Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's: Rainbow Stardust [SCRAPPED]

Chapter 7: Sylv Really Said Kill 'Em With Kindness

11:15 pm. 

Sylvia shivered, though it wasn't from the cold of the night. Yusei anxiously watched the sky, where the full moon was visible through the cracked road, hazed over with dark, toxic clouds. She shuffled her cards over and over again, then re-inserted them in her card dealer and hummed something random. Sometimes she bounced her leg. Sometimes she tapped her Runner's sleeve. Sometimes she even made rhythms by patting her lap or clapping her hands, just to keep herself busy. If Yusei was annoyed by her constant noisemaking, he didn't say anything, letting Sylvia fidget in peace.

It was clear to everyone that both Sylvia and Yusei were nervous. While Sylvia was showing it a lot more than Yusei was, he rarely looked up at the sky like that unless he was deep in thought.

The two of them had already mounted their Runners. The power plant was apparently approximately thirty minutes away, so the time for them to leave was now, if they wanted to make it in time. 

"Yusei, Sylvia," Rally called out to them, standing with his friends on the edge of the platform.

Sylvia was so convinced she would've been choking back tears by now at the sheer thought of being apart from them, but tears didn't spring to her eyes at the thought of saying goodbye.

"It's because you know you'll see them again," Sun's voice assured her. "So there is no reason to mourn or feel sad! Hohoho!"

That's true. She was definitely going to see them again. Yusei wasn't torn apart over leaving his friends, either, because he intended to come right back.

With that assurance settling her anxious heart just a little bit, she turned to Rally and the others with a smile.

"You guys'll be just fine," Blitz told them, his arms crossed. "And Sylv, I wanted to apologize. I know we agreed to take you in as one of our group, but... I was still doubtin' you, and I'm sorry for that."

Blitz had kept his composure incredibly well for having suspected her, so Sylvia shook her head. "No, I'm grateful," she assured him. "Not only were you still suspicious of me for the sake of your friends, but you didn't lash out at me despite that. You've given me ample chances to prove myself and took care of me all the while. I have nothing but gratitude for all of you."

"You're too nice, Sylv," Tank warned. "I know I shouldn't be sayin' this at the last minute, but someone could abuse that, y'know. Ya can't win every duel by bein' nice."

"Maybe not," she answered immediately without thinking, "but I'd sure as heck like to try."

"Hey, Sylvia," Nervin chimed in, "take care, wouldja? And when your memories come back, promise you won't forget us, okay? We'll be waiting for you and Yusei to come back and tell us all about you."

"And what about Stardust Dragon?" she laughed. "I'll come back with my memories and your dreams. I promise."

Her words surprised the boys enough to make them grin excitedly. Yusei put his helmet on. "Sylvia," he told her, "it's time."

"Right." She put her helmet on, too, and lowered the cyan visor.

"Ah! Wait!" Rally exclaimed, jumping down from the platform to Yusei's side. "Before you go... Take this, my good luck charm!"

Rally pulled a card out of his sleeve and handed it to Yusei, who recognized it instantly. "This is..."

"Turbo Booster!"

Sylvia gasped. "But... Rally, didn't you love that card? You used it against me, too..."

"It belonged to my dad," Rally told her, as if it was the most casual thing in the world. "He was a mechanic, so I wanted to follow in his footsteps by using a Machine-type deck. I'm not so good with the complicated stuff like Yusei, though... He always said that when you're in a tough spot, getting a boost from someone close to you could be the thing you need to get out. This way, it's like me and my dad are traveling with you guys in spirit!"