Chapter Twenty-One

Trauma

Her gray eyes lit up when they noticed me. My stomach coiled at the sight. She brushed her shoulder against mine and, wearing a playful smile, asked, "You sitting around waiting for the world to end again? Get a move on, lazy ass!"

I informed her with minimal kindness that I was not a lazy ass and I was, in fact, performing the task she herself had assigned me. If she were to look with her own two eyes for more than a millisecond, maybe she could tell without me having to-

She grabbed my assault vest, pulled my body against hers, and kissed me. Her tongue ran over her lips afterwards, and she brushed her dark hair behind her ear. My head was spinning and I couldn't break free of the silence she'd forced on me. Damn her for always managing to do that. She said, "You have a nice taste, you know that?"

Yes. Well, I did since she told me the first time and I never stopped chewing the same kind of gum. I wondered if I was addicted to it, or her, or both. She laughed again as though she could hear my thoughts. She pushed a rifle into my hands. "You're shooting today. I know you have my back."

She knew. I had to make sure of the other part, though. I always had to make sure she knew: "I love you."

She grew another grin. Her mouth opened and she spoke, but I couldn't hear the words. I said, "What?"

She spoke again, her agitation noticeable. Once again the silence was unbroken. Panic befell me. "I can't hear you. I can't. Please, say it again. Please say it. Please let me hear you-"

An explosion shattered the silence.

I jolted awake. My hand moved to clutch at my rapid heart. A dream. Nothing more, nothing less. I was in my bed in New Domino City. The bars of moonlight cast upon the floor from the window told me it was far later than I'd thought.

I glanced to my right. My tablet was flickering through Rain Orichalcum's memories. I'd gone over them once before, when I first captured her. There were many mysteries within, such as the fuzzy portions of her Atlantian history before she donned the Black Vulture title.

I had not pulled the memories back up in attempt to tie those loose threads, though. No, I wanted to study exactly how Rain Orichalcum had recovered from her 'partner's' death. From what I saw, it was purely the Crimson Dragon's influence that saved her. The Signers couldn't pull her out of her despair, but they were certainly shoulders to cry on.

So she was at fault for my nightmare.

No, that wasn't fair to say. It was my fault for being curious. I did wonder, though. What if she hadn't had divine intervention? Would she find a goal to strive for beyond the nihility if the Crimson Dragon had not thrust one upon her? Would she have kept living her pointless life?

"I can't give up," she'd thought when considering ending her life in the wake of Kessler's demise. "He would never."

It may have been inspiring if he hadn't been the one to come closest to murdering her. Still, the scene inspired a certain… feeling. It was probably because I didn't think she could be more pathetic than usual.

But there was something deeper there, though I did not want to acknowledge it. I shared a part of her, a part chained to the unrelenting desires of our ghosts. Rain Orichalcum and I were alike.

The thought made me sick enough to vomit.

Hold on. I blinked. Orichalcum. Orichalcum. I touched the empty right side of my bed. The vile woman wasn't taking up my space anymore. No wonder it was so cold. As though that was a problem. No, the absence of her annoying habits was a positive if I ever heard one.

I hopped out of bed and crossed the room. The couch was empty. I walked through every room and the result was the same. Had she never returned? Perhaps she decided to sleep on a City bench like the hobo she was. I scowled and cursed Blister for his ability to remove the tracker in her face.

I grabbed my tablet. The duel records showed she had won against Jack Atlas. I would have been notified if there was a different result. I expected her to have attempted to dodge the duel entirely. If she won, why didn't she come back?

I pulled my white cloak over my shoulders and transported to the roofs above the DAIMON arena. The place was barren, though it bore more scars than last time. I leapt to the broken ground and picked up a fallen article.

It was a white bandage spotted with blood – the same she wore wrapped around her arms.

I clenched it in my fist. Orichalcum was always discovering new ways to make my life more difficult. Maybe it was for the best. Wherever she was, she was likely being a goddamned plague of a nuisance like always.

Wherever she was.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/

"You're back early," Martha said as she ushered me inside. She was more chipper than usual, which is to say she could be described as "chipper" and not "ready to bite my head off." She continued, "I've been waiting for you so I can ask: can I keep her?"

