Chapter Sixty
60
"I take offense to that statement~" Kaibaman chuckled and offered Jaden a hand to help him stand.
"Who the hell?" Chazz blinked as the presence that now stood before him dressed in a long white coat and a Blue Eyes Helm rang familiarity into him.
"It's Kaibaman!" Ojama beamed.
"Kaibaman?" Chazz blinked.
"Yeah, Kaibaman!" said Jaden,"He's Connar's spirit partner!"
"Spirit Partner!?" Syrus groaned,"Now I'm even more confused... as if that were possible."
"Wait, did you say Connar's!?" Chazz gasped as he shifted his attention now back onto the tallest being of their group,"You mean YOU'RE the one giving me the stank eye when I can't see you!?"
Kaibaman huffed in silence as he shot an icy cold stare at Chazz through his visor.
"So it IS you!" he huffed as he stood up and called him out,"I'd like to see you try and hide from me now, Spirit punk!" Chazz huffed,"What do you have against me anyway!?"
"It's simple really." he said firmly,"I just don't like you." he shot an icy glare through his visor with glowing blue eyes so bright one could mistake them for laser beams and Chazz gulped and stepped back a few feet.
"Uh...Y-You know what, I think I'll just stay back here minding my own business and just...let you...keep hating me! Yep! That works fine!" he gulped.
"Uhh...Boss?" Ojama whispered softly by Chazz's ear,"It's rrrreeeaaalllyyyy not very smart to make Kaibaman mad." he stated,"Especially not if it has anything to do with Connar..." Yellow blinked, "He loves her like a daughter, you know~"
"Yeah...no joke." Chazz whispered back,"He's just as scary as her actual father."
"What was that, Chazz?" Jaden blinked.
"Huh!? Uh-It's nothing!" Chazz coughed.
"Wait...Chazz?" Jaden blinked once more,"...Have you actually met Connar's father before?"
"Uhh...Y-Yeah...s-sorta...?"
Oh crap! Oh crap!
Chazz thought to himself.
I can't give away this information behind Connar's back!
She'll never forgive me! OH CRAP!
"So...What's he like?" Jaden asked.
"Huh?" Chazz blinked.
"Well I mean...she doesn't really talk about him so...do they have like...a strained relationship?'
"I...Well...uh..." Chazz gulped.
What the hell can I say here that won't be saying too much!?
"Yeah...I've known Connie for years and she hasn't talked about her dad once." Syrus sighed,"Apparently Zane knows some things about him." he blinked,"He says it was Connar's dad that decided to hire him as her babysitter anyway...though...that's all Zane said..." he sighed,"...Maybe they don't get along..."
"Yeah like...maybe he's real strict and mean to her?" asked Chumley.
"Strict is an understatement." said Jaden,"Remember how harsh her on-campus grounding was? None of us were even allowed to talk to her for like three weeks!"
"I assure you, there is nothing that means more to Connar's father than his daughter." Kaibaman stated,"And I shall leave it at that!" he huffed.
Yeah...
Chazz thought to himself.
And you seem to be the living proof of her father's love...
"Then I wonder why Connar doesn't talk about him..." Jaden sighed.
"Because it' none of your business, slacker!" Chazz huffed,"That's why!" he scoffed and crossed his arms with a slight smirk finally feeling like he had the upperhand for once.
"And so goes another thing I don't know about Connar..." Syrus sighed.
"So what gives, Kaibaman?" Jaden blinked,"Are you the one who brought us all here? The one that's in charge of this place?" he gasped,"Or is this some other Shadow Rider scheme!?"
"Hmmm..." Kaibaman smirked,"You sure ask a lot of questions, don't you Jaden? But I'm afraid you won't get any answers...unless you take me on in a duel now!"
"Grrh..." Jaden growled as he readied his duel disk,"Does Connar know you're doing this!?"
"Who says she has to?" he smirked,"From the looks of you, I can see that you accept my challenge...but from what I sense...I'm not so sure."
"What do you mean by that!?" Jaden snapped and Kaibaman let out an ominous chuckle.
