we’re not alone, and I need you to make some tough choices. But you’re a smart kid, Yuya. I trust you to know who deserves the Yusho treatment and who doesn’t.” 

"I thought we'd reach a point where we don't settle everything with a duel. Could you imagine if elections were dealt that way? Or through wrestling matches?"

Yoko chuckled at a mental image of politicians beating each other up with steel chairs and body slams. "In a better world, if we could stop beating each other across the head and talk things out, I’d move us all there. But as it stands, prepare yourself. If these Fusion duelists are like what Yuto and Shun told me, they will card you before you even reach for your Duel Disks. They have no honor, no sportsmanship, and no respect.” 

"But I don't want to card them.”

Yoko gaze dropped to her ice cream. Truthfully, she couldn’t imagine her son giving an eye for an eye. The old her would have gleefully told Yuya to punch a bully in the face. Present day Yoko wanted to tell him to keep smiling because that’s something no one could take away from him. 

"Then don’t. But don't give them sympathy unless they're truly repentant for their crimes. I doubt all of them want to fight. Many are probably afraid of breaking out of the only life they know. They can be reasoned with or made to back down.  

“The true zealots shouldn’t be reasoned with. Or at least, not without beating the truth over their heads with a sledgehammer. Ultimately, it's their choice if they want to change. You can't force them. That doesn't mean we give up choosing light over darkness, just that we pick and choose our battles. We choose when to be kind, and when to be tough.”

Before Yoko had a taste of matcha ice cream, she glanced at her wedding photo hanging on the wall. She adorned in a beautiful white dress that teenage her would never dream of wearing. Yusho wearing a spiffy black tuxedo, his signature top hat missing for once. 

"I hope that Yusho chooses to be the latter wherever the hell he is. Exodia knows he needs to."

Yugo’s tongue touched the roof of his mouth to stop the brain freeze. He shook his head as the numb feeling faded. "Uh, if it's all the same to you, mommy -- Uh, I mean, Yoko, he's not in the Synchro Dimension. If he landed there, I'd have known immediately. He'd stand out."

"He definitely does," Yuto admitted. 

He still recalled that day Yusho started performing in a puff of smoke, juggling balls, turning them into flowers. Everyone cheered him as the flowers multiplied and showered the audience in bright pink petals.

Yuya dropped his spoon. "But…but by process of elimination...that means!" 

A wave of shock and horror washed through the dining room. Even the animals whimpered.

Yoko grit her teeth. "So my husband got his wish after all. It took an invasion, but he eventually ended up in the same shitty place as that Akabastard. Maybe he'll knock some sense into Akaba, too."

"Doubt it," Yuto stated flatly.

Shun agreed. "Even if he magically convinces Akaba to stop, how does he return home? He doesn't have anything to teleport him out of danger. And even if he fought back, it's still one person against an entire school. No, an entire dimension of Fusion."

Yoko drummed her fingernails restlessly on the table. "I feel conflicted, Yuya. Do I stay here, or do I join Reiji’s group to drag Yusho's ass back? My skills are rusty; I don't think I can keep up with you."

Yuya did not want to see his mom turned into a card. "Mom, you need to help Shuzo-san out at the school! And if you're not here, who feeds the pets? Who will keep everything running?" He pointed to the puppies and kitties surrounding them, meowing and whimpering. 

Yugo pulled a kitty to his arms and cuddled them, hearing them purr when he scratched their ears. He never had a pet before! He remembered seeing plenty of cats walk across the alleys of Commons, unafraid of anything, lounging around like they owned the city. He hoped Rin was safe and not forced to scrub floors or serve those Academia assholes like Cinderella. He imagined a fairy godmother arriving to take Rin to a magical ball where he would dance with her and marry her so they could live happily ever after.

Gongenzaka folded his arms. "For the time being, we need to prepare for an invasion. Fusion Yuya is coming for Yuzu next.”

Yuya clutched his heart at the thought of seeing a stranger with his face take Yuzu away from him. He knew she was strong, but she knew nothing in regards to the other Extra Deck methods. He hoped Sora was an excellent teacher. "Yuzu..."

Everyone ate their ice cream in silence. Once there were small green puddles remaining in their bowls, Shun spoke up, arms crossed. 

"So...what do we do? Now that Reiji's dirty tactics are exposed, why would people believe him now? And even if you prepare, Yuto and I have seen firsthand how dangerous Academia is, and we’re not sure what other options there are.”

"Shun is right," Yuto agreed. "Reiji could've been better at explaining things, and we have a head start here, but this dimension isn’t prepared to fight an army.”

"So that means we must work with Reiji. He runs the only company who can mass produce Pendulums," Yoko bent her head forward, her lips curled in disgust. "Ugh. As much as I hate the thought of working alongside him, we’ll need to work together. He can take some cards for study, and have Yuya come over to show them how they work, along with any Spell/Trap support that can be used.” 

"All that money to repair You Show…" Yuya whispered. 

He remembered all of the promotion videos, social media posts, and discounts Shuzo made to drum up business. All those children who only wanted to go to school for the cards, not for Yusho's teachings. All this time Reiji had sat on knowledge of Yusho, ignored Yuya and Yoko’s struggles, and never offered support.

"I wanna see these Action Duels!" Yugo exclaimed, breaking up the melancholic atmosphere. "I've seen them on television displays and there's sooooooo many schools and I wanna do an Action Duel on my D-Wheel and...and..."

Yoko laughed. Yugo's enthusiasm incredibly contagious. It reminded her so much of Yuya. "I'll send you over to You Show Duel School tomorrow as soon as I finish some paperwork." 

She addressed Yuto next. "As for you, I'll write an email and make phone calls, and arrange a meeting between you, Shun, and Reiji. After everything I exposed, he'll believe your invasion story, and help you gather supplies that your Resistance sorely needs."

"Yeah, mom is the best!" Yugo cheered, hugging Yoko.

Yuto looked at his empty ice cream bowl. He blinked away a few tears. It reminded him of those afternoons when he and Ruri ate sea salt ice cream and watched the sunset. Back when things weren't so complicated, when doppelgangers and other dimensions didn’t exist. "But...why do this for us?" 

Yoko playfully shooed Yugo away, rubbing circles into the back of her hand with her thumb. "It's what I do. A mother's touch lingers in everything that she does. And a mother's touch can be the most impactful thing in a child's development. Even when I stepped down as Queen of the Sirens, that protective side of me, the side who wants to help others, can't just stand by doing nothing. I’m not letting any of you go. Besides, if I don't do anything, who will?"

Yuto wrapped his arms around Yoko's waist to hide his tears and wailed. He lost his parents in the Invasion. The last thing he ever said to them was how they'd all go out for dinner after he aced his tests. 

Obelisk Force got to them first. Carded them on their way home from work. Yuto never saw them again. 

But this simple housewife, out of the kindness of her heart, began filling that hole in a way that he never knew it needed filling.

Shun would refuse to admit it, but Yoko's words gave him a spark of hope. They had a warning this time. Maybe things would be different. 

After Yuto pulled away, Yoko went to her tablet to tap the Calendar app. She had a few things marked, most of them shopping days, picking up laundry, etcetera. Yuya took note of the blue colored blocks that read "Tournament" for the month ahead. 

Yoko stood up and looked at these five boys, recalling the days she led her Sirens to battle like a general storming the beaches. "With that out of the way, let’s get ready. I have no doubt that the invaders might try to storm in during the tournament when we're all distracted and stuck in one place. I also have a sinking suspicion that there's something else going on..."

"What do you mean?" asked Yuya.

Yoko frowned at her tablet. "Take it from someone who engaged in plenty of turf wars during her high school days. It wouldn’t surprise me if someone swooped in, pretended to be an Xyz native, and launched a signal for the invasion to strike. The same could happen here at any moment. And there's only one thing we can do."

“Which is?" Yuya didn’t know if he’d like her answer.

Yoko smirked, flashing back to a younger her. When the Sirens waited for the signal to let all hell break loose, baseball bats and pipes ready. 

"Simple, Yuya. We prepare for battle. For massacre …"

Chapter Text

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Chapter 4

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A Month of Changes

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“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

-Barack Obama

-----

Yoko looked back with a smile at the end of the month. Practically everything had changed.

Sylvio and his goons finished their community service, but found they liked You Show and stuck around. Sylvio purchased a Pendulum deck for himself too. 

Yuzu and Gongenzaka finished their personal training. 

Yuya focused on academics. Except for the four trials Nico prepared for him and his weekly therapy sessions. 

Sora plowed through six qualification duels like a hot knife through a cheesecake. 

As Yoko rode her motorcycle to watch the sunset, she felt it. The winds of destiny were about to transform into a monsoon. And as much as one tries to prepare, one never knew how or who would make it through mother nature until after the monsoon passed.  

She stood on the mirror’s edge between mother and queen. Siren and housewife. Shooting Star and Sakaki. 

Yoko signed a contract with Reiji that allowed Leo Corp to produce pendulums. Only in exchange for monetary compensation to You Show. She’d discussed it with Yuya beforehand, and the kid had wholeheartedly agreed. Yoko felt lucky to have such a good kid.

Shuzo cried hot blooded tears when Yoko showed him how much money Reiji would pay. He swiftly paid for a few renovations, new equipment, and a paint job.

Inspired by Yoko’s bravery, Shuzo made it his goal to make You Show the greatest Duel School in Maiami City once more. Not just on looks alone; he wanted to ensure the students who enrolled didn't participate in the war. He told the truth to the kids about Yuya and Yuzu going to war without any sugar coating. Watching them sob their tiny hearts out hurt, but they wiped their tears and vowed to cheer their mentors on. Shuzo rewarded their maturity with a variety of lollipops.

When Sora heard the announcement of “Yuya and Yuzu vs Fusion”, he bit so hard into his own super-sized strawberry lollipop it cracked.

At home, Yuya trained with Yuto and Yugo to master Xyz and Synchro in exchange for teaching them how to use Pendulum monsters. Progress came slowly. Half the time Yuya didn’t even know why a Pendulum effect wouldn’t work. Yugo’s teaching methods focused more on…feelings and strange explosions sounds. Instead of, well… learning … Yuto, on the other hand, a more analytical boy, made XYZ extremely simple. Even with the challenges, sharing their summoning methods and cards felt like a real brotherhood.  

Yuzu still had a few kinks to iron out. Like the time she accidentally used Polymerization without a Fusion monster in the Extra Deck. She grew, bloomed, and cheerfully called Yuya to gush over how she successfully initiated her first Fusion Summon! She squealed in excitement at seeing Aria and Sonata the Melodious Divas fuse into Schuberta the Melodious Maestra. She felt like she could punch the moon!

Although for some odd reason, Yuto and Yugo always observed Yuzu through the shadows. Like they were afraid of approaching her…

Yuya’s stories of Yuto and Yugo always excited Yuzu though. He mastered Xyz and Synchro summoning thanks to them. It made her heart soar to hear Yuya had someone to fill the void Yusho left. 

But more friends meant more people to support him. After one of her lessons, she handed Yuya a spare Polymerization Spell as a challenge. "Try to knock Sora's socks off by creating a Pendulum Fusion!" she suggested with a wink.

A gift from Yuzu?! 

Yuya turned so red, even his ears were the shade of cherry tomatoes!

Yoko sighed. Everyone made progress. But this was all the calm before the storm…

...

First things first; Yuya had to defeat four duelists to get into the tournament. His Road to Victory composed of specially hand-picked duelists by Nico Smiley. Each opponent taught Yuya a lesson about being a true Entertainment Duelist, helped him grow into his own style.

Yoko managed to attend Duels #2 and #3, but looking back, she couldn't believe how she nearly made Yuya lose against Michio Mokota. 

It wasn't her fault, per se. She only wanted to try a brand new recipe Michio posted on his blog! Honest! The perfect way to make a tender tonkatsu with a crispy panko crumb crust along with a garden salad and mashed potatoes. Yum! No one could really blame her…Michio was both an excellent chef but a handsome one as well! It’s no wonder housewives adored him!

"Why can't you make pancakes like usual?" Yuya whined, clutching his stomach. It roared like Performapal Fire Mufflerlion. 

Yoko mixed creamy potatoes in a steel bowl, tossing dried herbs, butter, and pepper as well. 

Yugo, however, didn't care for pancakes. He’d respectfully asked for a rich person dish. 

"Because I want to cook something good enough for all four of you to enjoy," Yoko answered.

Her eyes fell on what she’d come to feel had all become her sons. Shun included. Yuya pouted over the lack of pancakes. She spotted Yugo drooling of eating something so rich. Yuto and Shun sat on the couch going over strategies. 

Everyone present except for a certain pancake lover. Sora…

It was suspicious for him to skip a pancake breakfast, but perhaps Fusion training with Yuzu came first? Maybe they ate at Yuzu and Shuzo’s place. Sora would eat Shuzo’s hot-blooded breakfasts. Yoko trusted him to feed her son any day. He cooked a better spaghetti napolitan than she could.

Now that she thought about it, ever since Yoko told You Show about Yuto, Yugo, and Shun, Sora stopped showing up…

Yuya grumbled as he left the Sakaki residence running on empty, but she didn’t notice. So absorbed with perfecting the recipe, frustrated in how it wasn’t going like Michio instructed. Yoko didn't notice how much time passed until Yugo shouted, "Yuya was right! Can't you just wrap the meat and potatoes in a pancake and consider it done?! I’m starving !"

BINGO!

A hundred lightbulbs turned on in Yoko’s head. All this time she wanted the meal to come out perfect, but she neglected why she wished to cook in the first place. To make Yuya happy .

Realizing how stubborn she was -- like Yusho; no wonder they got along so well! -- she wrapped the breaded pork cutlet and mashed potatoes into a fluffy pancake before she and Yugo rode their motorcycles towards the Cooking Duel School. In another time, she would’ve been one of the housewives in the audience, cheering Michio on. Instead, she watched how her son wobbled over the edge of a giant dinner plate, delirious from hunger.

Bursting through the entrance, with her best throw, Yoko tossed Yuya his new pancake breakfast. 

Yuya caught the large pancake wrapped in a handkerchief and felt its warmth. “D-duel food!!!” he cheered. He shoved the pancake into his mouth and bit down, crumbs covering his face. He gasped at the combination of his mother's fluffy pancakes, creamy potatoes, fatty pork and crunchy breadcrumbs. 

“W…what is this?” Michiyo muttered. “This isn’t how the recipe is supposed to go!”

“It isn’t,” Yoko agreed. “It’s my way of showing my love for my son.” “Food isn’t about being perfect, it’s about giving your heart!” Yugo added. “I’d rather have pancakes than rich food any day of the week!”

Something in Yugo’s words resonated within Yuya. That’s it! He focused so hard on how impossible it was to break Michio’s “perfect” combo, he lost sight of finding an alternative way to break through. There is no such thing as perfect. Not in recipes, not in decks, not even parents.

Finishing his breakfast and wiping the crumbs with the handkerchief, Yuya bounced back, tore through Michio’s Cookpals and emerged from Duel #1 victorious.

Once the duel finished,  Michiyo promised to email Yoko recipes to ensure Yuya had the brain food needed to continue his qualification duels.

"I’m sorry, Yuya. I only wanted to make things perfect," Yoko admitted, as she drove Yuya back to You Show on her motorcycle. 

Yugo accompanied them riding his own D-Wheel. 

"I understand things will be tough from here on out. I wanted to make sure you had some hot meals before you leave."

Yuya hugged his mother tight. "I told you I’m fine with pancakes, mom. I want you to cook something we can eat as a family. Heck, I feel guilty I'm not the one making breakfast for you ."

"Well, if that's what you want...why don’t I bring you, Yugo, Yuto and Shun to the best okonomiyaki restaurant in town. And this time you choose what to top them with?"

"That'd be great, mom!" Yuya exclaimed. 

"Yahoo, okonomiyaki !" Yugo cheered, imagining eating at a high-class restaurant for the first time in his life. "Uh wait...what's that?"

...

Yoko spent the time between Duels 2 and 3, when Yuya dueled a smart ass and a boy-crazy fortune teller, going over her own dueling preparations. Even as Yuya talked about how he defeated Mieru Hochun with a Pendulum-Fusion monster, her thoughts drifted toward previous planning sessions with Yuto and Shun over Trap Card placement without the risk of civilian casualties.

Through text messages and ZuZuum , she and her Sirens prepared for the invasion of Maiami City. With maps of Maiami City pinned to a corkboard, Yoko directed Sirens to patrol and stash backup weapons if they needed to get dirty. Obelisk Force had military training and could fight as a team, but they were only armed with Duel Disks. Take the Duel Disks off them? Easy pickings. 

Obelisk Force would be a military, but none of them knew how to play dirty like a bunch of sukeban could. Yoko almost felt sorry for them, if she didn’t remember they carded the elderly and children as well. It went against the unwritten code all delinquents followed. No elderly, no women, no children.

Reiji wouldn't complain about these unorthodox fighting methods. Nothing scarier than a pack of aggressive mothers who would do anything to protect their kids. He turned a blind-eye when rumors circulated of mothers stomping towards hardware stores to purchase pipes, baseball bats, and chains. No surprise there. 

When Yuya and the other boys fell asleep, Yoko sipped lukewarm coffee and looked through her notes. 

Every archetype and combo had a weakness. If she learned anything from her pancakes and pork cutlet adventure, no such thing as a "perfect" recipe. Threatening Roar skipping the Battle Phase meant Ancient Gears couldn’t attack. If Obelisk Force couldn’t summon the monsters, they were defenseless. Banishing materials, or even the Fusion monster itself, would be the way to go. If the duelist used cards that delivered effect damage or used a monster effect to clear the field. Even a Man-Eating Bug could spell trouble, so long as the duelist didn’t mind a large chunk of their life points. 

If nothing else, a teenager couldn’t outrun a motorcycle. 

"Arm every Siren with Skill Drain. VERY VERY IMPORTANT." 

Yoko underlined "Very very important" three times in red. She added, "Acid Rain to destroy them", "System Down to banish them all", "Cursed Seal of Forbidden Spell to dump Polymerization into the graveyard" , and "Magnetic Mosquito for backup" .

Her Sirens spread word of dark times ahead to members of rival gangs.Word-of-mouth was still the best way for news to spread. The Siren’s children were exactly like their moms. They wanted to fight, kick ass, and make sure nothing could stand in their way. 

It was unfair, and also stupid, for Reiji to exclude everyone not-LDS in his equation. There were plenty of people who wished to partake. in the great war.

In the midst of these plans, paying the bills, cooking, feeding four teens and a menagerie of animals, Yoko had time to watch her son fight off against Gongenzaka. Always friends and rivals, encouraging and challenging one another. That's how dueling should be. Gongenzaka's Synchro vs Yuya's Pendulum and Fusion. Even when Noboru's father tried to stop the duel because Gongenzaka's Synchros went against the 'Superheavy Strong Style', Gongenzaka’s passionate speech on changing with the times moved him. If only they could convince Akaba to stop his wicked ways...

Regardless, Yoko watched Yuya and Gongenzaka shake hands with smiles. The duel ending in Yuya’s favor, but both boys fought their hardest. It didn’t matter who won. 

Only Yuzu didn’t celebrate. Her gaze reserved solely for her bracelet. Brows bundled up like a bow. 

Yoko made a mental note earlier. Now she wrote it down in a different colored pen. Pink for Yuzu. “See if Yuzu is doing okay.” 

---

Yuzu’s fusion lessons went well. Improvement and all that. She hadn’t tried to summon a fusion monster from an empty Extra Deck for weeks. So why did she still feel so…She couldn’t describe it. Muddled, maybe? Like mud folding in on itself in her stomach.

