Chapter Seven
Deadly Shadow
Kale Tori sat busily at his desk in his office at home. He had been sitting there for at least two hours straight. Most people would wonder how he could do such a thing. But Kale Tori, the world famous fashion photographer, who was currently working on the latest edition of the Osaka magazine, "White Plum", usually could not be distracted from anything. People admired him just for that. How when he put his mind to something he wouldn't stop until it was finished, or until he was satisfied with it.
Kale looked up at the clock. It was nearing three in the morning, but he didn't care. The pot of coffee had helped him perk up quite a bit so he could concentrate on his work. The photographs he had taken at the last few shoots had been very successful, and he was rather proud and them. And he wouldn't rest until he had them set in glory. Since he didn't trust the magazine designers with his photos, he had to convince the magazine to let him do it all himself.
The pictures he had taken were spread about the desk, and he took time to look over them carefully before setting them up on the page. He was getting a little tired, but he knew that these would be due in a few days, and the sooner he was finished, the sooner he could send them in, and then begin on his new project.
Kale looked up for a second at the picture that sat in front of him. It was the picture of his ex-wife Roux Matuko. She looked, in the picture, beautiful as ever. Kale remembered that this was the first picture he had ever taken of her, and he had fallen for her in an instant. With her flowing river of golden hair, her mystifying gray-blue eyes and her sweet features, wacky sense of humor and sparkly personality, no one could deny such a marvelous creature.
Kale reached over and picked up the picture, to study it more carefully. He remembered when they first met, on that first shoot. They had talked throughout the shoot, and then had lunch. He remembered that they were great friends for the longest time, and then finally when he proposed to her, and he never imagined she would accept, she told him yes, and they were married.
He knew, however, that it was a good thing they divorced. They lived two completely different lives, and not to mention the fights they used to have when they were married. Kale laughed heartily to himself. Even through their trouble they were the best of friends, and had once been madly in love.
Roux was too young for him in the end, he decided. Even though he was 28 and she was 16 when they married, Kale always felt that love had no boundary. Not in age, nor colour, nor gender. Many people had not approved of their marriage. They hadn't listened. They loved each other. That was all that had mattered at the time.
When surprised Kale was the fact that when they divorced, they became best friends straight afterwards. They would meet for dinner and go to a show every now and then. They were the best of friends. Kale knew how rare that was, especially in divorce. He knew people who divorced and would try to kill each other if they ever saw each other again.
Kale was glad that wasn't the case with him and Roux. She was too darling a person to lose as a friend.
Kale set down the picture and remembered that Roux was in Domino City, and she had been since the day before. Kale smiled and shook his head. Competing in a duel monster tournament.what would possess his red Roux to do such a thing?
He got up and stretched his arms. It was getting very late, after all, and it was about time for him to get to bed. His stomach grumbled, and he knew that he hadn't eaten since that morning. He thought a snack would be good before getting to bed.
Kale walked to the kitchen in the darkness. He didn't bother to turn on the lights, his spacious apartment was wide and he wasn't too likely to trip over anything unpleasant. Kale stretched out his arms and let out a groan, and once he was in the kitchen he saw the moon come in through the windows and cast a glow over the fridge.
As soon as Kale reached for the fridge door, something odd struck him. Suddenly he felt as though he were being watched. He felt a pair of evil, uneasy eyes on him. Kale snapped his head around and tried to see through the darkness of the apartment. But it was fairly dark, and he couldn't hear anything. He squinted his eyes and searched the room again. There was nothing.
Kale shook the thought from his head, and reached for the milk lying on the top shelf. He opened the carton and began to drink. He was glad he was single again for this reason. He didn't have to worry about a wife getting mad at him for drinking from the carton. He almost chuckled to himself as he drank.
Suddenly the feeling struck him again. And this time it spoke. "Hello Kale."
The carton dropped from Kale's hand as he swung around in surprise. "Who's there?" he asked urgently, looking around the room urgently. The voice had scared him almost to death. It was mellow and relaxed, almost amused. But it sounded as though it was right behind his ear.
Kale searched the darkness, and found the voice's owner. It was a young man seated at his kitchen table, sitting in a chair and leaning against the wall. Kale blinked in disbelief and stared. The glare of the moon only allowed half his face to be visible. His hair was covered with a purple hood, from a coat. Kale felt two horrible amethyst eyes on him.
