AnimeKiwi369: Let me have it.
Copper: Have what?
AnimeKiwi369: Your rant. I didn't include you in my last update and it's been over two weeks since I last updated.
Copper: I'm not mad. I understand you're busy.
AnimeKiwi369: I'm unsure of what to think of this, but all right. Big thanks to the reviewers of the last chapter: Swiftflame, gothicsasuhina2012, and the anonymous reviewers PDS, Emmanuel, and Hero.
Copper: Yes. Reviews are always much appreciated.
AnimeKiwi369: Yes, I will bring up reviews in the after-chapter conversation. I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's or its characters. I just own my OCs, Yusei's mother's name, and the story line.
Chapter 6
Fright and Comfort
Copper lifted her arm out of the bath and studied the bubble-covered Marks. Lane had left awhile ago, and now she was in bubble bath with her hair already washed and in a towel. She had already washed herself, but couldn't bring herself to get out yet. She couldn't stop thinking about the illusions she saw earlier if they even were illusions. She sighed and put her arm back in the water. She inclined her head towards the door and counter where everything she had to get ready for the banquet was.
She had her dress hanging on the hook behind on the door. Her shoes were on a small shelf that was off to the side that was there to keep her clothes off the floor and her towels. She also had her other clothing items, like her stockings, wrap, underwear, and bra on there. The last clothing item was a bit of a drawback, since it was a strapless one. But she didn't mind that much, but it was annoying at times. And she honestly didn't want bra straps showing along with her dress straps, even though she did have a wrap.
Normally she would wear regular, fingerless gloves, but she was going with a different thing this year, and it was sitting on the shelves as well. They started with a garter-like band on her upper arm and the rest was a light, see through fabric the color of silver that flared out and went down to her wrist; honestly she didn't know what they were called.
On the counter in her bathroom, were all things she was going to use to beautify herself. Though she really didn't need it with her naturally good looks. Which everyone, especially her parents and boyfriend, constantly mentioned or noticed. The banquet, however, was just a chance to work with a little bit of makeup and such. Although she was never worried about her looks for the event before, she thought that the reason for this time was because she was in a relationship. She didn't use them very often after all. The psychic wasn't worried about those much and how much time they'd take.
She was worried about how long her hair would take. It was silly, but she really wanted to make her hair stand out. The dark-haired girl was going to try and do something she had never tried before with her long dark hair with its burgundy streaks. She was going to straighten her hair first and then curl the ends. And then she'd try a really difficult task. She was going to try and curl each burgundy streak by itself. Or at least the parts with the separate color tightly so that it rested on her straightened hair.
Copper extended her leg out of the water and ran her hand up it, making sure it didn't need another shave. She sighed and unplugged the bathtub plug with her foot. She stood up and grabbed her towel, drying thoroughly before putting her undergarments on and her short, silk-like robe. The psychic sat down at the counter in the chair she pulled over for when she used makeup that needed time to put on.
But she didn't go to the makeup just yet. First she put on deodorant; that was a must for everyday. She grabbed the vanilla-scented lotion afterwards; she never liked when her skin got dry, though she did have naturally soft skin. She used the lotion on her arms and legs and whatever remained on her hands she used on her shoulders, neck, and small part of her chest that would be exposed. She traced her Marks again. She looked in the mirror to make sure nothing was there and nothing was. She was just on edge after what happened earlier with Lane.
The psychic ignored the feeling and pushed it to the back of her mind so she could focus on the task at hand: getting ready for the banquet. She wasn't going to wear much makeup, really just a little eyeliner to accentuate her long, dark eye lashes and feline-like eyes. But she was going to also put on some nail polish and lip stain to accentuate her nails and lips respectively as well. She was also probably going to put on some perfume, though it really wasn't a makeup thing. Luckily the bruise she got from her fight with Arlene was gone, so she didn't need to cover it. And same went for the small cut she had gotten as well. It was a good thing she healed fast.
