"Candace?" Hayden asked, trying to pull himself away from the beautiful duelist that was currently laying upon him. The young woman grinned like cat that had just caught a big tasty mouse, running her hands along his arms before grasping his wrists hard with only one hand and holding them in place. He noticed for the first time her change in outfit: A black tank top and super tight shorts that were more like bikini underwear. A pair of sunglasses were on her face, and over her shoulders was a purple duster, the sleeves completely ripped off to leave her arms bare.
"Cassandra." She whispered, running kisses along his neck up towards his ear lobe, sucking it into her mouth and nibbling on it with her teeth lightly, like a puppy with a chew toy.
Hayden groaned, only to shake himself from his stupor. "Candace, what are you doing?"
"I am spendin' time with a very, very sexy man." She whispered. "And the name is Cassandra, my cute little Scotsman." She ground her hips into his. "Or is it my cute big Scotsman."
"Can…Cassandra, you shouldn't be here?"
"Why not?" She asked him, cocking her head to one side. "Is there another girl 'ere? I don't mind…she can watch."
"Not that, lass." Hayden said, trying not to moan as Cassandra's free hand slipped under his shirt and began to play against his skin. "T-the thing is, the school has me under house arrest…and as n-nice as it is that you came to visit me Cassie, I doubt you're on the approved guest list."
Cassandra pouted. "And why wouldn't I be?"
"Because they think your evil."
"Well, there is that." She said nonchalantly. "What else?"
"There has to be more!" Hayden asked in surprise.
"Well, of course. I mean, I think all of them are evil, they think I am evil, so it all balances out."
Hayden frowned. "Doubt it works that way lassie."
"Oh, it should though." Cassandra said, her fingers circling his belly button before sliding down the waist of his pants. The young man leapt away, shocked by the sudden actions of the woman on the bed with him. "Oi! Didn't give you permission to be movin' away from me. Now get that sexy arse back where it belongs so I can play with it!"
"Uh…no thanks lass. Think I'll be keepin' me behind right where it is, thank you. Don't need more punishment for when Bastion kills me for being with his cousin."
"News flash, I ain't that little wankers cousin no more. All new genetics 'ere. Notice the more shapely body, the new ta tas, and this nice arse…" Cassandra gave her rear a smack. "Come on…what's not to like?"
Hayden licked his lips, staring holes into said ass, before mentally slapping himself. "Listen Cassandra…I'm just confused right now. Last I saw you, you were happy…now I hear that you might be evil…"
"Ain't no maybe. Totally evil 'ere…I'm the new Big Bad, as my da would say." She grinned. "Come on…don't like the bad girls Hayden?" She began to slink her way towards him, eyes slowly turning black.
Hayden gulped. "Yea…I think it would be best love if we took it slow…"
"Aw, the wankers shove you in the 'ole, and now you've gone all 6s and 7s." Cassandra said with a pout. She stood up, but not before grabbin' Hayden by the hair and forcing him into a soul-searing kiss. "You, me, behind the dueling arena, 7 o'clock. I want to spend time with my prince." She sashayed back to the window, before quickly turning. "And just to make sure my little pervert comes…" She then promptly lifted the hem of her shirt up, leaving her chest completely exposed. Hayden let out an eep, tumbling over his bed, his head making a horrible "Crack!" as it hit the floor. "See you are 7, big boy."
&&&
Bastion sat in his room, plugging in the information on Jaden Yuki's deck into his computer system. The lights were low, the window closed so he didn't have to watch the rest of the duelists having fun in-between. Yes, it was technically his day off…but with his duel with Jaden only 2 days away, he simply could not afford to stop. There was no such time for silly games or exploring the wild outdoors. Bastion Misawa had a duel to win.
'Keep the mind focus, or it will idle to other things.'
He had spent his morning recalibrating the system, working in new algorithms to help improve the system. He had also hit upon uploading a list of all the current Duel Monster cards that were in print. This way, he could not only find out what card combination would be most effective against the Slifer red duelist, but also what cards he could work on gaining to help better his game. Add in to this a more refined strength and weakness weighted rating for each opponent's card, and the Ra Yellow duelist had insured there would be no mistakes like last night's…
'No. Don't even think about it.' Bastion ran his fingers through his hair. 'I need to focus on the duel at hand…not at the duels that were on hand.'
