Chapter Text
Yuya stumbled back onto his bed, unprepared for the sudden weight that struck him in the stomach.
"Reira! Why are you here?" Reira responded with a whimper and tightened his hold on him. Yuya stared down at the boy, unable to move. "What on Earth's the matter…?"
"Excuse me."
Yuya's head snapped up.
Chojiro couldn't contain his surprise. "You're…!"
Yuya narrowed his eyes. "Akaba Reiji…" Yuya bowed his head, eyes shadowed, and slowly brought his arms around to embrace Reira, holding him protectively.
"Reira...what were you thinking? Why are you making Reira fight too?! He's still a child!"
Reiji was silent.
"Why has he been dragged into a tournament even the Duel King Jack Atlas is part of?!" Yuya's voice was shaking. "No, even before that...why did you put Reira in the Lancers?!"
Yuya tightened his hold on Reira. No one noticed the thin veil of darkness beginning to leak from the teen...
"I crossed Dimensions of my own will so I could save Yuzu. Gongenzaka, Kurosaki, and Serena too...they all had their own reasons for joining the Lancers."
Tsukikage had appeared at the door, silent as Reiji.
Yuya continued. "I'm ready to face danger if we're to fight Academia. Everyone must think the same."
The teen took a sharp breath. "But Reira…! Reira's so little, I can't believe he came here of his own free will. You brought him here!"
Yuya locked eyes with the elder Akaba, glaring a challenge. "Isn't that right?"
The darkness leaking from the teen began to thicken, and Tsukikage blanched at the sight of it.
Yuya's voice deepened, a forewarning of the rage the Duelist was only just holding at bay. "Why did you bring Reira...why did you bring such a young child with you?! Answer me! Akaba Reiji"
Yuya's eyes flashed for a split second as he glared ferociously at Reiji.
The room was silent for a moment…
"Very well."
Reiji's voice was cool, betraying no emotion. "I'll answer your questions. First, why did I make Reira participate in the Friendship Cup? This is so that Reira can gain actual combat experience."
The answer infuriated Yuya. "Actual combat? You're joking! Reira is still a Junior-"
Reiji cut him off. "I understand Reira's true abilities. He is as strong as any of you."
"Even if he is that strong, Reira's still-" Once again, Yuya's protests went unheard.
"Next, about why he was made a part of the Lancers. It's true that Reira did not join of his own accord. He followed my orders. So, why do I insist of Reira's participation? The reason for that...Reira is a necessary existence in the fight against Academia."
Yuya's response was immediate and angry. "Necessary? Reira's necessary in the fight against Academia?! What are you saying? As if a child is necessary in a battle!"
Images, memories, flashed unbidden in Yuya's mind.
Children, eyes filled with terror, running and dueling amid destruction, all of them vanished...cards falling like rain…
Yuya gritted his teeth and bowed his head, his bangs hiding his eyes.
Reiji continued on, uncaring. "Whether you believe it or not…"
Yuya's voice was a quiet growl. "Shut up…" His hair seemed to almost...stand on end...
"...In time, the truth will…"
"I told you to shut up!" Yuya snarled the words, snapping his head up to reveal eyes glowing with grief and fury. Darkness poured from the enraged teen for a few seconds before fading away...
Chojiro took a step back, unnerved. "Hey, Yuya…"
Sam, standing by the door with a petrified Tsukikage, echoed him. "Yuya…"
The other Doorboy bolted, terrified.
Yuya looked down at Reira, sadness prominent in his red-lit eyes. When he spoke, his voice was quiet. "Reira's been afraid ever since we came to this city. Even after Crow saved us, he always kept to himself, hugging his knees to his chest...as soon as he could, he said he would go look for you…"
Yuya's voice began to rise. "Even though he wanted to see you and missed you so much...you brought him here because he's necessary for this fight?!"
The teen shifted his glare back to Reiji, his eyes flashing brighter. "Don't mess around! I won't let Reira do something like that! I won't allow him to fight! I won't let Reira participate in a battle where he might be sent to some forced labor facility to serve as an example!"
Yuya tightened his hold on the boy. "If you won't protect him...I'll protect Reira!"
...Reiji silently acknowledged the determination buried within the dark light of Yuya's eyes. He spoke, not to the teen, but to Reira. "Reira. Answer my question. What is your reason for refusing to participate?"
Yuya answered instead of the boy. "It's obviously because he's scared!"
An emotion finally leaked into Reiji's voice. Annoyance. "I'm asking Reira." He stared at the trembling boy's back. "Answer me."
"Don't force him…" Yuya's voice was quiet and dangerous.
Reiji's eyes narrowed. "Answer me, Reira."
Reira flinched...but then he spoke, quietly, fearfully. "C-Crow's friend...he gave...me c-candy."
Yuya started, and his eyes lost some of their glow. He couldn't help the tenderness in his voice as he looked down at the boy in his arms. "Back then...Reira remembers that...that's why…?"
Reiji had to fight hard not to allow a tiny smile to escape. 'So he doesn't want to fight someone who had done him charity…' Very well then. "Tsukikage."
The ninja-who'd been eyeing Yuya warily-snapped to attention. "Yes?"
"Duel in Reira's place." Yuya's eyes widened and went dark at Reiji's order.
"Understood." Tsukikage vanished.
Without speaking another word, Reiji turned and walked from the room.
...Reira desperately followed him, leaving a shocked Yuya in his wake. "Nii-sama! Nii-Sama!"
"Reira…!" Yuya jolted to his feet, bolting to the door...
...Though Akaba Reiji would never admit it as he walked down the hall holding his smiling little brother's hand, he was eternally grateful to Yuya.
He'd pushed Reira, starting the boy down the path to finding his own sense of self…
...And somehow, even Yuya's Darkness had grown fond of the little boy. He would not have to fear for his brother.
'...Thank you, Sakaki Yuya.'