What Would You Do? YuseixOC

Chapter 25

To think that Kiryu, a dead man, had dueled with Yusei not long ago. It boggles the mind, especially mine. And while he explained it, Godwin made sure to never meet my eyes, eyes that must look familiar to him because that is precisely how I felt. It was like looking in a mirror, his seafoam eyes matching her own almost exactly. The striking resemblance may be unsettling, but I needed to focus right now. Was I going to go with them back to Satellite?

My brother tried to teach me never to move backward, but Yusei and the others, I should be with them when it happens. I can't just run away from this when they don't have that luxury.

I stop to sniff the tulips, their sweet scent calming my racing mind. The gardens on Godwin's estate are truly immaculate. The beauty was eye-catching and it gave her something to do while she wandered. I'm sure Yusei would appreciate this time alone to think through what was going on, as well. He holds the bonds between friends very highly, and for him to hear that his partner had given up and thought he had forsaken that bond must tear him up inside. Yusei is not as unfeeling as he may appear. He's in pain.

He has his own demons to deal with and so do I. The path leads me through a walled-off alcove, honeysuckle vines creeping up the trellises. Sunflowers dot the rows of multicolored asters. The colors mix together, recreating a memory that flashes behind my eyelids.

"I might not come back from this one," he warns, just like every time he went on a particularly long or dangerous job. Ryuga was often away for work, but I tried not to let it bother me. "I love you, Pinoko."

I couldn't help but giggle as he tickled me on my sides, and then wrapped me up in a warm embrace. "I love you, too, Nii-san."

"Never give up, my little Queen of Games."

An adorable little willow tit lands on my shoulder, startling me out of the reverie. I couldn't give up. Not on card games, not on Yusei, not on Satellite. They would at least need some support, and who better to help Yusei with his bike than me? I continue along the path, making it to the outside where I find Yusei, Jack, and Aki being approached by Ruka and Rua. He stood back until I walked up next to him and gave him an encouraging smile.

"Have you made your decision, Rua?" I ask him, a hand coming to rest on his head.

"Yeah. Yusei!" He smiles, then takes off to Jack and Yusei. I follow him, stopping in front of the bronze-skinned man with my hands clasped behind me.

When I caught up with Rua, he was speaking to Yusei. "I understand now. The reason why you're cool is because you always believe in yourself and battle!"

"I'm coming, too. Can't let you get rid of me that easy!" I catch his eye, winking at the mechanic. His cheeks darkened, but he kept on a poker face.

Rua turns to the former King next. He seems to strike a nerve of Jack's because he jumps up and yells at the boy. Looking on warmly, I hide a giggle under my hand. They're always bickering about something.

The seven of us are dwarfed by the size of the screens. Each of them is wider than I am tall.

"This is Satellite?" Rua wonders aloud. I don't answer as my mouth gapes open at the sight of my hometown. It was coated in a dense, black fog. Not a single soul walked the streets. Even with the various monitors all over the wall, there's no one to be found.

Her brother asks, "Is it always this foggy?" I sometimes forget that they've never seen it before. The twins were raised in Tops and had no idea what Satellite was really like.

I grab Yusei's hand, squeezing it and tearing my eyes from the image. "No, it shouldn't be," he answers, squeezing back. We both have friends still in Satellite and worry about what may have happened to them.