#the urge to draw aoi is taking control of me

[clitshit777]

hot girl summer means rotting in bed staying up all night playing visual novels and pixel indie rpgs (⁠･⁠–⁠･⁠)⁠ ⁠\⁠(⁠･⁠◡⁠･⁠)⁠/

it's actually my first time playing KKKK TT first time being a hoe this summer.. kinda nervous 🥺😩

[linderu]

a promise more powerful than hanakotoba.

characters: hanako, yashiro pairing: hanako/yashiro series: jibaku shounen hanako-kun ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/24041686

After their predicament with No. 4 was resolved, life for Hanako regrettably went back to normal.

Too normal, he thought, eyeing Yashiro carefully when she wasn’t watching.

Yashiro was acting as if nothing had happened. Normally, he could read her like an open book, so for her to be scrubbing away at floors and digging holes into the ground in her garden with such high levels of enthusiasm was completely throwing him for a loop.

In No 4.’s painting, she had found out about her short lifespan.

Not only that, but it was obvious Hanako had hid it from her— as well as made a valiant effort to trap her in a fake world she wanted no part of. He pretended to be Amane Yugi and acted as if he had no clue what she was talking about when she addressed him as “Hanako-kun.”

No matter his intentions, he felt nothing but guilt and concern when he thought about it. Normally, he would have thought she would yell, cry, hit him, get in his face— Yashiro was generally a very expressive girl, especially when it came down to things she felt strongly about.

So why did she seem so happy now?

As Hanako thought, he just couldn’t leave her alone.

“Ya~shi~ro!” His voice was playfully melodic as he approached her from behind, his hands latching onto her shoulders.

“Uwah!” Immediately, she jumped up with a yelp, not having heard him approach. “H-hanako-kun?! What is it?”

“Why are you plowing new rows at a time like this? Don’t you already have enough plants?” Hanako floated in midair, pouting, and leaned into Yashiro’s back as he propped his chin on her shoulder. “Hey, hey, can’t we do something together? Come oooon, I’m booooored!”

“Hanako-kun, get off of me!” She waved her plow around impatiently, attempting to shove him off. Persistent as he was, he didn’t budge. “I have to finish this before I go home! It’s really, really, really important!”

Pressing his cheek into Yashiro’s, Hanako peered over her shoulder at the garden.

“Is it really that important?” He questioned, his voice portraying his curiosity. “Isn’t it just the same as what you normally do?”

“No! It’s not, so get off already!”

“Hmmm…” Hanako hummed, deciding to obey. As much as he loved taking up Yashiro’s personal space and keeping annoyingly close, he didn’t want to piss her off too much — especially when he was on the hunt for information.

“I’m just about done plowing, and then I have to sow the seeds.” Now that she had some room to breathe, Yashiro was back to her usual, smiley self (it really was weirding him out), and she pulled a packet of seeds out to show him. “They’re flowers! Look at the picture, won’t they be super, suuuuuper pretty when they grow?! Aaaahhh, I can’t wait!”

“Flowers?” Hanako was drawing blanks. Didn’t she usually plant vegetables? “What for? Won’t those just give you more work?”

“They will, but, think about it Hanako-kun!” She jammed her plow into the ground and clasped her hands together, eyes sparkling. “What better way to confess your love than with hanakotoba?! Yes, that’s right! I, Yashiro Nene, will plant the perfect flowers to give to Minamoto-senpai!”

“Uh-huh…”

“And then he wouldn’t be able to help but fall for me!” Yashiro continued. Abruptly, she took on the manliest tone she could muster, and Hanako didn’t bother hiding his snickering. “Ah, Nene-chan, these camellias are beautiful… this one is red… could it mean... you’re in love with me?”

“Pfft! Didn’t you already give up on that guy?” He strongly felt the urge to glomp her again, if only to get her mind off confessing to some prince-charming-school-president-excorcist-guy whom she barely knew. No, he wasn’t jealous at all. “And anyway, why go through all that effort to plant them if you could just buy them from the store? Isn’t that kind of silly?”

