Disclaimer: I own nothing involved in this story unless I invented it myself. This is written for fun, not for profit. All forms of feedback eagerly accepted. Concrit is loved the most, but everything is welcome.
Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh GX
Title: Rise of the King: Chapter 6: Avenge
Characters: Yubel, Juudai, Brron
Word Count: chapter: 1,658||story: 9,797
Genre: Drama, Angst||Rated: PG-13
Challenge: Advent Calendar Challenge, Day #17 & Diversity Challenge, section H, #22, fic that is T rated
Notes: This takes place in an AU. In fact, this is the same AU as Dangers of Silence. Kinda spoilers for that?
Summary: [6/6 chapters, Juudai & Yubel, Advent Calendar Challenge Day #17 & Diversity Challenge, au: other] A burglar. A break-in. A bad bit of timing. And Yubel does what Yubel must do, for Yubel will protect Juudai, no matter what.

It took Juudai approximately half an hour to realize that living with Brron wasn't going to be like living with Freed. That was how long it took before he had his first duel in his new living conditions. Just long enough to return to Brron's castle and to have the evil king select an opponent for him.

"You'd best make this a good show," one of the Dark World monsters, Brrow, told him. "Because it could be your last."

Juudai remembered him as the one who had put the net around Yubel. He remembered them all. The desire for revenge worked its way slowly and deeply into him. It would take time. For the first time in his life, Juudai knew what it was to be patient. Because it would take time to find a way to free Yubel and avenge all of this.

Brrow smirked at hiim, then headed away, having provided Juudai with his deck and duel disk. Across the arena, a new form emerged, one with four arms and a fearsome howl that it let out as it saw Juudai.

"Brron-sama! You wish me to fight a child? I, who have served you so faithfully all these years?"

Brron stood up from his throne. "Lesser Daemon, you will fight this duel on my behalf, because this is what I have ordered you to do. If you win, you will be honored above all my other servants."

Juudai tensed; he was young, but not stupid. He realized right away that Brron gave no mention of what would happen to the loser. He didn't need to. This duel was no training experience. One of them wouldn't make it out alive.

His eyes flicked over to Yubel, still bound by those chains and now with a thick gag tied in place as well, kept in perfect view of the arena. He would find a way to get out of here, he swore. And he knew what that had to mean.

He didn't like it. But he would do it anyway.

The duel began. Lesser Daemon was a great duelist, probably one of the best Juudai had ever met. He chipped away at Juudai's life points more and more with each turn.

But Juudai fought back just as hard, slashing into his opponent with all of his young and strong heart. While his deck had been designed around Yubel and no monster could manifest while being in chains like what bound his guardian, he had enough other monsters and strategies to make it through. Still, it hurt to see the card in his hand and know that he couldn't put it to use.

This was their fault. He stared at Brron, at Broww, at all the other Dark World monsters, and at the Lesser Daemon who served them. This was their fault; they might've come for him, but they didn't have to hurt Yubel, and for that, they would all pay.

Someone watching him might've seen the tiniest flicker of gold glimmering in his eyes. But no one who could see was close enough to tell, and as he struck down Lesser Fiend with all the might he could muster, draining the last of his opponent's life points, Juudai almost felt as if the shadows around him approved.

He flinched at the cheers, not just from the shadows, but from everyone in the stands. Brron rose and cleared his throat imperiously.

"This is Yuuki Juudai, my newest servant. I will determine when and who he duels. No one is to attempt to harm him in any fashion. Should any of you do, I will see to your end personally."

Juudai wasn't reassured by that at all. Having Brron's favor, when it didn't release Yubel, wasn't what he wanted.

Brrow came back out, this time taking away the deck and duel disk, and grasping Juudai firmly by one shoulder. "Come along. Brron-sama wishes you shown to your room."

Juudai sealed his lips and refused to answer, not so much as a thanks. His gaze followed Yubel as others came to release the bonds used to keep his guardian restrained there.

"Worried?" Brrow laughed a cruel laugh. "Don't be. So long as you behave yourself, your friend will be all right."

That was all that Juudai cared about at the moment. But he wasn't changing his mind. If it took him years, he would find a way to save Yubel.

