Chapter 47

SK didn't understand why the others weren't questioning Win's plan. It was not only pretty obviously flawed; it was also putting the life of one of their friends in danger. It didn't make sense for them to be so calm and happy about it and just the idea that they were wound SK up in all the wrong ways. Whatever initial attraction SK had towards Win was well and truly gone now. Instead that feeling was replaced by deep routed doubts and unshakable concerns.

The Voices of Win might have all been pure parts of Win, but they'd still been pretty heavily influenced by their hosts. The Voices had acknowledge this and Win had confirmed it when he mentioned having knowledge and memories from the Win Hosts. He might have been a much purer Win than he was last time, but he still wasn't a pure Win. Did that mean he'd somehow picked up some kind of... flaw from one of the hosts? For the second time that day SK found himself dwelling on Catilin's less than stable mental health. He could easily see her being this callous without even realising it. But was that a trait she'd inherited from Win or one she'd given him when the Voices had joined together?

SK's tongue skated across his lips as he focused his attention on the others. Why weren't any of them questioning Win's plan? Did it really seem so logical to them or did Win have them all under some kind of spell? But if they were all under some kind of spell, then why wasn't he? Why would Win want them to all be so compliant and not SK? Was he not good enough for Win? Or did Win need someone capable of questioning him?

So many questions were running rampant around SK's mind and there wasn't a single answer to hand. He didn't know what to believe. What to think. All he knew was the more time which passed, the less he trusted Win. The less he trusted Win the more he felt this situation was deeply wrong somehow. Yes, something was definitely wrong with this situation and that something was Win.

There were two things Win like more than anything; having control over a situation and correctly predicting how a person would react. The first was a trait he'd gained from the First, the second from the Pure. So it was somehow deeply amusing to him that it was actually powers he'd gained from the Face of Friendship which allowed him to manipulate the current situation.

Normally he wouldn't manipulate other people's feelings as rigidly as this, but he had to make sure everyone reacted in the right way. It was the only way he could get what he wanted without breaking too many rules. Not that he particularly cared for the rules to begin with, but since the Helper would be obliged to right up this event once it was over with he had to be seen to be adhering to them or else his hosts may end up suffering the repercussions and he couldn't allow that.

Still if things kept going the way they were it wouldn't take much more to push the situation in just the way he wanted and then... then his real plan would kick in.

Duke was starting to feel increasingly frustrated by the way SK kept interrogating Win every chance he got. It seemed like every time the guy opened his mouth, it was to fire off some negative comment or suspicious question. Why couldn't he just relax? Win was trying to help them after all.

'Explain to me again how you'll know when Covo's found them,' SK licked his lips.

'Because I'll know.'

'But how? I mean, are you telepathically connected to him right now? Is there some far reaching empathy thing you've got going on here? What? Because you'll know doesn't really tell me anything. I...'

'Will you just lay off him already,' Duke cut him off, 'can't you just trust that Win knows what he's doing?'

'No, because I don't believe he does know what he's doing,' SK shook his head, 'don't you see how risky his plan is?'

'Nothing comes without risk SK,' Kaiba folded his arms, 'have a little faith.'

'That's easy for you to say, you are faith,' SK licked his lips again, 'I've just been working for it for the last ten months and if you and the First were thinking clearly, you'd probably be raising the same objections I was.'

'What are you talking about SK?' Joey frowned at him. 'We are thinking clearly; that's why we trust him.'

'No, no he has you under some kind of spell,' SK was starting to sound paranoid and agitated, 'that's the only explanation for this. Why else would you be so calm about him marching Covo off to his death?'

'He's not marching Covo off to his death. Win's told you more than once the Reganna won't touch him, why can't you just believe it?'

'Just because they haven't killed him yet, doesn't mean they won't. Why are you being so stupid about this? Why can't you see it's a problem?'

'Please tell me you didn't seriously call me stupid just then,' Joey's voice was tight. 'How dare you talk to us like that SK.'

