Archive of Our Own ^beta

They were both five, the first time they met. 

It was just in passing. Two kids at the card shop, bright-eyed and staring at the shiny cardboard in wonder, as if it held the answers to every question in the universe- universes, rather. But neither had known that at the time.

The taller boy, with red-framed glasses that made violet eyes so much brighter and grayscale hair was the one to buy the card, just so the two of them could get a better look. The smaller, with blue hair and vibrant green eyes, spoke quickly about the card and its effects. The taller barely getting a word in but listening to everything the smaller could say about it. He didn’t mind letting the other talk more.

There was a shared interest in the card and how it could work. Duel Monsters was a popular game even for young students like the two of them. The taller one didn't recognize the other child, so he figured they were in different schools. Not a Leo Institute student, but perhaps from one of the Heartland branches, something that was confirmed happily with a few nods. 

“The Clover branch.” He said with a soft voice. “Leo Institute is too expensive. My uncle owns the Heartland Clover branch though.”

“My dad owns Leo Institute.” The taller hummed, looking at the card. As cool as the shine on it was, and the monster too, he could just get another one. And really, the smaller boy had seen it first. So he held the card out with a shy smile. “Here. It’ll go better with you, I think.”

The smile the smaller gave him made it all worth it. They didn’t know each other beyond that, but there was still a knowing look shared between them as two sharp voices called out their names. The taller winced, frowning at the voice that called his name out.

“Reiji! We’re leaving. Now.” It was a stern, gruff voice. Reiji hid a grimace.

“Yes, Father.” He murmured. The smaller boy jumped at the voice that followed.

“Yusaku.” He didn’t need to be told to hurry, sparing a quick look at the other boy before keeping his head low, following the second man out of the shop.

“Bye.” Yusaku whispered, his voice barely audible. 

“Bye.” Reiji replied, flinching at his father’s firm glare.

Neither knew what the sudden departure was about. Or why their fathers seemed so against the two speaking with each other in the card shop. It was something so innocent, two kids bonding over their love of a game. Against the back wall of the shop, someone else had taken notice of what went on. With a yawn, the large feline-like animal stretched out on the counter. Perhaps there would be something interesting going on at last. 

If the two were able to find their ways back, that was. Kuriboh owners always did in the end, so he wasn’t too worried. Sphere Kuriboh had made quite the choice. A white-tipped tail flicked lazily. Fate wouldn’t like him doing much more than that, and he wasn’t in any hurry to upset her again.

But that didn’t mean he couldn’t watch it all unfold.

Being ten sucked.

Reiji stormed away from the building, tossing the busted duel disk to the ground as he did. How dare he! His fa- Akaba Leo , just who did he think he was?! Running off, opening some stupid school in the middle of the ocean, and all that talk about dimensions as if they were real- like Heartland was in another one- and unifying them-

What about unifying his own family? He disappeared without a word and left Reiji as CEO, without a single care, just to be a delusional old man on an island with school children? Reiji glared at the street, kicking a rock in front of him. His father had never been kind, but there was more going on. Just what had that girl meant? An invasion? Were Leo’s delusions seriously something a bunch of kids would listen to?

Of course they were. Reiji rolled his eyes. Kids were impressionable, stupid, and the quacks Leo decided were good teachers went along with it from what Serena had said. She had said a lot, including calling him brother- now that he could believe. The girl looked a lot like, well, her. The sister Reiji had never met, the one who had a whole room as a shrine…

Akaba Leo had always been weird, Reiji finally decided. If Rei was alive, maybe he wouldn’t be like that. But she wasn’t. Serena was, and Reiji wasn’t sure if she was his sister or not. He didn’t remember having a younger sister at all. Families sucked, he decided that too.

A cackle made Reiji look up from the street, frowning at what was ahead of him. On the sidewalk, in front of an alleyway, sat a brightly colored fox. Orange fur stood out against the dull buildings around it, with brown paws and ears and two white-tipped tails. Its eyes, one yellow and one blue, blinked when it had Reiji’s attention. He grimaced.

“Go away.” Reiji muttered. “Animals don’t have to worry about families being weird. You’re lucky.” He felt weird enough talking to an animal about it.

The fox cackled again, almost as if it were laughing at Reiji’s misfortune. He glared at the fox as it stood up, turning to go down the alleyway, but looking back over its shoulder at Reiji. What an odd creature.

“You want me to follow you?” He asked. Strangely, the fox nodded. 

Well, it wasn’t as if he could get into any more trouble. He had gone to Leo’s stupid island, going down an alleyway in the city he lived in following a fox sounded like something his mother would accept far better than that first one. And he was in no hurry to return home. So following the strange animal it was.

It didn’t take too long for the fox to stop in front of a familiar door. Reiji frowned. In front of him was the game shop he hadn’t been to since that day five years ago. Leo had forbade him from coming back to it, but didn’t scold him for buying the card, Reiji still didn’t know the real reason why he had been banned from finding the shop again.

But Akaba Leo wasn’t around to tell him no. Reiji opened the door, blinking in confusion as he looked around the shop. Was it the same shop? The outside looked familiar, but the inside had changed so much. Gone were any signs of Duel Monsters cards, the shelves were filled with boxes, simulation games, all sorts of games Reiji had never paid close attention to really.

He was competitive at heart. Easygoing games weren’t really his thing. Yet that seemed to be the only games on the shelves. It couldn’t be good business to just have those games and nothing else. 

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the fox going behind one of the shelves. “H-Hey! Wait!” Reiji was sure there was some sort of law against wild animals being in shops. He ran after the fox, stopping just short of running into someone else. Reiji blinked, looking down.

The boy in front of him certainly wasn’t a fox. He was nearly a head shorter than Reiji, with blue hair and pink streaks in his bangs. He looked even smaller than that though, as if he were trying his best to disappear. As the boy looked up, Reiji gasped softly.

He knew the boy . They had met in passing, bonding over a prismatic Sphere Kuriboh card for an hour before their fathers had ordered them away from each other.

“Yusaku?” Reiji whispered, frowning at how the boy winced.

