Chapter 28: Conclusion
Rie rushes through the room to pick up her handbag, putting her deck into it, a drop of sweat rolling down her face, she looks around the room to confirm whether something was forgotten until a pair of hands lands on her shoulders.
"You don't need to be this nervous. If you have your deck, that's all you'll need for this duel, now, let's leave before it's late. Your family will have even more reasons to rejoice if you don't appear for the duel in time."
She nods and they leave his apartment. The destination is a skyscraper comparable to the main Kaiba Corp. building. Yuzu awaits them at the entrance, entering the building with a devious smirk, leading the way.
"This will be the stage!" She announces opening her arms to the grand dueling arena set up. "You may go to the preparation room now, sweetheart. And you…" Her mouth curves in disgust spontaneously, looking at Ryo. "You weren't invited, but I guess it serves you well seeing her lose."
Whirling around, she tilts her head for Rie to follow behind. The pink-haired girl glances once more at Ryo as he stands there, a faint, tepid smile playing on his lips calming her anxious gaze.
"Don't worry, even professionals make mistakes, nobody's perfect and invincible Rie, I'm sure you'll find a way to win this duel."
He waves his hand slightly as she follows her stepmother into a room on the side corridor of the stage. Yuzu takes a duel disk and offers it to her:
"Here, the project we're testing. I asked it to be painted in pink, just for you, your favorite color isn't it?"
"My favorite color is blue." her reply is baffled.
She takes the duel disk and inspects it, Yuzu is about to interrupt her, but a click on the door alerts them, it's Edo Phoenix in person that now enters the same room.
"Here you are, thank you for coming, Mr. Phoenix."
The older lady puts up a marketing smile, greeting him cheerfully, Rie casts a disapproving stare, shaking off her head. The silver-haired diverts his attention to his opponent, approaching her and stretching a hand.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Edo Phoenix."
"Rie Kinomoto." She accepts that handshake, surprising him with a message on her PDA.
"I hope we can have a good duel." He declares courteously, the woman behind him interfering impatiently, her mouth gushing sarcasm:
"Don't waste your time with this girl, Mr. Phoenix, she'll lose and she knows that, of course we're just testing our materials so whoever wins is none of our concern, but I do hope you'll find this a valuable lesson, Rie, and learn your place." She finishes with a scoff.
Rie's brows furrow, Edo can see so clearly the tactics of his client to rile the young woman up and he doesn't like it even a little bit, he's starting to understand how even the Hell Kaiser would run out of patience with people like this. They're both surprised when he talks to Rie once more, this time, in sign language.
"You. Fine?"
Her blue eyes widen, puzzled at why he'd be doing this, Yuzu on the other hand seems extremely annoyed at it, both for not understanding the language and that he's being kind.
"Yes. Thank you." She replies equally in gestures.
"Good. I. Deal with. Her."
He says the last part with an assuring nod, Rie's flabbergasted at his sentence. Why is he doing this?
"You know sign language Mr. Phoenix?" A discontent smirk plays on her lips as she interrupts, she's sure he spoke something about her.
"Do you not?" He gazes at her analytically, his question is simple, but causes a twitch on her brows. "I thought you'd know a way to communicate with your daughter."
He points the flaw bluntly, almost as if he was trying to get on her nerves, she'd hear his reputation of talking to opponents in duels like this, maybe it's his temper, she forces her smile more, keeping the composure.
"Oh, please. I wouldn't have time to learn it, but it's fine, Rie can speak freely with her device. She's only using this language with that sad excuse of a boyfriend of hers anyways, but not for long."
Her eyes droop while looking at the pink-haired girl, Rie answers with a scowl, Edo switches glances between them, the tension swelling until the older lady declares:
"I'll let you both prepare now, if you excuse me."
Edo's eyes squint as he watches the arrogant woman close the door. The room has two tables, each one with a different name tag on them, his table has a blue duel disk prepared, it seems they wanted her to be confronted with Edo's presence rather than giving them separate prep rooms, a technique to scare her, perhaps?
The girl fidgets looking around as if that's the first time in her life she'd have a duel, he sighs heavily, it's not like he enjoys bullying the weak, but should she be this nervous?
His client also mentioned something worth noting, that she had a "sad excuse of a boyfriend". So that was really what it was all about? That guy… Knocking on his door, making a fuss about the duel, couldn't he just have been more clear before about the situation? He probably wouldn't even need to have dueled, for people like Yuzu, Edo would give them a lesson for free.
"Why don't you try calming down a bit?" A friendly suggestion comes from him.