"…Huh?"

"Your girlfriend! Oh, sorry. Your 'friend.' Look!" Martha gestured towards a brownish, reddish cake in plastic wrap on the counter. "When I told her she was welcome to stay, she insisted on repaying me in some way. She whipped it up right here using real flour, spices, and carrots! I've never seen anything like it. I always use the mixes from the store and only on the kids' birthdays."

I stared at the cake. "How long ago did you eat it?"

"Oh, a few hours."

"So it's not, like, poisoned, or anything."

She set her hands on her hips and scowled. "That is not funny! She acted out of kindness!"

"Yeah, but that's not really like her. Well, it is, but… it's complicated."

Martha pulled back the plastic and sliced a piece, saying, "Try it. You won't regret it."

"…Fine."

She watched the gradual shift of my expression to sheer wonderment. "See! See? I told you so!"

"Don't 'I told you so' me! I never said you were wrong, I just wasn't expecting…" The best thing I've ever tasted… "I didn't even know she could do this."

"It's one of the greatest parts of relationships," she said, "discovering something new about your partner every day."

I rubbed the back of my neck. "Please tell me you didn't say anything to her about us being partners."

"I never had the chance." She pointed outside the large, arched window. Rain was sitting in front of Martha's garden at the edge of the forest. She was cross-legged, and her shoulders were hunched. "She's not a conversationalist. Some of the kids tried to talk to her, and they came back to ask me if she was a statue!"

A butterfly came to rest on Rain's head of black hair. "…You don't say."

Martha gave me a look. "What's her name?"

"Rain," I said. "It's Rain."

"Well, Kalin," she started while pushing me towards the door, "you go and tell Rain she can be my chef anytime."

"What, you mean- I can't talk to her!"

She tapped her chin with a finger. "It's very chilly out there. I wouldn't let the kids outside for long."

"Really? Do you think she's okay, or…"

A snicker caught my attention. Martha had covered her mouth with her hands. My expression flattened. "I really do not appreciate this right now."

"Kalin! You have no idea how long I've waited for the day you have a soft spot! It's not bad! It's adorable! Your voice went up that concerned octave and everything!"

I glared at her. "Like I said: Not. Appreciated."

She straightened and cleared her throat. "Then I'll tell you something you should appreciate. You have to learn that men and women have fundamental differences. Young women like her especially experience more sensitivity than your boy gangs or whatever you're doing these days. What I'm saying is: you need to be as gentle and supportive as is possible… for you."

Martha's judgemental stare could do nothing to my tiny smile. She didn't remember giving me the damn near exact same speech a year ago – though last time there was a lot more yelling included. She didn't have to know that I'd heard it all before, though. "Thank you. You honestly have no idea how helpful that is."

"Hm. I expected you to fight me on it."

Oh, I did. Nope, I thought, there's no way the kickass chick I found was sensitive. I learned from that one quickly enough. Emotions weren't any indicator of strength; they're just a part of us.

I was also sort of a dumbass, so there's that. "Nah, you're totally right."

"Nice to hear you've finally got a head on your shoulders." She opened the door and gave me another push. "You'll be just fine."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/

This was one confusing world.

Days ago, I awoke to Primo's miserable visage waving Master's card around like a prize. He would look far nicer with a snapped neck, I wanted to say. And I did. In a different language.

I kept telling myself not to linger on it, or the lights shining in the city as though all the stars had fallen, or the strange outfits people were wearing. The more questions I asked, the deeper hole I dug myself into. I clung to small pieces of home in an attempt to grasp what little sanity I had. The note in my hands was one of them – written in my language. I focused on a small passage in the middle, and the symbols curved in my brother's immaculate handwriting: "If you need somewhere to stay, or anything at all, you can always come to me. I sincerely apologize for what I did and said to you."

I repeated the words mentally. They and the serenity of the garden allowed a moment of peace. Someone had to break it, as always. I could hear the soft clink above the sweeping fall wind. It was his holster hitting his belt whenever he took a step, and it was, quite frankly, a horrid sound.

