"Great, what have I gotten myself into?" thought Shayla. A few people
mingled about, but she was completely alone. At this point in time all she
wanted to do was leave Battle City. She had decided that she didn't want
to compete, remembering the stress that came from the Duelist Kingdom. The
only problem with her decision was that she had caught a ride with Mai.
And Shayla knew Mai was going to see this tournament through to the end.
"Now what?" she asked out-loud. Shayla felt an ornamental garden ridge and sat down. She tried to clear her head, but that did not work. She was really shaken up by how her scales kept going off.
Shayla had always had a strong sense of moral duty and justice, and that was why she assumed she ended up with the scales. But magic was something unknown to her. She summed up her thoughts quickly; she didn't want anyone to get hurt. But everything dealing with the Millennial Items seemed to tear friends from friends and family from family.
"Excuse me," said someone as he bumped into her.
"Sorry," Shayla muttered, still lost in her own thoughts.
"Are you a duelist?" he asked. He had shaved himself bald and wore a single diamond stud in one ear. His jeans were about five sizes to big for him and his T-shirt was near obscene.
"Yes," she answered, wishing he would go away.
"Care to duel?" he asked.
"No, I am not competing," she shot, getting annoyed. Normally she could control herself better, but she was under a lot of stress.
"Neither am I," he replied, slyly. "I am just here for the rare cards." In one swift motion he pulled her backpack off of her shoulder and started to run!
"Stop!" yelled Shayla, shocked. She could feel something swelling up inside of her. She released it. Her Millennial Scales responded, knocking the guy to the ground.
A stranger from nearby saw what was happening. He raced over and was on top of the thief in an instant. He had the blur trench coat that was part of the uniform of Domino High. It matched his navy hair well.
He picked up the thief and with one punch knocked him out. Shayla had heard the commotion and walked over. She recognized the power signature of the Millennial Scales and had no problem finding them.
"Thanks," she said, truly grateful.
"It was nothing," he said. "I don't like it when these punks think they can do anything." He handed Shayla her backpack, then bent down and helped her pick up the items that had fallen out.
Shayla first checked to make sure her treasure was safe. It was. Then she found her deck, which was intact still. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.
The guy handed her the other cards that had fallen out.
"He didn't hurt you, did he?" the guy asked.
"No, I am fine," said Shayla. She was a little surprised. After spending so much time in the Group Home, she was shocked that there were actually nice people in the world. This had been a lesson she had been learning since the Duelist Kingdom. "What did you say your name was?"
"Didn't. It's Rudy," he replied. (AN/ Special thanks to Perfect ARMs for this section!)
"Well, thanks again," she said with a smile.
"Wait, there is still one more card," he reached down and picked it up. It was Windweaver. She was a powerful seraphim at 2750 and 2400. He handed her the card.
"Wait," said Shayla as he began to walk off. "This one isn't mine." He just smiled and kept going.
"I know what you are going to be going up against," he thought as he walked away. "You are going to need the help. Good-luck, you have much to do. And, don't be afraid, because you have more friends than you realize."
"I gave my Windweaver to Luther....." thought Shayla, holding the card. It hurt to think about that.
TWEET! Someone was blowing a whistle as he raced towards the scene of the near robbery. He was Mokuba Kaiba.
"What happened?" asked Mokuba as he ran over. "I heard there was a commotion and.... Oh, hi Shayla."
"Hi, Mokuba," said Shayla. "He (she pointed to the unconscious figure) tried to steal my backpack, but a guy named Rudy stopped him."
"That is bad," agreed Mokuba. He pulled a walkie-talkie off of his belt and radioed for security.
"Thanks," said Shayla. "People like that shouldn't be allowed to roam free."
"I know," agreed Mokuba. "That is why Seto made me the chief of security."
"He did!" exclaimed Shayla, not sure if she should laugh or be shocked.
"Yeah, I get to bust anyone who tries to cheat," said Mokuba, proudly. "But it isn't easy. People are dueling all over the place. I even heard of two people dueling in an elevator! They'd hit all of the buttons and go up and down the skyscraper as they dueled."
