Disclaimer: I don’t own Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s.
Yusei clutched his pillow and suppressed the urge to growl. He had been in The Facility for a few months and his sentence was almost over. He would soon be free and human as well; unlike some of his inmates. The Facility had many layers to it; some were simple criminal inmates, other were inmate who committed minor offenses, and others still were a mix of the first two and being used as genetic experiments. Yusei was part of that third group only he had been framed for a crime he didn’t commit; the evidence presented was fake but was convincing nonetheless. He was given four months in The Facility and was processed in the Genetic Ward. He had been examined before being marked and injected with a mystery solution. He was then placed in a cell with a muscular man with teal hair.
“Hey, kid. Name’s Tanner. Bolt Tanner.” He had held out a hand.
He had looked at the hand before taking it. “I’m Yusei.”
“So,” Tanner had said as he laid out on the bed. “What did you do to end up in this place?”
“Nothing. I was framed.”
“Oh? What were you framed for?”
“I was getting my motorcycle out of impound. I got it out legally but I didn’t receive a receipt for the release and cameras showed me leaving with it. The man I paid for my ride claims there was no record of my paying for it.” A low growl had ended his explanation.
Tanner’s eyes had widened as he sat up. “Oh, boy. Yusei, you’re already exhibiting the signs.”
“Signs?”
“We’re in the Genetic Ward for a reason. Everyone here gets a mark like the rest of The Facility but we get a solution that will transform us into an animal, based on our circumstances and temperament.”
“An animal!? That’s…that’s sick!”
“Shh,” Tanner had said. “Not so loud. Yeah, it’s sick, but it’s true. I didn’t want to believe it, but then one day I saw an inmate I knew well pass by and he had become mostly a horse. He was essentially a horse on its hind legs. He paused at my door when he went to all fours and…whinnied like a horse.”
“God,” Yusei had whispered. “What about you?”
Tanner had sighed. “I believe I’m becoming a bull. I’m stronger and more muscular than when I first came here.”
“And me?” Yusei had asked, almost afraid of the answer.
“Too soon to tell. Your growl was animal-like, but lots of animals growl.”
“So, I’ll be an animal and be led out of here.”
“There’s a chance to leave here human. One only needs to resist the solution during their time here and possibly the rest of their lives.”
“I have to resist for at least four months.”
“That’s it. As long as you suppress the urges from the solution, you’ll be human when released.”
“But still marked,” Yusei had run his fingers over the line on his cheek.
“Yeah, but it’s better than being unmarked and trapped in animal form.”
“The mark disappears when someone completely changes?”
“Yup. The inmate who became a horse probably got sold to a ranch or stable. I might be sold to a rodeo for bull-riding or even simply released into the wild. Either one sounds fine. You see, Yusei, while I’ll be bull in form and instinct, I’ll still retain my human mind.”
“Why a bull?”
“Probably because I was already strong and stubborn like a bull.”
That had been three months ago. Tanner couldn’t fight the solution and he was eventually led away as a complete bull. Yusei received a new inmate named Alex who fretted about his fate.
“Resist the solution, Alex. I’ve been here a month and aside from one growl, I’m all human. I’m Yusei, by the way.”
“Really? I could do that?”
Yusei had nodded. “It’s not easy. I feel anger over being here unfairly and fight back against the solution.”
“Yeah. I can resist. Thanks for the advice, Yusei.”
Thus, two months had passed with both boys showing little to no signs of their changes. The guards were astonished that they were still human while their fellow inmates were in a hybrid state or nearly all animal. Yusei and Alex had laid in bed at night, listening to the sounds of the others before falling asleep. The guards had started presenting the boys with meals that were more appropriate to their animal solution, though Yusei’s was still a mystery. Yusei’s meals were mostly meat with some vegetables while Alex’s had more fiber, almost hay-like. Both had stared at their trays.
“They expect us to eat this?” Yusei had asked, incredulously.
Alex had put a forkful of his food in his mouth, chewed, swallowed, and said, “Not bad.”
Yusei had stared. “Alex, don’t eat it. It’ll make you more accepting of your change. I’m sure that’s their plan.”
“Yusei, we should have completed our changes a month after arriving at the earliest. I feel the effects of the solution and I can’t fight it. It’s too strong for me to fight.”
“No! Fight it, Alex!” Yusei had felt anger and rage bubbling up inside him. He had pushed it down. He would not give in!
Alex had swallowed another bit, put the tray down, and turned around. “I can’t fight it. It’s already started.” He had pulled his pants down to reveal a black horse’s tail beginning to grow.
Yusei couldn’t believe it as Alex pulled up his pants again. His friend had concealed that he had given in. He had felt anger rise again and pushed it down once more. He had been feeling angry over the past two months: The injustice of being convicted, the sentencing, being placed in this ward, and being expected to become an animal. It had been getting harder to resist his anger. He had stalked over to his tray and began to eat.
