Chapter Thirteen

The man Kalin had knocked out was finally starting to come to as they made their plans for catching the rest of the gang. Kalin went and stood over him, his arms folded in intimidation, as he looked up.

"Where are your comrades?" Kalin demanded, his voice ice cold.

The fake Jarvis trembled. Seeing Kalin was terrifying after the memory of his powers breaking the limits and the protective amulet. "I don't know, and that's the truth," he insisted.

"You must have all had a plan," Kalin said. "What is it? We have to find the man you've been impersonating."

"The plan really was to take him out to the cursed forest and try to make him talk in there," was the reply. "The others are probably all there now."

Kalin scowled. He wasn't looking forward to going back in there, but they would do what they had to do. He briefly debated asking about John, but decided not to. If that had been for real, the crooks likely didn't know he was alive. They couldn't risk endangering him like that.

"You'd better be telling us the truth," Radley warned, stepping forward now.

The fake Jarvis gawked at him, now looking ready to faint. "You!? But you . . . I . . . you're . . ."

"Ooh yeah, you killed me," Radley sneered at him. "But that's not a good way to get rid of me. I'm gonna stay here with my pals anyway, and haunt you if you even dare to try to lie to them."

"You're a ghost!" the fake Jarvis screamed.

"And to think, after all you did to torture my poor friends with fake ghosts, you can't handle a real one," Radley grinned. "I should have figured you were just yellow." He turned away. "Come on, let's go rescue Jarvis."

Kalin nodded, and drew an arm around Radley's waist as they went.

The fake Jarvis gawked after them in shocked disbelief.

Radley gave a dark chuckle when they were out of earshot. "That felt good. Honestly, he deserved that scare."

"He did," Marty growled. "It's about time he got a taste of his own medicine. Hey, I wonder if we can prosecute him for what he did to you, Radley. Maybe that group of Yugi's can charge him with attempted murder even though magic was involved and you're okay now."

"That's a good question," Radley said. "Me and Kalin are the only witnesses, and there's no evidence of what even happened. There have to be some ground rules for how this group works or it could be abused really easily."

"What if there's security cameras?" Virgil asked. "That would tell everything!"

"Jarvis never mentioned any," Marty said. "But I think I'll look into that. For a place this big, it definitely should have them."

Kalin fell silent. If there was actually footage of what happened, and they all had to review it in court. . . .

Radley looked to him in concern. "Kalin, are you okay?"

". . . I just don't want to have to see you hurt again," Kalin said. "I don't want to watch what that trash did to you over and over. . . ." His eyes darkened. "But I want to see him pay for it."

Radley hugged him. "If some cameras really picked up something, that would tell everything loud and clear," he said. "You shouldn't have to watch it. You could just look away, or maybe not even be there at all. Maybe there's a judicial committee that looks at stuff like that in private. We don't know anything about how this group works yet."

". . . And we don't know if they'll come after people who committed magical crimes in the past," Kalin said. "If they do, I'll get arrested for what I did as a Dark Signer."

Radley stiffened. "I can't believe Yugi would let that happen," he exclaimed. "There's probably some stipulation that people who have changed and are no longer threats will be left alone." He took out his phone. "Look, I'm going to call Yugi right now and confront him with what John Keith told us. Hopefully he'll tell me if it's all true and if John's really still alive. That's something else we need to know, since he's disappeared. And then I'll ask him your question."

His hands shook as he dialed. He hadn't even considered that Kalin might be in danger from an organization like this. He still couldn't believe Yugi would condone it, not when he had always advocated fellowship and kindness for those who sincerely wanted to repent and tried to do so by turning their lives around and helping others. There wouldn't be any purpose in condemning Kalin for the past. As far as Radley was concerned, that would only be vindictive and hateful, not justice. They should focus on people who were active threats or who were still unrepentant after being caught.

After a few minutes there came a click on the phone. "Hello?" Yugi sounded harried, worried, and very occupied. Maybe he really was on the way with his people, as John had said.

"Hi," Radley greeted. "Hey, Yugi, sorry if this sounds out of the blue, but we were told by someone claiming to be John Keith that you head a new organization that's investigating magical crimes. Is that true?"

Yugi hesitated. "Well, if he told you . . . then yes, it's true. We're trying to get out there right now."