Sora grew more and more temperamental whenever Yuzu mentioned Yuya and his new 'Xyz friends'. To the point he refused sweets!

The more Yuya mentioned Yuto, Yugo and Shun, the more Yuzu wanted to get closer, to comfort them. But they always kept their distance. away from her. It was so annoying ! Did she have cooties or something?!

She also had questions about her bracelet. All she knew was it was in the basket her father found her in fourteen years ago. It never occurred to her to try to remove it, nor was she able to. Every time she wanted to reach out, her arm locked in place. Or she became immobilized until her thoughts drifted elsewhere.

More importantly, she was worried about Sora...

...

At the end of Sora's fifth consecutive victory, Yuzu sensed something in the air. The two left the Ikebana Duel School, Sora tore through the top duelist using Plant Princesse s with his trusty F rightfur Bear.  

Yuzu cleared her throat. "Hey Sora. Let's get something to eat! How about sushi? Or burgers? Ramen?"

"Can it be dessert sushi or dessert burgers or dessert ramen?" Sora asked, opening a matcha-flavored four-piece Kit-Kat bar for himself. His voice lacked emotion. 

“Can't you eat something new for once?” Yuzu suggested softly. 

“Mmm…nope! I love my sweets!”

Sora tossed the wrapper away. 

Yuzu looked at her Duel disk. “Speaking of trying something new, what would you think if I tried a new summoning method? With most of my Melodious monsters at level four, maybe I can practice XYZ like Yuya. What do you think?"

Sora crushed the Kit-Kats in his hand. The change in him startling. It reminded Yuzu of the first time Sora transformed his Fluffal Bear into a Frightfur. Bisecting the pink teddy bear with a pair of scissors, the glowing red eyes underneath a body of stuff and fluff. Even now, she feared for what other Frightfur monsters lay in his Extra Deck. "S-Sora? Hey, are you okay--"

Sora’s hands trembled, his teeth bared like a tiger’s. "You don't need to learn another method, Yuzu. Fusion is enough."

"Sora, I didn’t mean to upset you. It was just a suggestion. Yuya always talks about how he can use XYZ like-"

"Shut up!" Sora snapped. "Yuya-sempai shouldn't be learning XYZ at all! And neither should you! You know what they say, 'Too many cooks spoil the soup!"

“But there's nothing wrong with trying it out, right?"

Sora threw the crushed Kit-Kat in the trash. He looked like a kid forced to eat liver and Brussel sprouts before he could eat his ice cream the way he pouted. 

"As your teacher, I command neither you nor Yuya to use XYZ!" His hand gripped his arm, holding himself back from punching something in frustration. He refused to meet Yuzu’s eyes. "I'm gonna go for a walk, Yuzu."

"Okay..." Yuzu stared after him as Sora walked off. "Uh, do you want me to buy you some food for when you get home? Anything in particular?”

Sora paused, tilting his head. Considering.  

Yuzu mentally prepared to purchase some more candy, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss. In all seriousness, how did Sora not get cavities? "Can you order a bento for me, Yuzu? I've...never had one before."

"Any specific bento?"

"You choose. Back where I’m from…we don’t have lunches like that…” 

"And…where, may I ask, are you from?"

Sora sucked in a breath. “I…I can’t tell you that.” 

He walked off, hands in his pockets.

“Wait, Sora!” Yuzu tried to chase after, but the city streets swallowed him.  

He’d left Yuzu alone. Like he’d played Defusion to quit as her teacher. Severing the budding teacher-student bond, but did he…want that? And why did he disappear? Her question seemed innocent enough, but did his past…hurt him still? 

...

Yuzu sighed as she bit into her watermelon ice cream bar. Savoring the tasty watermelon juice, crunching on the little chocolate balls representing seeds. It’s what Sora would have wanted. Plus, she could enjoy the treat and push back her swirling thoughts for a few minutes.   

"It’s so lonely without Sora," she said aloud, tossing the popsicle stick into the trash. Until she voiced the thought, Yuzu hadn’t realized how much she missed the little candy gremlin.”I wish… I wish I didn't feel so alone. It’s like there’s nobody to talk to about this…” "

Vrooooom

Yuzu jumped at the rev of an engine. She turned around to find a dark red motorcycle piloted by a woman in a white coat with blonde hair.

"Y-Yoko-san?" Yuzu squeaked, face red in shock and blushing at how hot Yoko looked in biker gear. Motherhood had done wonders for Yoko’s looks. Some could say it made her even more gorgeous.

“That’s me!” Yoko chuckled. She flipped her vizor up. “But I’d like to be your ‘nobody’ if that’s all right with you.” 

“My…nobody?” 

“You said you had ‘nobody’ to talk to,” Yoko winked at the girl. She offered a spare helmet. “Hop on, Yuzu. Let me take you to Yuto and his friends.” 

"But…they’ve been avoiding me and-”

“Yuzu.”

“What?” 

“Get on my bike, please.” 

Yoko’s kind words hit Yuzu harder than if she’d been yelled at. Yoko meant she wouldn’t take no for an answer, however gentle. Her signature fierce motherly instincts at work. 

“O-Okay,” Yuzu stammered. She slipped the helmet on and swung herself aboard the bike behind Yoko. 

Yoko sped off like a bullet. Wind whistling past them, it felt like flying. Except Yoko’s bike remained firmly on the ground. Yuzu would have loved the journey except her mind wasn’t clear. 

At least the bike’s roaring engine covered up her silence. Having a conversation with that hot rod blasting in their ears? Forget it. 

So wrapped up in her thoughts, Yuzu didn’t notice for a good minute Yoko had stopped. She blinked up at the neon sign advertising the restaurant: Bento Expo. A bento box specialty restaurant. Why here of all places? 

“Before you go in, Yuzu, I want you to know, I’m here for you too,” Yoko smiled gently down at the young girl.  “Yuya is growing stronger, Gongenzaka is becoming stronger, and you need to be strong too. Not just in dueling, but how you prepare yourself for what lies ahead. You've taken the first step to become a powerful duelist, and that is a big one, but something still feels wrong.”

Yuzu wanted to deny it, Yoko wasn’t her mom after all. But she knew trying to deny a former sukeban leader who already knew something was up probably wasn't the best idea. 

Yoko took the silence as permission to continue. "The only reason they're afraid of you is because you're afraid of yourself and your identity. And the only way to face those fears is to confront them head on. Go to Yuto and Yugo and tell them you‘re not Rin or Ruri. You’re your own person, and no one can take that away from you. That you’re going to protect your loved ones, including them.”  

"That’s only part of it, Yoko-san," Yuzu admitted. "Yeah, I want to tell them all that, but I think it has more to do with Sora and Fusion summoning…” Yoko fell silent. After Yuto, Yugo, and Shun decided to sleep at her house, Sora stopped showing up. Breakfast had become so lively with the three of them happily devouring her pancakes while Yuya complained… But then Sora… stopped coming.

Maybe Sora didn't want to be rude. Yoko already had to cook for four growing boys… But now that she really thought about it; in all this time Sora had been part of the You Show Duel School family, and no one had asked where he came from or where he lived. Not to mention everything in regards to Reiji, the dimensions, Yuto, Yugo, Shun and the upcoming tournament meant everyone was busy with their own problems.

Now that odd phrase Sora said echoed in her head: "Oh, where I come from, practically everyone is capable of Fusion summoning!" 

And when Shuzo and Yuya laughed over the possibility of eating with Sliders, Sora choked…Now it made so much more sense!

Sora must be from the Fusion Dimension! 

It explained why he didn't look like he came from an Action School; the idea of Action Schools sounded foreign to him. Yuya mentioned Sora initially planned to enroll into Leo Duel School before changing his mind. How could he not after witnessing Yuya kick Sylvio's ass so hard Sylvio kissed the moon?

And the reason he chose Leo Duel School? Aside from it being a prestigious school -- the best one in all of Maiami City, as much as she hated to admit it -- he chose it because he recognized the name...

Leo ...

Yoko’s fists clenched. It all led back to that horrible man and his family, didn’t it? She needed to talk to Reiji. Now. Too many coincidences were piling up like dust under a rug.

“Um…Yoko?” Yuzu handed her back the spare helmet. “Thanks for the ride and the talk, but is everything okay?” 

“No, but it will be,” Yoko replied hastily. “Yuzu,” her green eyes sparkled. She loved each and every one of the kids in her life in their own way. Yuzu was no exception. 

“Yuzu, Fusion isn’t something to be ashamed of, neither is your friendship with Sora. If he were truly evil or terrible, he never would have agreed to teach you. He isn’t who we thought, but he’s a kid, just like you. 

“And I know for a fact you didn’t destroy another dimension with your Fusion monsters. Those boys are smart. They see that, they see you’re Yuzu Hiragi, and that means a lot of different things. Good things. Who knows, maybe you’ll end up being the strongest asset we have in this war? I’ll bet Obelisk Force won’t know what hits them when you use their own strategy against them!” 

Yuzu’s cheeks flushed a rosy pink. She giggled at the thought. “Thanks, Yoko.” She clenched her fist, her bracelet shining right below it. “I’ll be the strongest duelist I can be!” 

“Attagirl!” Yoko flashed a thumbs up. “Follow me.” 

She pushed the restaurant door open. Lead the young girl to their table. The boys all looked up at their arrival. "Hey boys, Take care of this lady for me! Mama Yoko is doing an investigation."

"Yes, Mommy!" Yugo declared with a salute. His green eyes narrowed with seriousness.  

Yuzu smacked him across the head with her harisen . 

"Yes queen!" 

Another smack! 

"Ok!"

Yoko chuckled at their antics. She waved on her way out. 

Her smile fell once she passed the door’s threshold. She wasted no time speeding towards Leo Corp. 

…

Yuzu stood there awkwardly. Sure, Yoko was right, but easier said than done!

Yuto gestured to the last empty chair at their table. An invitation to stay! A waitress handed Yuzu a menu and a glass of water with lemon. Yuzu ordered a teriyaki salmon bento with kappa maki. As the waitress left to deliver the order to the chefs, she stared at the three with wide eyes.

"I’ll admit, I don't fully understand what’s going on. The other dimensions and people with my face and Yuya's face...but I want you three to know that because I decided to learn Fusion that doesn't make me the enemy. I don't want to fight you, I want to protect you.."

"It's not that we don't hate you… It’s just..." Yuto averted his gaze. "The idea of Ruri using Fusion isn’t possible. She’d only use it under force or if someone brainwashed her to do so.” 

"Brainwashed? What gave you that idea?"

"Isn't that how it always works?" Yugo remarked. "If a person isn't acting like themselves, it's because the bad guys use their evil hypno-mind control stuff. Or maybe because the bad guy is blackmailing them to do their dirty work by threatening to kill their loved ones. Either one works."

Shun clenched his teeth to resist the urge to not flip the table. Instead, he loudly slurped his miso soup, burning his tongue.

“Um, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it,” Yuzu remarked. “But it’s not like I haven’t noticed you shadowing me across the city, like you’re waiting for something. I’m not Ruri and I’m not Rin, but I'd never do anything to hurt you...or at least, not consciously."

"Those who use Fusion can't be trusted ," Shun stated. " That summoning, even that card “Fusion, Polymerization itself, ruined our lives!"

Yuzu wanted to make a snide remark, but Shun’s steely gaze made her stop. Instead, she lowered her gaze. “What they did was wrong, but don't project your anger onto me or on those who haven't even heard of the dimensional war until just a few weeks ago! I'm sure there are plenty of duelists in this city who'd love to prove that using Fusion isn’t a bad thing. It can be used for good too.” 

She honestly could see Masumi ready to arm herself in battle. Gem-Knights ready to hack and slash at anyone who got in her way. 

Shun rolled his eyes. "You’re so confident. What happens if Sora’s was loyal to Academia? What if he stands in our way and you have to duel him?”  

Yuzu paused. The last conversation she and Sora had was fresh in her mind. Something was wrong . The way his words cut through her like razors embedded in that lollipop he loved to suck on. A trick hiding as a treat.

If Sora did turn out to be the enemy, used her to fulfill some nefarious purpose, would she still call him her mentor? Her friend? Or would she become bitter as Shun; wiping out duelists who played Polymerization with no distinction? 

The waitress returned with a platter of sushi rolls stuffed with cucumbers. Yuzu pushed the plate aside and looked at Shun, imitating Yoko’s steely gaze.  "I'd be mad and hurt. But I would reach out to him, thank him for being my teacher. I know there's a part of Sora who truly does want friends and to eat candy and ice cream cake until his stomach bursts...and I want to be one of his friends! If no one else will do it, let it be me and Yuya who teaches him to smile again. Let it be me who shows kindness to him."

The three were speechless. Well, mostly Yuto and Shun. Yugo was too busy squeeing in joy at his chicken teriyaki bento. 

Yuto took a better look at Yuzu, and saw Ruri in her place. He knew the two girls were different, but he still saw hints of Ruri. Her shoulder-length ebony hair with magenta streaks. Her dress exchanged for something that reminded her she was in a war instead of a walk in the park. The look in her eye that still shined with hope even at the worst of times. Her sparkling, winged, silver bracelet she couldn't part with. 

Yuto stared at her for some time, but he eventually smiled and reached for Yuzu's hand. He waited for her to place her hand in his, and, to his delight, she did. "All right, Yuzu. I trust you."

Yuzu smiled and nodded. "Thank you. That's all I wanted to hear." She leaned towards Shun. "And what about you, Shun? You have so much anger, but why do you look so sad to see me?” 

Shun sighed. “It’s personal.”

“It’s okay, Shun,” Yuto assured him. “We can trust her. We need to be a team.”

“Yuzu…” Shun spoke slowly, seriously. Being vulnerable didn’t come as easily to him. “Every time I look at you…I keep seeing my little sister.” With a frown that looked ready to hide the anguish hidden in his heart, he whispered, "I still see Sora as irredeemable, but, by all means,  prove me wrong."

The waitress returned to interrupt with Yuzu’s bento. It also came with a green salad covered in sesame dressing, and a bowl of miso soup. 

Yuzu picked a kappa maki roll with her chopsticks. “I intend to.”

Yugo  finished eating his potato salad and took a look at Yuzu. Absorbing all the similarities to Rin. 

That smile whenever she ate something that Yugo cooked for her when they pulled a programming all-nighter. The way the afternoon sun made her skin sparkle after a shower. The peace knowing it would always be them against the world...

And now, all of that…gone. 

Yoko was right. Yuzu could become stronger. Could be a leader even. She addressed all the boys with a calm, clear voice that had a lot more confidence in it than Yuzu would ever believe she had in her. "I could never imagine what it's like to live alone without parents, but I know that you're not doing this alone. We're doing this together. Don't charge ahead all by yourself. Lean on the strength of You Show, and victory will be ours."

Yuto grinned at her. “Yeah, together!”

Even Shun’s lip twitched upwards. He gave her a stoic nod of approval. 

Yugo’s sapphire eyes glistened with unshed tears. Rin would say the exact same thing. "R...R...RIN!!!!"

It was a good thing that Shun and Yuto were there to keep Yugo in his seat before Yuzu slapped him across the head with her harisen….Again…

The rest of their meal had a lighter atmosphere. Talking and chatting, back and forth, faster and faster. Like old friends. 

Yuzu let the boys chatter as they ordered dessert. She stared at the restaurant’s neon sign. The neon mascot a dancing, little naruto, or like a milk and strawberry candy…

Candy…Sora…

“Oh, and one more bento, please!” Yuzu blurted out before the waitress could step away. 

“Another?” Yuto frowned. 

Yugo snatched up his chopsticks. “Are you still hungry too?” 

“Nope,” Yuzu smiled cryptically. “This one I’m saving…for a friend…”

Chapter Text

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Chapter 5

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Selfless Like That

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"Do some selfless service for people who are in need. Consider the whole picture, not just our little selves."

- Nina Hagen

----

Yoko expected she'd have to muscle her way into the Leo Corp headquarters. The bored security guard didn’t even look up from his phone. The girl at the reception desk, with her square glasses and stoic face, had a standing order to just let her in if Shooting Star Yoko ever came calling.

Cool, she had a get-in-for-free card.   

The receptionist practically speed-walked, heels clacking, for the elevators. She hit the top floor button and zoomed back to her desk before the doors had even closed.  

The elevator opened to a set of giant red doors. Yoko frowned at the plaque. It still labeled the top floor office as Leo Akaba’s. Even if Reiji had been CEO for three years, there would be no escaping his father’s shadow.  

In some ways, Yoko noted, Reiji felt similar to Yuya. Both of them had successful fathers who ran off to do who knows what, without telling their families what they were doing. Both mother and son had to pick up the pieces and make sense of it all.

The only difference, she bitterly remarked, is the mothers who raised them.

The doors opened. The one opening the door was a man in a suit, dirty blond hair, wearing sunglasses indoors. His nametag identified him as "Nakajima". Judging by the gun in his holste r, Reiji had a personal bodyguard.  

Yoko made sure to keep her eyes on his shaded glare, and Nakajima gave her a nod before closing the door behind her. She, Reiji, Nakajima, and Himika locked in together. 

Yoko briefly looked at the ceiling and inhaled. An office full of that "business, business, business, numbers" stuff that CEOs went through. Shocker. 

She noticed framed Association's and Bachelor's degree in Business by the window. Just to make it an official ‘business’ office. A few trophies from when Reiji dueled in the Arc League Championship. Even a picture of a younger Reiji in a navy blue and sea-green sweater silently holding a trophy.

Just him.

Alone. 

No mother or father.

Nakajima must have taken the photo then.

Reiji’s desk cluttered with a laptop, papers, and even some sketches for new cards. The word "Suship" could be clearly seen, along with images of giant pieces of sushi, and cruise-ship sized blocks of rice like ships at a dock. Huh.

Finally, she locked eyes with Reiji. He’d grown since the photo, but even a teenager was still a child. He looked too small for the armchair , like a 4-year-old suddenly crowned emperor, faced with hiding in a bunker or conducting business with a housewife.

Based on his expression, she knew Reiji would prefer the former. 

Himika broke the silence. "What is it now , Yoko? Did someone else hurt your son's feelings?"

Yoko briefly thought of that Sledgehammer fanboy, Gen Ankokuji, sending a warning that he would turn Yuya into fishpaste. 

Instead, she focused on the task at hand. "No, but I need to tell you something important...I think we have someone from the Fusion dimension masquerading as a citizen of our dimension."

Reiji went pale again. He pushed his glasses up his nose. “How do you know?” 

Yoko pulled out her phone. She showed Reiji and Himika a picture of Yuya being glomped by his apprentice, Sora, a powdered sugar donut in his mouth. "This is the newest student of You Duel School. His name is Sora Shiunin. He uses two types of monsters called 'Fluffals' and 'Edge Imps' that combine to create a Fusion archetype named 'Frightfurs'. I'm sure you saw him saving my son from Sylvio. Tell me Reiji, is there anything...suspicious going on with him?"

Reiji gained his composure and leaned forward, briefly glancing at his laptop. "Now that you mention it, apparently someone is generating a lot of fusion summoning energy. It's happened around five to six times, and we managed to determine it isn’t someone from Leo Duel School or any of the other schools in Maiami City."

" That's around the time of Sora’s tournament qualifying matches. The fact that your machines detect if someone is using Fusion or...wait...have you been tracking duelists who use other summoning methods like Xyz or Synchro?"

Himika and Reiji shared a look. "...Yes?"

Yoko slammed her hands on Reiji’s desk. Pens dropped to the floor. "So did these machines or computers of yours detect when Yuto Xyz summoned in his duel against Sylvio ?"

