CW: panic attack

(3rd Person PoV)

"Harucchi...," Asana whispered, using the nickname that she gave Tiger when they were younger kids.

"She lost...," Gakuto said, shocked.

"Tiger nooooo!" Luke cried and his friends comforted him.

Yusei made a fist at this. This was only the second duel and people who are important to some of the others here were gone.

It's like they were being picked off one by one.

He never felt this helpless before.

Kaito arrived but stayed far away from everyone, even his own team.

Yuma was about to approach him when his friends stopped him.

"He looks like he needs some time alone," Kotori told him.

"I don't blame him. Sending someone to wherever this Shadow Realm place is which causes them to lose their soul. He may need to process this first before any of us goes to talk to him," Tetsuo added on.

They're right but still...Yuma was worried for his friend.

Then two robots appeared and approached two people. The next duelists.

"Excuse me but I am here to escort you to the garage," one of them said.

"The garage?" Aki asked.

"The next duel will be determined to be a Turbo duel and you will need your D-Wheel for it," the robot explained.

A Turbo duel huh. I hope my opponent knows how to Turbo duel, Aki thought.

"I'll have to drive a D-Wheel? But I don't have one," Rin told the second robot.

"Most D-Wheels that our master has here are rentables. Some are of the Turbo Duelists here but most of them are yours to rent for your duel. There's no cost fortunately," the robot explained.

"I see...," Rin said. She knows how to drive a D-Wheel but she never owned one though. She usually borrows Yugo's.

"Hey, you'll do great. Just be careful is all I'm saying," Yugo assured her.

"Th-thank you," Rin said with a blush.

"Ok Ms.Rin, follow me," the robot said and rolled off.

"Good luck," Yugo told her.

"Yeah, ditto," Yuzu said to her Synchro counterpart.

Rin nodded and followed the robot.

"Now follow me, Ms.Izayoi," the first robot said.

Before Aki could follow the robot, Yusei stopped her.

"Please be careful," he told her, worried.

"I'll be fine. There's no need to worry," Aki assured him, trying for a smile.

Still, there was no mistake that Aki could see the worry in his eyes.

"Good luck," he gave a nod before walking away.

"Thank you," Aki told him before following the robot.

Rin got to the garage first but she couldn't see her opponent. Maybe they're in a separate spot?

"Please change into this Turbo Duelist outfit," the robot said and held up a bag.

Rin took it and peeked into it.

"Where can I change?" She asked and the robot pointed to a curtain.

She pulled it aside and it was like a changing room. Rin got in, pulled the curtain back and quickly changed into her outfit.

Aki, in another garage, did the same thing.

When she was finished, she pulled the curtain aside and saw that her D-Wheel was there, waiting for her.

The fact that my D-Wheel is here means that whoever is organizing this tournament knows what they're doing. That makes this even more dangerous than it was before, she thought as she grabbed her helmet and placed it on.

As she was doing this, Rin was already testing out some things on the D-Wheel, trying to familiarize herself with it before she heads out.

Ok, brakes check! Accelerator check! Duel disk check! I think it's all in order, she thought and the garage door opened. Both of the doors opened.

"And now we head to the third duel of the day! As you see, we have a change of scenery here. The arena is now a racetrack for a new type of dueling. Well not new but different than the other two," the voice explained.

The audience cheered at this.

"Is everyone ready for the next duel?" The voice asked and the audience agreed with this.

"She is the former Black Rose Witch with powers that has never been seen before. Bearer of the Right Claw dragon birthmark. Please welcome Aki Izayoi from Team 5DS!" The voice shouted.

Aki slowly drove up to starting line as cheers were ringing from the audience.

"The cool headed duelist with effects that will make you think twice about challenging her. The quick on her feet Synchro specialist. Please welcome Rin from Team Arc-V!" The voice shouted.

Rin also drove up to the starting line as soon as the audience began to cheer for her. She felt nervous as all heck.

Aki glanced at her.

So this is my opponent, she thought. Another person who Synchro summons who isn't on her team.

"As you can see, this will be the Turbo Duel format. First person who makes it to the first corner takes the first turn. Duelists, start your engines!" The voice shouted.

"So this duel will be upon motorcycles? I have seen it all," Kaiba scoffed.

Rua opened his mouth to shout at him but one look from Ruka made him close it. Now isn't the time to start an argument like this.

Yugo also took offense to what Kaiba said but he was more worried for Rin. He hoped that she'll be ok.

"I set the Field Spell, Speed World! On your marks, get set...GOOOOOOOO!" The voice shouted and the two duelists took off.

"DUEL!"

Aki - 4000 LPS SC: 0

V.S.

