Chaos Effect

Chapter 36

"Sun is shining in sky... there ain't no cloud in sight!"

I reached over and turned off the alarm, wondering how I'd messed up and put it on one of the music radio stations. As odd as others might have found it to be, considering how much I loved songs of all different genres, I didn't actually like waking up to music. Mostly because it wasn't jarring enough to snap me out of a deep sleep... and I could sleep deep. Like "There is a gunshot going off 10 feet from my bedroom window and I didn't even shift" deep. Talk radio though usually did the trick of snapping me awake if I didn't do so naturally.

But when I checked the alarm clock I saw it was, in fact, set to the local sports channel (which did NOT discuss Duel Monsters, thank goodness!). Shrugging, I walked over to my window and opened it to get some fresh air, taking a deep breath as I looked at Domino laying out before me-

"Morning's here!"I blinked.

"The morning's here! Sunshine is here!"

"What the fuck?" I muttered to myself, looking down to see Renard leaning out of the window, singing happily to... I had not clue. We'd given Renard an apartment right below my uncle and mine, so that he could be close if needed but have some privacy (because as much as he continued to try and convince me that 'crew should sleep in hammocks in the same room!' that wasn't happening). And he was a rather good neighbor, very quiet... except now he was singing like he was in some big Broadway play.

"The sky's clear! The morning's here!"

I shut the window, brow furrowed in confusion. I had no idea what had Renard so happy but hey, if he wanted to sing I really couldn't judge him for that. Running my fingers through my hair I opened my bedroom door and made my way towards the kitchen...

...just in time to see my uncle dancing in the dining room, arms held out wide as music suddenly played all around us.

"Good morning starshine! The earth says hello! You twinkle above us! We twinkle below!"

I slowly backed away before he spotted me, returning to my bedroom and pulling out my phone.

"Hello?" the receptionist for our building said.

"This is Edwin Chaos. Can I get breakfast ordered up here?"

"Of course sir. What would you like?"

"Sausage and egg English muffin, hash brown, and an ice cold orange juice."

"Will that be all?" the receptionist asked.

"Yes."

"Very good sir. And may I compliment you on your choice. I personally would have recommended against doing the standard ham 'n' eggs."

"Well, I... wait, what?" I said as the receptionist... began to beatbox.

"I don't eat no ham 'n' eggs," she sang, "'cause they're high in cholesterol!"

I slammed the phone down and turned on the TV, flipping to the local news program.

"And seeing as its Tuesday that means its time for time for Tuesday with Dr. Tony," the anchor said with a plastered on grin. "How are you today?"

"Very good," the doctor said, adjusting his coat. "And you?"

"Not very well, frankly," the anchor said. "You see... Doctor doctor, gimme the news I gotta BAD CASE OF LOVIN' YOU!"

I turned off the TV as the two began a duet.

"...what the fuck?" I exclaimed again only for my phone to chime. I walked over, flicking it on, only to tilt my head as I saw a notification pop up:

MUSICAL EPISODE!

My face puckered as I glared at the screen. "You're fucking with me, aren't ya Troy?"

Another notification popped up:

:D

"Oh for fuck's sake!"

~MC~MC~MC~

"Here ya go, Gardner," Monroe said, dropping a box on her desk before making his way to his own chair. "Get that down to evidence for me, will ya?"

Yuri looked up from the form she was filling out and sighed, standing up and looking inside the box. It was full of bricks of cocaine, nicely wrapped and worth a hell of a lot of money. Normally she would have been excited to see that much drugs off the street and in police hands but it hadn't been her that had made the bust... or even assisted. No, she was once more stuck on desk duty, helping where she could the other detectives whenever they came back from working their cases.

When she'd met Kipling Chaos she had been hungry for a chance to prove herself, that she could be out there solving crimes and helping people. She'd thought he would lead her to finally finding her place in the Domino City Police Department and her current home at the 8th. The problem was... she had. She was the gopher and the grunt because her father had fucked things up so royalty that the rest of her days were going to be spent cooling her heals at a desk.

'This is a job for the fat cops that got shot in the leg or who are close to retiring,' she thought to herself as she began to inspect the cocaine; at least this time Monroe had filled out an evidence form and not left it for her to do it herself and forge his signature. 'I wanted to make a difference not spend the rest of my life rotting in my chair.'

She'd only been let back in a few days ago and not by choice of most of the brass if she had to wager. They would have been happy to keep her at home, collecting a paycheck yes but far away from them. But Seto Kaiba announcing his Battle City Tournament had changed everything. Duelists from all over the world were going to flood Domino and that meant that the police needed to be ready. Add in the claims airing on Chaos Communications' news channels that the Rare Hunters, some international forgery cartel, were now in Domino (and had apparently kidnapped Edwin only for him to escape because OF COURSE Edwin was involved in the mess) and the high ups needed all hands on deck.

'Not that they will actually let me do anything,' Yuri thought bitterly as she looked over the form. 'Can't risk me dying in the field as that would create an even bigger scandal so I'm stuck here with their passive aggressive bullshit.' Most of the cops hated her for ruining their good thing with the Big 5 and other shady operators, some were afraid to show their support lest they be isolated like she was, and a handful were honestly jealous that she got to sit at a desk all day and get a paycheck. She let out a huff at that only to pause as she counted just how many bricks of coke were in the box. "Hey Monroe!"

"What?" the other detective called out, not even bothering to look at her.

"You're missing two bricks."

"They were in there when I gave it to ya!" he called out and she could just HEAR the smirk in his voice. "If ya... ya know... "lost track"-" The bastard actually did air quotes, "-ain't my fault."

Yuri growled at that. She'd honestly wondered when someone would try and frame her for some shit just to get some payback. Now she'd either need to take the coke down to evidence and hope no one counted it (and she was sure Monroe had already paid someone to do just that), redo the forms and hope Monroe didn't produce his copy to claim she was hiding something, or throw a stink and just get sucked into more drama.

She let out a sigh as music began to play around her, looking at her fellow detectives.

'I'm just so... tired of this,' she thought, pressing her fists to her eyes to keep herself from crying before she began to sing. "Times are hard, you're afraid to pay the fee. So you find yourself somebody who can do the job for free. When you need a bit of lovin', 'cause your man is out of town, that's the time you get me runnin' and you know I'll be around."

Yuri lifted her head up, staring at the ceiling, looking at the tiles she would probably end up counting a thousand times before she was either hauled away to a cell or retired a bitter, jaded old woman. She took a long, shaky breath... and then snapped her head forward and grabbed a cocaine brick, hurling it across the room and smashing a desk lap.

"I'm a fool to do your dirty work, oh yeah!" She grabbed another one when Monroe leapt to his feet, hurling another one at him and clocking him right in his stomach, doubling him over. "I don't wanna do your dirty work no more!" She grabbed two, one in each fist, and hurled them at the other detectives who were noticing now her tantrum, forcing them to duck before she reached out and grabbed her computer, lifting it up and hurling it to the ground in a shower of sparks. "I'm a fool to do your dirty work, oh yeah!"

"Gardner!" Captain Richards yelled, bursting out of his office and glaring at her. But Yuri didn't care any more... what did it matter if her boss liked her or hated her when her career was dead anyway?

