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Who:

faestra
When: Backdated to the evening of 11/23, after the 'rescue mission'
Where: Yuya and Yuzu's place
What: Yuya wants to talk Plot with Shun. Shun wants to grill Yuya over whatever the hell happened to Yuto. Yuzu may or may not have to attempt refereeing. Clearly, this will not end in disaster.
Rating/Warning: Spoilers up to Arc-V episode 37, otherwise this will probably stay civil? Mostly?

[Shun has no doubt that most participants of that disaster of a 'rescue mission' probably consider the day wasted – even after splitting from his group, he had kept an eye on his cerevice, and since there hadn't been any messages about rescued people from any of the districts...

In any case, Shun himself considers it somewhat fruitful – he has a better handle on the layout of the tech district and first insights on how secure CERES keeps their key buildings. If he needs to strike at them, he know has a starting point to angle his attack from. Still, even while observing the Research Building, his mind had constantly wandered back to his conversation with Sakaki, to things implied, to the mystery of Yuuto's fate.

Rationally he knows that having confirmation about whatever happened to Yuuto won't change anything – he can't do anything to help him from here, not while they are stuck, but. Two days of unexplainable radio silence in Standard and nearly a month stuck doing nothing in Cerealia are weighting heavy on Shun's patience, especially now knowing that Sakaki did see something that night.

Sakaki had told that they would talk once he was better, but Shun is done waiting. Which is exactly why he's showing up on the other's doorstep sometimes in the evening, announcing himself with three hard knocks to the door.]

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[From the kitchen, Yuya can hear the knocks clearly and already has an idea who it may be. Except....this kind of is a bad moment for him. There's muffins in the oven because he's felt bad for Yuzu having to deal with him being sick and cooped up in the apartment. He's still in his pajamas too, which would be mildly embarrassing to greet Shun. So with a croaked 'HOLD ON' followed by a cough, there's the sound of scrambling feet as he dashes off to change into pants and throw his uniform jacket over his top.

When he does finally open the door, Yuya still has his face mask and oven mits on. His normally spiky hair is more unkempt than usual too.]

Uhhhhh....hey. [He throws open the door wider and takes a step back to let Shun in after an initial hesitation.] A text would have been nice?

[Hopefully the smell of baked goods doesn't hit Shun too hard. Yuya is certainly no Michio when it comes to cooking, but he's pretty decent with baking and doing frosting decorations.]

[Shun just folds his arms over his chest as he waits, right hand fingers tapping lightly against his left arm – but that is the only way his impatience shows. He's waited for answers on this for so long, he can spare another few minutes, if that's what it takes. (He is most certainly not thinking about the last closed door he's put up with in order to find out about Yuuto. In any case, getting answers from Sakaki ought to be much easier than getting anything out of Akaba.)

He doesn't replicate the greeting, ignoring the other's state and comment in favor of brushing past him inside. The smell does put him off for just a second (the surreality of it, of childhood memories attached, better times long gone), but he shakes it off easily. He's here with a purpose after all.

He turns back to Sakaki, fixating him with a glare.]

You wanted to talk, so talk.

[...Not that Shun is actually going to give him the chance to, not quite yet.]

I know about that night. That Yuuto dueled Shiunin Sora and that you interfered with that fight. That the brat was recalled by Academia and that you forfeited after that. I know that Yuuto dueled someone for the Synchro dimension.

[The pawn they had already encountered once in Heartland, most likely. He narrows his eyes.]

I haven't been able to contact him since. So, what happened? Where is Yuuto?

[Don't you even try to fool him.]

[Straight to business, huh? Yuya lets out an audible sigh as he shuts the door after Shun then makes his way from the entrance to the common room. There, he tosses his mits onto the coffee table and flops down on the couch.]

The guy from Synchro-- his name is Yugo...and he looks just like us, Yuto and me. [Which has been bothering him for awhile, but he better give out more details just in case Shun was impatient (which seems like a given) and has a temper.]

He said something about how Yuto took away something precious of his, but he didn't say specifically what it was. [He lets out a hoarse laugh that turns into a cough.] He said that they would talk after he beat Yuto, but--...

[Yuya pauses now, looking conflicted and wondering if he should grab his duel disk for a certain card in his second deck.]

