A/N: Remember I promised this fic? Yes? Good, 'cause I decided to give you this first chapter and then ignore it for a while so i can finish the other two fics I've got going right now. And yes, this will be yaoi, although I've yet to decided which pairings, but since it's a Dark Signer fic, there'll be at least a little Kiryu/Yusei in there at least early on. And it's mature because it will probably get pretty dark pretty quickly. Please review guys, I love to hear what you think.

These are the streets I used to own. This whole place was once mine. So dull and grey in the rain. It's tipping it down, just like that night. I don't know where I'm going, only that it's warmer that way, that there's something comforting and familiar in that direction. So I stumble forwards, every part of me screaming in pain, but I have to keep walking. If I stop or fall I'll never get back up. I'll rot on the ground like the rest of these people who don't know what to do with their lives.

I had a purpose once. I remember it. I remember my team mates and being so sure that they were the best thing to ever happen to me. I remember wanting so much to keep them safe and struggling to keep them with me. I most vividly, I remember Yusei tossing me aside like a piece of trash. I meant nothing to him, obviously.

I stumble and fall against the side of a building. The cold, wet brick are slick and kind of slimy against my hands, hard to get a grip on, but I manage and push myself up, staggering on.

There's a dark figure coming towards me. The warm, comforting feeling swells inside me as he gets closer and there's a purple glow on his arm like mine. Whatever it is guiding me reacts to him like he's an old friend, buzzing around me, urging me to hurry towards him. Suddenly I fall into his arms. Whoever he is laughs gently and helps me upright. I gasp and struggle to say something, but the cold air catches in my throat and end up coughing violently, my whole body aching. There's a hand on my back, rubbing firmly, somehow easing my coughing. I'm still sick, I know, I shouldn't be out in weather like this. He says something and helps me to walk down the road. There's pounding around my ears and the edges of my vision is blurring. This is horribly familiar. I hit the ground, groaning into the water covered ground, unable to get up. Actually, I'm not sure if I even want to get up.

The strange presence that I've felt around me for so long is there again, encouraging me to get up again, but I physically can't. It tells me it's ok without any words, it's just a feeling, and that this man will help me and look after me. I'm safe, that's all I know as my eyes close and I fall into darkness.

There are quiet voices around me. I'm actually comfortable for once. It's a really soft, warm bed. It's weird actually. It's not a hospital bed, I spent the last three weeks in one in the Facility, they're hard and lumpy and the sheets are scratchy. This is all soft and fluffy. I force my eyes open. Whatever I was expecting, it's not this. The voices become clearer, two of them. One is the man from last night, the other is more commanding, probably the boss of wherever I am.

"...of trauma he suffered while alive," says the voice I know. "He was very ill, it'll take time, even with his god helping him to heal. He'll probably be far more active and more difficult once he's recovered."

"What makes you think he'll be difficult?"

"Don't you know who he is? He's the former leader of Team Satisfaction."

Yes, my wonderful team now in tatters and ruin. The familiar voice mutters about me being awake and there's two men leaning over me. I groan and blink a few times, trying to make out the details.

"How are you feeling, young man?" the man I know says.

"It hurts," I whisper.

"Where?"

"Everywhere."

He laughs gently and it's surprisingly comforting. "Well, you'll get better. What's your name?"

"Kyosuke Kiryu. What's going on?"

The man I don't know folds his arms. "My name is Rudger, this is Demak. You have been chosen to join our ranks as some of the most powerful people in the world."

"What if I don't want to?" I say. He laughs cruelly and shakes his head. "I mean it. I just want to have my revenge on Yusei."

"You don't have a choice," Demak says. I frown and glare up at them. "However, your need for revenge is most likely why you were chosen. How did you get here?"

I try to think back, but there's just a blur. "I don't know."

"Well, being able to get here without help is impressive," Rudge mutters. "You obviously have potential, we just need to develop you. How old are you?"

"Fifteen."

"Still young enough to be moulded. Good."

"Rudger," Demak says, something kind of warning in his voice. "Not until he's recovered. He still needs time. I think we should let him rest up."

I'm not sure I like what Rudger's saying. I frown as they leave and shut the door. Whoever they are, I don't know if I can trust them or not. The strange presence around me assures me that they're like old friends, they're familiar and comforting, but it's been far too long since I trusted anyone and they've not let me down.