"Light the candle, put the lock upon the door." Yuri flipped her desk over before snatching Monroe's lighter and the flask he thought he hid so well but everyone knew about, pouring the latter all over her desk before tossing the lighter onto the wood, watching as it burst into flames. "You have sent the maid home early like a thousand times before." Her captain stared at her in shock but Yuri just marched towards her, jabbing her finger in his face. "Like the castle in its corner in a medieval game, I foresee terrible trouble but today won't be the same!"

Another detective, Hollerann, moved to restrain her but Yuri merely smirked. It hadn't just been Duel Monster skills The Professor had implanted in her brain; the King of Earth-2 Domino needed fighters and she had been given all sorts of moves.

"I'm a fool to do your dirty work, oh yeah!" She caught his wrist, spun around so his arm was over her shoulder, and brought the limb down hard, breaking his wrist easily. "I don't wanna do your dirty work no more!" Someone else stood up, she didn't see who, but Yuri merely grabbed a hole punch and chucked it hard, taking out her opponent with a heavy CLANG! "I'm a fool to do your dirty work, oh yeah!" She looked back at her captain who held up his hands, eyes wide in shock, and she stomped towards him, eyes narrowed before she cold cocked him. "I'm a fool to do your dirty work, oh yeah!" She reached down and unclipped her badge from her belt, shoving it against his chest as he stumbled back, clutching his broken nose. Yuri held out her arms out wide, daring the other officers to come at her but the cowards didn't move. "I don't wanna do your dirty work no more!" She backed away from him, glaring at the precinct, daring them to come after her. "I'm a fool to do your dirty work, oh yeah! I don't wanna do your dirty work no more!"

It was only when she was sure they wouldn't follow that she removed her gun and set it on a desk before flipping them all off.

"I'm a fool to do your dirty work, oh yeah..."

And with that Yuri Gardner stormed out of the Domino 8th Precinct for the final time.

~MC~MC~MC~

"Excuse me!"

I turned away from the books I was browsing, looking down at the five year old who had tugged on the end of my jacket, and smiled. "Yes?"

"Uh... hi," the boy said, blushing and shuffling his feet.

"He's shy," his mother told Mai and I, placing a hand on his shoulder. Renard was hovering, as he was want to do, but at least he wasn't being hyper sensitive about my safety and assaulting the child. "But he really wanted to say hello. He saw your duel against Yugi Muto and-"

"You almost beat him! With that cool magician!" the boy said, suddenly perking up in the way only children could do where everything that had been bugging them and making them nervous disappeared and they only focused on their excitement.

"That's right," I said, reaching into my pocket and fishing out a pack of Duel Monster cards I'd bought for just such an occasion. "And maybe someday you'll beat me." I handed the kid the pack and he clutched them tight to his chest, eyes literally turning into stars (that would never stop being freaky) and thanked me several times before him and his mom hurried off so I could continue my shopping. "Heh, always weird to have- Mai?" I turned to find her not standing next to me but rather lounging in a chair as about ten guys all fawned over her, clearly love struck and begging her to tell them what they could do to make her happy. She already had some pastries from the bookstore's café set before her and a whipped iced coffee in her hands and I honestly was ready for one of them to offer to be a footstool.

"Thank you, you're too kind," she cooed and I rolled my eyes before turning back once more to the shelf; Mai would come over when she was done soaking up the attention like a sponge and I needed a new novel to read during my down time between duels; Battle City was a single day, yes, but the blimp would see things get boring and I wanted to be packed and ready for that.

"Is there anything I can help you with, sir?" a woman asked, approaching me. She had a shock of red hair, freckles, and was wearing a button up dress shirt and tight black slacks.

"I'm good, thank you," I said with a smile. I began to debating rereading Lord of the Rings even if I didn't like buying yet another copy of the book only to notice that the new arrival was still standing there. "Uh... am I in your way?"

"Nope! Just waiting to see if you need any help."

"I'm... good," I said slowly. "You can help someone else though."

"Oh, I don't work here," the woman said, batting her eyes at me. "I'm just here if you... need anything."

"Uh...huh," I said slowly, setting the book back on the shelf and walking over to Mai, grabbing her by the arm. "Just realized we need to be someplace else."

"Where?"

"Anywhere but here," I growled under my breath, dragging her away from our adoring fans.

She, thankfully, waiting about a block before demanding to know what the problem was. "So you had some groupies decide to worship you... big deal! That's one of the perks of being a skilled duelist."

"This wasn't mere 'oh, he's so cool I want his autograph' attention. This was, "I so want to sell myself into slavery' attention!"

"...and?" Mai said with a smirk. I glowered at her but she grabbed my arm, forcing me to stop walking. We stood on the sidewalk outside a café, Mai chuckling as she took in my put upon disposition. "Oh come on, it's fun! These people... if they see a good duelist they love'em. And if they see an amazing one that bow to them. It's part of the life... no use fighting it." She leaned in and whispered, "You might even find you enjoy it."

"Pass," I grumbled even as Mai began to get rather... close... as we spoke.

"And why is that?" she purred. "It's the history of the world. The weak and small worship the large and powerful, make them..." she paused, "gods."

There was... something about how she said that word that made the hairs on the back of my arms stand on end but the moment was gone as soon as it came.

"That's just it, Mai," I said only to hear music play. A bouncy, slightly tribal melody played and everyone on the sidewalk stopped walking and instead began to... well, musically trot is the best way to describe it. I could feel the urge to sing bubbling up in my throat and I honestly fought to keep it down but the music only grew louder until I found myself just giving up, hoping this would be quick. "I hardly think I'm qualified to come across all sanctified. I just don't cut it with the cherubim."

Mai grabbed my hands and twirled us about. "Edwin, what ara ya talking about?" Releasing me she leapt onto a park bench and gestured at the crowd that was growing around us, people pulling out their phones to snap photos, waving signs with our names on it ('where did they get those?!?') and looking at us with adoration. "There again they're on their knees, being worshipped is a breeze. Which rather suits us in the interim!" She reached down and yanked me onto the bench with her, the crowd falling to their knees and waving their arms at us. "Interim, interim, it's me and him!" She raised her hands out wide for all to see. "It's tough to be a God! Tread where mortals have not trod!"

I shook my head in annoyance. "Be deified when really you're a sham."

Mai glowered at that before snapping back to her pleasant disposition. "Be an object of devotion, be the subject of psalms! It's a rather touching notion all those prayers and those salaams!" She looked at me, a coy and innocent smile on her lips. "And who am I to bridle if I'm forced to be an idol?" Something... rather dark flashed in her eyes, the smile twisting to a rather cruel grin as she turned to look at the entranced crowd of fans, balling her fist up and raising it to her face. "If they say that I'm a God, that's what I am!"

I stepped down from the bench only for Mai to leap after me, stopping me before I could leave.

"What's more, if we don't comply with the locals' wishes I can see us being sacrificed or stuffed!"

"That make no sense," I said dryly but Mai ignored me.

"So let's be Gods, the perks are great!" Mai said, walking towards a store where the clerk draped a fur cover onto her shoulders.

"Yeah?" I asked with my arms crossed over my chest only to find another store owner giving me a diamond encrusted cane and a fedora to wear.

