Season 0: Theme Keycard #1 C15: Martyrdom

Lenix's apartment was a compact 24m² studio, awkwardly sectioned off from what was supposed to be the living room.

It wasn't very spacious, but it was sufficient for his needs.

He didn't own much anyway, just two suitcases stuffed to the brim with unfolded clothes, a computer setup, and a cooktop. "This is your room? But there's nothing in it!"

"The more Spartan a room, the easier it is to keep it neat and clean.“ Lenix replied matter-of-factly.

Half the hassle of cleaning a room was having to lift heavy items to sweep underneath; an issue Lenix would never have to face with his minimalist setup. “Have you had anything to eat?“ Still glancing at the room, Sachiko shook, quietly taking a seat near the counter while her friend ransacked through the drawers.

"Well, you're in luck. I have exactly two cups of instant noodles. Could you turn on the kettle for me?

"Instant noodles?" Sachiko repeated, casting him a sympathetic look as she flipped the switch as instructed. "Oh, Lenix, are you having financial troubles? Is that why you're joining that illegal Dueling Ring? I can lend you some money if you need—"

"What? No. I'm living the life right now.“

She eyed the cups and frowned. "Then you should have more fulfilling meals. I might be out of touch, but surely a bag of rice and some eggs can't be that expensive?"

"They're not; I just forgot to get groceries. Do you want to eat or not?"

Peering once more at the dry noodles, Sachiko shivered; ready to reject the offer despite the pangs of hunger that made her collapse on the counter.

In comparison, her stomach's a lot truer to its needs, releasing gurgles that sounded like the throaty snores of a Dragon.

"One instant noodle comin' right up,"

Lenix said with a chuckle, noticing her sullen, embarrassed expression, “Just give it a try. It might not look appetizing now, but I promise it tastes really good cooked.“ Then tossed two sausages onto the sizzling pan, frying them alongside two eggs until they turned golden brown and dumping them into the cups along with the boiling water.

"That was fast. Will they really cook properly?" Sachiko asked, her skepticism shining through despite her attempt to not sound mean.

"The boiling water will take care of the rest," Lenix assured her.

"What now?"

"We wait for three minutes," Lenix explained, finding the whole situation quite hilarious.

He hadn't thought it possible to meet someone who had not once had instant noodles in their life, but this world found a way to surprise him every day. "Any longer, and the noodles will turn all soggy and disgusting. Goal's to soften each strand while still maintaining the chewy texture."

"I didn't know so much planning goes into making a cup of ramen..."

“This is basic knowledge. Everybody who's ever had ramen knows this.“

“I've never had one. I planned to, but just never got to it.“

Standing on her tiptoes, Sachiko poked her head over his shoulder and hummed curiously.

"You've really never had ramen? Seriously?" Lenix asked, incredulous. "It's like the country's staple. Everybody worldwide knows about it.“

"Nope. My maids always call it 'peasant food.'"

The Chinese had a proverb: When a person ascends, even the dogs and chickens get to benefit.

If Lenix ever needed proof of that saying, he needed only look at Sachi's maids.

They were practically living examples, and they sounded super bitchy about it too. “Some elitist maids you have…”

“They only want what's best for me.“

Smiling at the soup as she remiscenced, Sachiko hurriedly came to their defense and elaborated. “My meals are usually compiled by our personal nutritionist.“

“My God… How rich are your folks?“

“I'd say we're upper-middle class? Didn't you have a nutrionist when you were young?“

"Who does?"

Speechless at the sheer audacity, Lenix facepalmed. "I'm guessing this is some kind of 'real-world-experience' trip for you, then?"

"How did you know?!"

'Why else would they let their pampered daughter out of their sight?'

Lenix rolled his eyes, but refrained from voicing his thought. "Just a guess. Do your parents golf too?"

"Can you read minds or something? Stop it, you're freaking me out!"

Lenix clapped, offering Sachi the cup noodles with a smile. "Congrats. You've learned something new tonight, Sachi: Your folks are not middle-class, they're filthy rich."

He doubted they were on Kaiba's level, but if her family didn't own at least one international company in Domino City, he'd eat his shoes.