Hadn’t one of the students that tried to corner Serena flinched in the same way when a teacher shouted at them?

There was no mistaking those green eyes that looked up at him, though they were a bit different. There were a few flecks of purple in them, barely noticeable but still there. Yusaku looked tired too, and around his eyes- Reiji felt like there was ice in his chest. He had seen that before.

Electric shock scars. Yusaku looked down again, backing away from Reiji, until Reiji reached out a hand to touch his arm. “I-I’m sorry… I…” Yusaku whispered in a hoarse voice. “I can’t remember…”

“Remember you? Or remember me?” Reiji asked in a quiet tone.

“You.” Yusaku replied. “You… look familiar but I… it’s hard to…”

Something had happened over the past five years. Something bad , Reiji shook his head, leading Yusaku over to one of the tables in the game shop. It didn’t have a game open on it, but it did have two chairs side by side for them to sit on. Yusaku looked as if he was a small gust of wind away from falling over. “Reiji. I’m Reiji, we met here actually. Because of a Sphere Kuriboh card-”

Yusaku winced, and Reiji thought he would fall off the chair from the violent reaction. His eyes widened in shock. “Yusaku?”

“No duels!” Yusaku shook his head, wrapping his arms around himself. “Please…”

Reiji blinked once before nodding. “Okay. Okay, what happened?” He asked.

Yusaku shook his head again. “S’m’thin’ bad.” He mumbled, not looking up at Reiji. He had already guessed that, but it seemed Yusaku didn’t want to go into details. Whatever it was had really hurt Yusaku. So Reiji let the topic drop. At least there was some recognition in Yusaku’s eyes now.

Well, the least he could do was try and help Yusaku calm down. He looked around the shop for something, anything that could do that. Until he found a water cooler in one corner of the shop near them, some empty paper cups stacked next to it. It was something at least. Reiji went over, filling up a cup and bringing it over to Yusaku.

“Where are your parents?” Reiji asked, urging Yusaku to take the cup.

He did, downing half of it before answering. “Where are yours, Reiji?” He countered.

“On an island he says is another dimension.” Reiji shrugged as Yusaku looked at him. “My mother is probably at the school.”

Yusaku bit his lip. “...dunno. I don’t remember them.” He finally admitted, finishing off the small cup of water. 

Reiji frowned. That couldn’t be right. Yusaku was looking anywhere but at him, he knew people did that when they weren’t telling the full truth. He didn’t press though, he could vaguely remember a cold man being with Yusaku when they met before. Memory loss was a good excuse for Yusaku to not find that man again. Hadn’t Yusaku said something back then about other family…

Reiji stood up straighter. “Do you remember your school? Your uncle?” He asked.

Yusaku blinked in genuine confusion. “I… have an uncle?” 

“You said he owned Heartland’s Clover branch.” Reiji nodded. That was it! It was how he could help Yusaku. If he didn’t remember anything, and he was lost from the looks of it, he had been for a while. Then Reiji could take him there.

A yip from under the table caught their attention. Both boys looked down, seeing the fox that Reiji had followed. It stared up at them before walking out from under the table. It trotted towards one of the doors, sitting down next to it. 

“What if we go to your uncle? He’ll have to take you in! You’re family.” Reiji refused to think about Leo as he spoke. He knew already that if Serena needed help- well, more than she already did- he would help her. So Yusaku’s uncle had to help him!

Yusaku looked hesitant, scared almost. “I don’t remember him though.”

“I’ll come with you.” Reiji said, holding out a hand to Yusaku. “If he’s mean, we can let the fox bite him I bet.”

The bark that came from the fox almost sounded like a laugh. It tilted its head, eyes bright as it looked at them. Yusaku couldn’t hide a small smile at that. The first time Reiji had seen him smile that day. He took Reiji’s hand, and Reiji noticed how much it shook, and the same lightning-like figures around his wrists.

Whatever had happened, Reiji hoped Yusaku’s uncle could help him through it. If he couldn’t, then he would march back to his mother, demanding Yusaku get help from Leo Corp instead. 

“You really think he’ll help?” Yusaku asked.

Reiji nodded. He thought about it. Heartland’s Clover branch… that was Faker Tenjo. Reiji had caught the man being less than impressed at meetings with Leo before. Anyone who didn’t like his father was bound to be good. “You won’t be alone. And if I can get away… I can come check on you, Yusaku.”

Yusaku blinked in surprise. “...I’d like that, Reiji.”

Reiji smiled softly at Yusaku, squeezing his hand. Whatever happened, Yusaku would be okay. He knew that for certain when the fox finally stopped leading them through doors and alleys, stopping at Heartland Tower. It tugged Reiji away as the doors opened. The voice he heard when Yusaku was noticed was shocked, but not in a bad way. 

At least his friend would be alright. Reiji was certain. Especially when he caught sight of a very familiar card peeking out of Yusaku’s pocket.

They’re both fourteen the next time they meet. 

Yusaku glared at the table in front of him, stubbornly refusing to get up from the floor as he leaned his side against the wall. His wrist ached, the duel disk there an unfamiliar weight that he was having trouble adjusting to. From on top of the table, heterochromatic eyes stared down almost mockingly at him. Three tails waving slowly as the creature the eyes belonged to laid on top of the table.

“I’m not stealing anything. I’m just resting.” Yusaku ground out. Not like there was anything he wanted from the store anyway. There were some slice of life games, a few trinkets, some boxed carebots, and of course; Duel Monsters. 

Yusaku really hated those cards. Ever since he was six, the day he was grabbed and shoved into that white room, forced to do just three things. Eat, sleep, duel. Of course, if he dueled poorly, then the eat and sleep parts were taken away.

It had been hell for six months. Six long, torturous months. Months he could never get back, months that had shaped his entire life and health to that point. Months he was finally getting revenge for. He just hated that he had to duel to get it. Looking at his deck made him feel sick as his mind raced back to the Incident. He did his best to end duels quickly, like the Incident had taught him to. The quicker a duel ended, the quicker Yusaku could get away.