Something strange happened when Yuto and Yugo summoned their dragons. Like when I brought out Odd-Eyes against Yuto, there was a burning pain in my chest. [Just remembering it makes him bring a hand to his heart, and his fingers clench into the material of his jacket.]

I think they felt it too, but their eyes started glowing like they were possessed by something. [His voice quiets as he mumbles the memories of their words:] 'Destroy everything. Burn everything to ashes. Eradicate everything.' ...It wasn't them. I only met Yuto, but I knew he didn't mean it.

[Always business and never pleasure with this guy, yep. Rather than to sit down, Shun decides to lean back against the wall opposite to the couch, arms crossing again as he keeps his gaze on Sakaki, eyes narrowing at his story. There is a flicker of confusion at 'Yugo' in his eyes ~~who the hell names their kid Fusion, what a terrible naming sense, no wonder the kid ended up a Fusion pawn~~, but he leaves it unmentioned in favor of letting Sakaki tell his story.

He doesn't stop himself from snorting faintly at the accusation that Yuuto should have taken something – all they have ever done, all they have ever been able to do until Yuuto and he had made the jump to Standard, is defending themselves and the remains of Heartland. It's them that had things, people taken from them.

The mentioning of Dragons, of Yuuto's changed behavior confirms what he had dreaded already though – it truly had been the pawn that had tracked Yuuto down.]

That again, huh.

[It's been a while since the last time Yuuto had been wrapped up in that kind of weirdness, since Dark Rebellion had acted up like that. If it happened again... maybe Yuuto had needed those two days to get his head straight again. ...There is no use speculating about that without knowing one thing for sure.]

...How did their duel conclude?

...

[Too bad his goggles are in his bedroom, because this would be the moment that they would be dragged down to hide his eyes. Improvising, Yuya simply ducks his head, not daring to look at Shun when he does manage to talk again.]

I got Yuto to come around, but Yugo didn't. [...] He lost, and he ended up protecting me from one of the blasts.

[He's guilty beyond belief that all he did was get in the way and cause more trouble for Yuto. If only he could've talked some sense into Yugo as well, this may not be their current situation.]

I'm sorry, Shun. I don't get what happened, but he disappeared after-- [Should he say it? ...Yes, it's the right thing to do.] After...he gave me Dark Rebellion. He told me to bring smiles to people through dueling, for everyone's future.

[And Yuya really hoped he could fulfill Yuto's wish, but being in this new world made things much more complicated.]

[Shun only half-listens anymore after the point of 'He lost.', all sounds seem mute as certainty of his fears settles in his mind, as he puts the words and the way Sakaki avoids looking at him together, as he realizes what the other isn't saying out loud.

Yuuto lost (was defeated, taken, killed?!) and Sakaki is the reason for it.

He doesn't even remember pushing off the wall, doesn't even think about moving until he's right in front of Sakaki, reaching down to drag him up by his collar – to make him look in his face rather than to hide away like a coward, voice level rising in fury with every word he speaks.]

Fool! Naive idiot! Dueling for smiles? That's not what our reality looks like!

[Not his. Not Yuuto's. Not as long as the likes of Academia keep aiming to hunt them. Their duel may not have always been a tool of conflict, but necessity has made it one, and the convictions of one naive child won't just suddenly change that.

Yuuto had to pay the price for it anyhow.]

[After all the yelling, Yuya almost expects a punch next, which causes him to wince. But, is Shun yelling at him or Yuto's wishes? That's the only thing that compels him to speak up, even if he's worried about Shun becoming more violent. When he does-- Yuya's voice is firmer as he meets Shun's gaze]

Yuto didn't want to hurt anyone anymore! Do you think I could lie about--

[His voice croaks at the last second.

All this serious discussion hasn't really allowed him any productive coughing, so his throat is getting to the point that it's terribly itchy yet there's enough phlegm buildup that it feels like he's choking. So now, at the most inappropriate moment he, goes into a coughing fit as his hands shoot up to try to get Shun to release him. Thankfully, he still has his mask on, but it just muffles the noise, making their situation clearly suspicious to anyone who may be eavesdropping.]

[ Did someone call for an eavesdropper!? Yuzu's finally returning home from the rescue mission (her group was very determined, it also contained Athena Cykes and Rock Lee after all) and the sound of a raised voice catches her ear from all the way down the hall. After an alarmed gasp, she speeds up to a run - and the sound of loud coughing behind the door almost makes it sound like Yuya's being strangled. A spike of fear and anger pierces Yuzu's heart and she throws the door open. It slams loudly against the wall, and she finally sees what's going on.]