"How do you know sign language? And how did you know I could use it?"
"I've learned it from some kids in an orphanage I visit often, they're like you and can't speak and they taught me a lot of it while we played. It's not a secret, really. I did a background check, and I get your mother isn't very fond of you."
"You're a surprisingly considerate person to your opponent."
"You're not my enemy and you don't need to worry, everything is already settled…"
"Settled?" She's confused at his words, raising a brow. "I understand it may look as if I stand no chance, but you shouldn't be so rude to a lady." She misunderstands his sentence, he's also perplexed.
"Aren't you happy your dark prince came and saved the day?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Hell Kaiser Ryo." His arms fold, staring at her sternly to probe her expression.
"What about him?" She ponders for a brief moment. "I don't understand what you're saying."
His lips part unwittingly, astounded. Is it possible that she… Doesn't know anything about his late night duel with Ryo? No… He wouldn't… What's the point of defeating him in a duel and not even bragging about it? Did he really…?
"He… Didn't tell you anything?"
"You're confusing me. What exactly would he tell me about? This duel is between me and you, all he did was borrow some videos so I could prepare in advance, perhaps you don't see this as proper… I don't know how you found out… I don't even know how you'd be aware about Ryo and me." She gasps, looking at him in distrust. "Did my stepmother stalk me again? Was it she that told you that?"
The answer is, he didn't know up til today. Even though he asked so many times, that guy still left him in the dark, a grumpy pout on his lips. Really, what's his problem?
"No, that's not it… I just…"
His frown increases as he looks into her eyes, she isn't lying. This girl is completely clueless about the whole agreement he made with Ryo. Why the secrecy? Couldn't he be more transparent with his girlfriend at least? The more he finds out, the more entangled his mind becomes.
"If you have something to ask him, he's here today."
In hindsight, how would he even know about her and Ryo? True her stepmother mentioned a boyfriend, but no way he'd know it's Ryo just by that, right? Did he see him walking outside with her? Or was it her stepmother who told him about it before? How would he know about her getting his help though? This is bordering creepiness.
"It's nothing… We should get ready, the duel will start soon."
She turns around for her own preparations, noticing something last minute, panicky searching her pockets. He can hear the clacking of her typing:
"I'm sorry, I forgot something outside, I need to go grab it!"
Before he answers anything, she darts out. Is she always this skittish or is the whole duel situation making her like this? He grabs the blue duel disk, inspecting it, he tests the buttons and functioning, trying his deck out. There's a small piece added to the design that stands out in his eyes, he messes around with it, but stops when the disk shuffles his deck, he pulls the first card: Bloo-D, his brows arch up, he takes a full hand, it has 3 low level Destiny heroes and Dark City.
He takes his deck out, shuffles it and reinserts in the disk that auto-shuffles it as soon as it happens, he pulls a full hand again, Bloo-D and other three low level destiny heroes plus Dark City. Taking his deck out, he shuffles it and inserts it in Rie's duel disk instead, it auto-shuffles it too, but when he draws the first hand, all he gets are traps, some of which are specific for certain heroes. It doesn't take him long to conclude something dreary.
"You gotta be kidding me… This disk has been tampered with…"
He tries it another time to put his deck on his own duel disk, again and again and the result is always the same, a perfect, winning hand with the same pattern of cards allowing him to summon Bloo-D.
This hole keeps getting deeper and he doesn't know anymore who is on which side, his mind lists the facts in a orderly manner: the Kinomoto that arranged the duel for their daughter on the first place has tampered with the "prototypes" of disks, unintentionally or not, this is a very serious issue. On the other hand, the Hell Kaiser in person, which happens to be the son of the owner of a rival company to the Kinomoto Conglomerate came and dueled him so the girl would win, and he's apparently her boyfriend? Meanwhile she's absolutely oblivious of the battle on both sides. This can't be good. Why was he thrown into the tornado again?
"First the rumors about them harassing people, now this… Why would they do this to their own daughter…?" His eyes squint infuriated and distrustful at the possibility.
Outside the room, Rie walks on the corridor, her steps halting upon seeing the figure clad in dark coming towards her, stopping right in front.
"I forgot my deck!"
"That's why I told you to not be so nervous…" He rummages in his chest pocket, handing the light-blue deck case to her. "Be more careful next time." His hand comes to the side of her head, ruffling her hair gently.
How did he have it all the time? Is this why he was coming here to meet her? As she tries to understand the situation, a voice disrupts their meeting.