"Good," Radley said. "So he really is alive, then?"

"He is," Yugi said. "We helped him fake his death. I wasn't happy about doing that, but he felt it was the best way."

Radley sighed. "Well, there's been some more magical crimes committed here. Someone tried to murder me with a sword that turned out to be magical."

"Oh no!" Yugi gasped. "Are you okay?!"

"Yeah, I'm fine, thanks to Kalin," Radley said. "Can the guy be prosecuted for trying to kill me, though?"

"I sure hope so," Yugi said. "Is there any way to prove it?"

"Maybe, if there's security cameras," Radley said.

"Let me know," Yugi said in concern. "Or we'll check when we come."

"Good. But . . . look, we were also wondering, just how does this set-up of yours work?" Radley asked. "I mean, what happens to people who committed magical crimes in the past? Are they going to get hauled in?"

"Anyone who's now an upstanding member of society has nothing to worry about," Yugi said kindly. "Kalin will be fine. This is just to keep everyone safe from current threats."

Radley breathed a sigh of relief. "That's what I thought, but I wanted to be sure."

"It's all still really hush-hush," Yugi said. "We're working with the government, but we're a separate organization."

"How do you even have the money to fund it?" Radley said in amazement.

"Well . . ." Yugi sounded a little awkward now. "I designed a game and made a lot of money from that. And . . . Kaiba is helping too. He's providing some of our tech and transportation, mainly."

"Kaiba is?!" Radley was stunned.

"Yeah. . . . It's a long story, but . . . well, he has been grudgingly acknowledging magic exists for years. We were finally able to convince him to use his resources to do something about it."

". . . That's cool," Radley said. "Okay, we have to go try to rescue Jarvis from these people. How soon do you think you'll be here?"

"Within thirty minutes now, I hope," Yugi said. "You guys be careful!"

"We will be," Radley promised. He hung up and looked to Kalin with a smile. "There. You see?"

Kalin sighed. "I'm grateful, and yet I wonder if it's really fair. For non-magical crimes, the statute of limitations never runs out on murder. All the people I sacrificed to the Earthbound Immortal were restored when it was all over, but that doesn't change what I did to them."

"It also doesn't change that you weren't in your right mind," Radley said. "The evil magic twisted you. They have other ways of handling people who commit crimes because of insanity, and you're not insane now, so what could really be fairly done to you?" He hugged Kalin close. "You belong here, with us."

"Yeah!" Scotch insisted, and all the rest of the Bunch chorused in agreement.

Kalin slowly curled his arms around Radley and hugged back. "Everyone has been so forgiving, even those I directly hurt." The awe filled his voice.

Radley smiled kindly. "Sure. Everyone understands, even them."

"And here we are." Billy sounded tense. Radley had been on the phone while walking, and now they stood at the entrance to the forest.

"Okay, so now what? We just waltz in?" Virgil frowned.

"We kinda have to," Radley said. "I'll take the lead. I'll try to pull the same thing on these creeps that I did with the guy inside. If I can get them distracted with that, you guys can sneak up, get Jarvis, and subdue them."

Kalin nodded. "Right."

As they entered the forest, John Keith came out from the trees and looked at them in concern. "Are you boys alright?!" he exclaimed. "By the time I realized we'd been had and you weren't rescuing the real Jarvis, it was too late to help you and I had to follow the ones who were dragging him here."

Kalin glared at him, but managed not to put what he was thinking into words. He was angry, and yet what could John have really done to change the outcome? It was certainly understandable that he would focus on his friend, and practical to follow the abductors into the woods. It was important to know where the real Jarvis was.

". . . We're alright," he coolly replied.

"Do you know where they are?" Radley asked.

"They're just up ahead, in those trees," John said. "They're too afraid themselves to go in farther than that."

"Okay," Radley said. "Let's go." He went out ahead, slipping into the trees. He would try to move noiselessly, as was befitting a ghost.

Several of the thugs looked up as he approached. "Found again," the Cockney said in annoyance.

"Yeah, but he'll have to suffer the trees' wrath now too," the American said.

"I don't think so," Radley said smoothly. "I can't be hurt anymore."

". . . What are you talkin' about?!" the Scot demanded.

"Your buddy in there tried to run both me and Kalin through," Radley said. "I had to save Kalin, so I took the blow."

