What Would You Do? YuseixOC

Chapter 12

Tenpei retains his anxious energy up until he sees my invitation. "Isn't that...?" His eyes alight, he points at the letter.

Rua isnt one to be left out of the excitement. "Yusei, that's an invitation to the Fortune Cup! Are you also entering, Yusei?"

"Yes." He bounds happily at my answer.

"Hooray! I'll be able to duel Yusei again!" Taking a pose, he points at me before turning back to his friend. "Yusei, I won't ever lose again. See, Tenpei? Yusei is an incredible duelist who has the skills to enter the Fortune Cup!" It seems the insistance from Rua has changed the other boy's mind, looking up at me with awe.

However, the jovial temperment we'd created is soon to fade. I fall to my knees, lightning searing through my veins. The mark. It's acting up again.

Everyone calls out to me, worried over my appearance. "It's the same as last time," I tell them, but Pinoko was the only one who was with me the last time this happened.

"Last time?" Himuro wonders while Pinoko kneels in front of me.

"The time the Crimson Dragon appeared." My face is scrunched from the pain, but I manage to get the explaination out.

"Just relax. If it's like last time, it will fade." Pinoko assures, stroking my left shoulder to try to give me some relief. The commotion that erupts behind her turns her head.

"Witch?" Rua asked elatedly. "She really showed up here? Where?" The crowded people that watch the duel scatter without delay. The girl rounds on the youngest.

"You were looking for trouble?" She narrows her eyes. "You boys are going to be sorry when I'm done with you. I can't believe you! I'm telling your parents if I ever meet them. This place is not good! You should never come here again. If I ever, and I mean ever, see you here again...!"

It's as though her vexation has called down a whirlwind. The dueling stage was engulfed by visible currents, whipping against my face. Saiga seems to have an idea of what's happening. "She's here. Let's escape before we're dragged into this." We aren't able to go anywhere, however. The power around us lashes out, vines rooting through the duel field and demolishing the ground. It's coming toward us.

"Rua! Tenpei!" Pinoko shouts, all of us tossed in opposite directions. I'm able to stay upright, jumping to another spot in the ground. The dust and debris makes it difficult to see, but in front of me stands a huge reptilian figure.

"Dragon..." The word slips out unbidden. Stripping my glove and rolling up my sleeve proves my fear. The mark has reappeared, glowing bright red.

I'm forced back to the ground, hissing from the pain. "Did you have that before?" Himuro and the others have gathered around me. Pinoko and the two kids were yet to appear. The pain was so great I couldn't focus.

"An-chan... That's the symbol of a Signer. It's the mark of the dragon." Rua stares at Yanagi when he expounds, relocating his gaze to my mark. Tears could the side of his eyes even more when a blinding light erupts from the center of the duel field.

The young twin is dead set on following me to the edge of the field. "Yusei!" he yells.

I get closer, finally seeing that the light hid the figure of a person. "The witch."

"That's the witch..." I put my hand in front of the boy who tries to sidestep me. I don't like this, too many people at risk. Why would Pinoko let him follow me? She's so attached to the children I'm surprised that she isn't at his side.

I hear Saiga's voice from behind me. "The Black Rose Witch... She really exists."

The tension is thick, stifling when added to the dust flying around us. Whoever she is, she's powerful. She's decked out in a long robe and white mask, hooded but with strands of burgundy tresses flowing from under the fabric. "You too?" she says, nearly inaudible. I'm sure she's talking about the mark.