Reiji gulped, pushed into a corner. "Yes?"

"And yet you still decided to blame my son so you can steal his cards?" Yoko asked without ever raising her voice.

Himika grimaced. Nakajima waited for a command that never came . He wouldn't have gotten far; Yoko kept a spare razor taped to her blouse in case of emergencies. Once a Sukeban, always a Sukeban. 

“Were any of you ever going to tell us the truth?” Yoko hissed. 

Nakajima waited. Just one nod…

“We would’ve explained once Shuzo, er, you agreed to sign some papers,” Himika stepped in hastily. “It was all in the name of charity . Be honest, your husband’s school is decaying. No one is enrolled anymore. No one cares about performing for smiles. We were doing you a…a favor.”

“You’re not. You’re only boosting your ego and gaslighting my son to believe that he deserved to be punished!” Yoko roared. Her finger pointing, rightfully, accusatory.

“You knew! YOU KNEW ! All this time, you knew where my husband went! You knew what would happen with The Sledgehammer! You could’ve stepped in at any moment! But you didn’t !” 

“Yoko – “

“Fuck you, I’m not done! ” Yoko swiftly grabbed Himika’s neatly ironed suit. 

Nakajima moved forward, but Yoko had her razor at his throat. Nakajima’s fingers inches away grabbing his gun. He saw the tears in her eyes. For the first time in years of being Reiji’s bodyguard, he hesitated.

“My son was an emotional wreck thanks to your cowardice. Some days I was afraid to leave him at You Show alone because he could’ve backflipped off the rooftop ! Or if not You Show, then at the school where everyone insulted him. Someone left an empty flower vase at his desk! He wouldn’t return to class for a month, afraid that people really did want him dead!

“You could’ve been a mother this entire time! You could have told your son to get his drama-binging ass off that fine leather seat, march to our school, our home and explain everything. Or better yet, YOU could’ve called me , emailed me . I’ve been stuck at home for the past three years doing all I can to save my son from despair! But all you cared about were all the schools in the world. The only time You Show was in your radar was so you can get your manicured nails on two. Stupid. CARDS ! Cards that I should rip apart right now so no one can use them against my son!

“Why didn’t you tell me? Huh? Or am I still just a stupid little housewife to you?” 

Himika squeaked, mascara running from the few tears she’d let escape. Even after three years of separation from her husband, she hadn’t cried. 

“Mothers care for their children. They love them, but real love means doing the right thing too. If you loved your son so much, you should’ve told him to do what’s right .” 

Yoko clenched her teeth. "From the bottom of my heart, I am disgusted that all of you decided to try to push us in a corner .  

“But…” She snarled as she pushed Himika away and walked back to Reiji, pocketing the razor. “I can put aside my differences with you. This upcoming invasion is more important. If it's half as bad as the horrors in Xyz, we're screwed."

Himika collapsed to her knees, black lines on a clammy face.

Reiji nodded his head. He’d talked plenty about the Xyz Dimension with Yuto and Shun this past week, preparing care packages and packs of dry food. To ensure no one found them suspicious, they, and Yugo, enrolled as exchange students. When people asked why Yuyo and Yugo looked like Yuya, they gave a half-assed explanation about being Yuya's cousins from Canada. 

Yugo was amused that the excuse worked, even though he didn’t know where Canada was. 

Through Yuto and Shun, Leo Duel students were advised to use cards that supported their Xyz summons. Cards which act as Overlay Units. Or "Rank-Up" spells so they didn’t waste extra monsters on the field. 

Hokuto got to see up close and personal the fury of Shun’s Raidraptors. His Constellars never stood a chance.

Yugo acted as half-student and half-teacher. Constantly curious over the new tech and Synchro cards the students used. His skills with Speedroids, and dice roll luck, were nothing to sneeze at. 

An ongoing bet around the LDS Synchro Division teetered on a way to counteract his Clear Wing Synchro Dragon. The closest attempt came from a Fabled duelist shutting Clear Wing’s effect through The Fabled Unicore, but Yugo just destroyed Unicore with Clear Wing’s superior attack strength. 

Even Yaiba’s X-Sabers couldn’t put a dent in those tricky toys.

Yoko looked back at her phone. "I don't know what purpose Sora has here. You Show has nothing of value, and he doesn't want to steal Yuya's cards."

Reiji winced, hearing what Yoko didn’t say. “Does Sora have any other friends besides Yuya?”  

" Well, there’s me, of course…and he's teaching Yuzu...Oh no."

Reiji did not like that look in Yoko's eyes. "What now?"

Yoko shook her head. "Yuto and Yugo, before they met each other, said their friends got kidnapped. Girls whose faces look like Yuzu's! And the kidnapper was a boy who had their face and used Polymerization !"

"So what you're saying is that Sora is being used to..." Reiji didn't finish his sentence. He feverishly typed into his computer.  

---- 

Sora stared out at the horizon and pouted. Yuzu told him about this place; where Yuya went whenever he needed to be alone. A beautiful place, the sea wide and sparkling. He never noticed the sea, or anything really, back at Academia. Too busy with his nose to the grindstone.

He'd never been to a real city before. His entire life outside the orphanage nothing but fighting. Stuck on that stupid piece of land training, dueling, reading books and watching videos about the inferiority of XYZ…

It was so... boring without Yuzu and Yuya.

Yuya and Yuzu. 

The first friends he ever made in his entire life. Who showed him the magic of Action Duels. Who let him be an apprentice and a teacher at the same time. 

Brought to a nice duel school, and allowed to eat sweets till his stomach burst. The kids are nice to hang around too. Always wanting to play with his Fluffals like giant toys. 

Shuzo himself treated Sora as his own son, inviting him over to stay at the Hiragi residence so he didn't catch a cold. 

And in the mornings, he'd invite himself over for Yoko's pancakes!

But all of that was gone. 

Not one, not two, but three Yuyas and a golden-eyed teen with the eyes of a hawk. All eating the pancakes meant for him. So unfair !

He had nothing to do but walk across the streets of Maiami City. Visit the library to go online, surfing the web for rolled ice cream and other sweet recipes. 

Outside of training Yuzu, and maintaining his qualifying six-win-streak, that is. 

He had to keep his cover until a higher-up from Academia told him it was time to… do whatever… 

He couldn't go shopping for anything because he didn't have a lot of money on him. When would a soldier from Academia need money? And there was no way he could appear at Yuya and Yuzu’s homes now that they knew the truth.

Worst of all, Sora did not like how Yuya, and perhaps Yuzu, started hanging out with an Xyz copy of himself. Yuya-senpai would hang out with some Xyz loser over him? Why?!

Even worse, Yoko gushing over Synchro copy hurt more than Sora cared to admit. All because synchro guy had a motorcycle and could duel on it! 

Should Sora suddenly learn how to ride a motorcycle to get her attention?! 

Yoko loved that boy's bike and ate Sora’s pancakes. Stupid Synchro Loser had no right to take what was rightfully his!

Ugh, if this dimension went to hell, could Yoko be spared? Could Yuya and Yuzu and Shuzo and those kiddies be as well? Yoko was a better mom than his own, if he even had a mom. 

Far nicer than those nannies and teachers who would beat him with a whip if he didn't perfect his throws or jumps perfectly. They always threatened to take his secret stash of candy for themselves. 

Sora groaned, grabbing his hair in frustration. "This is so not fair! Mama Yoko was mine first!” 

He crossed his arms over his chest. “And besides, what exactly am I supposed to be scouting for anyhow?"

---- 

Reiji sighed in relief when his computer located Sora on the bridge. Just acting like a normal pouty kid would.

Yoko clicked her teeth. "If we confront Sora with what limited info we have, he'll lie, change the subject, or give a half-truth. Or worse, he'll wipe our minds.” 

Reiji grunted and awkwardly tugged on the collar of his sweater. "I...might have a way for him to expose himself."

Yoko raised an eyebrow. "Continue..."

Reiji cleared his throat. "The tournament. You said that Sora is qualified to participate, correct? If he duels Shun, a native from the Xyz dimension, itmight reveal his true feelings."

It was tempting, but Yoko shook her head. "But it won't truly expose him as a Fusion spy. He can easily say that he just hates XYZ monsters and XYZ duelists. That would be a justified excuse for his antagonism. Truthfully, Shun would be too determined to beat Sora to the ground."

Secretly she didn't want Sora hurt. Probably her maternal side, or her soft-spot for broken children, but she sensed it. Sora wanted a place to call home. Why else come to her house to eat pancakes? A kid who wanted peace...call her a hypocrite, but she knew she could do something to change his mind.

"If all else fails, I’ll talk to him," Yoko said aloud. “Sora doesn't want to do this, that’s what I believe. All of this Academia propaganda is clouding his mind. Many of these students don't understand why they've been enrolled in that school, pressured by adult figures who wish to mold them into tools of war. None of these kids had a normal life, and perhaps never will depending on how indoctrinated your father made them. 

“But if I can save Sora, it’s still something isn't it? If I can help him, who else can I help?"

Reiji paused, seeing something in Yoko's eyes. Determination? Courage? No. Kindness . Empathy . Compassion . Feelings plenty of people would not associate with war. 

"That's incredibly noble of you, Yoko-san. If you were there to knock some sense into Yusho..."

Yoko shook her head, her heart breaking at this uncomfortable truth. "No, even if I was told the truth, rode my motorcycle to stop him as fast as I could, commanded my girls to pin him down, Yusho would have still left. He made the decision to leave so others wouldn't suffer. He's impulsive and selfless like that. Guess that’s where Yuya gets those traits.” 

Reiji sighed, head falling. "But you weren’t wrong about my decisions.  I...I had no one else to give me advice. I felt like I had to plan all of this by myself. No one else was going to have the power or money to confront my father…” 

Yoko noticed the large rings underneath his eyes. Everything he did, it was never malicious. 

Leo and Himika had never been compassionate parents. Their coldness rubbing off a little on their son. 

"I guess it is hard to go to war against your father. You must have felt so much pressure. That no one would ever believe you. A part of me is frustrated at how this all went down, but I decided to stop hating you from this moment on. You never had to do this alone, Reiji. You have allies in Shuzo, Yuya, Yuzu, Gongenzaka, Yuto, Yugo and Shun. If you’re willing to put a bit of faith in us,  can learn to forgive you."

After receiving phone calls from parents asking why this was kept secret, investors selling stocks, threats to pull students out of classes, even The Sledgehammer messaging he was disappointed at Yuya’s treatment, he never thought himself worthy of forgiveness. 

"You're...willing to forgive me? I didn't help when I had the chance. I realized my mistake when I saw dueling The Sledgehammer...but I did nothing. All this time, Yuya coped with my mistake, smiled to hide his pain, all while following in Yusho's footsteps. I couldn't drag him into this mess without having him break down. He didn't have the heart to become a soldier.”

Yoko’s glare could melt steel.

“No offense! I...I didn't want him to break any further ...all the money in the world would never bring back his father. If Yusho died, it would be my fault."

"But Yusho's not dead....or at least, not yet," Yoko reassured him. 

“Excuse me?”

Reiji realized, too late, he didn’t prepare any type of trans-dimensional communication device. All they could do from this side was wait.  

Yoko looked down at the marks on her wrist. Cigarette marks, razor scars. "You know how you develop muscles? Through pain. Through the body repairing muscles and bone density. Pain is constant, you can never escape it no matter how many obstacles you put in its path. All you do is learn to live with it and use it to become stronger.”

Yoko bowed her head, staring at her gold wedding ring. The memories of her engagement with Yusho following a night at the old circus where Yusho grew up flashing in her eyes. 

"I want to be the best mom I can be to you and the other Lancers. I don’t know how to fight in this war or why Leo Akaba is invading the other dimensions. I don’t have time to learn any of these new dueling methods...but I know what it means to be a parent. 

“There's nothing worse than having a loved one go to war. Then being the mother of a child going to battle, knowing this might be the last time you see them. Wondering if you spent enough time with them or will have more time together. I don't want to see my baby boy go to war, and I sure as hell believe you don't want your son to fight this losing battle. Right, Himika?"

Himika wanted to retort…but knew Yoko had a point. The chairwoman of Leo Corp always knew Yoko was a better mother, a better person, than she would ever be. She could've convinced Reiji at any point to help Yuya, but truthfully she saw nothing useful in the boy. 

His dueling record was atrocious, for one thing. How was this son of Yusho going to be molded into a soldier for the Lancer program if his only thoughts were on smiles, smiles, smiles, and not taking the duel seriously ?

If Yoko found out how Himika treated Reira ...then again, someone was eventually going to expose how Himika treated her "daughter"...

Himika made a silent vow to treat Reira better from now on. For all she'd "trained" Reira to be an expert duelist, she didn't want the girl to die or be carded. Every child deserves the chance to be one. 

Yoko could sense the frown on Himika's face. Normally, the Siren in her would note how those frowns would form wrinkles on her face, but the mother in her decided to show sympathy. 

"It's not fair to you either," she whispered. "If my husband suddenly ran away to another dimension to brainwash children for some deluded dream, I'd probably be as bitter as you. Fuck, I'm also bitter my husband ran away and never gave me a full explanation as to why…But I won't stew in that bitterness. 

“We need to prepare for the Invasion of Standard. We need allies; lots of them. Ones we can trust. But...I'm assuming we don't have allies at the ready. Just business partners.”

"I...I don't have anyone prepared," Reiji admitted, hands over his face. "All I have is what I saw all those years ago. So I'm in the dark as to how the Fusion duelists fight. My father's notes were encrypted; I was lucky to discover info on his project before the computer shut down and the teleportation device I used to even enter that dimension was destroyed along with it. Yuto and Shun gave me information on how the soldiers dueled, but I don’t have much time to whip up an anti-Academia force."

"Just leave rallying the peaceful townsfolk to me," Yoko said, pulling out a notepad from her jacket and slamming it onto the desk. "Not only have I been coordinating an attack group with my former Sirens and their children, but I've also been doing extensive research on what would be needed to fight off those Ancient Gears and anything that uses Fusion. 

“Stick with monster effects that hit their lifepoints, or Spells and Traps specifically aimed at Machine-types or Fusion. Cards like Skill Drain, System Down, Acid Rain...gather as many as possible, and place duelists who play those cards on the front line. Give Obelisk Force no breathing room. Pound on them before they can say they're playing Polymerization. As long as Yuto and Shun are your first-person accounts to the tragedies of the war, combined with the eyes and ears of my Sirens, we'll have a pretty good attack force ready by the time the tournament begins."

Himika and Reiji blinked at the notepad. Reiji took it and carefully read Yoko's handwritten notes and arrows with the greatest of care. 

Yoko kept her gaze firm; all of those sleepless nights would be worth it if she could reduce the damage. This wouldn't prevent everyone who fought Academia from being carded, but it would greatly reduce the casualties. At least, that's what she hoped. 

A few minutes passed before Reiji set the notepad down and nodded. "Understood. I'll coordinate this with the teachers this instant. In fact, I'll make this a group project."

"You're still prioritizing your school's reputation while a war is coming?" 

"I’m saying I can make students work as a cohesive unit and advise each other on how to improve their decks against Academia. The Academia soldiers are trained to make a coordinated strike, and to cover each other's weaknesses for years. The duelists in my school have yet to experience this."

Yoko could not believe the freaking audacity of this boy. "And you're still going through with the tournament?"

Reiji paused before bluntly answering, "Yes. I must keep the citizens of Maiami City safe while your...attack force rounds up any and all Academia students for interrogation. Just...don't kill them. For as much as I hate my father, and how he's corrupted hundreds of soldiers, I'm not a monster. I'm not a robot ."

In truth, throughout Yuto and Shun's explanations of Heartland, he kept a poker face so as to not break down screaming or throwing up in the toilet. Once they left, all he could do was cover his face in his hands and cry. Only Nakajima had seen his vast array of emotions over the years, and he hadn’t breathed a word to anyone. 

How could his father approve of such bloodshed? Was he going to be as ruthless as him if he stared straight into the abyss?

"We Sirens have standards ," Yoko said. “We'll beat them up a little, make them beg for their mothers, pull their duel disks away before the boys in blue sacrifice themselves in the name of Academia or Akaba or whoever they pray to, and convince them to spill as much as they can before they go crawling back to Fusion to lick their wounds. 

“Contrary to what you believe, we bikers have a code. We had to if we wanted to survive the chaotic and lawless world they call teenage angst and rebellion." 

She clapped her hands. "And if that's all for this meeting, I’ll head off and prepare dinner for my kids. Keep me posted, okay?"

"I will," Reiji promised, realizing he meant it for once. 

Yoko nodded her head at Nakajima who opened the door for her. 

"And Yoko-san?"

"Hmm?" Yoko turned around, noticing how thin Reiji looked for the first time. How small he felt in her presence. 

Reiji swallowed. "I want to say...Yoko-san...thank you."

Yoko blinked. "For what?"

As if there was a weight being lifted off his chest, Reiji’s lips curled up and his eyes actually had a touch of light in them. "... everything ."

Yoko stared at Reiji for a moment.  She smiled back and let Nakajima close the door behind her.  

In the elevator, she wiped the tears out of her eyes.

---- 

Yoko decided everyone would have ramen for dinner after such a successful meeting. 

Yugo practically sobbed with joy in slurping real ramen for the first time, and not having to deal with the instant stuff with boiled egg in a rice cooker. Everyone at the table knew this would be the last chance they'd have to eat traditional ramen. They savored each and every drop like a prisoner enjoying their last meal before their execution. Basking in the silence. 

By the time she showered and fell into bed hours later, Yoko reeled over everything. She thought being a single mother was tough work, trying to be the voice of reason to a teen CEO ready to send her son to war? More than enough to make her blood pressure rise!

“My son is going to war…” She whispered into her pillow. 

That sentence sounded wrong . Her baby boy going to war . No one forced him to go. No one dragged him into an army recruitment center, gave him a gun, and told him to point it at the first thing that moved. 

He chose to enter the battlefield himself. To protect those he loved and perhaps find answers to what happened to Yusho. 

As much as she wanted him safe and sound, she knew this was his choice. No longer a boy; a man . A man she could be proud of. 

Yoko’s work as a mother would never be done. 

While Reiji's Lancers assembled for their crusade, Leo Duel Schools around the world had begun deep training to combat the Fusion soldiers. 

She had her duties to attend to. She would keep the house in shape, the plants watered, You Show running. There would always be clothes to wash and iron and fold. Stomachs to be fed, animal or otherwise.

Speaking of which...

Yoko sat up. She knew what she had to do. If she couldn't come to Sora, she would make Sora come to her .

And all it would take to have him spill the jelly beans was a special plate of her famous pancakes…

Chapter Text

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Chapter 5

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A Hundred Roles

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"Motherhood has relaxed me in many ways. You learn to deal with crisis. I’ve become a juggler, I suppose. It’s all a big circus, and nobody who knows me believes I can manage, but sometimes I do.”

—Jane Seymour

----

The next morning, once she had the house to herself, Yoko prepared a batch of fluffy, jiggly pancakes. 

Not just any pancakes. No, this was a stack of the most irresistible pancakes ever . Ones a true sweet tooth couldn't ignore. 

Someone with cyan hair and a blue jacket waited outside her kitchen window. The boy had crouched down to hide, but his ponytail stuck up too high. He never wavered, like he’d found the perfect place to perch and smell Yoko’s cooking. 

Had Sora been outside this entire time? Looking at her serving pancakes to four boys while he stood outside in the cold? Unsure how to ask for another warm, home-cooked meal? 