The Cockney went a little pale. "You're dead?!"

"It's a trick," the Scotsman snorted.

"Killing me won't get rid of me," Radley sneered. "Not when I have loved ones here to protect. And I wanna do something about you guys too. You havta be stopped."

Jarvis struggled, looking up at Radley in horror and devastation. He hadn't wanted any of the innocent to suffer.

"Oh, and just what can you do?" the Scotsman snorted. "You're dead!"

"A lot," Radley smiled, as Kalin and the Bunch all pounced on their enemies. The bad guys roared in displeasure.

With all of them attacking at once, they soon had the entire group subdued and Jarvis freed. John hurried over to help him up. "Jarvis, are you alright?!" he demanded.

"Y-Yes, Sir . . ." Jarvis stared at him in disbelief. "Master John . . . so it's true?! You're alive?!"

"Yes, I'm alive," John assured him.

"And so am I," Radley promised. But he still leered at the captured villains and uttered, "Boo!" Several of them flinched.

Kalin again felt eyes on him as they led their prey back out of the forest. He turned, catching sight of the purple-haired fairy again.

She smiled at him from her perch in a tree. "You and your friend will be alright now," she said.

"Yes," Kalin agreed. "Your vision came true, but it wasn't the full story. Radley was in an enchanted death and I was able to save him."

"Good," the fairy smiled. "Then all is as it should be."

"But will the curse on the forest still break?" Kalin wondered. "Apparently Marty isn't really the owner . . . yet."

She sighed in resignation. "Well . . . all we can do is wait and see," she said. "But even if it doesn't break yet, we've weathered the cursed forest this long. We can deal with it a little longer."

Kalin nodded. "You're very different from all the traditional fairies," he remarked. "You're not cutesy or annoying or malevolent."

"Real-life always is different from fiction, isn't it?" she said with a smirk.

Kalin smirked a bit too. "It can be," he agreed. He looked to Radley as he walked with them, alive and well. "And it's always incredible when it's different in a positive way."

xxxx

Yugi and his group were waiting when everyone got back to the castle. They quickly took the criminals into custody, while Yugi smiled at his friends. "Hey, guys," he greeted.

"Hello," Kalin said. "I hadn't expected to see you as part of this case until today."

"Yes, were you planning to tell us if this hadn't happened?" Radley said, raising an eyebrow.

"I would have," Yugi insisted, "but it might have taken a while. It's still a really secretive organization and all."

"But I see it brings all of the old gang back together," Radley mused. Atem, Joey, Tristan, Téa, Marik, Bakura, and Yami Bakura were all busy arresting the crooks.

"A lot of us, yeah," Yugi smiled. "Of course, we've always stayed close through the years, but this does give us more chances to work together and have adventures, just like the old days."

Téa looked up and beamed at them. "Hi, everyone!"

The others all chorused greetings as well.

"Impressive," Radley smiled. "Maybe we'll get to work on a case with you from the beginning sometime."

"I hope so," Yugi said. "Meanwhile, thanks for all your help with this one! We were spread pretty thin because we had another case we were dealing with at the same time."

"You need more members," Radley remarked.

"Yeah, I'm kind of hoping to get all of Team 5Ds onboard," Yugi admitted. "Most of us have other lives outside of our work here."

"So we're thinkin' they can all lead double lives too!" Joey added.

Kalin smirked a bit. "I'm sure Yusei will be happy to help. I can't say about the others."

"And how about you guys?" Téa asked. "Do you think you'll join us too?"

"Ooh . . ." Radley exchanged a look with Kalin. "Maybe. I think we'll need to discuss it in private. Looking after our town has to come first."

Kalin nodded. "But if it's a world-ending crisis, that would affect us sooner or later anyway," he deadpanned.

"So true," Bakura sighed a bit.

"So who else is in this thing?" Scotch blinked.

"Pretty much all of us," Joey said. "The Big Five and Ishizu and Rishid too. Duke and Serenity and Mai join us sometimes. Mokuba too."

"Maybe we'll be 'sometimes' members," Radley suggested, to which Kalin nodded agreement.

"We already have a lot to deal with," Kalin said.

"We never imagined that coming out here with Marty would lead to all this," Radley said. "Our mysteries always seem to have much more going on beneath the surface."