"You are kidding!" exclaimed Shayla, laughing.
"No, serious," said Mokuba as he sat down on a bus bench. Shayla sat next to him.
"How do you keep up with it all?" asked Shayla. She enjoyed talking with a person who was actually sane, even though he was considerably younger than she was. He reminded her of Martin, a little, except Mokuba talked. Shayla missed her younger friend, and she hoped he was OK.
"Seto wired me to the mainframe," said Mokuba as he pointed to the high- tech walkie-talkie. "All the dueling information is proceed there. If Seto suspects anything, he radios me and I take care of it."
"What if the person doesn't listen to you?" asked Shayla.
"Then I get my brother and he deals with them," said Mokuba, smiled broadly.
"I guess they'd better listen to you. No one wants to cross your brother," said Shayla, smiling to despite nearly being robbed. "Your brother really cares about you, doesn't he?"
"Yes, Seto is the most important person in the world to me," Mokuba instantly replied. "He even refused to be adopted so we wouldn't be separated. I know he'd do anything for me, and I'd do anything for him. We will always be together, we promised." Mokuba opened the picture of his brother on his necklace and looked at it, full of pride, loyalty, and brotherly love.
"That is so sweet," said Shayla.
"Do you have any brothers, or sisters for that matter?" asked Mokuba. He didn't know what he was saying by asking that.
"Yes," she answered in a voice of iron. "I have two biological younger siblings."
"Really?" asked Mokuba.
"Yes, a younger brother and a younger sister."
"Where are they?" asked Mokuba.
"With my parents," Shayla said through a tight jaw.
"But aren't you an orphan? That is what Seto told me," asked Mokuba.
"Yes, my parents left me at the orphanage before they even bothered to put my name on my birth certificate," replied Shayla. "They didn't want me, just because I was blind."
"I'm sorry," muttered Mokuba. "But, how do you even know them? Don't they try to keep that sort of thing confidential?"
"Yes, but I convinced my closest friend in the whole world to help me find them," said Shayla, going into nostalgia.
*Flashback*
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Luther asked her. It was night and they were going through the manager's office, for any clues of her lineage.
"I have to," replied Shayla, who was going by Adora at the time. "I have no idea where I come from. I have to know. Why did they give me up? Are they even still alive? And why did they never give me a name? Don't you see, Luther? I have to know. You knew your mom, at least."
"I know it is hard," replied Luther. "But I love you to much to see you get hurt by all this." Adora/Shayla practically melted at this point.
"I have to know...." she whispered.
"OK, but no matter what happens, I am here for you," agreed Luther as he pulled out her file.
"Don't ever leave me," she whispered into his ear. He kissed her before opening the folder up. He inhaled sharply once, surprised at what he found.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yes," she said.
"Well, I found an address. I think we'll find your parents there," he answered.
"They are alive!" she exclaimed. Adora then clasped her mouth shut, hoping that no one had heard her.
"We can catch a bus there this weekend," he said. "Are you going to be OK?"
"Yes," she answered.
That Weekend......
"Is this the place?" asked Adora as they stopped in a park.
"Yes," answered Luther. "Your parents live in a house down that street." He pointed to the house, more for his own benefit.
"What are they going to say? What are they going to think?" asked Adora, nervously. She had spent the entire week running different scenes through her mind.
"Don't say anything right away," cautioned Luther. "Here they come."
He watched as two younger kids raced out of the front door, followed by an older lady. There could be no doubt, judging by her curly dark brown hair. She had to be Adora's biological mother
Her two other children raced to the park like a pair of cyclones. Luther watched them, worried about his girlfriend's heart. Her mother appeared behind them.
"What is going on?" asked Adora, her voice filled with anxiety.
"Wait, shhh," he cautioned as the two little devil raced over.
"What is wrong with her?" the little girl, Adora's biological sister asked.
"I think she is blind!" gasped the little boy, her brother. Adora listened, nervous about how they would react.
