D.H. A.N.: I'm back with another Chapter of Phantom Duelists of the Opera, and some exciting news. My high school band is going to State Competition on Tuesday, and I ask that you be patient with me. After Tuesday, I probably won't update until November 15th . Thanks to all my reviewers. So, without further comments from me, here is Chapter Eight: The Callbacks Pt. II.
Chapter Eight: The Callbacks Pt. II
"Do you know them?" Mhera turned and questioned the brunette after realizing he was following her. "No, I… I d-don't." The brunette stammered. The stammering alone proved the teen was lying. "If you don't know them, why are you wearing one of their jackets?" Mhera pressed, "Now, I'll only ask you this once more. Do you know them?" She asked with stress upon every word. The brunette boy looked her in the eyes. "Yes, I have uh, had a couple of run-ins with them. But I don't know why they are after the girl." Mhera was still doubtful. "You are certain about that?" No answer came, so the two just kept running.
Mhera had to take a breather after about fifteen minutes of a decent sprint. It appeared that the stop was well timed, as the brunette looked as if he would fall over if he had to run for another minute. Fortunately, there was a bench nearby so they took a seat. There was silence for a few moments. Mhera asked a question that had been nagging on her for quite a while. "So, what did you put in that capsule?" The brunette looked her in the face, with an earnest smile. " I had my Sword Hunter there. Why?" Mhera sighed an inaudible sigh of relief that she had finished the duel when she had. Sword Hunter had quite an effect that would have put her in a hole. "You realize that you could have summoned Sword Hunter with that Protector's Sword you got from me through that Exchange of yours. By the way, my name's Mhera. I don't think we had the time or the patience to have introductions before our duel." The brunette flashed another smile. "I'm Cole. It's a pleasure to meet you. You duel pretty well." Cole was holding his deck, swiftly running through it. "Those Sword Heirs of yours are pretty cool. Are there any more?" Mhera was about to answer, but a scream jolted her upright. "Come on. We have to get to Kim!" "Kim?" Cole asked, as his ears and disposition seemed to perk up. Mhera mentally chastised herself for revealing who she thought the red head was. "We have no time to talk. We have to find them! You never really told me whether you knew them or not." Cole stood up turning away from Mhera as he spoke. "I used to be one of them. I was one of the best they had, but this girl, Kim… she made me want to change. Her disposition, her tone, and the way she spoke to me. The fact that she even spoke to me being I'm someone who people rarely talk to." "Why would you not want to be spoken to, Cole?" "It wasn't that I didn't want to be spoken to, it's just that I had nothing in common with others." "Well, we had best run if we are to catch them." Mhera stood up and began at a walk. "Right!" Cole agreed, running behind.
Kim had run past just about every building, but the idea of ducking behind an alleyway hadn't occurred to her until now. To her dismay, she was unable to avoid her pursuers. Someone help me. She mentally screamed. Footsteps were heard behind her as she backed into the alley. One of the teens advanced on her, cracking his knuckles, "You're gonna pay for taking one of our best away from us." His brown hair was greasy, and his eyes were a deep unforgiving black. The other teen sneered, "Yeah, now that we have you, Cole will surely come with us in exchange for your safety." This one was blonde with deceiving green eyes, an appearance that would surely gain him a girlfriend if he had his morals in order. Kim had backed herself into a corner, a corner that seemed as if it would be impossible to escape.
Mhera and Cole neared an alleyway, the last one they would check before getting more help. Fortunately, the last place they looked proved to be correct. "I'll be the distraction. " Cole said quietly. "I don't think that would be wise, Cole. Trust me, when dealing with people like them; it's best to have strength in numbers." Even if it were two, Mhera would feel better going along side Cole to be able to aid him if he was caught in a tight corner. Before Mhera could stop him, Cole stepped into the alleyway, which was just what the teens wanted. "Well, well, look who finally had the courage to show his face." Cole made a minute motion for Mhera to sneak by unnoticed by the teens to where Kim was backed in the corner. "Let her go, and I promise I'll go easy on you." "Oh, and who will help you?" The blonde sneered. "That will be none of your concern. I don't plan to need help."
Mhera reached Kim without incident "Hey, Kim. Listen, I need you to come with me." Mhera was thankful that the alleyway was the same alleyway that she had encountered Bakura the previous evening. That thought sent a couple of chills down her spine, but Mhera pressed on past the fearful memory that was attempting to manifest itself here. She ran swiftly up the fire escape with Kim in tow, and stopped at her room window. Thrusting the window open, Mhera motioned for Kim to go through the window.