Kurosaki Shun!!

[ Why did he come back here - well, actually this seemed inevitable, but not now, and how dare he put his hands on Yuya! Her hands are balled up as she storms right up to them. ]

What the hell! Let Yuya go! Manhandling someone who's sick, do you have no shame!?

[In the back of her mind she isn't unaware of a possible reason for this, so she holds herself back from yelling anything worse at him. Still, he better back off, swear to god]

[Shun actually flinches Yuzu calls his name like that, head turning slightly to face her – and for a split-second he's wearing the very same expression as that time she called him out just after their arrival in this dimension (a split second, he's seeing Ruri)-]

[The moment passes as quick as it arrived, pushed away with a shake of head before Shun ~~makes angry raid raptor noises~~ angrily clicks his tongue, drops Sakaki and takes a step back. He takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly, before he picks up the thread of his conversation with Sakaki again – almost as if Yuzu had never entered – now not quite as loud, even though his anger is still swinging in his voice.]

Yuuto understands that holding back isn't always a choice he can afford to make.

[So don't you dare telling him what Yuuto would or wouldn't have wanted.]

...He had the chance to end the duel, but he ended his turn.

[The comment comes out as barely a mutter after the coughing subsides and he's not bowed over from the fit. He is unbelievably glad that Yuzu's returned home and defused the situation, but he's not ready to completely roll over and let Shun stomp on his and Yuto's shared ideals. From just the story about Heartland, Yuya knows Yuto has been through a lot and has been forced to adapt, but he could tell that dueling for happiness was still most important by the way his twin returned to his senses.

But unlike Shun, he'll acknowledge his friend.]

It's okay, Yuzu. Shun just wanted to know about what happened to Yuto.

[Yuzu's still frowning and watching them both carefully, but at least Shun's out of Yuya's space. She nods.]

Fine... but you shouldn't fight.

[That means you too, Yuya. She thought she told you to be careful around this guy!! Stupid boys. She's not sure exactly what happened, but it sure sounds like a fruitless argument, so she just. Keeps on linefacing at them.]

[Shun keeps ignoring Yuzu's input – 'shouldn't fight' certainly isn't on the table right now. Not when he gets that kind of faint argument from someone who never needed to fight for their life, who never had their survival depend on a single draw.]

And just who talked him into that?

[Rhetorical question, just going by Sakaki's earlier account. No doubt that Yuto fights his own duels, had his own say in that decision – and if Shun ever sees him again, if he ever gets to see him again, he will absolutely call him for the idiot he is (holding back in a duel despite knowing the stakes, against the pawn knowing that they are equal in skill), but that will be then.

(He – they, Resistance – will take them back, their lost people, Ruri, Yuto, all of them. He has to believe that).

Right now, Yuya is target of his ire though – he and his ideals and the way as though he knows Yuto, as though he knows anything about everything due a ten minute conversation – and the only reason why he doesn't make another grab for him is Shun's own self-restrain, the iron tight lid he keeps on his temper. Even so, his body language speaks clearly of both anger and restrain in the tense way he's standing, in the way his hand clenches tightly.]

You don't know anything about Yuto.

[That rhetorical question digs in and gets under Yuya's skin with ease. He had to remind Yuto of his true feelings to snap him out of it-- that hurting others and causing destruction was not what dueling should be used for. Not for anger or hatred.

...Did he push too much? Yuto could have finished the duel and not have carded Yugo, and they could hopefully talk things out. Was he the real reason the duel went farther? He was already guilty about Yuto getting hurt in his stead, so the questions that he bombards himself with is disarming. What little confidence he has flickers for a brief moment, but it's probably as clear as day to Shun. A hand shoots up automatically to his head where his goggles would be resting. Right, he forgot again. Yuya's fingers twist into his bangs to smooth out the action.

'You don't know anything about Yuto.'

He remembers the other Yuto's back leaning against his arm, the faint smile he had worn till the last second, and his words that are still so clear to him now--]

Maybe...but he entrusted Dark Rebellion to me. 'Duel with smiles.' It's the last thing he said.