"Rie! What are you doing?! You should be preparing for the duel! And you shouldn't be here! If you want to watch Rie being crushed by a professional duelist better than you so badly, go to the grandstand! You're not allowed to be in this area!"
Her speech soars loudly in the corridor, Ryo's eyes steel, becoming icy and piercing as he glares at the insufferable vice-president of the conglomerate. Before she can blabber more, the door of the prep room opens with a soundly creak.
"Ah, Madam, you're here, that simplifies things."
His tone is rather cynical. Rie and Ryo exchange a glance before watching the scene, the girl is even more bemused, she was sure everything seemed right when she checked before.
"What happened?"
"Well, it seems your prototype duel disks came with factory defects."
"B-but that's not-"
"Madam, it seems I understand more about duel disks than your company engineers, because it's clear as day to me the disks have been tampered with."
Rie is shocked to hear that, exchanging glances between the silver-haired boy and her stepmother who pales at his accusation. Ryo simply narrows his eyes, he expected them to sink this low, but it still irritates him to witness it.
"What?! No, I guarantee that's not possible! If there's any problem, I'll have it fixed immediately."
"There's no need." He stretches a hand in sign for her to stop as soon as she steps ahead. "I'm on a very tight schedule here…" He casts a brief glance at Ryo as if referring to his sentence from the night before. "Look, Madam, when I signed the contract, both parties agreed to hold a duel, but winning is something you achieve through merit, not through cheating. I won't accept those conditions."
She doesn't like his tone, his dark-blue eyes have this defiant glint in them, or is it a downsizing glint? Something in them reminds her of Ryo's Marufuji eyes and she hates it.
"That was not what we combined! The duel has to go on, we'll fix the problem and everything will be settled."
"The duel is cancelled." He lays the hammer down with a confident tone.
"You said it yourself, Mr. Phoenix, you are bound to a contract. Whether you want to or not, you can't just say no and cancel our appointment. We are your sponsors."
She squints at him and his sudden change of heart, his words are so offensive she doesn't even know where she would start correcting him. He takes out a carefully folded paper from his chest pocket, opening it and showing the said contract.
"Are you talking about this?" He stares at her for a moment, her eyes widening as he nonchalantly rips the paper apart, throwing the pieces of paper in the air. "This is what it means to me."
"You-" Her eyes become bloodshot at the disrespect. "We're ceasing all contracts to sponsor you!"
"Fine by me." He retorts staunchly, keeping an elegant, yet defiant posture. "If I can't trust my sponsors, then I'd be better off without them. More than winning or losing a duel, image is important for a duelist, and I certainly don't want to be involved with people who'd tamper with duel disks to win, much less if those people are bold enough to mistreat their own family and that were previously accused of harassing other companies, this would just sully my image as a duelist."
"Who do you think you are?!" She spits despise.
"We're through here, Madam. I'll report this incident to the Seringan group." Casting his gaze on the corridor ahead, he starts walking away.
"You can't just leave-"
She only steps ahead once before someone blocks her way, Rie glares angrily at her, starting to type a hectic, furious message. At the same time, Edo walks past Ryo, they exchange a glance, with the latter narrowing his eyes.
"I fulfilled my part of the deal." He stops, blurting out on his defense.
"You didn't need to turn this into a show."
"Frankly…" He casts a glare over his shoulder, to the older woman who showers her daughter in offensive comments. "I understand what you're trying to do here. Well, my part is done, if you excuse me, I do have a schedule to keep in mind."
A faint smile plays on Ryo's lips, it's so brief he isn't sure if he really saw that. His secretary waits for him outside, watching as he enters the backseat of the car.
"The Seringan group will be receiving a million calls from the Kinomoto conglomerate. It seems you made the vice-president very angry."
"I'll accept any punishment."
He folds his arms, crossing one leg over the other fearlessly. She smiles watching him from the small mirror at the top, if she didn't know him better, she'd be more nervous at his attitude.
"So, what is the reason behind your decisions today?"
"I'm not working with cheaters. Ever."
"Don't worry, the company was revising our partnership with the Kinomoto conglomerate anyways. But you cancelling a duel, that's unseen." Her eyes have this shrewdness, she knows there's more than just cheating in the matter. "I heard the young lady of the Kinomoto struck a deal with her family to avoid marrying a business partner if she won the duel. You could get more income by keeping the partnership, yet you chose to help the young lady. I suppose you wouldn't blink to make a decision."
"Where do you get those infos from?"
"I'm good at finding information. That's my job too. But are you sure about this? Didn't you also strike a deal with the Hell Kaiser?"