"That is so weird," whispered the girl. Her brother was laughing. Then he began to walk around with his arms out in front of him, acting like he was blind. He deliberately ran into a tree and fell down. Both of the brats laughed at this.
Luther's mouth formed a tight line. He clutched Adora's had tightly, knowing how much the teasing had to hurt her. He had seen it all too often at the Group Home.
"They are horrible, just horrible," muttered Adora, shocked.
"Stay calm and stay here," said Luther as he walked over to the two kids.
"I would appreciate it if you left my girlfriend alone," he said in his deep baritone voice that came across as very intimidating.
"Did you just say she was your girlfriend?" asked the boy.
"They are dating?!" gasped the girl. Then, they began to poke fun at him, calling him racial degrading names. Luther was a pacifist, but these two were pushing him.
"Luther," called Adora. She wasn't sure what she was going to expect, but this had been far from it. She wanted to leave, but didn't at the same time.
"Don't listen to them, Adora," he said in her ear. "I love you, God loves, and the rest don't matter." The taunts continued, but they did their best to block them out. But then her mother arrived.
"Veronica, Gregory, come here," she said. "What are you doing?"
"Just playing," they answered. Adora tensed. Her heart was throbbing. What was her own mother going to think of her?
"It didn't look like playing to me," scolded the woman. But then she looked over at the orphan couple and shuddered. Luther held Adora closer. He knew that her blindness was the reason that the lady was acting that way.
"I would appreciate it if you treated my girlfriend with respect," he said, trying to keep his tone calm.
"Begging vagabonds," the lady muttered under her breath. Adora was able to pick up the words, though. "Undeserving mistakes. Hardly perfect like my two angels." Adora felt her heart stop at that comment. She now knew that her own mother had turned on her, just because she was blind. That family walked away, but Luther and Adora stayed.
She couldn't help herself. Crying was one thing she fought tooth and nail, but this time the tears flowed freely.
"Adora, listen to me, listen," urged Luther. "They aren't important. I care about you. Gosh, I wish I could take this pain from you." She said nothing, just began to sub into his shoulder.
"Adora, listen," he repeated. "They are horrible people. The only good thing they ever did was you. You are better than they are. You have a heart, and that is one thing they will never have. I love you, Adora and I will do anything to protect you. Those people don't matter. They gave up you, their greatest treasure."
"My own mother," sobbed Adora. "How can she not know it was me? How can she not care about her own daughter? Just because I am blind she can't love me...... What did she think when she saw me here?"
"Adora, don't care what they think," he insisted. "I think the world of you, and I would pay the world before I saw you get hurt. I wish I never brought you here."
"I had to know....."
"Don't let them hurt you. They are horrible people. Adora, you have to know...... You are actually their third child."
"What?"
"They had two children before you. But your parents are awful people. They only wanted the perfect children. Adora, they aborted your older siblings. They killed them before they even had a chance to live. The doctors didn't find out you were blind until you were born, or else they would have killed you, too."
"What?"
"Now, they have their perfect children. Those two disrespectful brats. Adora, you are the greatest thing that ever could have happened to them, and they gave you away. They are not worth the pain. You may be blind physically, but their hearts are blind. Adora, I love you, and that is all that matters."
"Why?" she asked the unanswerable question as she continued to cry into his shoulder. Luther did not reply, he just held her tightly.
*End Flashback*
"Actually," added Shayla. "I did have two older siblings...... I'd like to think I had an older brother and an older sister, but I'll never know......"
"I am so sorry," said a teary-eyes Mokuba. He hugged her, briefly.
"Thanks, Mokuba, I needed that," said Shayla, giving a sad smile. That was when a loud voice from the crowd caught their attention.
"Excuse me," yelled a man in the crowd, attracting the attention of those nearby. He had thinning pepper colored hair and a bony build.
Shayla froze with shock and fright. She had instantly recognized the voice, and that scared her. Mokuba saw her paling face and was instantly concerned.