"How did you get in here?" Kale demanded softly, scowling but at the same time intrigued in a way. How did anyone manage to get into Kale's apartment? It was the penthouse, and they usually alerted him if anyone was coming up. And at three in the morning?
A low chuckle came from the young man. "Don't be so surprised, Kale. You know my powers are extraordinary."
Kale didn't respond to that. He didn't know this young man at all. He had never seen him before. How did this young man know his name?
"Tell me, who are you?" Kale repeated rather angrily. "You're breaking and entering!"
The young man's eyes narrowed. "Who I am is not important." He said very sinisterly, slowly as though taunting him. "You will not live long enough to find its benefit."
Kale scowled. How dare this young man, a teenager more less, talk to him like that? He was Kale Tori, the famous photographer for fashion magazines. He had money and power and a large reputation. No one talked to him like that. No one dared.
"How dare you speak to me like that!" he demanded softly. "What do you want?" Kale asked, pacing his voice slowly.
The young man smiled. "Only what's rightfully mine." His amethyst eyes opened softly. "And I know you have it."
Kale swallowed tightly, and he wondered what on earth he could have that this teenager could possibly want. Kale moved towards the counter. "I don't have anything that could interest you."
The boy let out a laugh, a hearty laugh. "You don't fool me for a moment, Kale. I know you have it, and I want it back." He stood very slowly. Only half his body was visible in the moonlight. "I want the Millennium Eye!"
Kale blinked. Millennium eye? What the hell was that? Kale couldn't understand what the boy was talking about. Unless he meant.oh no.not the ring. Kale remembered now. The ring that Kale had bought when he was in Egypt doing a shoot of the pyramids. That was just after he decided to propose to Roux. He remembered buying her the ring for a wedding ring, because it was so beautiful.
Kale swallowed. The Millennium Eye was on the ring, he remembered the Egyptian boy Shadi telling him that it was an instrument yielded by the ancient Pharaoh of Egypt five thousand years ago. He remembered Shadi coming to him in dreams, telling him, warning him about the Millennium eye, even after he had given it to Roux.
"I-I don't have it!" Kale spat out nervously. He swallowed and was afraid that it sounded too obvious. He leaned against the counter, trying to reassure himself.
The boy's hands tightened to fists. There was silence in the room, a dead, unearthly silence that Kale hated. He wanted it to be gone. Kale's eyes were fixed on the young man, as he slowly walked around the table to come towards Kale.
"Sorry?" the young man asked. "What did you say?"
"I said I don't have it." Kale said very nervously. He was having difficulties breathing. He knew that he was shaking and that he was scared. He wouldn't admit it, but he truly was.
The young man stopped in front of him, and stood and stared. His entire body was swallowed into the darkness of the living room, so that Kale could no longer see him. Kale looked around; wondering if maybe he was gone, even though he knew that was farfetched. A boy would not break into someone's apartment, and then threaten them to not get something. It just wasn't done.
A low laugh came from the darkness of the room, riding on the wind, and Kale looked directly in it's place. Straight in front of him. The young man was staring right at Kale.
"So I suppose then your lovely ex-wife has it?" came the voice, coolly against the air, almost in a sneer, almost a taunt.
Kale's scowl was gone and melted to a frown. He blinked softly and stared at the darkness ahead of him. How could he have known that? Unless he could read minds, which was possible. If this young man was able to get into his apartment with ease, he probably could do something telepathic, in the least.
Kale shook his head very softly. "How did you know?" he asked, questionably.
The young man laughed, and stepped into the moonlight. Kale had a better look at him now. He was an Egyptian boy, it looked like, with tanned skin and blonde hair that was covered by a purple cape hood. His smile and eyes were mischievous, and burning with an incredible evil, one of that Kale had never seen before. One that Kale never knew existed.
"I didn't," the boy said, and laughed again. "You just told me."
Suddenly a dark shadow emerged from the darkness, and drawing a long blade, which shimmered in the oncoming moonlight. The sound drew Kale's attention, and he looked over in horror, about to let out a cry, when suddenly the blade met with his body.
The boy stood at Kale Tori's body as it lay on the floor, blood soaking the carpet, bleeding into the spilled milk beside the body. The boy laughed pitifully, and then dropped something onto the body before turning to take his leave.
It was Roux's picture.