Jaden Yuki's deck was an interesting deck, Bastion knew that. The Elemental Heroes weren't known for their power, like the Cyber Dragons. Nor were they known for their effects, like the Cyber Angels and Cyber Warriors. They weren't even known for their combos, like Bastion's own prized Water Dragon or Batterymen.
No, the power of the deck game through a combination of all that. It was one thing to be able to have power, or effect, or combos. But by simply having one of those things, a duelist risked himself. Jaden combined all of these into a tight fit deck that, with luck and spirit, could win. It was a deck all about teamwork, where one simply wasn't focused on one combo; they were focused on simply getting pieces out and seeing what combo would be created.
The Elemental Heroes Deck was like that Justice League thingie he had heard other children talk about. A group of heroes, each with a skill, teaming up to take out enemies they normally couldn't face. 'Exactly like a society of heroes.' Bastion thought with a smile. 'So the question is, how do you defeat a group that can bring out any combination it wants?'
Pausing from his thoughts, Bastion looked over his desk, pausing at the list of duelists he still had to put information about in his computer. He felt himself freeze up as he stared at one name.
'Arliss' A voice in his mind hissed. 'That damn Southern Wanker. He poisoned Candace against me…set me up to make me look like a fool!' Bastion stood up, pacing back and forth, ranting silently against the world. 'He twisted my actions, made Candace go against me…made everyone question my motives! I don't have the time to answer every little question about ever little thing I do!' Bastion resisted the urge to punch his fist through a wall, he was that upset. 'Who is he to think that he can dare and question the way I act! I am Bastion Misawa…well above that little American's station…him and his tart of a girlfriend.
'And Candace…how could she betray me like that? She knows her place, and it is supporting me! Without me, she would be nothing…and how does she show her gratitude? By kicking me while I was down…by stealing my victory! No more!' Bastion eyes seemed to grow darker as he looked up to the ceiling. 'As God as my witness, I will take my revenge upon the Rare Hunters! And once I do, Candace will crawl on her knees, begging for forgiveness! Chancellor Shepard will realize my genius…duelists will flock to ME!'
&&&Later that Night&&&
Cassandra frowned, checking her watch for a 5th time before looking up at the last rays of the setting sun. the sky was a mix of deep purple and orange, like the fires of hell had been unleashed.
She had left without saying much to her da and mum, just letting them know she was heading out and that she would be back later. Her da was busy working on something with mum, Cassandra wasn't for sure. They had been hovering around an easel, Arliss describing some warrior or ninja or something while Nessa sketched out the basics. Cassandra hadn't bothered to figure out what was going on: She was tired from working on the machines down in the cavern, and she wanted to go see her man, not waste time talking about drawings.
Now, as the day gave way to night, Cassandra felt a bit of her old nervousness creep into her head. 'What 'f 'e ain't goin' to come…what 'f 'e doesn't trust me anymore because I ain't wit his side no more?' Her mum had warned her of such thoughts, how at times early on she had felt Vanessa clawing up from the depths of her soul to try and cast doubt on her actions.
Each of them so far had been altered by their rebirth: Her father had gone from a meek, quiet child, victim of a violent home and poverty, to a cunning, strong warrior that spoke his mind, fought to the death…but would never betray those he loved. Her mother been remolded from the happy little doormat that let everyone do as they wished into an aggressive, confident woman who knew her wants and needs and embraced them. And Cassandra, who as Candace had been an anger repressed woman, who fought against everything, even her own emotions…found herself opening up all her emotions and let go of her anger in exchange for happiness.
And that's why her heart was about to break. If Hayden didn't show…after putting her love on the line…
"Hey there lassie." A smooth voice called out from the shadows that were growing around Cassandra. She managed to not jump in fright, and instead turned gracefully to see Hayden standing there, a bit nervous sure, but still, he was standing there. "Didn't mean ta scare ya."
"Nope." Cassandra lied with ease, hooking her fingers in the belt loops of her short shorts and pulling her hips towards him. "What took ya so long?"
