As for the rest of you, go check out this amazing authoress' stories! Among other areas, her link can be found in my profile's Favorite Authors page, as well as several of the review pages for this story.
Speaking of which... Chapter 20! Who'd have thought? There's so much to tell in this tale. This is just the tip of the iceberg, as far as plot is concerned. There's a lot that's going on here, let's see if everyone can keep track of it. Star Trek: Voyager's Seven of Nine put it best: "Fun will now commence."
Wolf: Well, keep your eye on the story and you may figure out where that particular plot line is going. I already know, of course, but that's one of the perks of being the author! Ahh, the joys (and evils) of suspense.
Lumen: Lots of us have books we've never read. I, for example, have never read Frank Herbert's "Dune". And it's been a long time since I read The Hobbit or the LotR series. Heck, I haven't even gotten through half of HP5! It wouldn't surprise me if everyone who read that segment can relate somehow.
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First Week of April
--
Kyle chose not to tell Chubs about his encounter with Monica in the convenience store. Instead, he made the placement of a single yellow rose in her locker a more regular routine, though he did his best not to let on that it was he who was doing it. Several people had caught him in the act already, but they'd simply smirked and gone about their business. He didn't mind, just as long as word didn't get back to her about it... yet.
He bought a small couch to liven up his apartment. It was in sections, which made it a bit easier to heft into his second-floor living space. His landlord didn't mind, so long as Kyle didn't make a racket doing it. In turn, Kyle was very quiet about moving the segments up the stairs. He also bought a mini-refrigerator and a microwave, and did his best to cut down his spending on fast food places.
Hanging out with Zack was something he ended up doing less often. Zack seemed to be in a brooding, contemplative manner most of the time these days. He was polite, but succinct when he had to speak and aloof when he didn't. It was something that concerned Kyle.
He went into the card shop Thursday afternoon to ask after the subject. There wasn't anyone else in the shop at that point, so as soon as the door closed, Kyle placed his hands on his hips and stared accusingly at Zack. "Okay, spill it. What's got you so down these days?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Zack responded promptly, though his eyes had taken a sudden interest in inspection of the cash register's buttons.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about. You don't think seriously think people aren't noticing, do you?" Kyle crossed his arms. "Me, Chubs... even other regulars to this shop have been talking about how the cashier doesn't seem to want to talk much. This, a far cry from your previous behavior of friendly verbal sparring and good old chit-chat. What's going on with you?"
"I've just been thinking, that's all."
"For a month? Must be pretty important stuff you're thinking about."
"To me, it is."
"Well, would you snap out of it? Pull your head up out of the mass of the crowd and take a look around. There's a world beyond your own mind, you know."
Zack scoffed. "Fine statement for you to make. As I hear, you've been living in your own world ever since I moved away that first time."
"I got over it. You should do the same before you turn into what I turned into."
The older boy heaved a sigh. "All right, fine, I'll say something about it, since you won't leave until I do."
Kyle's face darkened. "You want me to leave?"
"What I want you to do is stop badgering me about my own problems. But since you're not content to do that..."
"I don't suppose it ever occurred to you that one thing friends are good for is listening. And another thing is helping."
"This isn't something that anyone else can help me with."
"Then at least talk to someone about it. Doesn't have to be me, but something's weighing you down and you seems like you could use someone to talk to right about now."
Zack sighed again. "All right, all right. I already said I'd say something about it." He leaned back against the rear counter. "Remember that first second tier tournament you went to? The one where you got beaten in the second round?"
"Yeah, what about it?"
"You were there when I talked to my first opponent, right?"
"Uh... I think so. Memory's a little fuzzy. I think it was a girl. Didn't she have a lot of silver on?"
"Yeah, that's her." Zack scoffed. "She beat me in the first round. I don't know how she fared after that. The moment I turned around, I couldn't spot her anywhere in the store. Guess she got beaten by someone else. Anyway, she's... been rather aggravating."
"What do you mean? You mean since that tournament?"
"Yeah. She's pretty much the reason I don't want to go to tourneys anymore."
Kyle frowned. "Why? What did she do?"
"Well, she knows I run the website that deals in all those cards," he said. "She's after my resources."
"So let her at them. You like business, right?"
"This isn't exactly the same thing." Zack made a wry sound. "Let's say she's sort of like Monica is. Dogged persistence, willing to do just about anything to get what she wants. I don't like doing business with people like that."
"The Internet's impersonal, Zack. How do you weed out the cutthroats from the nice people over that medium?"
"Good point. But this is different. I know her in person. And I really don't want her trying to get at what I have."