“No, they have to be home grown or it wouldn’t mean anything!” She shook her head vehemently, squeezing the package of seeds in her hands. “I’ve never planted flowers before… and anyway, camellia shrubs bloom every year, you know? Even if I’m not here, they’ll...  they’ll grow back...“

Her voice trailed off, and her gaze fell to the ground. If Hanako had a beating heart, it surely would have stopped as he saw tears well in her eyes.

“Yashiro…” he reached a hand out slowly, but didn’t touch her— at this moment in time, for whatever reason, it felt she was extremely fragile. Like if he were to even brush her shoulder, she would shatter, and disappear from existence entirely.

He had known she wasn’t okay. It was good he came to check on her after all. But what could he do for her…? He was dead, himself, after all.

“E-even when I’m… d-dead… they’ll grow for everyone to see…!” Yashiro’s tears flowed freely now, and through her crying, she could barely get out a sentence. “S-so maybe everyone… will still remember me…! Aoi-chan... Kou-kun…”

He couldn’t stand to see her like this. His body was already physically cold from death, but watching her cry and panic about her future left him frozen.

Yashiro had always been a crybaby. He didn’t like to watch her cry under any circumstances, but this was on another level entirely. What could he possibly do? Tell her the future was wrong? Try as he might, he didn’t know that for certain. Honestly, the chances of saving her were so slim anyway, he couldn’t bear to think about it himself.

This was exactly why he wanted to keep her in No 4.’s drawing. She would have been happy. She would have lived forever.

Damn it all.

Wordlessly, he pulled her into a tight embrace, one hand moving up to smooth out her hair. Instantly, she clung on tight to him and sobbed her heart out— and it was thankful she couldn’t see his expression from how they were positioned, because he felt like he could cry, too.

“H-hanako-kun… I don’t want to die! I’m… I’m going to die, right?! R-really soon… even though I’m still so young…!”

“Yashiro… I…” he gave her a tight squeeze, continuing to pet her hair as his other hand rubbed circles into her back. “...”

“What’s going to happen to me?! What about my f-family?! I still… haven’t dated anyone yet…! And I won’t g-get to see you anymore…!”

“...” Hanako bit his lip, holding back his own crushing despair. Had he ever really cried before as a ghost? He wasn’t certain. A thought struck his mind suddenly, and he said the words without giving himself time to think about them. “... Mermaid scales…”

“Huh?” Curiosity must have gotten the best of her, because her crying calmed down some. “H-hanako-kun… what do you mean…?”

“... Ah… it’s just…” he wasn’t entirely sure. He didn’t want to lie to her, but… it was a possibility. “Y’know? The mermaid’s curse. We’re connected by a bond… it’s why we can touch each other, even though I’m not human. The curse... transcends life and death.”

“What are you saying then…?” Only sniffling now, Yashiro pulled back to look Hanako in the eye — and he immediately looked away.

“I’m going to save you, Yashiro.” He muttered, staring at the package of seeds she clenched in her hands. Carefully, he reached a hand to grasp hers, gently unraveling her fingers from the seeds and allowing the package to fall to the grass. He slowly linked their hands together. “I’ll do whatever it takes. So… I don’t want you to worry about any of this. But...”

“B-but…?”

“... if for some reason, it does come to that…” Hanako squeezed her hand, and gathered his courage before looking her straight in the eye. He wanted to show Yashiro he was serious— he didn’t know how much comfort it would bring, but if he couldn’t even look at her when making such important promises, then what good was it to even say them?

“If for some reason, your future comes true, I won’t go anywhere. You’ll still have me. We can still see each other, and spend a lot of time together… okay?” Unable to keep up the eye contact any longer, he hugged her again, burying his face in her shoulder. “I know it’s not much, but at least you won’t lose me. I’ll never let you go. So don’t cry, okay?”

“H-hanako-kun…” Yashiro whimpered.

She wasn’t talking much… of course not. As much as Hanako wanted to help, it was only expected for a human in the face of death to have this kind of reaction.

Death was death.

He’d been a school mystery for 50 years. He wouldn’t dare call it an extension of his life. This was an atonement for his sins, nothing more. Bound to the school, his existence controlled by rumors and his duties alike… this wasn’t living. He was nothing more than a cog in the school’s wheel, helping it function the way it should.

