Screams ran loud and clear through the air. Hundreds of people - mostly students of Duel Academy - panicked and rushed through the wrecked Academy. Blasts were fired in the background, and on the humans tails was a gigantic, colossal dragon, wreathes in green and black, shadows rippling off of it.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I'm back! Finally free! Prepare to face me, worthless HUMANS!" the dragon surprisingly roared and fired yet another blast towards the terrified students of Duel Academy.

Surprisingly, the blast was intercepted by yet another blast, which cancelled out the attacks all together. The dragon snarled in annoyance and turned around towards the ones that had ruined its fun. Behind it, was a large group of humans duellists, the majority of them in their teen years. There were nine in total, and they had all allied themselves with different monsters. The dragon roared again, and fired yet another powerful beam of red energy. The duellists quickly evaded the attack.

"Yuya, stop this!" a strongly built man battling with Super Heavy Samurai's shouted.

"Yes, listen to him, Teacher!" another voice followed. This time, it was coming from a kid eating a lollipop. The dragon just bellowed in annoyance, and fired yet another beam. It had no idea who this Yuya individual was, but these humans were in the way of his mission to completely destroy the world.

"Yuya, you dimwit! You're ruining my clothes!" another boy with blonde and brown brags complained and stamped his foot on the ground in a fit of child-like fury.

"This really isn't the time to be concerned about your clothes, Silvio!" another boy with dull orange hair screamed. On his field, he had a flock of Blackwing monsters.

"Yuya, or Zarc, or whatever you want to call yourself. We're here to battle you," a silver haired male said. His duel disk was ready with a Destiny HERO.

"That's right! Duel us!" a man on a white duel runner said firmly.

"HAHAHA! FINALLY! An Adversary! NA HAHAHAHAHA!" the dragon then roared in delight, before smirking evilly. He reversed and shrunk down to his humanoid form, which looked like a lot like Yuya and a duel monster combined. His yellow eyes were glaring at them, and it shocked the humans deeply.

"Damn, Yuya sure did slap you with the ugly stick on the way out if this is your true form," the silver haired duellist exclaimed,

The dragon lord ignored this, and activated his duel disk.

"Shall we begin?"

It was over too quick. Even too quick for the dragons taste. Several duellists were lying at the feet of this gigantic dragon. Only three duellists remained standing. However, it was pure luck that they hadn't been defeated yet.

"Yuto! I know you're in there! Fight him!" one of the boys shouted. He was leaning up against his Raid Raptors for support. The dragon king knew that was the only reason he hadn't fallen as of yet.

"Yuya! Yuto! Fight him!" his friend beside him also shouted. The dragon, Yuya/Zarc snorted. This male had fought valiantly with his Galaxy Eyes Dragons against him, but just like the rest, he was no match for him. He ordered his servants to attack and made quick process with them. They fell at his feet as well. Now he looked down at the last person standing there. The only one who might be worthwhile beating.

"You are the last one standing, Declan Akaba. You have no chance against me - the Supreme King Dragon," the dragon said and chuckled darkly. "This is the end for ALL of you!"

He attacked. Wind was suddenly blowing all around them. Something intercepted the attack.

"Intrusion Penalty: 2000 points." Seven people were standing in front of everyone else now.

"Thanks, Kuriboh. You're a life saver," a triple multi-coloured haired boy said.

"Astral, what the heck is going on?" a lobster haired kid asked the ghost beside him, before looking at the towering dragon in front of him and leaning back in fright. "Holy-! What the hell is that thing?!"

"I believe that this is the foe we have to beat, Yuma," the ghost replied, looking up at the dragon in distaste.

"Really Astral?!" an orange haired girl exclaimed behind Yuma, her purple eyes rolling in impatience and annoyance. "Way da' go to point out the obvious!"

"Crow! Jack!" a male with yellow striped black hair yelled and jumped down from a pure white dragon. "You two okay?" Jack and Crow groaned.

"Yusei, what...are you doing here?" Jack questioned.

"Hey, are you okay?" Two twins with brownish hair were staring worriedly down at Declan. The female looked around.

"They're banged up pretty badly. I think it would be best if I moved them to safety Jaden," she then said. Her brother nodded.