Kyle's eyes narrowed. Why do I get the feeling he's not talking about what he's made available on the Internet? He hasn't yet said what it is she wants. "There's something you're not telling me."
"There's a lot that I'm not telling you, principally because I don't want to tell you. What I will tell you – and this is the last thing before I shut up – is that she happens to know a relative of the guardian of the gates."
Kyle blinked. "What?"
"I said it once, I won't say it again. Now... will you please leave the matter alone? I'll deal with her on my own time and on my own terms. If I want help, I'll ask for it."
A relative of the guardian of the gates... sounds Japanese. Kyle scoffed, both in amusement at his own thoughts and in annoyance at Zack's stubbornness. "Fine. But you know we're right here if you need us."
"Yeah, I know." Zack sighed once more. "Anything else?"
"Well, while you're at it, I might like to see some of your stock. I need to build up on my collection."
Zack visibly relaxed, relieved to be discussing something he could have some control over. "Let me see what I can conjure up, then."
--
When Kyle got back to the complex that evening, he grabbed his mail, took it back to his apartment, and sorted through it as usual. His eyebrow rose when he found one simply addressed "McCraine", with no return address label and no stamp. Someone must've delivered this personally. But it's not the landlord's writing...
He got out his letter opener and took to the envelope with it, then pulled out the piece of notebook paper inside.
McCraine,
I'm just as surprised as you probably are that I'm even writing anything to you. Don't get used to it, because whatever sick game you've been playing these last few months, it won't work on me. You're still degenerate trash. And if you tell anyone – and I mean anyone – about what you saw last week at that store, I'll make your life miserable. Frankly, I'm surprised you haven't told anyone yet; and I'd know whether you did or not because word gets around, even from your chunk-assed friend. Whatever. Keep your damn mouth shut about it.
He scoffed at the letter. "You're welcome," he said aloud. He knew better than Monica did that Chubs could keep a secret when he needed to, and this would likely have been one of those times, if he'd bothered to say anything about it.
Of course, that could be a crime in itself. If someone's hurting her, and Chubs and I did nothing even though we knew it was happening... that's a crime against morality, if nothing else.
He took a seat at his computer desk and considered his reply as he pulled up his Word program. Before he wrote anything, though, he picked up his phone and dialed Chubs' number.
"Hello?"
"Hey, there, Mrs. Smith, it's Kyle. Is Chubs around?"
"Yeah, he's playing his video game. You sure you want to talk to him?"
Kyle chuckled. "Reasonably sure."
"All right, then. Just a minute." A few moments passed, and Kyle heard considerable grumbling on the other end before the next words came. "Yeah?"
"Was wondering about something. Do you know if Monica's going out with anyone?"
"You called me up in the middle of StarCraft to keep gnawing on that bone? Let it go, Kyle."
"I'm just curious, but if you don't know..."
"She is, actually. Xander Lind. You know, that football jock that's like six-six and weighs two hundred fifty pounds? Built like a bulldozer."
"I know my classmates, thanks."
"Yeah, well, she's stuck with him for a while. I'm surprised. I thought she'd dump him after a week or two, but I guess she liked him enough to keep him around. So give it up already, man, she's taken."
Kyle emitted a laugh that was slightly forced; his stomach was turning. "Well, you know me... can't give up that easily."
"Whatever, man. Anything else?"
"Nope, that about does it. I'll get you get back to your game."
"Much appreciated. Talk to you later."
Kyle hung up, then went into the bathroom and slumped against the wall next to the mirror. He glanced at his reflection once, then closed his eyes. So... what do I do about this? Try to talk to a teacher? Talk to Xander? ... Nah, better not talk to him about it. And going to her parents – yuck. Can't talk to her about it, either, or anyone else.
...speak... pain...
Heh, well, I guess I can talk to you about it. Monica's getting hurt, and she's trying to keep it secret. She's going out with a human tank, and she's been doing it longer than expected. I know all this and I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do about it.
...him...
You want to know about Xander? Okay... Xander has notably few ethics on physicality, which is why he's such an asset on the football field and on the wrestling mat. He makes straight A's, he tends to be a trustworthy person, he's generally quiet, and people respect him. But he can also be an angry sort. I once saw him punching a rolled-up wrestling mat in the gym, just out of pure blood fury.
...fear...
Yeah. People fear him. And if he's hurting Monica, and he heard about someone accusing him of it... he might make even more reason for her, specifically, to fear him. His defense is his trustworthiness. Even if allegations were made, he'd have enough time between the allegations and an investigation to inflict real harm. And if not that, certainly influence.
So what do I do?
...cannot... remain...
Can't remain what? Neutral? Quiet?
...cannot...