"You got me." He sneers. "I'm sorry for the trouble, Emeralda, I'm not that interested in their money. The truth is I hate cheaters, but…" He smiles faintly "I'm a real big fan of heroes. I couldn't help but play my part as well."
The smile spreads to her as she starts the engine of the car. She understands him very well by now, despite the cold posture, he values justice for him and for others too.
"Lunch is my treat today!"
She announces, much to his surprise as she drives him through the city to the office of the Senrigan group, he's not looking forward to solving the matters due to this little attitude problem, but at least he followed his beliefs to the very core.
Inside the building,
Ryo stands and watches, to not interfere as Rie shows a message she's been typing for a while, her stepmother gasping at the content:
"You cheated?! I can't believe you, the more chances I let you talk me into things, the more you find ways to amuse me with how obnoxious and unfair you can be! This duel is over and all your sly plot of marriage or whatever you want! I'm not listening to any other word of what you say or want!"
"You're very mistaken if you think that's how it works! Just because the duel was cancelled, doesn't mean the contract for our partnership will end! Your father won't allow that!"
"We'll see about that! I'm paying him a visit, now!"
She whirls around, leaving the woman flabbergasted as she stomps her way on the corridor, stopping by Ryo.
"I need to talk to my father urgently. I'm sorry for this, but we can meet later."
"Wait, you need to schedule an appointment!" Her mother protests.
"I'll give you a ride." She's confused at his simplistic, blunt answer. "I told you before, but it's about time I meet both your parents. I'm not impressed so far…" He casts a glance at the woman shouting at them in the background, ignoring her voice. "Let's go."
He finishes, offering an arm, she flushes instantly, the anger flowing in her blood giving place to the tranquility spreading in her mind, she wraps her arm around his and they leave without wasting more time.
After so long, Rie gathered the courage to take the matters into her own hands and settle those issues for once and all.
At the Company's main building
A cool, insipid air hives in Kinomoto's president office. The man himself seats on his brown leather chair, his eyes are blue with a faint tinge of pink in the middle like Rie's, but that's how far the resemblance goes, his orbs are sharper and much smaller than hers, lines creasing his skin around it form the age, his silver hair neatly combed back and a voluptuous white beard growing from the sides of his face and covering his chin, making a moustache too.
On his desk, a tag with his name, Shinji Kinomoto. He stares emptily through the glass panels forming the walls on the back of his work desk, listening to some call in a collected posture. A loud click and a brusque sound as the door of his office barges open.
He swirls the chair around, glancing over the two people storming towards his desk and stopping in front of it. His reaction is but averting his eyes, continuing his talk as if nothing of importance happened.
"No, there isn't any problem."
He stands up, walking to the glass and standing near there, disregarding their presence. A soundly slam on his table drags his attention to the newcomers.
"It seems we have some very rowdy and nervous guests…" His eyes sharpen, a berating glint as he stares at his daughter who demands attention. "No, calling the security isn't necessary, this won't take long. I'll call you again later."
Ending the call, he tucks his last model cellphone in the inner pocket of his jacket, sitting comfily on his chair and accommodating his arms on the armrest. His eyes peek at the million-worth watch.
"You have five minutes. I have an appointment and you do not have an hour scheduled."
"I won't even need this much time with you!" She replies so quickly, he reproves her demeanor with eyes.
"Start." He orders, listing the questions: "To what do I owe the visit? I don't have time for your childish acts, Rie. And I see you brought someone with you…" His brows furrow subtly at the sight of the younger man. "Did Ryuu send you here for some corporal espionage?"
"I don't think I ever introduced myself, Mr. Kinomoto. Ryo Marufuji, Rie's boyfriend."
"Keep it short, Rie, you have four minutes left."
He ignores Ryou's presence, stating as he looks at his clock. The composure of that man was impeccable, but unnerving at the same time.
"You can't force me to marry anyone or decide what to do with my life!" She writes indignantly at him.
"It's not a matter of choice, Rie. As a Kinomoto you bear the responsibility to match the expectations for you. Your will does not come into play and I believe I made that clear last time. You don't get to choose boyfriends, or profession, or any of that if you want to be successful. This is just how it is."
He opens his arms, sighing deeply and swinging his chair slightly, that is just business for him. Ryou scowls at him, he replies with a sharp glare, not intimidated. Rie's fists clench, she bites her lips. Of course she shouldn't have expected a different response.
He won't cancel any of his plans for her sake or even bother listening to her wishes. That's how it's always been.
