Chapter 37

'So that little monkey-bot was meant to be you?' Joey shot him a look from the driver's seat as they finally starting making their way after Kaiba.

'Yes,' Tristan rolled his eyes.

'So everything you said about not wanting to change the past was a load of bull?'

'No, I just... you wouldn't understand.'

'No way dude, you're not giving me that one. The only reason you convinced me to go after rich boy in this damn truck is because you promised me you would give me some answers. So give me answers.'

'I couldn't lose again,' Tristan begrudgingly gritted his teeth.

'Was being a monkey the first time really so bad?'

'No, it wasn't, it really wasn't; that's not...' he turned his head away. 'It's another duel... another loss... There are a lot of bad things we as a group have to go through before things really start turning around.'

'And one of those things involved you promising Kaiba you'd never lose again? Kaiba of all people?'

'I lost more than just a duel that day; I lost a part of myself I can never get back. Seto didn't need to make me promise anything, just the thought of losing leaves a cold feeling in my stomach.'

'So what exactly did you lose?'

'You should concentrate on the road ahead Joey, part of the bridge is missing and I'd really rather not go over it.'

'Don't worry, I've already seen it,' Joey rolled his eyes as the truck began to slow down. 'But seriously, what did you lose that day?'

'A part of my soul,' his voice was low and mute.

Before Joey could ask any more questions and before the truck had fully stopped moving, Tristan jumped out and focused his attention on the duel between Leichter and Kaiba. It had taken him a while to get Joey to stop asking questions and drive, so they were late to the party and Tristan was just praying that wouldn't have too much of an effect on their timeline.

'What the hell's with that freaky dueldisk rich boy's using?' Joey and the others arrived next to him just as Leichter launched his Satellite Cannon into the sky.

'Just shut up and watch Joey,' Tristan folded his arms, 'you've asked enough questions for now.'

'Shouldn't I be the one to decide that?'

'Is Kaiba using brail?' Serenity took a curious step forward as she and the others watched Kaiba make his move.

'Brail,' Joey frowned, 'as in writing for blind people? Why would rich boy need to use that?'

'Uh,' Téa gasped in realisation, 'is that why he was freaking out at the start of his duel with Ishizu?'

'Is what why he was freaking out?' Joey shot her a look. 'Wait... is Kaiba blind?' He turned his attention towards Tristan again.

'Not here he isn't.'

'But he is in your own time, right?' Joey laughed. 'Well it couldn't have happened to a more deserving...'

'You take that back,' Tristan's temper got the better of him as he slammed Joey back against the truck. 'I'm sick and tired of you ridiculing him every chance you get. You have no idea the hell he went through; he almost died and in my time you gave enough of a damn to want to kill the guy who...' he cut himself off and backed away. 'I'm not going to lie and say the two of you are best friends, because you're not. But you do have a mutual respect for each other; a respect every single word out of your mouth is damaging right now. So do me a favour and shut the hell up.'

'Geez Tristan, does everyone in your time get this touchy over rich boy's near death experience, or is it just you?'

'I doubt there's anyone in my time who wouldn't get pissed off at your callous remark,' he folded his arms and turned his attention back towards the duel, 'that's just the nature of our village.'

'Your village?' Téa was the one to cock an eyebrow.

'Why bother asking the question Téa, it's not like he's going to answer,' Joey rolled his eyes.

'Actually, I will answer that one, it may be the only way to get anything through that thick head of yours,' Tristan half glanced in Joey's direction. 'We say village because that's how it was original presented to us.'

'How what was originally presented to you?'

'Our crazy messed up family,' a slim smile twigged at his lips, 'because that's what we are, what we all our; one big, crazy, messed up family and there isn't a single one of us who would have it any other way.'

'So how long is it going to take?' Lus shot Arados a nervous look.

'Well the programs in place now, it should start running automatically once they reach the right point.'

'Why couldn't we just interrupt the story where they are?'

'Because that would cause too many glitches,' Arados sighed. 'You haven't had a whole lot of sleep the last twenty-four, have you?'

'What makes you say that?' Lus suppressed a yawn.

'Because you're acting like you don't understand anything I just did and we both know you're programming skills are a little better than that.'

'We also know Taylor's skills are a lot better than either of ours,' his gaze twisted towards their friend.

'I know and he probably could have done a more efficient job, but...'

'He's not exactly himself right now,' a darkly amused and familiar voice sounded from the doorway.

Without hesitation, Arados turned and charged at their intruder.

'Firen,' Crovell rolled his eyes, stepping to one side before Arados could touch him, 'it's always fists first, questions later with you, isn't it? You'll never change.'

Clearly enraged, Arados charge him again, this time landing a direct blow and sending his brother flying back into the wall.

'Barbaric Standing Neanderthal,' the elder Lutoni pulled himself to his feet, 'you're not even capable of words, are you?'

'Muton fo!'

'Prove my point why don't you?'

'Stay away from my sister.'

'Your sister? Your sister? She was never your sister, she was always mine.'

'If you think of her as a sister, how can you...?' Arados turned his head away in disgust.

'Beto ven baias zes muton tahr.'

'Muton sai!' Arados glared back at him.

'Arn, stas ven arla muton tahr.'

Letting out another cry of anger, Arados charged him again, connecting another blow and once again sending his brother flying backwards.

'Come on lus braysta, is that all you've got?' Crovell taunted as he pulled himself to his feet once more.

'No its not, I've been holding back, but I won't do that again this time,' his body began to glow with a luminous white light.

'Take your best shot,' Crovell stretched his arms out in a theatrical manner.

'Don't mind if I do.'

Balling his hand into a fist, he threw all his weight into a blow against his brother's cheek snapping the elder Lutoni's head sideways. A look of dignified rage then spread across his face as Arados raised his fist again, ready to connect another blow. But before he could Jo caught hold of his arm.

'That's enough,' her voice was level.

'But…' he stared back at her in confusion, 'I… I'm protecting you.'

'From what?'

'From… from him… from…'

'I don't need protection Ara; he won't do anything to me unless I want him to.'

'Then tell him you don't… tell him you don't want to do... that and make him go away again.'

She made no attempt at a reply. Instead she just stood there holding his gaze as though that were enough of an answer.

'Jo tell him,' Arados's voice began to break a little, 'make him go away so everything can be right again.'

Still she remained silent and the eeriness of it began to get to Lus.

'Jo tell him. Tell him!'

'I can't,' the words came out of her in a single breath.

'No,' Arados shook his head, 'don't say that, you have to. You have to tell him. You have to make him go away.'

'I can't.'

'Jo don't do this to me,' Arados's eyes brimmed with tears, 'don't tell me you want it too. Please don't tell me that, I don't want both of you to be so… so sick. Jo please tell me you don't want it.'

For a long while there was an unnerving hush as brother and sister silently stared each other down. The tension in the room was so high even Taylor had taken his gaze away from the monitor in order to see what was going on. The atmosphere was suffocating and there was only one person who could break it. Lus forced his gaze back towards Jo and Arados. Neither of them had moved a muscle in what felt like forever. Crovell on the other hand, had risen to his feet with a curious smirk on his face and his gaze patiently focused on his sister.

'Jo…' the word was so soft it was almost as if Arados hadn't spoke, 'please tell me you don't. Please make him go away. Please.'

'I can't.'

'Please.'

'I can't,' she swallowed hard, 'I can't tell him that I don't want it. I can't tell him to go away again. Because I can't tell him what isn't true.'

'Jo...' Arados's eyes were large with pain.

'I'm sorry Ara, I know this is hard for you to understand, but…' she turned her head away, 'I need him like that.'