"Milo." Hayden said simply. "The teach was hangin' around my window for good 20 minutes…thought he would never leave. And then, once I get on the ground, he comes waltzin' back towards me. Had to jump into a bush, I did." Cassandra chuckled at the thought. "Thought he would catch me for sure, but luck, oh, it was on my side."
"I'm sure it was." Cassandra said with a smirk, strutting towards him and grabbing his arms, forcing the Scotsman to hug her close. "Mmm…All work and no play makes Cassandra a very dull girl."
"Ie…I can…er…imagine, Cassie." Hayden stuttered. The young man wasn't use to this kind of attention. Normally, he was be the aggressor, trying to charm women as best he could and maybe get a little grope in for good measure before he was shooed away. He couldn't help it…his hands got all grabby whenever he saw the supple flesh of the fairer sex. He blamed it on genetics; his father had been run out of quiet a few towns for seducing the wrong woman…or wife. Hayden had never pushed it that far, but he simply didn't know how to talk to women. So, he tried to play it cool, macho and slick. Yes, some called him a pervert, obsessed with sex…but to Hayden McGregor, he was merely a modern Casanova.
And now, he had a Cassie-nova to deal with.
"Aw…so shy." Cassandra giggled, kissing his chin. "You 'ave always been nice to me, ain't you? All the girls say you are just so sex crazed monster…but I know better. You are just a big ol' teddy bear that hides behind an illusion of lust." She smirked. "Or maybe you are a randy little man, who hides behind the teddy bear image because you're afraid I'll run 'way screamin' if I see your true self?"
Hayden shifted nervously. "Uh…"
"Come on…let me see the real 'ayden."
"That's just it." Hayden said softly, looking at Cassandra carefully, "I'm not sure who the real Hayden is."
"What do you mean?" Cassandra asked, watching as Hayden freed himself from the position she had placed him in. The Scotsman began to pace, waving his hands in the air as he spoke.
"It all feels like an act, Cass! Everyone sees me as someone different, and I have to keep playing all these damn parts! Everyone sees me as a pervert because I'm a bit aggressive, so when I try and be a bloody gentlemen every student here thinks, 'What plan does he have now? Is he just being nice to get in her pants?' Do you know that I can't even hold a bloomin' door open without the girls thinkin' I'm just a'doin' it to see their asses?" He sighed, pausing in mid stride. "Then there is my father. He expects me to be like him, happy with what the world gives you. If I'm not cat calling or drinking Jack Daniels until I pass out, then I am an embarrassment!" He shook his head. "People wonder why I don't know how to talk to women…maybe it's because I have him as a f---in' role model!" Hayden let out a bellow of anger, punching the wall of the dueling arena, his fist making a hideous cracking sound.
"And then, there is the little fact that when people find out what my hobbies are, they make even more fun of me. Do you realize how many of the Ra Yellows have purposely shut off the power to my dorm, just so my games get turned off before I can save? And the questions, Cass. 'Do you dress up as Mario?' 'Do you get off thinking about Princess Zelda?' 'Are you a whiny bitch like Cloud?' They never let up. And I just can't get into the things those idiots talk about. So, I end up spending all my time by myself, playing my games or working on the internet. Even there, I have to deal with idiots." Hayden punched the wall again, Cassandra watching intently. "Posers… everywhere there are posers! Giving people like me a bad name. You can't even be a hacker anymore without people thinking your some twelve year old that learned the bloody 'lite speak. And you can't even find someone to talk to that knows what it's like.
"I'm…just sick of being alone. I'm sick of everyone making me odd man out. That's why I was so happy to meet you. You weren't like the others…you accepted me. You were my friend. And then…"
"Then I became like this?" Cassandra whispered, praying it wasn't the reason but knowing it was.
"no." Hayden whispered. "no…then you were betrayed…by all of them. Oh yes, that fool Bastion betrayed you in battle…and more times then I care to count. But do they condemn him? Do they call for his crimes to be punished. No Cassie, thy don't do such things. they rally around him! 'Poor Bastion, your cousin, she joined the Rare Hunters because you were an ass!' 'There there Bastion, it's ok that you are a right bastard.' They let him go on…and they don't care anything about you…about any of us. Have they tried to save you? Have they tried to talk you out of this decision? No…and they lock me in my bloody room because I dared to talk against their precious-little-friend-Bastion!" After each word, Hayden punched the wall, harder each time, till his knuckles began to bleed. He looked dully at his destroyed hand, watching the crimson liquid drip down to the group.
