Chapter Twenty-Seven

27

"You gotta duel too!?" Jaden exclaimed from the other end of the PDA communication function,"That's crazy!"

"Yeah, my family figured that since you and Syrus were given the opportunity to tag duel, since I was there too then as a student I should share the same punishment."

"Hey, at least we're not kicked out yet!"

"Yet, being the key word Jaden." Connar sighed,"This duel will determine if I get expelled."

"that's so lame!" Jaden stated,"Sy and I should come cheer you on!"

"I don't think that will work, Jaden." Connar sighed as she fell back onto her Slifer bed, "The Chancellor had to call my dad, he's the one arranging for my punishment duel against my uncle and I'm pretty sure he has it set for the same day as yours." she sighed once more, "Besides I am pretty sure he is making a spectacle event of yours and Syrus's match...all students-with the exception of myself-" she muttered,"Are required to attend yours. It's like an assembly or something."

"Then Sy and I can come after!" he stated,"We'll wipe the floor with our opponent's quickly then rush to your duel!"

Connar couldn't help but crack a smile, hearing her friend dispute about insisting to cheer her on.

"I Appreciate the sentiment Jaden," she said softly,"But my father has arranged it. There are to be no spectators. No exceptions."

"LAME!" Jaden huffed,"Why not!?"

"As- uh...part of my punishment!" she defended quickly with this excuse. She didn't know how she would explain the situation being because her father is Seto Kaiba and he would be watching. Plus...it wasn't entirely a lie.

"Since you and Syrus have been dubbed the reason I got in trouble-his words not mine-until the final verdict is in we are not allowed to see each other." she stated,"We can't meet in the morning, we can't hang out in the evening, we can't eat together in the chow hall, we can't sit together in class..." She counted on her fingers the many things they weren't allowed to do as she listed,"In fact we aren't supposed to have any contact at all during this time so we are already violating the punishment with this phone call." she chuckled and sighed, "In fact, these same rules apply to Norika, too..."

"Man, your dad takes grounding to a whole new level!" he chuckled,"Seriously strict. We can't have any contact at all even though we're practically neighbors!?" he laughed,"I'm not a bad guy! Honest! I can meet your dad myself and apologize formally if you want-"

"NO!" Connar said that louder than she meant to and quickly covered by clearing her throat," It's okay Jaden, really, I made my own bed with this one...I'll lay in it." she blinked.

"Well all right..." Jaden sighed,"Just hang tight Connie, we'll definitely hang out again soon!"

"I sure hope so." she said softly,"I like hanging out with you and Syrus."

"Hey, what about me!?"

Connar giggled as she heard Chumley's voice bellow through the other side of the PDA clearly using Jaden's.

"And Chumley too."

"See if I make you a grilled cheese again!"

"HaHa come on, don't be cruel, Chum!" Jaden joked.

"Yeah, my father specified on Jaden and Syrus. He didn't say I couldn't hang out with you, Chumley!"

"Well I figured as their room mate who was also at the abandoned dorm, the same rules applied."

"Speaking of applied rules..." Connar paused a moment, "Has anyone seen or heard from Norika? How is she?"

Jaden sighed softly and remained silent for a moment.

"...I'm sorry, Connie." said Jaden, "But I haven't seen or heard anything from Norika." he stated, "I'm not sure what's going on with her right now..." he sighed, "I think she feels bad about how we just left you alone at the infirmary..." he gritted his teeth a moment, "I'm sorry about that..."

"It's okay..." said Connar, "I know you were trying to keep things on the down low about the whole situation." she stated, "It's not exactly like we can sit here and tell them all that the spirits did it." she blinked, "Imagine how that would go over..."

"Good point." said Jaden, "Still I-Oh. " he blinked.

"What's up?" asked Connar.

"It's Syrus." said Jaden, "He's back now so I better split." he grinned.

"Hey...is that Connar?" Syrus asked.

"Later, Connie!" Jaden laughed.

"Hey, let me talk to her!" said Syrus as he tried to fight for Jaden's PDA.

"Then call her on YOURS Sy!" Jaden laughed.

"Come on, Jay, you know we're not allowed!"

"So you'd rather use mine!?" Jaden laughed.

"You already have her on! Come on, Jay!"

"HaHa well, I think you see our point, Connar." Jaden laughed as he continued playing keep away with his own PDA,"Everyone misses you!" he stated,"And we're all really glad you're okay."

Jaden gave his pink haired friend a warm smile to which Connar returned the gesture.

