Chapter Twenty-Three
23
The Deciding Factor
Connar lay unconscious in one of the hospital cots offered in the school's infirmiry. Chazz sat in a chair next to her with a heavy heart and a mixed expression on his face of confusion, fear, awkward discomfort, and worry
Connar...What happed to you?
He thought to himself as he closed his eyes and thought back to the incident that led him to this point.
XXXXX
"It should be about breakfast time..." said Chazz as he made his way to the hall. He was held up in the reference room since early morning,studying the notes that Connar had loaned him, which he now carried crossed armed against his chest.
If not for Connar's notes I might not have done well on the up-coming exam...
"I guess I owe her one." he chuckled, but then a sudden scene played before him just down the hall.
"Hey...isn't that the slacker and his other loser friends?" he blinked with an awkward glance,"They sure look worked up."
Curiosity made him linger as he tried to get a better look at the panicked faces of the Slifer slackers. Jaden seemed to be especially animated, which kind of made Chazz feel a little better inside, until he got a closer look at the body in Jaden's arms.
"That's...Connar...!" he gasped.
"We just found her like this-!" Jaden said to the nurse and to the chancellor that was with her,"She won't wake up-"
They said that they found her like that in her room.
Somehow I doubt that...
Those losers always seem to find themselves in trouble and they always seem to drag Connar right down along with them!
But what's up with her? Is she sick...?
Chazz thought to himself with narrowed eyes of suspicion, gripping tightly to the girl's notebook that he held in trembling hands.
"Don't worry Jaden, She will be in a good hands." said the Chancellor
"B-But can't I go in with her?" Jaden asked as Sheppard shook his head and patted him on the shoulder.
"I understand your concern for your friend, Jaden," Sheppard sighed," But this is an emergency medical matter. We will have to call her family, and await their approval before she can have visitors."
Jaden's face looked distraught and Syrus patted him on the back.
"Come on Jay, we did all we could." said Syrus.
"Yeah we should go back to our rooms." said Chumley.
Jaden wanted to rebuttle but he remained silent and bit his lip. He looked as though he was refraining from something more he wanted to say. But without risking anything further he nodded and followed his room mates back to their dorm.
Chancellor Shepperd sighed as he sent the students off
"This is gonna be a hard phone call to make..." he said,"But I am certainly going to have to call her father. Perhaps we should set her up in an isolation room so as to not receive visitors until we have the approval..."
"But sir, in such a state she really shouldn't be left alone..." said the nurse,"Not to mention the classes she may miss."
"What else can we do?" the chancellor sighed,"There aren't many of us even in the faculty who are aware of who her father is.
he sighed,"Only a select few, we thought it best if the student body didn't know so we can't really let anyone in to see her...I suppose we will have her teachers drop the materials in the offce...?"
"Uhm...pardon my interruption." Chazz stepped into the hall between the whispering adults.
" Chazz?" Sheppard blinked,"What brings you here so early?"
"I was studying in the reference room until the student store opened to grab a light bite." he said,"Not the best quality but It will do in a pinch." he shrugged,"I couldn't help over hearing, and if you'll allow me..." he straightened his shoulders and spoke up,"I'm in Connar's classes...and unlike the rest of the student body, as well as some of the staff I'm sure," he cleared his throat a bit and shrugged,"I already know who Connar's father is." he said,"I could bring her notes, missed lesson plans, and visit on occasion to see how she is until her father arrives."
The nurse and the Chancellor exchanged glances of concern with one nother, pondering over the thought.
"what do you think, sir?" asked the nurse,"It would be a big help."
"Yes it would..." Sheppard stroked his beard and gave a small huff,"Very well, Princeton,I'll allow it." he stated,"But you are still to attend your classes normally, gather any missing work for Connar and leave it for her to catch up on." he gave a warm smile and gently patted Chazz on the shoulder,"Connar is very lucky to have a friend like you."
"Uh...yeah. Of course." he muttered awkwardly,"A...friend."
XXXXX
And now I'm here.
Chazz huffed as he leaned back in the chair.
When I said 'I owe her one' this wasn't exactly what I had in mind...
He grumbled.
Class will be starting soon, so I'm gonna have to leave...
He sighed, and gave one more long hanging look over the unconscious female.