I slapped the note shut and said, "Took you long enough, Kessler."

English, Primo called it, rolled off the tongue about as well as oil would. The cowboy-looking dolt sat beside me in similar meditating fashion. Our knees were far too close to touching, so I shifted an inch away. He spoke in the same grating sounds I was forced to. "You… were waiting for me?"

He did not look at me. He was watching the sway of the goldenrods. I couldn't blame him. The way they stole the sunlight was breathtaking.

"Yes. I… I wanted to say…" I breathed in, puffed out my cheeks with air, and tightened my hold on the note. "I sincerely apologize for hurting you and your friends. I may have misjudged you, and for that, I am sorry. You… really did help me. I would not leave a debt unpaid, so if there is anything you would ask of me, ask away."

I kept my vision on the waving branches. Out of the corner of my eye, he was watching. His light blue eyebrows had lifted, and he side-eyed my face. I found his attention to be particularly disturbing. It wasn't that he was looking at me but more looking into me and putting together pieces of whatever puzzle he had on his mind.

"Is your idea of 'debts' why you baked the cake?"

"Yes."

His stare kept steady. What, did he want me to elaborate? As if. He said, "It's good. Like, mind-blowingly good."

"No, it's not. I messed up my ratios, so it's too sweet."

"All in your head," he said.

I snapped my stare to him. "Why do you keep doing this- this, assuring? It makes no sense. I attacked you, threatened you, and you respond by rescuing me and bringing me here. What would possess you to help your enemy?"

Kalin grasped the harmonica hanging around his neck and dropped his gaze. "I've never seen you as an enemy, Rain."

There it was again, the way he tacked my name on and said it like it really meant something. I thinned my eyes. "You had my bracelet. You know about my soul mark. You know about the worst day of my life. What else do you know?"

"One hundred and seventy-eight."

My breath caught. He knew my first day's kill count. He knew I'd killed hundreds of his kind when I threatened him, and he knew when he held my hand. Not only that, but with a touch so gentle-

I shook my head. "How did you recognize me in the disguise?"

"I'd seen you use the deck before," he said, "and just as well. What's the costume about, by the way? Does the whole 'Black Vulture' getup mean something to you?"

I crossed my arms. "Not worth talking about."

"I think it is."

"Who said your opinion was worth anything?"

He focused on the distance, his eyes darting from leaf to leaf as though placing more puzzle pieces into their slots. "You said I could ask something of you because I helped you. How about I ask you some questions, and you have to answer me?"

Oh, joy. An interrogation. "If that is what you choose to request, I will honor it."

"Honor is pretty important to you, isn't it?"

"Even murderers have their credos, Kessler."

"…It's Kalin," he corrected. "What's your credo?"

"I always repay my debts, and I always keep my promises."

His head fell to the side. "But the debts can have negative connotation, too."

"Yes."

He held up a hand and said, "Okay, okay, I'll get to the real questions now…"

I braced myself. He'd find out about Primo and Master. How could I even explain monsters in this age? Primo said humans and monsters didn't come into contact anymore. Not to mention once I talked about Primo, he'd surely off me… Oh well. There's no way out of it. I just needed to accept-

"So! What's your favorite food?"

I blinked. "Um, what?"

"Oh, y'know, like, mine is a good plate of chicken parm." He shrugged his shoulders. "Though, to be honest, carrot cake is threatening its position. How 'bout you?"

"No, I, I know what you were asking, I just- it's blueberry pie."

"Hm, I see. Do you only bake cakes and pies, or..?"

"Nah, all kinds of things. I can roast, work a frying pan, manage an oven, and do some barbecuing." I grasped my arm. "I'm not very good, though. I mean, my brother taught me everything, and he was way better."

"What you do is amazing in its own right," he said. "Hell, I tried to make chicken, and I burned it so badly it was this little, shriveled up thing."

I clasped my hands together. "Failure is wonderful, because as long as you have it, you always have opportunities to learn. It is but a step to the next success."

He grew a small smile. "Too true. Hey, is it true what you said yesterday, about entering a bunch of tournaments?"

"…Yes."

"So how long did it take for you to reach the top?"