Rin - 4000 LPS SC: 0

Rin immediately sped up as soon as they both seemed to reach the first corner. She hit the accelerator and breezed by Aki.

"Rin reached the corner first so she takes the first turn!" The voice shouted.

"Alright, Rin," Yugo quietly cheered.

"Let's see how experienced this girl is in Turbo Dueling," Jack said.

Rin drew a card and both of their Speed Counters went up.

S.C: 0 —> 1

S.C: 0 —> 1

I have a strong hand right now. I can't afford to make any mistakes so I'll start off with this, Rin thought.

"When I control no monsters, I can special summon Windwitch-Ice Bell (ATK: 1000. DF: 1000) from my hand. When special summoned this way, I can inflict 500 points of damage to you!" Rin shouted.

A pink and blue humanoid monster with a witch hat appeared on a broomstick and pointed a wand at Aki with her hand. A beam of energy appeared and was shot at Aki.

4000 —> 3500 LPS

"And then I can special summon the tuner, Windwitch-Glass Bell (ATK: 1500. DF: 1500) from my deck onto the field. And due to her effect for being special summoned, I can add a Windwitch monster from my deck to my hand," Rin said.

Another humanoid monster appeared on a broomstick as well.

"Level 4 Glass bell tunes Level 3 Ice Bell. Winds of winter, snow and ice! Become my power to blow everything away! Synchro Summon! Freeze everything in your path, Windwitch- Winter Bell (ATK: 2400. DF: 2000)!" Rin shouted.

A blue spherical monster with blue, pointy wings appeared.

"She not only inflicted damage onto Aki on the first turn without inciting the battle phase but she also Synchro Summoned a monster whose effects we don't know about. Looks like this Rin would be a tough opponent to fight," Sherry noted, kind of hoping that Aki would lose and that she gets to face off against Rin.

Yusei heard this and gripped onto the edges of his arms.

Jack noticed this and went up to him.

"Aki is going to be fine. Don't worry about it. She knows what she'll do," he assured him.

"I know. But still doesn't make me any less worried about her," Yusei told him.

Back at the duel, Rin was debating whether to set a spell card down. Considering that her spell card had changed to say Speed Spell.

That's fishy, I don't remember this card ever saying anything like that, she thought.

"Is that all you're going to do?" Aki asked her as they turned a corner.

"...I set this card down and end my turn," Rin said, finally reaching a decision.

"Then it's my turn," Aki said as she drew a card.

S.C: 1 —> 2

S.C: 1 —> 2

"I summon Twilight Rose Knight (ATK: 1000. DF: 1000) and I use his effect to special summon a level 4 or lower monster from my hand. I special summon Rose Princess (ATK: 1200. DF 800)," Aki started.

Two monster appeared on her field, one with a sword and another wearing a flowing red dress.

"Level 3 Twilight Rose Knight tunes Level 3 Rose Princess! Out of the shadows, comes out a beautiful flower with a tremendous power! Synchro Summon! Appear, Splendid Rose (ATK: 2200. DF: 2000)!" She shouted.

A humanoid monster with a rose on its legs and thorny vines appeared.

"A Synchro Summon user?" Yuya asked, surprised.

We're learning more and more about different summoning techniques, Mai thought.

"I now active Splendid Rose's effect! By banishing a plant monster from my graveyard, I can target a monster that you control and halve it until the end of this turn," Aki explained.

Splendid Rose tossed a vine around Windwitch-Winter Bell and held onto it tightly.

2400 —> 1200 ATK

"Attack! Iron Hot Thorn!" Aki shouted and her monster threw another vine at Winter Bell, destroying it.

4000 —> 3000 LPS

S.C: 2 —> 1

The after blast of the attack almost threw Rin off balance but thanks to her speeding away before slowing down, she managed to not get scratched by it.

"That was a real attack...a real attack! Is this the power that the voice was talking about?" Rin asked.

"Do you think Aki can keep her powers under control?" Crow asked.

"I believe in her. She won't hurt Rin," Yusei told him.

Still, this worried Yugo. He cares about his childhood friend and totally not crush.

Rin, please be ok, he thought.

"I'm not done yet because by banishing another plant monster and if Splendid Rose battled this turn, I can halve its attack points to make a second attack," Aki explained making both Rin and Yugo flinch.

2200 —> 1100 ATK

"Since Rin doesn't have any monsters on her field...," Yuma started.

"Aki can make a direct attack on her," Blue Maiden finished.

Ok, I need to try and not hurt her. I should have control over my powers, Aki thought as she looked for a way to make a direct attack on Rin but without hurting her using her psychic powers.

After a short bit...

