Chapter Sixty-One
61
"I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!" Chazz's scream echoed throughout the dorm scaring off even the birds that dared surround the area.
"The Chazz shouldn't be forced to live like a Slifer Rat!" he huffed,"I USED TO BE AN OBELISK BLUE!" A Week of renovations and his room still wasn't liveable to his taste.
"Wow Boss, you sure look stressed!" said Ojama as he popped in unexpectedly once again,"Just look at all this pressure build up."
"You wanna see PRESSURE!?" Chazz snapped as he clapped his hands over the yellow spirit."...Finally..."he huffed with heavy breaths,"Some peace and quiet-"
Kerplat.
"Huh?" Chazz blinked as he heard the sound of something smacking against the ground and looked down to find the old envelope his brother's had handed him during the school duel.
Oh yeah...
The evidence against Connar that my brother's handed me...
He thought to himself as he picked up the scattered pieces.
With all this nonsense about Shadow Riders...I almost forgot about this issue...
He sighed.
I need to get rid of it somehow...
He thought.
Without a trace or any risk of someone seeing it...
He sighed and placed the folder into his Jacket.
Personal Files...
Medical Records...
Her Origins...
A Folder of dark truths that could utterly destroy not only her image...but possibly ruin her family too...I can't take any chances.
He huffed.
I think it's probably most safest on me for the time being...
I'll figure out how to get rid of it later-
"What's up!?"
"AHHH!" Chazz let out a startled scream as a familiar brunette's voice cracked in the open doorway, along side Syrus, Norika, and their pink haired friend.
"Ever hear of KNOCKING!?" Chazz huffed, soon twitching once he realized he raised his voice infront of Connar who took a startle to it.
"I-It's kind of hard to do that Princeton..."Connar gulped as she glanced over to the unhinged door,"Without a door to knock on..." she gave a sheepish giggle while Chazz blushed, joined in by Jaden and Syrus's laughter.
"Not...funny." he scoffed.
"Yeah I guess not." Jaden shrugged,"So let's go...for fun!"
"Huh!?" Connar blinked as she darted her head between her friends who each gave a cheeky smirk.
"Oh-no-" She tried to make a quick escape...but it was too late.
"HEAVE~ HO~~!" they said as they lifted her and tossed her in like a bag of potatos soon following in after her, all landing on the bed with a well-powered bounce.
"Hey!" Chazz called out as he began to be bounced around, followed by the squealing of Connar Rose.
"EEEK! HEY! THIS IS CLEARLY NOT FAIR! MUSCLE MASS WEIGHS MORE THAN BODY FAT SO BY ALL STANDARDS YOU'RE ALL HEAVIER THAN I AM!" she squealed trying to regain her ground,"I'M BEING BOUNCED AROUND LIKE A POP CORN KERNAL!" she squealed.
"Not only that!" Chazz huffed,"My bed is NOT a trampoline!"
"By the way..." said Syrus beteen bounces.
"The Chancellor wants to see you!" said Jaden.
"Sheppard!?" Chazz blinked
"Not just you!" Norika stated,"Connar too!"
"What for!?" Chazz and Connar asked together before exchanging glances with each other.
"Something about the fate of Duel Academy!" Jaden stated, and both Connar and Chazz gasped and exchanged glances once again.
XXXXX
"I have some urgent news, Chazz." Chancellor Sheppard stated as he turned in his chair and rested his eyes on Connar,"And you, Connar, may want to stay for this as well."
She gulped.
Syrus and Jaden exchanged glances with Norika. Each one blinkinf with curiosity. Almost certain that this "urgent news" wasn't good.
"You see..." Sheppard blinked,"Someone is trying to...buy out The Duel Academy."
"What!?" Connar gasped.
"Save your gasps." The Chancellor said,"For if this person succeeds, he plans to get rid of all the teachers and students and shut this place down, forever!"
"Shut it down!?" Chazz gasped.
"What gives them the right!?" Connar snapped as she slammed her fist on the desk.
"Woah...Connar seems more concerned than expected...don't you think?" asked Norika.
Hmm...I wonder...
Jaden thought to himself.
"See...without us here...they will be able to control the entire dueling world..." said Sheppard,"But fortunately, our owner..." He said as he held his gaze on Connar,"is giving us a sporting chance."
Connar's blue eyes widened.
XXXXX
"You heard me right. It's not about the money, it's about the cards. I will only sell you my Academy if you prove your worth as a Duelist...and beat one of my students in battle."
...Dad...