Playmaker couldn’t be weak. He couldn’t have a panic attack from just holding cards. Yusaku could. It wasn’t as if there was anyone around to call him out on it anyway. He lived alone, in a rundown apartment in Den City. Fully paid off, the only thing his uncle had given him before shipping him off after the birth of his youngest cousin, that and keeping his medication paid for. Yusaku was completely on his own besides that.

He didn’t mind it. No one around to call him weak for fearing a card game, no one around to complain about him not going to school- there was no point, he was top of his class no matter the subject. No one… to just keep him company.

Other than the weird fox on the table in a game shop Yusaku had never seen anyone working at. He wasn’t sure how he kept ending up there, but he’d take the small blessings where he could. It wasn’t as if the fox was bad company, after all. He was just weird.

Then again, so was Yusaku. He was counting a strange three-tailed fox as a close friend- only constant friend really.

He sighed, rubbing his eyes tiredly. “I have to get some computer parts from somewhere soon. Don’t suppose you’re any good at stealing from junkyards?” He asked the fox, who simply yawned and laid his head on his paws. “Right…”

“And why would you be stealing parts from junkyards, Yusaku?”

He didn’t jump at the new voice that rang out in the game shop. But he certainly hadn’t stayed still. Yusaku looked around warily, on guard until he realized who the voice belonged to.

Violet eyes behind red-framed glasses, grayscale hair, and a turtleneck that looked less like a Christmas nightmare finally. He hadn’t forgotten the other boy a second time, at least. “Reiji.” Yusaku sighed.

His heart stopped hammering a mile a minute as he looked at the other boy. There was something calming about him, his presence making the game shop seem just a bit more soothing. It had been four years, but Yusaku still remembered it was Reiji that had helped him find his uncle again after he had gone missing for four and a half years from the Incident. He still had issues remembering a lot of his past, but he remembered Reiji clear as day.

He hadn’t seen Reiji since their last meeting, strangely enough. Though it wasn’t as if Yusaku had gone looking for him most days.

“It’s… complicated.” Yusaku finally decided on saying.

“Is it the reason you’re sitting on the floor and not the chair?” Reiji raised an eyebrow. His voice had gotten deeper over the years, and Yusaku nearly sulked at the realization he had gotten taller too. It wasn’t as if Yusaku himself were still small, but Reiji had at least six inches on him if he had to guess. Six months of torture on top of an already bad home life left Yusaku playing catch-up with most his age.

“The floor is comfortable. No one notices me if I’m down here. So I can work in peace.” Yusaku shrugged before gesturing with his left hand to the parts in front of him. He winced at the movement, his wrist still tender.

Reiji caught the movement, frowning at Yusaku. It didn’t take him long to settle on the ground next to Yusaku, reaching out to him before pausing. “...That’s a duel disk. You didn’t like dueling the last time we met.”

“I still don’t.” Yusaku sighed again, taking off the duel disk. Reiji had already seen the scars, and it wasn’t as if they had gotten any worse over the years. With it out of the way, Reiji took it as a sign to grab Yusaku’s hand gently. His fingers brushed over Yusaku’s wrist, feeling for any sore spots. “I’m not used to having a duel disk but… I need it. For work.”

“Work.” Reiji echoed. “At fourteen? Did you try pro leagues?”

“Not a chance. And you have no room to talk, CEO.”

Neither had really spoken about their home lives the past two times they had met. Yusaku knew some about Reiji, however. CEO of Leo Corp, dueling prodigy, genius. All words thrown around about him. He looked nearly as tired as Yusaku felt, so there had to be truth to them.

Plus, a father who was MIA. Yusaku was beginning to believe what Reiji had said about him being on an island in another dimension really. There was something about Reiji that made Yusaku’s guard drop down, that made Yusaku trust him and his words. Had it been anyone else, Yusaku would’ve seen it as something dangerous. But it was Reiji.

Who seemed just as comfortable with Yusaku. “Wear your sleeve under the band. Or get a new duel disk.” Reiji said, looking at the red spot on Yusaku’s wrist. 

“Duel disks are expensive. So are computer parts.” Yusaku shrugged. “But I need both for Link Vrains for work.”

“Work… related to these?” Reiji’s fingers brushed over the Lichtenberg Figures on Yusaku’s wrist as he looked to Yusaku’s face.

Yusaku frowned. “It’s best to not ask questions. Unless you want to talk about your dimension hopping father?”

Reiji chuckled. “You mean the one I’m going to murder in his sleep for putting my five sisters in danger all for my dead one?” He admitted, still holding Yusaku’s wrist.

Yusaku hadn’t been expecting that as an answer. He stared at Reiji, waiting for the other boy to admit he was joking. And yet, it never came. Reiji was serious. It was the first time he had mentioned having siblings. And to admit to contemplating patricide so casually too. Yusaku didn’t know what to respond with at first, just sitting there as Reiji rubbed his sore wrist with a practiced ease he had seen in professional duelists.

“Well if we both succeed in murder, we could be each other’s alibis?” Yusaku finally offered, making Reiji pause in his movements.

“You’re killing… your uncle?” Reiji guessed.

Yusaku shook his head. “That’s Kaito’s job. I don’t live with them anymore.”

“Hence the junkyard robbery?”

“When we met again, four years ago.” Yusaku decided to answer with. “I was in a bad spot. Because a few months after I turned six… I was kidnapped. They tortured us, shocked us, forced us to duel and withheld food and sleep if we didn’t.”

Reiji’s grip on his wrist tightened. It didn’t hurt, but it was a protective hold.

“I lost memories from the electrocution, I still have memory problems when it comes to people. It took me three years to recognize Kaito’s face consistently.” Yusaku admitted softly. There had always been one face he never forgot though. A face framed by red glasses and gray hair. “But I finally found the people responsible for what happened. And I’m going to wipe them out. I need to. I can’t do anything because of the Incident.”

Reiji hummed softly, a knowing look in his gaze. He didn’t speak, but he pulled Yusaku closer. It was then that Yusaku realized he had been trembling. He pressed close to Reiji’s side, closing his eyes. He told him more than he had told anyone else. In such a short time, Reiji had once again torn down the walls Yusaku tried to keep up. To separate himself from everyone.