"Direct attack! Rose petal whip!" Aki shouted and Splendid Rose threw a second vine towards Rin. It barely stopped at her before making a small flick which Rin most definitely felt.

3000 —> 1900

S.C: 1 —> 0

"Oh no! That was a huge chunk of her life points gone!" Yugo cried.

"I set these two cards and end my turn," Aki finished and the crowd cheered for her.

1100 —> 2200 ATK

"That was...unexpected. But I can bounce back," Rin said as she drew a card.

S.C: 0 —> 1

S.C: 2 —> 3

"I summon the tuner Windwitch- Snow Bell (ATK: 100. DF: 100)," she started.

A small light blue bell with golden decor, blue crystals and white wings appeared and made a ting noise.

"And then I activate the Speed Spell- Windwitch Chimes. I target a Windwitch monster that I control and I can special summon a Windwitch monster with a different name from my deck. Come on out, the tuner Windwitch- Blizzard Bell (ATK: 1800. DF: 1800)," Rin shouted.

S.C: 1 —> 0

A much bigger bell but with more of a clear white color and had an icy angel on top appeared.

"And if all the monsters that I control are Windwitch monsters, then I can special summon Windwitch- Freeze Bell (ATK: 1200. DF: 1200) from my hand," Rin added on.

A humanoid monster with a blue skirt, teal shoes and witch hat, wearing a pink bow on her chest and sitting upon an icy broom appeared.

"Level 5 Blizzard Bell tunes Level 3 Freeze Bell. Winter winds fuel my monsters power to freeze it all. Show the sharpness of your power! Synchro Summon! Freeze everything in your path, Windwitch- Diamond Bell (ATK: 2800. DF: 2400)!" Rin shouted.

A large bell like monster appeared and had reflective diamonds on it.

"If synchro summoned, then I can target a Windwitch in my graveyard and inflict damage onto you equal to half its attack points. I choose Windwitch- Winter Bell!" Rin added on.

A blue beam appeared from Rin's graveyard and shot at Aki.

3500 —> 2300 LPS

S.C: 3 —> 2

"And when you take battle or effect damage, I can target a card on the field and destroy it. I choose...the one on the right!" Rin exclaimed and the card lifted itself to reveal the Speed Spell- Overboost. It then destroyed itself.

"Aki could have used that to gain more speed counters," Crow noted.

Now I don't have enough to use Half Seize, Aki thought as she looked at the other card that she had.

"With that I end my turn," Rin stated.

"Then it's my turn," Aki stated as she drew a card.

S.C: 2 —> 3

S.C: 0 —> 1

Aki looked at the card that she drew and realized that she might have a chance.

"I summon the tuner monster, Blood Rose Witch (ATK: 800. DF: 1700)! Level 1 Blood Rose Witch tunes level 6 Splendid Rose. The cold flame envelops the entire world. Black Flower, bloom! Synchro Summon! Appear, Black Rose Dragon(ATK: 2400. DF: 1800)!" Aki shouted.

A large dragon with red, petal wings and violet black, thorny vines appeared.

"When synchro summoned, Black Rose Dragon destroys all the cards on the field. Blooming Descend!" Aki shouted and Black Rose Dragon roared, causing winds of petals to destroy all the cards that were on the field including itself.

However, one card remained.

"What? How?" Aki asked.

"When Freeze Bell is used for a Synchro Summon of a Wind monster, then it doesn't get affected by battle," Rin explained.

"So she wasted a turn. Hmm," Kaiba noted.

"Don't disrespect Aki like that! She must have a plan!" Rua snapped.

"You're right, Rua," Yusei said and pointed.

"I activate the Speed Spell-Summon Speeder. When I have 2 or more Speed Counters, I can special summon a level 4 or lower monster from my hand. I choose Blue Rose Dragon (ATK:1600. DF: 1200). However, it can't attack this turn," Aki explained.

A small dragon monster with blue petal wings appeared and turned fully blue to signify that it's in defense mode.

"With that I end my turn," Aki finished.

"Ok then, it's my turn!" Rin said.

S.C: 1 —> 2

S.C: 3 —> 4

"I set this card down and attack your Blue Rose Dragon. Diamond Shard Wind!" Rin shouted and a large whirlwind of diamond shards surrounded Blue Rose Dragon, destroying it.

"I then set Diamond Bell to defense and end my turn," Rin stated and her monster turned fully blue to signify that it was in defense mode.

Rin, please think of a strategy to turn this duel around, Yugo thought.

"What do you think is going to happen?" Ruka asked, concerned for her friend.

"Don't worry. I'm sure that Aki is going to think of a plan," Rua assured his twin with Yusei giving him a nod.

"My turn," Aki stated as she drew a card.

