A/N: With the season premiere of Waking the Dragons on WB today, as well as those brand-spankin'-new duel disks (I want one, dammit), I hereby deem today as a good day for a new chapter. Enjoy!
Chibigreen: It's no surprise that you didn't like Jade at first; neither did most people. I think that was mostly due to her psycho-stalker methods.
Eusine: Ahh, you like 'em, huh? I hope you'll like this one, too.
Wolf: Don't forget the Millennium Eye, also in Bakura's possession aboard KC3... or by this point, in the Shadow Realm. Losing sucks, doesn't it?
Is it hostile?
I know not. But be wary.
The door drifted open.
No one came through it.
Kyle frowned. That's weird. Did someone push it open? There couldn't be a draft in this building, too many germs...
It draws closer! It is in the room with us!
What?!
Kyle tried to sit up – and fell prey to Jade's prediction of feeling his ribs complain. He groaned and fell back to his bed.
His eyes darted about the room, trying to identify anything amiss, besides the open door.
But the door was closing. The latch audibly snapped shut, but there was apparently no one there to close it.
His frown deepened. What's going on here?
It draws even nearer to us now! It must be hiding its bearer!
Kyle finally spoke up. "Show yourself."
Jade stirred at his voice, but her breathing remained steady and even.
The air on the left side of his bed wavered, as if it were a mirage. Then it seemed to give way to a form – a human form in a long tan robe.
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "You again. What do you want?"
Shadi was expressionless, but his sapphire eyes blazed. "I wish to help you."
"A far cry from what you wished at our last meeting."
"You cannot always judge someone based on your past experience with that someone. As you have already seen and noted, people change." Shadi glanced at Jade meaningfully, then looked back at Kyle.
Kyle was silent a moment, unsure of how to answer this. Then he asked, "What sort of help are you offering?"
"My Millennium Ankh is gifted with the ability to heal injury. I wish to use it to heal you. You must be in good health in order to stop the magicians who continue to plague you."
Kyle blinked. "You've been watching all this time?"
"I have."
"Why haven't you done anything about it until now?"
"Because until this evening, the life of the bearer of the Millennium Shield was not so endangered."
"You could have gotten to me a lot sooner and this place wouldn't have had to donate its valuable blood supplies to me." Kyle glared in disapproval, but he received no response from the Egyptian. He sighed. "Can't you help in a more substantive manner than simply cleaning my wounds?"
Shadi captured Kyle's gaze. "It is not my mission to interfere directly in matters of your own concern. However, it is clear that the magicians are not to acquire the power of any Millennium item. In order to guarantee this, the items require a protector. You are that protector. Therefore, you must survive, and you must heal. Quickly."
Kyle scowled. "You're telling me I have to protect all of the Millennium items?"
"That was General Khensthoth's goal. It was Theoris' goal. Now it must be yours."
"But... how far will it go?"
"As far as it must."
"Will it ever end?"
"I cannot see the future. You know this. All I can tell you is that there will be a victor. And in order to ensure the Millennium items are protected, you must be that victor."
Kyle's voice became slightly louder. "Where does it stop? What do I have to do to win? What do I have to give up?"
"What you must."
"Damn you, Shadi, give me a straight answer for once!"
"I cannot. That is not within my power."
"Why not?!"
"Because you have not yet asked me a question whose answer I possess."
"You know, I'm generally cranky when I get woken up, and the fact that you're wearing a weird robe probably doesn't help your case any."
Kyle and Shadi both turned, to see that Jade's green eyes were open again, and blazing angrily at Shadi.
"So if you don't start explaining how you got in here and what you're doing, I'm going to kick your ass seven ways from Sunday and care about the color later. Start talking," Jade growled.
Kyle smirked at Shadi. "I think those questions have answers that you possess. And straight ones, at that."
"Indeed." Shadi bowed politely toward Jade. "I came in through the door. I am here to help heal Kyle's injuries."
Jade looked at him suspiciously, taking in the beige robe and turban, and the golden object hanging from his neck, then glanced at Kyle, judging what was going on.
Kyle glared at Shadi. "You're being difficult on purpose." He looked over to Jade and offered her yet another apologetic expression. "More Millennium magic."
"Of course," Jade replied, throwing her hands in the air a little. "I should have seen that one coming. Do you at least have a name, Guy-in-a-Turban?"
Shadi's expressionless face didn't take on any particular emotion, but his eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "My name is not important. What is important is my task here. This Millennium magic is intended to heal him. My Millennium Ankh grants me this power. After my task is complete, I shall depart and not intrude upon your presence again. You have my word."
