Ayayacchi: Thank you for reviewing! Oh, thanks! Glad you enjoyed the duel too! :)
Kim Nanoha: Thanks for reviewing, glad you liked the duel! :)
Rose Gold: Thank you for reviewing! Hahaha, well, that was what I was aiming at with the previous chapter, so I'm glad you were mindblown and that you liked it! :)
I only own my OC's!
"Get away from me!" A girl's voice screamed in panic. "What's got into you?" A male voice spoke up in surprise. "I just want him far away from me!" The girl let out another scream. "But he won't do you any harm…" "That's not true! His face is scary, he's scary!" By now, the child was crying. "She's afraid of me?" Another male voice spoke up in astonishment, earning another scream from the girl. "It appears so…" The first male one responded in realization.
Letting out a quiet groan, I opened my eyes slowly. Everything looked blurry… However, I could sense something soft with my hands.
That was when my vision finally became clearer. I looked up for a few moments, registering my surroundings. From what I could see, I was in the infirmary… What I felt with my hands were the bedsheets. I was lying on one of beds, in my sleeping top and capris.
Wanting to look around, I tried to sit up… Only to feel pain from my left ribs. I let out a groan and quickly grabbed my left side.
I wasn't sure why it hurt so much all of a sudden… The last time that happened was before I even started taking painkillers!
Seeing it hurt, I decided to sit up slowly. Looking to my right, my eyes widened in surprise. Jaden was sitting in one chair. His back was against a wall next to my bed, and his eyes were closed. From what I could see, that looked like quite uncomfortable position…
"Jaden?" I called out perplexed. The moment I said that, the guy's eyes snapped open. "You're awake!" Relief appeared all over his face as he stood up from the chair and raced to my bed. I yelped in surprise once he suddenly pulled me into a hug. "I'm glad to see you too… But what's the deal?" I asked slowly.
He pulled away to look at me incredulously. "Don't tell me you forgot about that duel." He spoke up with a frown. I frowned back, until…
The memories of my duel with Aunt Maria came back to me. The last thing I remembered was forcing it into a draw. That was when I lost consciousness…
"I didn't… But why am I in the infirmary?" I asked while touching my left side. "You've been out for two days, that's why." Jaden didn't take his eyes off me. "Two days?" I stared at him as if he were crazy. "Two days." He nodded with a sigh.
That was when he took out his PDA and quickly turned it on. "Hello?" I could hear Ben's voice. "She's awake!" Jaden told him relieved. "She is?!" He demanded in astonishment. "She is." "I'm coming right away then!" With that, the screen on Jaden's PDA turned off.
"What you did was just crazy." He suddenly looked up at me seriously. "Maybe, but I had no other choice…" I trailed off with a shrug. "Ben and I were so worried about you…" He ignored my words. "Don't ever do that again." I was suddenly grabbed by both of my shoulders.
Flinching in surprise, I looked up to meet Jaden's chocolate brown eyes. They were looking right into mine, and were filled with concern. He was looking at me seriously. I had never seen him that worried about something… It was just as surprising like during my duel with Aunt Maria…
"Do what?" I spoke up slowly, not looking away from my friend's eyes. "Don't scare me like that, and don't land yourself in a hospital or something similar." He responded in what almost sounded like pleading tone.
By now, I had absolutely no idea what had got into him. He never behaved like this… Did my duel really upset him that much? It hadn't been my intention at all!
"I didn't want to…" I started, only to be cut off by the door slamming open. Jaden took hands off my shoulders and quickly turned around to see who it was.
I looked up to see Ben running in. Aster walked in, right behind him. "Thank goodness you're finally conscious!" My cousin cried and pulled me into a hug. "Glad to see you too, Ben…" I trailed off and hugged him back. "Hello, Aster." I then nodded to the professional duelist once I pulled away from the hug. "Good to see you're alright." He nodded back. "Thanks." I let out a small smile.
That was when my stomach started growling. Judging by the looks of surprise from all three of the guys, I wasn't the only one who heard it…
"Is that your stomach?" Ben demanded astonished. I nodded quietly in a bit of embarrassment. "No wonder, since you've been out for two days." Aster noted with a frown, folding his arms. I nodded yet again. "I'll get you something to eat." Jaden spoke up. Before I could tell him it wasn't a big deal, he raced out. I let out a sigh and then grabbed my left ribs in pain.