Kyle sighed. Whatever you're trying to tell me... it's probably true. I've gotta do something.
Question is: what?
And with that in mind, he settled himself at his computer and began to write his response.
--
Sunday afternoon saw Kyle and Chubs dueling each other in the nearby park. The place was more suited for a golf course; the trees were expertly placed and trimmed, there were a few gazebos here and there, but mostly it was lush, well-kempt green grass. If anything, the trees defined the borders of the park. There might be a couple kids in those trees, much to the dismay of their parents, who would demand they get down from there right now or you're going to break your head open, and all the king's horses and all the king's men...
They were situated in one of the gazebos, and the afternoon was an unseasonably nice one. The sun was out, there was nary a cloud to be seen, and the temperature was quite reasonable. The occasional breeze knocked their cards a little off-kilter, but usually it wasn't much to just realign them. Chubs, as usual, had a streak of success going against Kyle. Kyle had won a couple times, but better strategy and more luck was coming to the stout sophomore this afternoon. Kyle didn't mind. In his view, it just showed him where he was going wrong with both his deck construction and his strategy. I'll need some more coaching before I take on the second tier again.
This game, as had been the case four times in a row already, ended in Kyle's defeat. As the two duelists were shuffling their decks, Chubs glanced past Kyle and indicated something behind his older friend's back with a toss of his head. "There. That girl looks familiar."
Kyle raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Is it a girl I should get to know?"
"Why don't you turn around and see for yourself?"
Kyle did so, and when he did, he found himself looking at an attractive slender brunette settled against a tree trunk, reading a book. The sunlight glinted off the multiple silver necklaces she wore over her light blue T-shirt. The girl's hair seemed to end somewhere around the middle of her back, and at the moment, it was pulled back into a long, straight ponytail.
Kyle automatically tugged on his own hair, which he had also pulled into a ponytail this morning. Chubs was right; the girl was familiar. She was familiar because Zack had called her to Kyle's memory a few days ago. This was the same girl that Zack had accused of dogging him for his "possessions", whatever that term meant in this particular instance.
He turned back around. "What about her?"
"You made the point for me. Maybe you might like to get to know her. She's duelist, isn't she?"
"Zack hasn't taken a particular shine to her."
"Why not?"
"Something about her chasing after his cards."
Chubs chuckled. "Bet he's just jealous a hot girl like that isn't chasing after him."
"Don't tell me you're not," Kyle scoffed.
"I've resigned myself to dying alone, thank you." Chubs grinned. "Seriously, though, just 'cause Zack might have an issue with her doesn't mean you should. Zack and I can't always be your coaches in this game. You need a broader experience."
"Which is what the tournaments are for. And no offense, Kyle, but you could use some friends. Can't always depend on me for everything." Chubs idly shuffled his deck.
Kyle shrugged. "Why not? You do pretty well as a friend. As far as I can tell, anyway."
"Exactly. Might not hurt to develop a frame of reference. Besides, I've not seen her before... not before the tourney, anyway... and I think she's a better chance at being your friend than anyone back at the high school would be."
Kyle snorted. "True enough." That said, he got up from the table and went over to meet the brown-haired duelist.
She looked up as he approached, one finger resting on the page where she had stopped reading. Her eyes were a gleaming green, and they seemed to bore straight through his skull.
Kyle scratched the back of his neck, underneath his black ponytail. He wasn't quite sure how to present himself.
Ah, to hell with it and just say something! "Um... hi. My name's Kyle."
"Yes, I know," she replied calmly.
Kyle's hands found their way into his pockets, and though there was nothing within them save for his deck, his fingers were clawing. Ouch... guess that means she doesn't want to say her name. Not good for starters. "I think I remember seeing you at the last Duel Monsters tournament... at the game shop, over on 5th Street?"
"Mmm-hmm..." she answered, not sounding terribly interested. "The tournaments there are all right. I've noticed your friend there a couple times, but I don't recall seeing you there before. Was it your first tournament?"
"Not really. I've been trying, but I'm still a beginner." Kyle tugged at his ponytail. "I'm not doing too well so far. But he's giving me a few pointers."
It seemed as though she finally decided to humor him. "If you plan on chatting for a while, you may as well sit. My name's Jade."
Kyle looked at her for a moment. Is she really all that interested in hearing me talk? Nevertheless, he sat down, trying to keep a respectful distance from her. No sense in crowding her. "I'd like to chat for a while... but I'd also like to be chatted to, as well."
Jade fished a bookmark out of her pocket, marked her page, and closed the book. On the cover were a pair of winged people fighting in midair; a fantasy book. "About?" she prompted.