Still, whether I can trust them or not, I'm in no position to argue. My body is still screaming in pain and I can barely move. It's strange, I'm struggling to breathe but it's not effecting me. There's nothing I can do but lie here and try to recover what strength I can though, so I might as well try to sleep.

They're not so bad really. It takes a few weeks, but soon Demak, who I guess from the way he talks used to be some sort of doctor, says I'm ok to wander around as I please rather than being completely under supervision. And Rudger is on my almost instantly. He drags me into a huge hall and sits me at a table. I suppose I should be intimidated or something, being in this dim hall with these two huge men dressed in black, but they nursed me back to health- Demak more the Rudger admittedly- so I owe then my respect and gratitude if nothing else. I don't intend on staying for whatever they want me for, but I'll hear them out.

"You've been chosen, Kiryu," he says. "The Earthbound Gods have chosen you to assist us in our mission to defeat the Crimson Dragon's servants."

"And I care because?" I mutter.

"Because you have a lot of potential and it would be a shame to have to break you down just to bring out that potential." Demak sighs and Rudger glances over. "Kiryu, do you understand what's happened to you?"

"Not really, actually. I was ill."

Rudger nodded. "You died."

I'm dead... I laughed and shake my head. What kind of stupid joke is this? How do they expect me to believe anything like this? They're crazy, both of them.

"Kiryu." I turned to Demak, who smiles slightly. "I know this must be hard to take in-"

"I'm not dead," I laughed. "How can I be dead? I'm here. I'm alive and you two are insane!" I shake my head, I shouldn't be rude. "Look, thank you for helping me get better and whatever but I'm not dead and I need to find my friends. I need to get my revenge on Yusei and then I'm going to get my team back and finish what I started."

I get up and turn to leave but a hand grabs my wrist and another covers my mouth and nose. I go to shove the and away but my arms are held in place. I twist and struggle desperately, but nothing works. I can't breathe. I can barely move. I was right, they're nuts! What's they're problem?

"Do you understand yet?" Rudger whispers in my ear. I step back and twist again. "Calm down and think for a moment. You know you can't breathe, how do you feel?"

What's he talking about? If it'll get him to let me go before I collapse... I stop struggling and stand. Everything goes cold. I can't breathe but... Rudger lets me go and tear away. This can't be happening. I'm not dead! I can't be dead! Rudger starts to say something but Demak puts his hand on his shoulder and shakes his head. How the hell am I dead and still walking around? What are they going to say to make this better?

I turn and run. I don't even know where I'm going, just up the stairs and out into the Satellite. I don't even know where I'm going, but these are my streets. I might have been in the Facility for six months, but that doesn't mean I don't still know them like the back of my hand. It takes a moment, but I know where my instincts are leading me.

It's comforting to hear their voices before I see them, not that it helps me much. I stop in the shadows just around the corner, the setting sun casting huge dark patches and the black robes those two psycho zombie/ghost people gave me help me to blend in. My body is shaking as I watch them. What if I am dead? What if I'm like a ghost of something and they can't see me? I rest my hand on my on the wall. It doesn't go through. If I was a ghost, wouldn't I go through?

"What's wrong with you, Crow?" Jack snaps.

I frown and lower my gaze, gripping the sharp corner so hard it bites into my skin. My team, arguing like we used to... There's a thud and I turn back to them. Crow is on the ground, Jack above him and Yusei between them, holding Jack back. I want to get between them and sort them out, but...

"Jack, please," Yusei cries. "We can't just fall apart over this!"

Yusei. The traitor. Trying to make them forget I once had that role, keeping them together. Pain sears through my arm and I hiss, stepping back to hold it to my chest. There's these strange glowing lines on my arm. I don't get any of this.

"Jack, what is that?" Yusei says quietly.

"Nothing," Jack hisses.

I glanced around the corner. On Jack's arm are lines like mine, only red. Jack turns suddenly and I draw deeper into the shadows. There are footsteps moving towards me. I pull up my hood. I don't know why but it feels right- safe.

"Jack," Yusei calls.

"I thought I saw... we're sure Kiryu's dead, right?" Jack says. There's an icy grip around my chest and I fall back against the wall. Maybe there's still hope of being reunited with them. "I mean, that grave, it's definitely got his body in it, right?"