"Yeah, same here," Yugi chuckled. "Okay, we'll get these guys out of your hair now. And I need to talk to John before we go."

"Cool. Okay." Radley smiled at him. "We'll talk things over and let you know."

"Just take your time," Yugi said. "It is a big commitment, no doubt about that. If you want to be alternates or honorary members, that's completely fine."

"Cool!" Scotch said. "That would be awesome!"

Radley chuckled.

The rest of the day was filled with taking down statements, John Keith explaining his story to all the servants, and dinner. The security cameras were looked for and found, and they did indeed have the gruesome footage of what had happened. Yugi took the film for the case against the attempted murderer.

As things finally settled down late that night, Kalin and Radley sank into the bed in Radley's room this time.

"What a day," Radley remarked. "I guess we're going home tomorrow, unless Marty wants to hang around a while and spend some time with his family."

"Maybe we should stay an extra day to give everyone the chance to enjoy it here," Kalin said.

Radley smiled. "I think we should. We're completely out of our element here, but it's fascinating. I like learning about new cultures."

"I've never been that interested in it, but maybe it would be nice," Kalin said.

Radley sighed. He could tell from Kalin's tone of voice that he was still shaken by what had happened earlier that day. He had expected that; no feeling person could not be shaken by it, and Kalin felt very deeply.

"Radley . . ." Kalin sounded awkward now. "I know this is an idiotic thing to say, but . . . can I put my hand where . . . I just need to feel it's whole."

Radley blinked in surprise. "Yeah," he said. "It's okay."

Kalin reached out, shakily touching Radley's clothed waist with his fingers. When he was satisfied that the horrific wound was gone, he rested his hand on the spot.

Radley laid his hand over Kalin's. "I'm so sorry, Kalin," he said softly. "I wanted to make sure that fairy's vision didn't come true. But instead it happened anyway."

Kalin shuddered. "If I'd been quicker, maybe . . . it wouldn't have happened. If that had been an ordinary sword, you would have been dead. You're only alright because it was magical."

"I'm only alright because you broke the spell," Radley told him.

"Any of the Bunch could have done it too," Kalin objected. "We all love you."

"That doesn't make it any less meaningful that you are the one who did it," Radley said. He moved closer to Kalin and drew an arm around his shoulders. "Thank you for saving me."

Kalin hugged Radley close, feeling along his lower back at the same time to assure himself the other wound was healed as well. "I . . . I will always save you if I can," he said, his voice thickening with emotion.

"I know," Radley soothed. "I feel the same."

"Yusei was always that for me," Kalin said. "Even when I was too blind to see that's what he was doing. I don't know how he ever kept loving me with all that I put him through. It's incredible to have one person like that in one's lifetime, and here I have more than one. I still wonder, how am I, I, so blessed when so many aren't?!"

"I can't begin to understand how God works or how blessings are sorted out," Radley remarked. "But by blessing you, so many others have been blessed as well. Satisfaction Town might still be under siege if you hadn't come. All the people there have the Enforcers to thank for their freedom. And without you, I wouldn't have my confidante, my best friend, my soulmate."

"I don't know why you wanted me for any of that either," Kalin said. His voice was still thick with emotion. "But I'm so grateful you did. To have you with me as the town was rebuilt, and now as we protect it together, I'm not sure I've ever been happier."

Radley looked at him in surprise. "Really, Kalin? Not even when you ran the Enforcers?"

"I was happy then too," Kalin admitted. "But I was young and naive. I really thought we could change everything. And I let myself become lost in power once I had a taste of it. I know better now. I really can change some things, but I can't let myself become too overconfident or prideful. After everything I did wrong, I thought I could never be happy again. But Yusei and the kids showed me I still had a purpose in life, and you . . . you showed me I could still be happy even with all my sins."

"I'm glad," Radley said softly.

"I only wish I could do more for you," Kalin said. "You've done so much for me."

"Kalin . . ." Radley laid his hand on Kalin's cheek. "You've saved me more than once and you've been there for me in good times and bad. You've been everything I needed and more. You've given me the world. I don't know how you could possibly give me more, and yet every day you do."

Kalin stared, looking into Radley's sincere green eyes. He had no words. Finally he just hugged his friend close again.

"Thank you," he whispered.