Chapter 17- Everlasting Luck


A.N: Bryn Wesley Harkin and Carissa Margaux Dane are older here and Luanne is finding out more about Bryn. Will continue LOT soon :)


Morning shortly approached and many who had traveled came back from missions the meeting wasn't what any public would fancy broadcasting. It was dark, the force perhaps from the Millennium Rod. Luanne couldn't see anything significant, why did she bother attending this meeting? She has to write about Secret Societies but it was too dark. After the meeting Luanne watched Marik's army part. While holding her outfit, Marik grabbed her shoulder. "Flowers in my meeting, you've got to be kidding me…" Marik stared down at her. Luanne bit her lips as Marik breathed unto her nape of her neck.

"Just what you need, to decorate this morbid place, Marik." Luanne grinned and felt Marik's hand around her waist. Luanne wiggled her way out and so Marik sighed, her presence in his organisation is still undefined. Does she really have a purpose in coming here besides writing about him and in return helping her with Duel Monsters?

"You love misrepresenting me don't you? Your writing better mentions propaganda and lust for power. I want to read Right-Winged conservatism information about myself. Possibly tyranny as you have observed." He twirled her curly locks.

"So you are love inequality within society? That is no surprise but I bet you can't live without liberalism." Luanne smirked.

"Your political views don't strike me as versatile as mine. I believe in my own absolutism. Ask any of my Rare Hunters and they will agree with me." Marik smoothly heralded. As the Rare Hunters left, Bryn bowed to Marik.

"Ah! There is my trustworthy Rare Hunter, we are going to have a bit of a chat." Marik chuckled.

"Huh? Oh yeah, Luanne and Master Marik what is it that you wanted me to talk about?" Bryn furrowed his thin brunette brow.

"Come over to the lounge room Bryn, this girl would like to know about… us." Marik mocked.

As they headed to the room, that looked like a museum of papyruses. It was polished, as the air ventilation was the only scape for running air in an enclosed space. The lounge was black-leathered interiors. Luanne sat as graceful as she could. Bryn sat cross-legged and Marik sat on the single chair seat facing the two.

"Now what do you want to know about me and my organisation?" Marik sighed seeing how ridiculous their situation was. Bryn then poured some wine for his Master.

"Master Marik, how much do you want her to know about us? Like how I was recruited or how I became one your top lackey?" Bryn scratched his head. Marik glared at Bryn. He tapped his fingers wondering how to start this fruitless meeting.

"Oh okay, well, my name is Bryn Wesley Harkin. I came from Toronto. As usual, I came from a normal life at school. I had my own band at twelve, in Drupka Order Age. So I have adopted this age because my mum is a Kung Fu descendent of the Gandharva Tribe in Kathmandu, Nepal. My dad is Irish born." Bryn explained but Marik cleared his throat.

"Cut to the chase… my little 'Trifolium'," Marik sighed, bored, as he didn't want to hear about Bryn's story again.

"Trifolium'? Luanne asked

"My Rank Nickname as an Elite." Bryn explained.

"Your Elite name." Marik said at the same time. He took a sip of his red wine and circled his thumb on his Millennium Rod.

Bryn nodded.

Bryn, Erin, Bailey, Jun the three unlikely best friends were in Toronto Library. Abbey called her brother to say that the duel was canceled as the majority of rules were rigged. After the night of her performance she also got bruised from her performance.

"Hey Bryn, I'll be there soon bro. There is a man who wants us to meet us where you are too." Abbey said. His father Hugh Harkin always had expectations for Bryn as a gifted child. After the final offer from his dad, he blew up on the phone for not being there when he needed to. Ironically Bryn was always composed and caring but that day when he was disqualified along with other school mates from the tournament, for using a forbidden deck, it was over. The Music teacher was cut from school and so did they after reckoning with the Principal and Wife.

"Hey Ez, go home." That was what Bryn calls his best friend.

Erin left for the night but all three including Abbey stayed to meet Marik and Odion. The black Volvo arrived as the four met the fourteen-year-old Egyptian boy.

"I will be glad to take all four into Rare Hunters but I have high expectations of you… Bryn" Marik took Bryn's folder. He also talked about how he was forced to battle a man the night before Bryn left in a duel, Marik demanded to take the whole deck but Bryn only took the card he earned. Then Marik banished the man into the Shadow Realm to prove that he accepts no mercy.

They have met the day prior to inform his how he was connected to the Drupka Order's minority gangster known as the Kenosha and how he met him in the airport when he had a concussion. All three were taken to the Airport with Marik approving the their application straight away, like a circus.

