the dust of hope (STARSHIPPING)

his time

  'Why'd I even ask that?' Judai's teeth ground together as Yusei stilled. The brunette felt hot embarrassment crawl up his neck. 'What a stupid question, of course he doesn't want me around, he probably doesn't want to deal with me- hell, I don't even want to deal wi-'
"Sure." Yusei's curt and unreadable voice cut through whatever mental spiral he was going to go down. "Wont your friends miss you, though?" Ah. Judai's face darkened and he looked down, internally thanking that the other duelist couldn't see him. Chances are, they'd probably think he was traveling again and they wouldn't even notice. Then again he'd barely even spoken to them. Other than the time he'd accidentally ran into Johan while he was traveling... Johan. Johan was the one he missed the most, and one who he would stay for. 'Then stay' He heard Yubel say from the back of his mind but it wasn't that simple. It never was that simple. Yes, he missed his friends, yes he'd go back if there were any problems but there were so many doubts plaguing his mind. What if they didn't want him back? Manjoume had made it pretty clear that he was the one who was always dragging him in every problem and putting them in danger. That he'd only dueled for himself. That they'd always be better without him and he should have not even existed anyway everyone's lives would have been so much better it's not like anyone actually needs him what a worthless existen- "Judai." Again, Yusei pulled Judai out of the downward spiral that his thoughts always were. "Are you sure you want to come with? How long do you want to stay?" Was Yusei... really considering this? The fusion duelist could feel Yubel's worried presence in his mind and felt safe in knowing they'd always be there.
"Yeah, I do! And...as long as you'll have me," He said, grinning oh so fakely. "Is the future cool??" He asked, trying to sound like an excited kid as Yusei kicked off and they started moving. His motions sending an obvious message of 'you'll find out.' Judai, personally, had been on a motorcycle a good time of once before this but he'd also been under some weird shadow magic and barely remembered actually riding it. Another thing, Yusei liked to go fast, which, Judai loved. They started moving, navigating to a long and empty stretch of road. Judai tightened his arms around Yusei's torso, loving how absolutely free he felt. Like they were untouchable. Soon, they were entering the time stream again, the Crimson Dragon throwing it's head in the air and bellowing as they did. Within a minute, Yusei and Judai were skidding back into Neo Domino.
Looking around Judai was bewildered. Everything was so.. dark. They kept driving before arriving at a small place Yusei was staying at. The brunette couldn't stop looking around at everything. Everything was so new and strange. He loved it. Starting a new adventure. Going to new places. Starting over. That's all he was good at. A kuriii pulled him out of his thoughts as Winged Kuriboh appeared and landed on his shoulder, rubbing against his cheek. He could feel it, yet also not feel it. Smiling at his friend, Judai whispered to him, "Looks like we're not in Kansas anymore, Hane Kuriboh." He was joking, of course. But when he looked over, Yusei looked absolutely fucking bewildered.
"We... we were never in Kansas...." Judai couldn't hold back the laughter, actual laughter, doubling over as he laughed. It was such a pure reaction, and he looked so confused. "Judai? Why are you laughing?" He only laughed harder. "Judai?!?" After a minute, the brunette duelist stood up straight, wiping a tear from his eye.
"Oh, Yusei. You're such a... regular hoot." The bewildered expressions came back, doubly so.
"A... a what now?"
"Sorry, sorry! Johan said it once and I'm not gonna let him live it down," Judai joked. ( a/n: yes. he did say it, though in the dub but thats neither here nor there. anyway here u go ) "And the first one was from a movie from my time!" Yusei nodded, despite having no damn clue what the fuck Judai was going on about half of the time. But, it was endearing in a way. Judai always talked with passion and tried to be lively and that's something that Yusei liked about him.
"Yusei! Yusei, you're back!" There was a yell, from a girl, probably young. Yusei turned around and Judai watched as his face went from confused to soft. There were two kids with bright green hair, a girl with red almost magenta hair, a boy with blonde hair, and another boy with orange hair. The kids ran up while the older ones-probably teenagers, as old as Judai or Yusei- walked up. "Yusei and.. who's this? The girl asked again, looking at him with a puzzled expression. The black haired duelist went to open his mouth, however Judai beat him to it.
"Judai Yuki, I'm a stowaway from the past," He said, as if it were a joke. It wasnt. Judai just smiled his normal dorky smile and crossed his arms above his head. Yusei sighed.
"From the past? Ah," She mused for a second before deciding it was a joke. "I'm Ruka!" She said, her eyes shining with wonder.
"I'm Rua! I'm her brother! Do you duel?" His eyes also shone with the same intensity as his sister's. Judai couldn't help but to be jealous. He'd lost that shine, that love for dueling a long while ago. It's not that he hated dueling. He hated what people did to it. Hated how people corrupted it to the point where he was forced to duel for his life on several occasions.
He laughed. "Yeah, I do duel," He said, reaching down and gently patting Rua's head when his eyes shone and he'd demanded a duel. "Maybe later, alright?" Then, he focused his attention back on the others.
"Crow Hogan!" The orange haired one yelled, and Judai looked him over. He had several, several of those yellow markings over his face. They had to mean something. Either way, he looked Crow up and down and held back a flinch when he threw a hand out for Judai to shake. He returned the handshake and couldn't help but think of a certain blue haired duelist. A fond smile grew on his face as he thought of his first meetings with Johan. Though after a second his hand was back at his side and Aki was getting ready to speak. It was like she was thinking of a good way to say it.
"I'm... Aki Izayoi," She said hesitantly, opening her mouth and closing it several times before staring at the ground. "I'm a psychic duelist," Aki said finally, quiet as she waited for Judai to berate her or call her a freak. Though, Judai couldn't do that. Considering he, too, was a psychic duelist. Due to her fear, it was almost like being a physic duelist wasn't so accepted here. He just nodded, smiling. The brunette glanced at his partner on his shoulder before looking at Aki again. She looked so scared.
"What's with the long face? I'm also a psychic duelist!" He watched as her mouth opened to form an 'o', and as Yusei also looked confused. As if he didn't see him using both his powers from fusing with Yubel and him summoning Neos in Venice. Judai laughed again, watching as Ruka looked at him almost starstruck.