Great. Yoko couldn't erase the image of Sora as The Little Match Girl out of her head.

"Oh, I'm so happy my baby boy qualified for the Arc Championship tournament that I done goofed and made extra pancakes!" Yoko said out loud. "But who could I share them with? I can't possibly eat these on my own! And chocolate is not good for cats or dogs, so they're out of the picture!"

When there was no response, not even from the Sakaki pets, Yoko loudly cleared her throat. 

"I can’t let these extra pancakes go to waste, now can I? Extra pancakes with chocolate chips and chocolate syrup and strawberries and whipped cream… Oh, if only I had someone to share them with! Someone with a ginormous sweet tooth!"

It took all of Sora's willpower not to jump through the window and snatch a pancake. . Academia didn't prepare him for things like needing money and keeping his cover!

Yoko sighed loudly as she slid the cooked pancake onto a plate of three others. All of them covered in large chocolate chips like craters on the moon. She lifted the saucepan off the stove and drizzled the pancakes with her homemade chocolate sauce. 

Speaking of which, Michiyo posted a new recipe of chocolate sauce with chili to use with chicken. She couldn't wait to try it out tonight; the looks on everyone's face would be something to frame on the refrigerator door.

"And once this is done, I'll bake a delicious apple pie with vanilla custard for my baby boy, " Yoko sang. "A giant pie topped with ice cream. One that will need all of his friends to finish!"

She could almost hear Sora struggling with whether he wanted to expose himself or not. The sweat on his brow. The clenched muscles. Sora bit down on his fist. She knew his weakness all too well! 

Yoko opened the window and set the pancakes to cool by the windowsill. She sighed dramatically.. "I should let these pancakes cool down before I eat them up! And then there’s the pie… Oh! I’ll stop by the store and get some candy for all the students at You Show!” 

Sora's legs moved of their own accord. Willpower fading...

Yoko turned her back for a few seconds to go to the refrigerator. Her ears straining to hear someone swiping the top pancake off the stack in the time it took her to grab the milk and close the door. 

When she turned around, she saw Sora sat at the dining table, stuffing his face, looking like a kid caught with their hand In the cookie jar. His mouth covered in chocolate syrup and whipped cream and his peridot eyes wide. She’d trapped him. 

Yoko couldn't hide the smirk on her face. Her little blue squirrel caught in a pile of stolen acorns. "There you are..."

Sora gulped, eyes darting around for his escape route.

“I wouldn’t try to run off with food in your mouth.  It’s not a good habit," Yoko commented. 

She’d seen Sora calculating an escape. She saw everything. 

“Yuya nearly choked to death while running late to school with a pancake in his mouth once,” Yoko plunked a glass down on the table with a smile. She poured a glass of milk and slid it across the table like a bartender. "“Why don’t we talk? About everything ."

Sora meekly nodded his head as he washed down his pancakes with the milk. 

Yoko took the time to pull up a chair and sit across from him, leaning forward. "You're not from around here, are you? More specifically, you're not from this dimension , right?"

Sora set the empty glass on the table, a thin line of milk on his upper lip. "D-dimension? That's ridiculous! I told Yuya-sempai I wasn't around here, but I meant from another city! Like...like..."

Yoko’s green-eyed glare didn’t budge. "Lying won't get you anywhere, Sora. I'm sure you remember what happened to Reiji and his mother when I found out what they hid from me.” 

"So...you know? And let me guess, you're gonna side with those Xyz losers instead of me?!"

Yoko’s glare made Sora flinch. "Sora, if I was from that dimension and used Xyz, would you hate me? Would you come to my home to eat pancakes? Or would you card me while the stove was on and let my house burn down? Or worse, would you have your bear kill me?"

Sora looked at Yoko, like she’d spat in his face. He couldn't tell her the truth...if he did, she would hate him! 

He couldn’t be sent back to Academia! There were rumors of unruly students sent to Doktor. The maniacal loon did something with their brains to turn them into robots. Usually for chores or defeating their opponents without a shred of guilt.

Or worse, maybe Sora would be forced in a survival duel against the dreaded Battle Beast. He could rip and tear an arm out of a person's socket with his teeth alone! And if not Battle Beast, Colonel Sanders would want to whip the boy into shape...literally!

But the worst punishment of them all was being made a spectacle of by Akaba's right-hand. A boy with pink eyes and purple hair, dressed like a commander on the battlefield with a scarlet cape. A boy who remained undefeated, with a dragon who didn't care what you tried. For it would devour these monsters as the main course, and the loser as an after-dinner mint. A boy who had a similar face as Yuya...

Yuri .

At first, every time Sora saw Yuya, he had to remind himself this wasn't Yuri. Yuya was kind and goofy, like fireworks. Brilliant, flashy and all smiles. Yuya had friends and grinning faces around him. The gentle flame who banished the darkness. 

Yuri was the complete antithesis of Yuya. Ruthless aggression, cruel, and sadistic. If he wanted someone to suffer, he'd put his focus on drawing out the pain until his victim choked on it. 

Once Yuri had you in his sights, you had two choices. 

One, the duelist could accept their punishment with dignity. Or two, Yuri could enjoy watching the duelist squirm in a match before stomping them into paste.

Sora would rather eat natto topped fried shrimp than deal with Yuri, or to confess the truth to Yoko. 

But...he couldn’t lie to Yoko anymore. How could he lie to the first person who he saw as his mother? Who took him in and made sure he was well fed and loved?

Sora waited for Yoko to hand him another glass of milk before speaking. He poured it down, taking three loud gulps before setting the empty glass on the table. 

"You're right..." he admitted, sporting an undignified milk mustache. "I'm not from this dimension. I'm...I'm a spy from the Fusion dimension, sent to scout out the situation for an...an invasion ..." 

Yoko said nothing. But her eyes, her coiled body. Like a predator ready to strike. 

"But I'm not like all those soldiers. I don’t want to card people like them! It’s not a game to me, like it is for them!”

A game. Yoko wanted to find the Asshole Force and have them fight to the death.

“I love being here! I love your pancakes. I love having friends in Yuya and Yuzu and even Gongenzaka. I love Shuzo-san's silliness, and Ayu and Futoshi and Tatsuya's eagerness to learn Fusion. I love not having to do military drills, or punishments, or being afraid all the time, or torn apart by violent beasts. And best of all, I love being with you."

Yoko leaned back. Hands frozen in a pose like a lunging bear. "Sora..."

Sora gulped, gripping his pants. Ready to hurl all over the clean kitchen floor and onto the pets. "I was meant to infiltrate Leo Duel School under strict orders by my superiors. But when I saw Yuya duel against Sylvio with those Pendulums and magicians, treating the battle like some grand show in a circus...it was amazing . I never saw dueling like a performance! 

“I was taught it was meant to be a weapon. A tool for hurting others. A tool of destruction . You either won or you died. There's no inbetween, no other path to walk on."

"What do you mean?" asked Yoko. A cold trickle dripped down her spine.  "Sora, what else do you know? What's Akaba planning? And who is this Fusion version of Yuya? Is he going to kidnap Yuzu? Why does he want to kidnap Yuzu? What's so important about her?'

Sora shook his head. "I can't reveal anymore...because...because..." 

"Why not?"

“First, it’s because I don't know why Yuzu and the other girls are being kidnapped. I was only told to do recon of the city and report my findings. I never mentioned Yuzu or Yuya in any of my reports. I promise!” 

Sora wordlessly lifted his left arm, where his Duel Disk was. “And second…”

Yoko could see a light blinking on the disk. A bomb? Was he a suicide bomber?! Before she could duck for cover, Sora shook his head. A tear trickling down his face as he wiped them and the milk mustache away with his sleeve. 

"Good bye, Yoko-san..." he said, waving weakly. 

Yoko, while relieved, let a few tears fall. Yuto had mentioned a while ago they’d discovered Fusion duel disks had all been equipped with dimension traveling technology. 

Sora's Duel Disk had something similar in case he talked too much. 

Just as the light engulfed him, Yoko wrapped her arms around him, patting his head. "Sora, no matter what happens next, whether you become an ally or an enemy, I want you to know you're always welcome in my home. Always . You are a part of the Sakaki family. “

Tears trickled down Sora’s face. He didn’t want to say goodbye. He still had so much to do! To say! 

I don’t wanna go, I don’t wanna go! I DON’T WANNA GO!!!!

The kitchen, no, the entire Sakaki residence became bone-chilling quiet. Only the whines and whimpers of the Sakaki pets broke the silence.

Outside, it looked like rain. The sky weeping. Yoko dropped to her knees, collapsed onto the kitchen floor, doing her best not to cry. Heart shattered like she’d lost her child, just like she’d lost her husband. But this time hurt more; she’d seen her loved one disappear right in front of her… 

En approach her and licked her cheek with a whimper. She choked as she held the corgi close. She buried her face into his fur, doing her best not to scream.

"Sora, please answer me...Did I do enough to save you?" she asked. "To make you smile? To make you turn from your dark path?"

She hoped her kindness, as small as it was compared to the years Sora was born and raised in Fusion, was just right. Like Goldilocks. Was that how Sora felt? Looking for a chair to sit, food to eat, a bed to sleep in? All of it "just right" for a boy like him? Or was this Hansel and Gretel , and he wanted to devour a house of sweets and candies before the witch turned him into a meat pie? Did a part of him think she would throw him into the oven to bake like a gingerbread man?

Ugh, Sora's influence made her think in sweet-related fairy tales. Sora had to go through a detox program next time she saw him...if she ever saw him again.

A thought appeared in Yoko’s head...if this war ended a few months from now and Akaba was arrested, what would become of Sora? Since he had a surname, he must have parents. Would his parents accept him or reject him? And if it was the latter, where would he go? Or worse, what if he was an orphan?

Questions bombarded her mind as she ate the last of the pancakes. Didn’t even mind the chocolate puddle left on the plate. Every bite like ashes on her tongue. Her sorrow numbed her taste buds. 

Her mood didn’t improve after completing the chores around the house. She sat on the couch, blankly staring at the television when Yuya came home hours later.

"Mom, what's going on?" Yuya asked, seeing his mother in the living room, solemn and withdrawn. The television turned off. Knees pressed to her chest. "Did you...talk to Sora?"

"For a minute or so, yes," Yoko answered flatly, drawing her knees further into herself..

Yuya sat next to his mom. "Where did he go? Is he with Yuzu? Is he coming back with some snacks? Is he -- "

"He went back to where he came from -- his original dimension,” Yoko interrupted. “His duel disk teleported him back..."

“...Oh.’’

Neither Sakaki said a word for what felt like a long time. Yoko broke the silence with clear hesitation in her voice. "Yuya...be honest. Was I...was I a good mom to him?"

Yuya nodded his head immediately. "You're the best mom! You treated him like your own son."

Yoko smiled. Despite his love of performing, Yuya was honest to a fault. "Thank you, Yuya."

Yuya looked down at his pendulum, lightly grasped the chain and pulled it away from him. He let the teal pendulum swing from side to side, locked on the crystal…Cocooned by the silver wings. 

"Maybe Sora will meet my dad…” 

Yoko chuckled, trying to imagine Sora bumping into Yusho and exchanging stories. Sneak into their house for a breakfast of pancakes…

"That's a nice thought, we can only hope. But in the meantime, if Sora is back 'home,’ Akaba will find out what he's uncovered. He'll make sure to deploy those soldiers sooner than later. Sora said he didn't know why Yuzu’s so important, but once Akaba discovers her, he'll send his hunting dog.”

Yuya snarled under his breath; he wasn't going to let anyone take Yuzu! Ever !

Yoko shook her head. "I doubt your Fusion self will be easily swayed to walk away from the dark side like Sora. But...I still want to reach out to him."

"Mom, are you crazy? What if you get injured? Or...or carded?! Or worse! I've never seen you duel before, but if your deck is like dad's or The Sledgehammer's...will it stop those Fusion monsters?"

Yoko knew that possibility could happen. Yuto and Shun told her no one was spared. Man, woman, child, elderly, infant, disabled...if they hailed from the Xyz dimension, they were carded. Obelisk Force had no honor. Thugs in uniform. 

But she could take care of them. She wasn't Queen of the Sirens for nothing.

"Well, I can always say I didn't run away. Plus my injuries will be all the motivation you need to stop this madness." Yoko chuckled.

Yuya wanted to hit his mom with Yuzu's harisen . Or worse, slap her across the face. "Mom, that’s not funny. Don't ever treat yourself as expendable! I...I can't use you as motivation for vengeance..."

Yoko squeezed her son's shoulders tight, gripping his shirt and imagining herself three years ago. Back when she felt broken from losing Yusho. Ridiculed for trying to do something impossible, preventing her baby boy from running away to fight The Sledgehammer. But they’d be separated in such a short time. 

Yuya had become so grown up. How had she missed it? 

"Yuya, listen to me carefully," Yoko whispered, holding Yuya at arms length. "Moms are supposed to care for their children and play a hundred roles in one lifetime. 

“Did you know, to the Aztecs, you go to a warrior's heaven should you die in battle or childbirth? Even in present day, the principle still sticks. A mother fights every day when she's pregnant to protect the child, fights to bring them into the world and to hold them in her arms, raises them to be strong and proud and kind until her last breath. She watches over them even after they've left the nest, and openly embraces new additions to the family. 

“You wanna know why? Because a mother should be everything to a child. A protector, a friend, a shoulder to cry on, a fighter, a hero. And if I go down, I'm not going down without a fight. I can die with a smile on my face, because I know you'll continue in my stead. My shooting star..."

Yuya hugged his mother. Even so grown up, he still needed his mom every now and then. He hiccuped, unashamed of his tears. 

Yoko nodded, the tears fell as it started to drizzle outside.

No turning back now. The line had been drawn. 

Like the Sirens initiation rituals. She would look them straight in the eye, grab a stick, and draw a line in the dirt before tapping it.

"Here's the line and here are your choices. You can either cross it and join the Sirens, or you can stay as you are and we'll make sure to never bother you again. It's your decision in the end. But know this, once you take this step forward, there’s no going back.” 

Sora going back to Academia was the proverbial line in the sand. And she knew both she and Yuya were going to step over it, hand in hand, without regrets.

The two hugged it out for a few minutes. That is until the cats leapt onto their laps for some chin scratches. 

Yoko sighed, a much different sigh than the overly exaggerated kind she had used to lure Sora back home. "The tournament is coming soon. You know they'll come soon enough."

"I know, but..."

"I talked about this with Reiji. The tournament is the perfect time for Academia to slip in, cause a ruckus and kidnap Yuzu amidst the carding and the stampeding audience. So keep a close eye on her. And don't even try to humor your Fusion counterpart at all with Yusho's usual theatrics. Or else the next time I see you, you'll be in their hands. Literally." 

Yoko placed a hand over Yuya's goggles and a finger over his pendulum. Even to this day, she didn't remember why Yusho even gifted Yuya the pendulum. But so long as Yuya wore it, it was as if Yusho never left them. "And remember, even in another dimension, you have your father's determination and your mother's spirit. Never forget."

Yuya clutched his goggles, particularly the lens with the star on it. They used to be an old pair of Yoko’s, given to him on his 13th birthday. He  painted the star to give it extra flare, with Yoko’s permission, of course. "So you planning on handing me a present before I leave?"

Yoko smiled. "Well, I was going to save it for your fifteenth birthday, but given how you might not even make it to fifteen..."

"...Is it pancakes?" Yuya joked.

" Much better than pancakes," Yoko vowed. " I'll give it to you on the day you head off to war. Until then, go out there and break a leg...but not the legs of your opponent."

Yuya nodded. "I will. And go crack some skulls while I'm on stage."

Yoko chuckled. "You always say the perfect thing to make me smile."

“It’s what I do!” Yuya bowed theatrically. 

Yoko kissed Yuya's forehead and bumped their foreheads together. "And so long as you're happy, I’ll be happy I've done mine."

Yuya nodded. The two held each other for another half hour. Soaking in the silence and love a mother and son could provide one another. 

When Yuto, Yugo and Shun arrived home, Yoko ordered pizza and decided to play some movies to chase the blues away.

Needless to say, she'd never forget the look of sadness and awe in Yugo's eyes when he heard Julie Andrews singing to feed the birds, tuppence a bag…

Chapter Text

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Chapter 7

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Howl of Rage

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The fiercest anger of all, the most incurable, Is that which rages in the place of dearest love.

----

At long last, it was time for the Arc League tournament.

Yoko would be lying if she said this week hadn't been stressful. She could recall two other times she’d been this stressed out. When she found Yuya at the Sakaki doorstep, unsure if she could raise a child. And the time she picked a fight with some son of a bitch named Trudge. He’d challenged her to a weird fight where she stabbed money on the back of her hand with a knife. She nearly lost her middle finger! 

The students of You Show Duel School had improved so much. Even though Sora's disappearance lowered morale, Yuya hastily lied and said Sora was sick from too many pancakes.

Reiji didn’t buy that lie for a second, but he didn’t have a choice. He had to conduct opening ceremonies. 

Everyone was going to give it their all to show why You Show Duel School was still the founder of Action Duels. Shuzo gave a moving speech about You Show's spirit shining brighter than the other schools ever could. Their coach had done all he could for them. Now it was the kid’s turn to prove what they’d learned. 

On Yoko's side of things, she, Yuto, Yugo and Reiji planned out where her Sirens and their children would ambush the Obelisk Force. Sora most likely had some inkling on what the city was like due to his meanderings for sweets, but he didn't know Maiami like the Sirens did. 

Reiji hand-picked nine of the best duelists of the Upper Division, led by last year's champion Yuu Sakuragi, to follow Yuto and Yugo's orders in regards to the soldiers. Reiji and Himika asked the audience to remain calm and in the stadium throughout the duration of the tournament. Should there be an emergency, Leo Corp hired security guards to ensure everyone’s safety. 

Even after double-checking and triple-checking all the preparations, and Yuya's reassurance Sora would return, she was still worried about him. 

Would he come back? If he did, what version of Sora would be up there dueling?

But she had to set aside her worries for the time being. She couldn’t eat a pie that hadn’t been baked yet.

In the Junior Division, Futoshi gave his opponent the shivers with his doodle dinos. He helped console Ayu when her Aqua Actresses lost to Reira Akaba’s C/C/C Fusion.  

Yoko didn’t like the look of that child one bit. She made a mental note to talk to Himika about Reira. The child had much too tired and haunted eyes for someone so young. 

Why would Akaba even train kids to do something so horrible? 

Yuya's passionate opening speech on how duelists must give it their all lifted her spirits some. Yuzu’s duel alone nearly gave her a heart attack when the girl performed a freefall to snatch an Action Card. Her beautiful flower angel Fusion saved Masumi from turning into a blood smear on the pavement too. 

Yoko still felt a sense of…trepidation… Usually on calm days like this one, something would ruin it. Shuzo decided to take everyone out to a hot-pot/barbecue restaurant to celebrate, but Yoko knew Sora was out there eating army rations instead of spending time with a loving family.

The second day was an amazing exposition of Action Dueling. Gen Ankokuji dueled Gongenzaka, pushing Gongenzaka to a cliff from the island Action Field. Mocking Yuya’s absence, not out of betrayal, but because Yuya got distracted over Gongenzaka’s missing sash. Yuya beat Gen’s four goons trying to stop him easily. 

Meanwhile Sylvio had transformed himself into "Neo-Sawatari." He fought Yuya in a nail-biting match with his Yosenjus blowing back whatever Yuya could throw at him. Yoko's heart felt lighter…

Until Shin’s turn.