"Oh… Is that going to be a problem?" Sachi responded hesitantly.

"Not for me," Lenix shrugged, biting back the urge to add, 'It might be an issue for your family, though.'

If he were in their shoes, he wouldn't want his daughter associating with him either. Sachi's gorgeous, charming—and while a bit oblivious at times, the airheadedness had only added to her pull.

She could do better than him… She could do a lot better.

And yet, here she was, 'I wonder why?'

Half-expecting her bodyguards to burst through the door any second now, he kicked a beanbag over to Sachi and plopped down onto his. “C'mon, food's gonna go cold.“

“Thanks for the meal!“

Sachi took a hesitant bite, chewing slowly and carefully before concluding, "It's..."

"See? You're not going to die. How is it?"

"It's not bad," She admitted, sinking her teeth into the runny omelet floating just above the soup. "But a bit too… Confusing? There're just too many flavors.“

"Fair enough." The noodles tasted perfect to him, but then again, his culinary experiences weren't exactly refined. Shoveling the food into his mouth, Lenix's eyes drifted to the rhythmic rise and fall of Sachi's chest—more specifically the 'watermelons' straining her white shirt and the buttons holding on for dear life. 'God help me.'

He had to look away,

"It's burning my mouth!" Sachi groaned, blowing on the noodles and sticking her swollen tongue out while Lenix muffled a laugh. "Want a drink to cool down?"

On the verge of tears, she begged, "Please!"

"Alright, sit tight." Sachi, unfortunately, didn't get enlightened the joy of BLACK DEATH—Lenix's favorite brand of instant noodles—but they did share a good laugh after she'd tried it and neatly combusted where she sat. "Guess you're not good with spicy things.“ He grinned.

Still wiping tears from her reddened eyes, Sachi bobbed her head, returning the grin with an embarrassed smile. "I guess not."

Sadly, the humor only managed to distract Lenix from the 9.5 sitting on his bed at 3:00 A.M. for so long. With nothing else to divert his attention to, his eyes began to drift from her toned legs to her chest, and then to her neck as she took a sip of the glass.

'You're being creepy, Lenix.'

He told himself, sinking back into the beanbag and reaching for the remote to turn on the TV.

It wasn't his, of course; he couldn’t recall the last time he'd used a television, especially since smartphone technology had advanced enough to pretty much eliminate lag from day-to-day activities.

The TV had come with the apartment, bumping it into the fancier category, which also led to an increase in his rent.

Initially, Lenix had considered it unnecessary, but it's already proving its worth already. “It's late—”

"Yeah, you should go. Lemme' call you a cab."

"... Why do I get the feeling I'm not welcome here.“

"You're not. My room's cramped. Please leave," Lenix replied, the words coming out just a bit too hastily as she plopped herself onto his lap, snatching the remote from his hand.

“Oh... C'mon, you want me here.“

Sachi teased, wrapping her arms around his neck and letting the remote slip from her hand, its fall cushioned by the carpet below.

“You're playing with fire.“

"Maybe..."

The word escaped her mouth barely a whisper on the wind as she paused, fingers glided from his rib to his chest, each movement stoking the heat in his stomach.

“Maybe I like the warmth?“

The fight abandoned Lenix faster than the Navy and the Government did King Wilhelm II as she ran her hands up his shirt.

"You're killing me, woman.“

"Sure doesn't feel like it from where I'm,"

Sachi giggled, her pearly laughter filling the room as she rested her chin on his shoulder, adjusting her position for a more comfortable stay and grinding her bottom against his jeans in the process, all while 'seeming' completely oblivious to what her body's doing to his.

His jeans, her stockings, and underwear—despite the layers seperating them, Lenix could still feel the softness beneath her clothes; the sweetness that his mind, heart, and every part of him were urging him to explore.

"Don't you have a question for me or something?" Lenix asked, desperate to steer the conversation elsewhere—away from the normal reactions his body's undergoing—only to be mercilessly dismissed.

"Even if I asked you about your... associates, would you tell me?"

She probed, and he, unable to lie, shook his head.

"And if you did tell me, would you be honest?"

That earned her another shake.

"Then there's no point, is there?"

