#damselflyshipping

   Now she was being cheeky but she couldn’t help it. Nor the giggle which had prompted Akira’s additional statement. She was just so giddy and fond. It was nice to be coddled sometimes, especially over dinner and by her brother. That’s why she found a little bit of laughter on her lips in between the seared steak and steamed vegetables that she was eating with Akira.

   They had been so distant from one another for all sorts of reasons, it was a dream come true that they had circled back to being close siblings again. Aoi wouldn’t trade that for the world. So, she wanted to cherish it, the mundanity of it.

   “I just have to plug my Duel Disc into my computer, yeah?” Aoi asked. “Let the updates take place, all that stuff.”

   “Yes, exactly.” Akira replied.

   “Then I’ll do it after I finish eating and before I go to bed.” Aoi said.

   “Don’t forget to do your homework either.” Akira said. “And don’t forget to brush your teeth either.”

   “Akira!” Aoi complained.

   Akira giggled, “sorry, sorry, a little overboard, I know. I just worry about you sometimes, that's all.”

   “I worry about you, too. So don’t forget to brush your teeth either, big brother.” Aoi harrumphed.

   “I won’t.” Akira smiled.

   Aoi smiled back and the conversation quietened from there. They finished their meal soon after and parted ways. Aoi had her homework and Akira had his business calls. It was pretty boring, actually, but Aoi had really come to appreciate the boring as of late.

    A lot had happened and a lot of it had happened out of grief and rage and mourning so it was kind of nice to go back to the small and rote.

    She and Akira had been put through the wringer in their duel with Ai and they were washed out quite badly by the torrent of his emotions. Then everything had gone quiet. Scarily quiet. Until suddenly, there was a change. Three months off the absence of Yusaku’s disappearance and then reappearance with Ai in tow.

   Now, they were six months now off the back of the ordeal with Ai and things were still quiet. But things had changed. After all, she and Akira now had these lovely little homemade dinners together every so often. Not every day but every couple of days which was a lot nicer than this time last year before any of the revelations regarding SOL Tech’s dirty little secret in the form of the Incident had occurred. The ramifications of which they were still reckoning with since so far, the only surviving creation from that abhorrent experience was Ai…

   So far.

   Yusaku was working hard, for better or for worse, to bring back the other five Ignises and that’s presumably why Akira’s security update was so important to him. He wanted to protect Aoi, still, and the company’s interests, too. And probably the rest of Den City, too, since they had seen - firsthand - how just a slice of Ai’s wrath could decimate and there were, allegedly, worse futures to come.

   Aoi merely hoped not.

   She wasn’t sure what else she could do except hope as time and time again, she could go as all out as possible with every weapon she had access to, and it still wouldn’t be enough. So, she wanted to believe that hope could change the world as she couldn’t imagine the apocalypse or armageddon unravelling over loss.

   Because she had plenty of loss, too. Her parents, her pride, and her partner, too. 

   Gosh, Aoi hoped that Aqua would return soon. She needed Aqua and Miyu to finally meet so bad but, better still, she wanted to see her own friend and partner again. That was probably the hope that she held on most to, the repairing of friendships because maybe that could change the course of the future and the world.

   Because God. Aoi missed Aqua. 

   And she knew Takeru missed Flame and then there were all the missed connections, too, with the other Ignis. Earth, Windy, Lightning. Admittedly, she didn’t know how those last three would go. She wasn’t sure how any of them would play nice with their Origins, particularly the latter two who had hurt their Origins in some way. Then there was poor Earth who had Spectre, honestly Aoi pitied Earth for that cosmic match-up.

   Though, if they could get along, that would have to be a tipping point for the better since more Ignis-Origin duos would get along than. So, Aoi could only hope it would turn out that way but she couldn’t see a world in which it would. Though, apologies and betterance would definitely be more difficult in the cases of Windy and Lightning with their Origins.

   Argh. It was all too difficult. Aoi was just an outsider looking in. She was close, she was on the other side of the looking glass but it wasn’t good enough. She wished there was more she could do but the best Aoi could come up with was… improving her duels off-screen and supporting the people in her life.

   So, that update on her Duel Disc she had to roll…?

   There was a weird cosmic match-up hidden within it as well.

   Aoi did the right thing. She found the adapter that she didn’t use all that often since her Duel Disc, modern and advantageous as it was, had wireless charging and then plugged it in. Tada. Twenty minutes of build-up - her ruminations, her rummaging around her room to even find the adapter - and then two seconds to plug it in. 

   After that, Aoi had the rest of her evening to herself. She could do her homework, she could go through combos with her paper cards. Or none of that, she could depression doom-scroll on her phone, too. The world, as little as it was as the world was just her room inside her and Akira’s luxurious, penthouse flat, was in her hands. 

   She turned her back on the computer and her Duel Disc then tried to make up her mind on how she wanted to spend the rest of her free time, about two-three hours at most. If she wanted to go to bed at a reasonable time then wake up in time, well rested, for school tomorrow.

   Then her room, dimly lit and cosy with fairy lights and a pretty vintage lamp, turned blinding white.

   Aoi’s heart seized as her dust rose pink walls turned an absolute pastel. She turned around and she had to squint into the abyss that had suddenly expanded out from behind the glass screen of her computer, amalgamated with what her Duel Disc could provide.

   Her lips trembled. Her voice bobbed up and down in her larynx as she froze with the unknown. Her eyes widened as this blinding light which kept her harrowed for a good few seconds then began to fade, as a figure - a projection, shadowed and with a silhouette she could place instantly, anywhere - began to take its place.

   Yellow sparks of electricity gave way to the colour of flesh as he looked over his hands. There was movement, the flapping of the billowing fabric that made up the eccentricities of his costume.

   “Where am I…?” he asked himself. “How am I…?”

   “Bohman…” Aoi breathed and then as soon as she named him, her common sense kicked back in. “What are you doing in my room?!”

   Her screech took Bohman by surprise. Even though this was her room, her computer, her everything that he had found himself inside of, she had mattered so little to him as he blinked and slowly turned his head. All of him came into view, his mane of brown hair and his eyes which were like fire. They were calculating, masking his confusion as he tried to find answers of which…. There was none.

   For either of them.

   “I know you.” Bohman said. “You are the true identity of Blue Maiden, a valiant enemy of mine.”

   Aoi felt oddly… flattered by Bohman’s description of her. Valiant. Definition: showing or possessing courage and determination. Neither were qualities she felt she embodied but of all the enemies she had faced, Bohman was by far the most noble, she would admit. He was regal. Graceful. Even now as he stood around - glitches half through him, turning his white gown blue and red - he had that aura about him. 

   “Why am I here?” Bohman asked and Aoi suppressed a gasp as a tear slid down the side of his face. “Where is Haru? I - I died. I should be dead.”

   Aoi swallowed. “You think I want you here? How should I know?”

   She chose that over anything to do with Haru. Their sibling story, she had duelled them both and saw elements of herself and Akira somewhere through it. Warped and twisted as it were. 

   “Ah. Of course.” Bohman said.

   He backed down and was disheartened to do so. He looked over himself. He looked just as he had against his final duel against Playmaker - something Aoi only knew from watching videos on the matter. Cobbled together, most of them copyright struck under false claims or otherwise dealt with so the wider public couldn’t see them. 

   A quiet settled between them. It was uncomfortable and uneasy. Neither moving from where they were. Aoi stood her ground by her bed and Bohman stood in the slats of the wood of her desk, a projection or something close. They stared at each other. Waiting, willing, daring for someone to do something.

   And Akira did.

   “Aoi? Are you okay? Who are you talking to?”

   Aoi could have jumped out of her skin. She was a teenage girl - almost a grown ass woman! - so why in the world did Akira have what was functionally a baby monitor on her. He was in a completely different wing of the apartment and he was paging her through the intercom. His voice came through with delay, like a crackly phone message.

   She rushed to it and held down the message button, so she could accept Akira’s call. 

   “Yes, I’m fine, don’t worry about it.” Aoi said and she cut Akira off before he could even reply.

   He, of all people, did not need to know that there was a male stranger in her room right now. Aoi even made it so that Akira couldn’t contact her through the intercom for the next hour. 

   “Okay, um, let’s talk.” Aoi said with her voice lowered. Bohman nodded and she drew closer. “So, are you… alive?”

   She felt rightful in her scepticism that Bohman was alive as an entity, he wasn’t solid. Not to mention, not dead and alive were two different things. She would know as someone who had been in and out of comas in the past twelve months. Though at least Bohman was awake, that then begged the question, especially since he was hips high in her desk, did he have sensation?

   Aoi reached out. She unfurled her hand, finger by finger. She felt like the kids in E.T. and Bohman mustn’t have understood the reference because he stared at her hand.

   “What are you doing?” he asked. 

   “Nothing.” Aoi said and she retracted her hand.

   Bohman groaned and his brows knitted together, “To answer your question however,” he said, “yes, I am alive.” He seemed irate that he even had to answer such a silly question. 

   He looked around Aoi’s room for more clues. Obviously the cushy teenage girl stuff on the walls wasn’t all that helpful. Nor was her computer as it was in sleep mode as it provided the battery for her Duel Disc to receive the updates over the course of the next couple hours then oh. Bohman realised it, too. Her Duel Disc, meanwhile, was of use and note.