“I’m doing the same. My father wants to use people as an energy source for an apparatus meant to fuse four girls into one. Four of my sisters. But there’s four boys he’s trying to get rid of too, because they have a connection to my older sister’s boyfriend.” Reiji explained. “I’m trying to stop him.”

“That sounds a lot more urgent than my revenge.” Yusaku pointed out.

“Perhaps. But I don’t have the power to stop him yet.” Reiji admitted softly. “I’m missing key pieces. The boys, for one. And the power to stand up to his soldiers. The students at his Academia.”

Yusaku grimaced at that. “Soldiers at a school? Like, our age?” At Reiji’s nod, Yusaku scoffed. “Just threaten to take away their prized cards or something. That’s what kids like most isn’t it?”

Reiji chuckled, shaking his head. “If only it were that easy. But I need… I need a way to get into Academia’s computer networks.”

That was something more in Yusaku’s range of skills. Not that he was a bad duelist, he just hated it. Computer programs however… “Do you have a phone with you? Or a laptop would work better. Larger screen.”

Surprisingly, Reiji did have a laptop in his bag. The fox on the table sat up as Reiji opened it, holding it on both their laps. Yusaku gave him a faint smile before taking his hand back from Reiji’s, holding it up close to the screen of the laptop. “Do you know the name of the network?” Yusaku asked.

“Just Obelisk Force Academia.” Reiji told him.

“Then watch.” Yusaku nodded, closing his eyes and focusing on the lines around the game shop. Something he had learned to do years ago. Link Sense, his own unique ability. Yusaku had never questioned it, his connection to networks and computers. He hadn’t had much practice with it, but he was a natural at sneaking into networks undetected. 

He wouldn’t admit to breaking into Leo Corp networks on a few occasions. Whenever he had down time from tracking the Hanoi and was bored enough. 

Soon enough, Yusaku opened his eyes, the symbol of Academia appearing on Reiji’s laptop before file after file was loaded on the screen. Reiji stared, mouth hanging open in shock. “So long as I have the name of a network, I can find the lines that connect to it and get into it. It can’t be detected.” Yusaku explained, somewhat sheepish as Reiji turned to him with a look of awe as the light green glow faded from his hand. “I’ve never tried to do it with a network in another dimension that I know of, but…” It obviously worked.

“You’re incredible.” Reiji whispered, taking the laptop and looking quickly over the files. He missed the faint blush on Yusaku’s face at his words. “...There’s no mention of you in these files. So that can help, it rules out Akaba Leo being part of the group that kidnapped you.”

Had that been Reiji’s true reason for wanting into Academia files? On top of finding information on the four boys and his sisters? “No, it was the Hanoi that kidnapped me.

Reiji nodded, looking around the files once more. “...There is mention of a Hanoi Project? And Tenjo Ren…” His eyes narrowed as Yusaku tensed beside him. “I’ll delete those. Academia doesn’t need that information.”

“Keep copies of them.” Yusaku whispered.

Maybe one day, he’d be brave enough to ask for the files. As it was, he simply tucked himself against Reiji’s side, grateful he didn’t have to support himself, and offering some comfort as Reiji went through the Academia network. The two sat in silence, Yusaku almost drifting off to sleep. He had, for a few minutes. Given the next thing he knew, Reiji was closing the laptop and gently nudging him.

“It’s getting late. You should get some rest.” Reiji whispered. The game shop was a bit darker, with the sun setting outside.

The fox stood up then, chirping at the two. Yusaku nodded, collecting the half-built computer from the floor before Reiji’s hand on his shoulder stopped him.

In his free hand, he held out another laptop. “Take this one instead. And don’t go to junkyards for parts. You’ll get tetanus.” Reiji scolded lightly. “If you need parts for anything , there’s a card already registered with an online seller. Use it . You deserve to get answers about what happened eight years ago, and this is the best way I can help with that. Especially since you helped me get my own answers.”

The red flush on Yusaku’s face wasn’t going away any time soon. He took the laptop, not noticing that the fox’s tails swept the computer parts away from them. “I… Reiji…”

“I’m not going to stop you. This is something you need to do. So I want to make sure you can do it.” Reiji smiled. “Maybe next time we end up here, you’ll have your answers, and I’ll have sisters who’ll want to meet you.”

Their parting was a lot happier. Yusaku felt lighter as he walked out of the game shop, the fox choosing to lead him out as Reiji left through a different door. He listened as the fox yipped and cackled about something, not understanding a single word from it. He opened the laptop as they walked, noticing a page was already open.

A new email account, with the password on a sticky note attached to the screen. And an open email, one confirming an order for… a carebot. Yusaku’s eyes widened. It was just like the model in the game shop. The sticky note had more than a password on it too.

Let Roboppi help you out. Just as I can’t handle my mission on my own, neither should you.

Yusaku paid no attention to the tears that sprung to his eyes. It was… nice. For someone to actually care. “Roboppi…” He whispered, smiling softly. Maybe having a bit of help on his mission wouldn’t be so bad.

Sixteen, and Reiji was so tired.

A tournament, Obelisk Force invasion, finding new Lancers, trying to keep Reira away from their mother, keeping Shun from fighting anyone who so much as coughed in his general direction, dealing with two spies, Yuya, Heartland being Heartland but not at the same time, Fusion and Synchro dimensions…

He knew his mission to stop Akaba Leo was going to be a rough one, but nothing had prepared him for just how rough things would get. So when a familiar shop came into view, he didn’t hesitate to rush Reira inside. Away from Leo, away from Obelisk Force. Yuya, Yuto, and Yugo were holding their own just fine and Serena had come into the war like a blazing phoenix reborn once Shun was able to get her and Ruri out.

No one would miss him for a few precious moments. Just a little bit of time to recenter himself, time to make sure Reira was out of the warzone proper. He sighed in relief at the sight of orange fur and brown paws. “Watch him.” Maybe it was proof his own mental capacities were slipping, if he was trusting his brother’s safety to a four-tailed fox.

…Had the fox gained another tail? There was no room to question it.

“You look like hell.”