"What is it, Shayla?" he asked. She said nothing. Her knuckles were white from gripping her walking stick. Mokuba glanced over his shoulder at the man who was causing the distraction.
"Excuse me," the man announced again. "I am looking for a girl. She has curly brown hair. She changes her name daily, so I can't give you that. But she is a run-a-way and I need to find her. Oh, and she is blind."
"Why is he looking for you?" asked Mokuba.
"That is Mr. McCallen, he manages the Group Home," replied Shayla, nervously. "I am not going back! They can't make me!"
"Don't worry," volunteered Mokuba. "I'll cover for you."
"You will?"
"Sure, and if they mess with me, they mess with Seto."
"Thanks," said Shayla with s small smile. "Where do I go?"
"That way," said Mokuba as he gentle nudged her down the street. She took off at a fast jog as he went to confront the man.
"What are you doing? Distracting duelists and interrupting our tournament?" asked Mokuba, trying to be intimidating.
"I am just looking for a girl who ran from my Group Home," he answered. "I saw the website for this tournament, and it said she was here. And I am here to find her."
"I won't allow you to harass our duelists," stated Mokuba, defiantly.
"What are you going to do about it, small fry?" asked one of the people in the crowd.
"I am the security commissioner of this tournament," said Mokuba. "You have to either listen to me, or I get my big brother."
"Wow, I am so scared," snickered someone in the back of the group. A crowd was slowly gathering.
"Seto, I think I am going to need you here," said Mokuba as he unclipped the walkie-talkie off of his belt. "Yes, we have a situation about a stranger bothering the duelists."
"He is Kaiba's little brother?!" exclaimed a third person. The gathering crowd broke up very quickly. Only Mokuba and Mr. McCallen were left.
"I am going to have to ask you to leave," said Mokuba as he turned off the comm. "If you don't go peacefully, I am calling security."
Shayla's sneakers made a soft padding noise as she slowed to a walk. She was on the very borders of the Battle City. Even few people were here. She paused, listening for any dangers. She heard none, but that still didn't change the fact that she was completely alone.
Well, not alone as she would want to be. A figure in the shadows saw her and smiled to himself. He stepped out and approached her, a sinister plan forming in his mind to give him another source of power.
"Now what?" she asked out-loud. Shayla felt an ornamental garden ridge and sat down. She tried to clear her head, but that did not work. She was really shaken up by how her scales kept going off.
Shayla had always had a strong sense of moral duty and justice, and that was why she assumed she ended up with the scales. But magic was something unknown to her. She summed up her thoughts quickly; she didn't want anyone to get hurt. But everything dealing with the Millennial Items seemed to tear friends from friends and family from family.
"Excuse me," said someone as he bumped into her.
"Sorry," Shayla muttered, still lost in her own thoughts.
"Are you a duelist?" he asked. He had shaved himself bald and wore a single diamond stud in one ear. His jeans were about five sizes to big for him and his T-shirt was near obscene.
"Yes," she answered, wishing he would go away.
"Care to duel?" he asked.
"No, I am not competing," she shot, getting annoyed. Normally she could control herself better, but she was under a lot of stress.
"Neither am I," he replied, slyly. "I am just here for the rare cards." In one swift motion he pulled her backpack off of her shoulder and started to run!
"Stop!" yelled Shayla, shocked. She could feel something swelling up inside of her. She released it. Her Millennial Scales responded, knocking the guy to the ground.
A stranger from nearby saw what was happening. He raced over and was on top of the thief in an instant. He had the blur trench coat that was part of the uniform of Domino High. It matched his navy hair well.
He picked up the thief and with one punch knocked him out. Shayla had heard the commotion and walked over. She recognized the power signature of the Millennial Scales and had no problem finding them.
"Thanks," she said, truly grateful.
"It was nothing," he said. "I don't like it when these punks think they can do anything." He handed Shayla her backpack, then bent down and helped her pick up the items that had fallen out.
Shayla first checked to make sure her treasure was safe. It was. Then she found her deck, which was intact still. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.