   Bohman reached for it but his fingers phased through it. It caused the illusion of his appearance - strong, foreboding, ominous - to quiver and tremble. The grandeur of the appearance of man he embodied reduced.

   “Do you need help… with something?” Aoi asked uncertainly. 

   She stepped forward again. She reached out to him again, too, and became aware of how close they were. At least in appearance. Not so much in any other way. As when she finally touched him, sure enough her fingers grazed through the electronic illusion of him, too.

   And he recoiled, as well.

   “What are you doing?” he asked, moving away from her, his voice was grouchy as though offended a human would touch him. Or try to considering his current state.

   “Trying to help.” Aoi said. “Have you ever heard of a little thing called being nice to each other?” She frowned. Cutely. That disarmed Bohman somewhat. 

   “Yes, I am aware of the concept. Haru and I would be nice to each other occasionally.” Bohman confessed.

   Aoi’s nose wrinkled. That was… adorable. And sad. Like, really sad. She shouldn’t laugh so she didn’t. 

   “But yes. I would like your help. I believe the mystery of my reappearance begins with your Duel Disc. Peculiar as you were not the last enemy I vanquished nor the one I was vanquished by.” Bohman regarded her warily and his lips pressed together firmly. His expression turned hard and stony to mask the grief just behind his eyes as he thought of the person that Aoi - Blue Maiden - had conquered in her and her team’s invasion of the faction Bohman belonged to.

   Haru.

   “You killed him.” Bohman said. “You were the last person who saw him alive.”

   Bohman brought his hand to his chest. His fingers curled into a fist and held himself so tightly, a vein could have popped. 

   “I saw a vision of him in the finale of my loss against Playmaker but he was already dead by that point.” Bohman said.

   Aoi held her breath. She didn’t know what to say. Bohman was right. She did kill Haru. 

   “I’m so-”

   “Help me with this.” Bohman interrupted her. His eyes transfixed on her fiercely. “I am sure you and him are pivotal pieces in my immaculate resurrection. This Duel Disc may also hold some clues. As I cannot touch it, I would like it if you could investigate it in my stead.”

   His voice was measured as he instigated a tentative alliance. His expression as he spoke was devoid of emotion, also. His gaze bored down and into Aoi. It all mounted as a boiling pressure that made it worse for Aoi as she stewed with the guilt of knowing what had to be done. She recalled, in fragments, her duel with Haru and then reached for her Duel Disc.

   Static prickled on her fingers as she touched it and then. There was another burst of light. It was quick. Short. Blinding. Aoi was starstruck by it and the conversion of energy made Aoi’s hair blow back and dazzle her eyes. And when it dissipated, Bohman was gone. From in front of Aoi, at least.

   Now, she was holding him.

   From inside her Duel Disc.

   Like Pandor.

   Like… Aqua…

   The change disconcerted him, also.

   Aoi tilted the Duel Disc so that Bohman could look up at her. She had no doubt that he was seeing the worst angle of her: physically and emotionally. He had duelled Aoi as Blue Maiden and had seen both his brother’s killer in her and a noble soul, too. He respected her. More than any other opponent that Aoi had ever faced; not Playmaker, not Baira, and definitely not Spectre. 

   And yet… The grief of coming back to life without the one who would make life living for him, it calcified into a grudge, which Aoi could understand. She sighed, letting go of her breath but not the guilt which felt like a stone in the bottom of her stomach.

   She wasn’t sure what to do with herself now. Except assuage Akira that nothing was wrong. She was just having a stereotypical hysterical teenage girl moment for no reason. No reason at all, even. After that? It was going to be a long haul to find the answers to the questions that plagued both herself and Bohman and it was not going to be easy either.

   Not if Bohman had anything to do with it.

   And as it would turn out, it would be the smaller, more innocuous things that would be harder than the actual big questions they were grappling with. Things like school and the boring in-betweens their quest for answers.

   The following morning, Aoi had a shower and it was business as usual. She washed her hair and shaved her legs, applied lip balm and blow dried all over. She slipped into a pair of socks and did up her tie. When she came out of her bathroom, that’s when she remembered.

   The night before. It hadn’t been a dream. Her Duel Disc - she almost thoughtlessly collected up off her desk - was fully charged and now home to a malevolent yet eccentric A.I.

   “Good morning, Blue Maiden.” Bohman bade her.

   He looked so strange when he was reduced to being Ignis-sized. Aoi wondered if he had an alternative form as an eyeball, too. That would make sense.

   “Aoi is fine.” Aoi corrected him.

   She soured and turned away from her desk. She grabbed her schoolbag in lieu of her Duel Disc. This appeared unusual to Bohman as he folded his arms in front of himself.

   “Are you not going to ‘school’ today?” he asked. 

   “I am.” Aoi replied as she slung her back over her shoulder.

   “Then why aren’t you taking your Duel Disc?” Bohman inquired.

   “Because you're in it.” Aoi said.

   Bohman’s eyes turned piercing, “I demand to go to school with you.”

   “Why?” Aoi did her best not to snarl in her confusion.

   “I require your school’s networks.” Bohman said.

   “What do you need the school’s network for?” Aoi asked.

   “To look for Haru.” Bohman said. “I suppose I could do it from your room but-”

   Aoi’s mind raced. There was no way she wanted Bohman poking through her and her brother’s network. He would undoubtedly find awkward puberty questions she had asked through her browser’s incognito mode or embarrassing Blue Angel x Reader fanfiction that she had looked up out of morbid curiosity. And those were best case scenarios! And who knew what sensitive work that Akira took home…

   There was absolutely no need for Bohman to get his hands on any of that. Not that school was going to be better with the hundreds of students and who knows what but there was no way Bohman was going to rouse suspicions from her and Akira’s apartment.

   “Fair point.” Aoi replied and she snatched her Duel Disc up.

   Bohman ducked down beneath her palm as Aoi quickly did it up like a watch. She glimpsed that Bohman did, in fact, have an eyeball form and it looked how she imagined. He sized her up from this angle as she moved on. Though Aoi knew she had plenty of time to spare to arrive on time, she never wanted to risk it so she rushed on.

   Though, all whilst she walked to school, she had a bad feeling in her gut. Though, she typically had a bad feeling down there. Whether it was her period or paranoia that someone only wanted to be friends with her to get a foot in the door for their career at SOL Tech, Aoi was often outwardly a grump. This was different, somehow.

   Probably because she was harbouring an undead artificial intelligence that had tried to engorge himself on all the Neuron Link - and the other Ignis.

   Carrying Aqua around felt different. It was a completely different relationship. Aqua had attempted to be a saviour and ally of humanity after all. Not its ender. She had been bright and veracious with a pure core. Her appearance had brought Aoi back to Miyu and for that, she would be forever grateful, too. She’d also had more common sense around humans, too, Aoi mused as she pinned down the true worry which was turning to a rock inside of her. 

   Aoi just hoped that Bohman would behave. She could help him get to the computer room after lunch when they had free study. She could go up there and pretend that she was doing research for an assignment whilstBohman had free reign in his search. She did genuinely hope that he found something but only time would tell.

   She had to get through the first four periods of her day first, starting with good old mathematics.

   Aoi took her place at the back of the classroom and settled in for the morning. It had been a cloudy walk to school with that funny smell from before it rained thick in the air, alongside that of air pollution, too. She glanced out the window and saw that it had begun to rain, slowly and sparsely. She wondered briefly if it would get better or worse through the day as she hadn’t checked the forecast and now, there was no time to.

   The bell rang and the teacher took her place at the head of the classroom. First they had attendance and once everyone was accounted for, then the roll call teacher swapped for the actual mathematics teacher. It was all very boring compared to the raindrops racing on the window in Aoi’s fleeting moments of absent-mindedness.

   She still did the work, followed along and opened the textbook. Did the quiz on her tablet. It was all very dull and rote, not to Bohman’s liking at all as the mode of learning turned from passive to active as the teacher began to check in with her students.

   One by one, scattered and at random, the teacher plucked the minds of random students to make sure they were learning and paying attention. The questions bounced around, to and fro, front, middle, and back until it was Aoi’s turn apparently.

   “Zaizen-san.” the Teacher prompted her.

   “Yes?” Aoi replied, bobbing up from her school supplies, perhaps more surprised than she meant to be.

   She wasn’t blitzing all her tests and quizzes with one-hundred per-cent accuracy. She was an A to A minus kind of gal across all her studies, really only struggling in P.E. because look at her. She was a spindly nerd who liked to play card games in her free time but her daydreaming had been to a detriment. She had a lot on her plate, after all. Not that the teacher needed to know that as she waved her hand and it was like magic, the smartboard illuminated with a new graphic and the next question.

   “Find M so that the lines with equations -2x + My = 5 and 4y + x = -9 are perpendicular.” the Teacher said.

   Maybe it was because Aoi hadn’t been giving her hundred and ten per-cent attention but the intermediate question boggled her mind. The logic of the question raced through her as she did her best to figure it out, scribbling some notes but someone else tried to get in first.