And he certainly wasn’t going to question the melodic voice that greeted him as he approached the counter. Leaving Reira with the fox, Reiji didn’t hesitate to walk around the counter, standing behind Yusaku and dropping his head on the other’s shoulder, wrapping his arms around that slim waist. Yusaku tensed at the sudden contact, pushing something away from them on the counter, but relaxed into it soon enough. Not without confusion, however.

“You rushed into here like there were hellhounds at your back.” Yusaku murmured, leaning back slightly and putting a hand on Reiji’s around him.

“That sums it up.” Reiji murmured back. “I’m about an hour away from patricide, by the way.”

Yusaku’s shoulders shook slightly as he held back a laugh of disbelief, a movement Reiji didn’t like as his head moved with it, but he wasn’t complaining. Seeing the other boy was the recharge he didn’t know he needed, until it was right in front of him. “You’re fighting your father, and you came to a card shop?” He questioned.

“Needed a place to hide my brother.” Reiji admitted, gesturing vaguely over towards Reira.

“Brother? I thought- ah.” Yusaku caught on quickly with a nod as he looked over to Reira. “...he’s rather small.”

“You were too when you were ten.” Yusaku wasn’t that short anymore, Reiji realized. The past two years had been good to him. They were almost the same height, he lucked out on that. Standing with his face buried in Yusaku’s shoulder was comfortable. “There’s a whole war going on. Sorry about Heartland.”

Yusaku made a confused noise, turning his head to look at Reiji. “You mean the alien war?”

Reiji lifted his head, locking eyes with Yusaku. “The Obelisk Force invasion?”

The two stared at each other for a moment before sighing at the same time. So, things were more complicated than either of them thought. The fox cackled at their misfortune and both glared over at it, only to pause.

Reira and the fox weren’t alone. There was a large… blob? Octopus? Reiji wasn’t sure what it was that was half wrapped around Reira, showing off a mouth of jagged teeth to him, much to Reira’s amazement. Reira always liked horror things…

“Ai!” Yusaku snapped, a tinge of embarrassed horror in his voice. “What are you doing ?”

“What the hell is Ai?” Reiji asked.

Ai looked over at the two of them with one wide, yellow eye. A Sphere Kuriboh was balanced on his head. “Well your boyfriend said there was a war! Figured Ai could help by keeping the kid occupied!” That mouth somehow formed a very convincing grin.

Yusaku groaned, putting a hand over his eyes. “Ai is… my Ignis. AI with free will, created by… that.” He explained to Reiji.

“... You were tortured to create an octopus?”

“An Ignis. Octopus have eight tentacles! I have six!” Ai protested.

“A squid then.” Reiji retorted. Well, it didn’t matter, so long as Reira was safe. He was, and he was enjoying the distraction from the looks of things. That was a good thing. He wasn’t like his mother, who wanted Reira to be a weapon against Leo. Nor was he like Leo, who wanted to use Reira as part of the sacrifice to bring back Rei.

Yusaku touching his hand again brought Reiji back. He wrapped his arms around Yusaku tighter. “I just need a few minutes.” He murmured.

“Take your time. I don’t have anything going on.” Yusaku admitted truthfully. “It’s about time you finished your mission though, mine’s been done for a month.”

“We can’t all solve our issues with technopathy and the stubbornness to outlive Death himself.” Reiji said dryly, getting a chuckle from Yusaku. “Are you going to be here for a while?”

“Maybe. The fox found me at my actual job and dragged me here by stealing my duel disk. Which…” Yusaku gestured to it, revealing that Ai was anchored to it. “We should name him at this rate. He keeps leading us together. At least he didn’t wait four years this time.”

“Only two.” Reiji agreed. They had been meeting closer and closer together, even with just their fourth meeting. “Would you mind if I sent some people this way to get them out of my father’s reach?”

Yusaku hummed softly. “It’s not my shop.” But Reiji could feel his discomfort at being around strangers. 

“You’re currently the only human in it.” Reiji pointed out. “It would be my sisters. Maybe three of the four boys I mentioned before, Yuya’s injured and Yuto isn’t much better, but they’re still holding their own.”

“I don’t know much first aid so I won’t be of any use.” Yusaku admitted.

“You wouldn’t need to. Just stay behind the counter with Reira and I’ll tell them to wait by the door. I’m sure the fox won’t let them bother you.”

A loud yap seemed to be the fox’s sign of agreeing with them. Reiji removed his glasses, setting them on the counter as he moved his head to rest more comfortably against Yusaku’s shoulder. “An hour at most. He’ll be gone by then.”

“Try four hours.” Yusaku murmured back. “That’s how long it took Kogami to finally keel over while I dueled Ryoken.”

“...Kogami Ryoken?” Reiji frowned, his eyes set in a glare. “That bastard was who kidnapped you?”

“Kogami Kiyoshi, yes. Ryoken called the cops to save us.” Yusaku corrected. “Do you have beef with every rich guy I know?”

“Just two apparently.” Reiji wasn’t exactly one of Kaito’s favorite people, not that he could blame him. He didn’t even know the connection between the two of them, that being the person Reiji was currently draped over. “He broke into Leo Corp networks.”

“I do that daily.” Yusaku admitted with a shrug of his free shoulder. “Besides, that’s his tamest crime.”

“He put one of my Lancers in a coma when they went to Link Vrains.”

Yusaku nodded in agreement. “That is the major crime. Besides his hell tornado causing me more damage.”

Reiji thought something was off. Yusaku’s side felt tender under his fingers, and his shoulder was so tense. He opened one eye, realizing Yusaku was wearing a simple t-shirt. And there was a ring of scar tissue on his left arm. As if… Well, that was a morbid thought Reiji didn’t want to entertain. 

“After I’m done, come to the Leo Institute hospital.” Reiji decided.

Yusaku shook his head. “Nothing to be done. It’s fine, Ai fixed it. There’s no damage other than some soreness and numbness. You on the other hand, I’ll send Roboppi after you if you don’t rest.”