Yashiro was the best thing to happen to him in his 50 years as a ghost. Spirits only existed because they had regrets— they weren’t happy, by any means. Everyone sought release. And what came from release— from fulfilling the regrets you had when you were living— was nothing.

That was your reward. Nothing.

All he could do was comfort her, and try his best to change her future.

“Yashiro.” He murmured. Hanako was relieved to feel the girl relaxing slowly in his arms, the tension in her shoulders easing.

“... You really won’t go anywhere?” One of her hands clung to the clothing on his back. “You’ll stay with me?”

“I won’t leave you alone.” If Yashiro’s spirit stuck around the school, he would undoubtedly stay by her side. If she immediately passed on… perhaps their shared curse would keep them connected. He could only ride on that hope.

A moment of silence passed between them, before Yashiro spoke up.

“Hey, Hanako-kun.”

To his surprise, she withdrew from his embrace, and gave him a peck on the cheek before he had time to react. Hanako stared at her dumbly, his mouth agape, and though her eyes were wet and red and swollen, the smile she wore left him dazzled.

“You were worried for me, right? I’m sorry I cried like that so suddenly…” she directed her gaze to her feet, saving Hanako the trouble of hiding his embarrassment from the sudden kiss. “You’re always watching out for me… so I just… wanted to thank you.”

Quickly rebounding from his fluster, he grabbed her chin, leaned in close, and tilted her head up so their eyes met. Hanako forced a smirk, despite all of the fears and shyness and anxiety and sadness he felt, he couldn’t let himself lose his composure when he was meant to be the one comforting her — really, Yashiro, why were you so worried for him when this situation affected you the most?

“I told you before, right? That you would repay me with your body.” Seizing his opportunity to change the mood, he said what was probably the dumbest thing that came to mind, in the most sultry tone possible. Misdirection! His specialty! “Do you really think I would let you go so easily?”

“Wha—?! What are you saying?! You jerk!” She shoved him away, pouting. “And here I thought you were actually worried about me! I don’t understand you at all! Why can’t you be more like Minamoto-senpai?! Geez, you’re such a pain!”

Operation: make Yashiro think about something else — success! Well, she might be mad, but she was a lot more energetic this way.

“Ah!” Hanako made a scene of glancing up at the sky, before picking up the package of seeds she had dropped on the ground earlier. Time to send her home. “Hey, Yashiro, isn’t it already too dark outside to finish this?”

“Wah!! My flowers!” She checked the time on her phone, before whining again. “When did it get this late?! Geez!!”

Yashiro reached out to swipe her flower seeds, but he immediately floated backwards, holding them in the air above him dramatically.

“Give them back! I need to plant them!”

“Nuh-uh! No way. You don’t need these anymore.”

“But hanakotoba—”

“I’m telling you, you don’t need it.” Through the growing darkness, Hanako smirked. “If we’re changing your future, there’s no reason to plant these, is there? Just go home for the night. Your family’s gonna worry.”

“Oh.” Yashiro’s expression transitioned from surprise, to understanding, and then finally to a small, content smile. “... I guess you’re right, huh…”

“Of course I am. So stop worrying so much about it and go home already.”

“... Okay.” Her smile widened, and once again, she attempted to approach him. Hanako held the seeds even higher above his head, but allowed her to walk up to him, watching her closely for any funny business.

Though, all she did was hug him.

“Yashiro…?”

“Thank you, Hanako-kun.” She gave him a tight squeeze, before backing off. “Okay, well I think I’m going to head home now! Ahhhhh, my family will be so worried…!”

“Okay…” he watched as she headed off towards the exit. Abruptly, she stopped, turned around, and flashed him another bright smile— illuminated by the lamps lighting the pathway.

“Hanako-kun really is the best! Bye-bye, see you tomorrow!” She waved, and ran off towards her home.

[getyouraoion]

Another drabble for @riseofthephoenixfallofdestiny who needs all the smiles and deserves every one of them. <3 And requested I write this one- though neither of us had any idea how long it’d be XD It was so much fun, tho! owo

~Aster and Aoi have been dating for well over a year now, even moving in together shortly after her graduation. He’s even starting to open up some, which thrills the charmer duelist... But it also opens up the possibility for all kinds of nasty surprises, including one with ties to Aster’s past.