Shun entered the arena stoically. Golden hawk's eyes carefully hunting his prey. Yoko squeezed her eyes shut and crossed her fingers. Ears waiting for Nico Smiley to announce Shun’s opponent. 

“Put your hands together for… Sora Shiuin!” 

Her heart sank like a stone. She couldn't tell if it was bad luck or Reiji purposefully rigged the randomizer. Either way, she had words for that boy. Again. 

As the cameras turned to Shun, the monitors couldn't detect how much his arms trembled in rage. She didn't want Shun to hurt Sora...Or the other way around...this wasn't some sort of territorial dispute between gang members. This was a deathmatch . She's seen those types of matches before. Violence and gore, wrestlers destroying their own bodies, shaving off years of their lives for a ten minute bloodbath?

If there was one thing Yusho valued above all else, even more than putting on a show, it was safety. Grave injuries ended the fun for everyone. 

Except the problem with Sora and Shun’s match was no Sora. 

The crowd waited for him. Chattering amongst themselves in bafflement and annoyance.  

"That Sora kid is a coward."

"Yeah, just like Yusho!"

"His parents must be so ashamed!"

"You Show's only good at training cowards! Heh, no wonder it's going out of business."

Yoko clenched her teeth, ready to punch someone with the brass knuckles she kept in her purse. Instead, she counted to three. Inhale...exhale...Inhale...exhale....

Nico stood awkwardly playing around with his mustache, waiting for a cue. This couldn't be another Yusho incident, right? "Um, Sora...if you're out there, it's time for you to swing into --"

"I'm here! Sorry I'm late!"

Sora Shiunin rushed to the field. Finishing off some cyan colored cotton candy.

Yoko sighed in relief. He seemed cheerful. Maybe he'd bite his tongue. Learned not to let his utter disgust of Xyz summoning get in the way of putting on a show.

…

It wasn't as bad as she feared, but much worse .

Reiji’s calculated decisions hadn’t stopped with opponent matchups. No, the Action Field he chose?

Neo-Heartland . 

Shun’s home.

From what Yuto and Shun told her, Heartland used to be beautiful. A shining city representing the Xyz dimension's wish to live in harmony. Never considering taking up arms to destroy someone else's happiness. 

She remembered the countless nights she went to the kitchen for a glass of water only to find Shun or Yuto gasping or crying out of phantom pains. Remembering people carded, buildings crushed, and hearts broken.

Sora didn't care what he unleashed with his Frightfur monsters. He loved the destruction. He loved seeing Xyz duelists squirm. Shun’s anguish felt good , as did the crowd’s shock and fear.  

Sora grinned, biting into a chocolate bar like a dog gnawing through a bone. Melted chocolate looked like blood dripping down the boy’s chin.

Her heart broke with each word Sora said. How he would love crushing the enemy, and how all who played Xyz had to die . That wasn't counting the monstrosities he summoned. She held Ayu tight when she saw Frightfur Chimera rear their ugly heads, telling her Sora was putting on a villain act like Yuya did when the lights were shining. 

Sora’s heart twinged. Truthfully, he didn't like playing the villain. Not with Yoko-san, Yuya and Yuzu watching. All three seeing his true colors. 

But...Xyz meant enemy . For his entire life. 

Xyz duelists are idiots, stupid, savage . They play their monsters on top of one another like slathering mud on top of a chocolate cake. It didn't make any sense .

But...did they have to be enemies?  

Sora couldn’t make up his mind.  Heart shattering like sugar glass. He didn't want to be here at all...but he had no choice! He had to bring proof  refugees arrived from the Xyz dimension or...or!

Shun unleashed the final blow with his Raidraptor - Revolution Falcon. Bombs dropped over what was left of a shining radiant city that didn't deserve to be broken down for a false utopia.

 Sora’s head and gut felt as mixed up as his mind, like oil and water. He dropped to his knees as everything came crashing down. 

...

"Sora Shiunin," Professor Akaba said, looking down at the Frightfur duelist with empty eyes. "You are to be the practice partner for our newest weapon. Step forth, Ruri Kurosaki."

Sora froze. The surname familiar, but her face...her face was like Yuzu's !

The girl with ebony hair and pink eyes didn't even see the shocked look on his face. Instead, she only heeded the commands of the Professor as she summoned her monsters.

Her monsters, Lyriluscs, an array of beautiful birds who could swarm the field as if an old woman gathered corn to feed them. Sora looked into their eyes and saw...fear. Fear from being summoned like this. Fear from being watched by hundreds of Fusion duelists. The same duelists who destroyed their home without remorse, who hunted innocent people for fun. played hunting games on innocent citizens.

Voice empty, Ruri recited the Xyz chant to overlay her entire field with a Rank 1 Xyz monster. Lyrilusc - Assembly Nightingale. The Xyz monster’s gorgeous feathers shining with stars, and five green orbs circling around her like asteroids in orbit. However, when she looked at her master’s gaze, Ruri’s eyes had no light of their own. Her star had burnt out, or someone had extinguished it. 

But Ruri played a new card.

Polymerization.

The chant for Fusion summoning cold and empty. In stark contrast to how Yuz u would raise her voice to the heavens, big and loud, to announce to the world she was giving the audience something they'd never seen before. 

Seeing an Xyz Monster as Fusion Material was something Sora had never seen before.

"Twitter of the songbird that resounds in the dark night. Become one with the inner voice and cry more intensely! Fusion Summon! Fly down! Noble isolated night bird! Lyrical Luscinia - Independent Nightingale!"

Ruri's delicate Xyz monster screamed as she was forced, molded, into something new. Forced to become something she didn’t want. But those cries fell on deaf ears. 

For the first time, Sora could see tears in a Duel Monster's eyes. Fear and panic on Assembly Nightingale's face clear as day. Corrupted into a freezing monster who pulled no punches. All of the Overlay Units from Assembly Nightingale burned through his lifepoints before he had a chance to properly Fusion Summon two Frightfurs on the field.

And Akaba seemed to be...disappointed that Sora was still standing. So he commanded Ruri to go through the exercise again. 

And again. 

And again.

Each attack worse than the last. The physical pain real, but the pain in his heart dwarfed the scars on his skin and aching muscles. 

No one would support him. Not Yuya. Not Yuzu. Not Shuzo. Not Ayu or Tatsuya or Futoshi.

And especially not Yoko. 

She wasn't going to wrap him in her arms, pat his head, or give him a cup of hot cocoa to make it all go away. Not like he deserved anything except his just desserts.

Once Akaba decided Sora was humiliated enough by an XYZ duelist, he’d become the new laughing stock. No one said he did a good job. Everyone in the audience laughed and jeered and boasted at how they weren't in his position. 

Akaba quietly approached him, grabbed him by the collar of his jacket and growled in Sora's ear.

"The elder brother of this girl is in Standard , isn't he?" he said. Sora hastily nodded his head as the Professor's hand gripped onto his most likely dislocated shoulder. "New mission. Find him, defeat him, and card him. Bring me the card as proof...or else you’re going to wish I card you instead.”

Someone emerged from the shadows in a purple coat and scarlet cape. A wicked smirk in his eyes. Sora couldn’t control his shaking. He knew Yuri never lost a duel and those who were sent to duel him never came back.  

The Frightfur duelist could do nothing except nod his head, walk back to his room, devoid of the candy he stashed in case of emergencies. He collapsed onto the bed and sobbed his eyes out. 

All he wanted, more than anything, was to be in a dining room that smelled like freshly baked heaven, a plate of pancakes, and a woman with a mother's smile.

...

Sora couldn't fight Ruri, she was innocent. He couldn't use Fusion on an innocent victim...but wasn't everyone in Xyz also innocent? Did they do anything wrong to Fusion? Invade their space? Destroy their home? Card everyone in sight?

This wasn't right! It wasn't who he was! He wasn't a killer! He didn't want to fight anyone! He wanted this all to STOP!

The memories of hanging out with Yuzu and Yuya clashed in a hopeless war against his entire life in Academia. Bombs exploded and Neo-Heartland collapsed on top of him. His Frightfur Chimera reduced to pixels while Nico Smiley hastily announced Shun Kurosaki as the winner. 

He didn't hear people gasping in horror at the aftermath, nor see Shun walk away. The duel not giving him the catharsis he sorely needed.

"Sora!" Yoko gasped, seeing paramedics place Sora on a stretcher. The boy bruised all over and unconscious. 

The best medics Leo Corp's money could buy would keep an eye on him. Not out of care , but because Sora came from Fusion. Sora had answers Reiji wanted. 

The biker in her would agree. If there were stubborn members of a certain gang, it was important to keep them alive so they could gather information. Killing someone meant secrets would go to the grave, and it's not easy to hide a corpse. Going to jail for injuring someone is easy; staying there for murder is hell.

The mother in her wanted Sora safe. Sora needed to be punished, but not forever. He shouldn't be caged like a wild animal. Sora could change, she’d seen it. Felt it.

Nico Smiley announced today's matches had ended. But Yoko paid attention to Sora. His injuries from the duel. How he would feel, how he would see Shun and others from the XYZ dimension, all of that far more important than a silly tournament. 

----

After dinner at a new restaurant called Donburi Brothers , Yoko, Yuya, Yuzu, and Gongenzaka waited at the front of Leo Corp Tower. Shun and Yugo out on patrol with the Sirens, but Yuto decided to keep an eye on Sora. 

Maybe he would be lucky and Sora had seen Ruri on his trip back to Fusion. Yuto had to know the second Sora woke up. 

Yoko had no idea how Sora would react. The doctors had told them Sora needed to rest, and no, he hadn’t woken up yet. 

Yuya could see the furrowed look on his mother's face. "Mom...go see him".

Yoko blinked. “What?” 

"I said you should go see him. You want answers too. Plus, it’s not like you to be hesitant.” 

“Yuya… I’m scared …” Yoko admitted slowly. 

Yuzu couldn’t believe her ears. For as long as she’d known her, Yuzu had never seen Siren Queen Yoko like this. “ You’re scared?!” 

"Yuzu, right now I can’t look at Sora. After what he said, what he did... I can't look back at The innocent kid who loved eating pancakes… He isn’t real. I can’t see him now without thinking about the monstrous side underneath.” 

Gongenzaka nodded. "The man sympathizes with you. This is not something easily fixed. The contrast between the two Soras is hard to swallow."

"I'm afraid of hurting him even more...or maybe he's afraid of hurting me , I don't know anymore. With everything I've planned, and everything we've learned...what's the right thing to do?"

Yuya didn't hesitate to hold his mother's hand. "Let me go with you. I want to talk to him, too."

Yoko wanted to say no, but nodded her head. "Okay. Yuzu, Gong, go home. This is a personal matter between us three."

The two nodded, saying good night before they went their separate ways. 

Mother and son piled into the hospital elevator. The hour late. Hallways dark to save power as the nighttime hours encroached. Elevator climbing the levels extremely slow. 

Yoko watched the grungy buttons light up butter yellow. Her arms crossed.  "Yuya...This is the first time I opened my home to another person in so long. I felt so sad for Sora. You had Yuzu and Gongenzaka and me and Shuzo and the kids. Yuto has Shun and Yugo keeps his smile even though he lost Rin and lives in the slums. 

“But who does Sora have? Who do any of those Academia students have? If I could redo my life all over again, I'd open an orphanage or a nursery instead of a biker gang. I’d take care of troubled children who need someone to come back to when shit gets hard. That they have a safe place to live.’’

Yoko lowered her arms and sighed. "I don't know what's happening, or what's going to happen to us in the future. All I know is we have to be kind...Not out of a reward, but out of principle."

"Mom..."

Yoko groaned, giving her son a tired smile. "Look at me being hypocritical. Telling you to show no mercy to Academia but I feel attached to Sora. I…I keep seeing my adorable boy who wants pancakes. Even though I know he's a ruthless killer who will hurt anyone for the sake of his goal."

"...Remember when you said some of the duelists of Academia could be reasoned with?" Yuya asked, extending his hand out for his mother to take. 

Yoko nodded as she squeezed his hand tightly. 

"I hope Sora is one of the few who can change his ways."

"I hope so too..."

The elevator came to a stop, three seconds later, opened, and the two went to room 1237. But as they approached Sora’s room, they could hear Yuto’s raised voice. 

"That can't be good..." Yoko muttered, pushing the door open. 

....

Yuto knew this might be his only chance for him to get answers. Especially since he’d hidden Sora’s duel disk.  

Yuzu had sat herself silently in the corner. Everyone had agreed, since a Yuzu-look-alike-hunter would definitely be coming for her, she wouldn’t be left alone. For Yuto’s turn, he’d wanted to ‘see’ Sora. Which meant Yuzu had to come too. 

"Tell me," he growled. "Where's Ruri? What happened to her?"

Sora scoffed and looked away, a bandage over his cheek. "Who the hell cares about one girl?"

"I do! Shin does! His sister was kidnapped! We risked our lives to save her and to get help!” 

"Well…you should just forget about her!" Sora snapped. "She belongs to Academia now…” 

Yuto snatched Sora up by his shirt. "Liar! Tell me the truth! Why Ruri? Why Rin?! What do you want with them?!"

"I have no idea who this Rin is, but as for Ruri, I have nothing to say to you,” Sora answered with a humph. "I was told to destroy any and all duelists from the Xyz dimension. That’s my mission, and I don’t know anything else…” 

“Is that really true? Sora Shiunin?"

Yoko stood in the doorway in full-on biker queen mode with Yuya right behind her. Sora could lie to Yuto, maybe even Yuya and Yuzu, but not Yoko.

Never Yoko. 

Sora flinched for a second, but swiftly regained his composure.. A smug grin, like a Cheshire Cat who ate the Queen of Heart’s freshly baked strawberry rose tarts, warping his features.

"Sora, stop this!" Yuya exclaimed. "This isn't like you!"

"You don't know me at all!," Sora snapped back. "Heck, I don't know who the real me is!"

Yoko stayed calm. She dealt with this kind of conflict a lot in the past. Sora no different from all those runaways and rebellious girls sick and tired of their workaholic/alcoholic/abusive parents. They too built emotional barriers over their hearts to protect themselves. "I know who the real you is.”

Sora frowned at her, but quickly shook his head and chuckled. “No you don’t. I’m a monster, a soldier of Academia. Always have, always will be."

"The only person lying here is you," Yoko said. “You don’t really believe that.” 

“Yes I do!” Sora spat back. "I’ve been built to fight! To be a weapon for Fusion, and that’s all I’ll ever be! You don’t know me, you're not my mother, and you can’t be my mother because I never had one!"

Yoko didn’t rise to Sora’s bait. "You're right, I'm not your mother. I'd never be able to replace your mother, whoever and wherever she is. And my home may not be able to replicate the home you've spent all your life in. Training to become a soldier, learning Fusion summoning, willing to travel dimensions on a crazy mission at such a young age...But it doesn't mean I don't see you as a son.” 

Sora didn't know what to say anymore. His heart and head fighting again...The look in his eyes something Yoko had seen hundreds of times.

"Life works in mysterious ways," she continued. “Everyone you meet in life is either a blessing or a lesson. Sometimes they're both. You are both, but more so the former. You’re someone I’ve grown to care for. Where you come from doesn't matter.

“What does matter is you pretending none of this mattered. All the time I did my best to treat you as my own child, giving you comfort and a safe place to retreat to.” 

Sora could still smell those pancakes in Yoko’s safe home. Warm and loving compared to the food he ate back at Academia. Mama Yoko was on another level. The cafeteria ladies saw him as another mouth to feed. 

Yoko saw him as himself, and always had a seat for him at the kitchen table.

"But if you want to side with Academia, your birthplace and your parents, I won't stop you." 

Yoko mbraced Sora like he was a teddy bear, patting his head. Thank for being a part of my life, Sora. As short as it was. I'll never forget the moments I spent with you. I'm not your mother by flesh or blood…" Yoko placed her hand over her heart. "But this love is special because it came from nothing and grew because we cultivated it.” 

Yuya cried messily, sniffling and rubbing his eyes. Yuto’s tears fell quieter. He never thought he’d feel so connected to these strangers, to a Fusion soldier that missed a family he never had. 

Sora sat in silence, squeezing his eyes shut. He took a deep, shaky breath. He pushed Yoko away. “Where’s my Duel Disk… Yuto?” 

His name. Not an insult. It was this simple gesture that made Yuto wordlessly pull out the Duel Disk from his cloak. 

Sora sniffled and accepted the Disk, cyan bangs covering his eyes. “I don't wanna card you, Yoko-san, or Yuya or Yuzu! I don't wanna do this anymore!"

He pulled the Duel Disk towards his heart. Prepared to press the button that would render him into a card. Whatever happened to his carded self, whether it be torn apart or used as a bookmark, he didn't care. Facing nothingness felt safer than this pain about to burst out of his chest.

"Sora, wait!" Yuya reached for him.. "Don’t card your..."

He froze, eyes wide. Yuya stepped back, panting, clutching his heart. The same reaction speeding through Yuto too. 

"Yuya, what's wrong?" Yoko gasped. "We need a doctor, stat!"

"I...I have to..." Yuya muttered. 

"We...have to..." Yuto stated.

"Have to what?" asked Yoko, pulling out her phone as the lights flickered on and off. 

Sora whimpered and wrapped his arms around Yoko like a four year old. 

"Yuya, Yuto! Say something!"

Silence…

Yuto and Yuya stood there, like toy soldiers. Their eyes glowing crimson and lavender, as if possessed.

"W...what's going on?" Yoko whispered. 

"Reunite..." The two whispered. 

Yoko gasped. "E-excuse me?" What did you say?"

"Reunite..." The two said once more. "Reunite as one!"

“What do you mean reunite? And what about Yu--"

But neither Yuto nor Yuya heard her as they raced towards the stairs. Yoko wanted to follow them, but instead, she grabbed her phone.  

Yoko’s fingers shook as she clicked the number. "Yuzu, call Gongenzaka and have him rendezvous with Captain Falcon."

On the streets of Maiami City, Yuzu pulled out her own phone. "On it!" Shun picked up on the first ring. “Yoko?”

"Shun, are you in position? Where's Yugo?"

"He suddenly drove away on his bike!" Shun cried. “He drove off chanting about reuniting as one..."

“Same thing happened to Yuto and Yuya! Does anybody know where they’re all going?” 

Sora couldn’t bear to watch Yoko and Yuzu’s phone calls any longer. He didn’t know why Leo needed Ruri, Rin, Serena, and Yuzu. He did know why Yuto, Yugo, and Yuya had started acting strange. Maybe if he snuck off to the bathroom with anyone noticing…

"Sora?"

He’d missed his chance to hide. “Yes, Yoko?"

"Answer me honestly. Did you come to my dimension alone?"

He didn’t respond right away. More than enough of an answer for Yoko. “Who came with you? What does he want?”

“Are you going to leave too?” Sora knew he was being difficult. He didn’t care. 

He cared that Yoko had finally started seeing him as her surrogate son again. He’d seen that resigned coldness she’d walked in with. That false calm she projected to hide her horror at adopting a monster. He never wanted to see that again. 

“Sora,” Yoko sat down on the bed beside him. She took a long breath. “I meant it when I said you had become my family too. What Yuya and I have decided that means is embarrassing the messiness. That means we love and trust each other because we tell each other the hard things. Things the other person probably doesn’t want to hear. 

“I know this is hard for you. I might not know exactly how hard, but you don’t have to join us. You don’t have to fight for Academia either. You can stay here and choose to be a kid. The kid you should’ve been a long time ago. When all this is over, I’d like it if you were my kid too. If that’s what you want too, of course.

“Just please,” Yoko’s green eyes filled with tears. “Tell me where my Yuya is going.” 