"For a famous president, you sure have low-level arguments." Ryou intervenes, a haughty posture. "Rie is an adult, in which world do you live? People have choices, whether you endorse it or not." His hand lands on her shoulder, her eyes flickering while looking into his green orbs. "You didn't come here to listen to this, swallow it and go back home, did you Rie? It's time you tell them your stance on this."
"So you are the rotten apple." He jeers at the scene. "Expected. I would appreciate it if you stay away from my family."
"She's not your family, she's your product. And I would, in turn, appreciate it if you would keep your sleazy old hands away from my girlfriend. She's not a property for you to own."
The man stands up, a visible wrinkle between his brows as he looks down on Ryou. Tension swelling in the air as he presses a button on his desk, an intercom.
"I have two guests here that I did not invite, you would do well in explaining to me why you let them pass."
The man on the other side stammers something about the guest being his daughter. His impatience increasing:
"Enough! I want them removed from my office."
He commands, they can hear a scared shriek from the man on the other side. The old man stares in a mix of derision and conceit at them.
"Our talk is over, you'll learn that as a Kinomoto, when I say something, you do it without questioning, Rie."
She pucker her lips, there was much more she wanted to ask and say and understand why that man whom she called father would be so cold and contrary to all her wishes. Did he ever love her once? Did he ever care about her or was she just a burden?
"Rie." The teal-haired man brings her out of her daydreaming, he can see the corners of her eyes becoming soggy.
"If that's what it entails to be a Kinomoto, then, I'm cutting off ties with the Kinomoto family! I want you all to leave me alone and stay away from my life! You have no right to tell me what to do!"
"Don't be naive, you can't just cut ties with your own family."
"I'm sorry, father, but you do not have a choice."
She raises her head high showing that message, he flinches at the words, the way she looked at him just as he looked at her many times in life before. This is exactly how he taught her to be, he just didn't expect she'd use this against him.
"I don't care whichever arrangements you have with any company. You can forget I exist, say I died or whatever you prefer!"
"You can't do that."
"I didn't come here to bargain for anything, it's my life and you can't control me, it's as simple as that. I'm out of this family and no matter what you try from now on, you won't force me to do what you want." She supports her hands on his desk, leaning on menacingly, a cold glare cast at him, causing a drop of sweat to roll down his face. "I'll disappear from your sight and you would do well in disappearing from mine too. I'm finished here, hopefully our paths won't cross again."
There's no glint of remorse in her eyes as she turns away, grabbing Ryou's hand and walking to the exit. She stops at his last words.
"You're ruining your life."
"No, you did it. I'm rebuilding it."
After the quick message, they hear the door barging open with security guards coming in, they gulp seeing the two young adults who have unkind expressions, one of them tries to grab Rie's arm, but he's stopped by Ryo's grip on his wrist.
"Back off. We're leaving."
Ryou declares to the guards, freeing his hand and putting it around Rie. The men in black exchange a worried and puzzled glance, accompanying them as they leave without resistance, the president of the company is left behind, astounded.
On the streets
Rie exhales soundly, Ryo scoffs at her way of letting out tension, patting her shoulder, a tiny smile on his lips.
"You did well. Now you can live your life without worries, Rie."
"I don't think he was very happy, maybe they'll still pull a move on me…" She types nervously.
"If they do, we'll just overcome it again, you shouldn't think too much about them, but rather about yourself."
"Thank you, Ryo. You being here with me lifted my spirits and gave me courage."
"I'm sure you could have done it alone, but I'm happy you appreciate my company." He stops walking, ruffling her hair. "How about having some breakfast?"
His suggestion is welcomed, soon after they're at a small cafe, some people around recognizing him, they can hear the tittering and gossiping, but his composure just shows he doesn't care for his surroundings.
"Was your father always an asshole?"
"As long as I can remember. My mother died when I was young, and ever since then, my father tasked some maids and babysitters to take care of me, then when my stepmother came into the family, I was young enough to be raised as her daughter, but she couldn't bear the fact I was alive, so she just let me for the maids too and occasionally gave her opinion on my education."
"So your parents didn't raise you." He takes the last sip of his coffee. "It doesn't amuse me."
"I guess he wanted to be a businessman and not a father, so he didn't take up the task and made himself busy so he has an excuse to tell me later."
"Yeah, and that just makes him fucked up for even having a kid to begin with. I'm glad you're here now, though. But there's a difference between family, people that care about you and just people that put you into the world, I want you to remember that. He's your progenitor, but not your father."
"Ryo…"
"Enough of this talk, it's depressing."