"I... I suppose,"

He replied hesitantly. "But you do realize I'm connected to some very dangerous people, don't you? Being with me could end very, very badly for you."

"To be honest? I find it kind of hot. I like a dangerous man... Can't help it, you know? It's just hardwired into me." Sachi smiled as she grazed her lips against his, a teasing touch that sent shivers down his spine and drew his hand to her waist. 'Huh?'

He hadn't realized how impossibly slim she was.

Hard to tell through the thick, yet fashionable coats she so often donned.

Such a figure could only be attributed to genetics.

The balanced diet and involvement in sports probably played a role, but there was only one method for a person to achieve such a figure without cosmetic surgery, a waistband, or one of those Chinese filters, and it's definitely not through hard work. "Your parents must have been Gods to have crafted a creature of your… Magnificence.“

“I didn't know you were such a flirt!“

Mischief and smugness glimmered in her eyes, quickly replaced by surprise as Lenix pulled her hair back and hungrily inhaled the scent of her perfume. "What scent is that?"

"N-Nightshade?"

Sachi stammered, earlier confidence faltering under his heated gaze. "Why? Is it bad"

“Quite the opposite. It's exquisite." With practiced ease, Lenix slipped his hands under her shirt and unclasped her bra.

"W-Wait... Aren't we going too fast?" she protested, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

"You started it, so you tell me," Lenix responded with a teasing grin, all the while his hands busied themselves with coaxing the piece of undercloth from her chest.

Hiccuping as he landed a gentle kiss on her neck, his breath sending a tickling sensation through her, Sachi stated, though it came out more of a question. "Just kissing tonight?!"

“Just kissing.“ Lenix agreed with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, even though they both knew this wouldn't end with just kissing. 'It never ends with just kissing.' Lenix thought to himself, setting his lips and tongue to work as he trailed down her neck, leaving no inch of skin untouched by his damp kisses.

For just a moment, Lenix allowed himself to be distracted from the threats abound: From Musashi Fushio, who was sleeping like a bump downstairs;

From his little sister, whom he had ignored and, in a sense, replaced;

From the upcoming Tournament just days away; the psychotic Gamer wreaking havoc in the shadows; and the fear that reality itself might shatter any day now, taking the last bit of his sanity with it.

For a fleeting moment, it seemed as if there were only Lenix and Sachi in the world; a fact Lenix found himself not at all against as his tongue dipped lower, between her warm, soft and slightly sweaty ravine. “Y-You promised!“

"I haven’t broken my promise, have I? I've kept it to just kisses..."

Lenix murmured, his teeth playfully working on the buttons of her shirt until they came loose. It wasn't an easy feat, but he wouldn't let that deter him when the reward was so tantalizingly close. “Perv…”

"Perv, am I? Then you shouldn't be surprised about this.”

Lenix teased, glancing at the lingerie she wore before flashing a grin and placing his hands on her hips.

With one smooth motion, his hands slid innocently up her skirt, into her pantyhose, and beneath those beautiful pink panties of hers, circling her puckered holes. There were hair too, he realized. Not a lot, but definitely noticeable. Clamping her thighs around his hand, Sachi pouted, meeting his gaze as her muscles loosen, allowing him just the tinniest entrance. “And groping?“

"Ma-Maybe a little?"

"A little."

But it would not be just a little.

It never ended with just a little. While they didn't end up having sex, the night still passed in a storm of passion and lust, with clothes strewn about and some… Tender exploration.

When the cold morning light filtered into the room, Lenix awoke to find the bed empty and a goodbye note resting on the drawer.

"Sorry. Got Calculus in the morning. See you tonight! XOXO!!!“

Staring at the note, Lenix collapsed onto the bed, murmuring. "Oh God... What have I done?"

From beneath the bed, a clawed, green hand snaked up the sheet.

"Kekeke! The regret's starting to set in, pink-skin?“ The Goblin taunted, and in response, Lenix grabbed its wrist, coating his hand with Duel Energy, and with a forceful yank, violently slammed the Duel Spirit against the bedframe—once, twice, thrice—before releasing his grip. "You were spying on us, you green turd?"