Mai nodded, admiring some diamond rings the jewelers were slipping onto her fingers. "All of Domino on a plate. Local feelings should not be rebuffed!" I turned to stare at the crowd only for Mai to pop up behind me, whispering like the devil on my shoulder. "Never rebuff, never rebuff the local feeling, no my love!" She yanked us into the street, cars stopping so we might cross as she sang. "It's tough to be a God but if you get the people's nod, count your blessings, keep them sweet, that's my advice!" Reaching the other side of the sidewalk she looked at a restaurant that had a second story balcony, the people around us moving to allow Mai (and me since she was dragging me along) to use their bodies as steps to reach it. "Be a symbol of perfection! Be a legend, be a cult! Take their praise, take a collection as the multitudes exalt! Don a supernatural habit! We'd be crazy not to grab it! So sign up two new Gods for paradise!" Mai sat down at the table, menu in hand as she looked at the dancing crowd below us. "Paradise!"

And then the music ended and everything went back to normal.

"...so do we go back and pay for these?" I asked, looking at the cane I still had.

"Did you even hear a word I said?" Mai asked in amused annoyance. She turned to our waiter who clearly didn't have a problem with two people walking up a human pyramid to steal a table. "Caesar salad to start."

"Marinara pasta," I said, handing him my own menu. Renard finally caught up to us, having been forced to go through the restaurant.

"I don't see what the problem is," Mai said, picking right up with our conversation at the book store. "So people want to give us goodies and the like. It's a perk."

"I've just never been comfortable with people fawning over me."

"The Guardian Devil has a problem with attention?"

"When I'm seeking it out? Not in the slightest. But my issue comes when it's just given to me."

"That... makes no sense," Mai said, removing her new fur coat because honestly it was far too warm for fur.

"When I'm trying to get attention I've put my brain into the role that I will be noticed and people will pay attention to me. But I just as much like to slip away and be not noticed at all. Because the fall from grace is a rather steep one."

"Why do you need to fall in the first place?" Mai asked, playing with her fork.

"Everyone falls eventually, Mai."

"Not always," she said with a smile. "Sometimes one remains on top forever."

"Very unlikely."

"Oh, I don't know," she said with a shrug. "The gods manage it."

"We're not gods, despite what you might say."

"Are you sure about that?" Mai asked, leaning forward and taking my hand in her own. "We very well could be and you just don't realize it."

"I think I'd notice if I were an immortal being."

Again there was that odd twisting of her features. Something that was there for only a moment but made me blink all the same and try and figure out just what it was.

"You'd be amazed what people miss," she whispered, moonlight dancing in her eyes despite the bright noon sun. Before I could wonder just WHAT that was about Mai shifted and her posture became more relaxed, her smile softer, and she looked down from the balcony to the street below. "So Battle City is in 3 days."

"Yeah... you ready?"

"Just about. Thanks for the tip that we're going to be leaving the city for this."

"Figured you'd like to pack and have a change of clothing. Honestly I don't get why Seto is making everyone think the finals are happening at Kaibaland's Duel Monster Stadium." I paused. "Or why we don't just HAVE it at the Stadium. Seriously, what is with major tournaments not wanting people around to actually WATCH the duels."

Mai shrugged as the waiter brought her salad over. "I'm sure it's an ego thing."

"You'd think Seto would want everyone to see him defeat Yugi."

"Maybe he... no, I was about to say he was hedging his bets that he might lose but Kaiba would never think that."

"No he would not," I said as my meal arrived. I grabbed my fork... just as the waiter began to sing about the specials they had for dessert, causing me to squeeze my eyes shut. "This is going to be a long day."

~MC~MC~MC~

"Alright, how about this!" Joey said, selecting a card and setting it on the field. "That should counter your Joker's Knight! My Red-Eyes Retro Dragon! Now, I just-"

Solomon merely flipped over his trap card Compulsory Evacuation Device.

Joey's head slammed onto the table with a 'thunk!' and the teen groaned in frustration. "Man, I ain't ever gonna be ready for Battle City!"

"Don't say that Joey," Yugi told his friend. "You are ready right now. This is just sharpening your skills."

"But I can't even beat yar grandpa, Yug! How am I supposed ta beat them duelist Kaiba gots coming ta this tournament?"

Solomon huffed at that. "Oh, so I am just chopped liver, am I?"

"Nah!" Joey said quickly, waving his hands about. "That ain't what I meant! Just... well..."

"I'll have you know I taught Yugi all he knows about this game!" Solomon waved his hand at his grandson. "He is only the King of Games because of me! That makes me the King through basic math!"

~MC~MC~MC~

Tea, Tristan, Yuri, and Edwin all shuddered at the same time and didn't know why.

~MC~MC~MC~

"I'm... not quite sure that's how math works, Grandpa," Yugi said, smiling weakly.

The old man scoffed. "Then what are they teaching you young kids in school then if you don't understand math?" He sat stood up and cracked his back. "Maybe I should go find someone else that wants to learn from me then... there are plenty of people that would love to learn from my history and past experiences-"

"No!" Joey exclaimed, rushing over and bowing to Solomon. "I want to learn! I really do! I'm just..." he let out a sigh. "I'm just frustrated, okay? I shouldn't have taken it out on you."

Solomon considered that before nodding his head. "Very well. Begin thinking about how you can better utilize your trap cards."

"Where are ya off ta, gramps?" Joey asked. His eyes lit up in delight. "Gonna go pull out some super rare and powerful cards for us ta try out?"

"Uh-" Solomon said, only for his stomach to gurgle. "Yes. Don't follow!" He ran off down the hall, hands on his backside, Yugi and Joey wincing when the sound of a door slamming filled the air.

"...hey Yug, do you have some secret card vault in your bathroom?"

"No," Yugi said with a sigh.

"Thought so." Joey sat back down and began to look over the cards on the table, both his and his grandpa's. "Seems like I can't talk ta anyone right these days. Upset your grandpa and before that..."

When he didn't finish Yugi walked over to his friend, taking up his grandpa's discarded chair. "Is this about you and Tea?"

"And Tristan," Joey admitted. "I'm tryin' ta get them ta see its insane to sign up for Battle City, that they have no hope of winnin' and they're just going to get their rare cards taken but they won't listen ta a single thing I say!" He looked over at his best friend. "You have any better luck?"

"I haven't talked to Tristan about it and Tea and I are going to meet up for dinner and discuss it."

"Well, maybe that will work for Tea but ya're really cuttin' it close with Tristan. Battle City only begins in a few days!" Joey rubbed the back of his head. "I'm just glad that my sister's operation is right before it and not during... I don't know what I'd do! I would want ta be there for her but the prizes Kaiba is handin' out..."

Yugi nodded. Everyone was focused on the fact that there were rare cards to claim throughout the tournament but Kaiba was also giving out a ton of money to the finalists and winners, with the Grand Champion getting $6 Million dollars alone, along with a ton of other perks. That kind of money, along with the chance to net some of the rarest cards in the world and face the best duelists was making Battle City the talk of Domino. Enough that Yugi didn't scorn Joey for considering skipping out on his sister's operation to compete; even getting into the finals would get Joey enough money that he'd be able to move out of his dad's place and live comfortably for a few years without needing to get a steady job.

'And I wouldn't mind winning that money myself,' he thought to himself. 'It would be nice to help grandpa out... we could renovate the card shop or I could save up to design my own card game...' He knew that if he asked Edwin or Pegasus they'd happily work with him but Yugi kind of wanted to do things on his own.