"'ayden!" Cassandra cried out, grabbing his injured hand and forcing him to back, away from the wall. "Stop it!" She cradled the abused limb in her own hands, stroking his arm as the Scotsman looked upon the damage, his eyes unfocused. "its goin' to be fine, 'ayden. My mum and da are training me…I'll take my revenge…our revenge."
"Our?" Hayden asked quietly.
"Our…they'll pay for wot they 'ave done to you, and wot they did to me." Cassandra whispered. She ran her free hand up to stroke his cheek. "No one messes with me man."
Hayden McGregor blinked in confusion. "You…you'd still have me?"
"Why wouldn't I?" She asked, confused.
Hayden shrugged. "You're different now…changed. I just assumed…"
"Don't assume nothin' 'bout me." Cassandra said sternly. "I was nothin' like the rest of those fools, and I'm still nothin' like them…those mortals, they can't comprehend greatness. You…me…we're beyond their grasp. They 'ate us because they envy us." She smiled, leaning in closer. "We are gods among ants, 'ayden. Don't fo'get that. We don't care for wot the mortals think of us…we merely smite them at our whim." When Hayden gave her a small smile, Cassandra couldn't help but grin. "Come on…let's go wrap that 'and."
As the two of them walked off to find some gauze and get the medical work out of the way so they could move on with their date, neither noticed the figure that hide within the darkness of the forest. As the two moved out of earshot, the figure moved forward, coming out into the shadows.
"That's interestin'." James Stilton said to himself. He had been out, hunting for Alexander Milo or Samantha Ciro-Milo…but instead found something just as intriguing. "That's real interestin'."
&&&
Sunday, Noon"Where is she!"
Nessa sighed as she shifted her sunglasses up a bit, blocking out the warm sun that was now radiating upon her skin. She had to thank whoever decided to put the Duelist Academy on an island in the warm Pacific, where even in January a lady could work on her tan. Nessa wiggled slightly, her rapidly tanning flesh framed nicely with the blood red bikini she sported, which clung to every supple curve. Lounging on one of the white beach chairs they had set up by the pool, Nessa was in pure bliss.
"Are you sure she wasn't in her room, Nessa? Ya think I should go lookin' for her, darlin'?"
Nessa lowered her shades to glare at her fiancé. Arliss had decided that it would be a great idea to have a early morning dip in the pool, followed by some sun bathing till lunch. That would be followed by another swim and more sunbathing, repeated into it grew too dark. Then it would be back to swimming.
All had begun well. The two of them had rose at dawn, made a quick breakfast of fruit and muffins, before shedding their clothes and taking a swim as the sun rose. The pool water had been cool and refreshing, and they had decided to rechristen to water. Afterwards, they had crawled from the water and lounged about until ten.
It was then that things had gone bad.
Arliss had gone into the mansion…'there is no way I am going to call our home a 'dorm'!'…to retrieve some tanning butter from his love. Along the way, he had stopped by Cassandra's room, wanting to wake up his daughter and let her know they were having a swim day. But instead of finding his little girl snoring in her bed, he found the room empty, bed not slept in. He had come running down to Nessa, worried sick, until Nessa had informed him that Cassandra was on a date.
That had made things a lot worse.
"I'm serious Nessa…" Arliss grumbled from his spot in the pool, resting his arms and head on the side next to her feet. "What if she's in danger? She's just a baby…and there are duelists out there…"
"Have some confidence in our girl." Nessa said, nudging him with her foot, giggling as he tried to splash her with some water. "She will be fine, and if she was in trouble she would contact us through our bond. Now then, get that very sex ass out of the pool and sit next to me."
Arliss grumbled but did as he was asked, pushing himself out of the water. Nessa licked her lips as she watched beads of water run down his chiseled chest, gliding along the curves of his abs, trickled past his belly button before landing along the edge of his tight swim suit. A modified speedo/trunks combo, the tight little garment left nothing to the imagination yet also gave Arliss the false impression it did. Which was perfect for Nessa, who wished her tongue could join the one little drop of pool water that was trying to claw its way into the suit.
