A/N: So now onto chapter three. In which Shark is having issues with deja vu, has a rude awakening and we start tracking down souls and the people behind the plot. On a slightly unrelated note, I see all you people reading, or at lease clicking on. I'd really love a review or two. Even if it's jst a couple of words just to let me know what you're thinking (I'm a needy writer, shh). Ok? Thank you and enjoy.
"-my sister." Ryoga couldn't make out the face or surroundings. Just the smile. And he was smiling too for some reason. "I can't wait to see you duel. Don't be nervous. You'll be fantastic, I'm sure."
"Hibiki-"
"Hush." A finger pressed against his lips and there was laughing. "Just be quiet and win."
Sleep was anything but peaceful for Ryoga. After a week of new students and intense duels between Yuma and his new opponents, Ryoga's rest was interrupted by dark images. It wasn't just another dream. Something felt wrong. Different.
"Hibiki!"
Ryoga's breath caught at the scream in his mind and his eyes snapped open. Everything was deathly silent and dark in his room. There was nothing from outside the window or door, not even his clock was ticking. He took a few deep breaths, struggling to calm himself down. Finally his breathing returned to normal and even the ticking of his clock returned.
What was that scream? Was it really a dream? It was felt more like a distant memory. Someone screaming in agony, for someone they loved. Why was he hearing such a desperate scream in his sleep?
Ryoga frowned and blinked slightly, realising he was reaching out without thinking, as if reaching for someone. Why was he…? His hand clenched slowly into a fist and he pulled it back. It was ridiculously early on a Saturday morning. He was just tired. Deciding that was definitely the answer, Ryoga closed his eyes, ignoring his heart pounding.
Just a stupid dream and nothing more.
"Ryoga! You can't stay in bed all day."
Yes, he could. Rio's call disturbed him from his finally calm and peaceful rest. Even if he wasn't sleeping- he was sick of dreams he couldn't make sense of, that felt like memories rather than dreams- he didn't want to get up early on a Saturday. His bed was warm and comfortable and soft. Just the way he liked. What kind of teenager was Rio if she could get up before midday on the weekend? Especially when the world wasn't even in danger.
"Ryoga?" Rio snapped, pulling back the covers.
Ryoga's eyes snapped open and he grabbed the covers pulling them back up over his head. "Get off."
"Actual words, Ryoga?" she teased. "How flattering."
Ryoga groaned and held the pillow over his head. He was not a morning person after a good night. After last night he just wanted to be alone. Rio sighed and Ryoga listened to her stomping off and for a moment he thought he could actually relax but he hopes were short lived.
"You can have him."
Who could-
The covers were tugged away and he was thrown over onto his back, staring up into Kaito's eyes. "We have been calling you all morning, Ryoga."
"I was sleeping," Ryoga grumbled, shoving him away and sitting up. "Why'd Rio let you in here? If my parents catch you in here-"
"You never struck me as the type who cared about what his parents thought," Kaito said, meeting his gaze. Ryoga clenched his jaw and turned away. "Perhaps you're not as much of a delinquent as you like you pretend."
"You think I'm putting on an act?"
Kaito had wandered away, looking around his room. Ryoga wasn't kidding. His parents would have flipped if they caught Kaito in his room. Kaito was older, unknown to the family and Ryoga was still in bed half undressed. It wouldn't have gone over well. Besides, he didn't want to hassle of their constant questions and prodding. And maybe he cared a little what they said.
"Why are you here, Kaito?"
"Is that a stuffed animal?"
Ryoga's gaze snapped over to the soft plushie shark in Kaito's hands. He was looking it over curiously and Ryoga jumped up from the bed, snatching it away and glaring back at the blond.
"It was a present from Rio, alright?" he snapped. "What is so damn important you have to disturb my weekend rest?"
"We need to go to the hospital," Kaito replied.
"Hospital?" Kaito had his full attention now. "Why?"
"Just get dressed."
He walked out leaving Ryoga to get dressed. The hospital? Had Yuma got himself into trouble again? It wouldn't surprise him in the slightest. He dressed quickly and ran out to find Rio and Kaito waiting. Why Kaito had to be there was beyond him. Rio could have told him this just as easily as Kaito.
