Duel Eight: Hope In the Strangest Places (Part 2)
November 22, 2000
The time was 12:32. Lunch had just started only two Minutes ago… and so far Mondo's Mission to find out what the fuck was going on was going great… Not in the slightest.
"Mikan, with all due respect… What the hell do you mean that I have hypochromic now?" asked Mondo
"I am sorry Mondo but you don't JUST have Hipocromia, which should be impossible at your age, but your physical structure has also changed albite slightly but it is highly noticeable to anyone in the medical field." said Mikan, "I looked at your files before you came to the academy, For purely medical reasons of course."
"Right, of course, And I am fine with that."
"The first thing that is shocking right out of the gate is your eyes, which were pure grey, are now a mix of magenta in your left eye and pure gold in your right eye. As I said a second ago this should be impossible because eye color stops changing after a certain age with that age being 2-3 years old, and even then that only happens because of the amount of sunlight that is absorbed in the body when developing at that age. But the second most noticeable thing is your actual physiology, which is why as soon as I saw you this morning I asked you to come here at lunch, Third-degree burns on your arm, you have grown five more inches over the past 24 hours, and your skin has grown paler over the course of the past 24 hours, and your hair and I mean All of your hair has turned black like pure black. Which again should be impossible, everything about your current physical state is one large impossibility."
"Is that a good or a bad thing?" asked Mondo
"In any other case it is a bad thing, But right now it is a good thing." said Mikan, "Your mussels are as if they are new, the scars from your last battles are gone, It is like you are an entirely new person physically… It is incredible really. Maybe one day you could allow me to dissect you, Within reason of course!"
"Yha… sure, within reason." said Mondo, he stood up as he continued to speak, "Right now though I need to find the other person I need to talk to."
"Ok… sorry for taking up your time."
"Nonono you are fine, I just need to keep a schedule." said Mondo as he walked closer to the door, "Thanks for the checkup Doc"
"Your Welcome Mondo," said Mikan
As Mondo opened the door he saw the petite satire of the ultimate detective standing in front of the door, "I thought I asked you to meet me right when lunch started?" asked Kyoko
"Yha… Mikan wanted to look at me because of my recent physical changes." said Mondo, "Don't worry about it, I have the info you need and I am willing to hand it over… for a price."
"And what is that price?" asked Kyoko
"I want in, you and I both know you were on this case the moment that it was set up on the news, so I want in on this case." said Mondo, "And besides, the information I have is worth 1.8 billion dollars, that and I have a stake in this… more than you know."
"Which is what I would like to know." said Kyoko, "You are in, you might be able to help me investigate this case… shall we head to your room to discuss this."
"Might as well, this is gonna be huge." said Mondo
November 22, 2000, | NO POV | Mondo's Room
"Well… this is heavy."
"Told you… not to mention I left some stuff out that would likely make it worse," said Mondo
"Like how you got to the roof?" asked Kyoko
"Yea, I think it has some relation to how I have changed… not only that but I have this brick on my arm with two decks of cards in it." said Mondo, "And yes I still have no idea how that got there."
"T-This all seems impossible!" Said Kyoko, "You Teleported for god's sake!"
"Wait! THAT, is what you were shocked about?" Asked Mondo, "Why the hell are you not shocked about Makoto Potentially being Seto Fucking Kaiba!"
"Because I Know that already… well not known but I suspected that Makoto was Seto Kaiba, the fact that they are related was already a large red flag." said Kyoko, "But THIS! The Alien, the fact that you are being possessed by that Alien. This should all be impossible… yet here we are now with the knowledge that Aliens Exist."
"Well… I don't even know if whatever it is is an Alien, It looks human, and besides, I doubt it even has a gender," said Mondo
"Well, that is not important right now. I have all of the evidence I need to start this case fully, and I need your help."
"I said I would anyway, Where are we going?"
"The one place Makoto would never suspect us to investigate."
November 22 2000| NO POV | Naegi/Kaiba Residence
"Well this is an interesting development," said Astral
Classes have been long since over for the day and Kyoko and Mondo stood in front of a slightly more modern Japanese home but it was a humble home nonetheless.
"Why the fuck are we at Makoto's house?" asked Mondo
"And why isn't it bigger?" asked Astral
"The reason why we are here is because of an event, their family Thanksgiving dinner. You see unlike other families that celebrate it on the 25th the Naegi's are different, Likely because of their ties to the Kaiba family, you see they have their thanksgiving dinners on the 22 of every November… and earlier today I texted Makoto asking if we could join him for this particular thanksgiving," said Kyoko
"OH OK! I get it! We are using this as a cover!" said Mondo
"Exactly, while we might not get all the answers we may need for this we can make this work in other ways, like finding small clues that could lead to the reason that those people wanted Makoto dead."
"I see. Sounds like a good idea!" said Mondo before a sudden realization hit him like a sack of bricks, "We didn't bring anything… DAMN IT WE DID NOT BRING ANYTHING!"
"What? Why would THAT be a problem?" asked Kyoko
"YOU FOOL! IT IS COMMON FUCKING COURTESY TO BRING A GIFT TO ANY HOUSE YOU ARE VISITING! WHY THE FUCK DID WE NOT STOP BY A SHOP ON THE WAY HERE OR SOMETHING TO AT LEAST BRING FOOD WITH US!" said Mondo
"Well, I did not know… I was not given that much freedom as a kid, this is even my first thanksgiving that I have ever attended," said Kyoko
…
"Oh"
"Anyhow Let's just ring the doorbell and go on in," said Kyoko
Mondo rang the bell… then again… then a third time… and then he stopped ringing the bell as the door of the front gate opened before them to reveal a skinny middle-aged woman with long Black hair and pure blue eyes, she wore a long white Maid uniform that seemed to be just a baggy on her, her skin was pale and she seemed to be shivering constantly even with the cold.