Warnings for kidnapping and death mentions.

Part 1 of 2.

“It's a party in Domino to celebrate the new season.”

“...Pros have seasons?”

“Even we need breaks, Aoi. Come with me?”

In hindsight, she probably should've said no.

For the billionth time, Aoi fluffed her bangs, much to her boyfriend's amusement beside her. “You hush. I've never been in t' a party like this before,” she argued upon catching a glimpse of his grin from the corner of her eye. Honestly, she'd have yanked on his tie and dragged him home an hour ago... If not for the fact he enjoyed it when she took control and they'd likely end up vanishing to a side room for reasons other than leaving. “I don't want t' embarrass you, you know that.”

Aster simply shrugged, though his grin grew wider with the movement. “Aoi, dear, you could never embarrass me. You could stop fluffing your hair like a preening bird-”

“And you could remember I know how y' love your tie pulled.”

His cheeks flushed a pale shade of red, drawing a grin to her lips. If there was one way to counter Aster's horrible teasing, it was to remind him she knew his weaknesses, and how willing she was to use them against him. Maybe not in public, but it was enough, the pro lifting a fist to his lips to cover a cough. “All right, I'll concede this round to you. I wouldn't get used to it, you know-”

Grin fading into a soft smile, she leaned over and rocked onto her toes, a delicate hand laying itself on his chest seconds before their lips connected for but a second. Like always, the tender kiss sent a shiver down her spine, only amplified with knowing that for the first time, he'd been dropping his guard in public and letting the world – or at least those at the party – know the great Aster Phoenix was a man off the dating 'market'. And to have his hands automatically migrate to her waist, hold gentle and full of affection, added a second shudder and a smile to his own lips.

“I won't get used to winning,” she whispered, sliding her hand up to cup his cheek, “but I'll always love the 'war'. After all, I love you- how could I not love the battles we share?”

He chuckled, the sound full of fondness and amusement, and pecked in another kiss to the tip of her nose. “I'll remind you of that the next time you complain about my smirk.”

“You smirked 'cause I almost lost Hiita.”

“Again. I should tape your deck to your hands.”

Aoi huffed, pulling back from his hold, though her smile never faded. Was it her fault the wind loved to snatch her fire charmer from her hands whenever it got? Granted, it had been how they'd met and- “You know, I just thought of th' irony? We have a pretty heated relationship, yeah?”

“Your temper is part of it-”

“And so is how y' act in bed.”

The tease forced his parted lips back together, blue eyes flashing with a mixture of a promise to get her back for it, and a reminder that he held enough of her secrets to thoroughly embarrass her if she continued on that particular topic. “But think about it. Which charmer did y' catch three years ago?”

“Hii-” Aster paused, then laughed, remembering the wind carrying the card to him outside of Duel Academy's front doors. Back then, he'd been posing as a new student, there under Sartorious's orders – though he'd never expected it to bring him the raven before him. “I'll give you that, too. A glimpse of destiny perhaps?”

She laughed, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Mhm- Maybe Hiita knows us better than we do... Though that I won't push. Jay can see spirits, an' if one of us starts I'm blaming him.”

“Agreed.” Both pro and raven let a brief frown pull at their lips; neither could stand the distance that kept them from their friend, least of all Aoi. Along with Aster and their mutual friends Chazz and Whisper, Jaden had been her closest friend since she'd arrived at the academy four and a half years prior. Though she talked to him on a nearly daily basis, be it by letters, phone calls, or emails, she still missed her 'pup'  immensely.

Taking note of her switch in mood, Aster brushed his fingers over her cheek, the gentle touch bringing back her smile. “Would you like a drink, dear? The refreshments table is clear- I may not get swamped by fans this time.”

She couldn't help but giggle; the moment they'd arrived, they'd nearly been tackled into the mud caused by the day's earlier rains, nearly everyone who didn't see him on a regular basis and fans new to the pro circuit determined to get an autograph... Or a touch, despite him announcing he was there with a date. “If you d' get swamped again, just yell 'hey look over there' and take off. Always work f' me.”