She applied a thin line of the black eyeliner quickly before she put on the red lip stain her lips. She delicately and cleanly applied the dark red nail polish that matched her lips. Fortunately they didn't take forever to dry since it was fast drying brand. The dark-haired girl made sure they were dry before she started on her hair. It took nearly an hour to get it perfect, which she eventually did; just the way she wanted it.
The double-Marked Signer grabbed her thigh-high stockings, putting them on quickly. Copper turned towards the dress as she discarded her robe. It really was beautiful. It was spaghetti strap and reached just above her knees. There was a slip built into it so that it flared out slightly around her. The color was another red. On the top half, it had intricate designs in a silver color and a thin layer of fabric that went over the skirt with intricate patterns in the same color.
She undid the zipper in the back and stepped into the dress. She was able to focus her powers to zip it up again. She put her red ankle-strap high heels that showed part of her foot. She pulled on what she was wearing on her arms and her wrap. She grabbed a small faux diamond necklace that was a slightly V-shaped. She had gotten her ears pierced several months ago and put on a straight, dangly pair that accompanied her necklace perfectly. She also put on her energy stabilizer bracelet. The psychic grabbed the perfume and dabbed a small amount on her neck. She stepped back and looked in the full length mirror on the back of her door. The blue-indigo-eyed girl almost didn't recognize herself.
The dark-haired psychic stepped out of her bathroom, feeling a slight change in temperature. The blue-indigo-eyed girl grabbed a small white purse with a compact mirror, her lip stain (just in case the color started to fade), eyeliner and a small cloth she would use just in case she used too much of the makeup on her lips or a tissue just in case she started to cry for some reason. Her cell phone and deck were also in there just in case she needed them. As well as her allergy medicine and emergency inhaler that accompanied the prescription because of her severe and deathly allergy to mushrooms. There were also some gauze-like bandages that were already in there, and she didn't feel like taking out. She went out of her room and downstairs, where her mother was messing around with her father's askew tie, fixing it. She was still amazed at how talented her father was at everything except tying a necktie. It was amusing at times.
Yusei was in the suit he usually wore for this event, though he was just wearing the black vest and no jacket. Akiza was in the red dress she usually wore. Nickie was in his baby carrier, sleeping peacefully. Nan was in a simple purple dress and white flats. She had never been to this before, just as the little baby hadn't. But they were going to be going to this for a long time, in years to come. The burgundy-haired woman fixed the tie with an exasperated sigh.
"Stardust," she started with the nickname she used for him occasionally, "sometimes I think you should just give up on wearing a tie."
"I think you may be right on that, Black Rose," he agreed, using his own nickname for her. He noticed his daughter come down the stairs,
"Who is that? Is that our own Cyli-Elizabeth Fudo?" He asked playfully using her whole first name.
"Yes, dad," she replied. "It's me."
The elder psychic looked and smiled, "Honey, you look beautiful."
"Thanks, mom," she said, blushing slightly.
"I'm sure Lane's going to think the same thing," the dark-haired man teased, going to ruffle her hair.
Copper moved away from her father's gesture as she blushed, "Don't. It took almost an hour to get it like this. I don't need it messed up."
Her father chuckled, "Fair enough. I think we should get going. Or we're going to be dealing with some heavy traffic. It's a good thing we get to show up early."
The other women nodded. The female Signer lifted up the baby carrier and diaper bag as she followed her husband. Normally she might have stayed home or left him with a babysitter, but she didn't want to do that on such a special night. Plus Nickie didn't fuss much, even in the noisiest crowds. She set him in the car seat in the middle seat in the back before she let her daughter get in and put the other things in the trunk of the car.
The dark haired girl carefully got in, making sure her dress was completely in before closing the door and buckling the seatbelt. She looked over at her baby brother as he started to wake up. He looked around as the car pulled out of the garage. The little baby looked over at her and she smiled down at him. She leaned down and planted a light kiss on his cheek. The red lip stain on her lips left an imprint on his cheek. She giggled a little and gently tickled his little stomach, making him giggle. Nan noticed and laughed silently. She took out the cloth out of her purse and lightly damped it with her tongue before wiping the red lip imprint off the baby's cheek before putting it back in her purse. She took out the mirror and checked the color of her lips before delicately putting some more of the red lip stain on.