"But yeah, I'm worried about those two," Joey said, shaking his head in frustration. "I mean, sure, they got some killer decks and some new moves but..." He trailed off, brow furrowed. "Hey Yug? Where did Tea and Tristan get those decks."

"No idea, Joey," Yugi lied, figuring Joey wasn't ready for the tale of alternate universes just yet. "I asked Tea about it and she said she didn't want to discuss it."

"I hope they didn't do something stupid to get them. Man... they probably got'em on loan or something! And if they lose a rare card..."

"They might also do well in the tournament, Joey," Yugi pointed out. "Even if they didn't win the whole thing or get to the finals they could still win some rare cards. Ones maybe rarer than their own so they could use those if they lost. Still come out ahead." He shrugged. "And if they lose then at least they tried."

"Man, ya ain't gonna convince Tea not ta duel with that attitude!" Joey complained.

"Joey, why don't you want Tea and Tristan to complete?"

"Because they ain't duelists, Yug! They... don't get me wrong, I love havin' them cheer me on and all that and sometimes they have great suggestions but they ain't duelists. And I'm worried that they saw what you and I were able to do and now think it will be easy for them to do that and end up getting' hurt. I don't want that for them."

Yugi nodded and the two lapsed into silence. He didn't agree with Joey's thought process but he also understood that sometimes Joey just got it in his head that things had to go a certain way and no matter how you tried to convince him otherwise he would never see it differently. Such was life and it wasn't worth trying to browbeat him into seeing Yugi's side of things. That was something a lot of people didn't get and what led to many of the fights Joey had. Honestly it was just better to let him try and see that he was wrong than to try and force him to come to his own word view.

'But,' he thought to himself, 'I'm not going to encourage him anymore to continue on that path if I disagree with it.' Edwin had been wrong to say that Yugi should call out Joey every time he did something wrong because that wasn't friendship. Friendship wasn't trying to force other people to behave as you wished. But that didn't mean that he was going to encourage him either... or allow Joey to think he was approving of his actions when Yugi was doing anything but. 'I'll be there for him when... no, if he fails. But I'm not going to let him think I'm okay with some of the choices he makes.' He sighed as he rose up, giving his grandpa back his chair and heading towards his bedroom. 'And he's wrong about Tea and Tristan.'

He didn't know why Joey had this chip on his shoulder about the two of them dueling. There were plenty of people who went to tournaments all energized to play. And not many of them won their first time. It would be sad if that crushed Tristan and Tea's dreams and Yugi would be there for them but he wasn't going to deny them the chance to HAVE dreams just because of his worry. And honestly... he wasn't for sure that was why Joey was against them dueling in the first place.

"I really shouldn't be focusing on this," Yugi thought to himself as he shut the door of his bedroom, so Joey and his grandpa's conversation didn't distract him, and pulled out the decks he'd gotten from Pegasus. He'd registered all of them when he'd gotten his duel disc but he still wasn't for sure how he would select which one to use at any given time.

"I suppose we'll figure it out when we take on our first opponent."

Yugi looked over at the ghostly form of his partner. "I guess, Pharaoh." He saw the spirit wince at that and Yugi frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Pharaoh... it is so odd to think of that as my title. I... I don't feel like a pharaoh, Yugi." He looked down at his hands. "I don't really feel like anything. I thought learning at the very least my country of birth would give me some relief but it hasn't. If anything it's left me feeling more empty."

"What do you mean?"

"I understand now that there is something missing. I didn't realize it before but... there truly a part of me that is gone. That knowledge has only made it clear." He shook his head and looked up to the cork board that Yugi had set up, which contained photos of the Pyramids, Egyptian statues, a few hieroglyphs. Both had hoped that it would jog his memory but instead Yugi could tell they served as a cruel reminder of his lost memories. Neither noticing the soft guitar music that began to play as the Pharaoh began to sing. "This looks familiar," he stood up and moved towards the corkboard.

"Vaguely familiar. Almost unreal yet it's too soon to feel yet. Close to my soul-"

He reached out, his hand going right through the board.

"And yet... so far away. I'm going to go back there someday."

There was a flash of light and Yugi let the Pharaoh take control of their body, though that did little to help the spirit as he unpinned a photo of a temple in Cario, staring at it.

"Sunrises, night falls, sometimes the sky calls. Is that a song there and do I belong there?" He let the photo drift down to the floor, looking out towards Domino through Yugi's window. "I know I've been there but I don't know the way. I'm going to go back there someday."

He began to walk around Yugi's room, reaching out and touching the mementos of his partner's childhood. Yugi's projected form, followed, smiling at the memories each item held... and knowing the Pharaoh didn't have any of that.

"Come and go with me, it's more fun to share. We'll both be completely at home in midair. We're flying not walking on featherless winds. We can hold on to love like invisible strings." He turned to a photo of himself with Yugi's friends, the young man insisting the Pharaoh take his form when they snapped it so he could have a photo of himself. They'd taken it at Serenity's party; Joey was hugging his sister, Tea was standing beside the Pharaoh, Tristan had been caught turning to tell Yuri something, and Edwin was smiling softly behind them all. "There is not a word yet for old friends who've just met. Part heaven, part space, or have I found my place? You can just visit but I plan to stay." He sat down on the bed once more. "I'm going to go back there someday. I'm going to go back there... someday."

~MC~MC~MC~

"Look at your morose mother fuckers right here."

Tea and Tristan, who had been sitting on a bench in one of Domino's parks watching the birds and the squirrels fight over some popcorn someone had spilled (physically, not with little trading cards... it was Domino so one had to clarify as much), snapped their heads up to see Edwin standing there with a smirk on his face. Just beyond him were workers setting up for some kind of festival; the two weren't for sure what it was about but had a feeling that other groups in the city had decided to take advantage of Battle City to host their own events. There were balloons being made into archways, sparkling giant stars, and all other manner of cheerful decorations. Just beyond the park a crew of construction workers were busy setting up the steel beams for a new high rise that was going up.

"Looks like someone shit in your cereal. Bong!"

The two just blinked.

"It's a reference to... nevermind." He shrugged and walked over to them. "Ben Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms, yo."

"That one I at least got, Captain," Renard said with a smirk, moving to lean against a tree.

Tristan shifted over so Edwin could take a seat who glanced at the two. "So... either of you suddenly feel the urge to break into song?"

"Huh?" Tea said, brow furrowing.

"My phone is fucking with me... today is a musical."

Tristan just stared at the older man. "Sometimes I am gravely concerned about your sanity."

"So am I," Edwin said, pulling out his phone and showing the screen... which changed to read "HI!" and then a hand waving emoji. "Troy says hello."

"...you have a sentient phone?" Tea asked before looking at Edwin's chest. "The Key?"

"Yup."

"Is there anything the Millennium Items can't do?" Tristan complained.

He didn't like it that Edwin was silent for FAR too long.

"Depends on the Item?" he finally said. "So, what has you two so upset?"

"Not upset," Tea said. "We're just... unsure?"

"Kind of," Tristan agreed, wiggling his hand back and forth. "It's complicated."

"Not really," Tea said with a frown. "Just our friend doesn't believe in us."

"...start at the beginning," Edwin told them.

"You know how we have all this Duel Monsters knowledge in our heads?" Tea asked, tapping her skull.