"...I sense fear." said the spirit,"Yes, a deep fear that you will lose and you, and all of your friends...will pay most dearly!"
"Connar counts as one of those friends too!" Jaden huffed,"Or did you forget that!?"
"I have not." Kaibaman said, showing no remorse or regret.
"Then how could you do this to her!?" asked Jaden,"Put her at risk!?"
"What's this guy, talking about Jaden?" Chumley blinked.
"This is about your dream...isn't it, Jaden?" asked Syrus.
So he's been having nightmares to, huh?
Chazz blinked.
I wonder if he's picked up on some of the same things I have...
He growled and shifted his gaze over to Kaibaman.
Still...if this is about Connar...
And her Spirit Partner really did decide to go rogue and betray her...
Then...
He blinked and narrowed his eyes stepping forward.
"Look, Jaden, if you're so scared...then I'll duel him!" said Chazz,"Besides..." he huffed and shot a leer at the probing Duel Spirit,"...It seems he and I have a score to settle between us anyway." The two glared daggers at eachother with an intense animosity as Jaden stepped between them putting an end to their electric eye show down.
"No? Not backing down?" Kaibaman smirked,"Well then look forward to facing this card before the duel's end!"
"Blue Eyes White Dragon...?" Jaden gasped.
"Talk about a powerful beast..." Chazz gulped,"On second thought, Jaden, you got this one!"
"Are you all right?" Kaibaman asked,"You look like you've just seen a ghost, Jaden." he chuckled.
"More like a nightmare..."Jaden leered,"Come on, Kaibaman!" he huffed,"Let's give everyone here a show!"
"Let's Duel!"
"Well all right then..." Jaden said wearily as he took the first draw, starting out with Elemental Hero Bubble Man, which granted him use of its special effect, allowing him to draw two more cards, one of which being Bubble Blaster.
"Lishus!" said Chumley,"That grants Bubble Man 800 more attack points!"
Rumor has it that the Kaibaman card was created by Kaiba himself.
Chazz blinked as he annalyzed the duel closely.
If that's the case, then it's no wonder that he and Connar would be so closely bonded to the point that he'd call himself her Spirit Partner...
...And that he'd be so protective over her.
Chazz pondered.
Having said that...I don't think he's here against her will at all.
In fact...I have a hard time believeing he'd ever betray her!
That bond would be too strong!
Chazz closed his eyes and thought some more.
The fact that Jaden stated he is Connar's Spirit Partner specifically...
Goes to show that Connar bonded with this card in particular...
Which would be more than enough proof to state that Connar is actually bonded with her father!
...Atleast a little...right?
Adding onto that...
Chazz let out a small gasp.
I wouldn't be surprised if Connar sent him here herself!
"Hmmm..." Chazz blinked and focused on the Spirit standing unflinchingly against an unnerved Jaden.
The question is...why would she do that?
And more so...Why would Kaibaman deliberately go out of his way to not state that as the case, but instead make it seem like he really is here as an enemy!?
Something feels off about this...
he blinked.
This could be tough.
Talk about dejavu...
Jaden thought to himself.
Last night I dreamt about a Blue Eyes...and he's GOT one!
I just hope it doesn't end the same way the nightmare did...
He sighed as he thought back to scenes of his friends being engulfued by blue flames. And Connar falling into darkness.
NO!
he snipped to himself and shook his head.
I HAVE to win!
"Wishing you could back out now?" Kaibaman chuckled,"Too late...my move!"
The spirit drew from his deck once Jaden ended his turn and smiled as he gazed upon the card he drew with a warm smile.
Milady...you and I are bonded even now!
He thought to himself.
For even without your presence by my side...you are still with me!
"I summon forth...myself! Kaibaman!" he stated as his hologrammed reflection took to the field,"And now I'll sacrifice him to summon the one and only..."
Jaden gasped.
"Not him!"
"Oh you better believe it's him Jaden!" Kaibaman smirked,"The Legendary Blue Eyes White Dragon!" he grinned,"Feast your eyes on the beast that will feast upon your souls!"
"Our souls!?" Jaden gasped.