'I... I didn't mean... Why are you flipping this back on me?'

'Because you're acting all crazy and paranoid right now,' Duke gritted his teeth. 'If I didn't know better I'd say you were trying to get us to lose our faith in Win.'

'He's got a point,' Joey narrowed his gaze on SK, 'you do seem to be acting a little too... erratic SK, even for you.'

'You've got to be joking,' SK licked his lips several times, 'I'm not trying to shake your faith in Win; I'm just trying to get you to see this plan of his is a little crazy. There's nothing wrong with that, is there?'

'I don't trust him,' the words were out of Duke's mouth almost as soon as they'd entered his head. 'I think he might be working for the Reganna.'

'What...?' SK spluttered. 'Where the hell is that coming from?'

'Win is our best hope of beating them and all you can do is bad mouth him,' Duke folded his arms, 'either you hate him for no reason or you're working for the Reganna.'

'I... I am not working for the Reganna. I am the Mistresses' Helper.'

'Well you sure as hell could have fooled me right now,' he gritted his teeth, 'maybe you should just leave SK.'

'What? Why?'

'Because we don't need you,' Kaiba's voice was tight, but serious. 'Duke is right; the way you're acting right now is more than a little suspicious. Even if you're not working for the Reganna, you're hardly working for us. So you should leave.'

'But…'

'No buts SK,' now it was Joey's turn to glare at him, 'just leave.'

'No,' SK shook his head, 'no I will not leave.'

'Are you really defying orders twice in one day SK?'

'Yeah, I can hardly believe that I am, but I think I have to,' SK held firm, 'don't you see how crazy this situation is?'

'All I see is that you're still here SK,' Joey's nose twitched with annoyance, 'I thought I told you to leave.'

'No.'

'Do as you're told SK,' Duke was surprised at the level of anger in his own voice, 'leave already.'

'No,' SK licked his lips several more times, 'I will not. I will not leave.'

'Don't be so stubborn SK,' Kaiba took several steps towards him, 'all you're doing is making things worse for yourself.'

'But I...'

'Leave SK,' Joey cut him off.

'No.'

'If you don't do as you're told right now, I'll…'

'You'll what? Punish me for caring? Strip me of my powers or something? Because if that's what you're going to do already, then do it.' SK's voice was shrill and hysterical. 'In fact, you know what; just take my powers away from me right now and call it punishment. If anything it'll be a relief, because that way I won't have to get involved in anymore of this insanity. Go on, I give you permission to take my powers away.'

'Bingo,' Win aimed the Elemental Axe at him.

Before anyone could react, a stream of light poured out of the Axe towards SK.

'Win what are you doing?' Joey's voice was filled with uncertain tones.

'I'm punishing SK,' Win smirked as the polarity of the beam which stretched between SK and the Axe reversed, 'it's what he asked for after all.'

'But... you're in violation of the Herin Agreement.'

'Please, the three of you only signed that silly agreement to keep the gods happy,' Win rolled his eyes.

'That doesn't matter, there's still an agreement. You need to stop this right now Win.'

'Fine.'

Win pulled the Axe back and the beam of light between it and SK disappeared. Almost as soon as it did SK dropped to his knees and a look of sheer exhaustion spread across his face.

'I did not violate your silly little agreement,' Win met Joey's gaze. 'For a start he gave permission for his powers to be stripped and for a second I know you were contemplating at least docking his powers for his insolence. You both were,' he flicked his gaze towards Kaiba.

'So what if I was, you had no right…'

'I had every right,' Win cut her off, 'in fact I had more right to do this than you had to put a power block on the Pure's host. The Herin Agreement requires permission to be given when altering the power level or capability of an individual. It also means you can only strip a person's power in exceptional circumstances. These are exceptional circumstances.'

'Then why didn't you just ask his permission?'

'Because it also had to be a punishment,' Win met and held Joey's gaze, 'but you already knew that,' he gave a heavy sigh. 'Don't worry I'll explain everything to you, but first I have to get these powers into a new host.'