Chapter VIII: These Walls
Dys: Okay, I heard a song by TRAPT and I thought it went well with this chapter. Anyways, see how FD changes after she realizes Amelda is gone? Ooh….
Dartz: You're so pathetic.
Dys: And you're such a dumbass.
Dartz: ….
Something missing left behind
Search in circles every time I try
I've been here before, yeah
I've seen you before
"FD, hi! Nice outfit," Kiniko pronounced. FD walked over the threshold of the building, dazzling in the light. The outfit she wore was of course in black, but it was different now. She was wearing a black tube top beneath a black denim jacket that had its sleeves torn off. A very tight denim skirt covered her slender and long legs and a pair of black boots reached up to the hem of the skirt on her thighs. She looked like a biker today. But she wasn't trying to.
"Hey, Kiniko," FD spoke in a solemn voice. Her face didn't have that elegant smile anymore. It was darker and pale, her eyes holding an empty gaze in them.
"Hey, there's someone upstairs that needs to see you. I keep forgetting their name, though," Kiniko spoke.
"That's okay," FD said sadly. She walked towards the elevator and came onto the top level. Her black hair had fallen against her shoulders, framing the pendant around her neck. She walked towards her office, and then stopped when she saw someone running down the hall. This woman was beautiful. Her long, golden blond hair sparkled in the light given through the open windows. Her dark eyes shined like opals and sparkled with dark sincerity. Her perfectly formed body fit perfectly in her black leather outfit. FD could only stare at this beautiful goddess. She approached her, and smiled calmly at her.
"Hey, I'm looking for a girl named Rika Micamura. Do you know where I can find her?" she asked. FD nodded.
"I'm Rika, but please call me FD," she insisted.
"Wow, I knew the girl I was looking for was an artist, but I didn't know she was a model, too," she teased. FD giggled. "I'm Kujaku Mai."
"Pleased to meet you. You want to come into my office, I can make us some coffee," FD offered.
"That sounds nice, but I prefer tea," Mai teased again. FD smiled. This woman brought back the smile in her. She knew she was going to like her. But then she noticed the gem from the choker she wore. It resembled hers. Could she possibly be working for Dartz?
"Wow!" Mai spoke when she entered her office. "I wish I could live in a place like this."
"You think this is great? Did you see downstairs?" FD asked.
"Yeah, it's beautiful. Dartz told me you did that," Mai said.
"I…I did. But I had a lot of help from Varon and Amelda," FD spoke.
"Oh, yeah, I know. I heard about what happened to Amelda. Were you two close?" Mai asked.
"Not so much," FD lied. Mai smiled at the lie.
"You know, it's weird sometimes," Mai said.
"What is?" FD said.
"Us. I see a lot of myself in you. And you're only sixteen," Mai said. "You don't like to talk about your personal self much. You refuse to let other people know the real you. And when you think you're finally happy, something happens and takes it all away."
FD silenced herself from that. Mai just described her. Or was she describing herself?
"Love is just as worse. You don't understand it completely, and you think you never will, but deep down, you fear something might happen, and you find someone you believe you love, but then it changes to another person, and once they're gone, you think you'll never feel that way again," Mai continued.
"Please, stop, Mai," FD begged. Mai looked at her, and then approached her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"It's okay, now," she said sweetly. "You're so young, I can't believe what he said about you."
"What did who say?" FD asked.
"Dartz, and Amelda, too, but mostly Dartz. He said you 'd bring great strengths to us, the real organization of this company. The organization called DOOM," Mai said. "That's why he tested you with this gem. That's why you were given the Seal of the Orichalcos."
"What?" FD asked.
"That card you received yesterday with this gem. You were tested by a shard of the Orichalcos, and you passed, but it granted you great powers. Now, you are a member of this organization, the DOOM organization. Your job is to go out and duel different people, using the Seal, and capture their souls to feed to a great beast," Mai explained. "I'm a member of that group. So is Varon, Rafael…and so was Amelda. He seeked out the man who destroyed his life, Kaiba Seto. But he lost, so his soul was taken."
An urge of rage grew inside FD's chest. She was furious now, but more at Kaiba Seto for taking Amelda from her.