"If it doesn't then we're in trouble," Crow mutters. "Alive Kiryu was a determined, damn near unstoppable bastard. Imagine him as a ghost or zombie?" There's something sad and bitter in his voice that makes me want to be sick. "I miss him already, you know?"

"Kind of," Jack mutters. The glow on my arm fades. "But he's gone."

"It's a shame," Yusei says.

My fists clench. How dare he sound like he cares? He betrayed me and now he's acting like he cares that I'm gone? I growl to myself and they fall silent.

"I'm sure there's someone there," Jack says. "You remember how Kiryu always had this... presence?"

"Yeah," Yusei says quietly. "I can feel it too."

"He's dead," Crow says. "We can't go scaring ourselves into thinking he's haunting us. He's gone guys, and we can't get him back. We all know it's time to walk away from this, guys. We've relied on each other for too long."

"Crow-"

"No, shut up, Jack!" There's silence and Crow sighs. "Look, I'm not saying that I don't want to hang out with you guys anymore, I'm just saying that I think we need to start growing up and stop relying on each other constantly-"

"No, what you're saying is that you've got some kind of school girl crush on that Pearson," Jack snaps. I frown. I remember Crow talking about him. Some older version of Crow who looks after orphans and helps them to reach their potential and stuff. His little sidekick didn't like me, and I don't think he did either. "You want to get rid of us so you get spend more time with him and try to get rid of your reputation as one of Kiryu's flunkies."

"That's not true, right Crow?" Yusei cries.

It's not nice being betrayed, is it Yusei? Jack laughs bitterly and Crow sighs. "Come on, you know being associated with Kiryu makes people respect us, but since he snapped... they fear us too. I don't want people paying attention to me anymore. I just want to forget all about it now. It'll always be a fond memory, but... you know, it's strange thinking about those times, now Kiryu... you know what I mean, Jack! Stop being awkward!"

"Whatever," he says quietly, turning away. "Come on, Yusei, leave Crow to wallow in the wonder of his new friends. He doesn't care about what happened with Kiryu and he doesn't care what happens to us."

I wait in the shadows until their gone, my stomach churning, and I think there are tears slipping down my cheeks. Or it might be raining, I'm not sure. What I am sure of is that they all think I'm dead. A sudden chill comes over me and I stagger into an alley, falling to my knees as something horrific churned inside me. I'm dead... I'm freaking dead! I groan and a foul taste fills my mouth, my sides heaving as the rain starts to pour. There's a quiet voice behind me and I struggle to my feet.

"Are you ok, mister?"

I know that voice; Rally. I glance back and he's coming towards me. So I do the only thing I can, I run. Problem is, being still a bit unsteady, I slip on the soaked concrete and slam into the ground. There's a searing pain in my side and I struggle to cover whatever injury I've got before Rally catches up. It'll heal quickly, but the last thing I need is Rally seeing me like this and wanting to help.

"Hey," he calls, coming over to me. "You're hurt."

"No," I groan. "Leave me alone."

"Hey..." Rally sits next to me and moves my hood. "Kiryu?" He laughs excitedly then frowns. "Kiryu, how come you're not dead? You're hurt. I'll get Yusei, he and Jack are just down the road. Don't move, you'll hurt yourself."

"Rally-"

"I'll be back in a few minutes."

I struggled to get but my side is killing me. It's healing quickly, but it's not easing the pain quickly enough. There are footsteps behind me and I'm lifted from the ground and into Demak's arms. He pulls me aside into a crumbling building and puts my hood back over my head. One hand goes firmly over my mouth and the other presses against the healing wound on my side. I scream, but most the sound is muffled by his hand.

"Hush," he says. "It'll heal quicker. The worse the pain, the more your body rushes to heal it. Keep quiet and sit through it. You were careless, Rudger will punish your for this, you're lucky I was here to get you here before you were seen by them."

"Rally," Yusei groans. They come into view. Rally dragging Yusei behind him and Jack a few steps behind, looking furious. "Kiryu's dead, you have to accept that."

"No!" Rally says. "I saw him! He was here! He's hurt!"

"Then where is he?" Jack says. "I thought you said he was here."

Rally stops and looks around. "But he was here! I saw him and he was really hurt, his side was bleeding and everything. Look, see, blood."