What!?
Chazz gasped.
Could I have miscalculated!? Could he really have betrayed Connar!?
"...This could be a very short duel..." Chazz muttered.
Though still some doubt lingered.
He just couldn't bring himself to believe Connar's favorite Hero would turn villain.
"3000 attack points!?" Syrus gulped nervously.
"Yes! And now, watch them all in action!" the spirit smirked as he sent his beast to destroy the enemy monster Jaden had defending him,"White Lightning Attack!"
"Hold it, Kaibaman!" Jaden called out,"Since Bubble Blaster is in play, it takes the hit for Bubble Man!"
"That means Jaden takes no damage!" said Syrus.
"Maybe so." said Chumley,"But with that equip spell gone, so is Bubble Man's attack bonus...which isn't what you want when staring down a Blue Eyes White Dragon!"
Upon Jaden's turn, he managed to fuse Bubble Man and Clayman to bring out Mud Ball man to defend him. A creature's whose defense was equal to the mighty Dragon's offense.
"Instead, I'll take this!" Kaibaman scoffed as he activated Pot of Greed and activated his spell card, Burst Stream of Destruction.
"Isn't that one of Blue Eyes's attacks?" Jaden blinked.
"Yeah. What's the deal with it being a separate card!?" asked Chazz.
"You're about to find out." Kaibaman stated,"I can only activate this card when Blue Eyes is out... and since he is..." he grinned,"I can now play it to destroy all of your monters!"
And Just like that. Jaden's last line of defense was destroyed right before his eyes, exposing him to the elements. Even though Blue Eyes can't attack on the turn this spell is used, Kaibaman had other moves he could make on his turn, summoning out Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands. A card that allows he who summons it to select a ritual card from the deck and place it into the hand.
"Though it won't stay in my hand for long...because I'm playing it!" Kaibaman smirked,"White Dragon Ritual! In order to bring out Paladin of the White Dragon!" he chuckled,"Even if Blue Eyes can't attack this turn, my Paladin will fill in for him just fine!" he shrugged,"While he may not be a dragon...he's managed to tame one. And if you ask me? I'd say that's tough!" he laughed,"Now, Paladin of White Dragon, Attack!"
Jaden took a frontal hit of 1900 point of damage bringing his 4000 life points almost to half.
"And I'm not done yet!" said Kaibaman,"By sacrificing my Paladin, I can summon another monster from my hand or deck...one you've already met." he ginned,"Care for a game of Guess Who?"
"...No thank you!" Jaden huffed.
"Suit yourself~" he smirked,"But here's a hint for you!"
In a matter of seconds another great white beast took over the field. One that Jaden was all too familiar with.
"Oops...I guess I gave it away~ HAHAHA"
"Another one!?" Jaden gasped.
"This is bad..." said Syrus,"Facing one is hard enough! Now Jaden's got two to deal with!?"
"Hmph...looks like the card created by Kaiba is a chip off the old block!" Chazz huffed.
In more ways than one...
He blinked.
"For Jaden's sake let's hope that deck of his isn't an exact copy as well, or he's in for it!"
"It's... your move." Kaibaman smirked with an unsettling grin.
"About time!" Jaden huffed," I activate Monster Reincarnation."
Using this card Jaden discarded his Necroshade in order to have Clayman back on the field.
"Going to try hiding behind that puny monster again?"
"Nah, I don't have to!" Jaden grinned. And with right reason too. Because with his Necroshade in the graveyard...it allowed for him to summon a high level monster without a sacrifice.
"But as strong as Bladedge is..." Syrus said,"He's still no match for two Blue Eyes White Dragons!"
"Don't be so sure, Sy~" said Jaden as he activated his field spell Sky Scraper. A card that grants 1000 extra attack points to any elemental Hero taking on a stronger monster, which was just enough to take on a Blue Eyes, finally shaving off a few life points from the Duel Spirit who was Dominating up to this point.
"Wow! Jaden actually did it!" said Chazz.
"To think I was scared of losing..." Jaden huffed softly,"not any more."
"Oh...is that so?" Kaibaman quesioned with a rather amused smile.