They traveled by plane, meaning they went straight to Cairo and settled. Abbey was later moved to another country that was not explained Carissa was part of a gang for a while as her Mother was associated with the Rare Hunters. They had intensive training and missions to reach there they are.

Back to the present, Luanne wrote and sobbed at the same time and so did Bryn when Bryn saw Luanne cried for him.

"Whoa, I didn't mean to make you cry Ma'am." Bryn panicked. Marik rolled his eyes.

"There is nothing worse than having so many bad days thrown at you…. I'm so sorry your school is full of bullshit and I wouldn't know what to do myself if I was in your shoes." Luanne placed her pen down and wiping her tears.

"Yeah, terrible… I mean I miss school and I would go-" Bryn was stopped by Marik who was a bit annoyed glare.

"Somewhere else other than Toronto. That place was a horrible school and now I do go to school with my girlfriend Carissa Margaux Dane here Egypt. Working for Master Marik was the best decision I've made with my friends." Bryn panicked as Marik incredulously warned him with his facial expression.

"Oh I would've thought you were traumatized by having so much conviction in one day. There are better jobs out there that offers World Class Apprenticeships that doesn't involve criminalization." Luanne informed him as he glanced at Marik's unwavering incredulous face.

"I do train my Rare Hunters and pay them well you know…" Marik butted in. "Your journalism strategy is absolutely flawed. You are forcing antithesis on my employee. I think you are unprofessional, Lu." Marik growled.

"It's tactful journalism, for everyone knows working in an odd job like Rare Hunters is rather creepy… I'm not getting paid at all in this contract you and I have made and my family doesn't pay me their salary either. I wouldn't even dare to ask my family for pocket money. I'm a freelancer so most of my salary comes from editorial jobs online. Trust me, my writings are not negative. I will ensure much grounded story, not revealing secrets of a secret society." She sighed. "I am the Thesis and this boy deserves more than Working for you." Marik started to laugh as Luanne explained her situation.

"Master Marik, you're ruining my moment…" Bryn pouted. Marik sighed and waved to his lackey to continue. Marik gawked at Bryn's accusation.

Bryn was cheerfully nudging Luanne who was tough. Not many would stand up to Marik.

He took his phone out to show Luanne the community of which it was built upon. "I would tell you a great detail of my trip to Belfast which my best friend and girlfriend wanted to follow us. Carissa is this girl over here, Erin, Jun Yoon and Bailey. This is my sister Abbey and this is Oliver, also my close friend whom I met just before our first mission to track down four leaders of syndicate organisations. Valkyria Mages, Kenosha, The Jade Feists, and finally the new Samhain Black are the main organisation I had to fish out from my ingenious hacking system known as 'Coolade'. Margisa, I mean Carissa rarely comes here, only Erin to take photos with Inas. She is a photographer or our organisation." Bryn rambled and Luanne wrote so much.

"So do you know Client Side Coding such as Java Script, jQuery AJAX, Flash?" Luanne casually asked. Bryn nodded confidently.

"Yup, including Server Side Coding but not Database technology as I'm still learning about it and I'm almost finished completed my course." Bryn smiled. Luanne smiled, as Bryn wouldn't know Redis and MySQL.

Bryn grinned, "Coding isn't everything… I have invented my own firewalls you know and viruses. There are many more where it comes from."

Luanne was taken aback. Bryn was a genius? "So back to your story, you made many friends too."

Bryn jumps up and walks to Marik, "Including Master Marik, he's the coolest in this organisation. Although he may be loaded with… Jewelry…" Marik grunted.

"Bryn… respect please…" Marik warned him.

"Oh, that was respect… just chill out for once." Bryn was protesting.

"Commenting on my attire is not a thing to be casually mocked." Marik grips the younger teen's chin fairly tightly. "A hunter should take head of how I am addressed or mention, inside or outside of a premise." He released the boy and looked into the written work scribbled by Luanne. She does scribe a lot.

"A different choice of enunciation that is framed. Your Master must be a strict fellow, just the fact that he doesn't let you mention certain things." Luanne awkwardly commented.

"You are hideously making assumptions as a journalist. I guess you are correct; I have my ways in my management with my Rare Hunters. I decide everything on absolutism. What else Bryn?" Marik mused casually.

"You punish people like my colleagues if they fail missions and send them to the Shadow Realm." Bryn hesitated on the direct fact.

"That too, I am not a very merciful individual when that happens." Marik nonchalantly explained.

"So anything you deem us as a Secret Society is the same. We are good citizens but we can get away with anything. Even the judge will be on our side." Bryn revealed.