Sora startled slightly at droplets landing on his clenched fists. When had he started crying too? The thought of being Yoko’s son? Yuya would be his brother! The thought made him feel so… so full… for the first time in his life…

That someone would still love him even though he’d done terrible things, said terrible things. Love him and hope he would do better next time. Give him warm, delicious pancakes as he got scolded and sent off to bed. 

“His n-name is Y-Yuri,” Sora stammered. “H-He’s the F-Fusion counterpart to Yuto, Yugo, and Yuya. It’s n-not g-good for all four of th-them to be in the s-same dimension.”  

“That must be why they’re acting crazy!” Yuzu gasped. She’d hung up her phone call with Gongenzaka. “Yuri must be close!” 

Yoko nodded. “That’s gotta be it, Yuzu. Go find Gongenzaka and Shun. It’ll be harder for Yuri to take you if he has to plow through three people instead of one.” 

“Right!” Yuzu sprinted out after Yuto and Yuya. 

Leaving Sora and Yoko alone.

Yoko clasped Sora’s hands gently. “Thank you, Sora.” She pulled him in for another hug. “I know this whole dimensions war probably isn’t what you wanted but-”

"I just want to be with you !" Sora blurted. “B-Being a part of your family for real… It sounds too good to be true…” 

“But it is true,” Yoko smiled to herself. Calmly rubbing Sora’s back while he cried.

---- 

Yuri couldn't help but grin at the park. It took some time for Yuzu to recognize she was being followed. But that was his favorite part.

When the prey knew it was being hunted. 

To see the confidence drain from their eyes. Replaced by fear and uncertainty. Constantly looking over their shoulder. Desperation to get away mounting the more he closed in for the kill. 

Oh yes, watching Rin and Ruri run away from him gave him such a thrill. 

But Yuzu didn’t look scared or desperate. She was calm, never turning around. Unlike the story of the dumbass bard who tried to bring his girlfriend out of the afterlife. He’d been scared, and turned back too soon. It cost him his girlfriend again. Yuzu wouldn’t turn back.  

Sure, the chase winded her too. 

But he never expected her when she to turn around, look him straight in the eye and say, "I'm not running because I'm afraid of you. I'm running so you have no choice but to follow me."

Yuri blinked at her for a second. Eventually he burst into laughter. Slow clapping twice at how much spirit this girl had. She didn't have a deer in the headlights look like the last two, but that would change soon enough. 

Once Yuzu was in Akaba's hands...who knows? It didn't matter to him, so long as he got to see the look of despair on her face. Mock how she had a face similar to her "Yuya" for shits and giggles.

Either way, this duel would be fun. 

He loved it when the bracelet girls tried to put up a fight. It was so much fun to crush them.

On the opposite side, Yuzu knew from the look in this psychotic Yuya's pink eyes he wanted her to feel despair, to feel weak . It pained her to see that malevolent glint in his eye. 

But she had to be strong. She didn't learn Fusion for nothing. It was to protect her loved ones, not to be used as a weapon to hurt others.

Except her bracelet glowed like crazy! Had she broken it? 

"Oh Zuzu~" Yuri taunted with his cat-like smile. 

Yuzu snapped out of her thoughts. Face to face with Yuri's glowing eyes. 

"You're mine! There’s nowhere left to run! Hope you like bugs burrowing in your brain !"

He cackled. The look in Rin and Ruri's eyes when the girls were dragged into the Doktor's lab. How they screamed and cried and begged for their princes to save them. All for nothing as the parasites crawled into their brains and turned them into obedient dollies. 

After Yuzu, there was Serena or Celina next. 

After this, who knew what Leo would have him do? Yuri didn’t care, so long as it was fun. 

Yuri would admit it; Yuzu dueled well. Crushing her here in a duel almost as fun as kidnapping her. Or watching a parasite crawl into someone’s brain. 

She’d lost plenty of lifepoints. Always managing to save herself at the last second. But it was only a matter of time before Yuri chipped her lifepoints down to nothing.

Yuzu knew Yuri wanted to see her cry or beg. After nearly losing her life because of Sylvio, and dealing with more and more truths, she wanted to replace her harisen with a giant hammer to knock Yuri down a peg or two "I'm going to prune those plants of yours, Yuri!"

"I’d love to see you try, " Yuri purred, his Predaplants ready to devour her whole. Sure he could finish the job with Starving Venom Fusion Dragon, but he wanted to savor this moment like he savored the food his personal chefs cooked for him. 

He could already taste the remnants of the bouillabaisse he ate before he hopped dimensions. Much better than the leftover curry or instant ramen or pancakes his pathetic counterparts devoured. "But you will fall, flower angel, and no one will be there to help you up. Certainly not your precious Yuya.” 

Yuzu wanted to retort, but that’d be giving Yuri exactly what he wanted. Instead she smirked. "Well Yuri, there’s something you should know about my Melodious Fusions. Your monsters need a special Fusion card or Polymerization to have them fuse. But I have special ways to fuse my monsters."

"Oh?" Yuri tilted his head, eyes half closed. As if he were mimicking curiosity, having never truly felt the emotion himself. "This makes things... slightly more entertaining."

Yuzu frowned. Her fingers lightly brushed the top card of her deck, praying, praying she had what she needed. 

Come on. Be the card I need!

"I...draw!" She declared. She glanced at the card. 

And smiled. 

"I play my Spell Card, Ostinato!" Yuzu cried. "Because my field is empty, I can use this card to Fusion Summon a 'Melodious' fusion from my Extra Deck using Melodious monsters in my hand or deck as material. For this, I'll fuse Mozarta the Melodious Maestra and Soprano, the Melodious Songstress from my deck to summon my most powerful Fusion monster!"

Now Yuri’s curiosity bubbled up for real. Her "most powerful" Fusion monster? 

He heard this same spiel with Lulu and Rinrin with their Xyz and Synchro monsters, but he honestly did want to see what the Fusion duelists of Standard could come up with. Yuzu was taught by a resident of Fusion themselves. Could her skills surpass his own?

Yuzu’s monster flew high in the sky. One a tall woman in a crimson dress and yellow harp-like wings with a porcelain face. The other girl sported teal skin, a white dress with navy blue and orange body armor, curly orange floor-length hair, and eyes covered in a dark blue strip of cloth. 

Light glimmered and the choir of a dozen angels filled the night sky. Yuzu clasped her hands as if in prayer. Sapphire eyes glaring back at Yuri, channeling everything she learned over the past month.

Yuya's smile, Sora's Fusion teachings, Yuto’s calm compassion, Shun’s unyielding determination, Yugo's childlike spirit, Gongenzaka's steadiness, her father's fiery spirit, Ayu, Futoshi and Tatsuya's maturity. 

Most of all, she thought of Yoko and her vow to do something instead of waiting for the opportunity to drop into her life. She was one person, but she was a person who could make a choice. A choice to return the favor; to believe in herself like everyone else did. 

Yuzu chose to not, to never , back down! Her Fusion would be a shield, and never a sword! 

"Angel's song! Supreme genius! With the guidance of the baton, gather your power! Fusion Summon! Now come here to the stage! Sing the song of victory! Bloom Diva the Melodious Choir! "

...

Damn it! Damn it! Fuck...fuck fuck FUCK !!!!!

Yoko's thoughts nothing but a string of curse words on repeat as she raced through the empty streets of Maiami City. Hands covered in sweat. She spent so much time worrying for Sora she lost focus on the real target.

Damn it, Yoko! Sora was nothing more than a distraction. Yuzu's the one they’re after! How could I have been so blind?!

She took a deep breath to knock those berating thoughts out of her mind. 

Just in time too. A white blur approached her with a steely look in his glowing teal eyes.

"Yugo?" asked Yoko. "Yugo? Are you--"

"Reunite...reunite as one..." Yugo mumbled as he kept his eyes focused on the road and drove off.

Shit shit shit shit SHIT!!! Yoko cursed once more. 

What was going on with her boys? Even if she went out on a limb to say the four were needed for something important, it didn't make sense why Yuya, Yuto and Yugo would… well, reunite, as they put it. 

Something clicked into place. 

What if the four dimensions were once an entire world ? A single world?! Why were there four separate specialized summoning dimensions anyway? Did Akaba want the dimensions to reunite into one kingdom where he reigned supreme? 

Why did only Yuya and Yuzu have doppelgangers? They had to be part of the key to Akaba's plan…somehow… 

And the hell was she supposed to do or think at a time like this? She was only a mother; she wasn't supposed to be part of this cosmic horror bull shit!

Yoko rode her motorcycle as fast as she could. Yuzu had to be on her way home, right?

…

Yuzu locked eyes with the Fusion Dragon Yuri summoned. Giant, carnivorous, and a mass of vines and violence.

She shook her head to prepare for Yuri’s next move. As long as Bloom Diva stood, she could fight. 

And also have a chance to give psycho plant-loving Yuya a kick to the balls if need be.

But even if Yuzu did win against Yuri, it wouldn’t stop him from trying to beat her in a fist fight. Yuri would find a way to capture her. 

He needed to be stopped. 

Now .

…

Thankfully, Yoko knew the streets of Maiami like the back of her hand. Her Sirens out and about combing the entire city. 

Sure, a few of them gave up their motorcycles to raise their children, but they still waited for their queen to blow the war horns. A chance to get on board their steeds and ride in a glorious battle again. 

"Just a little more...just a little..." Yoko muttered, a mantra she used whenever she was sent to drag races when she was younger. Back when she wanted to take risks for the thrill of being young and alive. "Come on, just a little faster!"

A loud howl echoed in the distance, swiftly accompanied by two more howls. Yoko knew the sound of dogs howling at night. Whether it was because of loneliness or it was time for them to...procreate...it was sure to make a lot of racket. But these howls didn't sound natural . They sounded more like the rusty gates leading to an abandoned house.

She looked up and saw a large gunmetal grey hound. It belonged to a duelist whose Duel Disk looked exactly like Sora's...

She hastily pressed on the brakes as she swerved her bike to the side. Teeth clenched. clenching her teeth, Slamming her foot on the road to skid herself to a stop inches away from the mutt. 

She panted as the soldier grinned. His attack dog waiting for orders. The holograms so life-like she could almost smell the rusted metal. 

"Well, well, well," the soldier in blue sneered, face covered with a silver mask. Green lenses covering the eyes. "What's a pretty little lady like you doing out so late at night?” 

Goddamnit! 

She had no duel disk, and her Sirens wouldn't reach her in time. 

No one would.

"Why don't you surrender now and I'll make sure to go... gentle on you." 

"You sure a woman like you should be on such... dangerous machinery?" Another masked soldier in the back, which Yoko had to turn around to see, had golden eyes. 

If this wasn't a life-or-death situation, she would have rolled her eyes. How cliched and sexist . 

Two more hounds emerged. One from behind, and one to the side. Yoko clicked her teeth; typical gangster behavior. Overwhelm the opponent to intimidate the target. 

"Face it, you blond bitch !" The third soldier in blue stated. His mask eyes red. Albeit, not like Yuya's kind, strawberry eyes. "You can't defeat us. We are Obelisk Force, the elite soldiers of Academia."

Yoko nearly slammed her forehead against the speedometer. All of this monologuing and smug smirks on these idiots. Worse than the B-movies she watched.

Clearly the terrible one-liners and uniforms hadn’t done in the XYZ dimension. The numbers had. Three on one could be doable once, but multiple times?

Yoko shook her head to clear it. Yuzu needed her, and she needed to stop Akaba's plans. 

She revved up her motorcycle. "You three messed with the wrong mom! I'm not just a mother. I’m Shooting Star Yoko, Queen of the Sirens! And I will not be denied !”

With the engine of her beloved motorcycle roaring like Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon, she charged into battle. The dog in front of her didn't show any fear as they waited for their master's command, crouching down low. But Yoko ramped up the speed as her hands came off the handles to pull something out of her pocket. 

A pair of brass knuckles.

Slipping them onto her right hand, she smirked as she easily passed through the space between the hounds. Landing a solid punch on each dog’s snouts. She smirked at their loud whimpers, not even slowing down. The two Obelisk Force soldiers had no choice but to duck for cover. 

Yoko took the time to turn around and blow them a kiss with the middle finger of her left hand raised like a badge of honor. 

...

Through the security cameras strapped to the uniforms of his Obelisk Force soldiers, Leo Akaba couldn’t believe his eyes. 

From what Yusho said about her -- She's a tough woman, I'll tell you. She's a fighter till the end. -- he assumed Yusho spoke metaphorically, not literally !

He searched through the cameras of the other soldiers. More women, mothers like Yoko, in leather jackets, toothpicks clamped between their teeth and motorcycles roaring like a flight of dragons, confronted his duelists. 

As usual, Obelisk Force soldiers had been sent in groups of three, all controlling Triple Ancient Gear Hunting Hounds. Canines forged from scrap metal and modeled after Cerberus.

Unfortunately, while the instructors of Academia drilled teamwork into every soldier's head, fighting off mothers on motorcycles wielding chains, bamboo swords, aluminum bats, knuckle dusters, pipes, two by fours, and knives was not in the Obelisk Force playbook.

The dogs fought valiantly, but they couldn’t do much to hold the Sirens back. These women wanted blood. Once disarmed, there was nothing the Obelisk Force could do.

The Sirens screamed, roared, and howled like banshees. They sang their songs of victory, of bloodlust. Almost as alluring as the fabled women they had chosen to be their namesakes. 

Akaba quietly left the throne room and closed the door behind him.

…

"Breaking news," Reporter Takahashi said in the nightly edition of Maiami City News. "A group of bikers have been shown beating up duelists wearing blue coats. Leo Corp has advised the public to stay indoors until further notice.”

…

In his office, Reiji looked on in silent awe at the streets below. 

A coordinated attack against Fusion soldiers. Taken out like the trash and apprehended before a single person could be carded. Like something out of a movie. 

The Sirens possessed a sense of trust, camaraderie and skill not even the Upper Division duelists could create. 

One thing was for sure, after seeing the carnage unfold on screen, the teenage CEO vowed to never again underestimate the wrath of Yoko Sakaki.

...

Back on the streets, Gongenzaka finished his phone-call with Yuzu. He hung up and addressed his group of Sirens. "The man, Gongenzaka has an announcement. Yuzu Hiragi is on her way! She’ll most likely be dueling against a Yuya look-alike! She’ll lure him to the park. Our job is to back her up, and keep anyone from Fusion from carting her off! To do that we need half of you to go to Leo Corp, and the other half follow me!” 

He pulled out his geta and threw it at a fleeing Obelisk Force soldier. The clunk it made when the steel sandal met helmet extremely satisfying.

"You heard the man!

"Sirens, move out!"

The Sirens whooped as they grabbed their prizes. Half, doing as Gongenzaka instructed, going to Leo Corp. The other half following right behind him. 

“Please let us get there in time!” Gongenzaka prayed to himself. 

...

"Are you scared of the power of my dragon, Zuzu?" Yuri purred.

Yuzu's fairy would barely count as an appetizer! His poor Starving Venom Fusion Dragon. Maybe there’d be time for dinner…

"And now that he’s copied the power of your pathetic little sapling, you're through."

Yuzu said nothing. Stats wise, he wasn't wrong. Bloom Diva only had a thousand attack points in comparison to Starving Venom Dragon's two thousand eight hundred. Starving Venom could easily devour her. It didn't help that Yuri's monster got a power boost equal to Bloom Diva's attack score, nearing four thousand. 

Except Yuri didn't know one tiny little detail. 

While Starving Venom Fusion Dragon's special ability made it capable of copying Bloom Diva's ability, Yuzu had a face-down card. Her key to victory.All she had to do was continue to play the terrified maiden, frightened beyond any action, until she sang her song and dragged him into the depths of the ocean to drown.

She couldn’t help but imagine what would happen if she ended up becoming a Siren. Maybe she'd look good in a leather jacket.

"Trying to hide behind your face-down ?" Yuri sneered. "Dreaming you’ll defeat me?” 

Yuzu said nothing, forcing a mask of fearful girlhood. 

”That’s better! Yes, you understand there’s no hope for you! This duel is over! I play my Spell Card Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your facedown card!” 

A large blue tornado emerged on the field, heading straight for Yuzu's card. Normally this would be the moment. The moment Yuri could see it, could taste it; the despair of loss. 

Except the moment never came. 

Yuzu chuckled, a smirk on her face.

"What's so funny ?" Yuri growled. 

He hated it when people laughed at him. Only he should be laughing at people's despair. Those pathetic girls always laughed in a bid to hide their fears and shortcomings…

But for some odd reason, Yuzu's smile was confident .

And he hated when his opponent showed confidence.

"You fell for it!" Yuzu laughed.

"Fell for what? Because in case you didn't notice, my dragon's attack strength is higher than your puny Diva! Honestly, what type of idiot fuses a monster that only has a thousand attack points?!"

"Because, Yuri dear, here's something you didn't know about my Bloom Diva. First off, she can’t be destroyed by battle or card effects."

"But you'll still take dama--" 

“You still don’t get it,” Yuzu laughed, cutting Yuri off. 

"No, Yuri dear, there's one more thing you should know. If she’s attacked in battle, you take the damage based on the difference between their original attack scores. So two thousand eight hundred minus a thousand equals..."

Bloom Diva clasped her hands in prayer before opening her mouth as Starving Venom Fusion Dragon fired his own attack. With a determined face, Bloom Diva sang. A series of soundwaves struck Starving Venom Fusion Dragon in the chest. The sound too much for the beast, it shattered.

Just like Yuri’s remaining lifepoints.

"Oh yeah, I won!" Yuzu cheered, hopping around. 

Bloom Diva couldn't help but giggle. 

Yuri stood there, dumbfounded . Stupefied . Gobsmacked .

No one. Repeat, no one had ever defeated Starving Venom Fusion Dragon before. 

No one . 

This girl had only learned Fusion a month ago! Not only had she defeated Starving Venom with a weak-looking Fusion fairy, but his Predaplants could do nothing to stop her. His entire strategy focused on summoning Starving Venom Fusion Dragon on the field to end things quickly. He’d never needed a plan B before… 

This...was... humiliating !

Yuri let loose a growl. A black aura surrounding him. as his Eyes madly glowing a sinister lavender. He clenched his teeth before roaring into the sky. 

Yuzu stumbled back. Even Bloom Diva looked terrified.

"You bitch!" Yuri snarled, fingernails slowly morphing into claws. "I'm done playing games. You may have won the duel, but you're stuck here with me!"

"You do realize I could run and scream for the police to arrive," Yuzu noted. "And last time I checked, there are security cameras over there..." She pointed to a street light to the left. "And there..." She pointed to one behind Yuri. "I'm sure Reiji has been keeping track of the Fusion summonings that we did and tracking where I've been these past few minutes. Soooo..."

"Sooooooo it means it will take time before anyone can come to save you!" Yuri interrupted, loving the look of futile realization in Yuzu's eyes. "By the time anyone comes to pick you up, we'll be long gone."

"And what makes you so sure I'll come with you easily?" 

Yuri chuckled, advancing on her. “You think you have a choice? Let me spell it out for you!

“I could have chased you down, knocked you out, and taken you back to Fusion straight away. I could have defeated you in that duel! Even with this loss, you used up all your strength, and I can still take you back to Leo!”  

"Are you sure about that?" A proud feminine voice asked. "I see. I guess we'll take a third option, eh?"

Headlights blinded them both. Yuri and Yuzu raised arms to protect their eyes. turned around to see Yuzu’s vision returned in time to see a red motorcycle zooming in.Yuri had no choice. He yelped and dove to the side to avoid becoming roadkill. 