"I wasn't the only one! Why am I the one getting punished?!"

Lenix's eyes briefly flitted over the cameras before focusing on the Hand, who shyly shook her head and covered her face.

Even with her hands and the giant white hood accented with gold partially veiling her features, Lenix could see the redness creeping from her cheeks down to her neck, a shade that made her warm, olive-brown skin shine all the more. “Mery… You perv.“

"Wha—No! I—Your Majesty, please stop teasing me!" Meryt-Nerbet stammered, caught off guard by the accusation.

"I call it like I see it. Peeping Toms, the lot of you.“

As Lenix descended the apartment building, he waved at the security guard and stepped outside, only to be confronted by a disheveled and wild-eyed Musashi, who looked like he had seen better days.

"You! I finally found you! Where the Hell have you been?!"

Lenix glared at the unkempt man, suppressing a string of insults that bubbled at the back of his throat, and instead letting his frustration escape as a low growl that instantly sent the Gladiator Beasts into a frenzy. "I didn't realize I had to report my whereabouts to you.“

Without continuous outside stimuli, his anger lasted only for a second, before being stomped out by [Gamer's Mind].

"Is everything okay?" The security guard, sensing the tension, approached and loomed over both men by half a head. “Is this punk bothering you, Mr. Owens?“

“Yes! Please remove him from the premise.“

"W-Wait! Please, go talk to her at least! She has locked herself in for days! I fear for her well-being!"

"Like you feared for mine?" Lenix retorted.

"I—Get. Off!" The anger seemed to ignite something within Musashi as the power of the Duel Spirits surged through him.

The newfound strength allowed him not only to resist the guard but to toss the man effortlessly into a heap of trash—a gesture that, under other circumstances, might have been seen as an insult.

However, given the speed at which the guard flew, another direction would've ended with a concussion or worse: Brain damage.

“Seriously, you're fucking fine, aren't you? What's with this holding-a-grudge bullshit, you fucking pussy?!"

"What the Hell did you just call me?" The sudden surge of anger that coursed through Lenix set the mismatched Duel Spirits on edge, squaring off against the Gladiators.

He gave the man a moment to reconsider his words while he himself coolly weighed the pros and cons.

Before he had fully decided, his fist made the decision for him, lashing out at the man.

It was less a conscious choice and more an impulsive action, but Musashi didn't care.

He leapt onto Lenix like a starved animal, his manic, golden eyes gleaming with promise of violence.

The first punch knocked the aggression out of him; the second reignited it as he Equipped Mimic, and unlike Musashi, Lenix could borrow his Spirit's strength to the fullest.

Lashing back with a punch that crunched against the Yakuza's nose, a fleeting vision of his opponent's eviscerated corpse flashed through his mind. Just one cut from the claw transformed from his Duel Disk, and the man would rot in the dirt where he belonged.

Thankfully, he managed to rein it in before the vision could manifest physically. 'Not here,' Lenix told himself.

'Not in front of all these people.'

Then, from the corner of his eye, he noticed the handcuff lying askew on the ground. 'He (The guard) must have dropped it...'

Dropping out of Mimic, Lenix elbowed a stunned Musashi in the chin and lunged for it. He might not be able to kill the man, but if he didn't beat the break off him today, he might as well cut off his balls and throw them off a bridge.

Wrapping the handcuff around his palm, Lenix turned around just in time to dodge a fist coming his way. Dragging Musashi by the arm and to the ground, he kneed him in the chin, Equipping Mimic just long enough for the kick to hurt, then wounded his fist back.

The motion was as amateurish and obvious as could be, but given his posture, Musashi wouldn't have been able to dodge even if he had seen it coming.

Blood dripped into Lenix's eye as he knocked a tooth out of the Yakuza boss, sending the man sprawling to the ground.

Stumbling over his own legs, Lenix caught himself, his knee unintentionally landing on the boss's chest, which he followed up with a very intentional punch.

As he wound up for a second strike, Lenix flinched, snapping back when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! I'm not looking for a fight, but if you keep this up, you're going to kill him."

“I-It's what he deserves.“

Lenix wanted him to crawl to safety, just as he had been left to do.

He wanted him to feel the pain.