“And that is why you're here,” he joked, taking her hand long enough to kiss her knuckles. “I'll return shortly. Don't stray far.”

“I couldn't stray at all. You'd be lost without me.” But the tease fell on deaf ears, the silver-haired pro out of earshot before the words even left her lips. The moment he was out of sight, she fluffed her bangs again; why had she agreed to this? Being beside Aster always made her feel safe – she knew nothing could hurt her so long as he was there, something he'd proven rather often in the years since they'd met. Like Jaden, he'd protected her from Sartorious, Yubel, and all manner of nasty opponents, as well as teachers determined to see her either fail or end up in detention for years past her graduation date. Having her boyfriend nearby was a definite source of comfort.

But being alone in a party for the pro circuit, especially one as packed with people as this, was nerve-wracking. Ignoring the fact she was working at a ranking in the rookie leagues and spent just as much time making clothing for Chazz and Aster, and thus would never be on the same level as those in attendance, she was incredibly aware that her relationship left a target on her back. Aster still had enemies, even without The D and Sartorious in the picture, and even she knew they'd do anything it took to get at him – she didn't need to be a genius to figure it out. So long as he was a world-famous pro with the incredible skills to match, anyone close to him would be something to be used. Still, she wasn't too worried; he wasn't that far away, and she doubted anyone would try anything, squirming out of the people crowding around for a distant glimpse of her lover in favor or checking out a large, leafy houseplant. Unlike the rest of the crowd, she knew exactly how his backside looked in those pants; she'd made them for him, and spent more than enough time staring at it herself – especially when he seemed to realize she loved how good he looked in them and took to wandering about shirtless for much of the morning. Those were the time she both loved and hated moving in with him a month earlier, fingertips trailing over an oversized leaf. Maybe he'd know what kind of plant this was? A corcus? Ficus? No, those were trees, weren't they? Maybe a bush... Bluebe- Nah, that made no sense-

She'd barely had time to think of the word 'avocado' before someone had their arm around her waist, pressing a rag against her nose and mouth. Behind her, various chatter and 'Ooh' and 'ahh's rose from the crowd, likely a product of Aster sharing the results of his last duel.. Or was it the last time he'd gone snowboarding? Whatever it was, it was enough to drown out her muffled screams, trying to ignore the sweet smell from the rag and attempts to elbow the form dragging her to the corner. Why wasn't anyone looking?

Slowly, the world around her started to spin, her attempts to fight missing more than they connected. The wind hit her skin before she could even realize they were on the back patio... And within minutes, she could barely keep her eyes open, fighting the urge to sleep until it claimed her.

“You just don't know how to wake up, do you?”

A soft groan worked its way free, Aoi wriggling a bit to try and get comfortable. A comfortable that ended with a shove of her head to the side, drawing her attention to the dull headache throbbing in her skull; when had that happened? And why wasn't Aster waking her like he normally did, with a gentle nudge and a combination of a kiss and a tease, lest she be late for breakfast?

Because the one waking her wasn't Aster, she realized, slowly blinking green-blue eyes open to meet vibrant emerald green rather than the wonderful blue of her boyfriend. Whoever this was, just being close to him left her stomach in a knot and her shell rising nearly immediately, the raven trying to squirm backwards into the wall she'd been propped against. “Where's Aster?”

“Clueless.” The man before her chuckled, rocking back onto his heels and standing to his full height. Even having him out of her face didn't help the knot in her stomach; what did he mean by clueless? “And you're my ticket to getting back at him. Consider yourself lucky – As long as you're useful to me, I can't just kill you.”

Kill? That was one word that made the knot sink into her gut; she'd effectively 'died' once, back when they'd been battling Yubel, and had no intention of finding out what a real, permanent death felt like! “I'm not u-useful to you-” Aoi paused, swallowing hard to rid herself of the waver in her voice. If she wasn't useful, though, did that mean she'd be forfeiting her life? And if she did, would it keep Aster safe? “I'm not useful, and I won't let you at him. I'd sooner let you kill me.”

“Brave words.” He canted his head to the side, slipping his hands into his pockets as he stared down at her. “But I don't need you to grab him. I need you to completely shatter him. After all, he destroyed my mentor... And in D's name I'll destroy him, starting with the one he holds closest to him!”