The guy handed her the other cards that had fallen out.
"He didn't hurt you, did he?" the guy asked.
"No, I am fine," said Shayla. She was a little surprised. After spending so much time in the Group Home, she was shocked that there were actually nice people in the world. This had been a lesson she had been learning since the Duelist Kingdom. "What did you say your name was?"
"Didn't. It's Rudy," he replied. (AN/ Special thanks to Perfect ARMs for this section!)
"Well, thanks again," she said with a smile.
"Wait, there is still one more card," he reached down and picked it up. It was Windweaver. She was a powerful seraphim at 2750 and 2400. He handed her the card.
"Wait," said Shayla as he began to walk off. "This one isn't mine." He just smiled and kept going.
"I know what you are going to be going up against," he thought as he walked away. "You are going to need the help. Good-luck, you have much to do. And, don't be afraid, because you have more friends than you realize."
"I gave my Windweaver to Luther....." thought Shayla, holding the card. It hurt to think about that.
TWEET! Someone was blowing a whistle as he raced towards the scene of the near robbery. He was Mokuba Kaiba.
"What happened?" asked Mokuba as he ran over. "I heard there was a commotion and.... Oh, hi Shayla."
"Hi, Mokuba," said Shayla. "He (she pointed to the unconscious figure) tried to steal my backpack, but a guy named Rudy stopped him."
"That is bad," agreed Mokuba. He pulled a walkie-talkie off of his belt and radioed for security.
"Thanks," said Shayla. "People like that shouldn't be allowed to roam free."
"I know," agreed Mokuba. "That is why Seto made me the chief of security."
"He did!" exclaimed Shayla, not sure if she should laugh or be shocked.
"Yeah, I get to bust anyone who tries to cheat," said Mokuba, proudly. "But it isn't easy. People are dueling all over the place. I even heard of two people dueling in an elevator! They'd hit all of the buttons and go up and down the skyscraper as they dueled."
"You are kidding!" exclaimed Shayla, laughing.
"No, serious," said Mokuba as he sat down on a bus bench. Shayla sat next to him.
"How do you keep up with it all?" asked Shayla. She enjoyed talking with a person who was actually sane, even though he was considerably younger than she was. He reminded her of Martin, a little, except Mokuba talked. Shayla missed her younger friend, and she hoped he was OK.
"Seto wired me to the mainframe," said Mokuba as he pointed to the high- tech walkie-talkie. "All the dueling information is proceed there. If Seto suspects anything, he radios me and I take care of it."
"What if the person doesn't listen to you?" asked Shayla.
"Then I get my brother and he deals with them," said Mokuba, smiled broadly.
"I guess they'd better listen to you. No one wants to cross your brother," said Shayla, smiling to despite nearly being robbed. "Your brother really cares about you, doesn't he?"
"Yes, Seto is the most important person in the world to me," Mokuba instantly replied. "He even refused to be adopted so we wouldn't be separated. I know he'd do anything for me, and I'd do anything for him. We will always be together, we promised." Mokuba opened the picture of his brother on his necklace and looked at it, full of pride, loyalty, and brotherly love.
"That is so sweet," said Shayla.
"Do you have any brothers, or sisters for that matter?" asked Mokuba. He didn't know what he was saying by asking that.
"Yes," she answered in a voice of iron. "I have two biological younger siblings."
"Really?" asked Mokuba.
"Yes, a younger brother and a younger sister."
"Where are they?" asked Mokuba.
"With my parents," Shayla said through a tight jaw.
"But aren't you an orphan? That is what Seto told me," asked Mokuba.
"Yes, my parents left me at the orphanage before they even bothered to put my name on my birth certificate," replied Shayla. "They didn't want me, just because I was blind."
"I'm sorry," muttered Mokuba. "But, how do you even know them? Don't they try to keep that sort of thing confidential?"
"Yes, but I convinced my closest friend in the whole world to help me find them," said Shayla, going into nostalgia.
*Flashback*
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Luther asked her. It was night and they were going through the manager's office, for any clues of her lineage.
