Song Bird Duelists

A Tale of Love and Betrayal in the Satellite

By: June

Lark Bunting

Chapter Three: Enter the Dragon

The sky was beginning to look stormy. The clouds were a thunderous grey, the chill air tense even as we rode. Manabe had been fairly quiet on the back of my Duel Runner; except for the occasional yelp if I turned too quickly, he hadn't made a peep. I eased the Duel Runner to a stop next to Martha's house, in one of the spots she reserved for Duel Runners. No other Duel Runners were in sight around the two story cottage. Good. I won't have to deal with any of the 5Ds team today. Maybe they're out looking for this squirt. Even so, it's good to be home, I thought, taking in a deep lungful of the rain-scented air. Prowling around to the back of my Duel Runner, I undid the straps and hefted Mai out. I was starting to get tired; this kid was hard to carry for me when I'd used such an amount of my power. I blinked and shook the customary dizziness off. The blood had stopped coming from my lips at some point during the ride, and I wiped off what remained with my sleeve. Manabe dashed ahead of me as I walked to the door.

"Martha! Miss Martha! I'm home!"

Martha ran out as fast as she could hear his voice. Sweeping Manabe into her arms, Martha cried scoldingly, "Naughty boy, you had us all worried! Where is your sister? Did she come with you or is she lost somewhere else?"

"No Miss Martha! That lady rescued us," Manabe managed, pointing to me.

"Manabe, it's rude to point…. Ah! Raeven. Welcome back," Martha said, beaming at me until her eyes fell on little Mai.

"What happened? Fill me in as we take her to the doctor," Martha said, abruptly slipping into her role as general of her household as she carried a coughing Manabe in herself, "Make it both of these children going to the doctor, actually."

I filled her in on what happened with the thugs and how Manabe got lost, trying to stay upright as I carried Mai.

"I'd have the boys help, but Crow is on a grocery run, Yusei is overloaded with mechanic work and Jack is, well, away."

"I know. I'm fine Martha."

Over her shoulder Martha shot me a gimlet eyed look, "You don't fool me one bit Raeven Soong. I know summoning Jynx Merchant takes a lot out of you and don't tell me different. It's a wonder you haven't passed out. I remember so many times when you over-extended yourself and landed in the Infirmary. Poor Sing was worried sick every time. Manabe, stop fidgeting."

Manabe obediently stopped fidgeting and coughed softly. From the look in his eyes, he obviously didn't like the idea of going to the clinic. I smiled wanly, trying to comfort him. I had never liked ending up in the clinic either, but when I was older and testing my power's limits, I often passed out from over using it. I ended up in the clinic with an extremely worried Martha and Doctor Hernandez every time. And I, more often than not, got irked at myself for worrying a selfless person like Martha. Eventually I learned my limits, all the while keeping my Dueling ambitions a secret from everyone but Martha (and, eventually, Doctor Hernandez-because he found out when I carried a bloody opponent of mine into his office before passing out myself).

She couldn't understand why I hid my talent, but I had had too many die at my hands during a duel on accident when I lived on the streets. I didn't want to duel one of the children at the center and have them end up dead-or worse, insane. I followed Martha on automatic as the door to the clinic opened. At thirteen, I had learned to mostly control my power, or so I thought. Thirteen had been my unlucky year, because I had killed in front of Martha that year. Admittedly it was to defend her, and she still loved me afterward, but I still felt horrible.

"Raven!"

I blinked, abruptly snapped out of the fog of memories by Martha's sharp command. Martha smiled ruefully at me.

"We're here. Put Mai-chan on the bed."

I obediently eased the little girl into the bed next to Manabe. Doctor Hernandez, an older Hispanic man with grey around his temples, came over to us. I raised a hand in a perfunctory hello. I wasn't in the mood for talking as it was all I could do to keep my eyes open. Along with the bleeding at the mouth, using my power, especially in anger, exhausted me. He smiled kindly, his brown eyes crinkling fondly as they always did when he saw Martha. Martha smiled a little tightly in return. We had long thought those two liked each other, and Sing and I could never figure out why they hadn't gotten married. I had to convince Sing out of SO many matchmaking attempts for the two of them I had failed to remember how many times. A ghost of a smile tugged at my lips in memory.