“The D was a jerk,” she answered automatically, patting down her dress for any signs of tears and damage. When she found none and her deck still in the case strapped to her thigh under the skirt, she heaved a sigh of relief; he'd taken her, but done nothing else. That was enough to turn her attention to the threat at hand: A man who had ties to one she'd only heard about in brief stories, Aster's former legal guardian not someone she wanted to press him on.

Slowly, she eased herself up and off the floor, knees shaking with the effort and head throbbing in protest. Whatever he'd drugged her with had left her feeling oddly heavy and still tired, though the need to protect both herself and a man who'd claimed her heart was something that won out over it all, even if she was nauseous in the midst of adrenaline-fueled bravery. “He was a sick jerk who hurt Aster and tried t' cover it up by taking him in- That' n' mentor, that's a sick, twisted monster! An' y' think I'm gonna hand y' Aster s' you can 'honor' th' guy's memory? Sorry, buddy, you picked the wrong girl to mess with.”

The man shrugged nonchalantly, alerting her to the fact he blocked her escape – she'd literally been dumped into a corner, and the only way out of it was past him. “I don't care what you think, kid. And I don't need you to 'hand' me anything. But I'll give you this much, if you're so eager to play the hero-”

“I'm not. I'm protecting someone who means everything t' me. But since your mentor was a criminal and you're clearly followin' in his footsteps, I shouldn't expect y' to understand.”

“Sassy. I can see why he likes you. Too bad I don't care.”

That one actually stung, her gaze moving past him at the pair of duel disks on a table across the spacious room. “...A duel?”

“Mm. You must duel, if he likes you. I'll give you this, then: We duel. If you win, I'll let you go free. Simple as that.”

“...Doesn't sound simple. And if I lose?”

“You stay.”

“Still doesn't sound simple. What's th' catch?”

He stepped aside then, unblocking the rest of the table from her line of sight. The collars sitting beside the disks made her shudder; it was hard not to recognize the shock equipment Zane had gotten addicted to and even demonstrated for them in a match against Syrus. “You wear that. Win or lose, you're not leaving here.”

A part of her wanted to chirp she'd just not take damage then, but even she knew that was impossible. She was no pro; taking no damage for the entirety of a duel was something any of her friends could do, but not her charmers – No matter what she did, an attack on her would be inevitable. But at least she had the advantage of being a healthy teen... Her body could take a little shock, right? “...Fine. But if I win you turn yourself in f' this and never bother Aster again.”

“Deal, kid. Now pick your disk and duel.”

Aster Phoenix was livid.

Or at least, livid was the word whispered around the party, the wide berth around him ensuring nobody else got caught up in his search for his missing girlfriend. He'd not seen hide nor hair of her in over an hour, not since he'd left to get them drinks from a refreshment table.. That had oddly been out of of refreshments.

At the time, he'd thought nothing of it and entertained the growing crowd around him with stories of his latest conquests, ignoring any questions he got about his private life, per the norm. What he did at home was his own business, though he had rather happily talked about his suit for several minutes when requested to – he wasn't about to squash Aoi's chances at getting clients for her clothing line by keeping her talents to himself. There being no punch was odd, but otherwise, things had progressed the way they always had.

Until he'd returned to the plant he'd left her at, that was, finding nothing but... Well, plant. A bit of questioning told him she wasn't in the bathroom, nor had she gone outside... And it was then the glasses had dropped from his hands, shattering on the polished marble floor. If there was one thing he knew about Aoi, it was that she wouldn't just up and leave him alone without a word.

His hands balled up into fists at his sides, short cut nails digging into his palms until he was sure they were cutting through layers of skin. She wouldn't willingly leave him, so how had she vanished? He'd explored nearly every inch of the parts of the mansion guests were allowed to roam, forced back by security when he'd hit those limits. If they wouldn't let him thorough, there was no way they'd have let a stubborn five-foot-three woman through, either; he didn't have to worry about her being elsewhere in the massive building.

He couldn't stand to lose her.

