Sleep hadn't been easy for years. Yet now Yusei started to wait for the nights to fall and enjoy the mornings he could wake up to his beautiful companion beside him. Prying open an eye, he rolled over to witness the tumbled mess of sleeping hair.
Akiza had forgiven his hapless comment after a bout of heartfelt grovelling and flowing admittance of how lucky he was to have her in his life. And some more grovelling. Of course, he couldn't expect her to forgive him after one bout. This was going to require multiple sessions.
Rolling from the bed, he pulled the covers back into place to preserve the heat inside. Nature was calling.
Cracking his door open, he slipped out into the darkness with eyes blearily registering motion. Swaying silently in the open living area, Phantom was gently stroking the purring feline that was utterly incapacitated with comfort in the crook of her arm.
"Morning." Smiling softly as she waved at his greeting, the quiet figure seemed impossibly at odds with the lethal combatant from the docks. Judging by the empty couch, it appeared that Musume was sleeping downstairs. "Sleep well?"
I no longer sleep. Taking the unsettling news into consideration, Yusei continued on his unremarkable journey over the hallway.
Awkward encounters happen millions of times every day. Moments when you bid a friend farewell only to end up walking in the same direction for a while longer. When you are that little bit too far away from the door but they hold it anyway. When you're going to the bathroom as someone else leaves it.
"Oh." Standing awkwardly in his shorts and ragged shirt, Yusei felt inexplicably embarrassed as Musume stepped out in front of him, still drying her hands on the thick vest she was wearing. "Excuse me." Stepping to one side, he expected her to do the same. Instead, her eyes narrowed over his shoulder. Following her gaze, he felt the blood chill in his veins.
Still sleeping in the dim light of his room, Akiza was on full display in the embrace of a pillow through the crack in his door.
"We didn't mean to keep it a secret." Was what he should have said.
"I'm sorry you found out like this." Was what he could have said.
"Let me explain." Was what he tried to say.
"Gragsshh!" Was what he managed to squeeze out through the clenching of his throat beneath her hands. It shouldn't have been the first thing on his mind that her hands were still damp and now he really needed to use the toilet.
Sprinting into view with the cat clinging to one shoulder, Phantom was projecting active bewilderment at the murder attempt. You do not want to do this. Speaking in a gentle tone, she placed a hand on Musume's elbow.
"Yes. I. Do." Flailing his arms as the spots in his vision continued to grow, Yusei had been hoping for a more proactive response than calming words.
Tightening two fingers into a pressure point, Phantom ripped Musume's arm away. That rendered the other open to a blow which freed Yusei's throat just before the remaining life could be crushed from it. As he staggered to regain his balance, Phantom slipped behind Musume to grab her in a submission hold before kicking Yusei hard enough to smash his back into the side of the bed in his room.
No. She murmured quietly as the struggle to escape began. You do not. A wealth of experience echoed in the words.
Waking up to a sharp yell of pain, her patient on the floor, her daughter outside the door and their guest currently grappling her instantly underlined one scenario to Akiza. When she heard the screams of outrage and gorily descriptive death threats Musume was shouting, it wasn't hard to figure out what was really going on.
"Hey!" Unfortunately, Jack and Crow were quick to take the situation at face value.
Bodily lifting Musume as she staggered them backwards into the main hub of the dwelling, Phantom was physically tackled to the floor when Crow launched himself at their colliding knees with Jack opting for a shoulder barge. Hunching over her captive, Phantom kept one arm curled tight against her chest to protect the enraged cat while the other kept one of Musume's arm twisted upwards in a grip shy of inflicting any damage. It was a tense stalemate.
Pursed lips from back in the hallway brought the skirmish to attention with an ear-splitting whistle.
"Everyone, take five." Even barely awake, Akiza knew how to put herself in command of a situation. "And let her back up." It had been instantly obvious that their attacks did little damage. She didn't want the pair to hurt themselves too badly before they could sort the mess out.
"She's attacking Musume!" Even though his foot was possibly broken, Crow was willing to try for another kick. A stroke of relative genius told him that he had another foot available as Phantom took advantage of the lull to send Hoshi scurrying.
"She tried to choke me!" Pressing an arm across his stomach and a hand to his throat, Yusei staggered out behind the figure of authority. Taking this information under advisement, the brothers' idiot resumed their attacks.
"Let me up and I'll finish the job!" Taking advantage of the change in situation to switch feet and rest aching fists, this slight twist was less welcome news when they started to figure out the ramifications.
Should I still let her up? Looking back over one shoulder, she received an affirming nod. Phantom gently helped lifted Musume back upright and took a step to one side. Just far away enough that it was clear she could intercept another murder attempt. Nodding in understanding, Musume carefully brushed herself off. Everyone let out a slow breath. It looked like disaster had been averted for another day.
"I'll kill you, you" Phantom wrapped both arms about Musume's midriff and lifted her from the floor as the brothers attempted to redeem themselves by restraining an arm apiece. The coordinated effort was backlit by some horrifyingly graphic insults and vivid imagery which evened out with the ending of "through a straw." Even Jack looked a bit green by the level of detail involved as survival instincts backed Yusei partially into his room.