"So it all comes down to one duel." Professor Banner stated as he stroked Pharaoh in his lap. As the Slifer Head Master, he was required to accompany his students in matters with the Chancellor on occasion.
"Then let me!" said Jaden,"I'll whup these guys!"
"NO!" Connar snapped, startling Jaden back in place,"I'm sorry Jaden..." she said softly as she raised her sharp determined blue eyes,"...But it's only right that I do it..."
"But...Connar...Why?" Norika asked.
For Everything she's working for...
Jaden thought to himself.
Connar's right...
Chazz thought to himself.
Given the situation...she would be the most logical choice...but-
He narrowed his eyes.
Is she ready to reveal it all...?
"Well...you see, Connar...we thought that would be the most logical choice as well...but-"
"But what!?" Norika blinked as the Chancellor spoke,"Why?" she asked, "Why would Connar be the most logical choice!?"
Syrus blinked in confusion trying to understand as Jaden averted his gaze remaining silent. Chazz as well, and even the Chancellor let out a sigh and tried to avoid the topic.
"It matters not." he sighed,"For you see...the Duelist...is...already chosen."
"What!?" Connar blinked.
But...if not me...then who!?
"You see..." Said Professor Banner as he walked up to the Monitor that was receiving a call,"The buyers...asked for him specificly...I believe...this is them now."
"On screen." Sheppard huffed.
"Yes sir." Banner nodded as he pressed the montior video function revealing two familiar and very unwelcomed faces.
"It's Chazz's brothers!" Syrus and Connar gasped together.
"Go figure." Jaden huffed.
"Lousy scrubs!" Chazz barked,"Just what the hell are you up to now!?"
"Come on Chazz...you should know by now." Slade scoffed,"Jagger?"
"The usual." Jagger smirked as they spoke together.
"Complete world domination!"
"Disgusting." Connar huffed.
"Oh you're still around little girl? Ha." Slade smirked.
"You do know this was a little family project don't you?" said Jagger.
"Hmph...your project,maybe!" Chazz huffed.
"Yeah, well now it pretty much has to be! Doesn't it, Chazz!?" Slade huffed.
"Right?" Jagger blinked,"Because seeing as you're still playing Knight in Shining Armor with Daddy's little Princess, clearly you didn't pull your weight once again, and use the evidence we handed you!"
"Daddy's little princess?" Norika blinked and shifted her gaze to the pinkette.
Are they talking about Connar?
Norika gasped.
"Hey...wait a minute..." she said, " ...What evidence?" she blinked and looked to Chazz.
"SHUT UP!" Chazz snapped. It landed clear as day on everyone's ears...including Connar's whose baby blues grew wide as she slowly shifted her gaze onto Chazz.
" You heard Norika, Chazz..." said Syrus.
"What Evidence!?" Jaden stepped in front of the pinkette's devestated face. though he was gently pushed aside as Connar stepped forward to the Raven Haired male who looked to have yet another secret to hide.
"...Princeton?" She called his name softly as she blinked,"...What are they talking about?"
"Connar-I-" he stammered for the right thing to say, stepping back a bit as his jacket slipped, revealing something storeed and tucked away inside.
"...What's that?" Norika pointed.
"Ah-" Chazz panicked and quickly pulled his jacket forward,"Uh...what's what?" he blinked."It's nothing..." he moved quickly to try and swipe it back bit Norika swiped much faster she hurriedly brought it over to her fellow Slifers as they opened it to take a peek inside.
"Wait! DON'T-!" Chazz cried out, trying to retrieve it...but it seemed it was too late to do so...all was already revealed from within.
"HaHaHa well well well." Slade snickered,"It seems you still have it after all."
"Oops~" Jagger laughed.
"What is this?" Jaden asked as he watched a trembling Connar drop to her knees and sift through the scattered papers.
"These are my..." she muttered,"...This is my personal file." she said softly.
"Your what!?" Syrus asked.
"Personal documentations...medical records...my origins..." Connar began to tremble as tears stung at the corners of her eyes,"This ...this is all supposed to be confidential...P-Princeton..."She stuttered as she looked up to meet his gaze that he deliberately avoided,"Why do you...have this?" she asked.
Chazz had no way out of this. He had to come clean. He let out a heavy sigh, and faced her,
"I have that because..." he said softly,"My brothers...gave it to me."
"What!?" Norika gasped.
"How long?" she asked, keeping her head down.
"...Since the school duel." he sighed.