Given what a hurry they seemed to be in earlier, the pace was surprisingly leisurely. Or as leisurely as he and Kaito were capable of. Rio kept them at a steady pace which just confused him more. What was going on?
Yuma was waiting outside the hospital with Kotori. At least hadn't ended up there again. With Barians running around it wouldn't surprise him if they were incapacitated at any given time. They wouldn't lose, but it wouldn't be easy. It never was with them. Still, he wasn't sure what they were doing there if it wasn't for Yuma though.
"You're finally up, Shark?" Yuma called.
Ryoga rolled his eyes. It was too bloody early for Yuma good natured teasing. Morning people really got on his nerves. He glared back at Yuma and shoved his hands into his pockets. They wandered through the halls almost silently and Ryoga had no idea just what was going on.
"I heard from Akari this morning," Yuma said stopping at a door. "There were six duels last night. The winners claimed to be stealing the spirits of the losers."
Ryoga shot Kaito a glance and he looked away almost awkwardly. It was a moment neither of them were particularly proud of; Ryoga for losing and Kaito for his actions. Still, duellists losing their souls, it was a problem and no doubt Yuma wanted to solve it. Six duellists in one night was a lot. Someone was working fast.
"So, what are you expecting us to do about it?" Ryoga said.
"We can't do nothing," Rio said. Ryoga glanced over. "Don't look at me like that. You know we have to do something. No one else will believe that this is souls being stolen. You should know better than anyone what having your soul stolen is like."
"I fought to save your soul too, Shark," Yuma said, gazing up at him with pleading eyes. Ryoga tried to turn away. He didn't want to give into that look. "No one else will help them. A dishonourable duellist needs to be dealt with by honourable duellists. They need to see the error of their ways."
"No matter what the cause," Kaito agreed.
"Like you wouldn't do it again," he muttered, shoving his hands in his pockets once more. Kaito closed his eyes, leaning against the wall and ignoring him. "So, how are we supposed to find the person behind this then? I assume you've got some hi-tech plan, Kaito?"
"There's no need to be intimidated," he replied smoothly.
"By you?"
"It's so obvious. I just never wanted to embarrass you in front of your little school friends so I didn't mention it. But since you mention it, I'm sure I can find something to help us."
He pushed off the wall and strode off before Ryoga could snipe back. 'Little school friends'? Who the hell did he think he was dealing with? He clicked his tongue in annoyance as they followed him. It was hard to remember Kaito was the only adult among them. Especially when he insisted on his digging little comments all the time.
Kaito's little computer room was a dark and depressing as ever. He supposed Kaito needed something to do. He didn't seem to have much of a social life. He didn't seem to have much of a life at all outside them and Haruto.
"There were seven unusual energy spikes last night," Orbital reported.
"Does that mean someone else lost their soul last night?" Kotori said, glancing at the screen Kaito pulled up. "Someone else without a soul that hasn't been found."
"They were different to when I took a soul," Kaito said, shaking his head. "Remember how Ryoga was? He almost in a coma. He was barely alive. These people were obviously more alive, they seemed capable of day to day life."
"They didn't have any fire," Yuma said. "They were just lifeless."
"This spike," Kaito said, pointing at the dot away from the others, "was larger and longer than the others. So it could be the cause or a result."
"Or it's completely unrelated," Ryoga commented.
Kaito shot him a glare before returning to the map. "It's a residential home. All the others were in public places, where duels are known to take place. There is a chance it is unrelated, yes."
"We should check it out anyway," Yuma said.
"Maybe we should split up and investigate then," Rio said.
"Split up, isn't that when people tend to get in trouble?" Ryoga argued.
"Shark seems unusually difficult today, Yuma," Astral said, appearing at Yuma's side. "Perhaps there's something wrong?"
"I can hear you," he snapped, glaring over. "The only thing wrong is that I was woken up early and unpleasantly for something you don't need me for and instead of sleeping right now like I want to be I'm going to have to wander around for what is probably going to end up either a trap or a wild goose chase."