"Don't you ever show your face around here again—you and your men,"

Lenix warned, voice low. "I've never peeled someone's fingernails before, but I think you'll find I'm quite eager to learn if you don't leave me alone."

"Pleas—"

Lenix instinctively raised his foot to stomp on the hand that had latched onto his ankle, taking a shaky breath as he caught himself. "She—She's searching for h-him every night still. Please... Just talk some sense into her."

“If I meet her,” Pausing to catch his breath, Lenix sighed. “Will you leave me alone?“

“Y-Yes… Pl-Please, she's-s all I 'ave left.“

Sighing again, Lenix yanked the man up by the shoulder and gestured to the security guard. “Please call us a cab."

“A-Are you sure?“

"I'm sure." He had put this off for too long.

The police, fashionably late as always, chose that exact moment to arrive.

"You two! What are you doing?!"

"Nothing, officer. Just a little boyish scuffle, weren't we, Fushio-san?" Lenix said, giving the man a meaty slap on the back and smiled as he wiped the blood from his face with his sleeve, trying to appear nonchalant.

“Boyish scuffle?“

“Boyish scuffle,” Lenix repeated. “You know how it is.“

“You know I can still get you two for public disturbance, right?“

“We're just leaving now, officer.“ Pointing at the cab, Lenix threw his prize-winning smile at the policeman.

“Don't let this happen again, or you're both going to the station. Understood?“

“Crystal.“

Tossing the beaten man into the cab, Lenix instructed the driver to take off under the scrutinizing gaze of the cop, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Though it wouldn't be too big a problem given his current powerset and connections, Lenix had never been in trouble with the law before, aside from a few speeding tickets, and he's not going to start now. “W-Where to, sir?“

Reading off the address, Lenix ignored the driver's fearful gaze and focused on tending to his wounds, while the Yakuza Boss beside him groaned and passed out.

Watching the Gladiator Beasts as they funneled their power into their Duelist, Lenix slowly drifted off to the rythmic hums of the engine, fatigue creeping over him in crashing waves and darkening his vision.

He didn't truly slumber, of course; even a fool wouldn't let sleep claim them in the presence of a threat.

But the brief moment of rest was just enough to give him the boost he needed. “We're here, sir.“

Helping Musashi out of the cab, Lenix transferred the fee to the man, who yelled back. “Sir—”

"Use the extra money to clean your car," He cut in.

It was the least he could do after turning the once-clean cab into a horror scene. 'Motherfucker better share the money later.' Lenix thought. Though he was injured as well, he's in much better shape than Musashi—the main culprit who had left a damn puddle where he sat and should hence shoulder at least 2/3 of the cost.

Lenix was able to drag the half-conscious man up the stairs, albeit with much difficulty, searched his pockets for the keys, and let himself in, making himself home on the sofa with an audible thud. He had intended to take a few minutes planning how he's going to approach this when the door to Akane's room was violently flung open. “Nii-san! Lenix! What happened to you two?!“

"Wha—How did you—" Lenix started, then noticed the Hokkaido-Inu wagging its tail beside her. "Right, you have Duel Spirits too." And judging by what he'd seen the other night, her method of Thoughtform Manifestation was far more efficient than Vorona's too. Psychic Duelist… He hadn't expected to ever hear that in this Era.

Akane, the Lightsworn Saintess

Attribute: LIGHT

Level: 6

[Human/Effect]

Flavor Text: “A young Psychic Duelist with a heart of gold who often finds herself in over her head.“

Effect:

1, If this card is Summoned, send cards from the top of your Deck to the Graveyard until you send a "Lightsworn" monster, then Special Summon that monster. Repeat this process until your Monster Zones are filled.

Lenix hadn't even read her Stats, but that busted effect alone was enough to warrant a, "What the fuck?!"

That was the most overpowered effect he had seen to date, and he had seen a lot of custom cards in his days. Hell, he had even made a few back in the days.

Then he saw the two big, fat 0 in her Stats, which wasn't unexpected. “I should be saying that! Why're you two so beaten up?!“

"Well, hope you don't mind, but I had to rough up your brother a bit. He was being a public nuisance."