"That long!?" Norika snapped,"And...you didn't bother to say anything to her about it!?"
"Nori...calm down." said Jaden.
"Connar...you have to believe me." Chazz said as he tried to calm her down,"I was trying to find a way to get rid of it I swear!"
"Get rid of it?" She snipped,"Like some dirty little secret!? Rather than talk to me about it!?"
"Connar...please..." he said as he kneeled down to get closer to her," You and I...we finally started getting on level..." he said softly, "We finally got around to being friends- I would never do anything to hurt you-Please you have to trust me!"
"Have to!?" Norika snapped,"How can she!? If you're willing to hide this from her, what else are you willing to hide!? HUH!?"
"Norika..." said Syrus.
"I never trusted you." said the red head, "I always knew you were no good...!"
"Connar...please..." Chazz whispered. All other remarks didn't matter to him...just the broken pieces of the pink haired girl he had grown to care for somewhere alone the line...
"HaHaHa." the brothers laughed together.
"That's right!" said Jagger,"We found Daddy Kaiba's dirty little secret that he was trying to hide!"
"And we're ready to reveal it to the world!" Slade laughed.
"What...?" Norika blinked,"Daddy... Kaiba...?"
Chancellor, without anymore excuses to use, let out a heavy sigh and nodded.
"Yes, Norika..." he said softly," Your friend, Connar Rose K...is actually...Connar Rose Kaiba"
Syrus's eyes went wide as he gasped, looking back down at the broken girl trembling on her knees on the floor, and the red head was just as shocked.
"Connar..." Norika called to her softly with a trembling voice as she moved to her knees to reach out for her,"Is that...really true?"
But before her hand could reach,Connar's body winced, freezing her hand in place.
"Connar..." Syrus teared up softly...without words to say as tears streamed his cheeks, watching her in this state.
With trembling arms holding up her weight she pulled her head up slowly locking contact with Chazz's eyes wearing a broken, or rather, shattered expression.
"I thought...we were friends...Princeton?" she blinked as her tears fell onto the scattered papers,"How could you...do this...?"
"No...Connar!" he gasped,"W-We are friends! I-I would never...Connar...! Y-You believe me...Don't you?" he asked as he reached a hand out for her, but she shook her head and slapped it away, snapping back up to her feet quickly and darting out of the Office.
"No-CONNIE!" Chazz called out, but he couldn't bring himself to chase after her, as he sunk himself beneath his brothers's laughter.
"Such drama...but I guess you can expect that from a crazy orphan princess~" Said Jagger.
"YOU SHUT UP!" Jaden snapped.
"She's not crazy!" Norika growled,"You take that back..."
" Shows what you know about your little friend~ Say that if you want ! But Daddy Dearest clearly disagrees since he went to such lengths to hide the truth." said Slade.
Jaden twitched as he heard the shuffling of papers beneath his feet and shot back behind him
"Norika" Jaden called out, as the red haired girl seemed to be gathering the scattered papers, piling them neatly back together, whispering with wide eyes as she read some of the words out loud.
"...Schitzophernia...?" Norika blinked.
"Stop it, Norika, Don't look at that!" Syrus snapped as he slammed a trembling palm down on the papers in her hand. The boy seemed so shocked and confused. All of this seemed to be too much for him to take in all at once...but his first instinct was to defend her privacy. Norika also looked as though she had reached her limit...
"Don't you believe any of that written garbage!" said Chazz.
"B-But..." Norika muttered,"I-It says that it's been stated on record...that she has claimed to hear thousands of voices in her head..."
"Yeah...Spirit voices!" said Jaden," Duel Spirits! They just...affect her in a bigger way..." he said softly,"She's no more Schitzophernic than Chazz or me!" he stated,"And deep down...you know that too, Don't you...Syrus?" the brunette asked the blue haired boy who tried to stead his breathing and calm his mind to take in the situation.
"Yeah..." he said softly, "Yeah that's right...O-Of course I know that..." he said, "She's Connie..."
"Well apparently...I don't know anything." Norika said softly as she rose to her feet,"...And I guess..." she blinked,"...I never did..."
"Norika..." Jaden called her name, but he was long gone from her in the present moment. Syrus held his gaze on her. Devestated and frozen...unsure of what action to take...so he decided to take an action of his own. The blue haired boy quickly turned on heel and ran out the door right after her.
"Syrus!?" Jaden called out,but he was already gone.
And nothing but a heavy silence beneath a wave of triumphant laughter remained as echoes in the room where he stayed with Norika.
To Be Continued