The psychic slipped her finger into her brother's little hand. She closed her eyes, leaning her head back. She took her finger out of her brother's hand and stroked his soft cheek multiple times. It relaxed her in a way. There was something about infants that just made her happy and relaxed. That is, unless they woke up at three a.m. because they were hungry or needed a change. That was the case with the psychic before she got ear plugs.
Copper saw the purple Dark Signer Mark again and snapped her eyes open. She grew tense remembering what she saw earlier. She felt on edge and definitely tense. The dark-haired double-Marked Signer didn't want to tell Lane, though she knew he would sense it. She didn't want to worry him. But at the same time, she wondered if she should worry him with what she kept seeing. She kept getting tenser the closer the car got to the building the banquet was held in. And the fifteen-year-old couldn't get out of this; they were too close to the building, and she put in too much effort in getting ready.
She sighed, closing her eyes again. She didn't even realize that the car was beginning to slow down. She reopened her eyes again as the car came to a stop in the parking garage, mostly devoid of cars at the moment. She slowly got out of the car as it stopped next to the Hogan's van. The psychic got out of the car, smoothing the skirts of her dress slightly as she moved aside to let her mother get to the baby.
The dark-haired girl nervously and tensely started to clench and unclench her fists, seeing the Kessler's vehicle nearby. Her family made their way to the elevator and up to the ballroom. She twiddled her fingers slightly as they came into the room. There were only her friends' families and Trudge and Mina, who had recently gotten engaged, in the room. Her friends were in a corner by themselves.
John and Raven looked uneasy, as well as Zoey, who was with her cousin at a table. The blonde was in a classic tux and the ginger was in a short, figure-hugging purple tank top strap dress with matching heels. The younger girl was in a simple long sleeve blue dress and white shoes. The dark-haired girl made a note to talk to them later about the dream she was sure was a vision.
Lane looked over at her and his eyes widened. His mouth dropped open slight, making her blush. He was in a simple tux without a jacket, though he did have a vest on. And instead of the white shirt, it was a dark red one. He blushed himself seeing her in such a stunning outfit. She looked like an angel. He had to shake his head to stop staring as she got over to them. He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his side.
"Hello, there," he greeted with a grin.
"Hey," she responded.
"You're the last to show up, C," John commented.
"Yeah," she said, "I know. At least I got here."
A Little While Later
The dark-haired psychic sighed and put her face in her hands. She hadn't gotten around to telling her other Signer friends about the dreams. She was tempted to drag the emerald-eyed girl and the teal-haired girl into the bathroom to tell them. She had only half-listened to Mina's speech as she looked around the room. She noticed a familiar brunette with her hair tied up and in a slinky blue halter top dress in the crowd. She crinkled her nose.
How had Arlene gotten to get here?! She'd never been invited to this before! She wasn't related to any of the people absorbed by the Earthbound Immortals! Or was she? Either way, the psychic was more tense than before. She clenched her hand into a fist, catching her boyfriend's attention as her fingernails dug into his palm. He looked at her funnily. He brought his head close to them
"What's wrong?" He whispered.
"I see her," she snarled slightly. "Arlene is here."
He looked and saw her, "But how?"
"I've got no clue," she whispered. "But I don't like it."
"Don't worry," he told her. "I'm here for ya."
She smiled and nuzzled her head slightly on his neck. They heard the orchestra begin to play. After a few people started to dance, the blue-eyed boy stood up, receiving a quizzical look from his girlfriend. He only responded by offering her hand. She blushed lightly and took his hand, standing. Both sets of their parents smirked slightly seeing their children start to dance with each other, giving them flashbacks to the first banquet.
Lane pulled Copper tightly against his body as they did a simple waltz, timing it with the orchestra perfectly. He buried his face in her hair slightly. He could smell the lavender shampoo she used. He could also smell the vanilla scent from a lotion he knew very well. He could smell another scent, and he guessed it was perfume. It smelled like peppermint.