Rest was the furthest thing from Reiji’s mind. After making sure Reira was alright, and getting confirmation from Yusaku again that sending others to the shop was fine, Reiji was back in Fusion with new determination. Yusaku’s mission was over, and Reiji was playing catch-up. It would be over soon enough, sooner than he first thought, as the cry of a fourth dragon joined Odd-Eyes, Dark Rebellion, and Clear Wing.

Soon, Akaba Leo would fall.

It wasn’t until he was facing his father, Yuya and Serena by his side, that Reiji realized what Ai had said back in the game shop. Boyfriend … neither he nor Yusaku had corrected Ai.

And somehow, it felt right to have it that way.

Six months, four days, thirteen hours, and twenty-seven minutes.

Yusaku groaned softly, the feeling of fur pressed against his cheek threatened to lull him back to unconsciousness, if not for the fact the fur was moving underneath him. It was a rushed pace, four tails wrapped around him and five others streaming out behind the fox that had grown almost to the size of a horse. Yusaku didn’t question it, nausea keeping him silent as he went limp on the fox’s back.

His hand gripped his duel disk tightly, the band digging into his palm. He knew his laptop was in the fox’s jaws, being held gently enough not to break but firm enough to not slip as he made his way through the alleyways.

The past six months had been hell . Yusaku thought his mission against the Hanoi was rough, it was nothing compared to what came to pass after it.

The Ignis at war with each other, one going rogue to try and kill the other five. All of the Ignis- all of them- dying. Ai returning.

Ai returning.

Ai leaving.

Ai going rogue.

Ai dueling him.

Ai dying-

Yusaku choked out a sob, moving his hand to press his duel disk against his chest. No. No no no, he couldn’t accept that. The past month he hadn’t been able to. He hadn’t slept, he had stayed in the network.

He couldn’t let part of his own soul just die like that. All because of Kogami and Lightning and those simulations that were all false, fakes created to fear monger. None of them were even the least bit true but it wasn’t as if Yusaku could shout that from the rooftops. No one else would believe him about there being four or more connected dimensions and how the simulations were run using only one of the dimensions as if the others didn’t exist.

Ai had been too caught up in what was in them to remember that little detail himself.

He had died to protect Yusaku from something that wasn’t possible. And Yusaku couldn’t let him go.

The bell chime of a familiar door made Yusaku look ahead of himself through blurry eyes. “I- I need- please…” He whispered, sliding to the floor off of the fox’s back and holding his duel disk closer.

All of Ai’s data was there. Roboppi’s as well. He just had to put it back together. The fox whined, pressing his nose to Yusaku to nudge him back against the counter. “The laptop…” Yusaku whispered. He felt so tired. But he had to keep going. The fox set the laptop down, Yusaku’s hand hovering over it shakily as the greenish purple glow of Link Sense began to work through it, the lines connecting to his duel disk.

There was a volley of loud, harsh barks as the fox moved to the other door that Yusaku knew all too well. It had taken nearly twelve years, but he finally realized what exactly was going on. 

The game shop was a dimension all on its own. One that connected several others together through the doors around it. Whoever owned the shop basically owned an entire dimension. And a kitsune to go with it, one Yusaku had yet to learn the name of. But the fox continued barking at the door that connected to an alleyway near Leo Corp’ main office.

Tears sprung to his eyes. He just had to keep working. He couldn’t focus on what the fox did, not while Ai and Roboppi were still in pieces. Even as the door finally opened, the fox growling loudly and snapping his jaws at who had opened it.

“What are- Yusaku?”

Yusaku looked up, eyes wide as he took in the sight of Reiji in front of him. “Help, I have to- Ai and Roboppi, they-”

Hearing the urgency in his voice, Reiji didn’t waste time. He sat next to Yusaku, taking the laptop and opening it, powering it on and getting his own laptop out as well. “What happened?” He asked.

“Ai- we dueled. He- he di-...” Yusaku couldn’t bring himself to say it. “And- and Roboppi-”

It hurt. Worse than dueling ever had. Losing the two of them, the two closest to him, who knew everything and stayed by his side. It felt like dying himself.

Yusaku wavered and Reiji moved the laptops. “It’s okay. I’ve got you, it’s alright.” Reiji whispered, moving Yusaku to his lap instead. The laptops were placed on either side of them as he coaxed Yusaku to lean back against his chest. “When’s the last time you slept? Or even had anything to eat or drink?” 

Yusaku couldn’t remember, and his lack of answer made Reiji look around. “Kitsune?” He had figured it out too. “Please, I need a water bottle, and something easy to eat.”

The fox, as if he could read their minds, or just already knew what was needed, was there in front of them. A water bottle and pack of crackers in his jaws. Reiji took them as Yusaku’s hand hovered over his laptop again. “You can bring them back?”

“I have their data.” Yusaku murmured, closing his eyes as he finally accepted the open water bottle pressed against his lips. He didn’t need to see the screen to see the connecting lines between Ai’s code. “Roboppi’s…”

“Send it to mine, I’ll work on Roboppi, you get Ai.” Reiji whispered, realizing Yusaku wasn’t going to rest fully until the job was done. He didn’t know what happened in full, but Reiji decided he could ask Ai about it once Yusaku was resting.

Yusaku’s duel disk stayed on his lap as he separated out the code to the two laptops. Reiji watched his closely, frowning at the fragmented lines of code and language he couldn’t read. It was going to be difficult, but doable. “I’ll need a bit of time to learn this.” Reiji murmured, wrapping his arms around Yusaku and coaxing him to take a break halfway through, making sure the pack of crackers was half empty before letting Yusaku continue on.

Yusaku’s head ached by the time the data was all separated out. Link Sense strained to its absolute max, his whole body feeling faint. If it wasn’t for Reiji holding him up, Yusaku was certain he would be unconscious on the floor. “I… I’m sorry.” Yusaku whispered.

“Don’t.” Reiji shook his head. “Something bad happened. This isn’t the first time I’ve found you after something like that. I’m just glad it didn’t take four years this time.”

Yusaku leaned back, letting his head fall against Reiji’s chest. “...they died. I killed Ai.” He finally said, letting the tears fall. “Kogami and Lightning… it was a trap.”

A deadly one at that.

