Who I Thought You Were - Yusei Fudo/OC [REWRITING]

Eight -- The Mark of the Lizard

"Our every moment, I start to replay, but all I can think about is seeing that look on your face."

— "Before You Go", Lewis Capaldi

Yusei

I have to get to Akiza's tower as fast as I can. Kalin had to have been lying when he told me who the final Dark Signer is, but if he wasn't...

"Y-Yusei. There's something...something you need to know," Kalin rasps, his time almost up. "It's about...the last Dark Signer. The one who...who bears the Mark of...of the Lizard."

"What is it?" I ask him.

"Sh-she wanted to...to duel your friend...to hurt you," he stutters. "Sh-she holds both of us...responsible...for that night."

No. No, no, no, no. "You can't mean..." I trail off, unable to finish the sentence.

"I'm so...so sorry. I'm the one who did it," he whispers. "She wants you to s-suffer. Save her, p-please. For both of us."

He's asking me to do the impossible and send her to the Netherworld. I can't.

"If you...ever really loved her...you'd save her." I don't get a chance to ask him how he's put together my feelings for Nova because he turns to dust.

It isn't just Akiza's soul on the line. It's Supernova's...and a piece of mine.

I should've realized sooner. Allison never wanted her sister to be linked to the Enforcers in any way. Allison must've been there that night to try and stop Kalin, and something happened to her in the process.

"Dammit, Yusei, why didn't you do anything?" I chastise myself as I drive. I wish I didn't let Nova walk out on me. I should've approached her years ago, asked her what happened. It makes sense that she'd end up helping Crow take care of orphans, because that's what Allison had done for her. It also makes sense why she'd blame me for that night. Something happened to Allison because I couldn't stop Kalin.

I let Nova down that night. I'm not letting that happen again.

I leave Trudge and the twins in the dust as I gun my Runner's engine, pushing it faster than it's ever gone. The fourth control tower rises up in the distance, getting closer with each passing second, and I realize it's surrounded by the remains of an amusement park. Near the gates of the park, I see the car Akiza and Mina took.

"At least we know they got here okay," I comment, relieved, as Trudge pulls up with the twins.

"What if they dueled already and Akiza lost?" Leo blurts, earning him a punch in the arm from his sister.

I take off my helmet and disengage my Duel Disk, praying to whatever deity can hear me that the last Dark Signer is some random girl and that Akiza's okay. I can't let the twins see me panic, so I put on my normal stoic expression. "Come on. Let's go find our friends," I say.

The four of us split up—Trudge goes in one direction, the twins go in another, and I go in a third. There's no sign of a duel, and while that should put me at ease because it would mean both Nova and Akiza are safe, it makes me feel uneasy. There's no telling what the Dark Signers have in store for Akiza.

"Akiza! Mina! Where are you?" I call out. I bite the inside of my cheek before calling Nova's name next.

"Look out!" barks a male voice as a rotting beam crumbles on top a building. I jump out of the way as a sign falls. "Are you okay?"

"I am thanks to your heads up. Who are you?" I answer. The man is wearing a hat and sunglasses, as well as a gray trench coat. Something about him seems familiar to me, but I can't quite place him.