Cole meanwhile was dealing with the two teens down below. The brunette had challenged him to a duel, and it was obvious that they weren't kidding when they spoke of him as their best. The blonde just stood there, soaking up the advantage of seeing Cole's strategies before having to duel himself. Mhera descended the fire escape, and seeing what the blonde was doing, shot an un-seeable look of disgust at the audacity of the blonde. She despised people who tried to gain an advantage without work. She tapped the blonde, who, to his unknown dismay, turned only to be rewarded with a fist in the jaw. The blonde fell to the ground unconscious. Mhera removed the Millennium Rod from her belt, making the blonde forget everything relating to this circumstance. She would make sure she did the same with Cole's opponent, once he was soundly beaten in this duel.
Cole had just finished his opponent's last few Life Points off when Mhera held a golden object over his opponent's head. "You know nothing about this nor will you ever." She slid the object back into her belt, somewhat smiling at Cole. "It's only a precautionary measure to ensure you and Kim stay safe." "Mhera what did you just-" Mhera cut him off. "We're right by my house so I can explain everything once we're inside."
Sheon was walking to see Mhera, who apparently had forgotten that his lesson was supposed to be earlier. He was mentally kicking himself for sending Kim to go look for her. He had reached her door when Mhera came from behind the alleyway. Now, he saw another young man with her, but he gave it no thought. He strode up to her rather swiftly. "Did you forget that you and I had an appointment this afternoon?" he asked coldly. Mhera felt shivers of awkward familiarity towards that tone travel up her spine. It was a tone she had only heard from her father. "Sheon, I got a little caught up in things. I know you'll let me make it up to you." Mhera tried to reason with him, but to little avail. She unlocked the door allowing Sheon and Cole to enter. Seth's voice popped into her head. "I hope you remember that your friend knows nothing of the events that have occurred since he left you on your doorstep last night. The callbacks are drawing ever near." "Thanks for reminding me, Seth. That will give me some time to formulate my explanation."
Meanwhile Sheon was rigorously questioning Cole. "Where is my sister? Tell me now!" Cole didn't know where Kim was, but Mhera did. She set her hand on Sheon's shoulder. "Your sister is safe thanks to him. I'd advise you not to cause him regret for his actions." Mhera advised calmly. "I don't see her here. If he helped save her, where is she?" "Relax, Sheon. She's alright." Mhera could see him shaking. "I'll get her, and bring her to the callbacks. You need to get some fresh air, it will do you some good." Sheon's face softened as he nodded. He left, closing the door gently.
"I'm not sure what to make of his actions. But I think he wouldn't mind if you saw her. I have something to take care of. Come with me." Mhera then led Cole up the stairs, and to her room. "I have to talk with Kim first. You don't mind waiting out here, do you?" Cole smiled, "No, of course not."
Mhera then stepped into the room where Kim was sitting on the bed. "You have a nice room." Kim smiled half-heartedly. "Thanks. I have a question for you. Has your brother been acting strange since he took you from the theatre last night?" Kim twisted an auburn strand of hair; that had been constantly trying to get into her face, around her finger. He hasn't been acting any stranger than usual. If his attitude has changed, he's probably just under a lot of stress. He's been really busy working." Mhera almost rolled her eyes "That will do it to someone. But he had a drastic attitude change. It's like he's been demoted from being a waiter to a busboy." Mhera watched Kim untwist that same stand of hair from her finger and put it back behind her ear. "That's not going to do much good. It'll come from behind your ear and try to conquer your whole face, trust me." As fate would have it, a strand of Mhera's hair came from behind her ear, and straight into her face, right down the middle. Mhera blew it out of the way, got hold of the renegade strand, and put it back behind her ear, silently willing it to stay there. Kim laughed, "I see your point. But I've got a question for you. If putting hair behind our ears never works, why do we keep doing it?" Mhera softly answered "I think it's the same reason we repeat everything that doesn't work. We're hoping to get a different outcome. There is someone here to see you. He saved you, I just helped." Kim had gotten off the bed, and began eyeing Mhera's desk. She picked up an envelope that was on it, asking Mhera out of pure curiosity what it was. Gazing at the envelope, Mhera temporarily lost her power of speech. It's my father's letter. I've been looking everywhere for it! I wonder why I didn't notice it there? "May I, Kim?" Mhera asked rather cautiously. Kim obliged, handing her the envelope. "It must be very special to you, you were speechless for about two minutes." Mhera held it close to her, tears making minute routes down her face, and she softly answered, "It is special Kim, very special indeed." She then softly left the room, motioned for Cole to go in, and silently headed for her father's room.