Kyle shrugged. "Anything you like. Obviously Duel Monsters is a certain passion of yours. I heard something about..." He snapped his fingers, trying to remember what Zack had told him – guardian of gates... "Oh, what was it? ...Gate..." Then his mind caught on to it. Oh! That's what he was trying to tell me!
"Gate Guardian. Yeah, that was it." He cocked his head at her. "I heard you had something that might be related to it."
She gave him a look that was a cross between amusement and exasperation. "Related to it... yeah, something like that. Eventually, I'm going to have the Gate Guardian in my deck," she said firmly.
He raised an eyebrow. "A tall order. I was given to understand that it's in the class of Exodia. And if that's the case, it's got to be murder to even find anything even in remote relation to Gate Guardian."
She smirked. "Funny, a second ago, you could hardly remember what it was called, and now you know it's an Exodia-class monster. Someone knowing a little more than he's letting on?" she inquired.
Kyle blinked at her statement. She's right... how did I know that, all of a sudden? No one even told me that... I've only heard of Gate Guardian by name, not reputation, and only from what Zack's told me. He doesn't even know what power it has.
Without waiting for an answer, she reached into her jacket's inner pocket and pulled out her deck. A few flips brought her desired card to the top. The picture of Kazejin, the wind section of the Gate Guardian, was nearly the same shade of green as its owner's eyes. He glanced down at the card she bore, and his eyes widened, both at its attack power and its effect.
Kazejin. Wind attribute. Level 7. [Spellcaster / Effect] Reduce the ATK of an opponent's monster attacking this card to 0. This effect can only be used once. The card's owner chooses when to activate this effect. (2400/2200)
"Where did you get that?" he asked.
"I won it in a duel. My Kazejin," she said, sounding almost... fond.
Kyle sat back and whistled. "A monster like that? Must've jumped through some hoops in that duel."
"Maybe," she said. A small smile played across her lips. "Maybe you'd like to try your luck against a Labyrinth Brother?"
Kyle grinned slightly. "I don't have any monsters like that. Would you expect something of the duel, if you were to win?"
She shrugged. "I suppose not. I do know how to duel with no stakes, you know."
Kyle put his hands up in a defensive posture. "I didn't mean that quite the way it sounded. But you seem like someone who wouldn't just do someone a favor simply 'cause she felt like it... no offense."
"Is that what I'd be doing? A favor by dueling you?"
Kyle emitted a snort. "Frankly, I don't think I'm that strong a duelist. You sure you want to duel a weakling? I think you'd just end up trouncing me."
She put Kazejin back into her deck. "As you wish."
Kyle chewed on the inside of his lower lip. "Someday... I may take you up on the offer, if it remains open." He shook his head. "But there are two conditions for me to even consider doing that."
She raised an eyebrow, inviting him to continue.
"One: that I'm a strong duelist with the confidence to win. Two: I have a card of equal value, both monetary and personal."
She gave him a genuine smile. "Deal."
He nodded, feeling the tension ease slightly. "Only problem is... I'm not sure how I'd find you if and when that day were to come."
"It had better be 'when'," she smirked. "And I'll find you. That's just how it is."
It was his turn to raise an eyebrow. "Oh, is it?"
She winked at him.
Kyle decided not to press the issue further – I've bothered her enough already and she's been very kind to indulge me in even this much conversation – and extended a hand. "Pleasure meeting you, Jade."
She shook it. "You too, Kyle. I'll see you 'round."
Kyle nodded, then got to his feet and went back to the gazebo, where Chubs was still shuffling his deck. The motion was so regular and constant and fluid, it was almost infuriating to Kyle. "Man, why do you even bother shuffling that much? Eventually you're going to have two back-to-back duels with the exact same deck structure, out of sheer luck, as many times as you shuffle!"
"What's it to you? Shuffling is an important skill in this game. A Duel Monsters deck shuffles more than a dozen old people on a square-dance floor." Chubs harrumphed, an amused sound. "What's she like?"
"She's okay. Kinda standoffish, but okay. Not nearly to Monica's extent."
"That's not saying much."
"Well, hey, frame of reference, right?" Kyle looked back to where Jade was sitting.
...or rather, where she had been sitting.
He gaped. "I don't believe it."
In the middle of a park that had virtually nothing but plains of grass and the occasional tree, Jade had utterly vanished.
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D'you get the feeling that won't be the last we see of her? I hope you do! Now I get to beg you for reviews. All you've gotta do is click that little "Go" button there in the corner! Up next, things take a turn for the worse for Monica, and a long-lost warrior returns. By the way, have you read Shielded Destiny yet? Stay tuned!