"I do," Edwin stated. "I had to go in there to lock your minds, remember?" He hadn't dug in deep, just appeared in their brains for a moment, shut and locked the door that would allow Marik to get in with the Millennium Rod or anyone else who might try and read and alter their thoughts, and then hopped right out. Very fast and easy. Except even those brief moments in their brains had allowed Edwin to see that their minds were flooded with how to play Duel Monsters. It was similar to Renard's (who Edwin had insisted get the same treatment) so he knew that for Tea, Tristan, and Yuri it was merely a natural thing and not some final trick by The Professor.

"Well," Tristan said, "with Battle City coming up we decided to enter to compete. Try and help Joey and Yugi out."

"Good idea," Edwin said.

"We know it's risky but-" Tea stopped and blinked. "Wait, what?"

"It's a good idea," Edwin said with a shrug. "The Rare Hunters are coming after all of us... the fact that they went after me should show that. They didn't know I had a Millennium Item they just wanted someone that could face off with The Pharaoh in a duel. The attack in the Pizza Place shows that they aren't going to give up. You two dueling will lure some of the heat off of Yugi and the Pharaoh." He let out a huff. "And considering Joey and Yugi won't let me lock their minds that means you two are probably better suited to deal with the Rare Hunters than they are."

"That's what I told Joey!" Tristan exclaimed.

"I take it he didn't like that?" Edwin asked.

Tea growled, folding her arms over her chest and scoffing. "Joey keeps giving us these long speeches-" Edwin snickered at the thought of Joey doing any speechifying but Tea ignored that, "-about how we were putting ourselves at risk and even with a bit of knowledge we don't have the experience needed to compete. That we were risking ourselves and our decks and shouldn't even bother." She ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. "And... what if he's right? What if we just cause problems?"

Tristan nodded. "We've already registered for the tournament but now we're wondering if we should even compete at all."

"Of course you should," Edwin said simply.

"Just like that?" Tea said, disbelieving of how casual he was about that.

"Just like that. Its why I greased some wheels in case you did decide to enter to fast track you." The two blinked at surprise at that little fact but Edwin just continued on. "Yes, the Rare Hunters are a risk. It's a risk for everyone. And I have some... ideas... on how to make it less risky." When Tristan motioned for him to elaborate Edwin turned to Renard. "To be fair he is the one that thought of it."

"GPS," Renard stated. "Not in a watch or the like... I am thinking we put it in a shoe or something. That way if you are captured or forced to go someplace for a duel we can track you down."

"But why a shoe?" Tristan asked.

"No one ever thinks to take a person's shoes. Their watch? Their jewelry? Of course. But never the shoes. Or if they do take them they don't toss them away in the garbage. They get thrown in a corner."

"Makes sense," Tea said.

"But let's get rid of the Rare Hunters for a moment," Edwin said. "Because I don't think Joey is actually thinking about them. I think he is thinking about you two just being in the tournament. And while his heart is in the right place... that doesn't mean he isn't being a condescending little jag off." He stretched his legs out, slouching on the bench. "It's nice that he is worried about you losing but it's kind of offensive that he thinks you have zero chance."

"That's what I said," Tea complained. "But he said we were rushing in-"

"Even though he rushed into Duelist Kingdom," Tristan pointed out.

"-and it would be too risky for us to compete. If we lose we are done."

"And?" Edwin asked. He rolled his head skyward for a moment, looking at the clouds. "Listen, I've spent a lot of my life playing it safe. You have to do that. Have plans within plans with backup plans on the side. It brings comfort and all that. But... sometimes you do need to dream. To take that risk. I have and for the most part it has worked out. Led to great things... amazing things. There is nothing wrong with dreaming big. Everyone deserves a chance to fly."

"But what if the dreams are just that?" Tea asked. "Dreams?"

"The world needs dreams," Renard told her. "How else would you ever move forward? Hope, desires, longing, dreams... they are the same thing. To make a wish and hold it close to your heart... it is what makes life worth living."

"Dreams... they are where the falling angel meets the rising ape."

Tristan and Tea, while uplifted a touch by the pep talk, still seemed unsure.

And that's when the music started to play and Edwin pushed himself off of the bench. "Why are there so many songs about rainbows and what's on the other side?" He began to walk around the bench, Tea and Tristan watching his movements, wondering what he was getting at. "Rainbow's are visions but only illusions and rainbows have nothing to hide." Edwin shook his head sadly at that. "So we've been told and some choose to believe it. But I know they're wrong wait and see."

He smiled softly at that, moving to stand in front of them once more, holding out his arms. "Someday we'll find it, The Rainbow Connection. The lovers, the dreamers and me."

He began to walk away from them, pausing at one of the large light up stars being set up for the festival, touching it with his fingers.

"Who said that every wish would be heard and answered when wished on the morning star?" He shook his head, bemused. "Somebody thought of that and someone believed it. Look what it's done so far." He held out his arms and slowly began to spin, looking skyward. "What's so amazing that keeps us star gazing? And what do we think we might see?" The workers who had been setting up for the festival paused in their tasks while other people in the park began to actually listen to what Edwin was saying. "Someday we'll find it, that Rainbow Connection! The lovers, the dreamers and me! All of us under its spell. We know that it's probably magic!"

With utter grace Edwin suddenly rushed forward, leaping and landing on one of the steel beams that were being shifted to the build site, riding it as he was brought over the rainbow colored balloon archways. He looked rather surprised he'd managed to do that but before he could say a word Tea suddenly stood up and began to sing as well.

"Have you been half asleep and have you heard voices? I've heard them calling my name."

Tristan nodded, joining her as the two moved towards the arch. "Is this the sweet sound that call's the young sailors? The voice might be one and the same."

Renard pushed away from the tree, holding his head up proud as he declared, "I've heard it too many times to ignore it. It's something that I'm supposed to be!"

And then everyone, be they construction worker toiling away to put food on the table, office worker taking a break from the monotone work schedule, the parents with their young children, and everyone else in between, moved together to stand below the archway and Edwin.

"Someday we'll find it, The Rainbow Connection! The lovers, the dreamers and me!" All of them wrapped their arms together and began to sway. "Lalalala dedadadede! Lalala dadadde!"

And as suddenly as it began the song was over, Renard helping Edwin down from the beam as, with the music done, he remembered that he was FUCKING TERRIFIED OF HEIGHTS and standing on a steel beam definitely counted.

"So... still unsure?" he asked.

"Not anymore," Tea said softly, giving Edwin a hug. "Thank you."

"Kick everyone's asses so I can then take you on," he teased. "As I plan-"

His phone buzzed and Edwin pulled it out, frowning as he looked at the screen. "Mai?" he said. "We just saw each other... miss me already?"

"Edwin? I need you to come to my place. Now." Her tone wasn't sexual or teasing. It was... concerned.

"Right," he said at once, looking around before he spotted a clothing store. "Renard and I are coming in right now. Shut your bathroom door." He hung up the phone before turning to Tea and Tristan. "Something came up-"

"Go," Tristan assured him. "Let us know if you need help."

"Will do," Edwin said before him and Renard moved towards the clothing store, opening the door to reveal Mai's apartment and teleporting out of the park.

Tristan rubbed the back of his head. "Well... I guess that settles that."

