Chapter 12
A Duel of Honor
Day of the Tournament
3 years earlier...
"Ari? Are...you awake? Sis...are you there?" I asked at the closed casket which had my sister's picture set up on the side on a easel. "Ari, you can wake up now...please?" I asked once more as I felt a heavy hand on my right shoulder. Looking up to my father who's tears filled his eyes.
"Dad, why isn't Sis waking up?" I asked him as he took a deep breath before speaking.
"She is gone Kyran, she is no longer with us." He said as the words struck my soul like a hammer.
"NO! She isn't gone! Don't lie to me! SHE WOULDN'T LEAVE! SHE PROMISED ME!" I was screaming as he held me tightly while her casket was being lowered into the ground.
"Sometimes son, there are promises we can't keep to those who hold dear. No matter how hard we try." He said comforting me. "It'll be alright son. We'll get through this together." He said as I pushed him away from me crying.
"Don't touch me! I can't see her again! WHAT THE HELL AM I GOING TO DO DAD? TELL ME!" I yelled as a man in full military service dress leaned down to my level with a serious look on his face.
"Kyran, listen to me. I can't bring back Captain Rhodes. Its impossible. But your father isn't the enemy. No who the enemy is who took your sister from you is the White Fang." The man said as I stopped yelling and heard him.
"The White Fang?" I asked.
"We are at war with them. If you join the service, you can fight them. And avenge Arianna." He said as the seeds were finally planted. "Do you understand Kyran?" He questioned.
Present day
I opened my eyes to the ceiling of the hotel room. My back still in pain from the removal of the arrow head. I went to pick myself up off the bed as I saw an arm strewn across my chest. Cautiously I turned my head to see a half naked Flyresa asleep in my bed. I had a massive blush on my face as I slowly removed her arm and got out of bed.
"What the hell? Why is she in my bed?" I whispered quietly as a light knock came from the room door. I slowly walked over to the door and opened it to Sil.
"The tournament is in an hour. Just wanted to make sure you were up and ready." Sil said.
"I just got up but I'll be downstairs in 30. Can you cover me if I run late?" I asked him as he nodded.
"Yea, I got you. By the way, where is Flyresa? I checked by her room and she wasn't there." He commented as I chuckled nervously.
"Well uhh...she stayed with me last night." I said nervously as he looked inside the room seeing her on the bed.
"I understand now." He chuckled.
"We did not sleep together asshole." I snapped back as he hid his laughter.
"Then how do you explain a half naked girl in your bed?" He asked.
"Just go downstairs. I'll be there soon." I said shutting the door in his face. Taking a deep breath before turning around to the now awake Flyresa.
"Going off his question. Why are you in my bed half-naked Flyresa?" I asked her as she covered herself embarrassed half to hell.
"Well...after you passed out. I stayed to make sure you would be alright without me. You starting shivering and...well I..." She tried speaking.
"You used your body heat to keep me warm right?" I said.
"I'm sorry! It must have been wrong for me to do what I did. I just didn't know what to do at the time." She apologized quickly. I leaned down to her with a smile on my face.
"You don't need to say sorry. In fact I'm impressed that you went to such measures to make sure I was safe. Thank you." I said as she chuckled. "Something funny?" I asked.
"I don't know how to say it without the embarrassment." She said.
"Then just say it. There really isn't anything to be embarrassed about." I said.
"Kyran would you like to.."
A knock interrupted the conversation between us.
"Come on you two! Edana and Murasaki are waiting with Weiss downstairs. Hurry up." Sil said as the footsteps walked away.
"Damn it Sil, we will definitely continue this conversation later." I said.
"Definitely." She smiled.
Main Lobby
"Where are they? This isn't like Flyresa." Murasaki commented waiting in the lobby.
"I'm just sure they are held up somewhere Murasaki. Besides, my spot doesn't open up just anytime soon." Weiss said.
"She is right you know." I said as they all looked over to me and Flyresa.
"Have fun playboy?" Edana said in a flirty tone.
"Don't start. Murasaki, where are we with transport?" I asked.
"Well sweetheart, we have the two cars ready to take the Heiress to the tournament whenever you are ready." He said as my phone vibrated. It was a blocked caller.
"One moment." I said walking off to the side and answering the phone. "Hello?" I asked.
"I know who you are and what you are about to do." The feminine voice said.
"Who the hell is this?" I asked.
"That's for me to know and for you to discover. However this isn't the purpose of this call. What I am going to tell you is this. Sil and Edana: You ever consider how convenient it was that two former partners you have worked with in the past come back to save you in the nick of time?" She said.
"Now that you mention it."
"Don't trust them Kyran."
"Then give me a reason to trust you." I demanded.
"You want a reason? Just remember this then. I put an arrow in you." She responded before the call ended. I slipped the phone back in my pocket before turning to the rest of the group.
"Ready now?" Murasaki asked.
"Yes but we are having a change of plans." I said as they all gave a confused look. "Sil, Edana and Murasaki will ride in the car in front. I'll take the back car with Flyresa and the Heiress. Is that acceptable?" I asked.
"Alright then, let's go." Murasaki said as we all started for the door before Flyresa stopped me.
"Kyran this isn't in the plan for the security detail." She said.
"Well neither is Sil appearing yesterday, or Edana two months earlier. So we are going with the plan alright?" I said with a concerned tone.
"Is something wrong?" She asked.
"I'll explain on the way. Do you trust me Flyresa?" I asked her.
"I don't even know what you are going on about."
"Do you trust me?"
"I...yes I trust you Kyran." She said.
"Then let's go. I have a bad feeling about today." I said.
Don't trust them Kyran...
But why should I trust you Archer? However the better question is...
Why are you helping me?