"Mmmm…" He commented, "You smell really good."
"Thanks," she told him, blushing. She could smell a somewhat sweet scent, "Are you wearing cologne?"
It was his turn to blush and laughed a bit nervously, "Yeah."
She giggled a little. She looked over his shoulder and scowled, seeing Arlene coming over.
"What do you want?" She asked the brunette in a cold tone she rarely used, causing the ice-blue-haired boy to break pull away from her and looked at the other girl. The psychic dug her fingernails into her palm, scraping them up her hand. She felt something wet on her hand but ignored that as she glared.
"It's none of your business, Fudo," Arlene hissed back. "I want to dance with Lane, like I know he wants to," she gave him a flirtatious gaze.
"How are you even here?" The dark-haired girl inquired suspiciously. "You've never been here before?"
"My aunt and uncle and cousins have," she replied with a frustrated tone at the psychic. "My aunt was absorbed by those Ground Mortals or whatever they're called. And my older cousin was going to come, but then he had a big college project coming up, so my aunt asked me to come. Why are you here, Fudo?"
"You just answered your own question," the psychic said, rolling her eyes. "I'm a Fudo. I'm the daughter of two Signers, who saved the world twice. Or did you forget that with how you insulted us yesterday?" She rolled her eyes back to their glare and held her arm up, her fist still clenched, "Not to mention I have this." She pointed to her own Marks with her index finger as her nails dug deeper in her hand. It felt wetter than before and she felt something run down her hands and down her upraised arm.
"Those stupid tattoos are hardly anything to be proud of," the brunette rolled her eyes this time.
"Those aren't tattoos," Lane defended. "Those are genuine Signer Marks. I was there when she got those."
"Sure you were," the maroon-eyed girl replied, fawning over her crush. "But you don't need to pretend with me. I know those are fake, but if you say they're real, I'll believe you, Lane."
The psychic gagged silently. She rolled her eyes. The brunette liked the blue-eyed boy too much, and it was sickening. The ice-blue-haired boy was the dark-haired girl's boyfriend. Not the brunette's. The blue-indigo-eyed girl looked at him as her fingernails continued to dig into her hand. It was starting to be painful. But she withstood the pain; she'd been in worse pain before. She bit her lip, looking down as the brunette shamelessly continued flirting with the blue-eyed boy.
"So what do you say, Laney?" Arlene asked, starting to hang on him, "Why don't you dance with a real woman like me instead of that slut."
Copper snapped her head up with a glare as her fingernails dug even deeper in her hand, "Listen here, Arlene!" She started the other girl glaring.
But then she stopped herself from what she was saying, seeing something frightening. She saw her rival, but she looked unnatural. Her scleras were dark. And on her right arm was a purple glow that was shaped like a monkey.
The psychic gasped, which caused her rival to smirk, thinking she was intimidating the double-Marked Signer. Part of the psychic wanted to throttle the brunette, but she didn't. The blue-indigo-eyed girl instead stumbled back, covering her mouth slightly with her hands, which she now realized were bleeding from her fingernails digging in her skin and scratching up her hand. She blinked and looked back at her rival, whose eyes and arm hadn't gone back to normal. She gasped again, seeing black scleras and the Dark Signer Giant Mark on Lane's arm. Her eyes blurred with slight tears. She turned on her heel and started running.
"Copper!" The ice-blue-haired boy exclaimed.
"Copper?" She heard Raven's voice ask.
The dark-haired girl didn't respond to any of her friends or family's exclamations and questions of where she was going. She ran into the hallway and down one end, where the ladies' room was. She hurried into it, breathing hard. No one seemed to be in there. The psychic ran to the end of sinks and gripped the edges.
She felt blood running down her hands as she shuddered from those sights of her rival and boyfriend as Dark Signers. She wrapped her arms around her with her hands on her bare skin, so it didn't stain her arm wear or dress. She grew tense as she shook with tears of fright starting to run down her cheeks. She started to dig her fingernails into her arm.