"Yeah," Tea told him. "Yugi and I have a..." She didn't want to say date because she wasn't for sure if it really was one, "...thing. So I should-"

"Right." He nodded. "See ya later." He watched her go before sighing, pulling out his own phone. "Hey Joey?" he said after the 3rd ring. "We need to talk."

~MC~MC~MC~

"Everything okay?" I asked as I hurried into Mai's apartment through her bathroom door. I twisted my head about, seeking the threat, and from the faint glow I could see from the corner of my eyes I knew my pupils were doing the black and gold thing again as the Millennium Key emerged from my chest. Renard was looking about, face hard and tense, fingers flexing as he prepared for an attack.

But instead we were greeted by Mai who was rubbing her arms and standing outside her living room.

"Sorry," she blurted out, "I should have worded that better. I'm okay."

I walked over and looked her over all the same, just to make sure that she wasn't trying to put on a brave face. Pleased to see that she was okay I locked eyes with her only for Mai to sigh and nod towards the living room... where I could hear drunken garbled conversation of only a single person.

"She showed up like this. Definitely been hitting the bottle." Mai shifted so I could see past her and observe Yuri wobbling as she paced about the room, a bottle of Jack Daniels clutched in her hand.

"Oh boy," I muttered. "So... how are we handling this?"

Mai and Renard just stared at me.

"Uh... guys?"

"I was expecting you to have a plan," Mai stated.

Renard merely shrugged. "This seems like your kind of thing."

"Dealing with alcoholics?" I complained. "She's not my grandma!" That earned looks from the two and I rolled my eyes. "Grandma liked her cheap beer, okay? The point is that I am SO not the right person to deal with a drunk cop."

"EX COP!" Yuri called out. "And I can hear you!"

"...fuck," I muttered, cringing when I heard something fall down and Yuri let out a curse, a laugh, and then a curse again. "At least that wasn't glass."

"Yet," Mai told me. "She's paying me if I lose out on the deposit on this place."

"Why do you not move into Edwin's building?" Renard asked. "His uncle has whole floors that are empty."

"Unlike you two I'm not ready for that level of commitment," Mai teased, causing Renard and I to scoff. "Now," she said, pushing me towards the living room, "go work your magic."

"And what magic do you think that is?" I complained.

"Millennium Key?" Renard suggested. "You use it to... unlock her sobriety?"

"...that's not how the Millennium Items work!" I snapped but the two just shoved me into the living room and darted off like the fucking cowards they were.

Yuri had at least decided to sit down, which was a plus as I really didn't want to deal with her lurching about. Mostly because I just knew if she did keep pacing and wobbling she'd end up throwing up and the law of funny meant it would be on me and I didn't really know if I could get a suit from another dimension dry cleaned easily.

'Of course a little vomit might give her an excuse to change,' I thought to myself, taking in the wreck of a woman before me and finding her lacking when compared to the woman I had seen just a short time ago emerge from the nightmare that was Earth-2. Her clothing was wrinkled, her makeup smeared, hair a mess from her running her fingers through it, and of course there was the stench of booze on her breath that spoke to the fact that she'd been drinking long before she'd stumbled onto Mai's doorstep.

"So," I said, sitting down with enough distance that it didn't feel like I was keeping my distance from her but not so close that I'd be in the 'splash zone' in a word. "Rough day?" She stared at me and let out a laugh that turned into a sob before returning once more to a laugh. "That bad?"

"I... I am so sick of being the good person and getting nothing for it," she said. "I did the right thing... I saved my sister and I saved you. And does anyone care?" I opened my mouth but Yuri continued before I could get a word in. "No! I'm seen as the monster and the bad guy by everyone I thought would have my back."

I looked about before letting out a mental sigh of relief that 'Monster' and 'Bad Guy' hadn't begun to play.

"I busted my butt to be a damn good cop and I had to give it all up because I'm treated like garbage! Meanwhile cocky, arrogant, sneaky bastards are able to do whatever they want and everyone just rewards them-"

"I'm only slightly offended."

"Not you!" she snapped before sighing, taking another swig from her bottle. "Sorry. Not you. I mean people like Pegasus. He kidnapped children and the world treats him as this kind man who just got mixed up with the wrong people. The Big 5 were corrupt as fuck and most of the police department would testify in their defense if they were still alive! And my dad-" And here her mood really did become forlorn. "He... he was my hero growing up and he's thrown me to the wolves. He could give the word right now from his cell... he's still so respected despite all he's done... he could tell the rest of them to lay off or that I did nothing wrong... but he wants me to suffer." She shook her head, sprawling out on the couch and letting the now empty bottle of Jack fall to the ground with a dull thud. "You know what I want to do right now?"

"Stab me?" I suggested. "Sorry but I only grant that one per family..."

Yuri snorted at that. "No, you ass. I just... I just want to be someone completely different. I don't want to be good little Yuri Gardner anymore. Because my evil counterpart was right... I am a fool. Just another piece in the corrupt machine." She scoffed. "Well, not anymore." I raised an eyebrow at that. "I quit."

"Huh," I said, not surprised she done something so drastic. Considering the vile situation she found herself in it was probably for the best. "Then I guess I know what we need to do then."

"And that is?" she asked as I stood up.

"Make you not Yuri Gardner anymore." I offered her my hand, feeling 'A Whole New World' burning in the back of my throat but deciding quickly NOT to take her on a tour of all the continents like I had Mai purely to avoid that song. "And I believe Mai will agree with me that the best way to do that is with a bit of a shopping spree... on my dime of course."

"I... I can't ask you-"

"Not asking. Being offered."

Yuri stared at my hand for a moment longer before grasping it, allowing me to help her up. But as I let Mai take her to the bathroom to get cleaned up a bit before we left I couldn't help but frown.

"What is the problem?" Renard asked.

"Just a feeling," I muttered.

"Oh?"

"Yeah... like I'm helping an angel fall to Hell instead of rise again."

~MC~MC~MC~

"Tristan?"

Shutting his eyes, Tristan took a deep breath before opening his eyes again and looking at the dealership salesman and giving him a weak smile. "We all done?"

"All set sir," he said, handing Tristan a set of keys. "She's all yours. Paperwork has been filed and you'll get the official plate in the mail. Now let your friend admire your ride."

"That isn't going to happen," Tristan muttered under his breath, turning to look at Joey who was still standing on the sidewalk, openly gaping at the new motorcycle that Tristan had just bought. "Hey Joey."

"Hey man... what happened to your old bike?"

"Traded it in," Tristan said, placing his hand on his new bike; it had a candy blue finish with muted orange highlights, a sidecar currently attached to it but he would probably remove that for most times he used the bike unless he knew more than one person would need a ride or if it was someone like Joey who would freak out riding behind him. "Decided on something new. Needed a change."

"Yeah, seem to be doing a lot of that recently, huh," Joey said and though Tristan had a feeling his friend was trying hard not to come off as petty he was utterly failing at it.

Tristan was very careful to not flaunt the fact that his family was well off. He understood that Joey wasn't wealthy, making due with used clothing and scrounged together gear for school. And there was nothing wrong with that, of course! Tristan wasn't a snob; he'd gone with Joey a few times to get clothing and found some nice vintage stuff at the second hand shops. But he was always careful to hide that his parents pretty much let him spend whatever he wanted. Yugi had simple tastes when it came to everything save for cards and Tea had always wanted to make it on her own even if her father offered to pay for everything ('I wonder if she knew what he was up to and didn't want to risk it'). So it was easy to hide his wealth. Not that the others would have minded... he knew that Yugi and Tea wouldn't have said boo if he spent a bit more cash than them on things.