"Kaiba Seto…I want him to pay!" FD screamed. Mai backed up, seeing that spark rise in this girl's eyes. It was more of a flame. An emerald flame.
I can't escape walking down these halls
Have to find a place where there are no walls
And no lines begging me to cross
Always straight ahead, better move along
Mai then saw why Dartz picked this girl to be a member of their group. This girl was anything but normal. She reminded her a lot of Yugi. He wasn't normal at all. If anything, he was completely different. Being the vessel to some five-thousand-year-old pharaoh? That sounded strange, but it was true. What if this girl was the same? What if she had some power trapped inside her. Test her against someone. Not against her, no, but against….
"FD, I have a question for you. Do you want revenge against Kaiba for stealing Amelda away?" Mai asked. She may anger her a little more, but it was worth it, if she could witness this power firsthand. The girl looked up at her, and she saw the evil smile cross her face.
"Yes, Mai Kujaku, I want revenge against those that did me wrong in the past! Starting with Kaiba Seto for stealing Amelda from me, for defeating him, and causing him to lose his soul…" FD's voice was low now. Very low, but that emerald flame didn't vanish. It burned stronger than ever. This girl was strange, but Mai had this weird feeling that she was the strongest person she ever met. She wanted to know just how strong she was.
"Listen, let's go see Dartz first. He must give you something before you start dueling," she explained.
"What?" FD asked.
"It's a new type of duel disks, the Dark Duel Disk. We've all got one," Mai said, showing the round and dark object on her forearm that resembled a duel disk, but it looked different, darker, with more attractions.
"Oh, so…I need to go see Dartz again?" FD asked, her voice shaking slightly. Mai noticed this immediately, and nodded.
"Are you scared of him?" Mai asked.
FD didn't know what it was, but she really didn't want to see Dartz again. After what happened yesterday, being tested by this shard, and seeing his eyes almost everywhere she went now. They were eerie to her, now. But she wasn't scared of him…. Maybe it was just her modesty acting up. Or maybe she was scared of him….She didn't know. All she wanted was to not go see him now.
"It's alright if you're scared of him. It shows respect," Mai spoke.
"No, I'm not scared. I don't know what it is. I just don't want to see him," FD said. Then a sly smile crossed her face.
"Oh, my God, Rika! You have a crush!" she said playfully, wrapping her arms tightly around FD's neck and playfully strangling her. FD gasped for air as she was embraced in a friendly way by Mai. That girl was very strong for someone who looked so feminine.
"No…Mai…stop…." FD gasped for air.
"A crush! How cute!" Mai cheered.
"Mai, it's not a crush! It's not a crush!" FD's face was blue now. She then felt a weird sensation rise inside her. She felt like she was about to retch. "MAI, LET GO!"
FD broke from Mai's hold and threw herself against the wall, her body filling with pain. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't see. Her head was piercing with horrible pain.
"FD! Are you okay!" yelled a voice. Mai!
What's wrong with me! What's going on! FD shouted in her head. She couldn't focus. She couldn't think! What's happening to her!
"Rika….hold on…."
Help me! Somebody please help me!
"Rika…"
Suddenly, the pain vanished and FD caught her breath. She could see again, and the pain vanished. She found herself covered in sweat, drenched with both sweat and tears. She was on her knees on the ground, looking down at her hands, which were red. FD couldn't understand. What happened to her? Why did her body suddenly hurt? It was unexplainable. She looked up at Mai, who had this worried look in her eyes.
"Are you okay?" she asked, kneeling down. She grabbed FD's shoulders and looked her in the eyes.
"Mai…" FD couldn't speak. She saw something in that darkness. Something she had seen before. An eye. An eye that was glowing a brilliant gold.
Like clockwork, I commit the crime
I pretend to be everything they like
I've been here before,
I've seen you before
"Mai, please…I don't have a crush on Dartz. I used to, though, when I first started here," FD confessed.
"Hon, crushes never die," Mai said, then she got this sad look in her eyes. FD knew that look somehow. It meant she was still in love with someone. Someone she really cared about, but couldn't be with them. FD leaned forward, and wrapped her arms around Mai's neck.
"Mai, it's okay," FD said. Mai was stunned by how friendly and understanding this girl was. She reminded Mai a lot of herself when she was that age. Mai returned the embrace, but broke away.