"Thank you, Jaden." she said softly,"Good night."

Once she powered off the screen on her PDA she placed it on her night stand and heaved a heavy sigh. She rose from the bed after and stretched.

It had been days since she last saw her friends. They lived two doors down from her usual room, but for the sake of punishment, they had Connar moved to an empty room next to the Head Master's until the matters were resolved. Her father said she wasn't allowed to see them and that included Norika, but she still missed hanging out with them. She lifted herself off her mattress and made her way to the window to look out toward the beach when a familiar silhouette caught her attention.

"...Princeton?" she blinked and let out a soft gasp. She saw that the Obelisk was headed directly toward the Slifer Dormitory. She then quickly moved to duck out of the window, and peek out as she watched him make his way upstairs toward the room where Norika was staying alone.

Princeton?

She blinked.

What could he possibly want with Norika at this time?

Everyone knew that Connar had been moved and forbidden of contact so there was no other reason Chazz would be heading to her room if not for Norika.

Chazz stood firmly planted in the wood before the room that was Connar's and Norika's. Only this time...Connar wasn't in it. He took a deep breath with a serious expression before panting three sturdy knocks against the door. Norika could be heard fumbling from inside and finally made it to the door, pulling it open to be greeted by the face of Chazz Princeton.

He gazed intensely into Norika's dead amber eyes and she blinked in sudden realization on just who it was standing before her.

"Chazz?" she blinked, "What are you doing here?"

"Norika." he stated, "Come with me for a bit...would you?"

The girl blinked and rubbed her eyes, as though trying to be sure this wasn't some weird illusion.

"...Fine." She huffed when the reality hit, "Give me a minute to get ready."

Standing out with a heacy gaze into the evening sea, Chazz's hair feathered softly with the ocean's light wind and his tailcoats fluttered a bit as well. He shifted his eyes at the soft sound of approaching footprints in the sand and turned his head slightly to greet his Slifer guest.

"Norika." he said in a soft tone,.

"Okay, I'm here." Norika huffed, after having to try and quick pace with Chazz's power walk all the way to the beach, "What do you want, Chazz?" she blinked, "Why did you bring me here?"

"You know..." Chazz began, "This place..." he paused, "You have no way of knowing this, but Connar and I usually come here to...talk." he stated.

Norika blinked and took in the scenery.

"However...I'm currently not allowed to have any contact with Connar, right now." he stated, "Do you know why that is?"

"Boo hoo." said Norika, "It's not like you're the only one!" she huffed, "NONE of us are allowed to have contact with Connar right now!"

"That's not the point I'm making, Norika." said Chazz.

"Then...could you get to the point?" she asked.

"The point is..." said Chazz, "I KNOW why no one can talk to Connar right now." he stated, " I know the reason for this punishment and I know how it got to the point." he stated, "I know those slackers weren't the only ones at the dorm with Connar..." he glared, "You were too."

She gasped a bit and clenched a nervous fist.

"And I also know...you know something about what happened to Connar on your little misadventure." he leered at her and she twitched.

"I find it a bit annoying that Jaden and Syrus are paying the price for breaking the rules-not that I'm complaining about that- and Connar is paying for it too..yet...somehow you get away scott free!?" he huffed, " Well I'm not gonna let you get away with that!" he declared, "I always knew you were a bad influence..." he muttered, "And I know you know more than you let on!" he stated, "I'm under personal orders to find out what that is..." he stated and turned to face her.

"Oh, is that so?" she blinked, "Personal orders huh...? Whose orders?"

"I'm not at liberty to say..." said Chazz, "Just know that I am here to right some wrongs."

"Say what!?" Norika huffed and let out a grunt as she was suddenly slammed in the gut by a flying Duel DIsk that Chazz had tossed her. Blinking in confusion she looked up to see Chazz Princeton strapping on his own.

"Norika Satsuna..." he called, "I know that you know more than you let on-and I-The CHazz tend to find out!" he stated, "By challenging you to a duel...right here, right now."

"Pff...The Chazz?" Norika snorted.

"Shut up!" CHazz huffed as he blushed, " You WILL Duel me!" he stated, "ANd when I finish wiping the beach with you, you're gonna tell me everything you got that!?" he huffed.

"Oh...I didn't plan on running away." said Norika as she slid her own Duel Disk on and activated it, "After all...I have ALWAYS wanted to knock you down a few pegs..." she stated, "Now then...DUEL!"

To Be Continued...