   “The answer is-”

   Aoi acted faster than she knew she could act. Her heart had stopped but the rest of her had not.

   That voice. It was deep and robust and carried a sense of renown. Aoi wasn’t going to bet that people would recognise it from the incident in the Link VRAINS from last year but she also wasn’t going to take that risk.

   Aoi clamped her hand over the top of her Duel Disc. She didn’t look down from the smart board to do so, as that would look suspicious. She just hoped that Bohman would get the message that he wasn’t to talk during classes. That should have been obvious but apparently not.

   She smiled, baring her teeth, as she started again, “the answer is…”

   And lo and behold. She got it wrong where undoubtedly Bohman would have gotten it right. She felt a little bit embarrassed but embarrassed was far better than exposing her secret.

   Free period couldn’t have come soon enough. Only… twenty four more minutes to go until recess. Then another two classes. Then lunch then… Ugh… Free period was long, long ways off.

   Especially since her classmate Fujiki Yusaku seemed to have a sixth sense for when something strange was either going to happen, was about to happen, or had already happened.

   “Hey Aoi.” Yusaku said to her during recess.

   He wasn’t meant to be in this classroom but given his circumstances, some leeway was allowed so that he could continue to see his friends during school hours. Because of his stint of absence last year, and through goodness knows how much convincing, Yusaku was allowed to remain a student at Den City High School. In the same year as before. So this year, that put him and Aoi not only in totally different classes but years.

   “Hey… Yusaku.” Aoi replied through a fake smile.

   She had really hoped to get some time during the twenty minute morning tea break to scold Bohman. Lay down some rules about how this would work. He appeared to operate on a totally different plane of logic, reason, and common sense to her so figuring out some common ground was likely going to be beneficial. 

   But for now, she had to deal with Yusaku in front of her.

   At least in a crowded room of people, they couldn’t talk about anything too sensitive. Though given how wary Yusaku’s eyes were, maybe he only wanted to check in with her.

   “What brings you here?” Aoi asked.

   “Wanted to say hi to you.” Yusaku said. “And Naoki. I’m trying this new thing where I try to be more sociable.”

   Ah. That confirmed Aoi’s suspicions. He just wanted to be nice. But still. Aoi saw that micro-split second where he glanced at his wrist where his Duel Disc just peeked from underneath his sleeve.

   “Mm.” Aoi said, acknowledging Ai without saying anything.

   “Yeah.” Yusaku agreed.

   They paused a moment and Aoi figured, if Bohman could hear them, then she may as well ask.

   “Any luck with that project you were telling me about?” Aoi asked. “The science-y, computer-y one…”

   “Not really.” Yusaku replied, shrugging his shoulders.

   “That’s a shame but if you ever need a hand, I’d love to help.” Aoi replied.

   “I appreciate it.” Yusaku said.

  Aoi waited for a sign that maybe she had shown too much of her hand on that one but Yusaku’s eyes went sad. Understanding. Aqua.

   “Good luck.” Aoi bade him.

   “Thanks and I better go.” Yusaku said.  

   He awkwardly excused himself  and Aoi watched as he left. They never did figure out how to be bubbly sociable selves around each other. Yusaku wasn’t really like that but once her shell was open, Aoi could be. Even so, she hoped to still grow closer to Yusaku. His sudden disappearance had been heartstopping, he looked frailer for it but emotionally? Never better now that he had Ai by his side again.

   Sure, Ai and Aoi didn’t part ways on the best of terms but with all the pieces in place… Aoi could accept an apology. She knew it wouldn’t happen again, she believed in the redemption of the Ignis and wanted to see their peaceful coexistence alongside humanity. 

   With a tightening heart, Aoi glanced at her wrist. Her sleeve hid her sleek and shiny Duel Disc and it of course hid Bohman. Aoi could feel herself on the precipice of some kind of revelation or epiphany on the topic. Maybe she should have been more forthright with Yusaku. Maybe she’d made the right decision not to tell him. As she wasn’t sure yet whether to believe in the redemption and co-existence of Lightning’s creations alongside humanity.

   Though, first they had to find and bring back Haru. As a younger sibling, she wouldn’t want Akira to be lonely without her and she didn’t want to be lonely without Akira, either.

   The class bell rang again and Aoi did her best to shuffle her thoughts along. She had to focus on her education and better still: free period.

   That last block of the school day seemed ever more tantalising than usual with her secret burning a hole in her. Aoi bided her time, counted the minutes until finally, their teachers gave them the spiel and speech like clockwork. They were becoming young adults blah blah blah and so could host their own study sessions, conduct themselves in whatever manner they deemed suitable in their maturation. 

   Aoi, who was in good standing with the teachers as she was generally more on-task, courteous, and mature, wasn’t even given a second glance when she requested as much privacy as possible in the computer room. Luckily, no one else needed it, not when other students were content with just their tablets so she was entrusted the keys.

   With a smile, Aoi graciously accepted them and then counted to ten once she had heard the computer teacher walk away before putting up her jacket to the glass window on the door. The computer room was on the second storey so hopefully no one could peer in through the windows to the far side of the room. Though Aoi wasn’t certain how big or how little Bohman’s efforts to use the network could be, she won’t lie. She was expecting fireworks.

   “It's all yours now.” she told him and as she unclipped her Duel Disc from around her wrist. She placed it on the flat of the desk in front of her then sat back lazily.

   As an eyeball, Bohman warily checked his surroundings first. As discreetly as he could, the pupil moved slowly from one side of the glass to the other. Then, satisfied that it was just him and Aoi, he revealed himself in full. It was like watching an angel ascend, there were beams of light and the unheard choir, Aoi could swear as she was blinded once more by Bohman’s appearance. He projected himself out of it and thus, towered over the computer room.

   “I appreciate it, Aoi.” he told her.

   “Your welcome, just… be quick.” Aoi mumbled.

   Bohman nodded once and then got to work.

   Aoi had heard once a debate about how if one had all the knowledge in the world, what would that be like? Would it be insufferable? That the total and completeness of it all, the torrent of information would be so overwhelming that it would actually be impossible to discern at all or. Would it be pure and perfect clarity?

   Based on what she could tell from Bohman, it was definitely the latter.

   He was graceful as he brought the network to life and then manipulated it from this real life realm of flesh and blood. Although, he brought his native world of the digital into this one through the Link Sense that Aoi had heard so little about and the results were beautiful.

   The room with cream walls turned a pale blue. Yellow data glittered around them, coalescing with white sparkles and blue lasers that all went in straight lines, never bisecting or otherwise criss-crossing. Forever and perpetually perpendicular. Bohman could freely change their directions however, with just a quirk of his eyebrow, a twitch of his finger, or if he was feeling especially bold: a command in the Ignis language.

   Aoi had never heard Aqua speak it, but she had heard from Yusaku and Takeru that it was actually quite painful on the ears. It was a language of shrieking and screeching, beeps and boops. Not from Bohman’s mouth. It sounded alien, yes, but almost angelic coming from his deep voice. 

   This went on for what felt like eternity, to Aoi anyway. In actuality, it was mere minutes. That may as well have been an eternity to Bohman who could calculate mathematics instantaneously, who had a supercomputer for a brain and then there was nothing.

   Dramatically, it all fell silent. To darkness. Just the cloudy and overcast weather creeping in through the far windows and Aoi’s jacket blocking out the fluorescent lighting on the other side of the door.

   Bohman’s shoulders slumped forward and he sighed, malcontent.

   Aoi’s stomach dropped. That didn’t feel like a good sign as she watched Bohman close his eyes in frustration.

   “A-Are you okay?” she asked in a whisper quiet voice.

   “I have not found what I am looking for.” Bohman announced, a touch of irateness to his voice.

   Aoi swallowed a lump, her mouth dried. “But you did find something?” She dared to ask. She sat up straighter.

   “I did.” Bohman said. “I found five of the six Ignis.”

   Aoi blinked.

   Then blinked again as she found herself unable to hazard a stunned, “What?!”

   Yusaku had spent the better part of the last six months on the hunt for the Ignis. He could only turn up Ai which made sense. They were partners, Ignis and Origin after all but now Bohman turns up out of nowhere and in a matter of minutes, finds the other five? What?

   “I assume the Dark Ignis is alive and well, living with Playmaker?” Bohman inquired. “Hence why you spoke in code with his true identity as Fujiki Yusaku earlier?”

   “Correct.” Aoi replied.

   Bohman’s expression turned unreadable.

   Aoi didn’t know what to do, if Bohman wanted comfort or if he wanted a solution. Not that she had any idea on how to provide either to him. Her lips quivered.

   “Why is it a bad thing that you’ve found all the Ignis?” she asked, her eyes watered. “I want to see Aqua again, I want Aqua to reunite with her Origin.”

   “Because I do not know how to face my creator or his kin.” Bohman replied, cross. “I do not know if he knows how to face his creator or his kin, either. It is an uncomfortable situation with more banes than boons. I can tell your companionship with the Water Ignis is true but more heartbreak is to be carried than not. And there will be none without the other for I am a hammer, not a scalpel.”

   Bohman gave a flourish of his hands and Aoi gasped. Her eyes went wide. Within his palm, once more, he held all of the Ignis. Those felled and those submitted to him.