"How?" Luanne furrowed her eyebrow.

Marik pulled out his Millennium Rod and Bryn did a presenting gesture. "This and don't go writing about my Millennium Rod, Luanne." Marik warned her gravely.

Luanne sighed, "Look, for the last time, I do not intend to reveal you. Maybe if I didn't meet you in such as graceful manner like Odion, you would have taken me in as a prisoner and I would have done so but Odion has been kind and so have… you." It was so awkward; Marik wasn't accustomed to smooth conversations.

"Master Marik employs kind people… like me and we do work hard for him." Bryn tried to fill the awkwardness.

"Enough of the flatteries, I just want to make this clear. Your journalism is not discreet enough. Besides you do not even have a written consent about your venture into ethnography. You still lack professionalism Little Miss Khait." Marik grumbled, "I have many captives, hostages in my midst trying to get a glimpse of your writing to expose me and you wouldn't want to wield that as I am Odion's Master. You are also boring me as a result of your intent to be a woman that is still undergoing high school education from my understanding. You are wasting your time pretending to be a journalist because, you are not."

"'Media is an extension of oneself' as Deuze said once… Oh you don't read media texts. Charles Bukowski once said 'The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.' Aren't you displaying a kind stupidity while you confidently question my journalism?" Luanne asked.

"Oh, now we're playing who is 'confident' and who is 'intelligent'? I'd say they overlap one another. I doubt your confidence to be a mediocre journalist but I have utter confidence that I will run my organisation far better than you can run your family situation." Marik was vicious, but he said it far too calmly. Bryn grinned at Marik's verbal victory over the girl.

"Oooh touché, Master Marik just won in condescension, you should look into writing your questions that are also about the organisation rather than interviewing me. Not everyone is as open as me. I'll still be around if you need more questions answered." Bryn smiled Marik stood up and dragged Bryn out.


"Master Marik, how come you brought her here with us? Isn't she just leeching information about us day in and day out?" Bryn was sitting on the floor as his Master was on his throne.

"Her initial contract was one that was signed by blood but it has no real terms or conditions that will have her force to do any important bidding. Her and Odion have an agreement only through verbal about finding about us prior to my meeting with her and yet he convinces me she has something I need. Up until now I have no idea what to do with her." Marik explained to Bryn. Bryn laughed, this was not his Master to be so uncertain about an individual.

"How about Wati, I met him on the way to the meeting and he seems like he need help so I directed him to the meeting. He seems a little messed up and uh, please don't assign me to people like him." Bryn frowned; he has his pride as an Elite Rare Hunter.

"Of course not, I am particular about my operation and yes by all means object any unfitting Hunters. I can't afford another mistake after one Egyptian God Card was right under my nose had slipped." He almost emitted a growl.

"So you really want her to do what Bianca did with her father?" Bryn tilted his head and laughed.

"I think that is potent and a great supplement to my aim but also do you recall how she did it?" Marik slyly inquired with a taunting smile.

"She was half tricked by promotion Master, you still did give her promotion to Rank 6." Bryn dawdled.

"One, she was willing and determined to leave her family as there were pathetic squabbles. So I offered an increment if she would do anything to run away she would steal from her family's Property and inheritance. Two, I bailed her out of prison and manipulated my way for her to trust me fully. Three, you my little Bryn are my great sweet secret agent. You went with her to her parents place and you gave them time to like an innocent boy to listen to. Remember that mission where it felt pointless to hang out at her parents place. That was it. Now Egyptian Governorates' treasuries are under our control. " Marik explained. He watched his lackey absorbing so much information.

"Oh was that what it was for, no wonder they signed that agreement so easily. I thought they had a bad day…" Bryn had a moment of revelation. As that happened, Marik pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.

"Now it's just a matter of replicating an opportunity for the Khaits to bestow their hereditament to me." Marik pondered.

"Like you were there, how was it staying with the Khaits?" Bryn remembered.

Marik lips snaked a sly smile, "I was bored to death. All of the Khaits were too kind. Then I met the old hag that claimed that I have the 'Evil Eye' and I have to proudly admit I do to a certain degree. I would have like to send her to the Shadow Realm too. Meanwhile her twin brothers were rambling about super heroes and they would have gotten along with you. I dueled Luanne casually and she was pretty quipped but she still defeated by my versatile strategy." Chuckling as he stretched and huffed indignantly, he shut his eyes for a moment.

"Master Marik, you really don't your luck when I'm absent, would you like me to do something with the Khaits? Bryn asked

"Yes, a great deal of infiltration will be needed… but lets see she does with the information relayed to her today. I am certain she isn't as kind as the other prisoners either. She just has liberty to speak to us without emotional depravity." Marik smirked and walked over to the locking chamber of both his Egyptian God Cards.