He told Reiji about the war, the Ignis dying, the simulations, everything. Of Kusanagi dueling him, of Takeru and Flame, of Ai leaving with Roboppi. How much Roboppi had progressed, only for the code to turn on them. So much in so little time. Reiji listened to it all, keeping his arms around Yusaku as the code on their laptops began to piece together on its own.

All they had to do was monitor it, but Yusaku was finding just doing that to be hard. For the first time in well over two months, he felt safe. He didn’t have to be on guard, there was no need to track down anything else and everything was catching up to him.

Reiji was warm against his back. His arms felt so protective as they held him close. “Rest. I’m not leaving this time. Even if the fox tries to order me away. I’m not leaving you to deal with this alone again.”

He had meant to close his eyes for just a few moments, but exhaustion claimed Yusaku quickly, pulling him deep into unconsciousness. Things would be okay again, he trusted Reiji with that.

~`~`~`~

Reiji hadn’t realized just how bad things had been for Yusaku. In just six months, he had fallen so far. So much had happened. Reiji knew things could happen quickly- the war against his father had proven that. But to see it happen to someone he cared so much for…

Ai and Roboppi had died? Yusaku had killed Ai? There were five other Ignis- all dead because one went rogue. And Ai had gone off the deep end after that. And it was clear Yusaku hadn’t taken to that kindly. Reiji was careful about moving with Yusaku passed out on his lap, adjusting to hold him more carefully as he looked at the laptops.

Ai’s code was moving around on Yusaku’s. “You better not delete yourself.” Reiji warned firmly as he watched. The code froze on the screen. “Use the webcam. Look at Yusaku, if you delete your code how do you think he’ll take it?”

There was silence in the game shop before a static-filled voice came from the laptop. “He’d be safe if I did. I mean- the simulations-”

“The ones Yusaku called flawed because they failed to take into account the Arc theory of Dimensions and the proof that other dimensions exist?” Reiji asked in a clipped tone. “When you met Reira, I mentioned a war . Tell me, was Den City a warzone then?”

The code stayed frozen on the laptop as Ai processed what Reiji said. “...I- I think Ai messed up.” The voice sounded small as the code began to move again, piecing together, if the progress bar that appeared was anything to go by.

“I think you were all tricked.” Reiji corrected with a shake of his head. “What made you think having Yusaku kill you was a good idea?”

“He has you. He would be okay.” Ai pointed out.

“And if the kitsune couldn’t get to him in time? What could I have done?” Reiji asked.

He was almost too late. Yusaku felt frail in his arms, there was no other way to put it. If he hadn’t heard the frantic barks… Reiji didn’t dwell on that. Yusaku clearly needed help. And the fox had gotten his attention quickly. “We really need to stop meeting like this.” Reiji murmured to the sleeping Yusaku.

There was one way to make sure they didn’t meet like that again. Reiji looked over at the fox, nine tails wagging behind him as he stared at the two duelists. “You… wanted this to happen in the first place, didn’t you?” He murmured.

The fox tilted his head. “Well, I did. Fate wanted things to play out differently.” Reiji jumped at the clearly human voice that came from the kitsune. “But she’s had her game with both of you now. Ma’s pissed I wasn't able to intervene more. He let me use the game shop to give you two some rest and safety at least. Fate has trouble telling him no. Especially when he decides to send out the Kuribohs.”

That was a lot of information to take in all at once. So he was correct; the game shop was a dimensional link. And the fox wasn’t just an ordinary fox, clearly. And Kuribohs… “Sphere Kuriboh. The first card we both saw.” Reiji murmured.

“A way for you both to find your way back here. Yusaku had it, so I had to lead you the second time.” The fox admitted. “I snuck a copy into your bag after that.”

So that was where the card came from. Reiji thought he had picked it up before from somewhere else, just as a way to always remember meeting Yusaku all those years ago. “Can we stay here longer this time? Yusaku can’t go back, and I have to keep an eye on Ai’s progress.”

“You can stay a few days.” The fox nodded. “Just not too long. Time works differently here. Out there… it’s been half a day. But soon time will freeze outside, and progress quicker here.”

Confusing. Reiji’s area of expertise was in dimensional travel, not time travel. But for it to have been half a day already… “Reira must be worried.”

“I can get them!” The fox jumped up. “Your sibling, I like visiting them. They got good taste in horror movies. Too bad none of my friends like them. My Lexi has banned them ever since that war of yours.” 

“...That’s fine. But is it also possible for the shop to be… something more comfortable?” He decided against asking too many questions about Lexi and the war that the fox hadn’t helped in.

The fox gave him a toothy grin. “Thought you’d never ask. Truthfully I’m tired of holding up the illusion. I’ll get Ma to fix it properly. No more having to remember what old card packs look like!”

Reiji frowned, watching as some areas of the shop seemed to shimmer. As if there was something there that wasn’t. Reiji leaned back against the counter, moving Yusaku so his head was resting more comfortably against Reiji’s shoulder. “Just don’t mess with the laptops. Please.”

“Don’t worry. I know they’re important.” The fox nodded slowly. “You’re doing the impossible, you know. Fate wanted things to end there. And Yusaku’s defying that.”

Reiji looked at Yusaku. “I think if anyone deserves to, it’s him.”

“It’s both of you.” The fox seemed to smirk. “After all, you defied her entire plan for Zarc and Rei.”

“As if I would let my father kill eight people to get one back.” Reiji scoffed.

“I was right. You two are a good match.” With a cackle, the fox ran off.

A good match… Reiji looked at Yusaku once more, humming softly. Perhaps they were a good match. Something seemed to think so, if it allowed them to keep meeting just when they needed each other.

He turned his head, pressing a soft kiss to Yusaku’s forehead. Maybe they were a good match after all. One years in the making.

Four days.

“You are not wasting your birthday here. I’m pretty sure your sisters and sibling will hold their own revolt if you get out of the party I know they planned.”

