Judgement of the World
Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
A/N: Eh, just a bit of fixing and a bit of word changing and done!
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The twins doctors' office was nothing special, pale creams or sterile white that bled into the colors of Dr. Kaii Nakanoi's clothes. Rua sat on a beige colored 'bed' with his feet kicking a shaky beat borne from nerves. Yet despite his physically obvious nervousness, his words strove to maintain an upbeat cheer about the whole thing. Hiding the apprehension that this accident might cause the two of them to be sent back to their parents. Which if not for the Earthbound Gods arrival, he would have been willing to go and do just that. The responsibility looking after his sister because of her heart was heavy burden he never realized when his parents were around. Now that he had spent time doing just that, it would have been a lie if he said he hadn't been longing for the chance to go back to being just a kid.
But now he was in charge of protecting one of the defenders of the world! He couldn't cost them their home in Neo Domino!
While the youngster fretted, Jack fretted on ever getting comfortable in these ridiculously small chairs. Given the Duelist was, by nature, taller than most of the Japanese people, 'typical' chairs tended to be a little... problematic to say the least. Thus why his long legs were stretched out to the fullest and he struggled get comfortable without crossing his arms. Normally he had no problem with his arms crossed, if it intimidated someone then they were just acknowledging their strength compared to him.
Which was what he told himself, but there was also the underlining fear of new places. He wouldn't admit to being afraid, but at the same time he would have been lying if he said denied a level of apprehension with being alone. There was no handlers to cover for his lack of awareness of procedures in Neo Domino. He knew of hospitals in the sense of his battles with the Earthbound, and doctors always visited 'him'. Not the other way around, and somehow being in a 'doctors office' made him feel more like someone would call him out because of where he was raised.
But being a Duelist meant being able to read your opponent as well as your cards, and every time he crossed his arms, Rua winced. The childs' feet would swing faster in contrast to his cheery smile and frivolous conversation attempts, and the reason they were 'there' was a topic onto itself. When Aki called him, she told him of what had happened, promising to see about getting her hands on the deck he had been using. One twin with a bad heart, another with a bad brain? No, it was too strange and the Duelist agreed to escorting Rua. People didn't just 'pass out' while dueling, or forget cards they had just drawn.
He absolutely refused to call Yusei about this matter, even if Yusei was their by default leader as per having the Head of the Dragon. There was no way he was going to let their near silent technofanatic leader know that Rua had been injured. His pride wouldn't stand for the idea that Yusei learn a child left under his care had been harmed. Undoubtedly there had been some kind of system error an issue in the dueling system that looped in and shocked the poor kid off the platform.
This was an unacceptable smear against the reputation that Jack had for being immaculate in his responsibilities. One that he would not tolerate, but he was unwilling to bark at the boy about how he could have let such a thing happen. After all, how could he blame the kid for being in the wrong place at the wrong time? But a small voice in the back of his mind spoke of yet another far darker smear, another child that he, himself, had put in danger for his own selfishness. He tried to shut that voice off more in the strange surroundings his arms crossing as a defense, only to see Rua trying to hide his own apprehension behind a veneer of casual energy.
"Ne, sorry about this Jack," Rua apologized for the possible hundredth time since Jack arrived to pick him up. Waiting until they were on their way, and thus out of the ear shot of his sister and their classmates to confess to his 'real' concern.
The blond knew not to bother trying to mollify or elaborate on what Rua 'really' meant. Not when the doctor could be outside the door listening to their conversation. Rua had made it clear he didn't want to be viewed as someone who needed looking after, especially if it meant he and his sister would be sent away. Even if he wasn't a Signer, the kid showed a great deal of spunk and nerve to try to tough it through anything to support them.
"You didn't see any sign on the Platform that it might go haywire on you?" Jack finally asked so the boy was given an outlet.
Rua reached up on instinct and put his hand to the back of his head as per normal only to wince. His expression twisted on instinct before settling down again into an awkward one as he tried to remember anything that would have warned him. Something that he might have missed...
The class had been about learning the use of spell cards with Effect monsters; in his case, he had been using a Winged Beast deck. His efforts had been trying to use Monster Reborn to bring back 'Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds' to support his 'Aurora Wing'. Sure Aurora was a water type, but Sly was using a wind type deck and he figured Barrier would be a better card and would leave Aurora alone. That had been his plan, one that 'he' didn't recall completing, only that he had been activating Monster Reborn when the world went dark.
It had been Ruka who had gently informed him that he 'had' pulled it off. That the Barrier was called forth by the side of Aurora when he suddenly fell from the platform. His annoyance at his own strange reaction only turned into panicked alarm as Ruka's eyes began to glisten with tears. Her pure worry for his safety left him desperate to assure her that he was ok. That her big brother wasn't going to just die on her, that he was always there to protect her!