"I have to," replied Shayla, who was going by Adora at the time. "I have no idea where I come from. I have to know. Why did they give me up? Are they even still alive? And why did they never give me a name? Don't you see, Luther? I have to know. You knew your mom, at least."
"I know it is hard," replied Luther. "But I love you to much to see you get hurt by all this." Adora/Shayla practically melted at this point.
"I have to know...." she whispered.
"OK, but no matter what happens, I am here for you," agreed Luther as he pulled out her file.
"Don't ever leave me," she whispered into his ear. He kissed her before opening the folder up. He inhaled sharply once, surprised at what he found.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yes," she said.
"Well, I found an address. I think we'll find your parents there," he answered.
"They are alive!" she exclaimed. Adora then clasped her mouth shut, hoping that no one had heard her.
"We can catch a bus there this weekend," he said. "Are you going to be OK?"
"Yes," she answered.
That Weekend......
"Is this the place?" asked Adora as they stopped in a park.
"Yes," answered Luther. "Your parents live in a house down that street." He pointed to the house, more for his own benefit.
"What are they going to say? What are they going to think?" asked Adora, nervously. She had spent the entire week running different scenes through her mind.
"Don't say anything right away," cautioned Luther. "Here they come."
He watched as two younger kids raced out of the front door, followed by an older lady. There could be no doubt, judging by her curly dark brown hair. She had to be Adora's biological mother
Her two other children raced to the park like a pair of cyclones. Luther watched them, worried about his girlfriend's heart. Her mother appeared behind them.
"What is going on?" asked Adora, her voice filled with anxiety.
"Wait, shhh," he cautioned as the two little devil raced over.
"What is wrong with her?" the little girl, Adora's biological sister asked.
"I think she is blind!" gasped the little boy, her brother. Adora listened, nervous about how they would react.
"That is so weird," whispered the girl. Her brother was laughing. Then he began to walk around with his arms out in front of him, acting like he was blind. He deliberately ran into a tree and fell down. Both of the brats laughed at this.
Luther's mouth formed a tight line. He clutched Adora's had tightly, knowing how much the teasing had to hurt her. He had seen it all too often at the Group Home.
"They are horrible, just horrible," muttered Adora, shocked.
"Stay calm and stay here," said Luther as he walked over to the two kids.
"I would appreciate it if you left my girlfriend alone," he said in his deep baritone voice that came across as very intimidating.
"Did you just say she was your girlfriend?" asked the boy.
"They are dating?!" gasped the girl. Then, they began to poke fun at him, calling him racial degrading names. Luther was a pacifist, but these two were pushing him.
"Luther," called Adora. She wasn't sure what she was going to expect, but this had been far from it. She wanted to leave, but didn't at the same time.
"Don't listen to them, Adora," he said in her ear. "I love you, God loves, and the rest don't matter." The taunts continued, but they did their best to block them out. But then her mother arrived.
"Veronica, Gregory, come here," she said. "What are you doing?"
"Just playing," they answered. Adora tensed. Her heart was throbbing. What was her own mother going to think of her?
"It didn't look like playing to me," scolded the woman. But then she looked over at the orphan couple and shuddered. Luther held Adora closer. He knew that her blindness was the reason that the lady was acting that way.
"I would appreciate it if you treated my girlfriend with respect," he said, trying to keep his tone calm.
"Begging vagabonds," the lady muttered under her breath. Adora was able to pick up the words, though. "Undeserving mistakes. Hardly perfect like my two angels." Adora felt her heart stop at that comment. She now knew that her own mother had turned on her, just because she was blind. That family walked away, but Luther and Adora stayed.
She couldn't help herself. Crying was one thing she fought tooth and nail, but this time the tears flowed freely.
"Adora, listen to me, listen," urged Luther. "They aren't important. I care about you. Gosh, I wish I could take this pain from you." She said nothing, just began to sub into his shoulder.