Ben and Aster turned their attention back to me. "It hurts?" The former asked. I nodded in confirmation. "No wonder, since you fell right where your left ribs were. Mrs. Fontaine claims that fall irritated them while they were healing." Ben explained with a sigh while sitting on the edge of my bed. "Really?" I raised an eyebrow. "Yeah."
The last thing I wanted to hear right now… It would be wonder if my ribs healed completely by now. Something always happened to make me feel pain…
"What happened after I lost my consciousness?" I asked, trying to get my mind off stupid ribs.
"Both of your Life Points dropped to zero." Aster spoke up and sat down on a nearby chair. A weird look then appeared on his face. "That was when something white came out of your aunt and burst into particles…" My eyes widened in surprise.
Did he say it 'came out of her'?!
"Came out of her?" I repeated. He nodded. "She let out a screech and then fell unconscious as well." "Where is she?" I asked while straightening up. "She's over there." Ben pointed at a nearby bed.
I looked in that direction. Aunt Maria was lying on the bed, completely unconscious. Her dark brown hair was sprawled over the pillow and sheets. She was dressed in white hospital robes, with an oxygen mask over her face. Some IVs were placed on both of her forearms.
Seeing her like this was kind of expected if both of us lost consciousness… Yet, at the same time, I had never seen Aunt Maria look so… Vulnerable. She always tried to take things into her hands, she always helped me, and solved problems… I never thought I'd see her in this state, lying without consciousness and unable to do anything.
"She hasn't woken up yet?" I asked with a frown. "No." Ben shook his head.
I tried to get up and walk to my aunt's bed, only for him to stop me. "You need to rest." He stated firmly. "Benjamin, I'm fine." I frowned yet again. "No, you're not. You've irritated your ribs." He reminded. I glared back at him but decided not to argue any longer.
There was no point in trying to get up if Ben would stop me every damn time…
"Fine." I growled and sat back. "It's for your good, cuzo." He nodded, satisfied that I gave in.
I looked away from him and turned my focus back to Aunt Maria's bed. "You said something white came out of her?" I then repeated slowly. "Pretty much. It looked both weird, and scary…" Ben trailed off.
I had pretty much concluded that Aunt Maria was under that force's influence. White light even started glowing around her during our duel. Her eyes looked a bit different too. When Ben lost, he was back to himself…
If both of us lost that duel… Maybe that meant the white light was actually that force. That could mean she was finally free…
"I hope she'll wake up soon." I muttered. "Me too. Seeing you awake is a relief already." A small smile appeared on his face. "Not to mention you had Jaden worried." Aster spoke up from his place at the chair. "Yeah," Ben looked at him and then turned his attention back to me. "He refused to leave your side up until now." He explained.
I blinked at him. "But he had to leave at some point…" I then pointed out perplexed. "That's just it," Aster looked up at me with his arms folded. "He refused to leave until he could see you awake. This is the first time he's left the infirmary since we brought you here." "We tried to get him to go out and eat something, but he flat out refused." Ben added with a sigh.
"He even slept here?" I demanded in surprise, remembering how I saw Jaden sleeping once I woke up. Aster simply nodded. "Mrs. Fontaine advised him to go back to the dorm, but he insisted on staying." Ben let out a sigh. By now, I was staring at him.
Jaden practically spent two days here while I was out of it?! What did he do that for?!
"You're serious?" I spoke up, still surprised. "Si." He nodded.
At that moment, the door opened. "I'm here!" Jaden ran in with loads of sandwiches in his arms. He dropped them on my bed, in between Ben and me. Aster looked at them, and then raised an eyebrow. "Don't you think that's too much, Jay?" My cousin asked in a bit of amusement.
Jaden shook his head. "There's enough for Serena, and I'm hungry too." He grabbed one sandwich and sat on the other edge of my bed, on my left. "Well, I'll be going then. Glad to see you're alright, Serena." Aster stood up from his chair while looking at me. "Thanks." I smiled at the professional duelist. He nodded in my direction and then looked at Ben. "Do tell me if she wakes up too." "I will." Ben told him a bit perplexed. Aster then walked out.
"Why would he be interested in Mum's state?" Ben then glanced at me, sounding completely clueless. "His father used to be Aunt Maria's colleague. He met her a few times too." I explained briefly. "I didn't know…" He trailed off in surprise.