[He'll let those words speak for themselves.]

[Well, if neither of them are going to back down, she's not content with being ignored. Yuzu hesitantly speaks up again.]

...Yuto said something similar to me. He said that he wanted to end the conflict so that no one would have to be hurt anymore. And even though he didn't like me using fusion, he told me I wasn't wrong for wanting to get stronger and protect our duel school....

Maybe neither of us knew him for very long, but for someone like that, it's not so hard to judge their character, is it? Surely he couldn't duel for the sake of a smile, but Yuya isn't wrong for doing that himself. Because... in order to win, a duelist should play to their strengths.

[Entertainment dueling is not a weak thing to be scorned... Yuto must have seen that. If they can rise above challenges without losing their path, then surely they'll be even better off for it. She raises her clenched hands closer to her chest, looking more determined as she meets Shun's eye.]

Yuto is strong too - that, anyone could see. He's not someone that would be easily lead astray.

Don't you think, Kurosaki?

[There is no satisfaction in seeing Sakaki falter, in knowing that his point has been thoroughly driven home – for all that Shun has embraced the brutal style of duel that Academia has forced them all to adept to, for all that he will never hold back in any duel he fights, no matter how worthless the opponent, he takes no enjoyment from the things he does.

There is no satisfaction in hurting people, no matter how deserved that pain may be.

There is only his anger and the certainty that every duel fought comes down to kill or be killed for him.

He twitches when Sakaki quotes Yuuto's last words, and though it's anger that still keeps him tense, it's grief that shakes him now – he knows well enough that it isn't a lie, that those are Yuto's words.

(Bleak as the present may be, Yuto fights for a future for them all, for a time without conflict in Heartland. For now, Shun fights to rescue Ruri, and now Yuto too – if there's any chance for that. Well, that and seeing Academia crumble. As long as Academia exists they won't have a future that doesn't include the battlefield.)

He shifts to acknowledge the girl with a glance (sees the echo of Ruri when she speaks of Yuto) and it's her words that drain the his anger for good, that make him let his shoulders slump ever so slightly as he closes his eyes, exhaling again before his expression slams shut off any emotion at all.

If this place was safe, if he was with Resistance, his true comrades, he'd allow himself to show the way Yuto's loss leaves him raw – for all that he's suspected, for all that he's feared, neither prepared him truly for the reality of confirmation. He cannot allow to show the effect on him here though - for all that neither Sakkaki nor Hiiragi are his enemies, they are far from being allies either. Neither of them understands – strong or not, Entertainment Duel won't hold up against the force of Academia. They may be able to make them smile and laugh, but Academia's laughter won't be the kind they were aiming to induce.

(Sometimes Shun hears their echoes in old nightmares, and just the thought of the sound sparks the deep seated rage that drives him to fight, to get up again and again and again.)

When he opens his eyes again, his expression is mostly unreadable as he turns back to Sakaki again.]

...Where is it?

[If Dark Rebellion has truly been passed off to him, Shun wants to see it.]

Edited 2015-03-13 12:45 (UTC)

[Leave it to Yuzu to be the light guiding him out of his dark tunnel of thoughts. Some of the weight that doubt has cast on him is relieved by her words, and while Shun's attention is set on her too, he mouths a 'thank you' while it can go unnoticed. It's reassuring to hear he's not completely off base with what little he knows of Yuto, and while not counting Shun, Yuzu is the one who knew the dark duelist for a longer period of time.

It seems that she's had an effect on Shun as well. It's a subtle difference, but Yuya notices the shift. It's away from anger, but he can't begin to imagine what Shun may be feeling. (No, his dad does not count because he still had hope back home that one day he'd return home.)

So when Shun makes his inquiry, he knows immediately and nods slightly:] It's in my room. I'll go get it.

[No hesitation or anything (except maybe a muffled cough), Yuya heads straight to his bedroom, leaving them alone for a brief moment. ~~Also the smell of muffins might be getting a tad strong. Not that Yuya can really tell with his cold.~~]

[Alone with Shun again. Yuzu can't help but feel like this only ever leads them to awkwardness... she's pleased that she was able to diffuse the situation somewhat, but looking over at him, she doesn't think she's going to get another word out of him until he has seen Dark Rebellion. She fidgets with her bracelet a bit in a moment of heavy silence, before the intensifying smell starts to bother her.]