"For sure!" said Jaden,"The trick to beating fear is to shove it back and not let it happen! HaHa."
"Not let it happen? But Jaden...anything can happen." Kaibaman stated,"You think by beating one Blue Eyes...you've won?" he probed,"That you've avoided that defeat you fear?"
"Uh..."
"I think not!" he scoffed,"You're a long way from winning this duel and Blue Eyes is a long way from being defeated."
"I don't believe you!" Jaden snapped.
"Oh, but it's true." said Kaibaman,"See, your fate and the fate of your friends all still hang in the balance~!" he stated,"You have to accept that! And then face it! Head on!"
"Wha...?" Jaden blinked in confusion.
I don't understand...
Jaden thought to himself.
Has Kaibaman gone rogue? Or Not!?
"What is this?" he asked.
"This...is how a true duelist lives." he stated,"Not afraid of the thought of defeat! And always prepared to accept it!" he declared,"For that is the true nature of Dueling!" he grinned and drew his card,"And it's high time now that you learn it!"
WIth the activation of Silent Doom, Kaibaman rebirthed the Blue Eyes Jaden had just destroyed, into defense mode. But it didn't stay around for long.
"Next I play, Polymerization!" he stated.
"Uh oh..." Jaden gulped.
"It really is the same!" Chazz stated.
"What's the same!?" Syrus asked.
"Kaibaman's deck..." Chazz said softly,"It's the same as Seto Kaiba's!"
"Which means-"Jaden gasped.
"Which means I have one more Blue Eyes...and can therefore fusion summon the all powerful Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon!"
Everyone gasped as the field was bathed in light, pushing forth the ultimate creature.
"Behold, the most mighty and devastating Dragon of them all!"
"The monster from my dream..." Jaden gasped,"It can't be!"
"Oh but it can be...and it is!" said Kaibaman,"See with 4500 attack points staring you down...that defeat you dreamt will now become your reality."
Jaden thought his trap would save him. Edge Hammer, allowing him to destroy an opponent's monster and grant damage equal to its attack.
"You said I should accept defeat!?" Jaden smirked,"I don't think so!"
"Way to play!" Syrus gasped.
"No way!" Said Chazz, who was just as shocked, and impressed. A pleasure not granted for long as Kaibaman stood unphased with a voctorious smirk.
"If you won't accept defeat Jaden...then I'll force it on you."
Kaibaman said as he revealed his spell card Defusion.
"No way..."Jaden gasped.
"That's right...this reverted Ultimate Dragon back to its previous form...so since Edge Hammer's Target no longer exists...call it a swing and a miss." he grinned as his three Dragons prepared for a triple blast. Victory was out of his reach. While Kaibaman stood laughing in all of his glory.
"Kurii...Kurii Kurii...!"
Kuriboh chirmed above the defeated Jaden who shot awake.
"NO!" he cried out as he shot himself back up from the smoke,"Syrus! Chumley! CONNIE!-Uh...huh?" Jaden blinked as he took in the surrpunding scene. It seemed the Spiritual residents took quite a liking to their guests...Kaibaman stepped forward before him and gazed down upon him with a kind smile.
"Defeat is nothing to be afraid of, Jaden..." he stated gently,"What matters...is if you can get up after." he said as he kneeled and offered the brunette a helping hand.
"Wait..." Jaden blinked as he accepted the hand that was offered and stood,"You mean to tell me this entire duel was just to teach me that!?" he huffed.
"Well?" Kaibaman chuckled,"Are you afraid now?"
"Actually...no!" Jaden laughed,"I'm really not!"
"And do you know why?" asked the spirit,"It's because you faced it." he said softly,"You've lost, and you're okay. Your friends are fine. And Connar is safe too."
"Yeah but..." Jaden blinked,"What gives?" he asked,"I mean...what was the point? Why did you do all of this!?"
Kaibaman chuckled and shrugged.
"It had come to milady's attention...that her very dear friend had lost his way." he stated softly,"And so she sent me here to help him find it...after all..." he chuckled,"It's not like she could come into a men's bath...that and I'd never allow for that." he huffed.
