Chapter 32

Kisara hadn't liked manipulating the truth, but she hadn't exactly had much choice. And, as Lus walked her back to the Mistresses' chambers, she was just glad she'd been able to use his assumption she'd been conceived through ritual to deny knowledge of her Blue Ice conception. In order to get the full extent of the deception to work, she'd also had to convince him the reason she'd run away from Arados before was because she was afraid something demonic was at work and she was scared they'd think less of her for it.

For someone who liked keeping it honest she lied too easily. Or at least she did as far as her family secret was concerned. But if information control was imperative, then letting out a warped version of the truth was the fastest way to save face. Still none of that really mattered; what mattered was the fact Lus was willing to buy her story as the truth. So as long as she never gave him any reason to doubt it…

'I wonder if SK knows,' Lus interrupted her thoughts, making her half jump out of her skin.

'What?'

'That you're a quarter demon.'

'Why would that matter?'

'Well I guess it doesn't, but it could explain a few things.'

'Like what?'

'Like why he chose you specifically. I mean, there can't be all that many Vii Sen out there with demon blood, right?'

'Shouldn't that put us low down on the list of people you'd want working in heaven?'

'Yes and no; it all depends on their allegiances, doesn't it?'

'And what would you say mine were?'

'You're a good girl Kisara that much I'm sure of.'

'It must be nice to be so certain.'

'What reason would I have to doubt you?'

'None,' she shook her head, before smiling warmly at him, 'none at all.'

'I've finally got it,' SK strode into the room they were working in and dumped a heavy looking book down onto the desk Kaiba was at, 'this is how you can get down there unseen.'

Tristan moved towards the desk they were at and stared down and the leather covering. There were gold markings on it although he wasn't totally sure what language they were written in never mind what they said. So instead he shifted his gaze towards SK and waited for an explanation.

'Where did you find this?' Kaiba's fingers carefully ran over the cover as his eyes squinted at the book.

'It was in amongst Jay's things.'

'Wow he really has a knack for making everything his business even after he's long gone,' Tristan rolled his eyes. 'But would you mind explaining exactly what it is you've found.'

'Don't you know what this book is?' Kaiba's gaze half shifted towards him.

'Should I?'

'Wow was your memory really this bad back then?' SK stared at him for a moment. 'Look, all you need to know right now is this book will help you get down there and I've already got the perfect person lined up to help you pull it off.'

'Who?' Kaiba's gaze did its best to shift towards him.

'A little helper of my own.'

'Since when do you get to hire people?'

'That's for me to know.'

'SK,' his voice was filled with warning tones.

'Look, just be grateful I'm one step ahead of the game here,' SK shrugged, 'and when everything's in place tomorrow, you'll be able to go down there and get the kids back.'

'Tomorrow,' Kaiba looked doubtful, 'why can't we go down there now?'

'Because my new little helper is pre-occupied at the moment.'

'Well un-occupy her; those kids need us we really don't have time to waste here.'

'I'm sorry,' he shook his head, 'but you have to be patient for just one more night.'

'Surely it has to be for more than just one night,' a strange voice sounded from the entranceway.

Tristan's eyes shifted towards the doorway. Stood there was a lad of about fifteen, dressed in a dishevelled school uniform, with his hair spiked up in a punk-style. His nails were painted black and he was using eyeliner to exaggerate the haunting look in his eyes.

'Who are you?' Kaiba was the first to speak.

'Oh you really are as blind as a new-born kitten, aren't you Pure?' The boy swaggered towards them. 'Still I am disappointed you can't tell who I am, but if you really need a clue, then I'm the Teen.'

'A Nameless?'

'Ding, ding, ding.'

'But… I thought when the First became a part of Joey you all stopped existing,' SK took up a defensive stance between them and the Teen.

'And you didn't think any new ones had come into existence since then?' He laughed. 'As I'm sure her sisters would be more than happy to tell you, the First does have a fragmented consciousness. All those voices get to be too much for her, that's why the Nameless came into being to begin with.'

'But being a part of Wheeler stabilised those other voices,' Kaiba took half a step towards him, 'so she didn't need to create any new Nameless.'

'But she's no longer just a part of Joey, now is she? Now, she is Joey, so there is nothing keeping her stable anymore.'

'So you're saying Joey made you?' SK frowned.

'Yes and no.'

'What's that supposed to mean?'

'It is as I've said,' he shrugged, 'I would explain further but I'm really not in the mood. I just wanted to come up here to see how my dear sister the Pure was doing.'

'You're no sister of mine,' Kaiba gritted his teeth.

'Perhaps not, but the First is and as I'm a part of her…'

'Don't toy with me Teen.'

'You're right, I should leave the toying to the kids. How is Taylor by the way? Has he recovered any…?'

'You shut up right now,' Kaiba cut him off.

'Why are you trying to antagonise him?' Tristan shot the Teen a look, not exactly sure how he felt about the whole situation.

'Him,' the Teen laughed, 'well I guess the whole gender thing is up for debate right now, isn't it?'

'What are you trying to say?'

'Oh my dear Win, you must know; even a child could comprehend what I'm saying right now.'

'I…'

'Why are you being so antagonising,' SK cut off anything Tristan might have said.

'Because that's what chaos does, isn't it,' the Teen made overdramatic movements with his hands, 'antagonise things.'

'You're not Chaos.'

'Oh I am. At least I am now. All thanks to little Crovell,' a dark smile pulled at his lips. 'I was all set to take Arados's Light too, till some little do-gooder stopped me. Still, there are two other heirs to that now, aren't there? And my collection wouldn't be complete without a set.'

'You stay away from him,' Kaiba blindly lunged at him, but the Teen managed to smoothly dodge his attack, 'you're not to go anywhere near him.'

'Oh come on, it's not like he can become much more of a broken toy than he already is.'

'You stay away from him,' Kaiba clenched his hands into fists.

'Come on,' leant in towards him, 'give me one good reason I should stay away?'

'I will hunt you down and kill you if you touch him,' Kaiba's eyes did their best to lock with the teens. 'I will not let you hurt my baby.'

'Your baby?' The Teen laughed. 'You know, I'd almost forgotten you were his mother Pure; thank you so much for reminding me. That was fun,' turning, he began walking away from them, fading from sight as he did. 'I'll be back for you baby boy soon enough Pure, but right now I have more interesting game in my sight. Thanks for the laugh though, I really needed that.'