"Good idea, sis," the one known as Jaden agreed quickly. He turned around to face Zarc, his face scrunched up from the obvious distaste he had for the dragon king. "I'll take it from here. I've got a few choice words to say to this freak."

"What is this?" Zarc questioned in annoyance. "More duellists to hunt down? By the way the other duellists  had performed before all of you showed up, it was beginning to feel more like target practice."

"Oh, I'll hunt you down," Jaden sneered, his eyes changing from a warm chocolate colour to two coloured eyes - one red, the other green. "You call yourself a king? You're not fit to rule anything. And don't get me started on how Haou despises the fact that you're using his title. He is the only Supreme King here."

Zarc the supreme dragon king roared again. "We shall see about that."

Everything became blurry. The scenery changed to a desolated place with floating objects and land, but it also surprisingly had a sky looking like the starry sky of the universe. Somewhere in this floating desolated place, was a mansion. A completely regular mansion at first. That is until you noticed the foundation it was made from. Platinum and meteorite hard rocks. It looked really creepy since it was also cloaked in shadows. And the fact that the foundation that it was built on was currently floating over what appeared to be a massive black hole? Yeah, that didn't help the matter at all.

Inside a study room was a man kneeling on the floor doing unusual things. He was in his late forties, close to his early fifties. He was around 6'5 feet tall, and had dark hair that was tinged with dark and light grey hair. His black eyes that had white hues in them was fixated on something on the floor. He was dressed in a black trench coat with a lot of pockets in it. Beneath that, he was wearing a mouldy green common shirt. He was wearing spot filled black pants on with a grey coloured belt that was wrapped twice around him because of the length.

The outfit was completed with a pair of black hiking boots and sunglasses to hide his creepy eyes. The man mumbled to himself now, while holding a chalk in his right hand. He was drawing something on the floor. It looked like some kind of circle. Inside of it was a weird looking duel monster card. The card itself had a weird colour...like it wasn't real or something like that. In fact, it seemed to shimmer in and out of existence now and again.

"Soon!" he mumbled. "Soon everything will be complete." He chuckled darkly and drew another line in the circle.

"All these prophecies stating that five teenagers will be...this is nothing but atrocious facts that I will not believe. I will not let this outrage happen. NO, I - Zorath - will win. Yes I will. Yes, I will!" the man mumbled. "Not when I'm so close to achieving perfection. No, no. I will defeat these duellists before that. Yes I will. No spell caster with alliance of the old Egyptian line, nor these Aliens and dark heroes from the dark side of the dimensions. No. They will not ruin my plans. No shooting star hero or Number guardian either. Not even this blasted dragon tamer will do it. Especially since he is so weak after everything that has happened as of late. Weak, weak! It is time to strike! Zorath will defeat him. Yes, I will defeat him!" He cackled like a mad man. Then suddenly, he whirled around. He had felt another presence. Someone was here with him. The man got up on his feet, the crazed look in his eyes intensifying.

"What do we have here then? A certain lost dragon, eh?" he said and laughed. A shadow like silhouette was starring at at the man with extremely scared eyes.

"Well, come closer, little boy. We are gonna have so much fun, right?" the man said and looked like a complete maniac now. The Shadow like boy shook his head. Fear was shown all around him and he backed away, scared. The man, Zorath, chuckled evilly.

""Oh, you don't want to little dragon? Then run! Run like the coward you are," he said and smirked. "And remember, I will find and kill you. It is only a matter of time." Then he charged after the boy...
========
Yuto's p.o.v.

A scream filled the house and woke up almost everyone in the Sakaki house hold. Yuto flew instantly up from the bed in his room, and was ready to attack or defend himself against whatever assailant who was after him. Then he realised where he was and his eyes widened in even more horror.

"Yuya!" he shouted and ran as fast as he could down the hallways, not caring that he was only dressed in purple PJ's. His mind was filled with worry and his heart was beating rather fast. What if something dreadful had happened? What if he couldn't...Yuto shook his head. He wouldn't think of that now. He just had to reach his counterpart and in some way his little brother. The youngest of the four counterparts. That, Yuto always knew.

"Yuya!" Yuto shouted and banged the door up to his room, not caring that he almost made the door fly off of its hinges. He rushed over to the bed where his brother was lying, now tossing around and thrashing in his sleep, screaming to high heaven.