But Joey?

'He takes it as an insult,' he thought as Joey looked at the motorcycle with barely concealed longing; Tristan could tell his friend was imagining himself on that bike, dreaming of what life would be like if he had money to spend like that.

"Well... we all grow up," Tristan said, folding his arms across his chest.

"Maybe," Joey said, picking up Tristan's helmet and tossing it in the air once. "But there's something ta be said about changing your entire life all of a sudden without warning."

"And maybe..." He stopped himself. "No, we aren't doing this. If you want to say something Joey then say it. That's why I wanted this talk."

That caused the blonde to start before he glared at his friend. "Hey, I'm just saying that you are acting totally different and it has me worried."

"No, you are saying that you want me to act like the way you expect and want me to be and you don't like it that I'm not following your script."

"What do you expect when you suddenly decide ta become a completely different person?" Joey complained. "Getting all these crazy ideas in your head, wastin' your money on fancy toys like this-"

"Crazy ideas?" Tristan challenged. "You mean like competing in Battle City?"

Joey jabbed his finger at him. "Yeah! I mean, how can ya not see how utterly mad this is! Ya ain't a duelist, Tristan!"

"And you get to decide who is?" Tristan asked. "News flash, Joey, you weren't a duelist either until a few months ago."

"Eh, that's different!"

"How is it different?" Tristan demanded in frustration. "I'm doing the same thing you are!"

"No ya ain't! I took the risk because I wanted ta help my sister! You're just doin' it 'cause-"

"Cause what?" Tristan demanded.

"Ya know," Joey said with a huff.

"No, I really don't." He marched forward till he was right in Joey's face. "Why am I doing this, Joey?"

"Back off, man."

"Tell me why I'm doing this."

"I said back off!"

"And I said tell me!"

Joey gave Tristan a shove, causing him to stumble back a step before he quickly caught himself. "You're doin' it cause your jealous of me!"

"...what?"

The blond scoffed. "Ya heard me!" Having decided to say it out loud now it was as if Joey couldn't stop himself from blurting out all he thought. Embrace it and roar it to the world. "Ya saw me become one of the best duelists in the world and ya couldn't stand it! Ya like me better as just pathetic Joey so now ya are tryin' ta show me up! Except ya ain't gonna be able ta do it. Ya ain't a duelist and all you're gonna do is embarrass yourself."

Tristan just stared at his friend in shock.

"That... that's how you talk to a friend?!?" Tristan roared, throwing his arms in the air. "After all the times I supported you, propped you up, cheered you on... you just dismiss me like that?" He snapped his fingers in front of Joey's face.

"I do when they are being a delusional idiot!" Joey said, giving Tristan another shove.

This time Tristan came right back at him.

~MC~MC~MC~

"So," Yugi said softly as him and Tea sat on the roof of her building, watching as the sun slowly descended towards the horizon, "you ready for this?"

"Battle City or dealing with my mom asking question about our date?" Tea teased.

Yugi swallowed at that. "Why do I feel like Battle City is going to be easier than dealing with her?" Tea smiled at that, shaking her head with mirth. "Battle City."

"...I think so," Tea admitted. "I'm nervous of course but... hey, even just winning one duel will be enough."

"Do you mind me asking... what exactly made you decide to become a duelist?"

Tea sighed. How could she explain to him all the reasons? 'I had Edwin's evil counterpart force dueling knowledge into me. But the real reason is I realized just how weak I was by seeing my sister and Edwin and even Tristan work so hard to protect us while all I could do was whimper about our situation. And in Duelist Kingdom I was so scared for you and was so utterly useless and I don't want to feel that way again. That doing this is a way for me to get control back...'

No... that was something she could never tell him. Even with the madness and insanity of their lives... Yugi would simply never understand. But that didn't mean she wanted to blow off his question or lie to him. She wanted to talk to Yugi... she really did! She just...

Tea let out a sigh. "I don't know how to explain it."

"Try," Yugi said gently, smiling softly.

Tea nodded. "Okay... I'll try."

~MC~MC~MC~

Joey and Tristan sat slumped on the curb, keeping their distance from each other even as they dabbed at their wounds. Joey had a black eye forming, Tristan's check had a nice gash from where he'd struck a sign Joey had thrown him into, and both of their clothing had become rumpled and torn from their fight. It had been messy and violent and full of passion and neither of them felt good having done it but wouldn't ever admit it.

Joey tilted his head back down, making sure his nose wasn't going to drip any more blood before he finally looked at Tristan, neither noticing the music that began to play. "Tristan, why couldn't you have stayed calm for once? Instead of flying off the handle!" Tristan shot him a look of startled surprise but Joey merely continued to grouse as he sang. "I hope you're happy. I hope you're happy now. I hope you're happy how you've hurt your friends forever, I hope you think you're clever!"

Tristan twisted, jabbing his finger at Joey in disgust. "I hope you're happy! I hope you're happy, too! I hope you're proud how you tried to force me into submission, to feed your own ambition!"

Joey leapt to his feet, Tristan following him as the two moved to stand toe to toe again, glaring at their friend. "So though I can't imagine how... I hope you're happy right now!"

~MC~MC~MC~

Tea moved away from Yugi, rubbing her arms as she sang, looking towards the sky. "Something has changed within me. Something is not the same. I'm through with playing by the rules of someone else's game." She shook her head and began to make her way towards the stairwell door, looking down at her feet as she did so. She was nervous with every word she sang and yet it felt so good to admit it all out loud. "Too late for second-guessing. Too late to go back to sleep. It's time to trust my instincts, close my eyes....and leap!"

And with that the urge to leave the roof disappeared and Tea suddenly spun on her heels and rushed back fully onto the roof, Yugi watching as she moved forward, confidence growing.

"It's time to try defying gravity. I think I'll try defying gravity. And you can't pull me down!"

~MC~MC~MC~

"Can't I make you understand," Joey said in frustration, "you're having delusions of grandeur?"

Tristan snarled at that. "I'm through accepting limits 'cause someone says they're so! Some things I cannot change but 'til I try, I'll never know! Too long I've been afraid of losing love I guess I've lost." He thought of his friends, his family, everyone who said that he shouldn't try to be more and felt disgust well in his heart. "Well, if that's love it comes at much too high a cost! I'd sooner buy defying gravity! Kiss me goodbye, I'm defying gravity! And you can't pull me down!"

~MC~MC~MC~

Yuri sighed as she set the bags down and sat down on the bench next to the Domino Mall's large multi-tiered fountain.

"Thanks guys," she said softly. "This was... this was a fun distraction but..." She ran her fingers through her hair, wondering if it wasn't time for a new style. She wasn't a cop anymore so she could do whatever she wanted with it. 'Maybe I'll get it dyed again... or a faux-hawk...'

"Still doesn't change the fact you quit your job?" Edwin asked sympathetically.

Yuri nodded. "I just... almost my entire life has been dedicated to being a cop and now I don't know what to do. How do you go on with your life when you have no purpose?"

Mai set her own bags down before giving a small shrug, Renard a few steps behind her. "Well... join us."

"Wuh?" Yuri said, brow furrowed.