"C?" Her ginger-haired friend ask behind the door right.
"Let me get in there to cheer her up," John's voice said to his own girlfriend.
"Johnny, you can't go in there," Zoey's young voice commented. Why was she there though? "It's the girls' bathroom."
"I'll go in," the familiar, masculine voice of her boyfriend commented.
"It's the girls' bathroom," the young girl repeated.
"Lane, what did you do to her?" The Tail Signer's voice asked incredulously.
"I did nothing," he insisted. "Arlene wanted to dance with me, and she insulted Copper. C went to say something, but then she froze and then this happened."
"Well, I'm going in, 'cause I actually can," the ginger announced before going into the restroom.
The green-eyed girl came over to the psychic, who was now leaning against the tiled walls, her face down towards the tiled floors. She was still shaking. She felt her knees shaking, and she let them buckle and sink to the ground. The ginger crouched down to see her friend. This didn't look good. She'd never seen the dark-haired girl with such a scared look on her face. Not even when she had been having visions last summer.
"29, what happened?" She asked softly, "Arlene couldn't have said anything that bad."
The psychic took a deep breath to speak, but didn't look at her friend as she felt more blood trickle down her hands, "Other than a slut, no," she replied. "It…It wasn't what she said to me that made me so frightened, Ray. It…It was what I saw in her."
"What did you see, Copper?" Her friend inquired gently, "What scared you?"
"I saw what I saw earlier," she replied quietly. "I saw Arlene as a Dark Signer and then Lane too." She took a ragged breath, tightening her grip, "That's the second time I saw Lane like that. I had dreams last night, too about her and him and Miky being Dark Signers and me fighting each of them plus Roman and Goodwin. Raven, I'm scared."
"You had a dream, too?" The ginger asked. The psychic nodded, "I did too. But the Dark Signer I faced name was Gavin and there was another boy that was riding behind me, but I wasn't fighting him…" She looked at her friend's hands and arms that were now bloody. It wasn't much, but it still concerned her, "But that's not important right now. C, we need to get you cleaned up."
"Okay," the dark-haired girl mumbled.
The ginger got up and went to the door, "Can one of you go get 29's purse and bring it here?"
"I'll get it," Lane said, his footsteps going off.
Raven went back to the psychic and helped her to her feet. She took the arm wear off of her friend and laid them across a dry sink. The ginger took her friend's hands and examined them. They were fairly scraped and bloody, though not that bloody. She looked at the psychic's face. Her eyes were slightly red and her eyeliner was running slightly. The green-eyed girl moved her eyes to the dark-haired girl's arms. They didn't have too much blood on them, but blood was running down a little.
"You've got too tight a grip," the ginger laughed slightly, turning on the water on another sink. "Put your hands under the water. I'll get a paper towel for your arms. And your eyes. You're going to need a new set of eyeliner."
Copper nodded again and sighed. She put her hands under the water and winced slightly. It stung a bit. She shouldn't have gripped her hands so tightly with her nails. It hurt. She watched the blood mix with the water and thin out as it washed down the drain of the porcelain sink. It was a good thing she was too lazy to take out the gauze from her purse. She felt cold water on her arm and looked at her ginger-haired friend, who was putting a damp cloth on her arm.
A knock came on the door as the green-eyed girl finished on the psychic's other arm, "I have her purse. Let me come in." Lane pleaded slightly, "C, let me talk to you. Please."
The psychic took a deep breath and looked at her friend, nodding 'yes'.
"You can come in, Lane," the ginger said.
The ice-blue-haired boy came in, looking nervous and concerned. He came in with the white bag. He came over to them and looked softly at the dark-haired girl. She looked away, again, afraid to see those dark scleras in his beautiful blue eyes. The ginger felt some awkwardness and started to leave the restroom.
"I'm going to give you two a moment," she told them, backing out of the room. "You two have some things to work out."