"What's wrong with you?!" Outraged at the attack, she could hardly believe events had spiralled out of control before she even awoke.
"Me?" Energy erupted outwards from her body as the creatures inside began to manifest in her rage. Jack and Crow slammed into walls as Phantom rolled away. Eyes glowed, appendages unfurled and spectral enhancements appeared across her limbs. "I gave up everything to give you a second chance. And you went right back to him!" A massive purple arm had enveloped her left and she pointed an accusatory finger where Yusei flinched at the thundering voice.
Sliding in front of her, Phantom held out an object until it thudded against her chest. Glancing down through the tinge in her vision, she saw the inscribed butt of the Yawarakai-Te. A weapon supposedly capable of killing only evil.
Looking up at the vantablack helmet, she knew exactly why it was being pushed on her. "Damn you." Even now, she understood the meaning. Burning cold forced her to stand down as her captor remained impassive in the face of unnatural powers. "Damn you." Her voice gradually returned to normal as all other alterations remained in place.
First to recover her wits, Akiza was also the first to speak. "Get out." Pointing out into the city, she didn't care where as long as it was away. "I want you to leave." Horror crossed the glowing face as eyes burnt with a new intensity. "You aren't welcome here if you're going to act like this." Nearly nothing else in her life had ever hurt Musume like she was then. It took her a moment to register the reality of the situation.
"Fine." Growling the word as she struggled to keep her spectral limbs under control, she grabbed the various textbooks, dictionaries and reports sprawled across the living room table and swept the lot into the thick satchel. "I'll go." As she moved to go past Phantom, a leather glove struck out and held the sword out once again. This time, in offering. She snatched the weapon back without a break in stride.
"Well?" Pausing at the top of the stairs with a glare so enraged both eyes could have lit a dark hall, Musume threw the words back across the room. "You coming?" Realising who the words were intended for, the recipient could barely have been more surprised.
Me? Yes... I... Yes. Taking a look at the two men trying to convey the impression that they hadn't meant to attack her for something she hadn't done, her answer solidified in a hurry. Yes. In all the commotion, she had become understandably disenchanted with the pair.
Dilucesco was still waiting in place by the garage door. Throwing the satchel beneath the seat, she had the helmet on and engine started before Phantom had even managed to secure her grip on the back. "Hang on." There was no need to explain why as they took off in the early morning.
By the time they reached the sparse highway, she was already pushing the Runner to speeds greater than the limits of all others on the road. And a readout told her there was plenty of power still waiting to be used.
May I make a suggestion? Hanging on close as the winds continued to push back, Phantom sounded understandably nervous. She had seen what happened when Musume started to lose her temper.
"Now is a bad time to tell me to slow down." Anger could only go so fast and she was starting to feel it possible to outrace the emotion.
Can we go faster? This is... New riders had that same inability to articulate the feeling. Even when she had been a child gifted her first ride on Crow's machine at walking pace, Musume could hardly express it. It was one of the happiest memories she had.
"Haven't you ever been on a Duel Runner before?" She opened the throttle without even thinking about it as they continued to gain speed. Horns blared as she ignored the mild advice of traffic lights and cut across an intersection as yellows shone overhead.
Never. It seemed impossible that anyone could have built a machine as advanced as Dilucesco without trying it first.
Reaching back, she grabbed an arm and wrapped it around her waist. "Just hold on to me." If she sent Phantom hurtling down the road as they took a corner, Crow would never let her hear the end of it. After a brief moment's thought, another arm carefully snaked around the other side to fasten across her stomach.
An unfamiliar sensation was settling into the arms. The last time this had happened was back on the boat. Pins and needles, people called them. Trapped blood flow which been had attributed to keeping hands raised in dance for too long. It was worse now, a dozen times intensified. Which was impossible since she no longer had blood.
It didn't make sense but, for now, she was more than content to sit and watch the world blur past.
They came to a halt on the mountain pass. Only two places really overlooked the city and she wouldn't go to the viewpoint further north. That was where Yusei would go and she didn't want anything in common with him.
Drawing to a halt in the middle of the road, she could feel the allure to keep driving and not look back. It was equally as possible to turn around and return to New Domino. Sliding from the seat, Musume's attention was focused on the main problem.
Tearing the helmet off, she hurled it against the ground and growled as she strode over to barrier overlooking the city and gripped it beneath her hands. "Damn it." Tightening her grip, she could feel the rage bubbling up again. "Damn it. Damn it, damn it, damn it!" Each iteration was accompanied by a massive blow as the violet fist emerged again. The railing was soon twisted into nothing more than scrap metal. Ripping the neighbouring section from the verge, she hurtled it into the forest behind them with a wild scream of rage.
"How could she do this?" Breathing smoke as her control continued to slip, Musume could feel herself becoming enveloped in energy once more.
I am sorry. Apologising for a problem that was not her fault, Phantom's unabating calm was starting to infuriate her in new ways. Ignoring it, she focused on the one problem that mattered.