After paying the bill and being observed by at least a dozen other people, they leave the place, his steps cease after they get some distance from prying eyes.
"Now, how about we go to your apartment? I could help you start packing if you're free today."
"I am, I mean…" She flushes at his sudden suggestion. "W-what about your work?"
"I don't need to be there for the time being, it's fine to help a bit unless you prefer to do it alo-"
Before he can finish his sentence, she yanks him in an embrace, her arms wrapping around him, tugging him a step back, he encloses his arms around her too.
"Ease there."
She releases her grip, her hands grabbing his face, stretching on the tip of her toes, bringing his face slightly down, smooching his lips once, eliciting a smile on him, twice, some chuckles on the side from people looking at the couple.
When they grow apart, he can see the tears rolling down her cheeks, his smile vanishing in a minute.
"Rie, why are you crying?" His thumbs wipe her tears, caressing her face. "I know those last days have been stressful for you, but don't let it overwhelm you."
"I'm sorry, I'm just a bit emotional lately." She sniffs, sweeping the leftover tears with her own hands.
"It's okay."
He leans over, planting a gentle kiss on her head, to soothe her forehead, her emotions seem to be all over the place, he can't tell whether she's happy, relieved or sad. What is wrong?
They set off to Rie's apartment, it's been some time since he has last been here, he'd forgotten how small it looks, maybe he should have invited Rie to live with him earlier.
"You don't need to hurry, just tell me when you're ready to fully move out, it doesn't need to be today either."
A brief smile sprouts on her lips, with a quick peck on each of his cheeks, she darts somewhere inside the apartment. Her phone vibrates many times with messages.
"My boss?" She plays the recorded audio.
"Kinomoto, come immediately, we heard an incident happened at the duel academy! There are reports from my contacts there that the whole school building went missing and a huge hole is there instead! You have to hurry to my office now! I will fill you in on some details and I want you to go there immediately to cover this!"
Gasping, she quickly grabs her belongings, going back to the living room, stunning Ryo by coming back so suddenly.
"There's an emergency at work, I have to go now! It's about the academy, I don't know the details, but my boss said it vanished!"
"What do you mean with 'vanished'?"
"The whole building vanished! That's what he told me. I have to hurry, I'll brief you up later, sorry for this. Love you."
She rushes to the office in those clothes. Upon arriving, there is a turmoil happening at the boss office, he seems to be on a call with someone else and sternly talks to them, raising his finger to ask her a minute.
As soon as it finishes he calls her closer, his eyes display both concern and severity, he orders her to sit down.
"Listen, Kinomoto, I know this is probably hard for you, some of the people you knew from the academy were probably still studying there, but the whole building is gone, there are no signs or vestiges of it left, this is… Something big is happening! Really big and I'm giving you the chance to go there and find out! If you do this right, you'll earn a permanent spot in this company, I guarantee."
"What happened?" She types nervously, he can see her trembling hands.
"I need you to be very calm about this, don't lose focus, right? There are not many details disclosed, but I hear even chairman Pegasus is involved, you should go there and investigate and when this is all found out, I will want your article on my table. I personally have some contacts there too, some of them seem to not be able to respond, I will want all status reports you can send me via message, make sure to investigate it thoroughly."
Her brows curl upwards in worry. If what he said is right then, Shou, Asuka, Judai and all others… Did they also disappear? Her heart skips a beat, her throat drying and prickling.
"When do I go?"
"Today! Immediately! Grab whatever you need and you're departing in about 2 hours!"
She nods firmly, clenching her fists, darting out of the office, her boss exhales deeply, his eyes wandering around his work table, lost in what to do. He hopes they'll find what the problem is and be able to help solve it, and that the news she will bring will be good ones.
By the time she's back in her apartment, Ryo isn't there, a faint disappointment that she didn't have as much to spend with him. It doesn't take long until she packs a suitcase and goes to the heliport with the helicopter prepared by the company to take her, there are also a few other people including some cameramen and a doctor, her feet are restless, she taps it while sending a message to her boyfriend that she might not be back for longer than expected and they'll need to postpone her moving out.
Somewhere else
The buzzing coming from his pockets gets his attention, he uncrosses his arms, taking it out to check the display. His eyes widening subtly with the text he just received. His gaze drifts off to the road that darts by on the outside of the car, before he has time to ponder about it, a call comes.
He gapes slightly at the name of the person who is calling him, but he answers nonetheless, calm, distant gaze.