The two stood in silence for several moments before the psychic got up the courage to look at her boyfriend's face. She cracked one eye open and saw his normal, beautiful, simple blue eyes. She looked down, a bit ashamed. He noticed the look and started to rummage through the white purse, knowing the bandages were in there. They had been in there the last time she had brought her purse.
Lane took them out and grabbed his girlfriend's arm and started to wrap the small injuries. She looked at him as she felt his gentle touch. She watched him as he finished wrapping her arm, and then moved to the next. He gently dried her wet hands and wrapped them. The psychic felt another tear run down her face. Her boyfriend tipped her chin towards him and dried her eyes.
"I didn't do it," he told her, pulling her close. "I didn't dance with Arlene. Not after you ran out."
"I didn't run out because of her," she sighed quietly, "I saw what I saw earlier with you being a Dark Signer. I saw it in both of you."
The ice-blue-haired teen took the dark-haired teen's face in his hands, "I will never willingly become a Dark Signer. I promise."
"I know," she replied quietly. "It's just…scary."
He nodded, "I could see how Arlene could become one with her jealousy of you." He commented, moving around so he could pull her back into his chest, wrapping his arms around her. The blue-eyed boy leaned down slightly and put his chin over her shoulder, smelling the mix of her shampoo, lotion and perfume, "She'll never have what you have. Your looks, loving family, duel skills, or the most important thing of all."
"What's that?" she asked softly, beginning to take out the eyeliner to reapply it.
The ice-blue-haired boy did something he'd never tried before. He didn't kiss her cheek, but rather he kissed her jaw line, making her eyes widen, "Me and my heart." He whispered in her ear.
Copper blushed. Her heart beat faster. The psychic had never felt like this before. She knew was more than falling in love.
She was in love.
"Lane, I-I love…" she trailed off so quietly he didn't hear it. She couldn't tell him yet; she was too afraid of losing him. She rephrased what she was going to say, "I love how much you care about me and comfort me."
He winked at her, "It's all part of our relationship." He told her, "Our bond."
She smiled at him and held his hands that were wrapped around her briefly. She quickly looked at him and silently and quickly applied the eyeliner, "You're so sweet." She told him.
"Besides," he started, letting go to allow her put on her arm wear, "I know a way to get back at Arlene, but first you'll need a little more of that red on your lips."
She nodded slightly, though she was confused and put on some more of the lip stain. She took his hand as he held it out to her and guided her back to the ballroom.
Coming Up in "Second War":
"I just wanted to come by and wish you guys luck. And to tell you to just do your best."
"Thanks, baby."
"You're welcome."
"I'm still afraid."
"Don't worry. Mom, if you're worried about that Commander Koda, don't be. He might have gotten into your head back then, but you were insecure then and didn't have what you have now. You have friends, dad, Nickie, Grandpa, Grandma, Nanna, and me. Your family. And all of us are here for you."
"I know."
"I want you to use this in your duel to know me and everyone are behind you every step of the way."
"Rose Wind? Are you sure, honey?"
"Yes, mom. No show them what you and Luna got!"
Next Time—Chapter 7: Akiza's Reassurance
AnimeKiwi369: So, there you have it. She's imagining things again. And not just in Lane, but Arlene as well!
Copper: Why am I not mad at you again?
AnimeKiwi369: Ask yourself that. That or I'm too tired to come up with banter.
Copper: I should be mad at you for what you had Arlene say to me.
AnimeKiwi369: At least she didn't get Lane.
Copper: At least.
AnimeKiwi369: Well, I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter. Now, regarding reviews. I'm going to start asking for reviews, if that's all right with everyone.
Copper: Well, hopefully that will get peoples' attention into reading this.
AnimeKiwi369: I'd like to hope so. So reviews are much appreciated. I'd also like to ask for at least seven reviews before I next update. I'll try to update sooner if I do get the number of reviews or give bonus chapters. However, I'm a little stuck at the point where I'm at right now, so the bonuses may not be for awhile.
Copper: All right.
AnimeKiwi369: So please be kind and please review! :]