"Oh you must be Makoto's Friends!" said the woman, "Please come in, it is freezing out here!"
"Uh, thank you," said Mondo
The trio went into the house, again it was a simple and humble place despite its modern amenities but yet it was frankly almost barren.
"You two must know Makoto's secret if you guys are here!" said the woman
And that shocked them more than looking upon the woman's form for the first time. The thought of "Of course she knew!" was definitely something that was going through their minds… but that is not what shocked them… it was the knowing smile that she had on her face.
"You two must know that Makoto will be here in a second, he had some things that he had to deal with back at the space station so he is going to get that sorted out and everything, I swear that boy is too Hard-working sometimes!"
"That is fine. We need to ask you all some questions anyway before dinner starts," said Kyoko
"DAMN IT KYOKO YOU DON'T JUST SAY THAT!" Shouted Mondo, "I mean yha we are going to ask about what the hell happened but we don't just straight up SAY that out loud!"
"Oh, you two just ask away! Makoto told us you would want answers so it is fine with me at least, minus a few things." said the woman, " Just don't cuss too much while doing so ok!"
"...ok… damn that is gonna be hard for me," said Mondo
"Language young one." said the woman with a slight yet terrifying smile… that Mondo did not even look faded by as Kyoko cowered behind him and if she could see Astral was also behind Mondo in fear, "Well at least I got one of you with that."
"Ok while we still have time before Makoto and the others get here, why not pop off a few questions." said the woman
"Let's start off with the first of many questions, Who are you?" asked Kyoko, "I know full well you are NOT the person that gave birth to Makoto, but I know you at least have some relation to him. So who are you?"
"Oh, I am just the family maid! I was recently transferred over from the Mansion that Makoto owned a while back, although the family converted it into an orphanage a while back so I was not really needed over there anymore. Although I did not know much about Makoto's past until recently, a year ago to be exact."
"You need to give us a name though." Said Mondo, "This IS kinda like an interrogation so I think it is fair."
"This is not an interrogation, Mondo."
"Well my name is Diana Chatte if you must know." the now-named Diana said with a smile with catlike glee
"Thank you." said Mondo, "Second Question. Do you know who those guys were that Attacked Makoto yesterday?"
"Oh yes! Sadly they are Ex-Employees of ours from Makoto's more… Psychotic days, you see he had them around when he wanted his family safe from most of the work that he was doing at the time but after the DEATH-T Incident, although I am not going to elaborate on that further on that incident because of my lack of knowledge on it, they were sourced out into other departments, mainly because they were filthy mercs and they were expendable, so they could do things that many of the others could not. Like getting Makoto into places that he could not get to normally."
"Thankfully she is not going to answer all of your questions though."
Both Mondo and Kyoko turned to finally see Makoto this time in his garb of Seto Kaiba with a bag of foods that they could just make out along with a few other figures all dressed up in separate different yet fancy outfits minus one person.
There were two women and a man and a young teenage boy, the boy had long black hair that made it down to his waist and he wore a white suit with a purple tie although it was covered slightly now by the very bag that Makoto was holding. Mokuba Kaiba, the younger brother.
The man was almost like a spitting image of what Makoto looked like; he was not Seto but dressed in a suit with all the pieces that made it the stylish piece of clothing that it was; it was like a spitting image, not because he was trying to look like his son, it was the other way around. Manfred Naegi the father.
Finally the first of the women of the household was the eldest woman, The mother, of course, did not look the part, however. She was a woman that despite everything, looked as if she was a teenager, in the peak of her life, never aging despite her hair saying otherwise and aging and was fully gray, but other than that physical change she looked like a mirror image of her daughter who stood beside Mokuba. But her clothes were different, she wore a white lab coat over a red shirt and black pencil skirt. Ryoko Naegi, The mother.
She has short, dark brown hair with a tint of green and de-saturated green eyes. She also sports an ahoge, similar to that of her brother's, which developed as she grew. Overall, she is described as very plain-looking and "normal", which seems to be the same way people describe her brother. Komaru Naegi.
"Welcome Mondo, Kyoko." said Makoto, "I shall see you both in the backyard, ok?"
"Of course," said Kyoko as she quite literally dragged Mondo out of the room.
"Well, that was interesting." Said Ryoko
"Indeed, I believe they were here about your most recent stunt Makoto," said Manfred
"Sadly yes."
"Well… you're likely gonna have to duel one of them right?" Asked Komaru, "That is what you did with Byakuya and the others before they found out."
"I am." said Makoto, but his tone was somber, almost as if he was considering just not doing it, "I don't want to hide who I am anymore," Makoto said before heading out the door to the back yard flanked soon after by the rest of his family.
"Makoto… We want answers." said Mondo, "I have a feeling though that I am going to have to fight you for the answers we seek though."
"Big words Mondo." said Makoto with a chuckle, "Although it makes sense, you and I have been hanging around Taka way too goddamn much. But you are right, I sadly have to give you guys a fight for the information you seek… And I doubt Kyoko has the Determination and the deck to beat me."
"I don't know about that, But I know that this overgrown paperweight on my arm is finally good for something!" said Mondo as his duel disk expanded into its true state.
"Indeed it is, If you need assistance I recommend Listening to me." said Astral, "However this is only on occasion.
"Thank you Astral." Whispered Mondo
"Sorry it has to come to this Mondo, but now is the time we begin this with more than just a bang!" said Makoto
"DUEL!"