   Aoi felt sick to her stomach. It was just their skeletons, really. Their desiccated corpses. A scatter of a data which was in perpetual motion, occasionally taking on an angle or a memory of the Ignis that it actually represented.

   Then, just as quickly as he revealed them, Bohman hid them. He crushed them, curling his hand into a fist and Aoi had to bite her tongue not to make a pained noise. They weren’t alive. There was no malice in Bohman’s movements. Just grief.

   “What should we do with them?” Bohman asked.

   “Why are they here?” Aoi asked, trying her best not to let her voice crack lest she sound hysterical.

   “They weren’t. They were in every corner of the Link VRAINS. I found them there.” Bohman said. “I could have found them from your bedroom but the flow of Link Sense, it is stronger where there are people. The Neuron Link can find minds, connections better amongst people than in isolation. How peculiar.”

   “Yeah… How peculiar indeed.” Aoi bitterly agreed.

   “Now, it seems we are at an impasse, Blue Maiden.” Bohman said and his demeanour turned freezing cold. His eyes hardened as he looked down at her with contempt. “I did not find any clues regarding my resurrection nor locate Haru’s status or whereabouts. Yet now, I have something you want. I am not merely a burden to you.”

   “You don’t have to threaten or intimidate me into helping, Bohman.” Aoi fought back. “I’d help regardless… It's the least I can do after… after what I did to Haru.”

   Bohman was taken aback, a flicker of guilt though his face which he corrected. He put his hand over where his heart should be, “Thank you.”

   “And,” Aoi added, posturing, “lucky for you, I’m good friends with someone who can help us. Though, you having something he really wants is kind of a big help.”

   “Playmaker.” Bohman exclaimed.

   “Exactly.” Aoi nodded. “But let’s not bother him just yet. Let’s actually strategise, figure out what the best course of action is.” 

   “Of course.” Bohman agreed.

   Aoi got up and she took her jacket off the door. Any longer, and they would look suspicious, surely. Bohman took the hint and shrank back down into a more compact, Ignis-like size. Aoi checked the time and that gave them wow. Half an hour or so to figure out what they wanted to do next.

   Find Haru. resurrect the Ignis. Play nice with humans, in particular Yusaku. See? Easy. Or at least one could only hope. And then afterwards, they could get ice-cream then all go their separate ways. 

   Of course, nothing could be that simple. Though only time would tell, so Aoi had her fingers crossed. Tomorrow was a new day. And until it was tomorrow, the school bell rang its final toll whilst they were hanging out in the computer room, completely unattended, and that was enough research and clue gathering and strategising. 

   It had been a long day and it was almost triumphant to return home, no matter how exhausted. Except, what Aoi didn’t realise, was that her bedroom would become a battleground also as Bohman didn’t have as much common sense as he liked to think.

   “Bohman.” Aoi said, snippy, holding herself. “Aren’t you going to turn around?”

   He blinked, “What do you mean?”

   “I want to get changed and I already had a shower this morning, I don’t need another one…” Aoi said, waiting for Bohman to catch the hint but he merely stared vaguely nonplussed. “And would like to get into my pyjamas.”

   “Then get changed?” Bohman said.

   “I can’t, not with you looking at me.” Aoi replied, her tone of voice starting to pitch upwards as she blushed.

   And it was then - and only then - that Bohman realised. Albeit very slowly.

   “Do humans take their clothes on and off… manually?” he asked.

   He was realising it even slower than Aoi thought.

   “Yes, Bohman, how else would we change our clothes?” Aoi asked rhetorically. “Real life is not like the Link VRAINS!”

   “Oh…” Bohman murmured.

   He stroked his chin thoughtfully and Aoi continued to stare, bright red and              Sceptical. He finally came to the conclusion that she was waiting on.

   “And you don’t want me to see your nakedness?” Bohman said.

   “Obviously!” Aoi squealed.

   “Why? You have nothing I have never seen before and your assets are undersized for a woman of your age.” Bohman said, immediately putting his foot in his mouth.

   “How dare you?!” Aoi shrieked. If she could have, she would have loved to have pounded her fists on Bohman’s big, dumb chest but instead, she was frozen to the spot with wounded pride.

   Her offence spooked Bohman. He was genuinely taken aback by it and so, he did his best to salvage Aoi’s good graces. He turned embarrassed and consulted the great, big wealth of knowledge he knew he could rely on: the internet. And he found something he thought would quell Aoi’s rightfully placed rage. He saw now that commenting on women’s physiques was quite the faux pas.

   But this should help, he was sure. His brow furrowed as he donned a most serious expression which burgeoned with earnestness. He put his fist in front of his mouth as he cleared his throat and lowered his hand. He spoke up loud and clear with nothing but the best intentions to smoothe over this transgression he had inflicted upon Aoi.

   “Fret not, Aoi, for flat is justice!” Bohman proclaimed. 

   Aoi’s jaw dropped.

   That was… very much not where she thought that was going to go. A simple apology would have sufficed. Now she was even more embarrassed than before. Worse still, Bohman was still going. 

   “Though I am worried that you are underweight, it comes from a place of concern for your welfare. Do not worry that you are small, your uniqueness is valid and aesthetically pleasing in other ways. I did not mean to intrude on your privacy, I simply did not realise just how different A.I.s are to humans-”

   By that point, Aoi gave up listening to his platitudes. She could tell his heart was in the right place but by the stars above he was unbearable. She mightn’t have been able to hit him but she could still shut him up.

   Aoi grabbed her pillow and threw it at the wall. It phased right through Bohman but he got the point as he was startled by his incorporeal self tingling with the sensation of the pillow cutting through him then thumping on the wall. She had - thankfully in hindsight - missed her very expensive computer sitting on her desk.

   Bohman cleared his throat again, now it was his turn to be embarrassed, “I went… overboard. I apologise. I should not have remarked on your physique or made you uncomfortable. That should have been the end of it.”

   “I accept your apology.” Aoi said, calming down. She could feel her cheeks cool.

   She and Bohman exchanged a sheepish glance.

   “Ah, of course. Now is my cue. I - I will turn around now.” Bohman said.

   He stiffly turned around then sank into the depths of Aoi’s Duel Disc. She smiled a small smile and turned around herself. That was a huge drama to do something as simple as switching her skirt for a pair of shorts and putting on a soft sleep shirt.

   Still, it showed her another side of Bohman and Aoi didn’t mind that faucet of him, oddly enough. He was sweet and sheltered, frank and earnest. Larger than life. A tranquil fury and a klutz at the same time.

   She had seen many sides of him today, actually… It was nice. She had seen him serious and playful and boisterous and fearsome.  Aoi could admire that Bohman, just like a real human, had plenty of faucets to him and his personality. It was strange just how human this inhuman man was. Lightning had designed him oddly well in that regard. 

   It made for food for thought, at the very least. Maybe too much of it because Aoi could hardly sleep tonight.

   It had finally sunk in. She was technically sharing her room with someone right now and that someone happened to be male and, from certain perspectives, quite handsome. When he wasn’t being a malevolent entity hellbent on the destruction of humanity.

   The following morning, Aoi was not her usual cheery, perky self. Not that she was like that very much outside of text messaging and the internet but still. She was worse than usual with her resting bitch face, she felt. Gave Yusaku the right impression, however, that when she mentioned before school she wanted to talk after school, she meant serious business.

   “Okay, I’ll see you Friday…” Yusaku mumbled. He was a little confused. Understandable, it was weird to make hostile feeling plans for the end of the week before the middle of the week but Aoi folded her arms.

   “Good.” Aoi nodded. 

   She mentally ticked off the notebook in her head. Ding! That was one less thing to worry about. Her list - ingenious, foolproof, even - looked a little like this:

   Step 1. Ask Yusaku to meet up with them.

   Step 2. Exchange information on the Ignis.

   Step 3. Profit.

   Okay, they hadn’t really thought it through. A lot of step three depended on how well step two was going to go and Aoi was nervous for the worst of it. She had an awful gut feeling all day but Bohman didn’t believe in woman’s intuition - or human intuition for that matter.    And that was that.

   For now at least.

   After all, step one was complete.

   They had the rest of the week to deal with now and with yesterday under their belt, the whole rigmarole of school went much more smoothly for Aoi and Bohman. She’d made a promise. She wanted to help Bohman, so she made it a top priority to corner Yusaku so they could put the first phase of their plan in action.

   Now they just had to bide their time. 

   And so, outside of the whole keeping a sentient A.I. hidden from her brother, the guy who would probably hunt him for sport, and the other guy who would also hunt him for sport, it was all smooth sailing. Surprisingly. It was kind of easy. Her brother was rarely home. One of Bohman’s biggest enemies was stuck at sea to evade justice and the other, well, Yusaku had other things to worry about for now.

   It's just a shame that hiding Bohman was kind of boring…?

   They were building up a rapport. A certain new layer and level of respect between one another as former enemies and adversaries.

   Sure Aoi had things like homework and assignments to do but they were also very boring. So, when Thursday rolled around, after a humdrum Tuesday and Wednesday, with the big day tomorrow and an even bigger weekend to follow, she decided to pitch an idea to Bohman.