"Millennium Ankh... Millennium Shield... jeez, how many of these things are there?" Jade muttered rhetorically, stepping back from the bed, though her arms remained crossed and she didn't lessen her stance any, physically declaring that if Shadi did something she didn't like she'd follow through on her warning.
"Only seven were meant to exist," Shadi answered matter-of-factly. "The shield was not one of those seven."
Without further ado, he grasped his Millennium Ankh with one hand and placed his other hand gingerly on Kyle's shoulder. Kyle grimaced slightly. "Will this hurt?"
"Yes. But only for a moment."
The same warm glow that had become synonymous with Kyle's shield now emanated from the ankh, and Shadi's free hand. The golden energy washed over Kyle's body.
Kyle arched his back and cried out in indescribable pain. Like someone's pouring a tub full of needles over me–!
Jade's hands clenched into fists and she took a step forward towards him.
Kyle's outcry stopped as abruptly as it had started, and he slumped back onto his bed limply. Shadi released the teen's shoulder. "It is done."
And with those words, he vanished back into his mirage.
"Are you okay?" Jade asked, realizing just how often she had asked him that in the past day.
Kyle gasped for several moments before responding. "Uhh... ow?"
"That's it. Next time I hit him."
He blinked several times, and then stared at his right leg in awe and amazement. "He... he did it. I can feel it."
She sobered and gestured for him to hold out his arm. "This whole magic thing is new to me so you'll have to repeat... he actually healed you?"
Kyle reached up to the sling strap and pulled it away from his collarbone, and then tenderly off his shoulder, thus releasing his right arm. His arm dropped to his side.
And he didn't feel any pain at all.
He reached his arm out to her for her to inspect. She wasn't a doctor, but he rotated his shoulder for her and she ran her hand along what skin was still exposed. She couldn't see any evidence of injury. "Okay. So... you're healed."
He grinned at her for a moment. "I'm almost tempted to do a jig."
"... If you want. I should warn you that hospital gowns tend to be transparent for the most part, and that's without the slit going down to your rear end. You realize they're never going to let you get out of here, right? I mean, you were in surgery... what, a few hours ago?"
It was his turn to sober up. "Yeah, I know... this gives us a whole new list of problems."
"You don't have any clothes you can wear at the moment." Jade pulled the bag from under the table and tossed it lightly to him. "There's not much left of what you were wearing. Make sure you get your personal stuff out of there, though."
He looked in the bag and winced. "I didn't know I had that much blood to lose." He picked through it. "Ugh, even the underwear. Chubs' deck is still in its carrying case, though, that's a good thing. And my wallet. Conveniently with some money in it." He looked up at her. "Can I convince you to hunt for some new clothes on my behalf?"
Jade nodded, picking up her bag and putting it over her shoulder. "There's a robe in the bathroom," she said. "Put that on. If you wait here, you'll likely be found by nurses on rounds. Here, give me your wallet, I'll put it in the bag."
He obediently tossed her the wallet and carefully made his way out of his bed. His right leg dropped to the floor like a dead weight. He frowned at the cast on it and the one on his arm as well. "Gonna have to find a way to get these off later."
"I know how to get them off. But it takes a while, so live with them for now," Jade said, opening the door and sticking her head out to survey the hallway. "I can't believe this. We're breaking out of the hospital."
"I know, it's insane. But something tells me that's not the highest on your list of 'Weird Things' these days," Kyle remarked.
Jade managed to give both him and the shield around his neck the same withering glare. "Go put on your robe, smart-ass. I'll be back in a sec."
"Yes, ma'am." Kyle snickered and crept into the bathroom.
She returned a few moments later with a wheelchair as Kyle exited the bathroom – he'd removed a great deal of his bandages. Jade pointed at the wheelchair, indicating he should sit. "You realize we have to go past the nurse's station, right?"
"Yes." Kyle climbed into the chair. "Any ideas?"
"Yeah. You be quiet and don't say anything. This feels weird with two people," Jade grumbled, pushing the chair out the door and into the hallway. It was notably cooler, and brighter. She headed directly for the walled area beside the elevators.
Three people!
Without a body, you don't count.
Theoris emitted his version of a harrumph. Kyle had to force down a grin.
They drew closer and closer to the station... and walked right past the nurse who had led Jade to the waiting room. There was a half-nod of greeting, but no recognition, nor did the other two inside the partition pay more than a casual glance in their direction. Jade pressed the Down call button beside the elevator doors and waited, as all hospital elevators are notoriously slow.
Are the nurses tired, or are they choosing to ignore the fact that this area is the recovery wing of what I thought, until now, was the aptly-named Intensive Care Unit?