"How did you know-" I puffed a sigh. "Several months."

"Was there a particular reason why everyone cheered against you?"

"The Shadow," I said. His eyebrows perked up. "Apparently it does not exist in your backwards culture, so I'll explain. The Shadow is a creature resembling a cross between a man and a black vulture. Its visit means you are close to death, and it waits to feed upon your decaying flesh. The mere mention of the Shadow's name would get an Atlantian in trouble. Dressing up like it was beyond taboo, so… they hated me. They wouldn't call me 'Shadow,' either. They stuck to 'Black Vulture.'"

"If you knew that, why'd you pick it?"

I observed the bloody undersides of my forearms. "No reason."

"You don't have to lie to me," he whispered. His irises caught all the sunlight like my favorite flowers.

"Fine! It was because I met the Shadow – on my worst day, the day you said Ranue 'saved' me. What all, exactly, do you know about that day?"

"I know what he said to you," he said. "That's it."

Huh. No wonder he's still treating me like… I scanned the stained bandages again. Like I'm someone, not something. "Well, you know what they say. What goes around, goes around."

He choked on what sounded suspiciously like a laugh. "It's 'what comes around, goes around.'"

"Incorrect," I said. "Because that makes no sense whatsoever."

"Really? That really doesn't make sense compared to yours?"

I stuck out my lower lip. "No, it doesn't."

"Anyway, moving on!" he said with gusto. "What would you say is your dream date?"

Noticing my confused expression, he said, "Like if you're dating someone?"

"…A date is a fruit, you dunce. You cannot date someone any more than you can apple them."

He rolled his eyes and leaned back on his palms. "No, that's not what I mean. A date's… It's, like, an outing with someone you're romantically interested in. That make sense?"

"Oh." I frowned and twisted the black locks of hair from the end of my braid around my finger. "I g-guess I'd rather not go on one."

"No answer is still an answer," he said. "Any reason for that, though?"

"Um." I swallowed hard. "Well, I… I used to have a garden a lot like this one. I loved my flowers, and taking care of them, and his idea of a date was to burn it to the ground."

"What?" His eyes were wide, and his hand flattened over the chest of his dark green shirt. "Jesus! That's psychopathic!"

I hugged my knees to my chest. "How much longer is this question game?"

He sighed. "I'm sorry, Rain."

"For what?"

"I have to keep going."

"…Okay…"

"Because I really, really have to know…"

"Just ask already!"

He twisted his torso to face me, draped his forearm over his wounded knee, and asked, "How're you doing?"

I flinched. "What- what does that mean?"

"It means," he said, "on a scale of 'okay' to 'not okay,' where are we at?"

"Um. I, I guess not okay." I wrapped my arms tighter around my legs. "I don't know where I am. It must be far from where I'm supposed to be, because I can't smell the ocean like I could back there. If I can't get back, I have no way to save my Master, and if I c-can't help him-"

Kalin shot to his feet. "If you need to get back to that dueling arena, I can show you the way."

"You can? But… that means I'll go back to dueling your friends, and being your enemy."

The long locks of his hair spun when he shook his head. "Not the last part. You have someone who needs you, and I want whatever you want. Besides. Since I brought you here, it's only fair I show you the way back. Your choice is your own. I wouldn't take it away from you."

I stared at my palms. My choice was my own? No, that'd never been true – even if he said it like it was. I was Primo's 'hired help,' after all. More like his slave. "Yeah. Let's go."

I stood, brushed off my jeans, and matched Kalin's slow gait. He said, "Can you really smell the ocean?"

"The salt in the air. It's not here."

"Interesting. We're pretty far inland, but we're on an island right now."

We were walking through a glittering maze of glass buildings. Homes of glass struck me as a huge safety hazard, but I was probably considered some sort of mongrel by the people of this age. Oh, wait. I was by the people of my age, too. I cleared my throat and asked, "Is the game over now?"

"Sure," he said, "unless there's something you want to ask me."

"There is. It's been bothering me ever since I first saw you. Your shirts, every one of them, have the same issue with this neck lining, the V-shape. They are all off center, and most in different ways. It's like a mistake I would make, so I'm wondering why you would purchase clothing with such obvious issues."