She blinked, looking over at Arliss, who was waiting for her to respond.
"Huh?"
Arliss rolled his eyes. "Stop lookin' at my goods, girl, unless you're lookin' to play with it."
"Who said I wasn't lookin' too?" Nessa said with a leer, dragging him over. "Mmmm… you know, when I was spying into people's dreams a few days ago, I came up with some very interesting ideas." She smirked. "Did you know that Miss Fontaine has a thing for rubber ball gags?"
"No, I did not." Arliss said with a chuckle.
"Dr. Crowler too."
"No…" Arliss said with a shudder, a very horrible image in his mind, "I did not."
Nessa laughed out loud at her lover's distress. Recently, she had began mastering the ability to go beyond merely seeing people's fears; now, she could actually enter their dreams and watch them as a viewer. And, ever so slowly, she was learning how to participate. And that was where the true power laid. While Arliss could allow him silence and cloaking, things of the real world, Nessa was becoming the mistress of the world of the mind. And Justas easily as one could torture through physical attacks, so could one through mental.
"Morning…or afternoon, should I say?" Cassandra asked as she stepped out into the pool area. Her duster had been left hanging on the stairs, her hiking boots kicked aside, leaving her dressed in a tight mini-tee and short shorts, her deck box and belt hung low on her hips. A woman that put Lara Croft to shame.
"Afternoon sweetheart." Nessa said, sitting up in her chair to greet her little girl. "How was your date?"
"Wonderful." Cassandra said dreamily, sitting down next to the pool and slipping her long luscious legs into the crystal clear water. "It was perfect mum…we talked about our past, our 'opes, our dreams…all that corny stuff!" She laughed. "But it didn't feel corny, mum! It felt right."
"That is wonderful, honey." Nessa said, running her big toe in circles along Cassandra's back.
"Yes." Arliss said with a slight smile. "But if you begin singing about how you could have danced all night, I am leaving, ok Eliza?"
Cassandra burst into laughter at her father's joke. Since that morning of waking up all together and Cassandra commenting on how she felt like Eliza Dolittle, her father had called her such. She had now gained two new names, and she was sure by the end of the school year she would have at least 20 more.
"I promise, da, no musicals. Just as long as you don't begin waxin' on about propane or how 'I ain't right'."
Arliss frowned at her little joke. "Watch it there, little miss."
"Ok, ok." Cassandra smiled, looking up at the sky. "But still…me and 'ayden 'ad a wonderful night…"
"Hayden?" Arliss asked, his tone going cold. "Is that who you went out with?"
"Yea." Cassandra said. "Why? Is somethin' wrong da?"
Arliss' jaw clenched tight as he shook his head, his brow lowered. "Nothin' wrong…just wonderin' how I'll kill the little fool for touchin' my daughter."
"DA!"
"ARLISS!"
"What?" He asked, his voice full of annoyance. "You really thought I would be thrilled that my little girl went out with that grabbed little per…"
SLAP!
Arliss blinked, his hand slowly rising to touch the tender red spot he now sported on his cheek. Cassandra was now next to him, he eyes glowing black with rage as she glared at her father. Nessa sat there, torn between feeling rage that any dared to touch her king, and pride in her daughter for standing up for herself.
"Don't ever talk about 'ayden like that again!" She screeched. "'e's a kind soul, and I ain't gonna let you make fun of 'im!" With that, she stood up and marched back into the mansion, leaving Arliss utterly confused.
"What in the name of Elvis did I do?" he shouted in confusion. "All I did was…"
"Do you want another slap?" Nessa asked. "Obviously, our baby is attracted to Mr. McGregor, and won't stand for you badmouthing him. Her aura screamed fear that you would hurt him, so she attacked first. Standard Rule: Attack that which attacks you. A ninja knows this."
"The ninja code calls for waiting, for discipline. One attacks a target when they are least likely to attack back." He said automatically, recalling the knowledge his KA provided him.
Nessa rolled her eyes. "Fine then. But Cassandra isn't a ninja. She has a cyborg for a KA, so her most primal thoughts are like of a machine. She saw an attacker, and attacked without question." She shrugged as she returned to her chair. "Give her a few hours and apologize."