I turned my attention to Jaden, who was scarfing down the rest of his sandwich. "Jay…" Ben shook his head in amusement. "What? I'm hungry!" Jaden sent him a questioning look. His eyes then landed on me. "You have to eat something too." He reminded.
At that moment, my stomach started growling yet again. I was immediately reminded of my hunger.
"Fine, fine." I took one sandwich. As soon as I unfolded it, I started eating as well.
That was when the door opened yet again. This time, Mrs. Fontaine walked inside. "You are awake after all." A look of relief appeared on her face. "How did you know?" Ben raised an eyebrow as she walked closer. "I saw Jaden in the shop. I figured she'd be awake if he left the infirmary." She responded.
"How are you feeling?" The woman then looked at me. "Fine, if we don't count my left side hurting." I admitted. "Your fall irritated your healing ribs, that's why." She frowned. "I've already heard it." I shrugged my shoulders.
"From what I heard, it happened because of a duel you had." She ignored my comment. "You're not allowed to participate in the tournament anymore." "What?!" My eyes widened. "Why?!" I demanded a bit angrily. "You had your ribs broken, and now you've hurt them while you were healing nicely." Mrs. Fontaine gave me a disapproving look. "You need to rest." "That's not fair. You can't do that…" I was about to try to stand up, only for Jaden to stop me from doing so.
"Stop it and just listen to her, Serena." He frowned at me. I glanced at him surprised.
He wanted me to continue dueling when I first broke my ribs, and now he was just fine with this? What the hell was going on inside his head?!
"Thank you, Jaden…" Mrs. Fontaine spoke up a bit surprised as well. However, her attention quickly turned back to me. "As I've already said, you need to rest. That means no dueling." "Not fair." I growled. "Maybe not, but for your own good." She replied indifferently. "I'll bring you some ointment for your ribs." She then ran outside.
Frowning, I turned to look at Jaden. "Why are you agreeing with Fontaine all of a sudden? You didn't want me to stop dueling at all!" I pointed out a bit angrily. "It's for your own good." He replied as if it was obvious. "How is sitting here supposed to be for my own good?" I demanded sarcastically. "The sooner you rest, the sooner you'll get out of here." He retorted.
"Stop it, both of you!" Ben shouted before I could say anything else. "Jay, I'll take it from here. You go to the dorm and get some rest." "I'm fine." Jaden told him with a shrug. "At least get some shower." My cousin frowned. "But I'm…" "I insist!" Ben cut him off.
Jaden frowned but stood up. "I'll be back soon." He said before making his way towards the exit.
As soon as he was out, Ben turned around to look at me. "Look, cuzo, I get you're angry about this development…" "Angry?" I repeated, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Okay, that may be an understatement…" "Of the century." I cut him off. "They're downright kicking me out of the tournament because of a damn injury!"
"I get it all… But at least don't argue with Jaden about this." "I don't get what his problem is." I folded my arms with a frown. "Well, I do." He responded. "What?" I tilted my head a bit to left, daring him to tell me.
Ben's green eyes looked into my light blue ones. He then let out a sigh.
"When you were put in here… He didn't take it well." He stated. I looked up at him curiously. "He was quite upset about seeing you unconscious. As you know, he refused to get out of here until you woke up. I brought him food and something to drink so he wouldn't be hungry or thirsty." My eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
Jaden rarely got that upset about something… So what was it about me being in this state that caused him to act in such way?
"What do you think is the reason behind his behavior?" I spoke up. "My guess is he doesn't like hospitals." Ben shrugged. "That would explain why he said how he wanted you out of here as fast as possible. I could be wrong though…"
A small smile crept on his face. "He cares a lot about you, you know…" He trailed off.
The moment he said that, I felt warmness inside me. I didn't know exactly why, but Ben saying that made me so happy…
"He means a lot to me too." I smiled as well. "Figures." Ben let out a laugh. "Fine then. Even though I'm not happy with this, I won't rebel against their decision." I groaned. "I'm not happy about seeing you here either. But Jaden has a point there. The sooner you rest, the sooner you'll be out of the infirmary." He noted. "Fine…" I repeated with another groan.
I then looked at my wrist. The bracelet was still there… But I had no idea what happened to the key, or that envelope…
"Where are the key and the envelope?" I spoke up. "Jaden and I took turns in keeping them." Ben explained and took them out of his uniform's pocket. He offered them to me. "Grazie." I took both of the objects.