“Need a lift?” Yoko offered Yuzu a hand.

“Absolutely!” Yuzu laughed. 

She slid on behind Yoko, who turned her bike around. Yuri had to cover his face so he didn't inhale the exhaust. 

Yuri snarled, pounding his fist into the nearest park statue. How did this woman, this mother best him?! Where in Akaba's name did she come from?!

Regardless, even though the duel ended in a draw, he had to follow. to. But then, he had no idea where to go. 

And he had no idea how to navigate the city.

That's when it sank in. Not only was his monster destroyed by a fairy, he was lost . His operation exposed for the entire city to see. 

Even if the Obelisk Farce stooges carded a handful of these idiots, Yuri was screwed.

He’d failed. Yuri didn’t fail. He’d never failed before!  His track record ruined by a mere mommy !

Yuri clenched his teeth in rage, digging his nails into the palms, arms trembling. 

He needed to make those bitches pay with their fucking lives! Time to use Violet Flash and bully some intel from the rest of Obelisk Force. Despite being brainless pawns, if he gave them a command, they’d do it without hesitation. Even if he told them to jump off a bridge, so long as it brought glory to Academia and Fusion, or whatever propaganda shit was poured into their brains.

While a part of him did want to blow off some steam he didn’t have time to heal his wounded pride. If there was one thing Professor Akaba drilled into his head, it was "Revenge is a sucker's game."

The idiot Xyz and Synchro versions of himself were so blind in their pursuit of ‘justice.’ . Justice, revenge, whatever you called it, it was all the same. Even if they happened to hitch a ride to Fusion, climbed the towers to where their princesses were trapped, it wouldn't be long for them to drop like Icarus and go splat!

A new sensation passed over him, interrupting his thoughts. His entire mind splitting apart. Something he sensed back when he first laid eyes on his Xyz and Synchro counterparts. 

But now...it consumed him. 

He had to see them, had to be with them. He...had to...

Yuri's arms fell to his sides and his face no longer carried a sick grin. Instead, it became passive, distant, blank .

"Reunite...reunite....as one..." he said. 

The only thing on his mind. The only word that made sense in the confusion and chaos of the quiet.

Activating his Violet Flash Spell Card on his Duel Disk, Yuri vanished from the park. 

Answering the call...to become whole.

Chapter Text

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Chapter 8

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A Siren's Song

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Mother, don't worry, I'm fine
Promise to see you this summer
This time there will be no delay
Mother, how are you today?

- Maywood, "Mother, How Are You Doing Today"

----

Yoko didn’t stop driving until she and Yuzu made it home. They’d expect Yuzu to be at her own home, but Shuzo sent a text about how he beat three of them up with a hockey stick and baseball bat.

He may not have had a tough life like Yoko, but there was no way he’d let someone kidnap his daughter.

So long as Yuri and his soldiers were distracted by Shun and the Sirens, Yoko could breathe. The next problem would be what to do when Yuri realized Yuzu wasn’t home.

In the kitchen, Yoko used the kitchen counter to steady herself. Its cold surface comforting, bringing her feverish temperature down. She stared woodenly at her reflection in the silvery granite. 

What now?

And what about Yuya? The glowing eyes, the empty voices… Like something else possessing Yuya, Yuto and Yugo, wanted them to reunite…whatever that meant. And what happened to Yuzu’s doppelgangers? 

Yuzu quickly placed a hand on her shoulder. "Yoko-san, what do we do next?"

"I...I don't know anymore," Yoko admitted.  

She was the adult, the mother, and supposed to have answers. Yet here she stood. The end of her notebook, the end of the tightrope she’d been walking. Only to find the end disconnected. Herself and all of Miaiami City free falling into the darkness. 

"All I know is Yuri's presence changed something in Yugo, Yuto and Yuya. And I’m not sure how to handle this alone, and I’m not sure who to ask for help. I'm dragging more and more people into this mess. Or they're dragging me in and I'm pulling others with me, dooming all of us.” 

She pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes, lost in thought. "There's only so much I can do, but I have to do something! Is... this what Yusho felt when he saw Reiji? When he saw the army in the XYZ dimension? Fearing for his life, afraid that one small mistake will get him carded or…”

Yoko sobbed, unable to finish her thought. Tears falling down her face. She thought she’d escaped all this turmoil years ago. Yet here it reared its ugly head again.

And she had never wanted this kind of thing to happen to anyone. Least of all, her own son. 

"Yoko-san…” Yuzu murmured. 

Strange. She felt calmer after listening to Yoko, seeing her cry. Yuzu was scared, but Yoko admitting her fears too? It meant they weren’t alone. 

They’d figure it out. 

Yuzu felt her Duel Disk vibrating, and she tapped its screen. Odd to get an update during a siege. She tapped the notification. 

Live feed burst on screen. A news clip, using clearly unprofessional video skills. Probably the first person on the scene after all the carnage. 

"This is some freaking light show shit! Glowing quadruplets? Who comes up with this stuff?!” 

“Yoko-san, look at this!” Yuzu rested her phone on the counter so they could both watch.

Yuya, Yuto, Yugo and Yuri all walked towards one another, eyes glowing, acting like zombies...All chanting reunite over and over again .

Gongenzaka and Shun tried to pull Yuya and Yuto away. Straining to hang onto the boys’ arms, but both shook off their friends. Continuing to advance. A force field popped up. Encircling the four boys, and keeping everyone else out. 

Yoko went pale. Something was wrong. Like alien invasion wrong. Like a demon rising from the depths of the Burning Abyss wrong...

"What's going on? Why are they like this? How do we stop it?" Yoko panicked. Nothing in her days as a mother or a sukeban queen prepared her for this!

"Yoko-san, I...I have a theory," Yuzu said, showing Yoko her bracelet. "I think... My bracelet might be the only thing that could separate them."

"What do you mean? A piece of jewelery?! That makes no sense!” 

"I know, just hear me out! Back when Yuto dueled Sawatari, he vanished right around the time Yuya showed up. I remember seeing a bright pink flash on my wrist. And for some odd reason, I...I can't remove my bracelet."

Yoko raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean you 'can't remove your bracelet?'"

"My hand won't move!” Yuzu cried, her right hand not even moving an inch. “I’m literally trying to remove it right now! 

“And from what dad said, this bracelet was found with me when I landed on his doorstep. He said every time he tried remembering where it came from, or even selling it, he’d get migraines until he thought of something else. I think this thing is stuck on me on purpose."

"But if...if that bracelet is the only thing preventing those four from 'reuniting…’ and I pulled you away..." Yoko felt sick. 

Her entire plan, everything she did to keep her boys safe… It had all gone so wrong… 

She watched as Yuya, Yuto, Yugo and Yuri joined hands. Their eyes glowing brighter as they all shouted one last time.

"REUNITE!"

A pillar of light engulfed the four boys. The recording lost sight of the boys behind the smoke of an explosion. Camera shaking wildly from the resulting aftershock earthquake. The earth rippling beneath everyone. 

There were screams and the person livestreaming had clearly run away from the epicenter of the disasters. Valiantly continuing to record as they went. 

"No...no no no no no...YUYA!!!!" she screamed. 

When the light faded, when the person who live-streamed turned around to see what the hell happened, what had once been four people now had become one. A person around Shun's age, perhaps older, silver hair streaked with green. He dressed in brown pants and a cream jacket with navy blue and orange accents. His eyes snapped open, shining gold. They didn’t seem concerned for the damage around them.

But Yoko knew that face. The face that looked exactly like her son's .

Yoko looked ready to faint, and no one would blame her. This couldn't be possible. People didn't fuse like Duel Monsters. 

The livestreamer held their breath as they aimed their phone at the boy. Their hands trembling, but the camera fairly steady. Enough to see the boy take stock of himself. 

Something didn’t add up. So many puzzle pieces locked into place, but she still didn't have a complete picture of what the hell was going on. 

Regardless of whether or not this new... being was benevolent or not, she had to go after him. Her son, her son, had vanished and been replaced with a literal stranger!  

"Yoko-san, wait." said Yuzu. "You're not in good shape to go back. And besides, from the looks of things...he doesn't seem dangerous."

Yoko hated to admit Yuzu was right, she couldn’t feel weak at a time like this, she had to get it together already! Yet Yoko felt something in her heart telling her to wait. 

There was a strange emotion on his face. She recognized that emotion on the boy’s face. Something she's seen in her son's face for the past years.

Sadness…

...

For fourteen years, Zarc existed as a ghost. 

Alive yet not alive, seeing through the eyes of four little boys with his face. All of them blessed with a guardian dragon to keep an eye on their growth. He could not control where they landed and who would raise them, but he would do all he could to keep them safe. 

He’d been frustrated, angry , at how the world treated these counterparts. 

Yuri raised by the father of his enemy. Yuto's home destroyed. Yugo having to struggle to survive in the slums. Yuya's sanity hanging by a thread when his father “ran away” without even a farewell.

All that anguish, hatred, he cultivated it all as he waited for the day of his ascension. For the day he took his proper place as the Supreme King of the Spirit World and laid waste to these pigs in human skin.

But when he returned to an empty city, to a place that must have once been a lovely park before he destroyed it, he fell silent. 

He stared at his hands. His human hands. 

Not the dragon form who would set fire to everything. He didn't know what to do, what to say . 

His resurrection went the opposite of what he wanted. He was supposed to be filled with vengeance, a hatred for mankind. He could still hear the cries of the four boys, all reacting in their own ways. It must be frightening becoming one person after being four for so long.  

Zarc knew it had been hard to become four people so long ao.

But when he felt the memories...the most recent ones involved a woman...a mother. The memories full of love... Love he hadn't known In years...

These memories replaced his utter hatred for Ray, his hatred for Akaba. This woman, this mother, did more than Ray ever did. She cared. She put the needs of these broken fragments of Zarc over her own, and for no reason that he could discern. 

But this mother...she showed his fragments more love than he'd ever known. She didn't know his Xyz and Synchro counterparts for long, but she loved them like her own kids. Heck she may have even shown his fusion fragment love if she could!!

He something wet on his face… Blood? He wiped it with a finger. No, tears. 

He wasn't supposed to...to cry. Or if he did, he wept for how many duel spirits suffered. 

He should be screaming in rage , tearing the street apart, preparing to unleash hell on these monsters in human flesh! These wastes of human skin should tremble before him, or they would be devoured limb by limb by the hordes of Duel Monsters under his command. 

He felt Yuto's desire for revenge more than anything. That revenge still there, except it transformed into a pit of sadness from within his soul. The same with Synchro. Fusion did not have that much sadness in him, or at least not in the scope of his fragments from Xyz, Synchro or even Standard. But what could be the source of this sadness that made a part of him smile?

Within the depths of these memories, he had to find her...he had to find... 

Mother ...

The boy clutched his heart and a pair of black dragon wings, like sails, unfurled from his back. People screamed, rushing out of the way of his wingspan. 

He disappeared when the wings cocooned him. 

People picked themselves up and extricated themselves from the earthquake’s rubble. They chattered amongst themselves about the strange phenomena. Had they been shooting a new movie? Had Leo Corp’s Solid Vision tech been upgraded and this was the preview show? 

…

The livestream ended. 

Yoko felt numb. She wanted someone to explain what all that meant. She wanted this nightmare to end. Most of all, she wanted her son back. 

Not even a second later, the silver-haired boy stood right in front of her ! 

Both Yuzu and Yoko screamed, and jumped back. Scrambling for a meat cleaver from the magnetic knife holder, and the harisen.

"Who are you?" Yoko asked, adrenaline racing through her veins. 

She wanted to attack, but Yuya could still be in there. She could never hurt him!

"Zarc. I am… Zarc."

Zarc stared at Yoko, quiet, unsure. 

Scared. 

"Where's my son?" Yoko asked. "Are you...Yuya? Or Yuto? Yugo? Yuri?"

Zarc blinked. Hadn’t he just said his name?  "Yes...and...no. I am them and they are me. We are Zarc, and I am Zarc."

As he said this, his golden eyes seemed to flicker with black, scaly shadows. Like the black wings folded innocently upon his back. 

This was no human, this was a demon ...

Zarc shifted his gaze towards Yuzu. She stepped back under his golden gaze. Her breath hitched, her heart racing faster than her stunt during her duel with Masumi. 

She was going to die. Before she could tell her dad she loved his hot blooded style, his embarrassing dad jokes, and that she was proud to be his daughter. 

Zarc stared at Yuzu. The way she clenched her teeth. The unshed tears welling in her eyes. He slowly approached her, extending a hand out. 

“You stay away from her!” Yoko put herself between them, brandishing the meat cleaver. 

“...Yuzu?” Her name bubbled to Zarc’s lips. A familiarity he didn’t feel, but one of his counterparts did. 

"Y-You're not Yuya!” Yuzu found her words. She held her harisen so tightly she crushed the paper handle in her fist. “ WHAT DID YOU DO TO YUYA?! "

“Nothing,” Zarc answered plainly. He didn’t understand. Was his explanation confusing? 

What game did this kid think he was playing? Yoko’s brow hurt. She’d been glaring too long. Why couldn’t he just answer the question?

"Explain...please explain..." she pleaded, eyes wet with tears. "Where's Yuya?! What did you do to him?! What happened to him? To Yuto and Yugo? And Yuri...where did they go?"

Zarc hummed as Yuzu sniffled. When she calmed down, she looked up to see him silently pointing to his heart and closed his eyes. After a second of silence, he opened them. "Yuya Sakaki, along with my other fragments, sleep within the depths of my soul.”

"So...you're like a persona? The id or ego or superego...or all of them...or..." Yuzu shouldn't have browsed through the library's psychology books. She was just confusing herself at this point.

"Not...like that." Zarc said with a simple shake of his head. He leaned close, seeing those bright blue eyes... 

"You hold a bit of her...of Ray Akaba."

Yuzu blinked, imagining a female Reiji. Cold as ice, stoic like a stormy sky. She never heard of Ray Akaba. Only Reira. She looked more like she was adopted into the Akaba family. Given how Professor Akaba quickly abandoned his wife and son, it's a miracle he even wanted a child with Himika in the first place. 

Zarc pointed at the bracelet. "She was from the original world, before she split it into four."

"Original...world?" Yuzu said. 

"Before there were four dimensions, there was simply one world. Xyz, Synchro and Fusion could be used by everyone. I was a master of the extra deck summons. I was also...a monster."

Yuzu and Yoko’s eyes darted to the black scales and wings. Yoko was the one to speak. "As in literal or..."

"Once, I was a prominent duelist, but after accidentally injuring my opponent in a fight, my audience wanted more pain and suffering. They didn't want a show, it was more like a deathmatch. My bloodlust grew, slowly, but surely. I relished in people's cheers, giving into their desire for more and more violence. They wanted more. So I gave it to them. "

Yuzu shook her head. She could never imagine Yuya embracing the hatred that everyone poured on him, much less wanting to hurt them. Even Yuto, who had no choice but to fight back, had never wanted to hurt people. All in the name of self-defense; his home was attacked first.

“And as I won, as I inflicted pain onto my opponents, I grew into a king. The king of dragons, the Supreme Dragon King," Zarc closed his eyes as a pair of dragon horns rose from his head, making him look even more like a demon. 

"I was a master of dueling," Zarc continued. "The spirits of duel monsters asked me to be their chosen ruler, angry and tired of humanity seeing them die over and over again for their amusement. I always felt attuned to the spirits, particularly to those of my faithful dragons. Odd-Eyes, Dark Rebellion, Clear Wing, Starving Venom. I saw these dragons as my family, my greatest treasures. And I vowed to create a kingdom where we could be safe and protected, and humanity would be humbled.

"As my powers reached their zenith, and I was ready to create my kingdom, Leo Akaba created four cards. En-Cards, based on four aspects of nature. Flowers, moon, the wind, and birds. They were supposed to be utilized by him. Instead, they were used by someone I trusted with my life. His daughter, Ray Akaba.

"We dueled, and she played those dreaded cards. There was a burst of light, an explosion, like the Big Bang. The universe expanded and the world that we once lived in was no more.

"When I woke up, I realized I became...fragmented. My soul split into four pieces, like Ray also quartered herself. I could vaguely sense that I saw things through four people, heard things, felt things...four children crying out for parents to hold them tight, feeling hopeful that they would be given the love and affection I never had…

But my hopes were dashed once I learned where they ended up."

“So, what you said earlier about me and Ray… If Yuya, Yuto, Yugo, and Yuri are you , then are you saying I’m a part of Ray?” Yuzu said, connecting the dots. 

"Through Yuri, I learned Akaba’s master plan. He remembered the old world and his daughter's sacrifice. Instead of cherishing the life he had, and learning to love his new life, he wants to reunite the dimensions as one. To fuse all of you to bring his daughter back, and along with kill me." 

Yoko clenched her teeth, tears cascading down her face. 

All that pain Yuto, Shun, Yuya, Yusho, countless others, experienced all for Leo’s plan? Leo had truly decided destroying everything would be worth it. Just to see his daughter again. 

At the expense of everything new and different.

He had decided it was all bad. 

Instead of using his technology to be father to four new daughters and sons, he would destroy his daughter’s work. 

Make her sacrifice have been for nothing. 

"You know the story. Akaba teleported to Academia to brainwash a school, no, an entire dimension, for his so-called utopia. But he planted an agent in Synchro to pull the strings as it were. He molded Yuri into his watchdog to capture the girls with Ray's face, and yet he ignores Serena -- who has his daughter's face.” 

“Serena…” So that was Yuzu’s Fusion counterpart.

“She wears a ribbon in her hair. She wears a red jacket. She’s hot-headed. She uses Lunalights. She’s always demanding to go to the frontlines of the Xyz invasion to prove her worth. Akaba refuses to humor the idea.”

The corner of Zarc’s lips turned up. “I think you’d like her, Yoko-san. You too, Yuzu.”  

Yuzu had never entertained the idea of having a sister. Rin and Ruri always felt like they belonged more to Yugo, Yuto, and Shun. Yet the thought hit her like she’d fallen into a bowl of giant, puffy marshmallows. 

The boys had become brothers. 

She, Ruri, Rin, and Serena. 

All four could be sisters .

"That bastard expects Ray to be grateful for what he did to bring her back. He thinks once she’s reborn, it will reset everything and no one will remember the bloodshed. He’s wrong. Once someone is dead, once someone is turned into a card, they cannot turn back.” 

"But…is there a way to bring Yuya and the others back?” Yoko couldn’t hide the hope in her voice. “Yuya, Yuto, Yugo and...wait, that would also mean bringing Yuri back. Would he try to kidnap you again?” 

Yuzu shrugged. Fair question. It would start everything all over again.

Zarc bit his lip. "I can't say. Yuri may be Akaba's watchdog and strongest duelist in Academia, but that doesn't mean Akaba wouldn't have his other soldiers try to kidnap you. Just like Yoko kaa-san has her Sirens, Akaba has his Obelisk Force. There's always a Plan B for him."

Yoko did not like the way Zarc called her his mother. 

Yuzu reached out, placing her hand over Zarc's chest. "Are...are Yuya and the others sleeping? Do they know you're taking control? Could they get control?”  

"They're not sleeping. They're dreaming." Zarc grasped Yuzu's hands with his own, feeling his heart beating softly. 

Thump, thump, thump.  

"When I close my eyes, I see them sharing each other's memories and life stories. For you are the most vulnerable and defenseless in your dreams. Dreams are where the truth lies."

"And...what are they dreaming of?" Yuzu prayed that they weren't reliving their worst nightmares over and over again...