The sudden thought cut through his rage for a brief moment of clarity; had he gotten so dependent on having someone beside him that he'd let himself get so attached? The thought of going back to living alone made him nauseous- at one time, he'd even preferred it over the loud bustle of having anyone aside from his assistant in his home. These days, he'd found himself rather enjoying having someone to share his days with, one hand uncurling from its fist so he could run the pads of his fingers along a seam in his suit's jacket. Someone who owned his heart, made him want to come home and actually relax even on the slowest days.

A sharp, repeating beep cut through the air, drawing his gaze to the screen against a nearby wall. The party's host hastily pressed a few buttons – he'd recognize the small man anywhere – and within seconds, the image had changed from a seasonable pumpkin display... To a smirking man. Well, he could safely say he'd not expected it to be a viewscreen.

“Aster Phoenix is still in attendance, yes?”

Normally, he'd have replied with a snarky comment, nudging through the crowd to put himself up front, within clear view, but this was an occasion he simply couldn't get out much more than a glare. Thankfully, that seemed to be more than enough, the man on the screen chuckling at the sight of him. “There you are. And you look so very happy – Did you find her missing?”

The question set his blood boiling; had he been where she'd gone? “Where is she?”

“Safe, for the moment.”

He hated those words.

And Aoi hated pinching collars.

Her captor turned the screen, her own glared pinned first on it, then the man while she tugged at the shock collar fitted to her neck. It was her own fault for agreeing to it, she supposed, giving the metal another sharp yank, watching the man put on his own. “You didn't actually call Aster, did y'?”

“Aoi!”

He had, Aster's voice coming from the relatively small screen easing her fears some and ceasing her tugging. Without a thought to what her captor could do, she darted closer to the screen, leaning against her hands on the table and willing a soft smile to her lips. “Aster... I'm okay. I promise y' I'm okay. Don't worry so much.”

His lips quirked into a grin, though she couldn't find any trace of the usual light in his eyes that came with it. She was so used to the vibrant blues sparkling in delight every time he smiled, so much so that she was less afraid of his temper, and more so that he'd finally lost that sparkle after everything he'd lived through. “I'm coming for you.”

“As much as I love hearin' that, no. You're not.”

“Don't fight me on this, Aoi. I'm coming.”

“And if you come this guy's gonna have what he wants. Stay. There.”

“I won't let him have you!”

“He already has me! An' I'm not gonna let him have y' too!”

“Aoi-”

“Stop. There's a chance I can get my freedom and keep you safe by dueling him. Stay at the party and I'll be home soon.”

“This isn't home.” He crossed his arms over his chest, giving her a pointed stare. “And I'm not about to listen to the argument of a stubborn fool wearing- … Take it off this instant.”

Aoi tugged at the collar, willing a smile to her lips. “This? Can't.”

“And why not?”

“...It's a little locked in place an' the key's on the ceiling.”

“Why is it on the ceiling?”

“Because you're dating a fool t' focused on making sure you're safe an' doesn't care about herself.”

“Sounds accurate,” he muttered, shrugging slightly, though she couldn't find a trace of insult in his voice, just a familiar tease. “You never did think about yourself.”

“Exactly. So stay there?”

“No.”

Her shoulders slumped, head hanging. Why was he so stubborn? Maybe that was what'd brought them together, but for the moment it was also a trait they shared that she couldn't quite deal with. “Please, Aster. I promise I'll be fine. Stay there an' I'll see you at home, okay? Don't risk yourself by comin' here. I refuse t' lose you.” That said, she pulled away from the screen, hiking up her skirt just enough to take her deck from the hidden case on her thigh and slip it into the duel disk on her arm. “I won't lose you. Get yourself ready, 'cause I'm doin' this one for him!”

The man smirked, the disk on his arm shifting into place along with hers. He seemed more at home in the collar than she felt in her dress, wishing she'd been able to wear jeans for the catered affair. It'd certainly be easier to duel in, too, waiting for his nod of approval for her to go first to draw her opening hand. At least her deck hadn't let her down; she'd already drawn her wind charmer and the familiar-possessed form of the earth, along with one each of her fire and light monsters. At the rate she was going, she'd be able to keep this duel going in her favor without issue!