Deadly Shadow
Kale Tori sat busily at his desk in his office at home. He had been sitting there for at least two hours straight. Most people would wonder how he could do such a thing. But Kale Tori, the world famous fashion photographer, who was currently working on the latest edition of the Osaka magazine, "White Plum", usually could not be distracted from anything. People admired him just for that. How when he put his mind to something he wouldn't stop until it was finished, or until he was satisfied with it.
Kale looked up at the clock. It was nearing three in the morning, but he didn't care. The pot of coffee had helped him perk up quite a bit so he could concentrate on his work. The photographs he had taken at the last few shoots had been very successful, and he was rather proud and them. And he wouldn't rest until he had them set in glory. Since he didn't trust the magazine designers with his photos, he had to convince the magazine to let him do it all himself.
The pictures he had taken were spread about the desk, and he took time to look over them carefully before setting them up on the page. He was getting a little tired, but he knew that these would be due in a few days, and the sooner he was finished, the sooner he could send them in, and then begin on his new project.
Kale looked up for a second at the picture that sat in front of him. It was the picture of his ex-wife Roux Matuko. She looked, in the picture, beautiful as ever. Kale remembered that this was the first picture he had ever taken of her, and he had fallen for her in an instant. With her flowing river of golden hair, her mystifying gray-blue eyes and her sweet features, wacky sense of humor and sparkly personality, no one could deny such a marvelous creature.
Kale reached over and picked up the picture, to study it more carefully. He remembered when they first met, on that first shoot. They had talked throughout the shoot, and then had lunch. He remembered that they were great friends for the longest time, and then finally when he proposed to her, and he never imagined she would accept, she told him yes, and they were married.
He knew, however, that it was a good thing they divorced. They lived two completely different lives, and not to mention the fights they used to have when they were married. Kale laughed heartily to himself. Even through their trouble they were the best of friends, and had once been madly in love.
Roux was too young for him in the end, he decided. Even though he was 28 and she was 16 when they married, Kale always felt that love had no boundary. Not in age, nor colour, nor gender. Many people had not approved of their marriage. They hadn't listened. They loved each other. That was all that had mattered at the time.
When surprised Kale was the fact that when they divorced, they became best friends straight afterwards. They would meet for dinner and go to a show every now and then. They were the best of friends. Kale knew how rare that was, especially in divorce. He knew people who divorced and would try to kill each other if they ever saw each other again.
Kale was glad that wasn't the case with him and Roux. She was too darling a person to lose as a friend.
Kale set down the picture and remembered that Roux was in Domino City, and she had been since the day before. Kale smiled and shook his head. Competing in a duel monster tournament.what would possess his red Roux to do such a thing?
He got up and stretched his arms. It was getting very late, after all, and it was about time for him to get to bed. His stomach grumbled, and he knew that he hadn't eaten since that morning. He thought a snack would be good before getting to bed.
Kale walked to the kitchen in the darkness. He didn't bother to turn on the lights, his spacious apartment was wide and he wasn't too likely to trip over anything unpleasant. Kale stretched out his arms and let out a groan, and once he was in the kitchen he saw the moon come in through the windows and cast a glow over the fridge.
As soon as Kale reached for the fridge door, something odd struck him. Suddenly he felt as though he were being watched. He felt a pair of evil, uneasy eyes on him. Kale snapped his head around and tried to see through the darkness of the apartment. But it was fairly dark, and he couldn't hear anything. He squinted his eyes and searched the room again. There was nothing.
Kale shook the thought from his head, and reached for the milk lying on the top shelf. He opened the carton and began to drink. He was glad he was single again for this reason. He didn't have to worry about a wife getting mad at him for drinking from the carton. He almost chuckled to himself as he drank.
Suddenly the feeling struck him again. And this time it spoke. "Hello Kale."
The carton dropped from Kale's hand as he swung around in surprise. "Who's there?" he asked urgently, looking around the room urgently. The voice had scared him almost to death. It was mellow and relaxed, almost amused. But it sounded as though it was right behind his ear.
Kale searched the darkness, and found the voice's owner. It was a young man seated at his kitchen table, sitting in a chair and leaning against the wall. Kale blinked in disbelief and stared. The glare of the moon only allowed half his face to be visible. His hair was covered with a purple hood, from a coat. Kale felt two horrible amethyst eyes on him.