"It's so creepy..." he muttered as he leaned in closer and tapped her cheek a few times,"No reaction at all...and her body is ice cold...it's like she's dead." he chifted his gaze when he noticed her chest heaved, though slowly and very slight, she was indeed breathing.
"Well at least we know she's not dead." he sighed and leaned back one more time.
Connar...what on earth happened to you?
Chazz let out a heavy sigh and twitched when the clock in the room chimed its time.
"It's probably about time for me to go and get things ready for class..." he groaned and glanced back down to the sleeping female,"I'll be back soon, Connar." he said softly, as he gently caressed her colorless cheek with his knuckle before taking his leave.
Once he got out the door ans gently closed it behind him the sound of a muttered conversation hit his ears and he glanced back to listen.
"What? They were seen at the Abandoned dorm!?"
That's the Chancellor...
Chazz thought to himself and raised his brow.
Wait...the abandoned dorm!?
"I see...so Connar collapsed at the dorm then..." Sheppard sighed,"I remember that incident happening before when she was smaller, back when the dorm was being constructed..." he huffed another sigh and stroked his bearded chin,"I will call and let her father know of the situation."
What!? Connar was at the abandoned dorm!?
And...looks like they're gonna call her dad...that's not good.
Chazz was now hiding behind the corner wall listening in on the conversation between the Chancellor and whoever may have been on the other end of the phone call.
"I suppose I have no choice...especially not now that we have Connar Rose in such a state..."the Chancellor sighed,"Her father isn't gpoing to be too pleased to hear about this at all." he pinched the bridge of his nose,"Send in The Disciplinary Action Squad...See that Syrus Truesdale and Jaden Yuki be taken into custody, at once."
Chazz's eyes opened wide as he caught the snippets of this conversation, and he began to tremble while watching the Chancellor walk away with a heavy heart.
Connar collapsed at the abandoned dorm!?
He thought as his fingers clawed into the drywall he hid behind.
And she was there with those losers when it happened!
They were with her...and they brought her back here and LIED about the whole thing!
He gritted his teeth and let out a low growl as he forced his fist hard against the wall.
Of course that slacker would have some part of this...
If he really is the reason for Connar being in such a state...
I'LL NEVER FORGIVE HIM!
XXXXX
Back at the Slifer Dorm the three friends each held their heads with a heavy heart when they thought back of the incdents of the previous night and Connar's check in to the informary during that early morning.
"Maybe we should have told them the truth about what actually happened to her..." Jaden said in a heavy sigh. It weighed heavily on his guilt when he found Connar on the floor like that.
"No way, Jaden!" said Syrus,"You heard Alexis! If they found out we were at the abandoned dorm, we'd be expelled!"
"Sy's right, Jay." said Chumley,"It's best we lay low for a while and try to get some sleep."
"I guess..." Jaden sighed. His expression grew more and more melancholy. Guilt weighed heavily in him and he didn't really feel much like sleeping this time. Though his mind and body betrayed him, as both were exhausted from the previous events. He eventually did close his eyes, but the rest was not a peaceful one.
The sound of stomping boots echoed on the steps and floor boards of the run down Slifer dorm, disturbing Head Master Banner from his slumber.
"Aren't you kids getting a little old to be playing war...?" he heaved a sleepy sigh as he opened his door and rubbed his eyesm"How about a nice quiet game of charades instead...huh?"
When his eyes adjusted he saw a group of green beret wearing soldiers marching up the stairs.
"Oh no!" Professor Banner gasped,"It's the Disciplinary Action Squad!" he stated,"They only show up when a student is in serious trouble...and they are headed straight for Jaden's room!
The three room mates snored away, only to soon be disrupted by some loud banging on the door.
"Open up!" as voices barked from the other side,"Open this door RIGHT NOW or we'll bust it down!"
"Oooh...is that so!?" Jaden said snippily as he reluctantly rose from his sheets and rubbed his eyes,"You and what army...?" he yawned,
"The Disciplinary Action Squad Army!"
Jaden gasped.
"Disciplinary Action Squad!?" in quick reaction Jaden rose to his feet and hurried over to open the door to be met with a woman in a green beret.
"You must be Jaden." she stated,"And that must be Syrus!" She shifted her hard gaze to the blue haired male he quickly rose from his sheets in a slight panic.
"You're both under Campus Arrest!"
"Arrest!?" Jaden blinked,"What'd we do?"
"That will be made clear to you at the interrogation!"