"Raeven! How nice to see you again. Now, who do we have here Martha?"

"The two children who've been lost for about a week, Manabe and Mai. Raeven found them and got them out of a tight spot they had gotten into with some thugs in the run down districts. She used quite a bit of her gift doing so, I'm afraid."

"Ah. Raeven, come lie down on one of the beds. I kept your favorite spot open."
I blushed faintly. My favorite bed had always been the one by the window. I had personalized it over the years with occasional feather doodles in pen on the headboard. Not the smartest idea but it sure kept me from doing something worse when I was sick or exhausted… Sing fussed at me for it, but the Doc never complained. Some of the other kids even complimented me on the drawings if they had the courage to talk to me. Of course, I never talked back much after I hit my teens and my powers started killing others. Too afraid that one wrong word from either party would set off my powers. And now I just don't know any other way to be….

"Raeven…." Martha's voice had a warning ring to it.

"Sorry. Moving now General Martha."

Martha gave me a gentle swat with a rolled up newspaper as I dragged myself over to the old, ink-stained bedframe. Flopping onto it, I called over my shoulder, "Doc, you sure Manabe and Mai will be okay?"

"Of course, kiddo. You sleep off that power overuse. No offense, but you're looking like death warmed over. Get some sleep."

"Alright," I muttered drowsily, already drifting into dreamland as soon as my head hit the pillow.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX X

I woke with a scream when the boom of thunder resounded throughout the room. There was absolutely no light coming in from the outside due to the heavy black storm clouds and sheeting silver rain. Lightning flashed, arching across the window in an insanely fast flash. Wildly I snapped up, hair already floating as the lights flickered on and off and I heard a distinctly male yelp. When the lights flickered weakly for the last time, half on half off, I caught a glimpse of a red haired man clutching his nose. Apparently he had bumped into a wall while the lights had been off. I growled in annoyance when the power flickered off for the final time.

"Who's in here?!"

The distinctly male voice made me jump. Scrabbling for a flashlight, I fell off the bed. Swearing angrily, I felt my way to the nightstand next to my bed. I knew the doctor kept flashlights in every one of these small, beat up dressers for the very reason that the electricity tended to go out every time there was a thunderstorm here. Bumping my knuckles I growled irritably as I found the scarred knob of the dresser. Ignoring the scrabbling movements of who-knew-what in the background, occasionally punctuated by the roar of thunder, I finally drew out the flashlight and turned it on. Its disturbingly weak beam illuminated the male figure, which raised a hand to shield his eyes. His mop of unruly orange hair was very familiar to me by now, as were the haphazard outfit he always seemed to wear covered in runner grease and road detritus. His brown coat was one he had had for several years, and so was pretty dirty with hard use, currently messed up with muck and leaves. I moved the light away from his eyes and he smiled in relief.

"It's Raeven."

"Oh, okay. Thought it was someone else," Crow chuckled embarrassedly, scratching the back of his head.

"Why are you here?"

"I was bringing in the bandages for the Infirmary when the lights went out. I couldn't see a thing and bumped into the door post by mistake. The bandages are around here somewhere…."

"Forget the bandages for now. Where is Martha?"

"Uhhh, she's down in the dining room taking a headcount of the little nerds-" Crow said. I heard no more because I had dashed past, taking the flashlight with me. With surefooted ness I dodged down the steps headlong, disregarding my safety as thunder boomed once more. I skidded into the candle-lit dining room just as Martha was finishing the headcount and Doctor Hernandez was double checking her count as the children were very fidgety. Some of them were terrified of thunder, necessitating dodges under the table every time lightning flashed or the roar of thunder disturbed the rapid pounding of the silvery rain. A little blonde girl was currently hiding under the table, while the candles on every available surface threw eerie shadows about the room that made a chill go up my spine. Shivering slightly, I went over to Martha. I vaguely heard swearing and bumping. Disregarding it, I spoke.