"Master Marik will we be planning my trip to Portugal and Spain after New Years."

"I will be keeping a close I on the girl and you will help me too." Marik meant he wanted another mission with his Elite again.

Marik decoded the security and held his two Egyptian God Cards. Bryn watched with content as Marik showed him the very thing Luanne and him worked on to get those cards. "Master we may still have a chance to take the card from Ishizu."

"I think it will not be as easy now." Marik glanced down as Bryn. "I think it will wait a little longer." Marik chuckled as he sealed the cabinet and left the throne room.


Luanne sat at the lounge room and typed a confidential story about Bryn. Another about Marik and Odion from the time they have met and hence a huge part of her wanted to know more about Bryn. He was a strong and loyal Rare Hunter who is nothing like Marik. Wati on the other hand, he must be a Rare Hunter by now… She has to keep watch of what Marik was scheming with the Bianca and her family before and possible her brother will he okay. How could Marik employ his brother to be one of his Rare Hunters? She stopped typing and opened the door. She could see Odion about this.

"She flung the door open and dashed along the unfamiliar hallways. Bryn came out alone and smiled. "Marik is still inside if you wanted to talk to him."

"No I want to to see Odion." Luanne explained.

"He's is currently with the newcomers so he will be busy with induction and so on. Uh, do you like music? Wait that was a stupid question, but yeah of course everyone likes music." Bryn said fast and embarrassingly and laughed at himself.

"I do but I am no musician Bryn." Luanne raised her eyebrows. She bit her lower lips as checked the strap he was wearing. 'Trifolium' was embroidery was sown to it. Intricately.

"Oh my sister sewn this for me before she got married and she is still part of us but just not active. Cool strap, huh?" Bryn flashed his hot pink and minty green guitar with the gray decorative strap.

"She must be close to you. My sister isn't... " Luanne commented.

"Yeah she used to be in a band with us." Bryn said.

"Marik in a band?" She was taken aback.

Bryn heaved in laughter while holding his stomach. "Nah, not Master Marik. I mean my friends. Jun Yoon and Bailey are my friends who are also Rare Hunters here. Now Erin Jade Hennessey is the vocal lead of our band. We have a function room. It used to be in a boat known as Cloud Nine but I figured we needed to expand our horizon and stay underground because Marik comes back here a lot." Bryn just blurted whatever comes to his mind. Luanne just grinned. "Hey! Come to our function room now, Odion must be there with your brother." Bryn took Luanne's hand and ran. Luanne followed him to the hall. As she entered, dangerous men in robes were there. Namely qualified Rare Hunters. 'Happy New Year 2001!' banner was mounted up.

"You guys sure like to party…" Luanne giggled and Bryn did too. Wati and Odion were in a group with new Rare Hunters.

"Here, take a chewing gum, you will need one just to calm your nerves. Your bro is in good hands." Bryn assured Luanne. "Also you should meet my friends." Bryn dragged her to a door. He opened it as Luanne watched Odion and Wati. He opened it and four people about Bryn's age were laughing.

"This is Jun Yoon, Bailey, Carissa and Erin. Carissa is my girlfriend." He kicked the door shut and Bryn came up to the girl with pastel blue and pink hair and kissed her on her lips. "Guys this is Luanne." Bryn shout and pointed to Luanne, as he was busy making love with his girlfriend.

"Nice to meet you." Luanne said.

"Gissi, how come you smell sweet today?" Bryn smirked, cuddling the teenage girl.

"Aww, you don't like it?" Carissa pouted as her boyfriend snakes her waste.

"Maybe… Master Marik might mistake you for a Strawberry and Bubblegum Ice Cream and he might let me eat you." Bryn enjoyed the fact Marik thought highly of Carissa.

Erin helped Luanne move some paper so that Luanne could sit. Luanne smiled, as the black bob haired girl that looked like Abbey but had a slanted layer was sweeter. She was Bryn's best friend but she always had a sad eye as Luanne looked into her sky blue eyes.

"I am Erin Jade Hennessy. I do photography and I like fashion design as a hobby." The girl remains serious as she eyed on Bryn and Carissa.

"Jay, Bailey… I'll be up at the temple entrance." The girl Erin just left.

Bryn was deep in his kisses until Bailey said, "I have to go and take Erin to see the doctor. She hasn't been feeling well." Bryn saw three of his friends leave only Luanne who was writing more details. Carissa then pointed. "Should we talk to Luanne?" She said mockingly.