The two room mates exchanged glances with each other with wide eyes before being forced to follow orders.
"Well, this certainly can't be good..." Chumley whimpered from under his sheets as he watched his two room mates be taken away.
"WHAT!? SUSPENDED!?"
Both students looked dazed as they stood together in a room before the giant monitors. On each screen was the Green Barreted woman from before who dragged them from their room. She seemed to be the head on the Disciplinary Action Squad. On the middle screen was Chancellor Sheppard, none too thrilled to be part of this interrogation and to the far left screen was none other than Dr. Creeper Crawler Crowler and another nameless member of the faculty.
"Suspension is what I suggest!" said the uniformed woman,"You trespassed into the Abandoned Dorm." she stated,"An anonymous letter from one of our faculty members confirms it."
Dr. Crowler most likely ...
"On top of that, one of our students, Connar Rose K. is now placed in the infirmary for emergency medical care after the incident." she huffed,"You two must be punished so that an example is set for all students! As for her, she will suffer the same punishment when she is released."
Jaden twinged as Connar's state was brought up and he clenched his fists, Syrus sharing the same sentiment averted his gaze to the floor.
"But what kind of example is that setting!? That we are a bunch of hard hearted tyrants!?" asked , seeming to defend the students though both were pretty certain he was the anonymous witness that busted them,"I say we arrange something more sporting..."
"Sporting?" Jaden blinked,"What's that supposed to mean exactly?"
"Well Jaden...off the top of my head how about..." Crowler paused as though to think for a moment,"For you and Syrus, why don'tyou two partner up for a tag duel?" he asked,"Win and you're cleared-lose and you're expelled!"
"A tag duel?" Jaden blinked,"That sounds sweet!"
"But Jaden!" Syrus whispered,"He said expelled-"
"But where does that lead Connar?" Jaden asked.
"Due to the gravity of the situation and this having to be labeled as an emergency medical situation, Connar's family will be called to come here and see her." said Chancellor Sheppard,"Her punishment will be discussed with them."
"Chancellor, I believe they have accepted the conditions." said glancing over to Sheppard on the monitor next to his.
"Fine." he huffed,"Then I'll arrange some opponents."
"Come now, Chancellor, Don't you fret about that!" said Crowler,"I'll take care of all of the particulars for the event~!"
seemed a little too happy in the situation...which was anything but good.
XXXXX
stormed through the halls, littered with Slifer students.
Just look at them!
He huffed shifting his gaze between multiple red jackets.
They're everywhere...like vermin!
He scoffed as he walked on.
The Hallowed halls of this academy should be for the Elite not the lame...and certainly NOT Jaden Yuki!
"That Slifer Slacker's made a fool of me for LONG ENOUGH!" He shouted out loud, scaring off the remaining students in the hall.
And disappointingly enough, Dear Connar Rose, the daughter of the infamous Seto Kaiba himself is also a slacker, just like him!
he sighed.
And now she is comatose in the infirmary...I can't imagine this will rub well with the big man at all...
" ."
"Huh?" The effeminate blonde male teacher turned toward the source of the voice that called out to him,"Ah, Chazz, How may I be of service?" he asked.
"You can put me in that tag team duel against Jaden and Syrus, that's how!" he huffed.
"You?" the teacher blinked and crossed his arms.
"That's right!" said Chazz,"This time, I know I can beat him and send him packing!"
Connar is like that because of him.
he grumbled to himself.
I'll make him pay.
He clenched his fists tightly, the anger burning within him made his fists tremble.
"Sorry, but you'll be sitting this duel out, Chazz."
"But-!?"
"Don't get me wrong." said as he waved his finger,"Your skills are admirable, but I'm afraid I can't afford to take any chances on this one." he stated,"If Jaden loses here, he will be expelled from the Academy once and for all!" he beamed,"Which is why he will be facing the greatest tag duelists in the world."
Chazz let out a silent sigh, disappointed that he couldn't be the one to make Jaden fall, but another question dawned on him.
"And...what will happen to Connar?" he spoke softly, with his head tilted down a slight. The teacher gazed upon him a while and frowned slightly, noticing that the Obelisk male seemed genuinely concerned for the poor girl in the infirmary who still hadn't awoke...
"I'm sorry, Chazz..." he said softly as he turned and continued down the hall,"But I am afraid that is up for her father to decide..."
To be Continued...