"Ahh! Let me go! Don't do it! NOO!" he screamed and tossed around a little more. Yuto quickly sat down on his bedside, restraining the distressed boy as best he could. Yuya was of course fighting like hell.

"Yuya, it's okay. It's okay. Hear my voice. I'm here," he said in a firm, soft tone as he felt Yuya's muscles lose their tension, his energy quickly leaving him.

"Yuto," Yuya whispered and Yuto could feel Yuya tremble beneath his hands. "Make it stop...I don't wanna hurt anyone..."

"Don't worry, we're really home," Yuto said and rubbed his fingers with his own hand. "You are not Zarc. The dimensional war is over. You can open your eyes." He could see how Yuya carefully opened his eyes. His eyes fixated on everything in the room, before he settled down with his head resting on his crumbled pillow.

"I'm sorry, Yuto," Yuya mumbled out in a low tone of voice. "I was having another nightmare again. I'm sorry for waking you up." Yuto just smiled a little and rubbed his head. He really didn't mind Yuya's night phobia's at all.

"Yuya, you know I don't mind at all. Just happy you're alright," he replied and hugged the boy once again. "It just pains me seeing you have these nightmares."

"I'm sorry," Yuya mumbled, leaning his face into his hands. "I can't control these nightmares. They're just getting worse every night."

"It's not your fault Yuya, so please don't apologise," he replied. Yuya let out a cry.

"I was Zarc," he said. "All the people I killed..." Tears were running down his cheeks now.

"It was a dream, Yuya," Yuto reassured him. "You didn't kill anyone."

"But I could've," Yuya sobbed out. "It could have happened. I was Zarc..."

"We were Zarc," Yuto reminded him in a caring tone. "And we didn't kill anyone..."

"But it was my body he was using!" Yuya shouted angrily and looked up at Yuto. "All this destruction! And I see them dead at my feet almost every night. My friends! The lancers! Declan! If it wasn't for Riley and Zuzu, I wouldn't have..."

"But you didn't," Yuto interrupted firmly and smiled at him. "They're all back. Everyone who got carded are back to normal, and we are at peace now, Yuya. Peace! So don't blame yourself. No one blames you. I..."

"But that's because they don't even remember the war!" Yuya shouted angrily and pushed himself back in bed and out of Yuto's grip. "Declan he... He erased that memory from everyone else's minds. Him and the Akaba's. Making everyone forget everything before the war happened. My memories and Zuzu's would also have been altered too, if it wasn't for the protection Zarc and Ray had left behind in us. Causing us to still remember, and split our souls in four again and..."

"Yes, they didn't take into consideration that your pendulum had some sort of 'fail safe' that split you, me, Yugo and Yuri apart again. Just like Zuzu and her bracelet did. That's not so bad, is it?" Yuto reminded him with and smiled a wide, but sad smile. "And not everything is bad. Zuzu and the girls remember. Declan and his family does too, like ours do. And not one of them blames you in any way. I know Gong and the others wouldn't either, if they remembered." Yuya sniffed a little.

"You really think so?" he then asked. Yuto lifted his chin so that they were eye to eye.

"I know so!" he then said firmly and moved Yuya's tears away. "Everyone cares and loves you. Just like our family does, so please don't blame yourself."

Yuya nodded slightly, but he still clenched his hands at the sheets with a worried look. Yuto knew that Yuya would not settle for some now after this nightmare.

"I know I shouldn't blame myself. That I shouldn't worry since Riley sealed off Zarc's soul within himself, and got cleansed, but I just can't help myself Yuto," Yuya said and sighed. "I'm afraid that I would still turn into a demonic dragon and destroy them. Zarc scares me in my dreams and then there is this man. I am just so scared!"

"Wait, what?" Yuto uttered puzzled. "What man? You never told me that before."

"I don't know. I've been dreaming of him lately, but I can't seem to remember who or what he is," Yuya replied slowly. "Maybe it's just me fantasising or having stress."

"Hmm, maybe," Yuto muttered slowly. "But I think we should pay a visit to Declan tomorrow. Just for safety. He might have a medicament that helps you sleep better, because this is getting out of hand. He has been quite generous since his little memory project failed."

