On Ep145 summary spoiler…

[raidraptors]

How is this any surprise to you at all?

[Well, given how canon has been treating my favs…]

Don't get in my way. With them gone, all that's left is making him pay.

[Which "him" are we talking about though?]

Does it matter? They are both at fault!

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[darkduelist]

Shun, calm down.

[Or do you want to get a punched again.]

[raidraptors]

Like hell. You are gone. Ruri is gone, and for what?

[So that Sakaki Yuya can continue bumbling on in the Pendulum dimension, unaware of any of the sacrifices that enabled his return to life? So that Akaba Leo may live on for another idiot attempt to fuse the dimensions?]

This isn't what I – we – fought for!

[And he sure as hell isn't going to let it stand!]

[darkduelist]

You think I don't know that?

[He wanted Ruri to be happy, he fought so she could go back home safely, so she could smile again.]

But what happened is my fault, too.

[Just like Yuya and the other two, Yuto was also a part of Zarc.]

[raidraptors]

[Of course he is aware that Yuto knows – they had fought together for so long, how can he not.]

No, it wasn't. It's Akaba Leo's fault.

[If not for that man, if not for his goddamn Academia– This is why Shun is going to make him pay. This war is not over yet, not until there is one last person sealed for good.]

[darkduelist]

[Yuto can't quite forgive Akaba Leo, but...]

And beating him up will fix this? Will it bring Ruri back?

[...But violence will solve nothing. Haven't they learned that already?]

[raidraptors]

It'll make sure that this won't ever repeat itself.

[Though, at least to himself Shun admits that isn't why he's out to fight that damn bastard.]

[darkduelist]

[Yuto knows Shun too well, so he isn't convinced by that.]

Is that really it?

[He pauses for a moment or two.]

And then what? What are you planning to do once you'll make him pay?

[raidraptors]

What is this, twenty questions!? What does it matter to you anyway?

[It's not like Yuto is around to do anything like stop him after all. And well… hell even knows what he'll do once he's done with that damn bastard. He'll figure it out when he gets there.]

[darkduelist]

[He crosses his arms and looks away.]

You're my friend, my best friend. I don't want you to do something stupid. Not now, when Heartland is safe again.

[raidraptors]

[The expression on his face softens a little at those words.]

I'm not going to do anything stupid.

[At least not in his book. Going after Leo isn't stupid, it's self-preservation.]

[darkduelist]

[He gives him a concerned look. It's obvious he doubts it.]

Ruri wouldn't want you to beat people up, too.

[Does he even have the right to say that though? He's failed Ruri.]

[raidraptors]

Ruri would want to live to tell me.

[Bitter Shun is bitter and well. Trying that was a low blow, Yuto. He doesn't appreciate it.]

[darkduelist]

[He knows, but how is he supposed to change his friend's mind?]

She can be still saved, Shun.

[It's not too late.]

[raidraptors]

[He could leave things be as they are going… it's not like anyone undeserving is going to get hurt after all.]

…What?

[Guess who hasn't been given this particular memo.]

[darkduelist]

She can still be saved.

[He pauses before saying one more time, but more clearly:]

Yuya will save Ruri and the other girls.

[He doesn't doubt that.]

[raidraptors]

[Yuto may not doubt it… but Shun sure as hell does.]

Yea right.

[His words are steep with bitterness – what has trusting in Sakaki Yuya won them, truly? Yuya is the one other person aside of Akaba Leo responsible for Zarc's tantrum, for Ruri's disappearance. As if Shun can trust him with something so important as Ruri's rescue after that.]

[darkduelist]

...You don't trust me, Shun?

[Zarc wasn't Yuya's fault. Because if Yuya is to blame for what happened, then so is Yuto and the other two.]

[raidraptors]

I trust you. Trusting Yuya is a different matter all together.

[Don't try to tell him otherwise.]

[darkduelist]

[He pauses for a moment or two.]

