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

Chapter 8: A Perfect Night

"Why did you do that?"

Sylvia felt like the monkey in the middle. Yusei and Trudge were glaring daggers at each other just over her head, as though she didn't exist at all. Yet it was clear Trudge's words were directed at her, who turned back and risked her life to save him. Yusei certainly didn't do the same, after all, and why should he?

She shivered. This tension was so thick she might choke on it. "I..." She really couldn't say. She opened her mouth, but no more sounds came out.

Trudge crossed his arms. "Why did you turn back to save me? You could've followed Yusei. That's what you were here to do, wasn't it?"

She still couldn't find a decent answer. Nothing he would believe, anyway...

"I just... don't believe you deserved to die in there," she eventually stammered. "It was a split-second decision. The trash was starting to flow through and I was afraid you'd get crushed. Your Runner's definitely scrap by now, but at the very least, you didn't join it. I just... f-figured someone would miss you when you were gone. Dunno who... just... someone. F-family... maybe...?"

Both men were silent as she awkwardly scratched the back of her neck, played with her hair, or fidgeted with her gloves. Yusei's gaze softened. "That was really dangerous of you to do," he said, though his tone was far kinder and gentler than she'd ever heard it. "You have a good heart. Don't waste it on bastards like him."

Sylvia turned on Yusei. "Don't say that. Words like that will only make our situation worse. He's not technically in the wrong, even if he's going about it the wrong way. We broke the law. He's only here to enforce it. Officer Trudge was just doing his job. I don't think he deserved to die for it."

Yusei clicked his tongue, coldly glaring at Trudge again. "He wasn't 'just' doing his job."

For all Yusei was saying, Sylvia expected Trudge to bark back at him like he did during the duel, but he was oddly silent. He merely watched Sylvia, dazed and confused. It was like he was trying to put something together, but the gears in his head were buffering.

"Sylvia Reviar..." he finally muttered after the silence stretched awkwardly long. "Why did you leave the City, anyway? What happened? As far as your record's concerned, you were living a happy life in New Domino City. You were even sponsored and lived in the Diamond Suite in the Tops. So... why did you suddenly run away? And why are you back?"

Trudge's voice was surprisingly soft, too. He was asking as kindly as he could. Despite his gruff voice, she could tell. He must've still been shocked from what she did. Seeing as he was asking these questions, it seemed like he no longer saw her as a threat. Negotiations were an option now.

She swallowed thickly and sighed. He is an officer, after all. Maybe he can help...

Yusei wouldn't like her being transparent about this, but she saw no real point in lying. Doing so would only cause further misunderstandings in the future. She looked up at the officer, but when meeting his gaze proved too challenging, she glanced back to the side, at her Runner.

"I... lost my memory," she admitted.

"Sylvia," Yusei warned.

"Lost your memory...?" Trudge leaned forward, genuinely intrigued and, from the sound of it, concerned. "You mean, like amnesia?"

She nodded. "Yusei and his friends found me soaked in a thunderstorm. They should've just left me behind, but... they didn't. Everyone has been very kind and supportive..."

"Rally Dawson," Trudge realized. "The boy we were chasing when you and Yusei drove us away."

She didn't nod at that, worried Trudge would still come after him. He seemed to understand that and moved on.