   “Hey tonight,” she said to him at her desk, putting down the pen which belonged to her tablet, “let’s watch a movie together.”

   Bohman had been watching. Aoi made it a point not to ask him for help. She wanted to be the master of her own destiny and so, that included doing her own homework even if she had the most powerful supercomputer in the world right next to her. He pushed his shoulders back and quirked a brow.

   “With me?” he asked, folding his arms.

   “Yes, with you.” Aoi said.

   She slumped over her desk and leaned over it, she kept her head propped up with her hand and elbow. She looked at Bohman.

   “Why?” Bohman asked.

   “‘Cause it’d be fun?” Aoi replied with an upturn in her voice.

   “But I know how every movie ends, all of the trivia, everything.” Bohman said. “I feel I would not be entertained, defeating the purpose of your species’ cinema.”

   “Okay, sure, you know how it ends but what about the feeling of watching it? Experiencing it for yourself?” Aoi asked.

   “Oh, um, I suppose that is not something I can reduce to data without living it…” Bohman replied, miffed to have been countered and now successfully roped into watching a movie.

   Given that it was Aoi’s idea, she got to pick the movie. So, she had fun picking an old favourite of hers which was collecting dust on the metaphorical shelf. No one owned DVDs anymore. She didn’t pay much mind to picking something she thought Bohman would enjoy. That would spoil part of her fun, she very rightly predicted that seeing him react with confusion at irrational love stories and the like would be quite amusing.

   Though Aoi would provide just as many enticing reactions for Bohman to dissect, also.

   She had chosen quite the iconic, girl depression comfort food movie for them both. It was based on a very old western novel and chronicled the relationships of a bunch of fussy people who wore very beautiful clothes. There was also a scene in which the male love interest was drenched to the bone in water whilst wearing a shirt which turned see-through.

   It also had another scene that Bohman found… odd.

   Girl lust was low-key terrifying for him and he could see Aoi goon in the corner over her literally sopping wet eye candy but this was different.

   Aoi was curled up on the far end of the lounge. This was the most daring they had been as a pair since their sudden reunion. Akira was at work and wouldn’t be home until the wee hours of the morning, when Aoi would be fast asleep but it was still odd to be in the living room as they were. Aoi had set down her Duel Disc on one end of the lounge and then herself on the other, covered in a blanket and the darkness.

   Except for the light that the television cast but this scene, its lighting was dimmed as Aoi’s attention was kept rapt. She chewed on her bottom lip, eyes shiny as she listened to the dialogue. Her heartstrings clearly tugged on but Bohman didn’t see the appeal.

   This was an apology.

   Admittedly an apology far better than the one he had offered the other night regarding his quasi body shaming faux pas, though. But it was still an apology.

   Aoi sucked in her breath and made a whinnying noise. She tried to hide it because it was embarrassing by hiding her face in her hands, pulling up her blanket some more but the effort to hide it just made it more obvious. Her eyes glimmered with tears, turning them bright and shiny in the dark.

   “That was my absolute favourite part.” she whispered at the end of the movie.

   The heroine and the love interest were kissing now as it faded to black. The credits rolled, too.

   Bohman grunted in acknowledgement of being spoken to.

   “What did you think?” Aoi asked as she turned her head.

   “It was… fine.” Bohman replied.

   “Ugh, really, just fine?” Aoi complained.

   Bohman turned his head and gave her a puzzled look. He genuinely didn’t know what to tell her, what she wanted to hear. She huffed discontentedly.

   “Did you at least like it?” Aoi asked.

   “I told you. It was just fine. It was filled with irrationality and etiquette that does nothing to advance proper communication. The face sucking-”

   “You mean the kissing?” Aoi interrupted him to laugh.

   “Yes, the kissing, it was also disturbing. I find it difficult to believe any pleasure can be derived from placing your tongue into another person’s mouth. Humans are hotbeds of disease and bacteria, I’m glad I’m not one.” Bohman said.

   For once, his disgust of humans came across more humorous than not. It made Aoi laugh.

   “Why did you enjoy it?” Bohman asked, hoping flipping the conversation back onto Aoi might save him some trouble.

   “Oh? Um, well, it's romantic. And full of pretty people. I think the way it explores that stifling social convention, the etiquette that stops people from saying what they truly mean, creates a lot of tension. So it means more when the guy apologises to the girl and then they kiss after. I like it.” Aoi rambled.

   Bohman hummed thoughtfully and his eyes glittered with something unnatural. 

   “I see.” he said after a pause. “Consulting cinematic databases, most movies in this genre of ‘romance’ feature that apology.”

   “Yeah, the grovel.” Aoi said. “It’s a power fantasy.”

   Bohman went quiet then repeated himself, “I see. Was my apology from earlier this week satisfactory?”

   Aoi laughed awkwardly, “Oh, don’t sweat it, it's fine.” she said. “Real life isn’t like the movies. You’re still thinking about it? Don’t worry about it.”

   She started to ramble and was somewhat taken aback by how reflective Bohman was. Maybe he was too introspective for his own good. Not that she could talk. She could depress herself in circles, going around and around with circular thoughts overthinking and overcomplicating things.

   Aoi stole a glance at Bohman. His expression was, well, contemplative. He stared at the credits intently so Aoi reached for the remote. She turned off the television.

   “It’s bedtime for me.” she said.

   “Of course. Good night, Aoi.” Bohman said.

   “Good night, Bohman.” Aoi returned his platitude. “We have a big day tomorrow.”

   “We do.” Bohman agreed. “I wish you a restorative sleep.

   “Thank you.” Aou mumbled.

   She got up and took her blanket with her. She held it close as a strange feeling began to bubble and toil within her. She felt oddly flattered that the misunderstanding that had had the other night weighed so heavily on Bohman. Aoi could laugh about it now but it did worry her.

   What else was Bohman holding onto if he was dissatisfied with the resolution of an embarrassing moment? That made them oddly alike. Aoi still agonised over silly, stupid moments from as recently as last month to years and years ago.

   More and more, Bohman humanised himself in front of Aoi.

   His rage. His grief. His embarrassment. His joy. It all coalesced and made Aoi turn more than just fond for him. She wondered what tomorrow would bring as she settled into bed with the hope that… tomorrow wouldn’t be goodbye.

   That’s right.

   That it wouldn’t be. It probably would be but she didn’t want it to be. She had finally gotten to know Bohman and she didn’t want him to slip through her hands again because he deserved so much more.

   He deserved to know what it was like to be lov-

   Aoi stopped herself there as she came face to face with the realisation that she had a crush. It would be presumptuous to call it anything more. Surely. 

   Aoi slept uneasily that night and did her best not to show it the next day. Bohman had big expectations of how things would pan out and Aoi didn’t want to muddle them by becoming attached to him so she did her best to show restraint. Expect the worst, hope for the best. That sort of thing.

   And so, after a long day of school, Aoi met with Yusaku on the roof. It seemed like a good setting to have a private word with another. Unlike earlier this week, the skies were clear and blue, as far as the eye could see until the skyline got cluttered with skyscrapers and billboards. So not that far. Over the horizon anyway, up? It just got bluer and bluer. 

   Surprisingly, just like their prospects.

  “So, what did you want to talk about?” Yusaku asked, he held onto the strap of his bag and remained close to the exit. Just in case he had to bail, Aoi would deduce. Though his demeanour was cool and smooth.

   “I don’t know how to put this so I think it's best if I just show you.” Aoi replied.

   This was the part she had been worried about. She really didn’t know how Yusaku was going to react but poorly felt like a good bet to make. She began to raise her hand, bent at the wrist so her Duel Disc could poke forward from under her sleeve and that gave Yusaku everything he needed to know. 

   Aoi could feel the air freeze between them. Yusaku drew in all the tension in the air and held it. Solidified it. It all but winded Aoi as she allowed Bohman to introduce himself.

   First as an eyeball. The yellow and red colouration was fiery.

   Then as himself. Albeit tiny. He rose out of Aoi’s Duel Disc making a rather majestic entrance despite the limited capacity of him at that size and connected to the technology Aoi wore on her wrist.

  “Salutations.” Bohman said, nodding.  “It has been too long, Playmaker.”

   “Likewise.” Yusaku replied. He chewed on the vowels of the singular word hard but thoughtfully.

   His expression was hard for Aoi to fully decipher but she felt confident in some guesses. Disgusted, confused, outraged, maybe more. She had gone through that exact wringer herself about a week ago now but it would be more difficult for Yusaku. He had dealt the final blow to Bohman and their relationship up to that point had been quite entwined, too. The complication between all three of them was thick and impalpable.

   “Let’s just rip the bandaid off,” Aoi said, “through unknown circumstances, Bohman is back and whilst investigating the who, what, when, and why of it, Bohman found something.”

   “Correct. I found the remaining Ignis.” Bohman said.

   Yusaku’s eyes went wide, the frenzy in the flecks of green stood out somehow with barely hinged rapture, “You what?” he exclaimed.