That was when someone walked in. Looking up, I could see Chancellor Sheppard along with another man. He was dressed in a red attire. His long, silver hair which covered his left eye.
"Maximilion Pegasus?" Ben gaped. "That's Aunt Maria's boss?!" I whispered to him astonished. However, he never got to respond because the Chancellor and the other man were right in front of us by now.
"So you're Maria's kids?" The silver-haired man presumed. "I'm her son, and she's her niece." Ben quickly motioned to himself and me. "Benjamin boy and Serena girl." The man said while looking at us back and forth. "As you probably already know, I'm Maximilion Pegasus." He offered his hand to Ben who shook it, and then offered it to me. I shook it as well.
It felt kind of surreal, getting to meet Aunt Maria's boss… I only heard stories about him, and he was the creator of Duel Monsters after all… From what I could see so far, he seemed like a nice person.
"You came here because of Aunt Maria?" I presumed. "Yes." Maximilion Pegasus nodded. "Chancellor Sheppard told me she's been found after her disappearance, so I came here to investigate it immediately." His brown eye moved to where she was lying.
He walked closer to the bed, observing Aunt Maria's unconscious form. "It is her." He said to himself. "What had happened to her prior?" The man then looked at us. "Mum and Serena had a duel, and it ended with a draw. Something white came out of her before she fell unconscious…" Ben started explaining before I could say something.
"Something white?" Pegasus' eyebrows furrowed. It was weird, something flashed in his eye the moment he said that. "Yeah…" Ben trailed off as the man walked up to us. He looked between my cousin and me back and forth. Then, his eye widened briefly. "Where did you get that?" He asked and suddenly took the envelope which was on my bed. "I… I found it here…" I lied.
Pegasus looked at the envelope for a few moments. Then he looked up at us. "Are you sure?" He asked with a frown. "We don't know where it's from." Ben lied, just as surprised as me. "We don't even know what it is." I added.
"Do you know something about that envelope, Mister Pegasus?" Chancellor Sheppard spoke up. Pegasus didn't respond to that question. Instead, he opened the envelope and briefly looked inside it. He then closed it with the frown still on his face. "Those are the cards which have been stolen." He stated.
Wait… When he said 'stolen'… Was he referring to the cards from that break-in?!
"You're sure you don't know where they came from?" The man looked at Ben and me again. "No." I lied.
I didn't know how much smart it was for me to lie… Maybe it would have been reasonable to tell them about that crazy force. But I didn't want to get Sartorius in trouble for something that wasn't his fault…
"Thank you for finding them." He told me. He then looked at Sheppard. "I'd better be on my way to confirm Maria and the cards have been found." "Then let's get going." The Chancellor nodded. "Wait," I spoke up, stopping them from going out.
"Do you happen to know something about forces connected to light?" I spoke up somewhat awkwardly. Pegasus looked at me for a few moments. Then, he looked at the envelope in his hands, and turned his gaze in Aunt Maria's direction. Finally, he turned back to me.
"There are a lot of things in space out there. You need to be more specific." He spoke up. "Oh, okay. Thank you." I nodded meekly.
The moment both of them were out, Ben looked at me. "What made you think Pegasus might know something about that force?" He raised an eyebrow. "There was something about the way he reacted to your explanation about Aunt Maria…" I trailed off thoughtfully.
"I'm not sure what to think about that… But Mum told me Pegasus used to do some research about things outside Duel Monsters. He doesn't talk about it in public anymore." Ben spoke up with his arms folded. "Why?" "I don't remember it clearly. Some group of people didn't like it, or something." He shrugged.
"Did he have his research published?" I asked curiously. "Don't know." "Maybe we could try to find it." I suggested. "Since we haven't found anything, it's worth a try." Ben finally agreed with a sigh.
Pegasus said I had to be more specific. He claimed there were a lot of things in space out there. Maybe it meant that force really had something to do with space…
In the meantime, I hoped Aunt Maria would wake up soon…
Third Person's POV
Maximilion Pegasus kept looking at the envelope in his hands. Right now, he was on his way back to Industrial Illusions.
Out of all things possible, he never expected to find missing cards at the Duel Academy. Hearing things about that white thing made everything even clearer. He was just glad to have found the cards before it was too late…
He could tell something else was going on at the Duel Academy. He had to investigate it more, and who were those cards meant for…
A shorter chapter, I know… But it was quite fitting to end it here, considering what's coming up next. I hope you liked it and until next time! :)
