Chapter VII: Heartbreaker

Dys: Everyone goes through a certain point in their life where they suffer from a serious broken heart. That was how I was inspired for this chapter. In here, you'll discover some secrets about FD, and few little secrets about a growing relationship between her and a certain character.

Dartz: Not me, thank Gods of Atlantis!

Dys: (rolls eyes)

Dartz: I saw that.

Dys: So what?

"'Cleopatra was one of the greatest queens of Egypt, and also a well known one. At eighteen, Cleopatra was given the kingdom by her father, Ptolemy Auletes to share with her twelve-year-old brother, Ptolemy XIII. When older, Cleopatra fell in love with the Roman general, Julius Caesar, but in order to be with him, she had to kill her brother, which she did. She had several kids with Caesar, but when assassinated, Cleopatra returned to her kingdom. Later, she fell in love with Alexander Helios. When confronted by his enemies, who forced her to believe he was dead, she committed suicide by forcing a poisonous snake to bite her,' " FD read on her computer. Even though she wasn't necessarily supposed to be reading something like this at work, something had been aching in her head since the two nights before when Dartz, her own boss, kissed her. She didn't know the connection, but she wanted to find research on the ancient queen. Not to mention, she recalled reading something in the newspaper about a woman (who strangely resembles Cleopatra) hosting an Egyptian exhibit at the Domino museum. She never went to it, but she remembered looking at a picture of the young woman in the newspaper. She was quite lovely. It said in it that her name was Isis Ishtar, who grew up specifically and directly from Egypt. It was interesting to read a little about her, but FD lost interest quite quickly.

"Whatcha doin'?" came a voice. FD looked up to see a young red head walk into her office. She immediately shut off the screen, and then smiled innocently. "Looking at something you shouldn't?" he asked in a flirty way.

"Shut up. Actually, no, I was looking up information on Cleopatra, the ancient Egyptian queen," FD confessed. Amelda's eyes had that sudden worry expression in them before vanishing.

"Oh. Well, that's cool," he said. "Master Dartz wants to have a word with you later about something."

"Does he need to see me now?" she asked.

"No, he's in a meeting. He's hoping later, before you leave, though," Amelda spoke. FD's smile disappeared into a solid line across her face, and her head fell to her shoulder only slightly. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything's fine," she said. Amelda saw a faint, emerald light glittering in her silver eyes. It was rather unusual to see that, but it left him feeling warm and comforting. It relaxed him to see that. But why? Why did it comfort him so much?

Amelda stayed and chatted in her office for a while, and when lunch came around, he offered to take her out. A small whimper came from her, and he knew what that meant. She didn't want to ride on that motorbike. Why, though? Was she frightened of it? So she and Amelda went out for lunch. He took her to a well-known restaurant down the street called Rainforest Café, and FD thought it was a misnomer, that was, until she went inside it. This place was a restaurant, a bar, and a gift shop all in one building, and it was decorated with vines, ropes and electronics to make it seem like an actual rainforest. It was charming and exotic.

Amelda was actually more intrigued with the place than FD. She informed him about rainforests and the beauty within them. She informed him that she enjoyed creating works of art about forests and the animals within them. It was like a game Quid quo pro with them. Amelda told her a little something about himself, Varon, or Rafael, and in return she would tell him a little about herself. She told Amelda she had always been interested in mystery and law, but art was her major passion. Though technically he wasn't allowed to, Amelda told her a lot about the DOOM organization he, Varon, and Rafael were in. He caught her attention with that.

When they got back to Paradius, Amelda accompanied FD to her office, but as they stepped out of the elevator, Rafael, the tall, muscular blond, came up to them and gave Amelda a look behind his dark sunglasses. Amelda looked at him, and then sighed.

"I have to go," Amelda spoke.

"Why? No, stay and talk to me," FD begged, lacing her fingers around his hand. He blushed by her offer, and smiled.

"Don't worry, I'll be back," he said.

"You promise?" she asked. He nodded. He leaned down, tilted her head back and placed a quick, yet sweet kiss on her lips.

"Yes, I promise I'll be back," he said. He turned and walked back into the elevator. FD smiled as her face flared slightly as she watched him walk away. He waved to her before the doors closed and he vanished.

"Come in," Dartz spoke up as FD knocked on the office door. She entered it, her black hair falling against her face. It was suddenly so warm in their. It wasn't that warm before, on her first day. She saw Dartz standing by one of the windows, his cyan hair sparkling in the sunlight that streamed through. He smiled at her, and approached her.

"Did Amelda tell you why I wanted to see you?" he asked. She shook her head, curious of where this was going. He seemed so punctual lately, so distracted, yet that calm demeanor never vanished.

"I anticipate that it has to do with the reason why he disserted me?" FD asked him. Where was the origin of that? She just blurted it out from nowhere.