It had taken four days for Yusaku to feel well enough to just sit up in bed. The game shop was, well, no longer a game shop. Yusaku didn’t recognize the room it had shifted into. A bedroom, a comfortable one at that. With a large bed- a large comfortable bed, a window with a sprawling forest outside of it, a table with two chairs against one wall. And only two doors. One led to a bathroom, the other to what Yusaku guessed was the entrance closest to Leo Corp. It sure didn’t lead to Den City.

The room was better than any hospital Yusaku had been to. He was grateful for that. Especially when it came with company. He hadn’t been the only one pushing himself to the absolute limits, as Reira had easily told the fox- Jaden. The kitsune had finally revealed his name. Ever since getting rid of Akaba Leo, Reiji had been doing damage control, connecting the dimensions, making sure everyone was okay… and not keeping an eye on his own health.

Not that Yusaku had any room to chastise him for it. He was the one stuck on bedrest according to Jaden’s mother. While Reiji was just told to take it easy and stick around to recover for a while. Yusaku wasn’t complaining. It was the most time the two had managed to spend with each other. He would gratefully be hidden away if it meant finally having time with the friend he made years ago.

Friend, and maybe more.

“I fail to see how it is a birthday wasted. We’ve managed to somehow continue to miss each other’s birthdays. So perhaps it’s time we spent one together.” Reiji said, sitting down on the edge of the bed. “You don’t like crowds, and leaving isn’t really a good idea right now anyway. So I’ll spend it here.”

“We can spend my birthday together. It’s in December.” And there was no way Yusaku was going to go years without seeing Reiji again. “Not like I have anyone to spend it with besides Ai and Roboppi if I'm still stuck here.”

Granted, only one of the two were there with them. Ai was curled up at the foot of the bed in his monster form. Squid form as Reiji had called it. His data was mostly put back together, and with help from Jaden, he didn’t need to stay anchored to a duel disk in his natural forms anymore. Roboppi’s code was taking longer to fix up, but Yusaku was confident they could manage it, with the three of them working on it and the resources from Leo Corp.

Having Ai back was like having his soul complete again. Yusaku felt a lot better. And Reiji had been looking into that. The closest he could find for a reason behind it was Yusaku and Ai being similar to Yuya, Yuto, Yugo, and Yuri. Counterparts, in a way. Reiji said Yuya had admitted to feeling sick and lost when Yuri and Yuto had been injured in the final fight against Akaba Leo, and Yusaku nodded at the description. It was how he had felt going against Ai.

Reiji reached over, taking Yusaku’s hand in his own with a hum, his fingers rubbing that spot on his wrist again. “December is too far away. And if anyone found out, you’d have a party planned too.”

Yusaku groaned softly. “None of them have even met me yet.” Even at the height of the war in Reiji’s dimension, Yusaku had hid away from anyone Reiji sent to the game shop to rest. Only Reira had found him.

“That won’t stop Ruri and Rin when they put their minds to something.” Reiji chuckled. “Have you eaten yet?”

“Yes.” Yusaku sighed. “Some soup, it’s what I can handle for now.”

Reiji nodded, satisfied with the answer. “And rest?”

“If I sleep any time within the next ten hours I’m going to wake up very upset and dizzy.” Yusaku admitted. He had spent the better part of the last four days asleep, and he could tell he was at his limits. At the same time, he was also at his limits with socializing beyond those already in the room with him. “You should go to the party. I’ll be fine here, if I need anything Ai can get you or Jaden.”

Probably Jaden. He wanted Reiji to enjoy his birthday, not be stuck taking care of Yusaku. Yet Reiji was in no hurry to release Yusaku’s wrist, keeping his fingers there on the same mark Yusaku had for years.

“It’s my birthday, so I think I’ll spend it how I want to.” Reiji smiled softly at Yusaku. “And I want to spend at least a few hours here. I was told to take it easy, after all.”

“And this is taking it easy?” Yusaku asked.

Reiji let go of his arm then, moving to sit next to Yusaku on the bed instead. “It is for me.” He nodded, leaning back against the headboard. “We’ve managed five days so far. Without being separated for years. I’m starting to become accustomed to it.”

“That takes longer than five days.”

“All the more reason for me to stay then.”

Yusaku sighed, looking at Reiji with a faint smile. “I’m sure you’d be better off spending it with your family.”

Reiji looked back at him, a softness in his gaze. “And if I wanted that to include you?”

It wasn’t something either of them had to think about, leaning in, pressing their lips together in a gentle kiss. Yusaku could admit, he had been thinking about doing that for a while. With a vague remembrance of a light kiss on his forehead just days prior. He had been wondering what it would be like to kiss Reiji properly. And he was happy to say, it was very nice.

“You should still at least make an appearance.” Yusaku whispered against his lips.

“I’ll show up to tell them I’m spending my birthday with my boyfriend.” Reiji countered.

Yusaku chuckled, shaking his head. “You’d throw me under the bus like that?”

“Oh please, you’d get along with most of the Lancers. And my sisters need someone else to spoil.” Reiji smirked at Yusaku, draping an arm over his shoulders and letting Yusaku rest against his side. 

“You’ve been spoiling me for years.” A new laptop, Roboppi, orders to use the account set up to buy new parts for anything technological he needed, a separate one for food orders over the years…

Reiji had been spoiling him for quite a while. And the pampering didn’t seem ready to stop any time soon. Yusaku wasn’t going to complain.

“Well, I can at least give you your present.” Yusaku nudged Ai, who blinked sleepily at them. “Can you?” He didn’t need to say more than that.

“You two finally figure it out?” Ai complained, getting down from the bed and grabbing the box from the table, bringing it over. “It’s about time!”

Yusaku gave him a look, handing the box to Reiji. “I think I found the perfect gift.”

Reiji raised an eyebrow, unwrapping the box carefully and laughing in shock as he looked at what was inside. “This is…”

“The newest edition of the ghost rare Sphere Kuriboh?” Yusaku smiled softly. “A lot of people owe me quite a few favors. So I was able to find that in two days. Works with any duel disk too, including Link Vrains ones.”

“It’s the perfect gift.” Reiji said warmly, leaning over to kiss Yusaku again.

It had taken a few years, but they were no longer friends in passing. And Yusaku wouldn’t have it any other way.