   At this cue, Ai had to get involved. He leapt out of Yusaku’s Duel Disc, stretching around like taffy. He barked and yapped, wanting answers as he produced sobbing tears of overwhelmed grief. He clipped into the Ignis Language and it grated on the ears of the humans - and tugged on Aoi’s heartstrings.

   “I’ve seen them - and trust me. You don’t want to.” Aoi quickly added.

   There was a pause as Yusaku corralled Ai. He placed his hand over the top of Ai’s head.

   “For your cooperation, I will release them but only if I get the answers I am looking for.” Bohman negotiated, grandeur dripped off him despite being doll-sized when he was waist deep in Aoi’s Duel Disc. “I want to know why I am here and where Haru is?”

   “I recall the pair of you walking off together, into the rockslide.” Yusaku said. “I thought it was a trick of my eyes.”

   “It must have been.” Bohman agreed. Lamented, really.

   “But…” Yusaku said and he lifted his hand off the top of Ai’s head. Ai’s expression changed as he folded his arms, his eyes furrowed as he snickered to himself. “This does confirm what I was afraid of.”

   “Pardon?” Aoi prompted.

   “I told you.” Yusaku said coldly. “My “computer-y project” as you put it hadn’t had any luck. However, the unintended consequences of it have produced what you are after Bohman. Searching for the remaining Ignis, I found Haru’s remains and yes, I have them in a safe place.”

   “Nyeh, take that.” Ai piped up. “Now, give me my friends back.” He made fanciful gestures, flailing his arms around in a way meant to give the appearance he knew kung-fu or karate.

   “Well, Bohman, once more I believe it is our fate to Duel. There is something I want to know before I release Haru back to you and that is: do you belong alongside humankind with the rest of the Ignis?” Yusaku asked.

   Aoi’s heart leapt to her throat. 

   That was the succinctness of the matter, wasn’t it? She had been pondering that herself now, too. She worried what would happen if Yusaku won and Bohman did not prove himself as a peaceful entity… Her knees knocked.

   “I accept your duel.” Bohman said, giving Yusaku no indication of what he had experienced the past couple days.

   The bewilderment of having no purpose, being reborn into a world which did not want you nor expect you. The agony of losing his brother. The embarrassment of a social faux pas. Watching a movie and connecting with fantasy. The friendship he had kindled with her, his previous adversary, Aoi felt sick to her stomach.

   As far as she was concerned, she realised now, Bohman was human to her. Fully and utterly actualised human to her. Just not to Yusaku and based on Bohman’s grave expression, not even to himself.  She felt helpless to watch as the challenge was agreed upon and then acted through.

   “Into the VRAINS.” Yusaku said as he brandished his Duel Disc like the weapon it was attached to him.

   There was a flash and Aoi followed in hot pursuit of Yusaku as he changed into Playmaker, transforming through the cybernetic veil as they all entered the Link VRAINS. 

   The high school’s rooftop gave way to the hinterlands of the Link VRAINS. Where else but nowhere for the likes of these heroes - and one villain - of the cyber world. The rocky out cliffs floated in the middle of endless, azure skies streaked with white clouds and cyan lighting.

   “Stand aside Blue Maiden.” Bohman said. “There is no need for you to get involved.”

   He pushed his hand out towards her, trying to brush her aside and yet it was oddly protective in manner. Playmaker watched this gesture carefully. Blue Maiden simpered. She was always being pushed aside and she did step back but she wanted to watch. She needed to watch. Her heart throbbed in her chest as she clasped her hands together.

   “I’m staying.” she said.

   “Fine by me.” Playmaker said.

   “Thank you, Blue Maiden.” Bohman told her.

   Blue Maiden smiled faintly. Hesitantly. She nodded and internalised her own role as a spectator. A judge. An adjudicator. A strange in-between where she was all those things and more and none of them, too. She was an unnecessary accessory to the duel which was just about to begin but then. Bohman spoke once more.

   “Playmaker, an olive branch, if you will.” Bohman said as he reached out his hand across the field. At his fingertips, a Data Storm began to whirl. “The ability to use Skills in a Master Duel.”

   Playmaker’s expression was unreadable.

   “We’ll take it!” Ai bounced up.

   “No, we won’t.” Playmaker said. “I only need my own skill. Not a cheat, not a hack.”

   “Aww…” Ai deflated.

   “I understand.” Bohman replied as he rescinded both his hand and his offer.

   Blue Maiden hummed to herself. She would admit, she would have taken the offer. Though, she wasn’t sure if her Blue Maiden skill would be all that helpful if she had to stare either of them down but if there was one thing about Playmaker, it was how committed it was to his ideals.

   And yes, they were ideals.

   The duel commenced shortly after.

   It was a clash of wills, the culmination of history turning into a brand new future to become an inevitable present.

   Playmaker wanted the Ignis back. Bohman wanted his brother back. Neither would back down from the equality that they all wanted to live but who deserved it? Who would ruin it?

   Blue Maiden chewed her bottom lip as she tried to slink away from all the hard and difficult questions that these two foes locked in battle posed. They took to either side of the field and finally, at long last, it began. A die was rolled, a coin was flipped, Playmaker would go first and Bohman would go second.

   The back and forth that ensued was brutal. And that was just the playing of cards. How they were flicked and slashed through, summoned and sacrificed, made fodder for a no holds barred beatdown.

   Then there was the conversation, too.

   “Have you changed, Bohman?” Playmaker asked, snarling. “Are you capable of change?”

   Bohman was silent.

   “Can I trust you?” Playmaker asked.

   Bohman was silent and as was Blue Maiden. She didn’t have these answers, either, but had wanted to see the two brothers reunited, nonetheless. And she wanted to see Aqua, again, of course, and more. Her stomach churned with anxiety as Playmaker threw himself into this duel.

  He needed to know that everything he had worked towards with Ai was going to continue. That his custodianship over the Ignis would be his legacy. This urge propelled him forward as he overwhelmed Bohman.

   Not something that they had seen in their prior duels. A curbstomp wherein the boot was worn by Playmaker. Even so, Bohman was stalwart. Even in the face of a defeat which loomed.

   It was his turn again. His field was in shambles. His next draw may very well be his last so it had better be a good one but there was still one more move that he could uniquely make.

   “I invoke… Storm Access!” Bohman said.

   His back was against the wall and thus, his arm shot up. His expression was stern, however, not desperate as he pinned his hopes on what would be drawn forth from within the indigo tempest of the Data Storm. At his command, it whirled and roared, spun and raged until… until… until… it petered out.

   The storm passed and at the eye of it: with a blink, it dissipated but Bohman had a new card. A Link Monster. With Six Link Ratings. Or so both Blue Maiden and Playmaker were able to notice from afar as Bohman brandished it, his soul stopped with the hope that he would not fall off the cliff of failure.

   His duel had been suspiciously free of random number generation manipulation so far so there was a chance, this card had not been consciously called forth or otherwise created to counter this specific incident.

   Bohman slowly lowered his arm and for the first time, he saw the card and he named it.

   “Perfectatron Hydradrive Angel…” Bohman murmured.

   Blue Maiden gasped, her heart skipped a beat. No, it wasn’t possible, it couldn’t be possible, right?

   “Thank you.” Bohman said and he brought this card close to his chest. “You will do superbly.”

   It was. Apparently.

   And so Bohman began his counter attack.

   He went above and beyond with what tools that he had, what cards he had at his disposal. Blue Maiden watched with bated breath, in prayer, her hands clasped, that Bohman would…

   Win.

   She felt guilty wanting Bohman to win but seeing that card, knowing what it represented, she felt her heart began to wander. She wanted the best of all worlds, of all outcomes but she knew well this was a game of pure division: win and lose, victory and failure. There was no way to both sides this as she gasped.

   Her eyes widened. Her ears pricked up. Even Playmaker was in awe from across the arena.

   “The angel who oversees humanity: I beseech thee, I require your power of hopes and dreams. An emissary of perfection and a divine entity who believes in the future: Link Six, Perfectatron Hydradrive Angel!”

   His voice boomed through the arena as his Link Markers lit up. He sacrificed what he needed to from his field and he did it. Bohman did it. He had brought forth Perfectatron Hydradrive Angel.

   It - no, she - was beautiful. A Medusa-like figure with hair akin to the smaller Hydradrive wyrms which featured soft, rounded wings as well as a tail more fish-like than snake-like. A colour scheme of monochromatic, steely blue save for the pink teardrop on her cheek. Her hands clasped in prayer and her head tilted forward to meet them once her summoning animation finished. 

   Playmaker smirked, “What a good-looking monster. It suits you.” A taunt which wasn’t a taunt at all, an honest observation merely made fanged by the way in which Playmaker and Bohman were ever so oppositional.

   He genuinely looked forward to Bohman’s counterattack. Just what effects did this angelic being disguised? Would they be enough to win the duel?

   Bohman’s convictions which followed appeared to follow through that his literal Hail Mary would be the figurehead of his victory. 

   Perfectatron Hydradrive Angel tried and tried again, under Bohman’s warlord-like command. Together, they were in ultimate synchronicity. She weaved through the battlefield like an avenging angel but the courage that she encapsulated was cut in two by Accesscode Talker for game.

   Accesscode, of course, being the blood, sweat, and tears that Playmaker embodied turned into a glittering ideal of connection. It was hard but it was inevitable. 