He had over heard the doctors when they had spoken of Ruka, that there was a possibility that Rua could develop the same health issues later on. It wasn't unheard of, but despite that their parents had still opted to move out of town and leave the twins living on their own. They had left with the understanding that if Rua ended up actually developing the same heart condition, the twins 'would' move back with their parents. Though they never brought it up to Ruka since they didn't want to 'upset' her with the fear that Rua could one day be like her.
He never wanted to be the reason they would have to leave, since it would have meant he had the same condition as her. Rua didn't like the idea of living his life always concerned with if he was over stressing his heart. A life of such self containment was painful enough by proxy of his sister, he didn't want it for himself! So when Jack suggested that they 'don't' tell Yusei, he had automatically agreed. The guy was quiet, more inclined to answer questions with action rather than words, as proof in the twins modified duel disks.
But given how he had offered himself up to Aki to help her with her powers when Divine was in the picture? Rua worried that one day Yusei would sacrifice himself rather than risk letting any of them fight alongside him. Though why would he? If he knew how talented a group he had, then Yusei wouldn't worry about them! Thus it was more important to hide the fact that Rua had gotten hurt than give Yusei any doubt about anyone he was leading or was following him.
Having an older brother, someone who could shoulder the burden instead of Rua had taken such a load off. If he was healthy, his sisters' health was a load off. If Rua turned out to be developing the same issues as his sister though, he would be a dead weight. Even if Yusei wouldn't abandon him, being a dead weight was unacceptable!
"Everything was fine, I don't recall any blinking lights or anything, Jack. I don't know what could have happened to make me collapse."
Before Rua could say more there was a slight knock on the door and Dr. Nakanoi stepped in with a clip board in his hand and a file tucked under his left arm. The nearing middle age man walked in, glancing between the two occupants in the room before shutting the door behind him. It never pleased him that the twins were left parent-less, it was a sign of poor parenting in his eyes. But he was merely a doctor and so long as the twins were properly fed and healthy there was little he could do.
In fact, when he was told that Rua was coming, he expected his heart sick sister by his side, not this tall, blond haired riding duelist. He knew who the kid was, everyone knew of the former Turbo Duel King, Jack Atlas. Sometimes talking about the game or duelists was enough to get a kid to open up, but seeing the duelist here with Rua was simply a surprise. It was the first time someone of near adult age had accompanied either twin. A sign, perhaps, that the twins were no longer completely alone. That there would be an older person to look after the pair when Ruka's heart needed more care than normal. It certainly took a weight off the doctors' shoulders as the pair gave him their attention.
"Well good news is that you don't seem to have anything other than a little concussion, no fractures, broken bones." He announced and watched as Rua did a fist pump in delight and even Atlas looked visibly relieved by the prognosis. "There is also no signs of electrical injuries so whatever happened, didn't seem to come from the platform he was using. So I'm going to advise you not to eat tonight drinking is ok though I would advise against the sodas and such. Tomorrow you can resume eating normally, this is merely precautionary."
"Great, thank you Dr. Nakanoi!" Rua bounced from his seat to the ground while Jack brought his legs in so he could stand up.
"Will you be staying with Rua, Mr. Atlas?" Dr. Nakanoi inquired patiently as Rua began tugging on his school jacket.
"Me? No, he and his sister will be staying with our friend. She's already stated that she would bring them home with her, or stay with them depending on what her parents say." Jack announced, looking down at the shorter doctor with only a lowering of the gaze.
Dr. Nakanoi frowned slightly as he thought about what he heard. Not that the idea that there was someone else to help look after the twins. But who was this 'girl'? How were the twins developing this social circle with teenagers? Was there a younger brother or sister that the twins were actually friends with and these teens were just stepping in? If they were stepping in just to step in, it seemed a bit out of sorts for such generosity to last.
But at least for now there was a support group for the twins and he tried to take comfort for that at least. "May I inquire as to who this girl 'is'?" He asked as he went back into the file to write down that there would be a 'girl' looking after Rua after his fall.
"Aki!" Rua chirped up as he tried again to put his hair into his traditional ponytail, only to wince at the pain.
Dr. Nakanoi raised an eyebrow at the boy's interjection into the conversation, that Rua would call her a 'Big Sister' implied a closeness that was more than just charity of a teenager to a kid. Then Jack answered him directly, his arms folded across his chest as though to guard against any questions the doctor had.
"Izayoi, Aki. She's the daughter of Senator Izayoi," Jack announced proudly. Knowing that having the position of a 'senators daughter' would hold a great deal of weight for the concerned doctor. Jack wasn't blind, the twins had been alone for quite some time and what doctor would be completely fine with a pair of small children home alone? Jack wasn't an adult either, he should have been in class as well, but he was in riding gear and clearly not in school.
