What Would You Do? YuseixOC

Chapter 18

Nary a soul was as titillated as the commentator in magenta. Though it is his job, he could stand to be a tad more somber after Yusei's victory.

The little girl on my left grunts, a rubicund light shining from under her sleeve. When she rolls it back, the mark of the dragon peers back at us.

I'm shocked and distressed by the revelation. "No... You're just a kid. Why do you have this?"

"Ruka, you're also a signer?" Yanagi wonders, scrutinizing the mark. I feel the urge to hug the girl, to comfort her. But her brother is already on the job.

"Yanagi, think about this rationally." I stare at the white-haired man, a lecture waiting on the end of my tongue. "Back at the detention center, remember what they did to us to find out about Yusei's mark? Remember what they did to Yusei? This is bad. Ruka..."

"Everyone!" The shout makes me turn to the stairs by our seats, finding the source to be Yusei bounding up the steps. "Everyone, hurry up and leave the stadium."

"What? You're joking." I gape at him, unnerved.

"But An-chan, you still have your duel against the King!" Yanagi mentions.

"There are four signers in this stadium. It's too dangerous when signers battle against each other." He looks back at the people in the stands. Many are receiving medical attention now. "You should know, having witnessed my duel just now."

"But Yusei, what about your friends?" Ruka's a sweet girl, worrying about our friends whom she's never once met.

"I'll talk with Godwin. You should leave here immediately."

I stand. This doesn't fly with me.

"No! How can we run away? If it's so dangerous, it means we have to be here! We can't leave you to deal with it by yourself."

"Please. I want you safe." He leaves a parting caress on my cheek, but he doesn't spare me a second glance, taking the stairs two at a time to get back down to the contestant's area in a jiffy. Rua and Ruka exchange unsure looks, wondering what to do.

Yanagi answers their silent question. "If that's what An-chan wants. We should leave, even though I'm a little disappointed." He hauls himself from the plastic bench seat, hands behind his back.

"Urgh! Men!" I sit pointedly back down, bent on staying and supporting my Satellite companion. "You guys can go, but I'm not leaving. What if something happens while we- Hey!"

I'm plucked off the chair and thrown over a shoulder before I know it.

"Himuro! What am I, a sack of potatoes? Put me down!" The taps of his feet and the upside-down view of the stairs tells me that we're leaving the stands.

"Nope. Yusei has enough to worry about right now. And there's no telling how much trouble you'll cause."

My fists fall against his broad back, slamming into it with the most power I can muster. To him, it's probably like flies buzzing. Himuro is built like an ox. I'd have to stand on my own head to reach his height. "I'm telling you, that's why I need to stay! What if he needs me?"

"He won't. What about all the "faith" you have in him? Give him this."

"Shit..." I make an attempt to hold back the tears, sucking in my bottom lip, but a number of them slip past my lashes. I can't dig in my heels if they're not on the ground anyway. "Damn it. You're not really giving me any options, but... Fine."

The doors to the seating shut behind him and he finally returns me to my feet. We take just three steps before we're cut off. Out of thin air, several men in suits take shape. They corner us, moving to block every side of our group. Reflexively, I step behind the kids, making sure they're all within reach, and shuffle them into my grasp.