"How did you get in here?" Kale demanded softly, scowling but at the same time intrigued in a way. How did anyone manage to get into Kale's apartment? It was the penthouse, and they usually alerted him if anyone was coming up. And at three in the morning?
A low chuckle came from the young man. "Don't be so surprised, Kale. You know my powers are extraordinary."
Kale didn't respond to that. He didn't know this young man at all. He had never seen him before. How did this young man know his name?
"Tell me, who are you?" Kale repeated rather angrily. "You're breaking and entering!"
The young man's eyes narrowed. "Who I am is not important." He said very sinisterly, slowly as though taunting him. "You will not live long enough to find its benefit."
Kale scowled. How dare this young man, a teenager more less, talk to him like that? He was Kale Tori, the famous photographer for fashion magazines. He had money and power and a large reputation. No one talked to him like that. No one dared.
"How dare you speak to me like that!" he demanded softly. "What do you want?" Kale asked, pacing his voice slowly.
The young man smiled. "Only what's rightfully mine." His amethyst eyes opened softly. "And I know you have it."
Kale swallowed tightly, and he wondered what on earth he could have that this teenager could possibly want. Kale moved towards the counter. "I don't have anything that could interest you."
The boy let out a laugh, a hearty laugh. "You don't fool me for a moment, Kale. I know you have it, and I want it back." He stood very slowly. Only half his body was visible in the moonlight. "I want the Millennium Eye!"
Kale blinked. Millennium eye? What the hell was that? Kale couldn't understand what the boy was talking about. Unless he meant.oh no.not the ring. Kale remembered now. The ring that Kale had bought when he was in Egypt doing a shoot of the pyramids. That was just after he decided to propose to Roux. He remembered buying her the ring for a wedding ring, because it was so beautiful.
Kale swallowed. The Millennium Eye was on the ring, he remembered the Egyptian boy Shadi telling him that it was an instrument yielded by the ancient Pharaoh of Egypt five thousand years ago. He remembered Shadi coming to him in dreams, telling him, warning him about the Millennium eye, even after he had given it to Roux.
"I-I don't have it!" Kale spat out nervously. He swallowed and was afraid that it sounded too obvious. He leaned against the counter, trying to reassure himself.
The boy's hands tightened to fists. There was silence in the room, a dead, unearthly silence that Kale hated. He wanted it to be gone. Kale's eyes were fixed on the young man, as he slowly walked around the table to come towards Kale.
"Sorry?" the young man asked. "What did you say?"
"I said I don't have it." Kale said very nervously. He was having difficulties breathing. He knew that he was shaking and that he was scared. He wouldn't admit it, but he truly was.
The young man stopped in front of him, and stood and stared. His entire body was swallowed into the darkness of the living room, so that Kale could no longer see him. Kale looked around; wondering if maybe he was gone, even though he knew that was farfetched. A boy would not break into someone's apartment, and then threaten them to not get something. It just wasn't done.
A low laugh came from the darkness of the room, riding on the wind, and Kale looked directly in it's place. Straight in front of him. The young man was staring right at Kale.
"So I suppose then your lovely ex-wife has it?" came the voice, coolly against the air, almost in a sneer, almost a taunt.
Kale's scowl was gone and melted to a frown. He blinked softly and stared at the darkness ahead of him. How could he have known that? Unless he could read minds, which was possible. If this young man was able to get into his apartment with ease, he probably could do something telepathic, in the least.
Kale shook his head very softly. "How did you know?" he asked, questionably.
The young man laughed, and stepped into the moonlight. Kale had a better look at him now. He was an Egyptian boy, it looked like, with tanned skin and blonde hair that was covered by a purple cape hood. His smile and eyes were mischievous, and burning with an incredible evil, one of that Kale had never seen before. One that Kale never knew existed.
"I didn't," the boy said, and laughed again. "You just told me."
Suddenly a dark shadow emerged from the darkness, and drawing a long blade, which shimmered in the oncoming moonlight. The sound drew Kale's attention, and he looked over in horror, about to let out a cry, when suddenly the blade met with his body.
The boy stood at Kale Tori's body as it lay on the floor, blood soaking the carpet, bleeding into the spilled milk beside the body. The boy laughed pitifully, and then dropped something onto the body before turning to take his leave.
It was Roux's picture.