200X

Seagulls call as they fly into the sunny horizon just above the sparkling ocean by the Italian shore. A large cruise ship is docked, people saying their goodbyes on the harbor, preparing for the departure towards America. Children are playing, either running around on the wooden docks or playing Duel Monsters on the side without using duel disks.

"America sounds promising to go," a disembodied male voice comments.

"Yeah, I'm excited to see all those places!" a brunette wearing an Osiris Red blazer exclaims, wearing his excited grin. Judai's grin disappears as he began to yawn, turning so his back is against the railing of the cruise ship. "Didn't Asuka went abroad to America to study in being a teacher, Judai?" the spirit of Professor Daitokuji asks beside him as he looks towards the ocean. Judai's eyes close, tilting his head side to side. "Oh right, she is huh?"

"Will you visit her when you get the chance?"

Judai smiles embarrassingly. "Well, don't get me wrong, I want to see her. But, I have no idea how to explain myself for skipping out of the graduation ceremony and all." He begins to play with the tip of his pointy collar inbetween his index finger and thumb. "I'm sure she'll smack me a good one." The professor smiles towards the boy. "Perhaps that will do some good to knock sense into you."

The boy looks at the phantom in question. "I've got some sense! I mean, sure, not all the brightest, but keyword: some." He winks with a smile, digging into his pocket a she pulls out his cell phone, dialing a number. Before he inputs the last number, a slender, purple hand covers over his phone. He blinks as he looks up. "Yubel?"

The spirit of the Duel Monsters card, Yubel, appears next to him. They can only be seen by Judai and whoever else seems to have a connection to the Spirit Realm of Duel Monsters. Otherwise, people on the ship would jump overboard the minute they see these two figures.

"I would knock some into you myself if I could," she tells him bluntly. Judai begins to pout, crossing his legs slightly. "Now that's not nice, Yubel. Why would you do such a thing?" Yubel narrows her eyes as she looks at the phone's display screen.

"You know you can't contact him, I've told you this." Yubel sternly says.

Judai's spark in his eyes fades a bit. "It doesn't hurt to try." The teacher's spirit besides him sighs as he straightens up, looking down at his once pupil. "He is in another time now. It may ring, but it probably is most likely to be someone else's in our timeline, Judai."

A prick of pain hits Judai's chest. He didn't want to admit that his companions are right and what he was doing is just a child's hope. He turns around, facing the blue sea and the sun slowly setting into the horizon. "Yusei might be doing the exact same thing, you never know," Judai spoke softly.

The two spirits look at each other in concern. Judai has been himself all the time on a regular daily basis. Of course, Judai was excited on the idea of going on a cruise since he's been mainly hitching rides and walking across Europe ever since he felt that something wrong was happening in Venice. However, when the mention of Yusei comes in, Judai feels bittersweet. He smiles into a daze as he remembers how he met Yusei and Yugi, dueling together, and, of course, the day Judai and Yusei spent together before he needed to leave back to his era. When it comes down to it, it was a very touchy subject of Judai. Everyday, he would try calling or texting the number Yusei gave him when they had to separate and look for his feline friend, Pharaoh. So far, no success.

Judai's deep brown eyes stare at the watery depths below. He notices how dark of a shade of blue it was. It throws him back to the moment after the duel they had. Judai had pinned Yusei to the wall before their goodbye. He wasn't sure why that had happened, it just came out. He couldn't stop looking at the man's eyes as their breaths both went short. He had felt his lips quiver, as if he wanted to do something. Now, his mind wonders just what was it that he wanted at that moment?

The boy gulps down the lump in his throat, holding his hand just under his chin. It's like I can still feel him holding me.

202X

"Ruka, hurry, hurry! We'll miss the fireworks!" an excited Rua yells over the hilltop. His sister, Ruka, was sprint up the hill. "Rua, don't yell so much!" she scolds her brother as he responds by sticking out his tongue at her. It was 8PM in Neo Domino City. It was a very special night. After the end of the WRGP, the city wishes to congratulate their champion team: Team 5D's. Not only did they win the tournament but they saved the city as they watched everything from the duel with Aporia to the final fight in the sky against Z-ONE.

As Ruka ran towards Rua at the hilltop, Crow, Yusei, Aki, and Jack were right behind them. "Don't yell, she says. She's yellin' herself," Crow smirks as his arms were crossed behind his head. Aki looks at him. "They don't yell as much as you and Jack do, you know." Jack scoffs as he looks away. "He pushes me to yelling, Izayoi." The psychic duelist rolls her eyes as she smiles at Yusei. Yusei smiles back. "Let him believe what he wants," he tells her.

"Heeeey, hurry up you guys! Five minutes left!" Rua shouts at the top of his lungs, waving his arms frantically in the air. "Rua, stop screaming so much!" Ruka scolds him again. The four Signers laughed together as they finally reach at the top.

Crow leans forward, resting his arms over the hilltop's railing. "Man, oh man, what a good sight! I never knew it was this gorgeous at night time," he says. Jack crosses his arms as he looks at the city lights. "You're too busy with your little job to take the time and appreciate the little things like this.

Crow stares at the blonde man with his eyes narrowing down. "The little things? Like the little yet expensive-ass coffee you like to drink all the damn time?" Jack growls and opens his mouth to say something but a hand holds his shoulder. He looks to the side and sees Yusei. "Jack, Crow, we can have one night without an argument. Don't forget, this is a celebration for what we achieved together." Aki nods in agreement. "That's right. It's time we can relax and just enjoy this without worrying but with happiness for all we did." Yusei nods at Aki. Jack sighs under his breath but smiles as he looks up at the night sky. "We did good, didn't we?"

"Yeah, we did," Ruka chimes in as a smile appears on her delicate face. Yusei smiles to himself. "Together."

Suddenly, sprockets of color shoot behind the city and explode into magnificent fireworks. The entire group goes in awe. Several hologram screens pop up through the city, each one having a screenshot of each individual of Team 5D's, music blaring loudly into the night.

A big grin appears on Jack's face. "Well, I'll be damned. So this is the surprise Ushio and Mikage had for us." The young female twin smiled brightly. "It's so beautiful! The pictures, the fireworks, the music - all just for us?" Next to her, Rua was starting to cry. "O-o-o-o-omigawd, this is amazing!"

Crow was smirking, feeling a blush warming up in his cheeks. "Some good old recognition for Crow the Bullet!" Aki was in amazement, her eyes glistening. "Isn't this amazing, Yusei?" She turns to the man next to him but her smile disappears. Yusei was staring up at the fireworks, but his eyes read utter sadness. Those fireworks, he thought to himself. Aki gently takes hold of Yusei's arm. "Yusei? Are you okay?"

Those fireworks look just like the ones in Italy.

The awaited sequel to A Star Beyond Time everyone! I hope you enjoy this first chapter despite it is a bit heartbreaking. This story will be much longer and will be quite enjoyful. Please do look forward!