Kalin stopped in his tracks. His fingers skimmed his shirt's neck, and he laughed to himself. His normally small smile was obnoxiously wide. "I thought they were bought from somewhere, but they were actually made by someone very important to me. That makes them perfect."

"I don't think that's what 'perfection' means."

He flashed a massive grin, saying, "We have different definitions."

Kalin led me to the island's edge, where I could smell the ocean again. A wide bridge blue like the sky spanned a large bay. He guided us to a nearby strip meant for walkers only. The other was packed with some cars and many motorcycles, which seemed to be crazy popular. I thought the car would be the invention to catch on, but what did I know?

We were filtered into the throng of people crossing the bridge. Warm bodies brushed my shoulders, which I caved inward in a weak attempt to make myself less noticeable. A thousand mutterings rolled together like a buzzing in my ears. I watched the steps of my brown boots but saw several glances my way out of the corner of my eye. My heart thumped faster and faster. I shoved towards the edge, leaned over the water, and breathed in salty air.

Forearms pressed into the railing beside me. That long, creepy black coat was hard to mistake. I had to admit the leathery scent was nice, though. Kalin whispered, "What's wrong?"

If I were to lie and say nothing, he would probably give me one of those looks again. I scratched at my pumping heart and muttered, "It's not like this where I'm from. There are so many people packed into one tiny place, and it feels like- like they're all looking at me. I'm… it was like I couldn't breathe."

He considered the glittering waves far below us. The setting sun cast its blush reflection upon them. He cleared his throat and said, "I'm sure it's not because there's anything wrong with you, if that's what you're worried about."

"You're kidding," I grumbled. "Something must make us stick out. They stare at you, too. There's no way you didn't notice. You got even more attention than me."

"Oh." He glanced back at the passing crowd before focusing on a random point in the distance. "I didn't notice. I was only looking at you."

"…Um, what?"

Kalin angled his head to look at me, an unassuming expression on his face. His eyes slowly widened, and he snapped his eyes in the opposite direction and covered his mouth with his sleeve. "No way… There's no way I said that out loud…"

I hugged myself and frowned. "I'm really that noticeable?"

He held up his hands as though a gun were pointed at him. "No, it's not for anything bad. The opposite!"

"There's not much 'good' going on here."

He laughed as though I'd told a joke. Kalin broke off abruptly and glanced to the few clouds drifting across the peach sky. "Uh, new question. Any reason for dyeing the hair? It's a pretty drastic change."

"I thought this game was over."

Kalin shrugged his shoulders and said, "Hear me out and try answering a couple."

"…Okay. I wanted to look as different as possible, and it's the best way." I chewed the inside of my cheek. "I used to be… a bit of a doormat, to tell the truth, and I'd like to be the furthest from her."

"Hard to imagine," he commented. "While I've known you, you've been more like an unstoppable force when your mind is set on something."

I set my cheek on my fist. "That's because I've given up on trying to be liked."

"Oh! Right. Because you don't have to try at all."

"You should really know flattery won't get you anywhere," I said, carefully ignoring the flip my stomach had done. He smiled like he knew something I didn't. "What do you want from me to be complimenting me this much?"

"…Well. Are you feeling any better?"

My heart rate had decreased over the course of his questioning without my noticing. I supposed it was less like an interrogation than I had first thought, and his presence was oddly calming. "Yeah, I am."

"Want to try again?"

I glanced to the stream of people, which was not any thinner. "I- I'm not sure."

"…I think I know what could help you. Will you be okay on your own for a few minutes?"

I hunched my shoulders and pouted. "Um, duh."

He nodded and merged into the crowd. Panic spiked my heart when I realized I was relying entirely on him in unknown territory. If he abandoned me, I would be completely lost.

I dug my brother's note out of my pocket and read his kind words again. I wondered if he would be proud of my apology. It was really difficult, but I hoped it didn't sound half-assed or anything. Kalin seemed like an alright person. I… actually wasn't expecting him to leave me alone. Though it wouldn't be a shocker if he did.