"He's tired," Yuma said, smiling up at Astral.
"I see… And do all humans get hostile when they are sleep deprived? Or is this due to Shark's normal attitude?"
"Just give me places to investigate, Kaito," Ryoga groaned as Yuma tried to explain to Astral.
Kaito gave him an almost amused smirk before nodding to Orbital who sent the information to them all. Ryoga bought up the information as he was walking away. It seemed they were all going to investigate the seventh sight before splitting up. Brilliant.
The five of them, plus Kaito's tin can, ended up wandering the streets, following the signal towards the house. The area they found themselves in had a lot of space. The houses were quite large and it was one of the better neighbourhoods.
"It's one of these houses," Kaito said. "It was so large it can't be pin pointed to just one."
"Your boys don't look like they belong here, Rio." Ryoga scowled and Rio smiled, all of them turning to Ken, who was lying on one of the walls. Rio wandered over and Ken sat up on his elbows, his pale hair loose and blowing softly around his face. "So, you lot are looking for something?" He winked at Rio. "Someone, perhaps."
"And who exactly are you?" Kaito said.
"Ken's in our class," Rio explained, smiling at the new kid. "This is Kaito, Ken."
"Isn't he a little old for you, Rio?"
Ryoga wasn't sure who to glare at first; Ken for making the comment, Rio for laughing and encouraging him or Kaito because his cheeks turned pink and he turned away without a word.
"Apparently there was an energy spike here last night," he said, trying to steer the conversation away from Rio. "Anything weird happen here last night?"
The light, airy, carefree look vanished from Ken's face and he sat up on the wall, gazing at them warily. "…Just who are you lot and what are you after?"
"Then you do know something?" Yuma exclaimed, rushing forwards. "Please, you have to tell us if you have any information on what happened."
Ken hesitated and glanced back at the house before getting up and turning away only for Rio to catch his wrist. For once, and this would be the only time, Ryoga didn't object to her taking his hand gently.
"It's alright if you're afraid to tell us," she said softly. "But we just want to help. We won't get you into trouble. Please, tell us if you know something."
"I-" He hesitated again and shook his head. "Mother wouldn't approve."
"Someone could have been hurt. We want to help," Kotori insisted.
"Please," Rio said again.
He obviously knew something and it looked like he was about to crack when the front door opened. Miki was on the front doorstep in a baby blue sun dress and straw hat. Ryoga's sudden feeling of déjà vu returned. Somewhere in the back of his mind there was a flash of a memory.
Flowing blonde hair blowing in the breeze, a blue dress and a girl laughing as she held her hat on her head. And he was smiling slightly as he cleared his throat.
"Ryoga?"
"Hiro wants you to help Akina with her homework," Miki said.
Her voice was as cold as every other time they'd met her at school and her eyes were still dead. Ryoga had almost thought it was just the school situation that did it, but apparently not. It seemed to just be how she was.
Ken clenched his jaw, pain flashing through his eyes as he glared at the ground before turning to her and forcing a smile. "Tell him I'll be there in a minute. I'm just sorting out some stuff for school."
Miki blinked back at him then turned away, heading back inside to deliver the message. Ryoga watched her go, wondering how anything could be that dead inside, before Kaito elbowed him. He shook his head and returned his attention to the Ken, who smiled bitterly.
"We-"
"You can play with your school friends later," came a soft, warm voice. Ken turned and there was a new blond in the door, with Miki just behind him. He was obviously older, probably older than Kaito, more like Akari's age. His green eyes, partly hidden under his messy blonde hair, seemed friendly enough, but there was something cold and intimidating about his presence. "I told you to come in and help Akina with her homework."
Ken smiled and nodded before turning to Rio. "Some other time then."
"I look forward to it," Rio replied with a soft smile. "And tell little Akina I look forward to duelling her after school in Monday."
"Akina… isn't duelling anymore," he said awkwardly.
"What?!" Yuma cried. "Why?!"
"I have to go, I'm sorry."