Thank your lucky stars they didn't notice. For all they care, we're a relatively uninjured friend in another wing of the hospital visiting an accident-prone acquaintance.
How terribly convenient.
Hey, it works. And don't say anything to Jade, or she'll hit me.
Do not tempt me.
"Do you need help, Miss?" The nurse's voice interrupted Jade's mental mantra of curses against the slow elevator.
Jade half-turned, smiling. "No, thank you. I'm fine."
"Did you get lost?" the nurse asked sympathetically. Behind them, the elevator dinged and Jade backed into it, giving a false smile.
"No, I'm just going to pick up a friend," she answered, and the metal doors slid shut.
Kyle blinked. What the hell is she talking about? Can the nurse somehow not see this wheelchair is...
Full...
OH.
She is putting her talent to use on you?
Out of all the impossible explanations, that's the most likely...
They left the hospital without further incident, and Jade left the wheelchair in the parking lot by her car, having not said anything on the way down.
"I'm not even going to ask how you manage that little trick right now, but I'd be very interested to hear about it sometime." Kyle struggled into the back of the car and winced at the bloodstains. "Ruined the upholstery, didn't I?"
Jade chuckled mirthlessly. "Yes, well, I wasn't too concerned at the time, and frankly, I'm not right now, either."
–
She drove them to an all-night convenience store and left the car idling while she went inside. Several minutes later she emerged with a bag in each hand and passed them to Kyle when she climbed in. "Definite plus to Japan. These stores sell everything. It makes 7-11 look downright puny."
In one bag were clothes, and in the other, a box of cereal, a carton of milk, and two bottles of lemon juice.
"Goody." Kyle picked up the cereal. "Good breakfast." He peeked into the clothing bag and smirked. "Hm. Nice lunch, too."
"I took a guess on the size, and bought everything a little big. Don't complain if it's baggy."
"You got me a belt, so you won't hear a word. That you got anything at all gives me cause to thank you for it. Where to now?"
"A hotel, I guess." Jade shrugged, changing lanes. The morning traffic was just starting to pick up. "Honestly, I still need sleep, and you should get some, too. And I'm not adverse to hitting you over the head if need be."
Kyle gave her a look. "I've had enough cranial damage for one catastrophic motorcycle crash, thank you. And it's just as well, because unless you want me to change here in the bloody backseat, we'll need a place I'm not conspicuous in a bathrobe and casts."
She snorted, but drove them to a small motel. After paying, she parked the car around the side and tossed him the room key. "I had to specifically ask for a room with two beds. Apparently, that's a strange thing to do here. You should have seen the look I got. Anyway, number 14. Go unlock the door," she said, unlocking her trunk. She removed the mat lining and stuffed it in the backseat, hiding the bloodstained upholstery. "We don't want them to freak and call the cops if someone happens to walk by."
Kyle was in no mood to argue with her. He grabbed the grocery bags and hooked them around his encased right arm as he limped his way to the room. Fortunately, there was no one else around to take notice of his robe or the massive casts. He rolled his eyes. God... if we get caught now, we're gonna have one hell of a time explaining everything. I can just see THAT session in the interrogation room...
As it is, the authorities will no doubt find you eventually.
No doubt. And when they do, I'll still have a hell of a lot of explaining to do. Can't imagine that'll be pretty. What could I say to them?
Identity theft.
Kyle snorted as he went into the room. It's frightening that you, of all people, would come up with that excuse. He set the groceries down on the dresser and went into the bathroom to change out of the robe.
Jade shut the door behind her when she came in, dropped the bag containing the duel disks on the floor, and flopped on the bed closest to the door. "Ughh... food, sleep, or casts off first?" she mumbled into the mattress.
"Depends. You hungry?"
Jade gave a loud and emphasized snore.
Kyle snorted. "Sleep first. We can eat later and I can deal with the casts for now."
"Sounds like a plan," Jade said, rolling over and kicking off her shoes in the general direction of the door. "Good night, Kyle. Good night, Theoris, since I assume he's still eavesdropping or whatever it is you two do."
Kyle smiled. "Theoris says he wishes you to have happy dreams." He flopped onto his own bed and forewent the covers; the room's temperature was quite comfortable as it was. "So do I. Night, Jade."
"Mmm" was the noncommittal reply.
–
After nearly half an hour, Kyle still found himself unable to sleep. He looked over at Jade's sleeping form. She looks so peaceful. That's something I can't really imagine being these days. Even after the shield and all these good things happening to me – new friends, being able to take control of my own life – it feels like I'll never know peace or rest. And how dare I rest, anyway, when someone I care about is in such danger?