“A bit?!“ She glared, throwing her arms in the air. “You guys are IMPOSSIBLE! Just sit there! I think there are still some medical supplies in the bathroom. God—!“

Luckily for him, Musashi slept through the entire process.

Unfortunately for Lenix, he did not get such luxury and was subjected to her glare for a very, very uncomfortable ten minutes.

“There. It's not great, but it's the best I can do.“

Lenix glanced at his reflection in the mirror and grinned. "Still handsome."

Rolling her eyes, Akane sat across from him and asked, "What're you doing here?"

It could have been his imagination, but Lenix could’ve sworn he saw a hopeful flash in her eyes, however brief it lasted. "Your brother's camped outside my apartment for days and has made you refusing to have a proper meal my problem."

"Of course..." She grumbled. "Sorry about that. It won't happen again."

"It better not, or I'm going to drag him by the collar to the nearest police station. But that's not why I'm here... He has told me you are still searching."

The mention of her extracurricular activities made Akane flinch, bracing herself for a tirade, and a tirade she got.

"I'm disappointed in you... Please, run me through your thought process. Make it make sense to me, Akane, because last I checked, he nearly got you—Hell, he nearly got me while I was coming to your aid! Why in the 18 Layers of Hell are you still looking for him?“

“People are—”

"People this, people that—there are things outside your control, Akane. You have some tricks, but you're not God. You can still die, and if you continue down this path, you will, and I-”

Wetting his lips, Lenix had to willingly surrender his emotions to [Gamer's Mind] just to get the words out. “I don't want that for you.“

“If I don't stop him, who will?!“

"Did you?" That instantly silenced her.

"I—I will! If I'm going to lose the only friend I've made, I have to get something out of it, okay?!"

"No. No, no, no. Don't try to turn this on me. I told you I didn't want to get involved; you and your brother forced my hand anyway!"

Annoyance in its most potent form oozed from his glare.

“You didn't have to cut contact!“

"Forgive me if I don't want to endear myself to the suicidally stubborn girl who's going to get herself and everyone who cares about her killed! When a fucking storm passes by, you don't fight it! You stay down and hope it does not rip you apart, Akane!“

“He's just a man.“ She responded, the passion drained from her.

"A man with the power to command storms... A humanoid natural disaster; one who has defeated us both. Give up. For your own sake. This is not your burden to bear.“

"You don't understand… I have to… This power, I was granted it for a reason. My parents, their deaths—I–!" Akane's teeth and fists clenched tightly as she sobbed, collapsing to her knees and grabbing at his shirt. "I know this is selfish, but please, please help me—"

Her words turned to wails as she bawled her eyes out, and for the first time, Lenix felt grateful for the "gift" Skullie had left him.

It wasn't that he couldn't understand her feelings; he simply had firsthand experience with the destructiveness of incompetence and heroism, and thus understood the best course of actions sometimes was to do nothing.

Even though their paths had diverged, their Turning Points were quite similar.

The key difference was that her trigger event stemmed from a lack of control, while his arose directly from an act of heroism gone wrong. 'If I hadn't tried to play the hero... Doesn't matter now.'

"Power or no power, you're just a regular schoolgirl, Akane," He said, prying his shirt loose from her fingers. "Your parents' deaths haven't turned you into a main character who will come out on top against every adversary. It just makes you a traumatized schoolgirl with a hero complex, way too much fucking free time on your hand and a festering guilt nobody has ever taught you how to deal with. Guilt that'll be your end, and I'm not staying just to close the lid on your coffin a few days from now.“

He could place the blame on Musashi, but the man was a kid at the time; a kid who had lost his parents to his little sister, no less, all because he wanted to play what should've been a harmless card game with her.

Regardless of his anger and biases toward him, Lenix could not fault Musashi Fushio any more than he could Akane.

"I hope you realize that before it's too late.“

Heading for the door, Lenix refused to look back.

Only when he was in the elevator did he let out a tired, "Fucking Martyr Archetype."

There were plenty of fun and positive things that had come out of Duel Monsters, but the brighter the light, the greater the shadow.

Perhaps the Pharaoh and the Android Time Terrorists had a point sealing away the game.