But I trust him. I know everything will be okay this time.

[Zarc has been sealed, so there's nothing that could control Yuya anymore.]

But you still won't trust him, right? Are you planning to save Ruri on your own then?

[raidraptors]

I'll do what I can… and solve this the only way I know to.

[Which means dueling… with Yuto and Ruri both gone, that's all that's left after all.]

If Yuya can't deal with that, that's his problem.

[darkduelist]

Shun. Just don't lose hope, okay?

[And don't do anything stupid, but he leaves that unspoken.]

[raidraptors]

As if that'd ever been our style.

[No matter how bad things looked, Resistance had always held onto something… be it hope, be it anger, be it hate. Giving up is not in the cards, certainly not today.]

[soft_focus]

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmm...

[ a w k w a r d ]

[raidraptors]

It's not your fault.

[Shun may be mad as hell, but he still isn't going to blame an eight-years-old, no matter how involved he is. He's going to lay the blame exactly where it belongs – the people that started it all in first place.]

[soft_focus]

...We still made that choice though, to stop Zarc...

...What if there would have been a way for them to come back if we didn't?

[Hindsight is 20-20 when you're suddenly an infant, or something.]

[raidraptors]

There wouldn't be any need to stop Zarc if that goddamn– [brb swallowing down several inappropriate terms] –fool hadn't messed with the Dimensions in first place.

[Shun's sympathy for Akaba Leo's quest to regain his daughter: minus infinity.]

[soft_focus]

I guess. [He knows. ....But.]

...But Ray still loved him.

[raidraptors]

So what; Ray was gone and there were four lives in her place instead! Ruri had no business dying for her – she wanted to live!

[And don't try to tell him otherwise.]

[soft_focus]

Then why did they agree with Ray!

They were all there with me, ALL of them, when I fought..!

[Technically only Yuzu really said anything, but. Shh.]

[raidraptors]

[…You know what. Off with the kids gloves. Shun is too pissed to be argued with rationally.]

Don't lie to me, brat! If Ruri had agreed to this, she would have tried to save Yuto! She wouldn't have left without saying a damn word!

[soft_focus]

[Reira flinches. And as their eyes dot with tears, they scream.] WE DID SAVE THEM!

WE SAVED THEM FROM BEING THAT, AND HAVING TO DESTROY EVERYTHING AGAIN!

And all you're doing is hurting everyone that reminds you of it!

And I'm...I'M GONE TOO, REMEMBER! [Unless you think regressing to infancy is 'sticking around', Shun.]

[raidraptors]

So you didn't save anyone. You just sacrificed everyone that mattered for nothing except Sakaki Yuya.

[Yuya – who now ultimately is to fault for Yuto's death. Who should never have gotten himself involved in first place.]

[soft_focus]

Everyone who was a card is alive again, [he counters, tears running off his cheeks.] If we let them split again, Zarc would happen again!

Leave Yuuya out of it!

[raidraptors]

And you think those were the only losses? You don't know a damn thing!

[Yuto is gone, Ruri is gone, too much of Heartland is gone – there is only ruins and bitterness to be found in the city that Shun used to call home. Even with all those that were returned into cards returned, nothing will ever be as it once was.

As for Yuya…]

Why should I? He is just as much to fault as Akaba Leo!

[Yuto's death… that's on Yuya and Shun will never forgive it.]

[soft_focus]

And you think everyone dying would be better?!

Yuuya didn't do anything like Leo! He didn't even want to hurt anyone!

And hurting both of them won't fix ANYTHING!

[raidraptors]

[Maybe it won't fix anything, but really… there is nothing left to be fixed anyway. Shun is well aware of that.]

I think it's high time for the ones responsible to pay.

[And that's the last he'll say. He's done arguing with a brat.]

ah yes a retreat to synchro arc status

[soft_focus]

Then I....

[He sniffles, and leaves one last searing glare himself.]

...I hope you lose.