Yusei frowns and kneels down, glancing at the blood. "Well, I doubt it was Kiryu, but someone was hurt here."

"Why are we indulging the brat?" Jack says. "We know it's not Kiryu, he's dead, remember? Remember us all getting worked up over it?"

"But- but I saw him," Rally cries, narrowing his gaze at Jack. "I know what I saw, Jack!"

"Maybe you're just upset, Rally," Yusei says. He smiles and pulls him away. "We all miss him, maybe it's just your mind playing tricks on you. You know, grief? It's not like we haven't seen people in passing and thought it was Kiryu."

Demak lets me go and I step away. I barely feel any pain anymore. Demak glanced at me. "Let's go."

I shake my head and lean back against the wall, my head pounding as I slid to the ground. Demak sighs, not that I care. I don't care about any of them anymore. Not my stupid friends, not these guys, not any of them! A hand falls on my shoulder and I flinch.

"It's ok," he says. "I know this must be hard for you, you're still a child after all."

"I'm not a child."

"You are Kiryu," he says. "And it's ok to admit it, you're a child still and it'll take time to get used to this." He pats my shoulder. Not that it helps. "It'll take time, but you can manage. You are an icon of the Satellite, think about that. You're Kyosuke Kiryu, you have to believe you can pull through this."

"I didn't ask for this. I didn't want it! I don't want to do this!" I scrunch my eyes closed. I've been given a second chance, but I don't want it. "Please, I just want to-"

"No you don't," Demak says. "Come on, come back with me, and I will make sure Rudger lets you settle before he starts testing you." I shake my head. "Kiryu." He strokes my hair and I turn away- even if it is kind of nice. "It'll be ok, now come on. Do you want to wait here until someone finds you? Do you want to have to explain to your friends why you're?"

"No..."

"I didn't think so. Come on, let's go."

He helps me up and escorts me back to the dank base. It recognise where it is now. It's the Old Momentum, it's right in the middle of the Satellite and barely any one comes here. It's supposed to be haunted by people how died in Zero Reverse and people go missing all the time. Actually, they're probably just people like me, who should be dead and are stuck here.

Demake guides me passed Rudger and back to my room. It's strange when he smiles and pats my head like I'm five, sitting me on the bed and fetching a towel to dry myself off. I frown.

"Would you like something to eat?"

"Umm, I suppose..." I frown. "Thanks..."

"It's not a problem. The sooner you settle the better- for all of us. Don't leave the room, Rudger will decide you're strong enough to begin testing and training."

"What kind of-"

"When I get back we'll talk."

Demak returns a few minutes later with a bowl of soup and some bread. It's not much, but I am kind of hungry. I'm not sure how long it's been since I last ate. He hands it to me and I eat quietly. Demak sits next to me and watches me, kind of longingly. I frown. Perhaps he's lost someone too, someone I remind him of. It wouldn't be the first time someone who lost a loved one tried to replace them with someone similar.

Time passes slowly. Demak watches over me almost constantly, stopping Rudger's tests when they're too much for me. The tests aren't too hard at first; he sets up little duel puzzles- a situation where I can win in one turn with a little thinking. They're easy. Then they get hard. Rudger set up situations where it takes a few turns, like a miniature duel without the luck element. They're alright. And then there are the actual duels. Rudger's a good duellist, his funny spider deck is well set up and he obviously has used it for years. I, on the other hand, am forced to use a strange deck that gives off a really eerie feeling and revolves around having no hand. It's tough. I hate not having a hand, it bugs me, it puts everything down to luck. You can't mess up with no hand. If something goes wrong, you need to draw the right card at the right time to put it right. It's frustrating; their effect won't activate while I have a card in my hand, but it feels so awkward to not hold anything in my hand. I've yet to beat him. Demak says I'm lucky we're just playing with cards on the table. I'm not sure I get that, but I nod whenever he says it. I'll get there, I'll beat him, I just need to get to grips with this new deck, since the refuse to let me rebuild mine.

What pushes me, are the physical tests. Rudger says I have to be strong to endure what's to come. Stronger than I am, and I've gone through some terrible things. My body will heal itself in time depending on the seriousness of the wound, but Rudger says the pain will distract me. From what I don't know, but I do what he asks.