| ❖ | The streets of Den City were always full of life, even as the sun slowly sets behind the horizon, its rays peeking out over the looming skyscrapers. It hadn’t been that long ago when Kusanagi dropped him off at his apartment building for a ‘mandatory’ break, but after the heated argument with Jack, Yuusaku couldn’t remain there any longer. There wasn’t anywhere he could run off to and do something productive for their mission; however, there was one area in this vast city that should be quieter than the bustling streets.
Stardust Road – the cliff-side plaza on the outskirts of town, facing the ocean with a tremendous yet rare beautiful site. Yuusaku occasionally pondered over why this particular spot wasn’t more popular, but he never really complained regardless. Peace and quiet were two of his best friends, especially in times like these where his mind was clouded with anger and frustration.
How dare Jack of all people just waltz back into his life and say such aggravating and distracting things? Not to mention the repeated mentions of Yusei and him almost dying. Yuusaku sincerely hoped that their mutual friend was only exaggerating the details for whatever circumstances that would lead to such high tales.
With a sigh, he leans against the iron-cold railing that overlooked the ocean, viridescent green eyes gazing over the darkening water. Yuusaku doubted that the starry spectacle would occur tonight, but perhaps he would be lucky?
A sudden shudder races down his spine – the winds weren’t so cold as to illicit a response like that from him. If the tranquility of Stardust Road had been enough to ease him, it was no longer effective. Something was… a disturbance? Yuusaku wasn’t quite sure how to describe the sensation, but the feeling of dread that was sinking down onto his shoulders brought his guard up. With his hands still wrapped around the metal railing, he turns his body around to scan the area around him. So far there was nothing ( or no one ) there, but appearances could be deceiving.
❝ Show yourself, I know you’re there. ❞ Regardless, Yuusaku could feel the eyes on him, watching.
To be back in the real world was something Jin hadn’t planned for at all, but at the same time it was partly his own idea so there probably wasn’t much he could complain about.
Yet it felt strange. There was a weight back on his body he hadn’t felt as long as he had hid himself into the virtual world of vrains. The pain that was constant in the back of his head a clear sign of him being gone for too long.
When he had opened his eyes he hadn’t found himself in his usual, familiar room. Instead everything around him was white and Jin felt like he wanted to scream the instant he noticed all the wires that connected him to the machines that probably were supposed to make sure he was still alive. But he couldn’t scream yet. Couldn’t get the attention it surely would bring him.
Getting ride of the wires was one thing. Making it so that the machines wouldn’t notify anyone instantly a completely different and it took him more time than he had expected. Hoped for. But eventually he managed to leave without anyone taking notice, only stopped by at his old room to get his duel disk that had stayed there carefully hidden. With the familiar and yet so unfamiliar weight back on his wrist he felt a lot more calm. Save. From now on his connection to Lightning was back. And thus their mission...his mission began.
Finding the other teen hadn’t been that difficult though. Various observations had already shown that there were basically four places he was usually to find at. School was out of question at this time of the day and somehow Jin couldn't imagine Playmaker to be home and rest while the fate of the network was still on the line. As he didn’t want to risk running into his brother - he probably had been notified about his disappearance either by now or sooner by later - so the first attempt he did was Stardust Road and when he spotted the bluehaired teenager he knew he had been right.
The fact that Kogamis mansion was visible in the background made the situation even more interesting. He was aware that there was barely anyone staying at that building, but it was making him grin slightly, because there was what once had been Hanoi’s base. He was acting right under their nose and yet no one would be able to stop him.
Yusaku picked up on his presence a lot faster than he had expected though, causing him to laugh quietly before stepping out of the shadows.
“Oh well Playmaker, on alert like always hu? But it seems you’re alone? You really want to make this easier for me, don’t you?”