Yuya groaned a little in annoyance. He had never completely forgiven Declan for altering everyone's memories. Especially not without consulting with him about it. But at the same time, Declan and the Leo Institute knew many things they didn't. In the end, Yuya just sighed and nodded. Yuto figured it was because he wanted a peaceful night to sleep in.

"What can that idiot do? Declan Akaba couldn't create or get his hands on good medicine, even if it got tossed in his face," the two boys suddenly heard from the door, the two 'brothers' quickly turning towards the sound. Yuri was standing at the doorstep carrying a tray with a tea pot, a cup and some different bowls and stuff.

"But the fact that Declan Akaba is guilty, doesn't surprise me one bit," Yuri then continued. "After all, he only wanted Yuya to get rid of his guilt as Zarc, by altering his and everyone's memories. Instead, he made everything worse. Like father like son I guess. What a complete fool."

Yuto and Yuya looked puzzled at him. They had no idea why he was here. Yuri took their silence as an invite and walked inside the room. He pushed Yuya, with surprising carefulness, back in bed and placed the tray on top on his legs. Then he gave a tiny 'shooing' movement, making Yuto move on the bedside, so Yuri could place a chair beside the bed, close to Yuya. He grabbed the bowl, which Yuto could now see was in reality a mortar, where he had placed a root of some kind of flower, and began mashing it with a pestle. Yuto and Yuya looked at each other.

"Yuri, what in the world are you doing?" Yuto uttered firmly. Yuri rolled his eyes.

"I'm grinding a herb," Yuri answered sarcastically. "What does it look like to you?"

"Yeah, I can see that," Yuto said, just as annoyed. "But why, in Yuya's room, in the middle of the night?"

Yuya nodded, confused to that as well.

"For Yuya as medicine," Yuri replied firmly and spoke in a proud tone. "I pride myself with acquiring a variety of plants to use in my garden, and thereby know more about natural medicine than those fools at the Leo Institute. Ans I refuse to let Yuya get stuffed up with a pile of chemical drugs."

Yuto's eyes widened in disbelief. Yuri had been out here in the middle of the night, in his precious garden to find medicine for Yuya, so he could get better?! Yuto found that very hard to believe. He knew Yuri had gotten rid of the bad influence from Zarc, but he was Yuri. Mocking and teasing Yuri who was rather selfish and never cared about anything but his own fun. Yuto couldn't believe that both Yusho and Yuya had agreed to let him stay here. To give him a second chance to redeem himself as they called it.

Something Yuto and Yugo had protested with all their might, but Yusho's words had been final. As long as Yuri stayed good, without harming anyone, which meant carding people or forcing them into a duel for his own satisfaction, he could stay. That sadly didn't include Yuri's pranks at times at Yugo, who could make the others laugh a little, which Yugo found hardly fair. However, Yugo and Yuto could live with that. They didn't interact a lot with him, (if you closed out Yuya's attempt for them to do stuff together) so it was mostly Yuya hanging out with him, or Dennis Makfield who, like the others, had altered memories. However, Yuto still saw him as a traitor as well, since he helped Yuri kidnap Lulu and Rin. Dennis didn't remember that though. He only rememebered attending the Leo Institute after Yusho taught him the entertainment style of duelling. The dimensions were united after all, so the usual four dimensions had turned into four districts in this united world. Leo had however shut down the fusion district, claiming it to be off limits. Considering the ruins there, people did understand his warning, thinking an experiment went wrong and only a few daring people entered, to prove that they were brave or something like that.

If only everyone knew what really happened...

However, that also meant all former students of Duel Academy had moved to the Leo Institute instead. That included Dennis, Sora Perce, as well as many others.

However, seeing Yuri now at Yuya's bed grinding medicine for Yuya in the middle of the night, Yuto wondered if Yuri really had changed and actually cared about them all here. Something he never would admit out loud of course, but that was just Yuri. He never showed how he truly felt.

"Now, drink this," Yuri instructed and poured the crushed plant in a cup filled with tea. "This should help, but just give it a minute or two to absorb the powder."

Yuya nodded, and took the cup in his hands. Yuto however, grabbed it without warning.