"Actually, yes. That's very clever of you, Miss Rika," Dartz spoke. He approached her, and his demeanor suddenly changed to cold and serious. She was paralyzed by that icy glare he gave. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a card that was completely blank. Nothing but a bright white background. It was a Duel Monster's card, she recognized the pattern on the back, but she had also recognized the standard it was in. But from where?

"What is it?" she asked.

"I'm going to put you through a test, my dear. If you pass, you shall be given great power, a power to grant you anything you want. It'll grant you guidance towards the right path. I know that you are desiring love and guidance, like that a parent gives to a child. This test will see if you are worthy for it," Dartz explained.

"Why test me?" FD asked.

"Because…something tells me you are desperate for a replacement in your heart. You've found love, but you haven't found guidance, and you're desperate to seek it. If you pass this test, you will not only obtain power, but I will personally see to it that your life will be guided by love, truth, and you'll see how true human beings are," he explained.

"What do you mean?"

Dartz placed two fingers on her forehead, and a small light emitted at his tips. "Look into your past, my dear. You'll see the true evil inside the hearts of all men," he spoke. FD closed her eyes, and she found herself inside a room with a man looking down on her. She recognized this man as the psychiatrist her parents sent her to go see as a child.

"Rika, your parents have been arguing a lot, haven't they?" the man asked. FD nodded. Then she was inside a dark room, a bit of light streaming in through a door that was ajar. The light came from the hallway, where two voices were yelling loudly and violently towards each other. FD clutched the stuffed animal to her chest, hoping all this would end soon.

Then she was standing before two bodies on the floor, crimson everywhere, above them was her psychiatrist, crimson all along his face. He smiled down at her through crimson teeth, and FD let out a scream of fear. She couldn't believe what had happened. Then she was sitting out on the curb in the rain, staring down at the asphalt. A car rode by, sending water on top of her, not only soaking, but also nearly drowning her. Then she was sitting alone on the steps of her home, watching a group of girls laughing at her. She was then staring down at a boy with long black hair. He was crying, looking for his brother, and she offered to help him, but he shunned her away, hitting her in the process.

FD was standing alone in her home, trembling, crying. As hard as she tried to hide it, she was alone in this world. She always was, she always will be. Then a bright light shined in her eyes, and she was back before Dartz in the office. She looked up into his discolored eyes, and then threw herself into his arms, sobbing.

"Master Dartz, please! Please, I don't want to be alone anymore! I was always alone!" she sobbed. He stroked her hair, wiping away the falling tears off her face.

"You won't be alone anymore, my dear. There are others just like you, others that wish to see justice served, and others who want the evil beings in this world to be gone. There are only so few innocent people. You are one of them," Dartz spoke. "All you have to do is pass this test, and you'll never be alone again. Will you do this?"

"Y-yes," FD trembled, pulling away. The tears that ran down her face sparkled in the sunlight. He wiped them away, and then walked towards the end of the room.

"I have one last question before I give you the test. Will you sell your soul to never be like this again?" he asked. He looked directly into her eyes, and saw the emerald flicker in them. Her power was rising again. That was what triggered it. Connecting with her, seeing into her very soul, the very chambers of her heart.

"Yes. I would sell my soul or die to never be like this again," she said. Dartz smiled, handing her the card. Then he pulled out a necklace from his pocket. From the black rope dangled a small pendant with an emerald shard in it. She looked at it, mesmerized by its beauty, and reached to grasp it.

"If you are able to grasp this stone, you have passed," he said. FD felt weird now. She's worn this stone before. She's been tested like this before. She felt a strange sensation run from her fingertips to her head. A light, soft, comforting voice called from the darkness in her mind.

"Touch the stone…be free, little angel…."

Never to be alone again…to have someone care for me, to have them guide me…. To be able to see the truth in my life….No longer will I be haunted by my horrific memories….I shall begin with this test, and end with my destiny….

The shard glowed a powerful light that blinded FD, yet she saw the stone glow emerald in the man's hands. She reached forward, the sensation growing stronger. She wanted to stop, she wanted to run as far from there. That was the doubt and deceit fooling her in her mind. She had to pass this test. If she does, she'll never be alone again.

Amelda's face floated into her mind's eye. She wondered if they would be together after this. Suddenly, that sensation became a searing pain that evolved and absorbed into her body. She wanted to scream. Her head felt like it was splitting in two. Yet she felt something sharp stab the flesh of her palm. The light faded, and she opened her hand to find herself holding the shard in her hand. Did she pass?

"Welcome to our family, Miss Rika Micamura. Now, you will never be alone, and you have the power of the Orichalcos on your side. A power that is greater than any force to be believed," Dartz spoke. FD looked at the card in her hand, and saw it had changed. It now held the symbol of an emerald sphere with a six-point star in the center. She gasped, that was the symbol she saw before.

"I've seen this before," she spoke.

"Yes, the Orichalcos card you now hold is a field magic card that seals you and your opponent within it while you duel. The winner shall be granted exit out of the seal, while the loser will be trapped within it, their soul fed to a great beast, the Leviathan," Dartz explained. "Use it well."