Kyle... I believe that were she in your position, Monica would rest. Not because she believes it is just or it is fair, but because it is what must be done. It is the sensible choice, the logical choice. I do not believe Jade is as carefree as you seem to perceive her. No doubt she has her own troubles to contend with. But that she is able to sleep is a sign that, if nothing else, she knows what she is doing.
I suppose so. Kyle shifted around. I wonder what made her such a cold person to strangers. I know she wasn't all that keen on talking to me when we first met... and even after that, it took a long time to get her to notice and respect me.
Are you sure you did not have even the slightest bit of respect and notice from her from the beginning, Kyle?
What makes you think I would have?
Her talent for avoiding sight. You have said it yourself. If she does not wish to be seen, she cannot be seen. And if she had never noticed you, why would she allow you to see her? Certainly not to simply pester her. That bears no purpose. No, Kyle, I believe she made note of you from the beginning.
We may never know. Kyle sighed. So what do we do now?
Now it is time for you to sleep, Kyle.
Easier said than done. Any suggestions for how I can get there without being deathly afraid I won't wake up?
Somehow I doubt a lullaby is what you are searching for.
No, thank you.
Very well. A story, then? A writer should be able to appreciate a story.
Kyle scoffed lightly. A bedtime story?
If that is what you wish to call it. But this story is unlike any other. It is not simply told... it is shown.
Oh? Kyle interest was piqued. Something akin to the desert I was sent to, the night I met you?
Something akin to that, yes.
...okay, sure. Show me.
In his mind's eye, Kyle saw himself falling through a bright blue sky. He felt no fear from the fall, though; he'd fallen in dreams before. Besides, Theoris was taking him somewhere, and Theoris would never endanger him.
Below was the great capital city that had been Theoris' home. It was a magnificent city; no matter how many times Kyle saw it, it always took his breath away to see it again. There was the lush greenery, the great monuments of the Egyptian gods and the pharaohs, the people walking about the streets... it was beautiful, simply beautiful.
Kyle abruptly fell into the head – the head? – of a little boy, not older than seven or eight years old. The boy was alongside his mother, treading through a food market. No, treading wasn't the right word. He was bouncing along, happy to be outside, happy to be here, happy to be anywhere. He was enjoying life. And he seemed very familiar.
"Come quickly, Theoris, we do not wish to miss the fig vendor! His kiosk will close soon." The mother smiled down at the boy.
The boy stared up at his mother in curiosity. "Close? But you can make him open it up again, yes? Just tell him who you are and what you want, and he should be happy that you would buy his foods."
The mother laughed, a pleasant noise in the assorted commotion of the crowds around them. "I am afraid my status alone would not cause him to extend his time of labor, my child."
"Oh." The boy blinked a couple times. "Then we had best get there fast!"
"Yes, indeed!" the mother laughed. "You run ahead and see that he waits for me, will you?"
"Yes, Mother!" The boy giggled and ran ahead, intent on finding the vendor, grasping him around the legs, tackling him if he needed to. Anything to make sure he didn't close his kiosk.
Time accelerated and melted the environment around them. Now the boy was under the roof of a modest home, and the sun was just passing beyond the horizon. He was happily chewing on a fig.
His mother came to him with a wet cloth, knelt down beside him, and took his left arm in her hand. She sighed, but she was smiling. "Theoris, you are far too zealous for your own good. You must watch your footing more closely!"
She wiped at a scrape on his arm. He bit down on the fig as she did so; she was always telling him to focus his pain on something more constructive than saying bad words or yelling out. He regarded her for a few moments. "When will Father return home?"
"Tonight, little love," she promised. "Your father will be home tonight." A wistful smile tinged her features. "I have missed him so."
"So have I," said the boy. "I want him to come back."
The mother gathered the boy up in her arms and hugged him to her chest. "He will, Theoris, he will. Do not worry."
And as the boy Theoris was wrapped up in the loving protection of his mother's arms... so was Kyle.
In the outside world, Kyle yawned slightly and curled up slightly on the bed. His thoughts were more sparse now, as he drifted ever closer to the twilight of peaceful sleep.
Theoris?
Yes?
Did he come back?
Yes, Kyle... he did. Our family was not together for long periods of time, but when we were together... we loved as no one else did.
...I want that love...
You have it, Kyle. The love of my family for me extends to you, as well. What is mine is yours, including the love I was given.
In the memory, Kyle found his comfort in the loving embrace of Theoris' mother.
Kyle's muscles relaxed, and his breathing regulated.
Moments later, he was sound asleep.