"Hey!" Kalin broke free of the crowd and leaned on the railing to catch his breath. "Sorry it took a little longer than expected. Here."

He handed me a black, hooded jacket. Its outer shell was a sheer, slick material and the inside was ultra-soft gray. I pulled it on, and the plush lining was warm on my raised skin. Though the size appeared a tad long the sleeves fit snugly to my wrists. "Um, is this yours?"

"What? No. I just bought it."

"But it… but you… why?"

He reached over my shoulder and dunked the hood over my head. It covered my eyes and blocked out my surroundings except for whatever I focused on. I lifted the lip of the hood with my thumb so I could look at Kalin. An idiotic grin spread across his face. "What's your deal?"

"None. It looks cu- uh, nice. You'll blend right in."

"Really? You think so?"

"For sure," he said with his usual, smallish smile. "Let's get going."

He melded into the crowd, and I did my best to keep on his heels. He walked at a brisk pace, though. That was probably normal for him. Curse my short legs. Someone bumped into me. I frowned and held the offended shoulder. By the time I looked back up, Kalin was gone. I wanted to keep moving but I was frozen in place. A cold claw grasped my pumping heart. I tugged my hood lower in an attempt to block out all the dirty looks I was getting for standing in the middle of a busy walkway like an idiot. Idiot, weak, dumb-

An outstretched hand entered my vision. Kalin was posted up in front of me like a rock splitting the stream of the crowd. I thought he would say something reassuring but he stood there, hand held out, and kept his hazel eyes pinned on me. Somehow that was reassuring in and of itself.

I placed my hand in his. His grasp was tender, and he led me through the crowd without haste. When he noticed I was struggling to keep up, he slowed to a comfortable pace. We wove through smaller streets into less populated areas, but he never let go of my hand.

Kalin stopped beside a thin alley marked by an odd symbol. The dueling arena, I realized. Twilight's purple-navy gradient rippled along the sky. The little light from the horizon shone orange against the odd mark lining down the right side of his face. When he shrugged his shoulders, it lifted my hand with his. "Here we are. If you need to know how to get someplace else, I'll help you the best I can."

He smiled down at me, and his fingers intertwined with mine as though it was the most natural gesture in the universe. I stared at our hands, at him, and back again. I opened my mouth to speak. Instead of words a bout of nervous laughter poured out. My hands slapped over my mouth and heat crept to my cheeks. I backed away a few steps and sprinted away from him and the arena.

What an idiot I was. Idiot, idiot, idiot…

/\/\/\/\/\/\/

"You didn't come back last night. That wasn't part of our deal." I scowled at Orichalcum. "You're supposed to check in after every duel. You're lucky you made it in time for the one against Fudo tonight."

She had the hood of her jacket pulled over her head, and she was staring at her hand. "Sorry."

"Sorry? Since when do you respond with anything but a smartass comment?"

Rain snarled, "Did you know one of the greatest places to inflict torturous pain upon a human like you is the inner thigh? Because if you don't, you will."

"There she is. Tell me where you were, Orichalcum."

"I had a little accident during the duel and passed out afterwards," she said. "I woke up on some island at some lady's orphanage."

An orphanage in the Satellite? She must mean the woman Martha. "How did you get there?"

"I don't know." She dropped her stare and pinched the collar of her jacket together. "It had something to do with Kalin. He showed me how to get back here."

"Kessler? Why would he bring you back?"

"He said…" Her eyes tilted down, her rage fading. "He said it was my choice."

That couldn't be right. He has always done the opposite of giving her a choice. They have some alone time, and she suddenly has a soft side? Was the 'bond in darkness' Roman failed to account for really so powerful?

No. Bonds were fake. The world was too cruel to allow them to sustain, and it was justice to refuse them to someone as despicable as Kalin Kessler. I said, "Since you spoke to him, I assume you figured out the two of you have a history."

"You said to ignore what they said about me."

"Are you?" I asked, and her frown answered for her. "Let me ask, Orichalcum. Do you experience frequent, abrupt pain in your abdomen?"

Her hand went to her scarred stomach. "H-how'd you know about that?"

"And when you're running," I said, "do you experience an uncharacteristic shortness of breath?"