Zarc paused, eyes fluttering. Yuzu could briefly see Zarc's eyes flash numerous colors. Crimson. Cloud gray. Cerulean. Carnation pink. They cycled back to gold once more. 

"Yuya dreams of being an entertainer with his animal friends. Yuto dreams of his old home glowing at night as his Phantom Knights patrol the grounds. Yugo rides like the wind on his bike underneath a cloudy blue sky. And Yuri is..."

"Yuri?"

Zarc frowned. "His dreams are...unusual. He dreams of a garden, a secret one. Locked behind an iron gate. There is no key to the door, so no one can enter but he cannot exit either. It is private, secret, isolated. A place only he knows. He pulls weeds and talks to the flowers, tends to them better than he does to other people. They say nothing, but he hopes that they grow tall like the trees give him shade. He hopes the trees will always protect him. Perhaps he wishes that the trees were his parents.” 

"Like the tale of the selfish giant. This magnificent garden is a place only he knows, yet he refuses to share with others."

"He wants to let others in, but he's afraid. " Zarc felt a pang in his chest. " He's scared to let others in because he has been taught that people use you, discard you, spit on you. Akaba has instilled this lesson into his head a million times. I don't know how to reach him. Only he can free himself. And even then, he will not face forgiveness so easily.”

"He needs help, that's for sure,"  Yuzu agreed, only partially sarcastic. 

Zarc’s eyes flickered to Yoko when Yuzu said “help” 

Yoko felt so small underneath those slit pupils. She hadn't felt this fear since she was a little girl, hearing her parents argue, all alone in her bedroom with only a pillow to muffle her screams.

“I won't hurt you...I promise ."

Yoko didn’t know what this Zarc wanted. Why come here at all? 

"What do you want with me? With Yuya?" Yoko demanded, preparing the brass knuckles in her coat. Ready to scream or punch Zarc until he turned into paste. “Answer me!"

"I...I don't know!" Zarc wailed, pounding his fist into the counter. “Everything is all mixed up. I feel like me, and four other people! I should want revenge on this entire world. I want to plunge everything into a black hole and throw myself in last…

“But I… Yuya feels your warmth instead...your love, your kindness ...and I… It’s different from the need for vengeance and destruction. Four fourteen years… that felt like some kind of carnivorous plant born from darkness that devoured the darkness, and always needed more. 

“This… You made a family here out of almost every piece of me, my friends. It was so brief by comparison, but those moments feel so much bigger, brighter, than the darkness.”

Zarc swallowed. “I want the light, I want to duel for fun again. I don’t want to hurt anyone, and I don’t want to be that person anymore,” Zarc stared at his claws. Flexed the wings on his back. “But I’m scared… I’m scared that it’s too late…”

Yoko stayed quiet. Green eyes impassive. She reached for Zarc’s face, cupping his cheeks so softly. “Is… Is my son in there?” she whispered. Tears dripping quietly down her face. “B-Because I want to be your mother. Whether you’re one person, o-or four, I want to be here for you.”  

Zarc cried too. He’d wanted to be loved so badly he’d done whatever people wanted. It hadn’t been enough for his audience. It certainly hadn’t been enough for Leo Akaba. 

But here Yoko stood. Holding him like he mattered. Like he didn’t have to do anything, except be… 

Pounding on the front door shook everyone out of their thoughts. All three jumping at the interruption.  

"Yoko-san!" A gruff voice shouted. "The man, Gongenzaka, raced back as soon as he could. Is everything ok?

Yuzu raced to the front door and opened the front door. She sighed and hugged him, tears in her eyes. "Gongenzaka, you have no idea how glad we are to see you. No one followed you, right?"

Gongenzaka briefly checked turned to the collection of motorcycles racing off into the night before shaking his head. Yuzu practically dragged him inside. He didn’t even have a chance to slip off his steel geta . Gongenzaka paused as he stared at the stranger with Yuya's face. 

"What's going on? What happened to Yuya, Yuto and Yugo... who is he ?!"

"This is...who Yuya originally was," Yuzu answered. "Who he 'reunited' into...Zarc."

Gongenzaka was quick to grab a geta , but the second he tried to sock Zarc across the face with it, Zarc caught the steel sandal with one hand. Gongenzaka clenched his teeth as he put more effort into trying to bring his arm down, but Zarc quietly shook his head.

Eventually, Gongenzaka had to put his arm down. First, his friend acted like a zombie, then those Obelisk Force members raised hell before he socked their guard dogs in the jaw with his geta , and now this...this... dragon guy in Yuya's home! 

It was all too much to bear.

Zarc frowned. "Forgive me, Noboru. I do no not wish to harm you."

Gongenzaka’s fist trembled. "The man, Gongenzaka, would like to be addressed by his last name. Yuya always did."

"Apologies, Gongenzaka. I am still...new to all of this."

"This is bad, though..." Yuzu said, hands clutching her head. “What do we do with you? Everyone will be looking for you, and will want to do something different and…” 

Yoko let Yuzu pace and think out loud. All this happened because she intervened. Now she had to clean it up.

But if she hadn't interfered, Yuzu would have been kidnapped. Then Akaba could enact his crazy virgin sacrifice plan to rule over the dimensions. 

Yet because she had interfered, Zarc wasn’t going to destroy everything. He absorbed the memories of pain and agony the four boys had suffered through, but he also took in the love and care she gave three of them. 

It was her love, a mother's love , that would save the dimensions from going to hell in a handbasket. 

Yoko still held Zarc's face, doing her best to imagine Yuya crying in front of her. "Yuya...are you there? Please...Is he safe?"

"He sleeps, he dreams. The others are just like him, lost in their fantasies. But he cannot hear you...for now." Zarc’s voice sounded heavy. 

"But when will he awaken? And how?"

"I cannot tell. Just that...when the four are reunited, they find peace. Peace like they never knew. All of their suffering and pain vanishes for comfort and joy and their deepest desires played out beneath their eyelids. So deep and beautiful that a dozen baku could gorge on them like truffles beneath the earth, and still would not be able to eat their fill."

Yoko dropped her arms. “It sounds like they’ll forget about us.” 

"I want to call out to them, I wish I could. But...I don't have that power. The only reason why those four were born was because of those special cards Akaba created. The En-Cards."

Yoko and Gongenzaka looked at a loss, but Yuzu quickly changed the subject. "Can't you use a Defusion spell to separate them? Does it work that way?"

"It doesn’t," Zarc answered. "It takes a lot of energy to split something. Like an atom. But once you split it, the energy it unleashes is catastrophic. If it took the power of nature to separate me and the dimensions; how much energy would be required to separate them again?"

Yoko would give up her very soul to Mephistopheles if that’s what it took to bring Yuya back into her arms.

But Yuzu’s hand stopped her.

"Yoko-san, there's nothing we can do for the moment," she whispered, but Yoko could tell Yuzu was only saying this to reassure herself that things would be better. "We should sleep on it and discuss our next step in the morning. Or at least, let’s do our best to sleep. We’re lucky Yuya doesn't have any matches for the next few days."

Yoko sniffled, eyes red. She would've laughed at how Yuzu would even bring up the tournament at a time like this. Instead, she threw herself into Yuzu's arms and wailed. Gongenzaka and Yuzu let her cry, doing their best not to burst into tears at how they lost their closest friend. Zarc awkwardly sat there, unable to look at anyone. Not even the animals wanted to be near him.

Of course. 

When he became the Supreme Dragon King, everyone was afraid of him. He was doomed to have a lonely existence, wasn't he?

As soon as Yoko finished crying, she wiped the tears out of her puffy eyes. "Zarc, take the couch. My son's bed is too small for you. Er, would you like some food? I have some leftover pancakes in the fridge."

"I'd...like some pancakes," Zarc answered meekly, memories of Yuya being served four fluffy pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream flashed through his mind. He also felt Yuto and Yugo's smiles from having something sweet given to them.

"Would you guys also want to eat something?" Yoko asked Yuzu and Gongenzaka. "I can make some instant ramen."

"As a matter of fact, the man wouldn't mind breakfast for dinner," Gongenzaka said. "He believes no one is going to be able to eat breakfast in the morning."

"I'll help," said Yuzu, helping Yoko stand up. "I'll call my dad and tell him I'll be spending the night here and that he shouldn’t, under any circumstances, leave the house. As much as I love him, I can't risk him doing something stupid like dueling for my honor."

That got a laugh out of everyone in the dining room. Yoko and Yuzu decided to cook breakfast for dinner, microwaving the last of the pancakes Yoko cooked that morning. Frying eggs together and bacon, and even buttering some toast. 

The four of them ate in silence, none of them wanting to discuss the elephant in the room.

That Yuya was gone...

Zarc sat quiet as a cemetery, cutting through his pancakes and eating them as if he had never tasted anything like them. Yoko poured him a glass of milk to wash it all down, nearly dropping the milk carton when she saw Zarc look at her with those same bright eyes a two-year-old Yuya did when he first had a taste of her pancakes.

Yoko resisted the temptation to kick Zarc out of the house, scream for him to never come back. She kept a tranquil face as she put the dishes in the dishwasher, and gathered leftover blankets and pillows in the closet to lay out for everyone to sleep. Yuzu would take Yuya's room, while Gongenzaka and Zarc would take the sofas. Gongenzaka insisted he stayed downstairs to keep an eye on Zarc and to throw a geta in the face of any Obelisk Force soldier who tried to kidnap Yuzu.

Yoko climbed upstairs, tossed her biker outfit onto the floor, showered, slipped into her pajamas, and finally collapsed onto her bed. Her breathing ragged, like a tired lion, as she screamed into her pillow. 

Everything she went through as a girl, a biker, a mother, a woman...nothing she had experienced prepared her for this !

First Yusho disappears for three years without explanation. Her son acquiring those Pendulums, the dimensional war. The boys with Yuya's face. Invasions. And now this?!

Why was everyone she loved being taken away from her? Why did it happen to her family? Why was she connected to this madness? And what the hell could she do to ensure none of this happened?

Who should she hate for giving her all of this misery? Zarc? Ray? Akaba? Yusho ?

As she tried to determine who would be the first to face the wrath of the Queen of the Sirens, she came to the conclusion that tossing blame wouldn't bring her son back. Wouldn't bring back Yuto or Yugo either. Pull Rin or Ruri out of their towers. End this damned war.

Pointing fingers at who pulled the trigger never fixed things. Shouting it was someone's fault doesn't take care of the problem. Fault was past, responsibility is the present and beyond.

Yoko pretended she didn't hear her phone vibrating like mad as she shoved it underneath her pillow. Although she did check the notifications to see who was messaging her. There were victory messages from her Sirens, a calm three word text from Shun, at least half a dozen panicked texts from Shuzo, and a simple "Good luck" from Gongenzaka's father.

She was glad Reiji and his mother had the decency to not message her while she was grieving. She'd see them in the morning, or they'd have a representative approach her door. As she glumly noted, once her family became entangled with the Akabas, she was stuck like a fish in a net…

But even if the Akabas gave their deepest condolences, all of the money and their monopoly over the extra deck summonings would not bring Yuya back. It wouldn't bring Yusho home or the three years she wasted waiting for him. 

All she wanted was for everything to be normal again…

But she knew ever since Yusho vanished, there would never be a normal anymore. 

But in this moment, she cried herself to sleep, lost in a dream where she woke up the next morning to make pancakes for everyone.

For Yuto, and Yugo. For Yuzu and Gongenzaka and Shuzo and Ayu, Futoshi and Tatsuya. For Sora, for Yusho...

But more importantly, she would serve the best pancakes she ever made for her Yuya, her ball of sunshine, and he would return with that smile of his.

A smile she wouldn't trade for the world.

---- 

In Yuya's bedroom Yuzu clutched onto Yuya's Hip-Hippo plushie. Tears in her eyes as she wanted to talk to Ray. Ask her why the hell she didn't do more to help Yuya, Yuto, Yugo, Rin, Ruri, her fusion self, Yuri …

If only she could ask someone to smash her bracelet into pieces...

….

Gongenzaka meditated, legs crossed, hands in prayer. Meditation taught them how to be mindful of their thought process. To let their thoughts, good or bad, pass by like leaves floating in a river. Gongenzaka felt conflicted though; he should pull these thoughts like brambles out of his mind, but he needed them to remind himself Yuya needed his help. 

….

Shun stayed with some of the Sirens, a blanket draped over his shoulders and a cup of instant coffee in his hands. As soon as he finished the coffee, he crushed the cup and threw it into the oil drum fire before weeping. First his home, his parents, Ruri, and now Yuto ...

….

In the Hiragi residence, Shuzo numbly stared at a photo of a 4-year-old Yuzu framed next to his diplomas. Praying that he had done enough to protect her for what was to come. 

His gaze fell on a  picture of him and Yusho proudly showing off the grand opening of You Show Duel School. He shook his head before removing the photo off its hook and turning it around. 

At this point, Yusho's smiles wouldn’t pay the bills, or stop Akaba from raising hell.

….

In his office, Reiji shook his head. He removed his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose. 

His father's invasion had been thwarted...for the time being. But tomorrow morning, he had a lot to explain. He could already see the swarm of journalists flocking towards him like birds flying towards a plate of corn.

…. 

In the hospital, Sora Shiunin clutched a pillow and sobbed.

His only dinner was cold soup and a glass of water. Academia abandoned him to the side like a used candy wrapper. 

He cried himself to sleep dreaming of Yoko’s pancakes.

…

And deep within the confines of Zarc's soul, Yuya dreamed. 

A soft fluffy dream. Cotton candy clouds fluffy.

A spotlight shone on him, and he wore a light orange magician outfit. Topping his head was a stylish peaked witch hat, and in his hand he carried a cane.  He used it to tap the ground to gather everyone's attention. His arms were stretched out to the heavens as his Performapals raced out from backstage to entertain the thousands in attendance and the millions watching at home.

The star of the show, Performapal Laugh Maker. With his smile and laugh, everyone forgot their worries and became transfixed with his performance. 

He was happy, happier than he ever had been! There was a king, with carnation pink hair and dove white wings. Oneiros, who smiled at the show, clapping along with each and every trick Yuya Sakaki performed for the crowd.

The Erlking kept an eye on those who slept, and he loved that sleepy look in Yuya's red eyes. So soft and warm like the wool of a sheep that brought people to the land of dreams.

So long as Yuya dreamed, the Erlking had power. 

But Yuya wasn't the only one who dreamed.

He closed his eyes and found himself walking underneath the thousands of lights of a beautiful city. 

Yuto dreamed of his city, Heartland. Strong and proud. His Xyz monsters working tirelessly to protect it from Academia and from the invaders that saw the Xyz like soiled newspaper. Utter trash . 

Yuto sat on an ebony throne with a coat of arms depicting ebony dragon wings with a silver shield and a jagged sword and dark spear crossed over. His face calm, a hint of a smile showing on his lips as a small bird descended from the night to rest on his open hand. Yuto let the bird perch on his finger before bringing it towards its lips. The bird, a nightingale, blushed, before flying off to deliver this message to his beloved queen of the night.

Oneiros blinked a third time. There, he stood on an empty field, blue skies reaching out to infinity and the green grass blowing in the wind, swirling and dancing in the breeze. In the distance, in a shining city of glitter and steel, Yugo rode on his bike. Fast like a hornet, spreading food and supplies and joy to his people like a gentle rain. Children laughed in glee as they drew on the ground with chalk. Food was shared, medicine was given to the ill. There were no more tears or anger or bitterness. Just smiles. Only smiles.

All the things he learned while in Maiami City, to give hope to the Commons. Even if he was one person, he was still one person who could do something.

With only one more fragment to go, Oneiros found himself covered in a waltz of petals before he found himself hiding behind a large willow tree in a secluded garden. The sun shining, the birds tweeted, the wind giggled...and yet there was no music, no happiness. There was a chill of a nightmare found within.

Yuri wanted to be alone. To be isolated and have no one around him. The flowers wilted, all that existed were his Predaplants crawling around, ripping and tearing through the flowers by the root, devouring everything bright and beautiful and green...

Onerios doesn't discriminate between what goes on in the land of dreams. If a dream looks nightmarish, it is not considered a "bad" dream. All dreams fell under his domain, and he didn't judge them like an earthquake doesn't question what buildings it topples down. 

The dreamers didn’t belong. They had friends, families, separate, distinct identities. But no matter what he did to show them a luxurious mirror that would let them escape the Dream Mirror realm, they refused to take it. 

As if they were incapable of seeing it.

And even if Oneiros decided to intervene to wake them up, he couldn't. Zarc had them bound to his very being through a “magic glue’’. It would need an extreme amount of energy to split him apart once more, even if one disregarded the consequences that would occur in regards to how the four boys would feel being their own persons again.

The longer the boys dreamed, the happier they were, and the more and more lost they would become.

Oneiros shook his head as he transported himself back to his throne room of silver and glass. Where reflections rippled like water and images flickered and danced like ghostly gray streamers of film.

They were going to end up here anyway. When Zarc became king and trapped Leo Akaba in a world of his choosing, he would make them his sons. Princes of the dimensions. Zarc would teach them everything princes needed to learn in making everlasting change in their near immortal lives. 

They would make sure there was no such thing as a 'Superior Summoning Method', and humanity would not fall into petty arguments… 

But as he thought of Zarc's future plans, another dream called to him like light in the dark. He waved his hand, numerous mirrors flying away before he stared deep into a mirror framed with winged women and serpentine tails. He stared deep into the reflective surface and felt...bewildered at what the looking glass revealed.

This dream mirror belonged to the mother. Yoko Sakaki. Broken and alone. And yet, her soul sung with light. It was such an ordinary dream too. Just her, serving pancakes for sweet innocent boys...boys who shared the same face. And her husband, dressed like he was off to join the circus, appeared by magic with a bouquet of flowers and a kiss on her cheek. The mother blushed, pressing the flowers to her heart, feeling like she was queen of the world. 

The dream of a perfect morning. So sweet, and yet it resonated with the souls under his care...almost as if they should be there than in their fantasies. 

And for the briefest of moments, the four boys blinked in confusion, feeling...longing. The feeling lasted for only a second, but a momentous second, before they returned to their honey sweet dreams.

Oneiros continued to watch as this dream of a mother, so plain yet so emotional, played out. A happy memory of what should be. A memory of what she wanted things to be.

It was not strong enough to break the hold. Yet.

Perhaps, perhaps , if this mother continued to push forward to fight Akaba's tyranny...then one day they will want to escape these fantasies and wake up in her arms.

One day, she would truly become a queen. 

One day she would sing a siren's song to turn the tides of battle. 

One day, she would be crowned as mother of dragons.

But for now, Oneiros pressed a hand on the mirror. The dream faded away so he could see a lonely and broken mother, tears trickling down her cheek. He wanted to let her dream of happy things, to reward her for her self-sacrifice. She’d endured Hell. Like all good children at the end of a fairy tale, she deserved to live happily ever after.

Sadly, dreams, and happily ever after, could be indistinguishable. They could not exist for long because nothing ever ends. Oneiros’ couldn’t actively interfere in the world of dreams…but it didn’t mean he couldn't give some sort of comfort.

Placing his fingers on the mirror's cold, glass surface, he flicked with his finger. The tears streaming down Yoko's face wiped clean. The only comfort he could give to her, but the smile on her face more than enough to know her nightmares had ceased.

For now.

Sweet dreams, Yoko Sakaki. 

Oneiros prayed with a nod of his head. 

He turned to the sole mirror with a wrought iron frame. On the surface, a man in a purple coat and bald head grinned at a woman with red-wine hair. Rays of light framing her angelic features. 

And may a mother's touch end this madman's lullaby for good.