"...Connar..." Jaden blinked and chuckled,"What a stinker!"
"Yes...for she has always been a bit of a scamp..." the spirit chuckled."When she was little...and even now."
"Woah, so...you've known Connar for a pretty long time, huh?" Jaden blinked. And the spirit smiled and granted him a nod.
"Heh...I guess I should have known better than to think you would ever betray her..." he laughed,"You know Kaibaman...you're a strange one!"
"How so?" the spirit questioned.
"Well I mean...how do I put it." Jaden blinked and pondered as he tried to explain,"You really care about her. Despite being her Spirit Partner I really feel it's much different than that..." he said,"Like...a dad or something?" He beamed.
"Hmm...? Like a Father, you say?" Kaibaman chuckled and pondered this for a moment,"Perhaps...that is because I am modeled after one..." he shrugged as he began to turn away.
"Wait...modeled after...a father?" Jaden blinked,"But...I thought Kaibaman was modeled after Kaiba himself..." he pondered.
So then...
He blinked and closed his eyes as he thought back to the day he met Connar for the first time.
Wait...hold on...
Jaden thought to himself.
What did she say her name was when she introduced herself before...?
The image was clear as day. A pink haired girl in a rush, followed by a red head fire cracker ,smacked right into him. She was cute! And also very sweet. They almost seemed to befriend each other immediately. From the mishap to the Dormitory as she stood infront of her class.
"Nice to meet you."
Wait...
"My name is Connar! Connar Rose Kay... Nice to meet you!"
Kay...'Kay'?
"Connar Rose Kay."
Kay...Kay...
No...wait...Maybe she wasn't saying 'Kay' but-
What if she was actually saying-
"Connar Rose K."
K!
Jaden gasped.
Connar Rose K! 'K' as in-!
"No way..." Jaden whispered softly as he began placing all the pieces together.
K as in...
"It's Kaibaman!"
"I have a favorite hero too! It's Kaibaman! Kaibaman's a superhro! He's MY hero..."
Kaibaman...
"Like a father, you say? Perhaps that is because...I am modeled after one."
As in...Kaiba!
Jaden gasped as he shot a glance back at the Duel Spirit who returned his gaze with a smile. He brought his finter to his lips.
"Shhhh~" Kaibaman...seemed to be winking.
"Jaden...hey Jaden!" Syrus called out, pulling him out of his funk,"Jaden, are you okay!?"
"Yeah..."Jaden stated softly,"I'm finally over my nightmare!" he grinned.
"Yeah? Well I'm finally over this place!" Chazz huffed,"Can we please get out of this weird Spirit Cave!?" he mumbled,"It's low rent."
"Uh...right...uh...Kaibaman?" Jaden blinked,"Could you help us out here? Huh?" he blinked around as he noticed that Kaibaman was no longer present,"Where's he go?"
"If you're looking for help...ask your friend Kuriboh." said Kaibaman as he was walking away,"After all...he's the one that brought you down here...and I have somewhere more important to be...Good bye, Jaden."
"Back with Connar, no doubt." Chazz huffed.
"Well he IS her Spirit Partner, Boss..." Said Yellow.
"No doubt about that." Jaden chuckled," Well then guys...what say we go back home?"
In a flash of light and a rush of water, the group was sky rocketed back into their normal realm, and wearing their normal towel clothes once again. They walked back to their dorm together as the sun set.
"Man this is the first time I've left the wading pool more wound up than when I went in!" Syrus laughed,"I'm glad to be back in a world where Winged Kuriboh, Des Koala AND Kaibaman are just cards again! HaHaHa."
"I'll tell you what I know, Kuriboh..." Jaden chuckled as he acknowledged the playful spirit floating along side him,"And that's who I owe a big thank you to!"
"Kurii Kurii~"
"That, and...I think I should pay her a visit too." Jaden chuckled.
"Hang on Jaden." said Chazz, demanding for the Brunette's attention from behind,"I'm going with you." he said,"There's something I need to talk to you about."
"Well then we'll just go on ahead then!" said Syrus.