Bryn nodded. "Yeah, I'm sharing stuff about us, is that okay?"

Carissa frowned but sighed. "Fine!" She followed her boyfriend.

"Hey, what else do you want to know about us?" Bryn asked Luanne directly.

"How all four of you met?" Luanne flipped her pen.

"That is if you want to know about how each of our story…?" Bryn got confused.

"How about just our story." Carissa leaned over to Bryn.

"S-sure! This is how Gissi and I meet!" Bryn chimed.

Flashback

The pastel pink haired with pastel blue ombre couldn't see where she was. She was definitely not on solid ground anymore; no she is on a rocking ship. The sack that she was covered in smelt like fresh sweet potatoes. It would be nice but remembering who caught her as a hostage is not very pleasant. There were five Rare Hunters that are all male. Two short ones that were of Asian decent, one that spoke fluent German, one black South African and a particular sinister Leader who is unbearably demanding. His voice could also be heard from where she is.

"That is far too much Rare Cards! What do you want me to do with them?" The sinister Teenage Egyptian exclaimed in disgruntlement.

"I don't know, perhaps eBay or Amazon these cards Master." A boy suggested.

"That is way to many legitimate copies, what will eBay or Amazon serve with this much Exodia and do not say, 'I don't know', even if this is successful operation Bryn." The Teenager was scolding him along with Bryn's mirrored 'I don't know'.

"Jordan said there are more than Exodia in that Brief. So we took whatever that was available. Odion sir also took the others leaving nothing there on the counter." Bryn explained. "Who is that, a mermaid?" Bryn spotted a hostage.

"She is our hostage Bryn, mind your own business." The Leader said.

"Oh, could I meet her Master Marik, she looks like my age… I mean she is kind of my height-"

"Well did you remember what I said about acting without compassion? I want you to apply this to the girl and you may meet her. And the Sweet Potato sack was Jun Yoon's idea." The teenage boy roughly pulled her towards him. The sack was lifted and she expected to see the Leader but it was the boy.

"Hi, oh she's really pretty and I like her hair!" Bryn chimed jovially the first thing he saw the girl.

Marik rolled his eyes, "Why do I have a feeling our occupation of capturing hostages is of fishing pretty girls to date?"

"Because you have a keen eye Master Marik and you will find yours soon too." Marik death glared as Bryn said that to him and sighed at Bryn. Bryn giggled as it sounded like he was implying Marik wanted to have a pretty girl too.

"Sure… and feed them to the sharks after I'm done with dating them. You shouldn't be too kind to them, Bryn. You'll see that it is much more entertaining to manipulate them and deduce them by breaking them, especially when they are full of progesterone." Marik said sarcastically as he rolled his eyes and mocked.

"But she's a girl though. Hello I'm Bryn. You're really pretty I won't feed you to sharks or cro-" Bryn squatted to see the girl. The girl glared at Bryn and spat at Bryn's eyes. Marik without fail shoved the girl to the ground.

"It wouldn't he wise of you to treat one of my loyal subject like this girl, that is rude of you." Marik pinned her down. He clucked his tongue as he watched the young girl's face turn into fear. "Now do you see why you shouldn't be kind to them that fast? Keep your circumspection on a high level, Dear Bryn." The girl started to cry and Marik chuckled.

"Master Marik… it's only saliva, she just afraid." Bryn wiped his eyes.

"That doesn't mean I'll let her go, now it is time for her to acquaint herself to us." Marik used his Millennium Rod to hold her still. "What is your name dear girl?"

The girl still refused to speak. So Marik forced retrieved her handbag he had obtained and tossed it to his young Lackey Bryn. As Bryn checked, as he was still clearing his damp eyes, he read out, "It is Carissa MargO-X..? Dane. That is a pretty name!" Bryn smiled kindly to Carissa. Marik rolled his lavender pupils as he pronounced is wrong.

"MargO-X? It is pronounced Marg-o, you fool… it is a French name meaning Pearl. So her name is Carissa Margaux Dane and she will help us trace the whereabouts of her mother." Marik tightened his grip on the poor girl's wrist.

"Tell me my Dear Carissa, everything about your Mother Tasara Dane's plans in Dubai with Bryn's Parents." Marik whispered into her ears…

Marik was about to capture Carissa in their first mission. Tasara Dane was a heinous woman who killed people even close to her.

End Flashback.

Bryn sighed, there will be more to talk about but for now... "I have to do some chores and hopefully call Abbey." Bryn remembered as stood up.

"Oh I'll help!" Carissa exclaimed while Luanne kept scribing their story.