FD didn't question what he said, because somehow she knew what he was talking about. She smiled, narrowing her eyes in a slight malevolent way, and snickered.

"Excellent. This is the moment I've waited for my whole life," she spoke softly. Dartz laughed at what he had done. He knew how strong this girl was, no matter how hard she tried to hide it. She would make a great warrior, empowered not only by the Orichalcos, but also by her own great and amazing power.

FD left the office, leaving Dartz in one of the chairs, drinking wine. As she closed the door, she heard a voice come over the intercom inside the office. She couldn't help but overhear it.

"Master Dartz, sir, we have some news."

"Yes, go on," Dartz's voice came.

"We would like to report that the take-over was a success. Congratulations, sir, you are now the proud owner of Kaiba Corp."

FD gasped. Kaiba Corp? She's heard that before. A slight aching feeling was inside her chest now, and she couldn't breathe. Why? What's going on? Why was she in so much pain? She gripped the shard around her neck, and felt a tear fall from her face. Why was she in so much pain? And why did she feel like she lost someone dear!

"Hey, FD, wait up!" called a voice. FD turned around to see Varon running up to her. She smiled solemnly at him as he approached her.

"Hey, Varon, what's up?" she asked. He had this weird gaze in his eyes.

"Um…I have some horrible news for you," he said sadly.

"What?" FD asked.

"Yeah, but, it has to do with Amelda," he said softly. FD looked at him and she could feel the pain inside her rise.

The rain fell hard against the closed windows, the darkness outside only darkening the room even more. A lonely figure sat upon the surface of the queen size bed against the wall, her legs propped up to her chest, her face pressed against it, her black hair falling over her knees. Below her, a group of animals watched with pity and concern in their eyes. The young girl was stiff on her bed, tears streaming from her face.

"This is the price to pay when you play the Orichalcos…."

But why did it have to be Amelda? I loved him….

"But he wanted power. He wanted revenge, so he took the power of the Seal. It was a promise he made…."

But he made a promise to me. He promised he'd come back….

"It was his choice. He took the risk…."

FD was so distraught by this, she didn't go to sleep that night. Her mind was set strongly on Amelda. She couldn't believe this. He was gone, his soul was captured. And now she'll never see him again. Will the same thing happen to her? She promised Dartz that she'd sell her soul in order to never be alone. Was that the price to pay for losing? Was all of this worth that? She couldn't think right now. All she could think about was Amelda. How did it all happen?

She fell back onto her bed and looked up at the canopy of her bed. She drifted into a complete darkness, and then found herself inside a plane. Wind surrounded her, whipping at her body. She looked up and saw that sign. The sign of the Orichalcos! Above that sign, she saw Amelda and someone else. They were dueling. Amelda's opponent was about eighteen with brown hair and serious blue eyes. His outfit reminded FD of a Blue Eyes White Dragon. Only one person she knew looked or had that card, and that was the only person in the world who had that card and was so obsessed with it. Kaiba Seto! The one Amelda was after revenge for.

Holding onto the banister of a flight of stairs across from her was a little boy with long black hair and sparkling, worried eyes. This boy…she's seen him before. But where? She knew he was Kaiba Seto's younger brother, Mokuba. But where had she met him before? She reached. She wanted to run her fingers through the boy's hair. He seemed so innocent, so fragile. He reminded her of….

"Rika…"

A soft hand ran gently across the side of her face, caressing her….

"Rika…"

A pair of discolored eyes came into her vision, one emerald, one gold….

"Rika…"

The hand moved down and traced the scar on her neck, the touch so calming and relaxing and….

"Wake up…"

No…I'll never wake up…This is how Amelda lost…It was how I lost him….

"No, Rika…wake up…"

No…never…I want to stay here…and keep Amelda in my dreams….

"Wake up…"

I want to keep Amelda…forever…in my dreams…like the other one….

"Rika, keep me in your dreams forever…."

Always…and…I'm sorry….

A light shined into the darkness of FD's eyes, and she woke up. What a strange dream. She didn't remember much of it, but she remembered…nothing. All she remembered was that it felt like someone else was in that room with her. Was there? There was no sign of anyone. She must have been dreaming of it, then.

"I promise I'll be back…"

Amelda, I miss you, FD thought. She closed her eyes and held in the tears. Then she got ready for work, holding in the pain and tears inside her.

Dartz: A rather interesting chapter. Though I hope what you put in it wasn't me….

Dys: Don't worry, it's not. However, to explain something one kid said in a review, the reason why Dartz kissed FD will be explained completely towards the end, but neither of them has affections for the other. Trust me.

Dartz: Thank you!

Dys: Although Dartz puts on the fatherly or older brother role for FD. I keep forgetting which one I wanted. Amelda is her main lover, though!

Dartz: Yeah, that's great. I still question your writing capabilities.

Dys: Now he decides to use advance vocabulary on me.

Dartz: And who knew you had it?