Hmm, meal’s a bit meat-heavy. It hints that my solution is a carnivore. Alex is becoming a horse which is why there’s hay mixed in with his food. He had licked his lips as he looked at his food. I feel angry a lot and considering I’m innocent it’s natural to be upset, but I also feel an almost feral anger. So, I’m expected to become an angry carnivore.
Now that he had admitted that he was changing, Alex had allowed himself to change. He soon had a full black tail and a coat of coarse brown hair. His feet had become hooves and his ears had become those of a horse. Alex also exhibited the skittishness of a horse and seemed fearful of Yusei which had angered him.
“Alex, why are you acting afraid of me?” he had snapped.
“It’s-it’s what I sense,” he had answered. “I look at you and your food and I fear that you’ll turn on me, kill me, and eat me.”
“Eat you? You sense I would become an animal that eats horses?”
“Yeah and one animal that comes to mind is a wolf.”
“A wolf? I’m fighting against becoming a wolf?”
“Could be. You’re acting angry like a wolf and that scares me.”
Yusei had turned away from Alex, stunned by what his anger indicated. A wolf? No, I must not change. I’m just angry because I’m in this prison. Once I’m released, I won’t be angry.
Yusei had turned to meditation to keep the anger at bay, but did eat his meat-heavy meals. Alex continued his change to horse and eat his food that was now only hay, grass, and carrots.
Two weeks later, Alex was a horse on his hind legs and calling for the guards to take him away. They had appeared and as they opened the door, Alex looked at Yusei. “Bye, Yusei. I-,” Alex’s voice trailed off and a neigh had escaped. He fell onto his fore hooves and trotted out of the cell allowing the guards to put a bridle and rope on him. Once guard stopped to say to Yusei, “You’re a strong-willed one to have not given in. Well, in two weeks, you’ll be free to go.”
Free. The word had filled Yusei’s mind with joy, his anger pushed further down than his meditation could do. He also felt pride at being told of his strong will. I will keep from changing. My impending freedom makes me happy and as long as I focus on that, I won’t be angry.
Now here he was on his last night in The Facility and he was fighting the urge to growl and his anger was staring to surface again. He shut his eyes to block it out and thought of other things. Once I’m out, I’ll seek a new apartment in the building I was living at before getting sent here. Then, I’ll go to impound for my ride and make sure I get all the paperwork I need to retrieve it and prove I didn’t steal it.
It was mid-afternoon when Yusei’s release papers were processed. His cell door was opened and as he was escorted out of the ward, he was stunned to see that most of the inmates were at some stage of their change. A few were still human; clearly they had just arrived. He saw shock on the faces of changing people who could still express human emotions. He knew his still human form was the reason for the reactions.
Yusei took his first breath of free air and felt exhilarated. He smiled and felt his spirit soar: He was free! He swore he was never going back to The Facility; he had narrowly avoided the fate of those in the Genetic Ward and felt that if he ended up there again, he would succumb to the solution that was still inside him. I was angry because I was wrongly imprisoned and the solution was feeding on that and grew in strength. But now I’m out and keeping the anger away will be easy. Now, on to getting a new place as well as my ride.
&&&&
Yusei blinked in surprise at the landlord. “No vacancies?”
“That’s right. I’m sorry Mr. Fudo. I did take the liberty of putting your property in a storage facility.” She handed him a piece of paper with the information.
“Uh, thank you. I’ll pay you back and take over the rent.”
“Don’t worry about paying me back, dear. I know you weren’t stealing your motorcycle from impound and speaking of which, do be sure they don’t try to frame you again.”
“That’s something I don’t intend to let happen again.” Yusei smiled and nodded as he left the building. Once outside, he felt slight panic. He had hoped there would be an apartment for him to rent; no other landlord would allow him to rent due to his mark. He looked down at the paper before putting it in his wallet he had gotten back when he had been released. He might be able to use the storage unit as his home until he managed to secure an apartment. But, for now, he needed to obtain his ride.
&&&&
“A red motorcycle?” The clerk scanned the records, murmuring those three words as he searched. Yusei waited somewhat patiently. He had been imprisoned for four months and there were bound to be hundreds of impounded vehicles to sift through.
“Ah, yes. There it is. A red motorcycle owned by Yusei Fudo. Uh-huh, uh-huh.” He looked at the young man. “I’m sorry, Mr. Fudo. Your property is not here anymore.”
“What!? Where did it go?”
“It got crushed. It’s now just scrap.”
He felt anger build within him, but put a lid on it. “I see,” he said evenly. “Well, thanks anyway.” He left the center and had gone a few blocks before slipping into an alley and let out a howl of fury- an actual howl! They crushed my ride! My beautiful ride! He growled at the injustice of it all. He lost his home and his vehicle! His emotional control crumbled and he allowed his anger to flood through him.