It took him three duels before Brron allowed him time to talk to Yubel. Each opponent was a little more difficult than the one before him, and he came close once to losing. If he hadn't made a lucky draw at the last second, he knew he would have.

"Juudai." Yubel's chains made holding him all but impossible, but Juudai could hug Yubel, and so he did, pressing his face against her. One thing he'd liked about this world from the moment he'd woken here was the ability to actually touch spirits, especially Yubel.

"I miss you," he murmured against that warm skin. "I miss you so much."

Dragon wings moved just enough to brush by him, the caress that Yubel's hands could not give him. "I miss you as well. But you're getting stronger." Yubel always watched every duel that Juudai had. Brron demanded it of both of them. It kept Juudai aware of what he stood lose if he ever disobeyed, and Yubel was calmer when aware of what he was doing.

He managed to lean in closer. He didn't know how and he didn't care. "I'd rather be with you."

"It will happen. I believe in you." Yubel's wings brushed more against him and he breathed in that scent that spoke of fire and scales and Yubel.

"I want to kill him. Brron." Juudai couldn't remember ever having wanted to kill anyone as much as he wanted this. He didn't think kids his age were supposed to really want to kill anyone. But this was special. This was Brron.

He almost expected Yubel to tell him not to do that, that it was wrong. Instead, he received a thoughtful look. "Get stronger, Juudai. Do what you must. It will hurt. But you will not live as his slave forever. You cannot."

He nodded, staying where he was. He knew he couldn't stay long, but he wanted to stay until someone pulled him away. "I won't let him hurt you. No matter what I have to do." Yubel was all he had. Yubel was his world. No one hurt Juudai's world.

Yubel made a soft noise and Juudai wondered what else might've been said if they weren't where they were. He couldn't read Yubel's mind, but sometimes he wondered what Yubel knew about him that he didn't know about himself. There were times when he'd heard light murmurs and whispers that didn't make any sense, something about a promise. And ever since they'd come to this world, he'd had strange dreams that involved Yubel and someone who looked entirely unlike his guardian, but was still Yubel anyway. That was really weird, because that other Yubel looked like a human.

"Time's up," Brrow said, leaning into the cell that housed Yubel now. "You can visit with your playmate another day."

Juudai tensed and only Yubel's presence and the knowledge of what might happen if he didn't listen kept him from resisting. He hugged Yubel once more. "I'll come back when I can," he promised, and followed Brrow out.

Yubel closed all three eyes. These chains sapped so much energy that the spirit had no idea if standing were even possible. Without Juudai there, Yubel didn't even try, but let the chains do the supporting.

Brron and all of his minions would pay for hurting Juudai. Yubel knew that down to the very core. Yubel would see to it, and if anything were left over, Juudai would handle it. Brron would regret all that he'd done. Juudai would end up being a far greater warrior than any of them could ever imagine.

Yubel would be there to see it. And to savor every single moment of it.

Moment by moment, time slipped away. Judging years was all but impossible in a realm without a sun or moon, but human bodies grew nevertheless, and as the years flittered away, Juudai let his memories of his old world go with them. He knew where he'd come from, but he didn't think of it very often. There was no use. He couldn't go back there and his life was here now anyway. Here with Yubel.

Here with Brron and the fact not a day passed when he didn't duel and kill someone. Sometimes it happened two and three times in a day.

In due course he was allowed his deck on a permanent basis, and he worked hard to revise it to deal with his new situation. As much as he loved Yubel, he had to work with the fact drawing that card in battle would be a liability he could not afford. So he moved it from his deck to a special pocket he had sewn into his new clothes, and never let it go far from him.

Juudai never forgot that he planned to kill Brron. Brron seldom fought on the battlefield himself, but when he did, Juudai watched, and prepared. He was going to be ready.

To all who saw him who were not Yubel, Juudai presented the perfect portrayal of one loyal to Brron, his champion, his fiercest weapon. Juudai became the person Brron sent when he wished an example made of someone. He struck fear into hearts simply by entering a place. He had never lost a duel. He could not lose. Some whispered that the powers of darkness supported him.

Juudai liked that. He hoped they did. It would make it easier to kill Brron when the time came.

Then he and Yubel could finally be together again.

The End

Notes: Juudai's dealing with Brron will be a story of its own, written in due course. I want a lot of words available to me for that.