Uhhh, Yuya, do you have something in the oven?

[Actually, let Yuya get the card. She'll take this excuse to leave Shun alone, going to look for herself.]

[Awkwardness, what awkwardness. It's not like he's kind of conveniently avoiding looking at her too much or anything, really.

Or do anything much, but go back to looming at a spot on the wall while he waits for them to get Dark Rebellion and/or deal with whatever kitchen crisis they've brought onto themselves.

...It does smell like there may be something burning, he admits. Oh well, he expects the girl will shouts if she finds herself facing any. Danger. So to speak.]

[It probably would have been helpful for him to toss her the oven mitts, but Yuya's got it after a muffled 'Yeah, why? ...OH!'. His duel disk is tucked under one arm as he exits his room and scoops up the mitts from the coffee table with the other. Shun is then ignored as he rushes to the kitchen entrance to hand them over.]

Aah, sorry! I must have forgotten to set the alarm...I'll uh explain later. [Then to Shun as he makes his duel disk spit out Dark Rebellion:] Here, catch!

[~~Casual card throw like physics and air resistance don't matter.~~ Once Yuya shoots the card at Shun, the look he gives him is the epitome of 'Don't run away with that'. He's putting that line of trust out there! Now it's his turn to tag-team Yuzu out of rescuing the baked goods.]

Actually, let me take care of it. It's my mess, so I'll clean it up.

[As soon as Yuzu opens the slightly-smoking oven, Yuya whirls in and shoos her out before she can be too concerned. Mumbling a "Fine, okay", she stumbles back into the living room.

... Alone with Shun again. ~~damn it!!~~ She should probably say something this time. But what? Uh.]

Take your time. He'll probably be busy with that for a bit.

[and she will just hover vaguely nearby to be there if he needs her, though the odds of that seem slim. As an afterthought, she gestures to a chair.]

Have a seat if you want. [She'll take the couch, regardless]

[Shun easily catches the card ~~mad ygo!card snatch skills activate~~, then turns it to face him. He is only barely concerned of the look Yuya shoots him, tuning out both him and Hiiragi for the most part as he studies the card.

There is absolutely no doubt that it's the real thing; Shun has seen it often enough, has heard it roar, has witnessed it tear into their enemies at Yuto's command. (Has seen Yuto changed, angry and hellbent at destroying anyone in their path with this very Dragon at his back.)

He would be within rights to challenge Sakaki to duel for it. Hell, he would be within rights to just take it – Yuto was his friend, was his comrade, was one of Resistance and so is Dark Rebellion. By right, this card belongs with them, even if Yuto isn't anymore.

Still... 'Duel with smiles' is what Yuto said according to Sakaki, and Shun has known Yuto long enough to know that likely true. He remembers Ruri and Yuto talking, remembers listening to dreams for the future, their hope for a Heartland that will no longer know conflict.

A Heartland that will have peace and laughter and smiles, like the ones of their childhoods.

A lifetime ago, they were careless, unafraid and innocent. The war changed them all, stripped them of carelessness and innocence and taught them that some fears keep you alive, so they adapted to them the moment they realized that survival is what matters most. Shun doesn't think that any of that can ever be forgotten, that they'll ever return to who they used to be. It doesn't matter now, because Yuto and Ruri are both far, far, gone and Shun can only cling to hoping that he'll find a way to return them both.

Come what may, even gone beyond his reach, even taken by his enemy, he will never abandon his comrades. This is what Shun believes in.

Still, maybe he has to let this one go... even before Standard, Yuto had been tired of the fighting, had wanted to just stop hurting people – not that he'd ever truly wanted to hurt anyone in first place, but-

He remembers Yuto's quiet voice, remembers clenching hands and the look of dismay on his face as he had declared "I don't want to hurt anyone anymore." the first time, knowing that there is a difference between the things they want and the things that need doing, knowing that for all what he may say, chances are his next duel will bring harm to someone, because there's no alternative, not for them.

There is an alternative now, for Dark Rebellion at very least. Someone who may be able to use this card and wear the smile that Yuto lost three years ago.

It takes until what almost might seem an eternity for Shun to come to a decision and finally start moving again, taking the step towards the couch table to place Dark Rebellion down before he turns towards the door.

His business here is done.]

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