"I don't trust you, Yuri. What are you giving Yuya?" he then asked firmly and could actually see the sadness in Yuri's eyes now. "I'm no specialist in plant medicine. You could poison him for all I know." Yuri rolled his eyes.

"Honestly Yuto. If I wanted to have poisoned him, I would've waited until you left the room," Yuri said in his teasing and mocking tone. He sighed. "People these days are such big idiots."

"Oh yeah? But this idiot can never be too careful," Yuto sneered. "Tell me what you made for him? For our brother." Yuri snorted in annoyance.

"Some sleep medicine that I extracted from the valerian root I just mashed up. It should help Yuya sleep better and make him have a dreamless sleep, which is what he needs right now," he then replied slowly. "The tea is a chamomile tea. It tastes sweet and its also a medicament against sleep problems. Now, are you done questioning me? Or do you want me to drink from the cup too?"

Yuto glared at him. He was not sure what to do as of yet. Should he let Yuri drink from the cup? What was his next move? That quickly got revealed when Yuya took the cup out of his grip.

"I trust him," he replied and drank slowly from the cup. Yuto looked worriedly at him.

"Ah, it tastes really good," Yuya said and drank some more. "I thought medicine was supposed to be bitter. Guess I was wrong." Yuri snort at that.

"That's chemical drugs you are talking about," he then said. "My plants are not like that." Yuto lifted an eyebrow. He wondered if Yuri had purposely made the tea or medicine sweet, so Yuya could drink it better. His brother took the tray from Yuya and from it, he placed the tea pot and cup beside the bed.

"Drink some more or don't. I don't care," he said in a nonchalant voice. "I will take my leave now." He walked towards the door. Yuto was keeping firm eyes at him.

"Thank you, Yuri," Yuya then said and made Yuri stop up at the doorstep. "You didn't have to do this." Yuri shrugged a little.

"Unlike some people who won't admit it, I actually prefer not to wake to what sounds like someone being given a wedgie in the middle of the night," he replied in his uncaring tone. "Your screams annoyed me. I am not Yugo after all." Yuya chuckled at that a little.

"Yeah, he can sleep through anything," he replied. Yuto nodded in agreement to that.

"Maybe you are not so bad after all, Yuri," Yuto mused out slowly. "Caring for Yuya's wellbeing, or others. That is good signs in my book." Yuya chuckled at that.

"Yuto, stop being formal and just tell him straight out," he hen said and grinned. "Tell him what you truly feel."

However, Yuto was not letting more out. Yuya soon realised that and turned his attention to Yuri at the doorstep again.

"Sleep well Yuri, and thanks once again," Yuya replied and yawned again. He placed himself down in the bed.

"Yeah whatever. Goodnight," Yuri replied and left the room, closing the door behind him. Yuto gazed after him for a second. Then he turned his attention to Yuya. He wrapped the blanket around Yuya and puffed his pillow. All to make him sleep better. Yuya didn't mind it at all. Yuto then got up as well.

"Sleep well, Yuya," he said and smiled. "See you tomorrow."

"No wait. Please Yuto, don't leave," Yuya begged. "I don't want Zarc to.. Please just stay until I fall asleep. I am afraid of sleeping." Yuto smiled and nodded. He sat down on the chair Yuri had used and didn't move a muscle. His brother sighed relieved, breathing deeply, before he slowly closed his eyes and tried falling asleep.
========
Yuri's p.o.v.

Yuri stood outside, leaning against the wall just outside Yuya's room, and tried pulling himself together. He was not a guy that revealed his emotions. At least not in front of everyone else. Now here in the hallway where no one was in sight, Yuri had a hard time keeping himself together. He couldn't believe what had happened in here only moments ago. Yuto and Yuya actually praised him. Yuya more than Yuto, but still. It was something he just couldn't grasp at all.