Yet playing Alexandrite Dragon wouldn't do her any favors just yet, despite having a high attack. Without any clue to what he had in his hand, her best bet was to play it safe and place down her fire monster, instead, smiling at the sight of the small of appearing on the field before her. “Then I'm gonna start with m' Fox Fire- Don't underestimate th' little guy, now. He's coming with two face downs-” a pause to add them to the field, “but he's pretty fierce all his own.” Even if his small attack wouldn't get her far, at least she could use him for a shield, mumbling her apologies to the fox under her breath.

“How cute. A pile of ash.” Her captor chuckled, the sound sending a chill through her, much unlike the warmth of Aster's. She didn't doubt he had something planned... Something that turned out to be an ice barrier monster, their strategist, if she remembered right, quickly summoned and staring down her fox. “Look at it cower and tremble in fear. Why don't you join it?!”

Her Fox Fire had barely been destroyed before the collar activated, the sparks of electricity coursing through her body far stronger than she'd initially considered and drawing a sharp cry from her lips. If that was what taking over a thousand points of damage did, she was ready to clock out, go home, and hide in bed until the world came to an end, stray jolts still making her fingers twitch long after the shock had finished. It was all she could do to slip her card into the graveyard, then remove it again, placing it right back where it was. “A-And you don't know 'bout my fox, clearly. I can bring him back at the end of a t-turn he's been destroyed on. I've got myself a really loyal fluffball, h-huh?”

And she'd need it, she realized, suddenly feeling far smaller than even a mouse. How.. Was she supposed to protect Aster if she was already losing?

Footprints in the mud.

Tire tracks leading away from the mansion.

A dropped handbag he'd recognize anywhere.

By the time she'd lost more than half of her life points, Aster had seen enough. Coupled with the viewscreen suddenly dying and no way to get the feed back, the pro had fled from the mansion, adjusting his tie and putting in a phone call for a helicopter with the clues he'd found. The surrounding area was still muddy enough that he could follow the tracks, and above all else, he was ready to knock someone's head off their shoulders. The moment he found them... The kidnapper wasn't the only one who had it coming to them.

How dare she tell him not to follow? Didn't she realize how dangerous this was? He knew all too well how much she loved to have fun and slack off, even if she had grown up quite a bit in recent years. Her life was no game-

Aster stopped, rubbing at his eyes with the heels of his palms. He knew better; the girl he'd fallen for wasn't that clueless, and thinking of her such, even out of anger, wasn't going to get him far, nor was it right. She was just as protective as he was, if not more so, going as far as to tailor her deck to reflect a self-imposed role as Jaden's guardian after seeing his heartache and pain after their return from the alternate dimension. That had been over a friend... And now she was trying to sacrifice herself to keep him safe.

She knew exactly what she was doing, and it was making him sick to his stomach to know that by the end of the night, he could be going home without her.

He'd been used and left behind so much, he'd kept his heart off limits to anyone and everyone. Everyone, that was, except for the sweetly smiling girl the wind had brought to him on a crisp, clear autumn day. Even when he'd been against her, she'd forgiven him. Introduced him to a world of peace he'd never before known. Took every loss he'd handed her, both in duels and in their typical playful 'fights', with a smile so vibrant he wasn't sure how to make heads or tails of it. She'd taken his entire world and turned it on its head faster than he could blink.

It'd taken until almost graduation for him to admit aloud exactly what she meant to him. For months, she'd been contently and happily telling him how much she loved him, splitting her time between staying with Jaden and with him on his yacht whenever he was at the academy. Having her nearby had always been a blessing; with her the nightmares weren't as bad, and he'd never quite gotten enough of her sleeping with her head on his chest. Having her on the yacht was... Honestly, it was like being home, something he'd not had since before he'd lost his father. And no more than two months before graduation, he'd managed to get out the words 'I love you'... And not stopped saying them since.

He couldn't go home without her. To lose her would be to lose the last chance he'd had at being happy – she'd shown him an entirely new world. How was he supposed to find it again without her? How could he find his way back out of that darkness without her to guide him again? No, he was going after her, whether she wanted him to or not. His mind was made up.

He'd not be alone again.

And neither would she.