"Yeah...see ya later!" Chumley waved.
XXXXX
"So...is it done?" Connar asked, as she welcomed her Spirit Partner back home once again.
"Just as you had asked, milady." Kaibaman chuckled.
"I see..."Connar said with a soft smile,"Thanks Kaibaman...you're the best."
"Hey Connie~?" Norika called from the nook area where she seemed to be making tea, "Who are you talking to?"
"Hmm..." Connar smiled, "A very special friend." she stated. Norika stared at her with narrow amber colored eyes.
"Yuuuuuuuck~" the red head groaned, "Clearly you don't need any extra sugar in your tea!"
The two girls giggled.
XXXXX
The two rivals walked together in silence. Both heading to the same destination. A loud knock sounded onto the female's door. She slowly creaked it open and was greeted with a sudden tackle hug from a Surprise Jaden Yuki, both falling to the ground.
"Hey, woah, watch it!" said Norika, "She's delicate you know!"
"CONNIE!" Jaden beamed as he wrapped his arms around her while they fell together, landing right on top of her in a playful embrace.
"Jaden!?" Connar gasped as she was taken by surprise when they fell together wrapped up in eachother.
"You're the best..." he stated softly as he smiled at her from their entertwined position on the floor,"Thanks a lot."
Connar blushed heavily and quickly tried to deny her part in anything.
"D-Don't thank me!" she stammered,"I-It was kaibaman's idea-" she whispered.
"Mmhm..." Jaden raised a brow with an 'I caught you in your lie' smirk and Connar gulped in her guilt.
"Okay, fine! Yes..." She mumbled averting her gaze and blushing deeper as she noticed Chazz stood watching in so much frustration no sound could even be made audible from him as he shook his fists angrily.
"Oh. Hi Princeton." said Norika.
"I'll give you 3 seconds to get off of her, Slacker!" Chazz muttered,"Before I grab the spray bottle and spritz you down like the dog you are!" he huffed.
"Don't make me bring out my Blue Eyes White Dragons again..." Kaibaman muttered as he hovered over them shooting an identical icy glare onto Jaden from above. It seemed he and Chazz did agree on something after all.
"No! Not that!" Jaden gulped.
"Wait...what did you say?" Connar blinked as she shot a glance toward her duel spirit partner.
"Uh...that is...what I mean is...uh..." he gulped,"Oh! Gotta go! the Spirit Festival's about to start-BYE!" With a clap of his hands the Duel Spirit poofed himself away back into her deck.
"Don't you hide in the deck from ME mr.!" Connar huffed as she released herself from Jaden's embrace and swooped her cards into her hand,"GET BACK OUT HERE KAIBAMAN!"
'Kaibaman?" Norika leaned out awkwardly watching the scene, still weirded out, "At this point...I'think I'm just done trying to understand..."
"O-Oh, uh-" Connar blushed and laughter fell upon the three that surrounded her.
"So...am I making two extra cups of tea, then?" Norika blinked.
"That'd be great~ thanks!" said Jaden.
"May as well..." Chazz huffed and Norika sighed.
"I'll be right back..." the red head muttered.
Chazz and Jaden stood watch in the background as Connar hissed arguements with the deck in her hands and Norika tried to ignore the scene by distracting herself with the tea.
"...I wonder if she yells at her dad like that too." Jaden chuckled as he watched the show in amusement.
"Hmph...doubt that." Chazz stated, folding his arms as his tone lowered,"So...you figured it out then...?"
"Yeah..."Jaden chuckled,"I just can't believe it took me so long to see it." he laughed,"It explains quite a lot actually."
"Listen Jaden...I'm gonna need you to keep that quiet...understood?" Chazz said, "There aren't very many of us who know about it...not even Norika knows." he stated as he glanced over at the Brunette,"And things should stay that way for now, or you could ruin everything she's working for..."
"Don't worry about me, Chazz." Jaden said softly,"I can keep a secret...besides..." Jaden blinked "I'm sure Connar will bring it to us herself someday...When she's good and ready." he smiled.
To Be Continued