   Playmaker had done it. He had done it before Bohman, even. He had pierced through the veil of death and brought back his most important partner. Heck, he had such a person close to him. Multiples, now, if you could imagine such a thing. 

   Ai, Kusanagi, Ryoken, Takeru, and even Aoi. More, too. 

   Who did Bohman have? Haru? Who waited in the clutches of Playmaker to be rescued. They still didn’t even know why Bohman had reincarnated at all through Aoi’s Duel Disc.

   Playmaker thrust out his hand and his chest grew in volume as he readied his final command: Accesscode, go straight for the throat, for Bohman. His eyes were viscous and Blue Maiden could not bear it.

   Yet Bohman was ever stoic. He held his Duel Disc at the ready as he watched Perfectatron Hydradrive Angel disintegrate before his eyes. Slowly but surely, a beautiful farewell of glittering, silver data.

   Blue Maiden couldn’t help but feel Bohman’s imminent loss as much as him. Maybe even more so. After all, her avatar - in the literal sense of the word, not the digital one - had been the coalescing of all his hopes for victory and it had failed him. It was a pertinent story. She, herself, had done her best time and time again but she was more an emissary of defeat than an angel of victory, it seemed.

   “You can stop.” Blue Maiden said, standing up for herself and Bohman.

   She stepped onto the field - though it was dangerous to do so. She didn’t care, however. She needed to be by Bohman’s side and to stop the piercing onslaught that Playmaker wielded so precisely that it became a baneful slaughter. But she would not allow him to wreak that havoc.

   Blue Maiden extended her arms out to Bohman and Bohman blinked in surprise. She gave a gesture with her fingers, flicking them, coaxing him closer.

   “You have done extraordinarily well.” she praised him, eyes tearing up. “Trust me. I would know.”

   “Thank you, Blue Maiden.” Bohman replied but he didn’t accept her invitation to embrace.

   Though he may not have realised that is what it was. Playmaker didn’t either, not until Ai shrieked like a fangirl at the movies, anyway.

   Blue Maiden hugged Bohman in front of her. He dwarfed her physically but her love dwarfed him. But down her back, she shivered. She could still the feel the final assault that Playmaker had on Bohman’s remaining monsters and life points. It was intense. Ferocious. Every bit deserving but she felt that as adjudicator of his duel, she could judge that it was not necessary.

   She turned her head and grit her teeth. Out of the corner of her eye, she stared Playmaker down as he was mid-command over his monsters.

   “Bohman has conceded, you can quit your showboating.” Blue Maiden snapped.

   “I have.” Bohman said, graciously bowing his head. “I formally concede. You have won, Playmaker.” He wrapped his arms around Blue Maiden.

   Their heads brushed up against one another. It was the most movie perfect hug ever done by two people who were not known to be physically affectionate - and in Bohman’s case, the first and only hug he had ever performed. Thus, it was very awkward and painful to watch but Playmaker didn’t mind being an audience to.

   Blue Maiden had successfully stopped Playmaker, stopped his voice and quelled the fury that he had allowed himself too much of. He took a breath and it was apparent he was not pleased with the person that he had become just now.

   “I accept your surrender as an official loss.” Playmaker said.

  “I recognise there was no surrender in your past. Only win or lose. Miyu told me that.” Blue Maiden added.

   “Thank you, Blue Maiden.” Playmaker sighed.

   The Monsters disappeared from either side and Playmaker crossed the field. Given that Blue Maiden and Bohman were already congregating, it seemed only natural that he would meet with them. Not expect that they would come to him. His stride was more normal now. He was letting go of his anger.

   Thus, Playmaker smiled warmly as he watched the outcome of Blue Maiden’s interruption. His eyes fluttered close and he tried to hide that he had ever smiled at all but it was obvious. There was a discrete glow to his expression as he opened his eyes and glanced to Ai, holding him high and dear to his face.

   “Oh… Don’t be cute now.” Ai grumbled, folding his arms and pouting. “Not after everything you put us through.” 

   “I think it's all water under the bridge now.” Playmaker said with a hefty exhale of his breath. He meant it. He wanted to mean it and more.

   Blue Maiden’s spirits soared and was helpless but to smile wide as she let go of Bohman, “Thank you for understanding. For believing.”

   “I only believe in things I can see with my own two eyes.” Playmaker said and then deepened his voice so it boomed across to the duel field to address Bohman, “Alright, let’s exchange data.”

   Thus, from across the duel field and across from ideologies, Playmaker and Bohman met halfway. Blue Maiden followed along, too, and was somewhat chuffed to see them meet eye to eye. Toe to toe even as they got up nice and close for the exchange.

   The wind blew and seemed to have entire conversations with just their eyes. Blue Maiden wasn’t privy to them but the respect they had for one another had fully solidified and so flowed off of them as they not just matched each other’s movements but mirrored them.

   In total synchronicity, Playmaker and Bohman lifted their hands. Playmaker lifted his right hand and Bohman his left. Ai kept hidden within Playmaker’s Duel Disc but he bucked up what he had been holding onto for dear life the entire time: Haru’s data. In that mirror reflection, Bohman revealed the palm of his hand and the sparkle of his own Duel Disc lit up in the five colours of the dead Ignis.

   Blue Maiden smiled, sincerity sparkled in the dewdrop of the tear she was about to shed. She orbited closer to Bohman than to Playmaker, however. Even though she was on the precipice of seeing Aqua again, she wanted to share in the bittersweet joy of having Bohman reunite with his precious brother. That meant a lot to her as a little sibling herself.

   “Welcome back, Haru.” Bohman said as he delicately handled Haru’s remains. The data was sparkly and yellow, within the fragments he saw snatches of Haru’s memories.

   His duel with Aoi. How he poked and prodded Kusanagi Jin out of curiosity and boredom. Their own moments of serenity, too, in Lightning’s palace.

   Blue Maiden placed her hand on Bohman’s upper arm and gave him half a squeeze from the side. It was a hug but Bohman didn’t really do hugs so he was startled by her contact but glancing down at her, with the fondness that radiated off her as she smiled, he returned that kindness. He nodded at her.

   “I could not have done this without our alliance.” Bohman thanked her. “You could have made things more difficult but you chose grace over grudge. Thank you.”

   “You're welcome.” Blue Maiden said and she let go of Bohman. She stepped aside, too.

   Bohman lifted his head and did not meet Playmaker’s gaze. Understandably, he and Ai were having their own reunion, too.

   Playmaker who was famously private and did his best to seem invulnerable, because weakness was punished, opened up. Just a little, just enough to convey how cathartic and satisfied it was that the Ignis he had worked so hard to protect were in his hands.

   Safe at last.

   He wasn’t crying but he wasn’t dry-eyed either. He and Ai, they spoke softly amongst themselves. Ai, meanwhile, was actually bawling as he held onto what he could of the intangible data of his kin.

   “We shouldn’t stare.” Blue Maiden whispered to Bohman but she felt somewhat the same way.

   She couldn’t wait to have Aqua in her hands, too, by her side and, more importantly, by Miyu’s. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be a victim of the Incident and an Origin of the Ignis…

   “Ah, of course.” Bohman replied, blinking. He hadn’t even realised he was staring.

   Blue Maiden glanced at him as he turned his head. There was an indescribable flicker of emotion across his face. Indescribable, yes, but Blue Maiden had a guess: envy. Or a yearning to have the same, to be cherished by a human, irrefutable proof that through emotions and connection, peace was possible.

   Still, out of the corner of their eye, they watched as Ai reached up and hugged Playmaker. His arms wrapped around him as his body bent and flowed, stretching like taffy from the throne he had made of Playmaker’s Duel Disc. He nuzzled against Playmaker’s damp face and he exhaled audibly. He was ready to move forward, onto the proper reunion as it were. Not just the repatriation of the Ignis’ remains. Ai understood that instinctually and after three seconds retreated all affection unto Playmaker.

   Upon the conclusion of that embrace between Ignis and Origin, Playmaker’s expression hardened as he met Bohman’s gaze. He spoke up again.

   “It’ll require some help but I can forward Blue Maiden the instructions. She should have the hardware you will need to give him a semi-physical form again, it doesn’t take too much tinkering. I imagine it is the same process as bringing Ai back as Haru is an Ignis, too, but if it’s not, please, reach out and we can cooperate to find a better way to bring him back.” Playmaker said. He took a breath then added, “If you ever need a SOLtiS body compatible with Ignis code, Ai has plenty he doesn’t need. It could be useful.”

   “I appreciate your olive branch also, Playmaker.” Bohman said. “Thank you.” He bowed his head.

   Playmaker did the same. Ai, too. They both held onto the sparkling spectrum of the Ignis and Blue Maiden felt her heart swell. The hostage exchange was complete but something else was, too. She wanted to believe it was the hostility between humanity and the Ignis. Finally, they had something in common.

   Grief. Love. Companionship. She was certain that would be the bridge to a happier future.

   “We will take our leave now. We have much to do ourselves.” Playmaker said.

   “When we see each other again then.” Bohman replied.

   “Yes, we’ll be seeing you.” Blue Maiden piped up. “See you later.”