S.C: 4 —> 5

S.C: 2 —> 3

"When Blue Rose Dragon is destroyed, I can target Black Rose Dragon in my graveyard and special summon her onto the field. Reborn again!" Aki shouted and her dragon appeared.

"Diamond Bell can't get destroyed in battle though and my monster has higher attack points than yours," Rin pointed out.

"I know but that doesn't mean I can't do this. If I have 4 or more Speed Counters, I can activate the Speed Spell- Overspeed. By reducing all of my counters to zero, I can add a level 3 or lower monster and a spell or trap card from my graveyard to my hand. I choose Blood Rose Witch and the Speed Spell- Half Seize," Aki explained.

S.C: 5 —> 0

Aki's D-Wheel significantly slowed down as she did this but she now has two extra cards in her hand.

"Next I summon Blood Rose Witch and tribute her to Advance summon Queen Angel of Roses (ATK: 2400. DF: 1300)!" Aki shouted.

A tall, humanoid monster appeared with red, petal roses and a dress shaped like flower petals with a rose pattern on it.

"Now wait a minute! That's a level 7 monster and that needs two tributes," Luke pointed out.

"Well some level 7 monsters can be summoned with only one tribute if they have an effect that allows it to be that way," Gakuto explained.

"Oh...," Luke said.

What's her plan? Rin thought as they turned a corner.

"By banishing a plant monster from my graveyard, I can target a defense position monster that you control and switch it back to attack position and in doing so, reduce its attack to zero until the end of this turn," Aki explained and Black Rose's whips wrapped around Diamond Bell, switching it to attack position and reducing the attack points.

2800 —> 0 ATK

"With that, I can now destroy a monster with the lowest attack points. Gallant Slash!" Aki shouted and Queen Angel of Roses made an X-slash at Diamond Bell, destroying it.

"Rin!" Yugo cried out.

"Battle! Attack directly, Black Rose Dragon," Aki stated.

"Not so fast! I activate Icy Breeze Refrain! I can target a Windwitch monster in my graveyard and summon it in Defense position. I chose Windwitch- Winter Bell!" Rin cut in and her first Synchro monster appeared on the field.

Phew, she's safe, Yugo thought.

On my next turn, I can use Winter Bell's effect to inflict damage based on a Windwitch's level times 200. I'm going to use Windwitch-Diamond Bell's level 8 to inflict 1600 points of damage. It won't be enough to win me the duel by then but it'll be enough to where she can't use speed spells, Rin thought.

"Guess I'll switch my attack. Queen Angel of Roses, attack Winter Bell! Flowing Lance!" Aki shouted.

Queen Angel did a twirl before slashing at Winter Bell, destroying it.

"And now, attack directly Black Rose Dragon. Hate Whip!" Aki added on and a thorny vine shot at Rin before doing a small flick at the D-Wheel with Aki holding back her psychic powers.

1900 —> 0 LPS

WINNER: Aki

Steam came out of Rin's D-Wheel, causing it to come at a skidding stop.

Before the attack, Rin could have sworn that Aki had whispered, "I'm sorry," and looking at her opponent who had crossed the finish line and couldn't see her face, she wasn't quite sure.

Yugo, meanwhile, was panicking.

Rin was going to lose her soul! He was going to lose her again!

The air suddenly felt cold and it was getting hard to breathe. Yugo couldn't hear Yuzu's concerns and he was getting tunnel vision as his breathing then became rapid and the only thing that he could hear was his heart pounding hard.

"Yugo?" Yuya asked, also concerned for him.

Then the unfamiliar voice spoke up.

"Congratulations to Aki! One member of Team 5DS gets to move on!" The voice cheered.

Aki got off of her D-Wheel and was racing to Rin's side, maybe in hopes of using her powers to possibly prevent her from getting her soul taken.

Unfortunately...

"And now, the loser's punishment. To the Shadow Realm you go!" The voice shouted.

Rin held onto her chest as she cried out in pain with purple mist surrounding her.

She began to glow and was turned into a blue orb.

The blue orb sank to the ground and the purple mist disappeared.

Third times the charm of a soul being taken away.

"RIIIIIIIIN!"

A/N: angst time boiz!

I'mma be honest, this was a little bias considering that Aki is my favorite character in Yugioh but Rin is also pretty cool (underutilized in Arc-V but shhhh, lets ignore that for just a second) and her deck is honestly so fricking cool as well (no pun intended).

This took me so long because I forgot how turbo duels work. Btw, for this, some cards will be changed to fit the format that they're in like how Rin's card was changed to be a Speed Spell. Just letting you know.

Yeah, hope you enjoyed!

Cya in the next one -Flare