"Crow's here Martha. Are all the kids here?"

"We took a head count and we seem to be missing one…. But I've been wrong before… That's why Juan is re-counting for me. I hope my count was wrong, because if so, we are missing one of the most easily scared kids at my home right now. Remember Georgiana? I can't seem to find her…."

Inwardly I groaned. Georgiana was a five year old redheaded girl, with tanned, freckled skin and big pale blue eyes that overflowed with tears at every opportunity. Some boy or another was always frightening the wits out of her because it was so easy to do. Georgiana was a little reclusive and liked to read, but other than that the resemblance to me stopped there. She hated Duel Monsters, for Pete's sake… Georgiana was frightened by the monsters, especially Beast Types. She also rather disliked me as I tended to lose my temper when the kids cried, no exceptions made for her. We also may have clashed a few times over her tendency to cry at the drop of a hat. I sighed softly.

"I'll look for her outside. You look for her inside."

"Raeven, no! It's pouring out there," Martha cried out, shocked confusion in her eyes as I made for the door, "Juan, stop her!"

Doctor Hernandez tried to move to stop me, but I moved too fast for him. Bulling out the door without so much as a raincoat, I started gazing about for the distinctive ginger hair of the little girl. Jogging over the mud spattered ground, I battled through the high winds and lashing rain. Glancing briefly over the yard, I frowned worriedly when I foggily spotted the plateau cliffs backing Martha's cottage and the forest surrounding them. I hoped that she hadn't gone into the forest, because the plateau (especially near the edge) was extremely unstable. Rockslides could happen at the drop of a hat. Or, more accurately, at the first shout that happened anywhere near the cliffs.

Where would a crybaby girl like Georgiana go to get away from the storm...? No, not the shed, she's afraid of the spider webs in there…. Not the playground, there isn't enough cover there to shelter her properly from the elements. A smart kid like Georgiana would know that…. Oh no. I think I know where she went…. The cellar doors are all too inviting to Georgiana… Plus we had the place fumigated for spiders not too long ago. Nothing to scare her in there, a dark, dry place for her to hide… I promptly headed that way. Sure enough, Georgiana had picked the lock on the old storm cellars' doors. They weren't connected to the house, not really, so there was only the one way in. They were also too damn close to the cliffs for comfort. The iron lock hung open in the hastily shut doors' handles.

"Raeven! Geez, you're worrying the hell out of Martha! GET BACK INSIDE!"

I snarled over my shoulder at the too familiar redhead, "A CHILD IS OUT IN THIS MESS! I'M NOT LEAVING HER OUT HERE!"

We had to yell to be heard over the sudden drumroll of thunder. A spike of adrenaline went down my spine as I bent over to slide the rusty lock out of its haphazard placement. Tugging hard on the doors, I discovered they were waterlogged and hard to lift. Growling, I tugged harder until I felt skinny but definitely male arms come around my waist and saw hands grab the rusty metal door handles with me. With a grunt on both ends, we managed to pull the first door open. Shakily slipping from leaning against Crow's chest, I carefully padded down the spotty stairs, creaking as I went. I heard creaks behind me as I reached the bottom, staring about the gloom. With a sigh, I padded forward without the aid of a light. These cellars had been my hideaway since my powers came in. Of course, Georgiana didn't know that. I knew she was here when I heard faint, familiar whimpers from a particularly dark corner. I prowled toward the sound, ignoring the clang of an idiot tripping into a bucket behind me. Georgiana's carrot colored hair and bright blue sweater stuck out like a sore thumb amid the dusty browns, greys and blacks of everything else in the cellar.

Kneeling, I spoke, "Georgiana? Are you here kiddo?" I tried to sound nice; after all, I was worried about the kid.

If only for Martha's sake…

BOOM!

"WAAAAH!"

The shriek came the same moment the pounce did. Then a deafening screech and a spate of kicking and wailing came along. Snarling, I tried to get her off me, but she was scratching and the best I could do without activating my powers was shield my eyes. Suddenly, the weight and the snarling were off me and the whimpering started.