"Listen, I think you better go see Dartz now. Just ask him for a dark duel disk, like me," she said, standing up. "Then I'll escort you to your first opponent."
She held out a hand to FD, and, with a smile, took it. Mai pulled the girl onto her feet, and then smiled.
"Come on, sweetheart, you should smile like that more often. People would love it," Mai said. "And with just a little brown blue eye shadow, those beautiful eyes of yours will definitely stand out. And your hair, too. It's like silk. All we need to do is put it up."
"Maybe one of these days we can give each other make-over, you know," FD said, then noticed something. "I don't think you need it, though. You're already beautiful."
Mai blushed at this, and then smiled as she caught FD in another, but gentler, strangling embrace. "You are the sweetest girl I've ever met! I know we'll get along!" she cheered playfully. "One of these days I'm comin' over and gonna make you wear some make-up!"
"That's great, Mai, now just let go of me, please," FD begged. Mai let go with a giggle, and then grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the office.
"I'll wait outside for you. Then we'll find you an opponent. My bike is waiting outside," Mai said.
"Wait, you have a motorbike?" FD asked.
"Yes, why? Don't you like them?" Mai asked. She saw that worried look in FD's eyes.
"I'll…I'll tell you later, Mai," FD spoke.
I can't escape walking down these halls
Have to find a place where there are no walls
And no lines begging me to cross
Always straight ahead, better move along
FD looked at Mai before approaching the door to Dartz's office. Mai saw she was nervous. Poor girl. FD knocked on the door before Dartz's voice came from the door, allowing her entrance into it. FD looked at her, and she gave an assuring smile.
"Don't worry," she spoke. FD opened the doors before entering the office.
"Ah, Miss Micamura, I wasn't expecting you to come this morning," he said, smiling at her from behind his desk. Then his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "How does it feel having power from the Orichalcos?"
"Um…I haven't felt any different, sir, but I do feel somewhat stronger," FD said, noticing the expectance in his eyes.
"Good. You won't feel any real power until you capture some souls," he said softly.
"Oh…kay," FD said. She was confused now. Especially when she saw the wine glass on his desk. He picked up a piece of paper from his desk and read it aloud.
" 'I've seen the tears fall and how elegant they look. Rain drops with a turquoise glimmer in the moonlight.' Did you not write this?" he asked.
FD gasped. That was a very personal poem she wrote when she first started this job. How the hell did he get it? She blushed.
"Please, sir, where did you get that!" she asked.
"It fell out of your purse on your first day. Remember?" Dartz asked her slyly. She did. It was the most embarrassing day she had here. "This proves my theory."
"What theory?" FD asked.
"The theory that I knew. You are her. She always had this beauty with all kinds of art. Who knew she'd be inside a vessel as lovely as you," Dartz spoke.
"What? What are you talking about!" FD asked. She was scared now. He was looking at her with the weirdest glare ever. He wasn't just looking at her, he was seeing straight through her, into her. She closed her eyes, and still saw his discolored eyes, staring, watching her. Her chest gave a horrible jolt through her, and she felt that pain again. The same pain she felt before.
"I've seen your kind before, Miss Micamura. I've seen them all. Victims of the evil and greed in man. Victims who lost it all, and want nothing to do with life. I've seen them all, but you're the first to ever make this much of an impression. Varon made quite an impression with his sarcastic, but hullarious attitude. Amelda made an impression with his loyalty and devotion to his little brother, Mikuro. Raphael made an impression for his strengths and abilities, not to mention the loyalty he had for his monsters. Miss Valentine made an impression with her physical features and how desperate she was for more power and strength. But you…" Dartz let out a chuckle, soft, dark.
FD opened her eyes and saw him approach her. She backed up into the closed door. Horrible voices were screaming in the back of her head. She couldn't think straight. And all she could focus on was what Dartz was telling her. What was he talking about? Victims? She wasn't a victim to anything but….
"You dazzled me from the first day you stepped into this building. You dazzled me completely, it was almost unbelievable. Your artwork surprised me a lot. Miss Kujaku was sent to bring you to me so I could talk to you alone. I know about your little secret, though. But I'm curious if you've forgotten it as well?" Dartz asked. FD suddenly spoke out of nowhere. It was like someone was controlling her, making her say things she never imagined herself to say.
