Acceleration (Yusei Fudo x Clarice Ng)

Chapter 53: Destiny's Will - Part 2

Crow and Niro made their way deeper into the tunnel. It was dark and difficult to see, so the going was slow. It didn't make it any easier with stray wires and broken things everywhere.

"This must've been the Reactor's research area," Crow realized, his gray eyes observing what they could through the darkness.

"But now this looks like a tomb." Niro pointed out.Hhe disturbed a pile of broken glass with the toe of his boots. Dust flew into the air. Crow wrinkled his nose in an unsuccessful attempt not to sneeze. "Pardon."

"Don't worry about it. Hey, what's this?" He bent down and pulled what appeared to be a photo from the glass and dust. Asben and Niro came close to peer over his shoulder.

The photo showed a man, a woman, and a child. Both adults looked excited and happy to be together with their baby. The woman had light brown hair tied up in an elegant bun and her smile was warm as she held her child. Her husband was much taller than she, his arms wrapped around his wife. His smile was for the baby boy his wife held, but what really caught the eye was the father's rather familiar hairstyle.

"That looks like..." Crow trailed off.

Asben frowned slightly. "I'd recognize that spiky hairstyle anywhere."

"OW!"

"Hey, are you okay?"

They boys jumped. Two voices carried across the hallway. Their small silhouettes stood out, blacker than the blackness.

"I think so. I think my foot accidently kicked this...thing."

"Phew..." Crow, Asben and Niro breathed.

"It's just the twins," Niro sighed, relieved. "What a minute? The twins are here?"

"Um... yeah?" Luna came closer, dragging her brother behind her. Both twins smiled innocently.

Asben crossed his arms, glaring. Crow knew a lecture was coming.

"Where is Clarith?" Niro asked, slowly and deliberately.

"Back where we left her," Leo blurted.

Luna looked like she wanted nothing more than to run her brother through a shredder. "We wanted to see what you were doing and then we were planning to go back right away and-"

"How long as she been alone for?" Asben asked.

"Um..." Luna and Leo shuffled their feet guiltily in the dust.

"I can't believe this!" Asben face-palmed. "Now she'll get into trouble and little dagaon always finds trouble! I can't believe I followed you idiots! Now Clarice could die and-"

"Whoa! Hang on, Asben!" Crow cut his off. "Look, it happened; Clarice was left alone. We messed up, but we can't change it now. Blame me all you want. It's my fault, kay? Let's keep going."

Asben tilted his head back and groaned. "Fine!"

Leo brightened considerably. "And Yusei can protect her right?"

"That's what I'm worried about," Niro scowled.

//

"Yusei Fudo, what're you waiting for?" Roman sneered. "Are you too scared to draw? It's understandable if you are. As I would be, too, if half my lifepoints depended on the type of card I picked."