Mhera stepped out of her shoes and left them by the door. She then gently turned the doorknob, giving herself just enough room to squirm through the doorway into the dimly lit room. She silently tread to her father's bedside, still holding the envelope. What it contained was something of an apology, and well wishing words of comfort; it was those words she needed to hear now. She grabbed a chair, and slowly descended upon the soft cushioned surface. The tears just wouldn't stop flowing, and Mhera had no idea why. Then it hit her. Her father wasn't supposed to be still, and silent, unable to plead for help, or accept it should anyone offer. Bakura had been right. The point of no return was truly "past where silent pleading aids", or where her heart led. She removed the envelope's single page letter. Her father's fine script was smaller than usual, as he had a lot to say, and only one sheet to write it on. Some things stuck out., her eyes finding them easily. Be as strong or stronger than you are now. I need to be stronger than I am now, which isn't very.
Then another set of words caught her eye.Remember the attributive duels and the lessons they have taught you. Knowledge, strategy, courage, strength, loyalty, faith in the unknown, will power, and balance, will all help mold you into the future person you are destined to be, that I know you can be.That he knows I can be? I think my determination has been faulty at best, and that statement proves it. Mhera gripped her father's hand tightly "I won't give up. I don't let people who's minds are set on foolish goals have their… have their way. Perhaps that is the reason I gave up on you too soon when you needed me most. That won't happen again." She was now sobbing, striving hard to keep it in, but she needed to cry sometime.
Keimo had just come into the house, to get ready to get Mhera for the callbacks. He sprinted up the stairs, and saw that Mhera's door was slightly ajar. He heard voices from the room. "Who's there? Show yourselves!" He cautiously motioned toward the door and peeked his head inside. "Hello, Kim. You'd better go if you don't want to be late for the callbacks." "Oh my gosh you're right!" She quickly put a right hand to her cheek, and ran out the door. Keimo stopped Cole at the doorway. "I'm going to assume that you will be escorting her to the theatre?" Cole nodded. "Well, get going. She won't wait for you." Keimo shot him a sincere smile. Cole noticed the scars on Keimo's face, but kept silent as he exited the room and the house. Keimo then went to his room to think about what he had read recently. But before he went in, he saw a lone pair of shoes, his sister's shoes, outside Marik's door.
She felt a hand upon her shoulder. She looked up at Keimo. "I feel the same way. But do you really think Father would want to see you crying, with all hope lost and beaten out of your spirit?" Mhera nodded "no". He pulled her close, allowing his shirt to be half-soaked with his sister's tears. "Now," Keimo said quietly, "We'll be late for the callbacks if we don't hurry."
Keimo brought Mhera out of the dimly lit room into the bright hallway, warmed by the sunshine. He wiped the residual tears off her face, then fingered an object around his neck. He grinned playfully, "We're short on time, so we're traveling by Pendant this time. You remember how this works right? I believe you've used one before." "You gave me that?!" Mhera exclaimed. Keimo's grin widened, while Mhera ranted "And I thought it was just a pretty necklace, until I had to use it to get off that crazy mechanical island on the way to the finals."
They ran out the front door, Mhera making sure she had both her keys and that the door was locked. Keimo gripped her hand tightly. "Alright, on the count of three. One… two… two and one fourth…two and a half…" "Keimo would you just-" "Three!" At that instant, they were gone. A shadow was moving along the sidewalk rather swiftly, going under buildings and finding the best way to get to the theatre, all in less than two minutes. At the theatre's steps, they appeared to leap out of the ground, surprising quite a few people. "I hate it when you do stuff like that!" "Come on, Mhera, you know I hardly ever get to do this kind of thing." Keimo grinned, "Besides you can't hide that you liked the ride." "Yes, it was fun, but-. Hey look over there!" Keimo, along with Yugi, Tea, Joey, Tristan, and Duke all looked as Seto Kaiba, entered the center of the group, cocky step and all. "I think Yugi and the others are going to have to restrain Joey again. I'll go help." Mhera then walked over to the others, . Joey Wheeler was already in his usual "Let me at him, let me at him." Mode. Mhera spotted Coletta, along with Cole, and Sheon with Kim. That's a good sign. Mhera thought, but the CEO's voice jolted her from the reverie. "Are all the losers here?" All except Yugi seethed hatred at the CEO's bitter comment. Another tryout came running, then slowed to a smooth swagger. Keimo tensed up immediately, it took a little longer for Yugi to go to the same poise. The final tryout had arrived.
Bakura maliciously continued his swagger, receiving a reaction of aggravation from Keimo that pleased him greatly. "So sorry I'm late, I just had a few things on my mind." Glaring at Keimo, Bakura thought, The test of how well he will do in a duel under pressure is an interesting query, and it will soon begin. He would have laughed evilly, but thought better of it, since he would give himself away.
D.H.: Well, what did you think? I'm still waiting for feedback on the duel last chapter. I'll let Bakura's thoughts clue you in on what is happening in Chapter Ten I will give you the title of Chapter Nine, but no more . Be there for Chapter Nine: The Phantom's Seal. Please leave a review, and until State Competition is done, bye.