"Why don't you show me?" her voice! It changed! It was so much deeper, so much more feminine. Like a full-grown woman's voice, like Mai's. But…what the….
Dartz noticed this, and his eyes widened with anticipation. A man has never looked at her like that before. At least, not that she remembered….
"You really are a puzzle to figure out. My dear Rika, let me show you then," he said. He placed two fingers on her forehead, and she felt something spark inside her. She couldn't breathe! She couldn't think! She couldn't speak! She couldn't hear! She couldn't see! All she could feel was this weird pain inside her. It was throbbing through her body. She let out a scream and pushed Dartz away. She was shaking horribly as she fell to her knees, clutching her body. The pain worsened, and she couldn't stand it. She wanted to die right there!
"I'm so sorry, Rika…."
"Die, you bastard, die!"
"It was for their own good, my dear…."
"I promise, I'll never hurt you!"
"You've been alone for so long. Aren't you sad?"
"You can trust me, Rika, I promise…."
"No! You killed them! You killed them all!"
"Leave me alone! Everyone just leave me alone! Just leave me alone!"
"LEAVE ME ALONE!"
Rika's screams echoed through the room. Dartz stepped back as he saw this. This girl has awakened inside. Her power was increasing the more she remembered. All Dartz wanted was to see a small flicker of it. But what he got that moment was an entire flame. Rika tilted her head back and screamed at the top of her lungs, the pain inside increasing substantially. A brilliant, blinding light appeared, emerald green, like the Orichalcos. But this one was beautifully emerald, with turquoise, azure, and lavender. It was a beautiful scene. But this light vanished inside her, and the girl fainted into Dartz's arms. He couldn't believe what he saw. He had seen that rage, that anger before. That power, also. A millennia ago he saw it, and he was stunned the first time. Who knew he would see it again, and in this girl?
And I trade everything for this
And I trade everything for this
Why do I read the writing on the wall?
Why do I read the writing on the wall?
"FD. FD, wake up, sweetie," came a voice. FD felt her body shake, and a light shined in the darkness. FD opened her eyes and found herself staring into opal shining eyes. Gold surrounded her vision as she was embraced into a worried and assured hold.
"Mai?" FD asked. "What…happened?"
"Dartz said you fainted from exhaustion in his office. Luckily, he gave you a dark duel disk," she said. She pulled out FD's arm, and she saw she was wearing the same kind of duel disk Mai was.
"Mai, what…how…I don't remember even going into his office," FD spoke.
"What? I told you that you needed to get the dark duel disk from Dartz and then you would get revenge for what happened to Amelda," Mai said.
"No, I remember you telling me that. Everything else, though, is just…just a blur," FD confessed.
Mai looked at her, and then thought for a bit. Dartz did warn her about this, but why? Did this girl have a selective memory? Or was she just plain insane? Whatever it was, it was starting to freak Mai out.
Suddenly, FD kneeled over, covering her mouth. It looked like she was gagging into her hand. Mai gripped her shoulders, worried about what was happening. But then she felt the girl's body shudder, turning dead cold. That wasn't normal. Mai immediately thought of taking the girl to the hospital, but all thoughts vanished when she saw the visible scar beneath the girl's hair. Where did she get that scar?
I don't wanna lose my place in life
I've been here too long
And I've spent too much time
Something missing, left behind
Search in circles every time
I've been here before, yeah
I've seen you before
I can't escape walking down these halls
Have to find a place where there are no walls
And no lines begging me to cross
Always straight ahead
Better move along
Dartz: Ugh! I'm working with an incompetent, lazy, selfish, overconfident fool!
Dys: Okay…I'm guessing I did something wrong….
Dartz: Yeah, unfortunately you did. Not only did you not stick with the pattern you were going with, this chapter was off-course and out-of-flow. I got bored and confused on the first couple of paragraphs.
Dys: Okay, I'm going to end it right here because what'll happen next will be too graphical and inappropriate for anyone!
Dartz: What, the story?
Dys: No! What I'm going to do to you! (starts running like Nixon with a machine gun!)