Hello once again! This chapter is a little bit longer than the rest but hopefully they will all continue to be at least as big if not bigger! I just want to setup a quick competition now. Send a set of cards. Limit is 20 and I'll accept two of your own making if I have to. Operating on a first-come, first-serve basis try to make the cards fit together. They'll be used around chapter 10-11.
Since Martha's outburst at the orphanage Jack and Crow had thought about fleeing from the path the van was taking but realised that such action would be foolhardy. After crossing the bridge Martha surprised her entourage by bypassing Poppo Time and going straight to Akiza's house. They realised that it would probably a good idea to stand outside when Martha went in. Unfortunately their foster mother had other ideas.
"Boys! Come with me." Blister had kindly helped her out of the van and she was now striding towards the front door of Senator Izinski's house. Judging by the way she was pounding on the door she wasn't in the mood for simple things such as ringing the doorbell. After only a few seconds a rather flustered Akiza opened up the door and peered out at the group.
"Akiza, we need to discuss a few things." Martha announced striding past her. Akiza threw a questioning look to her friends outside but Jack gave his customary glare and Crow could only shrug. Walking into the sitting room Martha indicated that the three teens take the sofa as she sat in an armchair.
"Akiza, these two buffoons came to see me and told me that not only is my dear Yusei depressed but that you blame yourself for it." At this point Akiza threw a glare at the two men beside her that they both shrank back into the couch. "Why they didn't come sooner is a mystery that I can't fathom, but the important thing right now is not that we save Yusei but we get you to forgive yourself for something that you have absolutely no control over."
When Martha finished she gave Akiza a long steady look. For a few seconds Akiza just sat there speechless. Then a single tear brimmed in her eye before falling over the edge. That single drop of salt water turned into a torrent, cascading from her eyes. With a howl she flung herself at the kind woman who had given so much to so many others and had grown to see so more in a glance than others could see in years. Martha slowly rubbed the back of the crying girl on her lap. Crow and Jack looked around the room as they felt more and more awkward. Finally Akiza fell silent with quiet sobs racking her body. Jack nudged Crow quietly and jerked a thumb towards the door. Crow gave a single glance towards the two women before giving a small nod. As quietly as possible the two of them edged out the room.
Once the door clicked shut behind them Martha gave Akiza a slight shake and told her to sit up. Akiza barely managed to stand upright before collapsing back onto the sofa. She gave a wan smile before another set of teas fell from her eyes. Martha pulled a handkerchief from one of her pockets and handed it to Akiza. "I look horrible, don't I?" Martha smiled gently at her.
"Moderately horrible, yes." Akiza gave a shaky laugh. "Now then, what do you suggest we do about Yusei?" At the mention of his name Akiza's eyes started watering again.
"Oh come now dear. Nothing was ever solved with watery eyes." Akiza nodded, dried her eyes and set to thinking. After a few minutes she gave a small smile, her first in a while.
"Actually Martha, I do have one idea."
Brilliant. Another pagebreak. Who keeps putting these things here?!
Outside Jack and Crow discussed the events currently going on inside the house. "Personally I think it's ridiculous." Jack huffed, "Why is it that as soon as there is even the slightest problem women feel the need to burst into tears?" Crow smacked the tall man around the back of his head.
"Did it ever occur to you that maybe the rest of us aren't as emotionally dead as you? Although not that I mention it you're not the soulless guy you pretend to be are you?" Crow smirked. That is, he smirked until he friend whirled around and lifted him up by the front of his jumper.
"IF YOU SO MUCH AS THINK ABOUT TELLING ANYONE WHAT I SAID IN THERE I WILL PERSONALLY GO THROUGH YOUR DECK AND TEAR EACH AND EVERY CARD IN HALF BEFORE TAKING YOUR RUNNER APART PIECE BY PIECE UNTIL IT'S A PILE OF BOLTS! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR!" By this point Crow's face was a lovely shade of crimson as Jack's tight grip had cut off his air supply. The instant Jack dropped him he remained on the floor breathing deeply. Jack snorted and started walking back to his Runner but was knocked sprawling by Crow jumping on his back. "YOU EVEN THINK CONSIDER TOUCHING MY CARDS AND RUNNER AND I WILL PERSONALY GIVE CARLY A VERY INSIGHTFUL INTERVIEW INTO YOUR LIFE AND SPILL EVERY ONE OF YOUR SECRETS INCLUDING THE TEDDY BEAR YOU USED TO HAVE!" Jack rolled over and crushed Crow beneath him as Crow began raining blow down upon Jack's upper body.
Over from his place by the van Blister calmly watched on as the two traded blows and insults. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number, waiting for the other end to be picked up. "Hello?"
"Hey Bashford, it's Blister. We've got another fight on our hands here, who's your money on?" For a few seconds there was silence on the line as the old man weighed his chances.
"A turn at the dishes is on Crow. I know how stubborn he can be." Blister smiled, fondly recalling how the gang had convinced Bashford to come and live with Martha and the wealth of children.
"Okay then you've got yourself a deal. HEY JACK! BASHFORD THINKS CROW WILL WIN!" Hearing this the former King went berserk, fully lifting the orange haired mess on his back as he stood up and then crushing him against the floor.
"BLISTER YOU CHEAT!" echoed faintly up from the phone. Blister let loose a few chuckles. He stopped as soon as Crow slipped out from under Jack just as he fell. Judging from the way Jack's face looked like it might never move from the pain again he grudgingly brought it back up to his face.
"A turn at the dishes" he said sourly. Bashford laughed at him down the line. The phone closed with a snap. Blister may not always play fairly but he did accept defeat. But he never went down easy. Making sure Jack was distracted he slotted a drive into Jack's Runner before launching a small program. An evil grin split his face as he waited for the man to realise what he had done.
Hello there. Just here to say that I'm currently having some writers block on Chapter 9 so I'm going to stagger the uploads to one a week until I get back on track. Don't worry, I've got the basic idea still in the motion but don't want to try and force anything out because it always seems to end badly.