Mai smiled, warming to the sudden idea that had popped into her mind. "Yeah! Think of what we could do, together!" Edwin suddenly looked up, the only one able to hear the music that had begun to play even as Mai knelt down and took Yuri's hands within her own, giving them a gentle squeeze. "Unlimited... together, we're unlimited! Together we'll be the greatest team there's ever been, Yuri!"

"Dreams the way we planned'em," Renard sang, moving to stand next to Yuri, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Edwin nodded. "If we work in tandem!"

All three of them helped Yuri to her feet, the woman looking at them in shock and surprise... and a glimmer of hope. "There's no fight we cannot win... just you and I, defying gravity! With you and I defying gravity! They'll never bring us down!"

Mai smiled, letting go of Yuri's hand only to reach out and tenderly caress her cheek, Renard and Edwin still standing next to her, offering her far more support than she'd ever been given during her entire time with the force.

"Well, are you coming?"

Yuri took a breath before giving a shaky nod... just as the police burst into the mall and swarmed towards them.

~MC~MC~MC~

Yugi looked at Tea, looking so determined and strong, and couldn't help but smile at the sight of her. "I hope you're happy now that you're choosing this."

"Me too," Tea admitted, turning towards him. There was fear in her eyes of this new path her life was going to take... but excitement as well.

"I hope it brings you bliss. I really hope you get it and you don't live to regret it."

Even though they stood apart the two of them smiled as they sang as one, "I hope you're happy in the end! I hope you're happy my friend!"

~MC~MC~MC~

"Yuri Gardner, hands in the air!" an officer roared, pointing his gun at the group.

Renard moved to shield the startled former detective, glaring at the men that dared to point a weapon anywhere close to his Captain and those he had taken into his heart. People were being ushered away, leaving them rather alone. "What do you think you are doing?" he demanded as Edwin moved to protect Mai.

"Yuri Gardner is wanted for questioning."

"You mean you want to bring her in to make sure she doesn't squeal on you and your corrupt buddies," Mai taunted with a scoff.

"Shut your mouth before we shut it for you!" the loud mouth cop bellowed.

Edwin's lips twitched with fury. These bastards... they'd threatened Renard. Yuri. Mai. He "Yuri Gardner is with me. She's going nowhere."

"And who the hell do you think you are?" the cop demanded, only to swallow and stumble back when Edwin's eyes went black and the Millennium Key appeared around his neck, gold and black energy radiating from his body before forming an aura around him that seemed to curl protectively about his friends. Renard glanced at him, giving a slight nod as he slowly moved Yuri and Mai away from Edwin, knowing that whatever was going to happen next would be bad.

"Haven't you people been paying attention?" Edwin whispered. "I'm the Devil."

And he brought Hell with him.

~MC~MC~MC~

Tea leapt onto the edge of the roof, standing on the precipice, but there wasn't an ounce of fear. "So if you care to find me," she sang, "look to the western sky! As someone told me lately, "Everyone deserves the chance to fly!""

~MC~MC~MC~

Tristan jumped onto his new bike, not even sparing Joey a glance before he revved it, kicking off and racing away. "And if I'm flying solo, at least I'm flying free! To those who ground me take a message back from me!"

~MC~MC~MC~

"Tell them how I am defying gravity!" Tea proclaimed only to twist around as she saw a pillar of golden energy rip through the Domino skyline.

~MC~MC~MC~

"I'm flying high, defying gravity!" Tristan sang. "And soon, I'll match them in renown!" He turned a corner only to come to a stop, staring at the sky and the energy pouring out from the edge of the horizon.

~MC~MC~MC~

Edwin glared at the now cowering cops, bits of the mall's roof still crashing down all around him as the raw power of the Shadow Realm and the Millennium Key pulsed from him. Windows shattered and the officers panicked as he held his arms out wide, causing every doorway to turn into a portal to spots all over the world. He looked at them all with a sneer on his face, even as every Millennium Item user in or around Domino turned in his direction, sensing his display of power.

"And nobody in Domino, no power that there is or was, is ever gonna bring... me... down!"

And with that he rose in the air, the magic lifting him and freeing him from the bonds of gravity.

"I hope you're happy," Yuri murmured to her former co-workers as Edwin floated back towards her, his power shielding them as he landed by the group, Mai placing a hand on his arm and causing Edwin to turn his back on the cops even as the officers began to sing.

"Look at him! He's wicked! Get him!"

"Worshiped as a god?" Edwin whispered to Mai. "No... let them fear me as one."

"No one mourns the wicked! So we've got to bring him down!"

The music swelled as Edwin led Yuri and Renard through a doorway portal...

...while Selene smirked as the music swelled around her, heralding her victory.

FIN

~MC~MC~MC~

Into the Chaosverse Omake

Earth-1522

Mary Geoise

"Right through there, your holiness."

Edwin smirked as he looked at the armored soldier who had been so kind to bring him here. Well... it was actually his kindness as the soldier had told him if he didn't bring him to this very room weasels would burst from his penis (the guard's, not Edwin's).

"Thank you," he said with a smile before his voice took on a trembling tone, the vocal equivilant of an earthquake. "You really need to go to the bathroom and take a shit."

The soldier gulped and began to wiggle from one foot to the other. "I... I..."

"I can take it from here," he said and the soldier nodded before fleeing as fast as he could. Edwin chuckled lightly before shoving the doors open. "Hello there!" he said cheerfully at the figures gathered before him. Some of the most evil, vile, mosnterous, disgusting, putrid beings in all the world.

The Five Elders.

The five men stared at him, opening their mouths to protest this shocking intrusion that, for any other soul, would be an instant death sentence, only to pause when the man spoke.

"I am the Sixth Elder."

All at once the outrage disappeared and the five men sat down, looking rather bored at Edwin's arrival.

"You're late," one said with a lazy sigh.

"Sorry," Edwin said. "I had to take care of some things. Peasants who were getting a bit uppity."

"Of coruse," another said with a grunt.

"So I think-" Edwin pointed at one of the Elders at random, "-you told me that the first order of business was to make it clear to all that I truly am one of your number, so no one questions it."

"Of course," the one he'd pointed to said and the others agreed, remembering that they'd discussed that at their last meeting.

It took about three hours but soon all the paperwork was done, the Golden Snails were used to transmit the news, and all members of the World Government were informed of the Sixth Elder... who had always existed and anyone who questions that would die a terrible, terrible death. The lowest clerk to the highest member of the World Government quickly made sure that the records were correct and cursed the traitors who had made the mistake that there were only Five.

Edwin through it all merely watched, happily sipping on a non-alcoholic fruity drink.

"There," one of the Elders said, "it is done. What is the next order of business?"

"I believe," Edwin said, tapping his chin, "it was how you five want to commit suicide right now."

He turned his back as the sound of wet gurgles and falling bodies filled the air. He merely held his drink in hand as he walked to a throne he'd commanded be brought up to him and sat down, leaning back and smiling.

"And so it begins..." he said to himself before snapping at the snail. "Summon all other Celestial Dragons. Its time they join their elders in the family reunion..."

Introducing the Edwin Chaos of Earth-1522

Chaos "Emperor Dragon" Edwin

Devil Fruit: The Liar-Liar Fruit. Any lie the user states will be believed by whoever hears it. If there is any truth in the lie the power fails.

/UzumakiLegacy