"Big Brother! Big Brother, this meanie scared me and I wanted-"

I snarled, cutting the lying crybaby off, "I was asking if she was here! She pounced on ME and then started kicking and-"

"No I did NOT!"

"Yes you did!"

I stood up, angry beyond words at this little liar. However, I would never hurt a child, no matter how impure. Especially not one of Martha's brood. I owed too much to that woman to be THAT in-grateful. My fists clenched even as I started to shiver from my bone-deep dousing in the rain. Some part of me registered that I should get out of here with Crow and Georgiana, get inside Martha's, get these wet clothes off and get warm, but Georgiana's next statement drove all such thought from my head.

"Nun-Uh! I didn't pounce on you, weird MONSTER girl who hates me-"

"WHAT?! YOU HATE ME YOU LITTLE PEST, I WAS THE ONE LOOKING AND LOOKING FOR YOU IN THE POURING RAIN-!" I shrieked, power starting to rattle the boxes and crates stacked in all dusty corners of the room. Crow blinked briefly, probably surprised by the gathering white aura around my body as well as the rattling surrounding him and Georgiana. I was on the verge of breaking my ultimate taboo when-

"HEY! BE QUIET YOU TWO!"

We were shocked into silence by Crow's annoyed bellow. He clicked on his flashlight, which was when I had dropped mine at some point looking for Georgiana in the squelch and rain. Crow shone it onto the ground, thankfully missing my eyes. Georgiana seemed somewhat soothed by the light, relaxing from her position in Crow's arms. I glared hatefully at Georgiana. This is your entire fault, you little brat. If you hadn't gotten lost, I wouldn't be in this mess… Georgiana whimpered aloud, her big pale blue eyes mesmerized for a moment by the depth of hate I hadn't realized I was showing. She started to tremble, and burrowed into Crow's shirt.

"First off, Raeven, you had no right to yell at Georgiana like that, she's just a little kid and of course she got scared. She didn't recognize you in this pitch black darkness. Stop glaring at her like that." Crow's sharp tone rankled me badly.

I clenched my chattering teeth, turning my grey steel glare on Crow instead. He didn't even bat an eyelash, much to my surprise. His steel colored eyes were tranquil as he faced up to my angry stare.

"Georgiana, you weren't right to hit Raeven like that or call her names when she was just trying to help you out. Say you're sorry." Crow's tone was gentler, but firm.

"But, but, Big Brother! She's scary mean! I shouldn't say sorry! She should say sorry for calling me a brat! I'm not a brat, am I?" Georgiana whimpered, her eyes filling.

I snarled, throwing up my hands, "She won't apologize. She's SUCH a fucking brat-"

"Hey, hey! No name calling! And watch your language, Raeven. Will you apologize if Raeven does Georgia?"

The pouty child sullenly nodded.

"But she has to do it first."

I growled, not liking this. The brat wanted me to apologize. I NEVER apologized, except to Sing. Sing was different. I truly felt sorry if I hurt her. As it was, I was totally unrepentant for calling the little carrot head exactly what she was. Forcibly stoppering my powers to keep from making anything fall down on us, I sighed.

I managed, through my teeth, "I'm sorry for calling you a brat."

Which is exactly what you are, you spoiled little… I cut off the thought. No need to be indulging in any more "name calling" than I already had.

"Den I'm sorry I called you a monster. And hit you. An' everything else," Georgiana said sulkily, turning her face away from me into Crow's sopping coat again. I huffed. Neither of us sounded sorry, but it was a start.

Crow grinned in relief, his steel colored eyes sparkling faintly even in the gloom still not dissipated by his flashlight, "Okay, little nerd, now that we've got that cleared up, ready to go back upstairs?"

"Yeah."

The tranquil moment was shattered the minute something huge slammed into the left gaping door way.

Okay, this is a revamp because a freind spotted a major plothole in the chapter before I fixed it. Okay, review and read on!

-June