"Adora, listen," he repeated. "They are horrible people. The only good thing they ever did was you. You are better than they are. You have a heart, and that is one thing they will never have. I love you, Adora and I will do anything to protect you. Those people don't matter. They gave up you, their greatest treasure."
"My own mother," sobbed Adora. "How can she not know it was me? How can she not care about her own daughter? Just because I am blind she can't love me...... What did she think when she saw me here?"
"Adora, don't care what they think," he insisted. "I think the world of you, and I would pay the world before I saw you get hurt. I wish I never brought you here."
"I had to know....."
"Don't let them hurt you. They are horrible people. Adora, you have to know...... You are actually their third child."
"What?"
"They had two children before you. But your parents are awful people. They only wanted the perfect children. Adora, they aborted your older siblings. They killed them before they even had a chance to live. The doctors didn't find out you were blind until you were born, or else they would have killed you, too."
"What?"
"Now, they have their perfect children. Those two disrespectful brats. Adora, you are the greatest thing that ever could have happened to them, and they gave you away. They are not worth the pain. You may be blind physically, but their hearts are blind. Adora, I love you, and that is all that matters."
"Why?" she asked the unanswerable question as she continued to cry into his shoulder. Luther did not reply, he just held her tightly.
*End Flashback*
"Actually," added Shayla. "I did have two older siblings...... I'd like to think I had an older brother and an older sister, but I'll never know......"
"I am so sorry," said a teary-eyes Mokuba. He hugged her, briefly.
"Thanks, Mokuba, I needed that," said Shayla, giving a sad smile. That was when a loud voice from the crowd caught their attention.
"Excuse me," yelled a man in the crowd, attracting the attention of those nearby. He had thinning pepper colored hair and a bony build.
Shayla froze with shock and fright. She had instantly recognized the voice, and that scared her. Mokuba saw her paling face and was instantly concerned.
"What is it, Shayla?" he asked. She said nothing. Her knuckles were white from gripping her walking stick. Mokuba glanced over his shoulder at the man who was causing the distraction.
"Excuse me," the man announced again. "I am looking for a girl. She has curly brown hair. She changes her name daily, so I can't give you that. But she is a run-a-way and I need to find her. Oh, and she is blind."
"Why is he looking for you?" asked Mokuba.
"That is Mr. McCallen, he manages the Group Home," replied Shayla, nervously. "I am not going back! They can't make me!"
"Don't worry," volunteered Mokuba. "I'll cover for you."
"You will?"
"Sure, and if they mess with me, they mess with Seto."
"Thanks," said Shayla with s small smile. "Where do I go?"
"That way," said Mokuba as he gentle nudged her down the street. She took off at a fast jog as he went to confront the man.
"What are you doing? Distracting duelists and interrupting our tournament?" asked Mokuba, trying to be intimidating.
"I am just looking for a girl who ran from my Group Home," he answered. "I saw the website for this tournament, and it said she was here. And I am here to find her."
"I won't allow you to harass our duelists," stated Mokuba, defiantly.
"What are you going to do about it, small fry?" asked one of the people in the crowd.
"I am the security commissioner of this tournament," said Mokuba. "You have to either listen to me, or I get my big brother."
"Wow, I am so scared," snickered someone in the back of the group. A crowd was slowly gathering.
"Seto, I think I am going to need you here," said Mokuba as he unclipped the walkie-talkie off of his belt. "Yes, we have a situation about a stranger bothering the duelists."
"He is Kaiba's little brother?!" exclaimed a third person. The gathering crowd broke up very quickly. Only Mokuba and Mr. McCallen were left.
"I am going to have to ask you to leave," said Mokuba as he turned off the comm. "If you don't go peacefully, I am calling security."
Shayla's sneakers made a soft padding noise as she slowed to a walk. She was on the very borders of the Battle City. Even few people were here. She paused, listening for any dangers. She heard none, but that still didn't change the fact that she was completely alone.
Well, not alone as she would want to be. A figure in the shadows saw her and smiled to himself. He stepped out and approached her, a sinister plan forming in his mind to give him another source of power.