"Ryo! You picked it up!" She couldn't hide the surprise in her voice, her loud scream makes him get the phone away from his ears for a moment while she greets, boredom stamped on his face. "Sheesh, I'm surprised you didn't ignore your mother this time!"
"Why did you call now, mother?"
"I tried calling your brother, but he won't pick up! It's unusual for Shou to ignore me, unlike you. I was worried about you too, did you know? Are you trying to get rid of your mother at such a young age? You should call your mom sometimes too. I-"
"I did intend to call you soon, I have something to tell you and father. I'm sure you'll be overjoyed."
"Oh, something, what is it?" The excitement in her voice peaks, he can hear her giggles. "Did you finally get a girl? Or a boy? Is it a grandkid? I'm too young for that, but I'd love to. Or is it something else? Are those reporters still being mean to you?"
"You said Shou didn't pick up." He cut off her blabbering in a firm, but respectful tone. "Are you implying something might have happened to Shou?"
"Hmm. I have this strangest sensation that something is off. Also, today morning your father was acting very strange..."
"I'm pretty sure you both had your misunderstandings a couple times. He's just a reserved person." He mustered patience to listen to more of that boring dialogue.
"No, it's not that… After leaving for work, he came back to the house a few minutes later saying he forgot his umbrella, it was not even raining that was the silliest excuse and he's such a smart man, too! Then, he suddenly asked me how you and Shou were doing. He always asks about it during meals, but that was so odd, I told him I don't know because none of you call me that regularly, but that you both should be fine, he just left without his umbrella, isn't that very weird? I can't understand your father sometimes..." A heavy sigh comes across the line. "Anyways, I called because he got me worried, are you fine?"
"Yes." His dry tone sounded convincing. He closes his eyes, only his conscience weighing with that lie. "I'm fine."
"What about your brother? I will try to contact him, but if he talks to you first, tell him to call me, right? Do that for me, please."
"I will. If I hear anything, I will let you know."
"I love you Ryo, and you're very handsome in your new looks! Keep doing a good job, I'm sure your father is proud of you! And I am too!"
She ends the call making a kiss sound, he sighs deeply, changing to the screen of his phone that shows his newest Rie message:
"Ryo, I had to travel to the academy island for work, it's dreadfully serious! Fubuki-san, Shou, Asuka-san and most students were in the academy building when it vanished! I will investigate it and fill you in with more details, take care, please!"
He lets out a huff of disgruntlement, he should be the one advising her to take care. With a hand to his chest, a bitter smile plays on his lips.
"They are worried, huh…?"
A muffled laugh echoes in the silent car, the driver raising a brow wondering what is up with him this time. The Hell Kaiser was always a mystery to his eyes and ears.
At the academy
Rie jumps out of the helicopter as soon as it lands, the team takes out the devices and machinery needed for the work. Her feet drag hesitantly on the main road towards the building of the academy, from afar she can see the immense hole left by its absence. Her eyes open wide, flickering, angst crumpling her chest.
The landscape of the island changed completely on that part: there are many metallic vans and all sorts of people in coats and military uniforms plus a bunch of other reporters and hectic moving around, people walking everywhere, discussing, the air is dense and there is a faint fog circulating as the sunset slips in.
Among those wagons there are also some quickly set up big and smaller tents, she presumes for the sleeping of whoever is working to figure out that mystery, before she has time to fully explore the surroundings, a voice calls out to her:
"Rie-kun."
Whirling around in a daze, her mouth still half open and a certain panic in her eyes, her emotions seem to be soothed upon the presence of a familiar figure.
"Principal Samejima."
"Are you also here to cover it for the news?" His brows furrow up. "We should be careful."
"I am, but that isn't important now. What happened?"
"Apparently a gigantesque amount of energy was released and it opened a portal in the island, the whole building disappeared, many ocular witnesses confirmed it was out of nowhere. I was out of the island on business..." His head lowers in dismay "I wish I was here… Everyone… All the students and staff inside of the building, vanished."
"Who are all those people?" She points around.
"Specialists. Among them we have a famous duelist whose theory involves quantum physics, he seems to know more or less the cause, he was the one who explained about the surge of energy. I already contacted chairman Pegasus, he also knows a lot about strange events revolving around duel monster cards and we think it might be related."
She feels a chill run down her whole spine and gulps. Duel monster cards? It reminds her of that shadow and of how her own card gained life; the shadow duels; the Mythic Demons; all that has transpired in that uncanny island that seemed to attract such happenings. Perhaps, it was related to the duel monsters all along.
