Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Crossed Fates 1: Aki

The Bullet's Return Part 1

"You're thinking too much. In battle, that might cause you to flinch" Eli told Aki as she removed her doctor coat. It was a race against time, yet their bodies were at their physical limit. At Eli's request, both had stopped at a diner in the middle of the highway. Aki simply glared at her coffee, keeping her head down.

"I shouldn't even be here, thinking. We have to reach the others as quickly as possible." Aki's stern tone made Eli arch her back. Both women were feeling tired, maybe even sleep-deprived, but Aki's resolve was growing stronger by the minute. Eli couldn't help but sigh.

"Adjuster won't be back for at least 24 hours. He doesn't have the energy to spawn that often. Take this time to regain your strength." Aki pierced Eli with her stare, thinking.

"How do you know so much about him?" Eli gave a faint smile.

"Well, I've been fighting him for the past 3 years. Every time he appeared in the timeline to kill Father, I'd pop up and stop him without being seen. That's sort of how I got to see everything. While Father was recovering from his injury after dueling Kiryu for the first time, I was dueling Adjuster in the woods behind the orphanage, for example. Overtime, I started using my spare time to research into Adjuster, and got to know him as well as I got to know all of the Signers" Eli concluded. Aki saw her demeanor; tired and spent, yet proud and boastful. She appreciated the duality of her character; Eli looked and felt like she had suffered a great deal behind that smile, but she emanated the same blind hope Yusei inspired on everyone around him. Surely, her open and chirpy personality had been obtained elsewhere. Aki felt the curiosity to ask about her parentage, as she still wasn't completely sure about everything Eli had said, but the pressure to solve whatever dilemma they were in was more important.

"I see. Do you know anything that can help us?"

"Well, it'd be good for you to know about him. Specifically, the fact that there isn't just one Adjuster, and you're never fighting the real one."

"Huh?"

"I've met three different versions of that man, and named them all accordingly. Adjuster, Judge, and Finder. However, they're all...ahh... 'pieces' of an entirely different thing. A manifestation of time itself. A God of sorts" Eli said as she tried to put herself into simple words.

"So we're fighting a god?"

"Ah, no, no. The god itself can't move from place; it is bound by its task to let time flow. What it does is, it sends chunks of him to correct anything that he perceives as a threat to the flow of time. Adjuster is just a large chunk that fragmented into three for some reason. That's why he can only spawn every so often; he lacks the energy. Additionally, he cannot appear at a point in time where he has appeared before." Aki heard the girl explain herself as she took a piece of bread and broke small pieces of it off to represent her story. She seemed to be doing her best to not confuse Aki, or make her think she was crazy. In the end, Aki conceded that not going much into detail was best for her own sanity.

"Got it. So you don't know anything about how to stop him" Aki stated. Eli, putting the pieces of bread into her mouth, frowned.

"No, not really. I just survive and help you all survive..." she whispered. Aki saw her face brood, then realized perhaps her phrasing hadn't been the best. She stretched her hand and placed it over Eli's on the table.

"It'll be fine. You've got us helping you now."

"Us?" Eli inquired. Aki nodded.

"Even if we're distant, my friends will surely help. That's why we have to hurry to Pach City." Eli tilted her head in confusion. She seemed to struggle with her memory, scratching the insides of her memory to remember what was relevant for Pach City around that time. All she remembered was the Riding Duel Team League hosted there.

"Ah, why are we going there?"

"Crow lives there" Aki commented while she took a sip of her coffee. Eli's eyes lit up.

"Right! He just quit his Team so Rua can get his spot, but he will stay in the city for another 6 months!" Eli shouted brightly. Aki gave a wry smile before taking another sip.

"Knowing him, he won't be able to stay still once he hears the issues we have going on. I don't think him staying 6 months will happen." Aki's words resounded inside Eli. Thinking back, she knew she'd have to reach the hospital and stop Adjuster from killing Aki, but she never thought she'd end up spending all of her energy and needing medical aid. She had taken great care to not alter the flow of time before, and now all of that was gone. Eli sighed before gulping down the remaining food on her plate. They had been on the road for good 9 hours, and they still had three more in front of them. Eli pondered for a second.

"Do you really think they will help? Where I come from none of you all are cl-"

"The future doesn't matter."

"It does. You're all so apart, I doub-"

"I said it doesn't." Aki employed her sternness once again. Eli glared at Aki, as if challenging her to explain herself. "Everyone grew apart. Everyone chased their dreams and maybe forgot to stay in touch. We are all to blame, sure. But Yusei taught us all that bonds are stronger than distance. Even if we don't see each other every day like before, even if we barely talk anymore... I know that if I call out, they will listen. I believe that."

    Eli listened to her mother's words. For a change, she saw a bit of her father in her, instead of being polar opposites.

"I didn't know you loved Father and his teachings so much." Aki blushed while glaring. She put a pile of money on the table and got up, hastily. Eli grinned before following before her. "You know you don't have to get flustered, right? I'm literally a product of your love~!" Aki stopped on her feet and turned around, having her face end up inches away from Eli's. Aki's cheeks were red and puffed; she lifted a finger and seemed to be thinking of something to say. Eli never let the grin go. Still glaring, and red as a tomato, Aki exhaled with a grunt before continuing her hasty walk to her D-Wheel.