"Um, yeah," she muttered. "With the same pain as earlier."

"Do you find yourself sleeping longer than ordinary, and do you experience an abnormal level of exhaustion when you are awake?"

Rain bit her lip. "How are you guessing all this?"

"They are the direct result of an injury that left you comatose, and I'm about to show you exactly what caused it."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/

I crossed the Fountain Plaza to reach the garage in its corner. I didn't keep a watch on me, so I hoped I wasn't late for the match – if it was even happening today after Rain…

I had a silly smile. She had done her adorable awkward laugh, which only got better every time I heard it. Whatever she'd done or been through, she was still her.

And goddamn was she amazing.

An unfamiliar voice from within the garage made me pause. It was… Carly. Carly Carmine, who was a Dark Signer but lost her memories. That meant she only knew me as an insane douchebag, so… I should stay put. Her voice called, "So that girl, Rain, really had a panic attack while you were dueling?"

Jack's distinct grunt responded. "Is that what you call it? She apparently started hyperventilating."

"I know what it could be! I did a report on PTSD in college. If something triggered it, she could have had a flashback. The people I interviewed mentioned the most common causes being trauma from war, abuse, and rape. One lady I spoke to was afraid to sleep next to her war vet husband because of his nightmares!"

Trauma? I thought about the night before she'd run away, when she'd shoved me out of bed in her sleep. She'd said, "My greatest fear is of being burned."

…Why hadn't I thought to ask her why? She mentioned fighting in an army in her past. Could that be it?

"Why's it bothering you so much?" Jack asked. "You should be more worried about me. The woman nearly broke my arm!"

"Yeah, but… when I met Rain, she seemed really nice! She was drunk as a skunk, but still! Besides! Yusei and Crow said you were a big ol' meanie to her."

Jack groaned. "I will admit I went a little over the top, but you should have seen what she did to my friends. They could hardly walk. I can only hope Yusei has better luck."

"Is he already facing her?"

"Should be," Jack answered. "He left a few minutes before you got here."

I broke into a brisk walk back towards the fountain. Maybe she would be at less risk of using her powers after today. Regardless, her against Yusei was an even match. He wouldn't assume she was some rookie-

"You're going the wrong way, Kessler."

The guy in the white bathrobe hissed my name like a snake. He had magically appeared behind me. The lengthy sword at his side was not drawn yet. I said, "The blackmailer's back. I was on my way to watch your last duel."

"Orichalcum is not there."

"So what? The deal's off, and you're giving her memories back?"

A corner of his mouth quirked up. "I have a new deal. She wants to duel you."

"…Why?"

"I provided her with some information. You see, I thought it would be cruel to rob her of the truth – in particular, the origin of those scars on her abdomen." My stomach dropped, and it must have been obvious to him. A smile reminiscent of Rain's that smile sprouted on his face. "Here's my new deal: You versus Orichalcum. You win and she goes back to normal. You lose… well. I can't promise you'll keep your life. She is not exactly ecstatic about some lies a certain Dark Signer told her."

My hand automatically went to my forearm. "How did you know-"

"I know everything. Take it as your reckoning, world-ender," he sneered. "She's waiting for you at your tower. I'm sure you don't need a refresher on where it is."

The blackmailer disappeared in a white flash. I couldn't move. My hands trembled. My only option was a… a rematch? At the same place where she almost died- no, where I almost killed her. With what she knows… she'd want to kill me this time.

But I had no other choice.

I walked to the DAIMON dueling arena, wore my familiar false smile, and spoke to Yusei, Toru, Misaki, and Crow. "Hey, guys. Turns out Rain's not dueling tonight. The blackmailer told me we'd have to wait 'till tomorrow. Sorry you all came out here for nothing."

As I left to find my runner, I felt bad about lying to them. But.

This was personal.

End of Chapter Twenty-One

A/N: Primo's the kinda guy to go around spamming his NOTP fics with flames :')

After next week's chapter we'll be taking a little break. A week or two maybe. You'll find out why. As usual, if you have any private questions/concerns you can PM me and I do always love your comments + support. (◕‿◕✿) You guys are the best!