A headlight suddenly lit up the alley, his building anger pushed down a bit. A familiar voice said, “Well, well. Look who’s out.”
Yusei turned to see Officer Trudge on his patrol cycle, his eyes leering at him. “Officer,” he said neutrally.
“Lurking in an alley, Yusei?”
“Not at all. I just found out my motorcycle got crushed.”
“Did you now?” Trudge laughed in a manner Yusei didn’t like. Yeah, I ordered that done a month ago.”
“You!?”
“I figured you’d try to steal it back again, so I had it destroyed. No motorcycle, no reason to break the law.” Trudge backed up and then drove away, laughing.
Trudge ordered its destruction!? How dare he! Yusei panted as fury pounded through him. He gave an animal-like growl and heard cloth tear. He looked back and saw a furry black tail sticking out of his pants! A furry black wolf tail!
The solution! It’s gotten too strong to fight anymore! I’m beginning to change and it seems Alex was right: I’m becoming a wolf. He heard his boots tear apart as his feet became paws with his heels going up to form hindquarters. He looked down to see claws extending beyond his paws. His pants split apart to reveal his lower body covered in black fur and already wolf-like. I’m changing faster than everyone else. Is it because I resisted for months and my increasing anger increased its potency? He looked up to see a full moon rising and its light was spilling into the alley. Well, that could be part of the reason too. Wolves are connected to the moon.
Yusei’s blue eyes changed to gold wolf eyes, giving his superior night vision. He felt his spine curve and he went to his hands and paws. His body was now completely covered in fur and the remainder of his clothes split apart as the change rushed over his front half. He watched as his nails considerably lengthened, hardened, and hooked into razor-sharp claws while his fingers shrank away and formed into paws, the claws extended like his back ones. The fur raced over his head, the hair transforming into fur and the yellow streaks turning black. His ears grew pointed and moved up to the top of his head. His nose and jaws bulged out into a muzzle of sharp teeth. The muscles of his body enlarged to give him a muscular look. Yusei was now a black wolf and he growled in a wolf’s voice before sniffing the air. He caught Trudge’s scent and the anger of his lost ride fed his desire for revenge. And in my new form, it will be easy. He lifted his nose and breathed deeply to firmly lock in on it. He padded out of the alley and allowed his new instincts to guide him to his target.
&&&&
Trudge rode into the run-down and seedy part of New Domino City. Everything seemed quiet and peaceful which was how Trudge liked it. He smirked as he recalled his latest encounter with Yusei. He truly hated the boy; he had no respect for the police and Trudge in particular. He certainly enjoyed giving the boy grief and having his motorcycle crushed was the ultimate grief. Perhaps now he’ll give me the respect I deserve.
A flash of something black showed in his side mirror for a second. He glanced back to see nothing. He shook his head. The night’s playing tricks on me, he thought, yet couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being followed. Another black flash occurred, this time in front of him. He stopped his cycle, got off it, and looked around. “Who’s there?” he called.
A growl echoed around him. He turned around and looked right and left. Nothing. He whirled around and froze. A wolf as dark as night stalked toward him, exposed claws clicking on the asphalt. His gold eyes bore into the man’s eyes and his sharp teeth were bared threateningly. Fear gripped Trudge as he stared at this clearly angry wolf. He saw large muscles beneath the fur and skin of the wolf’s slender frame giving it a lean and muscular look.
Is it…hunting me? Does it see me as…food? Maybe it won’t attack if I don’t move. He stood stock still as the wolf stalked closer. He stopped right in front of the officer, teeth still bared. It crouched down before leaping straight up and latching its jaws onto Trudge’s throat. Before Trudge could scream or react, the wolf ripped the throat away. Blood spurted from the gaping wound as Trudge fell backwards, dead.
Yusei snarled a laugh as his prey fell dead. His body knew how to move in order to kill. He felt immense satisfaction in killing the officer. He padded over to the face and growled down at it. I swore you would pay, Trudge. You paid with your life. He turned back to the body and he felt a desire to savage the body, not necessarily eat it. He decided to indulge. He slashed at it with his exposed claws, used his claws and teeth to rend and tear, and felt a euphoria at his actions. Once he was satisfied, he threw back his head and howled in triumph.
Now I understand why I constantly felt angry. I was injected with the DNA of an alpha wolf. Alphas are vicious, feral leaders of their packs. I’m a lone wolf Alpha, but that’s fine. My instincts urge me to be a vicious killer wolf and I can hardly deny it. I still have my human mind and reasoning, but I also have the instincts of an angry vicious killer wolf and I like it. Yusei stalked off into the night, ready to live forever as a killer wolf.