So either Jack was privately schooled or a NEET, but before the doctor was given a chance to decide which it was, Jack's name drop had its desired effect. Regardless of what Jack was, the focus was now on Aki, and her position as a senators' daughter. For which he was glad that she had told him her plan to stay with the twins; indeed school, at the time, was going to be over soon enough. They had agreed that she would come to the doctors office with Ruka. Her physical presence would give weight to his words, and reassure the doctor that the twins would be looked after.
Dr. Nakanois' concerned frown eased into a tentatively relaxed expression, if what the Duelist said was true he really 'would' be relieved. A Senator inspired more assurance that the twins would be looked after properly. Duelists with acclaim were good at bolstering the spirits of the sick who needed encouragement to get through their hard times. But teenage duelists with their active lives, looking after children one of whom had a heart condition? Well the proper daughter of Senator put more faith into Ms. Izayoi, if it really 'was' her.
"Well, I'm just glad there is finally going to be someone around to look after the twins," he stated as he opened the door.
Jack nodded, thinking of how Martha came to take up the mantel of running the orphanage.
They knew she didn't start out as an orphanage care taker in the beginning. His first memories of her were only sparse, due to his parents sudden death. He recalled only a bit of a shattered beach with bits of sand and miles of jagged rocks like the lower jaw of a troll. Something huge and monstrous that could devour buildings whole and a long walk through ruined streets. As they got older, they opted to ask her how long she had been running an orphanage.
Only she hadn't. Martha had been a nun yes, but not one in charge of an orphanage at the time. Instead she had been visiting her friend in Neo Domino when the disaster had happened, and felt it was her duty to come over. When it was made clear that no one was coming for the stranded victims, or the children she made her choice. Guided by her compassion, if she knew of the twins plight, the very idea that parents would literally abandon their small children to live somewhere else. Regardless of their economic status, she would have had choice words to say to them.
Rua was at the door, eager to be released back into the world, now that it was confirmed he was ok. Dr. Nakanoi nodded, opening the door for the boy to be freed back into the hallway, with Jack taking up the rear. The walls outside the room were just as bland a shade of white as the examination room, making Jack long for the bright blue sky. Signs of color, of 'life' were much more appreciated, even if he was often dressed in whites and grays.
"Ruka! Sis!" Rua blurted out after opening a door and looking into the waiting room. He disappeared through it in his excitement, meaning that the doctor would get to see that, yes, there would be proper supervision for the twins now. Despite his longer steps, Jack walked intentionally slower so he wouldn't tread on Dr. Nakanoi as they walked. Giving a grand impression that the doctor was guiding Jack like a host to an event.
They reached the door and opening it revealed the twins were reunited with an older girl that brought to mind roses to the doctor. She was in the school uniform of Neo Domino's Duel Academy, which matched her hair rather nicely. With only that rather odd hair piece that was binding up her bangs as the one stand out piece on her. But beyond that she had all the poise and grace of a senators' daughter, coupled with the twins attached at the hip to her.
"Ne, Dr. Nakanoi, tell Ruka that I'm ok! She won't believe me!" Rua pouted once the men joined the group. His face reflecting his disappointment at not being believed, or maybe reflecting just 'how' worried the poor girl had been for her brother.
"Ahh Ruka, its fine, there are no signs of any long staying injury," Dr. Nakanoi began his gaze on the more worried, bug tailed twin. "I'm Dr. Nakanoi Kaii, the personal physician for the twins in matters not related to young Ruka's heart issue." He introduced himself to the young woman, giving her a modest bow that she returned.
"I'm Izayoi, Aki," she answered politely, "I'm glad to see that Rua is ok, we were worried."
"That's understandable, a fall like that would alarm anyone. However; there was no lasting damage, so he'll be fine. He can't go to sleep tonight, or have any food. But after twenty four hours he should be fine, so try to relax." Dr. Nakanoi explained, seeing that it was true that she 'was' associated with the group relaxing him.
"I contacted my mother, she said that she would get the maid to set up rooms for them. I'll let them know about this, since we weren't sure how long Rua would be recovering for." She commented, despite Rua's partially ignored protest that he was fine.
"I'm glad I'm finally going to be leaving the twins in more hands than just their own." Kaii admitted with a positive nod. "They have my number, if you have an emergency feel free to call me."
Aki nodded in answer, seemingly aware of how they were being tethered to Aki, the twins each took one of her hands, the very picture of obedient children in the care of a responsible teenager. Each one in a clean school uniform, while Jack joined the trio, his white riding suit contrasting the appearance. Even the collar he wore was a contrast, yet somehow he fit, as though he was part of the group, a protector in the way he hovered.
Finally the twins would be looked after, hopefully these people would be more attentive to the twins than their parents apparently were.