   “Bye, bye!” Ai chimed in.

   He waved goodbye exuberantly from Playmaker’s Duel Disc as Playmaker logged them out. They disappeared in the slow blink of an eye, a muted flash of blue and white data then nothingness. Now it was Blue Maiden and Bohman alone on the rocky platform of the Link VRAINS’ hinterland.

   With Haru, of course, though only in spirit.

   But with everything which had happened - the duel, the winners and the losers, the exchange - there was much to say. Blue Maiden could feel it. Her chest was heavy with an overabundance of words she wanted spoken and feelings freed. It was much the same for Bohman it seemed as he turned towards Blue Maiden.

   He stored Haru for safekeeping within the depths of his Duel Disc. the yellow data dissipated in reverse as he moved it over the convex glass of it and then he readied himself. He pushed his shoulders back and he stared deep into Blue Maiden’s eyes.

   It intimidated her.

   Yet it was an intimidation tinged with trepidation. She could handle it. 

   “Thank you, Bl-Blue Maiden,” Bohman’s voice cracked as he took her hand, he shook his head and as his eyes watered, he corrected himself, “no, Aoi, for reuniting with me with my little brother.”

   “I, um, barely helped.” Blue Maiden squeaked.

   “No, you did your best. You taught me much about the world. The real world.” Bohman said. “You showed me kindness, humour, forgiveness, and more. Now this, how could I ever repay you?”

   “Pl-Please, don’t, it's… it's hard to hear.” Blue Maiden modestly replied.

   “I mean it. From the very bottom of my heart, one I did not know existed until you showed me.” Bohman said. “I have learned so much about humans, about humanity. Your humanity and… even mine. I might be hasty but I believe I love you, Aoi.”

   Blue Maiden - no, Bohman was right, this was Aoi - felt her heart tremble in her chest. She was moved incredibly by Bohman’s words. They were kind and warm-hearted yet overwhelming. His hands squeezed her own.

   “I want to exist more in the real world. I want to experience more and I hope you would allow me to experience that world alongside you.” Bohman said. “If you would have me, and, of course, Haru also.”

   Bohman came down to his knees in front of her.

   He was so tall and large yet he made himself small at Blue Maiden’s foot. He bowed his head to her, the crown of him reaching to about her midsection. His hands trembled in his, his vulnerability empathetic. 

   Bohman reached down and he kissed her hands. He sprinkled kisses along her knuckles as he begged.

   “I apologise, Aoi, for everything.” Bohman said.

   The likeness struck Blue Maiden almost momentarily as she savoured Bohman’s everything. His demeanour, his tone of voice, how his lips felt on her skin. His genuine tone was like music to her ears but the softness of him was akin to divinity.

   But then she realised and she had to suppress a laugh. It was just like that scene in her favourite movie. He was performing the grovel that he had seen in the film. 

   “I forgive you, Bohman, of course I do.” Blue Maiden replied, teary. “I… I think I have a crush on you, too.” 

   Bohman glanced up at her, thunderstruck by the admission. The disbelief glittered in his yellow and orange eyes, as though he couldn’t believe his ears but when Blue Maiden reached out and squeezed his hands in return for his own affection. That’s when he knew. It was real and it was true.

   “Thank you, Aoi.” Bohman said.

   Blue Maiden firmly grasped his hand but her attempt was made feeble. After all, Bohman was larger than her and that visual musculature did translate into actual weight but her gesture conveyed her heart, nonetheless.

   At his full height, Bohman spoke again, “I want to revive Haru and have you both meet on better terms. That would mean a lot to me.”

   “I want you to meet Aqua in much the same way,” Blue Maiden told him, “and my older brother, Akira, too.”

   “I’d like that very much.” Bohman replied. “So, let’s bring him back, yes?”

   “Yes, yes, of course. Let’s do it, straight away.” Blue Maiden agreed, her excitement quickened the sound of her voice.

   Bohman nodded and together, they logged out.

   The motion of it knocked Bohman around, however. He had almost forgotten he was more restricted in the ‘real’ world as he found himself in Aoi’s Duel Disc again. She unclipped it from her wrist and placed it on her desk.

   She got off her sofa so she could walk off her own dizziness of the log-out too, as well as that aforementioned excitement. She did little laps of her room whilst Bohman got organised.

   He could hardly contain himself as trepidation caused his fingers to tremble as he produced Haru’s data. With a wry smile, he thought to himself: he hoped there was enough room in Aoi’s Duel Disc for two but then he recalled Playmaker’s offer. However, in the meantime, he was careful as he threaded the rest of Playmaker’s instructions with Haru’s data.

   It was nerve wracking business. Aoi couldn’t watch except out of the corner of her eye. It was all very arcane to her knowledge. Slow and difficult, it had to be done right but Bohman persevered.

   At the end of it, he announced in a clear voice: “I’m ready.” 

   Aoi felt her spirits soar as her shoulders lifted. She came to a standstill and turned around tightly so she could hang by her desk. She knelt on her lounge and held onto the edge of her desk for leverage as Bohman centred himself. Calmed himself and then.

   It was just like before, with him. Aoi’s Duel Disc lit up in a way it hadn’t before and then voila. There was a blinding white light that erupted, it filled the whole of the room before dissipating from the outwards in, the data disappearing like embers cast out from a fire until at the centre of it was Haru.

   Though between him and Bohman, there wasn’t much room. Luckily they were brothers and they had missed each other so much.

   Waist deep in the glass, Haru was astonished to be there at all. Bohman’s hand quaked and a tear glimmered in his eye as he placed his hand atop of Haru’s shoulder, they stood together in a single file line. Haru jumped out of his skin and looked around in disbelief, bending every which way as he tried to understand. Questions and astoundment clogged his mouth as Bohman turned him around.

   Then hugged him.

   A simple, quiet hug.

   Aoi turned her head but Bohman clicked his tongue, getting her attention.

   “Thank you,” he said, “thank you, Aoi, for reuniting me with my brother.”

   Bohman began to sob. Grief, relief, gratitude. It all welled up in him and had nowhere else to go but out in the form of teardrops to be cried. His chin pruned and his cheeks dampened and he didn’t let Haru go.

   Haru smiled sadly and hugged Bohman back, “I’ve missed you, too, big brother.” He patted Bohman on the forearm, as far up as he could reach.

   Together, the two brothers savoured the moment for as long as they could. Being dead felt like an eternity, not knowing if the other could be found and brought back even longer even if it had been just a week.

   Aoi watched, innocently, and her heart pounded. She tried to calm it but the urge to speak and break the silence was too much. She had her own piece that she needed to say.

   “It’s, um, good to see you again, Haru.” she piped up.

   Bohman and Haru’s ears pricked on her voice and they rescinded their embrace of one another. They awkwardly shuffled around in what little room they had in her Duel Disc.

   “It is good to see you again, Blue Maiden.” Haru said and there was a shine to the smirk that followed. “I made the right choice entrusting myself and my brother to you.”

   Aoi’s eyes widened and Bohman reacted much the same.

   “What do you mean, little brother?” Bohman asked.

   “I… I couldn’t help myself.” Haru began to guiltily explain. “I wanted to live. I didn’t want to die by Lightning’s orders. I’m sorry and… and I wanted to live with you, Bohman. I wanted us to be brothers. Alive and well. So, um, when I lost to Blue Maiden in our duel, I secreted away copies of our back-up data.”

   “Oh, Haru…” Aoi murmured, eyes watering.

   “You were a good opponent, Blue Maiden. I was impressed and even went easy on you.” Haru couldn’t help but tease, to ease off the sincerity that he otherwise emanated.

   “Hey. I won fair and square.” Aoi pouted.

   Haru laughed, “I know. You did.”

   It pleased Bohman to see Aoi and Haru get along, bickering as it may be. There was a fondness to it which endeared him greatly.

   “I see.” he said. “Thank you. Please do not beat yourself up for being selfish like that.”

   “Thanks, Bohman.” Haru mumbled.

   Bohman looked out toward Aoi again, “I… have been too harsh on you regarding the matter of my brother, I see now.”

   “You were grieving, you didn’t have all the information, anyone would lash out.” Aoi shrugged. “But thank you.”

   “I appreciate it.” Bohman said. 

   Aoi smiled demurely, all but glowing at Bohman’s words and how pleased she was with them. 

   Haru, meanwhile, rolled his eyes and got the sense that a lot had happened between them in his absence and so, was doing his little brother duty to be grossed out by it on principle. Some things never changed. Human or A.I. in that regard. There was clearly something about goo-goo eyes…

   “I, um, hope we all get along. You and me, you and Haru, both of you and Akira.” Aoi added generously.

   Though the undercurrent spiked at the mention of Akira. Interpersonality of the micro level was all well and good but there were forces at play larger than themselves. Aoi could well wish all she wanted because there was no telling how things might turn out but both Bohman and Haru wanted to believe it was for the better.

   None of them knew if second chances could work out if given. The future was not set in stone like they had once believed per Lightning’s writ of it. Aoi was proof of that, their own resurrection was proof of that but they all wanted to try to make it work so that humanity and artificial intelligence could live in harmony.