"The King of the Rare Hunters does not apologize." Arliss said, but one look from his queen blew that argument out of the water. "Fine…how did you get so smart?"
"Comes from growing up." Nessa said. "She glanced over at her lover before turning her back to him. "I think I'd prefer an all over tan." She said playfully, slipping off her bra before shimmying out of her bikini bottoms. She looked coyly over her shoulder, her sunglasses falling down her nose ever so slightly. "Think you might be able to rub some lotion on me?"
Arliss' mood changed in a second, a feral grin on his face as he walked towards her, leaving his suit behind as he summoned the shadow star to him, cloaking himself completely. Nessa squealed as an invisible hand began to run up her body, causing her own form to slowly disappear.
&&&Later that Day&&&
"I'm worried Zane." Alexis said, the two of them standing in their usual spot: The pier. "Arliss has always been calm, collected. He plans ahead…just look at what he did with Candace. But Nessa, when she was first turned…" Zane nodded, glad his theory that Vanessa had not suffered a growth spurt had panned out…yet also worried about what that meant, "…she blamed me, so she went after me. What if this is a partner? What if Candace goes after Bastion to embarrass him?"
Zane had to agree with that. While he had to agree in part with Arliss and Nessa on Bastion's behavior, he could not simply allow them to attack a fellow student. Bastion Misawa was a fellow student, and in Zane's mind, Arliss was no longer part of the Academy. He was a Rare Hunter, having abandoned the Blue Blazer of Obelisk for the Purple Duster of the Hunters. That made him a rival, no different then the North Academy, and Zane would not allow shame to be brought upon the Academy, even if the one who would be attacked was in the wrong.
"We would be a laughing stock if Arliss interrupted the duel between Jaden and Bastion. The North Academy would never let us live it down that we could not pick a rep without incident."
Alexis licked her lips. "And what if he or any of his hunters challenged Bastion for his spot?" The Queen of Obelisk Blue lowered her head. "I don't think Bastion could beat them. I know Arliss…at least, I thought I did." She sighed, thinking upon the man she had thought of as a friend…or perhaps more. 'In another life…maybe I would have been Nessa.' The thought should have frightened her, to think about what she could have become if Arliss would have chosen her. Vanessa had been kind and pure before meta-morphing into her new wicked form…what could have happened to Alexis…
And yet, a part of her, a dark little part that she kept locked away, begged for her to fine the King of the Rare Hunters and find out exactly what he could do to her.
"But all the same…if his betrayal taught me anything, it's that Arliss is stronger then we all thought."
Zane nodded. "I agree. I would dare say he is fast approaching to be one of the strongest duelists in the school. Only myself and Jaden Yuki could match him now."
Alexis gulped at the thought of testing that theory.
"So, what do we do, Zane?"
The Kaiser of the Academy sighed. "We must find a way to stop Arliss Lockehart ourselves."
"Ourselves?" Alexis asked, surprised.
"We can't rely upon the school; Shepard has already given him full leave to do as he wishes. Dr. Crowler will not believe Arliss has been lying to him until the very end…even now he still believes that it's Nessa's fault." Zane shook his head. Sometimes he wondered how Obelisk Blue, the greatest of the dorms, could have such a dim-witted professor. 'On the other hand, look who we have left: A coward, a chef, and a woman that likes to work out a bit too much.'
"What about Prof. Stilton and Prof. Milo? They seemed willing to stand up to Arliss."
"Yes…they might be good allies." Zane said. He had slowly gained respect for the two teachers, though both still rubbed him the wrong way. Alexander Milo showed him no respect, while James Stilton barely even cared what Zane Trusdale did. It was as if he had more important things on his mind. "But for now, we are on our own Alexis…we are the only people that can stop Arliss Lockehart."
Next Time of GX:Hunters:
The duel between Jaden and Bastion has come. But as they fight for the right to represent the school, other battles take place. Arliss meets with Hayden, and must deal with the wrath of two women if he screws it up. Meanwhile, James Stilton continues his shady work, gathering information on anyone he can find. And Alexander must deal with a familiar face. But in the end, it will be a plan by Alexis and Zane that threaten not just the Rare Hunters, but many of the secrets the academy currently keeps hidden.
One Storm Passes, the Next is coming soon.
Thunder at Dawn Part 3