"Rie-kun." His firm hand snaps her out of her trance. "I may also need your help, you came with a crew, right? I will arrange accommodations for you, pardon me if they are simple, but for now, we are taking all the help we can get."
"Could you contact any student?"
"No. Only a few stayed outside the main building and even they were very confused about what happened… We are still trying to get in touch with the missing students and the staff that was also with them at the time, no success so far."
"Do you know where they are?"
"It's complicated, Doctor Zweinstein, one of our best specialists says a portal to another dimension opened and he believes the whole building was translated to this said dimension."
"Another dimension…?"
Her gaze drifts off to the ground, the voices and noises from outside become nothing but background sound as she places a hand to her chest. What exactly is going on and why? This whole talk reminds her of the shadow realm in which she was a couple times during those horrifying duels.
Asuka told her some students from other branches of the academy were coming over to the main branch, including a professor, but all of those people were also inside the building when it disappeared. That was the last she heard from the blonde.
She questions a few people, but they all are busy and don't spare her much time. After taking a few notes, she scribbles the daily update her boss demanded as part of her job there. With mingled and hazy thoughts, her mind travels around in theories and chews over the latest information.
After hours of setting up and scrambling for more information, before long, a small meal table is set up on the camp, the scenery is looking more and more like a military incursion than a school ground.
Her device vibrates making a loud sound, she fumbles with it on her hands, almost letting it drop before picking it up just to have a strong, loud voice piercing her ears:
"Kinomoto! It's me!"
She connects it to a video call and stares nervously at her boss, his brows are together in the middle of his forehead, a hint of nervousness on the drops of sweat he cleans from the face.
"We just got news that Edo Phoenix is currently going to the academy island! I want you to find out why he is involved in this and get a scoop on it, got it?! But don't forget your main goal is still to investigate the vanishing academy mystery! Plus… I have a personal favor to ask..."
One of her brows arches, a personal favor from her boss? Right after he called to talk about Edo Phoenix? Is he a fan and wants an autograph or what? It would be very strange to have to ask for an autograph from a guy that almost dueled to her just today.
"Kinomoto, the truth is… The reason why I am so interested in the duel academy now is that I wanted you to also see if my son is fine. He supposedly was also in the school building. You know him, he's a Ra yellow student and he is…" He describes it for her, his voice muted as she gapes. "...If you find anything about the missing students, please contact me… This is… I want to know if my son is fine."
With a firm nod of her head, she confirms and he ends the call without her consent, letting out all the air she has been holding while listening to him talking. No matter how many times it happens, it always makes her insecure to speak to the boss.
To think even a person like him had a son in the duel academy, and the reason he got all those news on it was to keep track of what is going on because of his son too. That was a human side of her superior she did not expect to see and so unlike her parents.
They hear the sound of a helicopter into the distance, it lands at the heliport on the docs. She's called to help with some tasks and about half an hour later, the camp seems to be in a chatty mood. The reason: the aforementioned duelist waltz through the place towards the principal.
With a deep inhalation of fresh air and firm steps she follows him, stopping reluctantly a few steps before interrupting his dialogue with Samejima.
"Rie-kun…?" The principal flinches, noticing her silent presence standing a bit away from them "Is there something wrong?"
Both of the men stare at her in some sort of expectancy and wariness. She denies with both hands and steps ahead, typing a text and showing it. Edo's brows raise seeing her there. They met quite often for a single day.
"Mister Edo Phoenix. Thank you for earlier today." She smiles wryly. "I guess we can skip introductions, I'm here as a reporter and I would like a few minutes of your time, if possible, when you are finished talking to principal Samejima."
"Sure, I can give you a few minutes. But, why talk to me instead of the other people who were here before? I just arrived."
"I tried, but they didn't tell me much. If you know more than me, that's already a plus."
His lips part subtly, his arms uncrossing, stunned at the request, he takes a brief look at her earnest eyes.
"Fine, I'll tell you what I was informed."
"Rie-kun is a former student that graduated from our academy." The principal taps his shoulder once with a worried smile "I can vouch for her that she won't be tagging your name in bad news."
She nods in agreement and stretches her hand to both signalize the pact, he shakes it firmly and turns back to his own talk with Samejima, then, Rie helps the the crew serve the meals, meditating on the last hours she has been there, her eyes drifting to the sky that darkens more.
"Ryo… I hope you'll be fine… And that everyone from the school is fine too."
A lingering wish in her mind, as they resume their work, the mood on the site doesn't improve, on the contrary, the more they try to search for clues, the less hopes they seem to find. What happened to all those students and will they ever be back?