/ Duel Universe

/ Author: The Cowboy of Oklahoma

/ Ch 47.1: Dammit

/ word count: 1574

Human Encampment

Days had passed after the duel in the training grounds, but no one was using them. Not since the duel had virtually destroyed the training grounds, nobody could use them for their training, but a wide open field was offered as an alternative until the tunnels were fixed. Attendance did go back up with the massively powerful duel revealed like it was hoped, but it was still less than the initial outcome. Ka'an was leaning against the wall of the hospital and soundly ignoring what the doctor had told him about staying in bed until he had recovered but there was too much to do. He had been laying in a bed for the last few weeks before coming back to the encampment a few days ago, and now he was back in bed again. So he went walking around to give himself something to do. His current injuries weren't dire or even bad, but since it was the latest in a short list, in as short of time, that he was virtually hospitalized, they wanted to monitor him for a while. So he would normally stay close by the doors, outside for some fresh air most of the time. Finally, the doctors relent and issue him release orders and allow him out of the hospital but not out of the encampment area and absolutely no dueling is allowed until his condition is completely healed!' Well at least it was out of the small building and he was walking around in the open, but he ran into another problem entirely, groupies.

Groups of fans began to follow him around and asking 'how he comes up with dueling strategies,' 'where'd he get the god card,' 'is there another one they could have,' and 'does he have any dueling secrets.' So he was doing his best to answer the questions but was getting swamped by the mob.

Suddenly from above, "Master! Heads up!"

Everyone looked up and saw a dragon swooping down very fast. The crowds parted and had to cover their faces as the dust on the ground was kicked up and blinded everyone. When the dust cleared, Ka'an was just gone.

High up in the sky

Ka'an was holding tight to the rider of this beast as the ride was ascending, looking back and watching the ground disappear rapidly below. He leaned forward and had to yell into their ear just to be heard.

"Thanks for that!" He said gratefully, "I was having a hard time keeping up with the barrage of questions."

"Not too surprising, is it, Master? You're sort of a celebrity around here now," Maiden of Moonlight said, "most duels won against actual enemies of the humans here, wielder of a god card, and some of the greatest comeback moments from almost dead last to an uncontested win. They're envious and want to be just like you, Master."

"How do you know about all I've done?" Ka'an asked.

"Her Majesty told me some of what you've done and with some prying, crying, and begging until I was finally allowed to see the rest of your duel actions from before you arrived here and I have to say, I was impressed, Master. You were winning duels long before coming here," she said excitedly.

"Well I'm not one for bragging. I just did what was needed and even did what I could to give others chances to come clean during trying situations," he explained, remembering the duel during the invasion of Coronado Base, "some people are just too hard headed and stuburn."

They flew for waht seemed liked minutes until they descended to the ground and landed.

"Where are we?" He asked looking around.

"We're at the quietest edge of the encampment, since no one is allowing you to leave the area. Believe me, I tried to allow you to go back to our campsite, well with added security, since we can't have you potentially dueling anyone," she explained.

"Extra security? Who would that have been?" He asked with a quizical look on his face.

"That would have been me," a voice called out just as Ka'an had stepped down from the dragon's back.

Ka'an turned around with a quick heel turn to see who it was, not that he needed to, "Shells?"

"Not just big sis," a new voice came out from behind Shelly, "I came too, more as moral support, but to also get away from most everyone else."

"Akiza?! Shouldn't you be doing therapy for what happened to you?" He asked.

"After you're latest duel and unwillingness to give in, I felt that maybe I should try harder to see past what has been and consider what is coming for tomorrow," she said, "I know that I couldn't stop him when I faced him back on the Oceanica, and that he did those terrible things to me after he tricked us, and I know that it will take some more time for me to truly get over it, but I just decided that I don't want what has happened to me, to define me for the rest of my life!" Determination on her face.

"Well alright then. Don't let me stand in your way to becoming a stronger, beautiful woman than I already know that you are," he said encouragingly.

The faint blush that ran across her face was adorable, but she was acting like this for the first time that I knew her. Akiza never showed interest in a boy, not that I would have allowed it, what are big sisters for if not to protect our little sisters! But I have to admit that I was a little concerned that maybe she was romantizing about Ka'an like everyone has been doing.

"No! No I can't be thinkin' like that! Not 'bout my own sister! What is wrong with me?" I shook my head trying to dispell the thoughts, but the itch was every present' "look! I requested to the General to acquisition this place since there was nowhere else relatively safe for you to be right now withouth being mobbed," I explained, and we have all of the adminaties, water, heat, beds, food. We're set!"

"This looks good Shells, thanks," he said while looking around, "sleeping arrangments?" He asked.

"Well, I'd more go for ya' in the back, furthest from the front, so that anyone of us will know if ya' try to escape," I said jokingly, not really.

"Ah hah, funny," he got it.

"I wanna sleep with Master!" Moon said enthusiastically.

"Now wait just a minute here! We are not goin' to be sleepin' with him! He is to be restin' until time for the operation!" I explained.

"Uh, I don't want to sleep next to the door. Afraid someone might come in and get me," Akiza said a little afraid.

"I understand sis, I will be takin' the cot next to the door, Akiza will be beside me and," I paused looking at Moon, "Ka'an gets the 'furthest' cot from the door, no exceptions, so I guess that means that Moon can sleep 'NEXT' to him on her own 'COT!" I punctuated my terms of the sleeping arrangments.

"Aww!" Her wings drooped a little, but she was happy to be beside him at least.

We finished setting up everything and then I noticed Ka'an grab a computer and begin typing something, "what's this now?" I asked, looking over his shoulder.

"I was just thinking that a lot has happened over the last few years, with the exodus, and all, so I figured I'd catch up on my reports and submit some paper work while I'm forced to take it easy."

He stopped then turned to face me, and had a serious look on his face.

"Speaking of my current ciurcumstances, how is it that you and Akiza are out here? I mean I understand how Moon is here, she'd have a field day in the castle if she learned I was somewhere that she wouldn't be allowed, so it would be easier, and quieter to just let her come with and she would take care of me and help me heal, but you two? Why are you out here?"

Now I was on the spot dammit. How was I going to explain it to him why I, and by that extension why my sister who would always follow me, be out here. I couldn't come up with an answer right at the moment. I just stoopd there staring at him. He got that funny look on his face when he was waiting for a reply, and by funny, I mean that super ultra stern face he used when grilling subordinants that took too long to respond. So I did the first thing that came to mind. I moved forward, wrapping my arms around his neck and planted as deep and as passionate a kiss as I could on his firm lips. Nearly pushing him right out of the chair he was using and onto the floor. At first he flailed then once we had some semblance of balance going, he returned the gestured. Wrapping his strong arms around my middle and pulling me deeper into the kiss. I wasn't expecting to do it this way, but now that we had started, I found that I didn't want it to stop. Then I heard the voices behind us.

"Sis?!"

"Master?! Miss Shelly?!"

Dammit...