"They thanked me. Yuya thanked me," he whispered and two small tears fell down his cheeks. Yuri quickly rubbed his tears away. He was not crying. He was a soldier. A well trained elite duellist of Duel Academy. Ranked just below the Professor. Emotions was a weakness. Something that had been drilled into him over and over by the teachings in the fusion dimension. However that didn't mean they were gone. His emotions were just buried deep within him, and sometimes he just slipped. Like he did just now. His biggest wish as a little child in the orphanage, was to get a family of his own. However, at the time it didn't come true. Instead, he got sent to Duel Academy. The school that was supposed to be a school to develop children into duellists. And well they did, but the Professor had used the students as soldiers as well. Hunting down people from other dimensions. Yuri just followed the flow, and his classes. He just did what everyone else did. Became a duellist who only won, and was soon assigned to the ARC-V Project, and carded people for the Professor. Something he had loved with all his life. Yuri wondered if that had been Zarc's influence, giving him the thrill of hunting and destroying things.

Now, he had minimised the obsession significantly. Now that he had a family, he got those urges less and less. It was only at certain times when he felt annoyed a lot, which was mostly around Yugo or Dennis, that he wished he could just card them and get it over with, but he restrained himself. One of those reasons he was having Dennis around as a side kick. He could still be annoying with or without memories. However, he could also be a surprisingly good friend.

"Yuri? Is that you?" a voice rang though the hallway and made Yuri freeze in surprise. He quickly fixated his eyes on the man who was walking down the hallway. Yusho Sakaki was approaching him with his walking stick, the tapping noises it made when landing on the floor becoming a dull rhythm. Yuri got his cold and collected, maybe even mocking demeanour on. He was just happy he hadn't been crying now.

"Yes? Is there something you want Yusho, sir?" Yuri questioned in a polite tone. Yusho sighed a little and kneeled to his level. He smiled while stroking his hair.

"You really don't have to be so formal with me, Yuri. You can just call me by my name," he said. "Yoko would be mighty pleased if you saw us as your parents though. Just like the others do." However, Yuri shook his head. He couldn't do this. He just couldn't. He was always respectful towards his superior. Like he had been with the professor, and right now he saw Yusho and Yoko like that. He couldn't call them his parents. Not like the rest of them. Not like Yugo, when Yuya shared his parents with them. He had been excited to say the least. Hugging Yoko and Yusho like hell, shouting, 'Yes. Yes. I would love being part of your family,' and a lot more while tears has been running down his cheeks. He had, like Yuri, always wanted his own family he could call his. Yuto, no one actually knew. He didn't show any enthusiasm, but he was Yuto.

Caring, loving Yuto. When Yuya had asked him, he had instantly said yes. Although Yuri wondered if Yuto wanted to really stay here, or if it was because of Yuya's plea. However, a few words from Yoko and Lulu had made him consider being a part of the family.

Yusho sigh brought him back to reality, and he could feel the man stroke his hair gently a little. Then he got up.

"Don't worry about it, Yuri," he then replied with a smile. "Just take all the time you need to adapt. You are still our son." Yuri didn't say anything at that. His heart was aching. He still sees me as his son. Even though I disappoint him so much? Why?!

"So why are you out here in the middle of the night?" Yusho then questioned. "Are you trying to visit Yuya? I can bring him whatever you wanted to bring him." He pointed at the tray. Yuri clenched around the tray a little.

"No, I've already done that. I was just about to go to sleep," he replied with a monotone voice. In reality, Yuri was having a hard time keeping himself together. Yusho was still smiling at him. That warm smile that made his heart ache. He didn't need this kindness. He didn't need it at all. It made him feel like he suffocated.

"Well, Yuya was probably grateful," Yusho said in that caring tone. "I am sure your medicaments helped Yuya a lot. You are such a..." However, Yuri had enough. He couldn't take it. Yusho was too close. Damn too close. He felt like this kindness was too weird. Too close. He was use to discipline and hard training regime. Not this kindness that was doing sweet things to him, even though he didn't deserve it. It made him so confused and he didn't know how to react.

"Stay away!" Yuri shouted and interrupted Yusho. He didn't want to hear it, whatever he was about to say. Good boy? Good brother? Good kid? All that didn't matter. He attacked with a small fist, hitting Yusho's shoulder, and making the man drop the cane he was holding. Yuri didn't care. Anger was shown in his face.

"Yuri..." Yusho uttered, stunned.

"Just stay away!" Yuri shouted and took some steps backwards. "You are too close. Just...just...leave me alone!" Then he ran down the hallways and bolted himself inside his own room, where he felt secure. At least for now.