He jumped over the wall and climbed up the steps to the front door. The blond- Ryoga remembered someone mentioning a big brother Hiro- turned and pushed him inside. He'd been about to tell them everything, hadn't he? And Hiro had conveniently decided it was time to drag him away. And Akina suddenly not duelling anymore? Something was very wrong. Miki was just turning away when Yuma called to her. She paused and gazed at him silently.
"Do you know anything?" he said gently.
"About what?" she said.
"The energy spike," Kaito said. "Something weird happened here."
"I saw nothing out of the ordinary," Miki said, meeting his gaze. Kaito frowned and she turned away. "Mother will want me to help Akina too."
Miki shut the door behind her, leaving them lost as to what had actually happened. Yuma looked rather sullen, probably after the news of Akina no longer duelling, and Kotori was trying to comfort him. Something was wrong with that family.
"So, now what?" Ryoga said finally. "We just go and investigate these other places?"
"Yeah," Yuma said, standing straight and nodding determinedly. There was a fire in his eyes Ryoga didn't like the looks of. It usually accompanied them doing something dangerous and him ending up in hospital. "If this energy spike was related to those duellist losing their souls and spirits, and maybe even Akina not duelling, then we had to do something about it."
"Alright," Kaito muttered. "So, we need to split up and get looking. And stay in touch."
Ryoga shoved his hands in his pockets and strode away. Rio ran after him and he paused, turning to her and meeting her gaze. "Give me a bit of time to think on my own, will you, Rio?"
"Ryoga…" She sighed and smiled softly. "What's wrong? Don't tell me you're just tired. What is it?"
"I just… have a weird feeling."
"Weird feeling?"
"I'll explain later. Just give me time to think about it."
He turned and walked away when she nodded, hearing her call to Kaito that she'd just have to keep him company inside. That struck something of a nerve. He did particularly trust the two of them together, especially after Ken's comment. He was pretty sure if Rio and Kaito started liking each other too much his life would become hell. But he had better things to think about.
The strange dream that had haunted his sleep all night was playing on his mind. Every time the same, ending in that tormented agonising scream. A voice he knew but couldn't place. It just kept replaying all night. Tormenting him. And then the flash earlier when he'd seen Miki.
Royga couldn't figure it out. What was his mind trying to show him? What had he forgotten? It had to have been after Rio's accident, or she would remember too, wouldn't she? When they were young they did almost everything together. They'd been inseparable. That was probably when he took her injury so hard and why he reacted so badly. Ryoga could still remember how absolutely horrified his parents had been when they first noticed the change.
As he followed the map, Ryoga's mind drifted to Akina. From what he'd seen of her, the kid giving up duelling was as unlikely as Yuma giving it up. Something must have happened. Thinking about it, the one's who'd lost their souls probably weren't capable of duelling. Perhaps that energy spike was… The idea of the kid duelling for her soul sent shivers down his spine. He understood the sibling bond. Perhaps that was why Ken had looked so agitated. And been willing to talk to them. If Rio's soul had been stolen he'd talk to anyone who could help- well he would these days, maybe not before he met Yuma.
If that was it, why would Hiro interfere? Wouldn't he want to help his little sister too? He paused mid-stride and called up Kaito. When he eventually answered, Rio was leaning in far too close for his liking, but it was only so she could be seen, he supposed.
"Whatever they're taking from these duellists leaves them cold and dead and emotionless, unable to duel but able to carry on with day to day life, right?" Ryoga said quickly.
"Yes, we've established that, Ryoga," Kaito muttered.
Ryoga glared at them as Rio laughed. "Yes, now describe Miki."
"Miki?" Surprise flashed across Kaito's features before he smirked. "Sometimes you have flashes of brilliance, Ryoga. Now care to tell me us why your mind was on Miki?"
Ryoga scowled. "Just let Yuma know, alright?"
In the Next Chapter: Kaito walks Rio home and ends up staying the night to help her deal with Ryoga. Meanwhile, Shark himself is trying to figure out exactly what his dreams are showing him.
Mystery Duellist Hibiki