"After everything I've done, she threw it all away." Turning around, her tail swiped another portion of the rail and sliced it apart as she pounded spectral hands against her chest. "How could she do this to me?!" Her roar startled the birds from the trees and sent wings beating into the sky.
Would you like to hit me? Whirling toward her with eyes burning with energy, she imagined for a minute that she had misheard the words. If it will make you feel better.
"What?" Her rage was continuing to boil over and there was a juicy target mere inches away. "What did you say?"
You may hit me. Stepping away from the Runner, both hands folded defencelessly behind her back. It might make you feel better.
"No." They made for an odd pair. Thundering voice and quiet whisper. One with burning rage the other with chilly patience. "No." Restricting her voice back until it was only hers again, she struggled to understand what could bring someone to such an offer. "Why would you say that?"
Because you are hurting. Standing only a few feet away, she wouldn't be able to dodge if Musume took her up on the self-destructive offer. And you need an outlet. You can attack me until your fingers bleed, Lifting both hands slightly, she was practically offering herself. And it will not make any difference.
"You've got one messed up mind." Turning back to what remained of the railing, she gripped the metal guard and forced herself to regain control. "Not that I can talk." It still hurt to force them back in. The wings were causing problems. She couldn't think of the excuses she'd need to explain the holes in her shirts.
Talk me through the problem. Balancing on the ruined edge of the viewpoint, Phantom looked out at the sweeping view of the city. Maybe I can help.
"And why the fuck should I trust you?" Teeth. That was a new one. Her tongue cut open on supernaturally sharp incisors as they had edged back into a regular shape.
You have no reason to. Edging out slightly more, the tips of her feet were dangling over the edge. But I have... dealt with problems for a long time.
"Get away from there." Grabbing at one shoulder, she pulled harder than was necessary. "Shit." A moment of concern pierced her overwhelming rage. "You dead again?" Sadly, that was the best she could do under the circumstances.
No. Adjusting to her new predicament, Phantom tried to live up to her problem-solving claims. Do you feel better? She was only a few feet into the rocky embankment. It shouldn't be difficult to dig herself out.
"What do you think?" A thoughtful pause came as the question was mulled over.
I think that you are hurting. I think that was one of the most impressive actions I have ever seen. I... Realisation struck her harder than the cliff. I think you were being sarcastic.
"Really?" That sarcasm almost had Phantom answering again before she caught it. Being partially buried by the cliff on the other side of the road didn't dim her embarrassment by the smallest fraction as she started to free herself.
"Fuck." Drawing both hands across her scalp, she linked her fingers on the back of her neck as she stretched in the morning air. "I can't go back there." Her outburst that morning had a chance to be forgiven. If she went back right now, she would finish the job she started and her family would never forgive her for killing Yusei.
Where do you intend to stay? As much as she had enjoyed the ride and conversation, Phantom had a habit of looking of locating the three prerequisites for surviving: food, shelter, safety.
"Shut up." What she needed was to let the road wear away her anger and frustration. Not to listen to the jabberings of her passenger. She needed some time to think before making her next move.
Blister didn't know her in this time. She could introduce herself but he wouldn't take Phantom at face value and inevitably end up calling on of the people she had just stormed out on. Winnings from the Pegasus Trinidad were stored up in an online account but she couldn't very easily pay to stay anywhere without ID. And, again, there was the issue of her companion. They could probably slum it in an abandoned building but she wasn't keen for the experience.
Of course, there was still one alternative available. Unless... "I don't suppose you have a place nearby?" With the fortune in technology she was piloting, it was a good chance that Phantom had a place of her own.
Only if you have no recourse. Whether for the choice of her privacy or because the residence would be unsuitable, it appeared that option was taken off the table.
"Damn it." Which meant that they were stuck with the original choice. "Come on," Picking her helmet up from where it had been left on the floor, she walked back to the Runner. "I know a place we can stay."
They headed deeper into the city this time. More people were starting to flock the streets and she could feel the nervous trembling about her waist. "You really don't like people, do you?" The arms tightened as they drove past a crowded bus going the other way. Question answered.
It didn't take long to reach their destination. Musume pulled to a halt outside when Phantom unlatched her arms long enough to point to the curb.
I will meet you inside. Slipping from the back of the Runner, Phantom looked up at the building with a calculating eye. It would be difficult to explain her presence to anyone they met on the way and she solved the problem by avoiding them all.
"Fine. I'll see you by the elevator." Tearing out one railing and pounding another into twisted metal had taken the edge from her rage. Enough time without having to look at Yusei would curb it the rest of the way.
There was no resistance to her arrival. A brief entry to a keypad verified her right to enter the building. Nobody would guess that she was an uninvited visitor. Gliding into the underground parking structure, she slid her Runner into a prime spot beside the elevator doors. The vacant space had been unused in months only to know be occupied by two machines, the other a stock blue with few alterations yet performed.
"You here?" Replacing the bag under the seat with her helmet, she couldn't tell if she was alone in the enclosed space or not.
Indeed. I have already called the elevator. Slipping in around the corner of the door, she took up position on the other side of the lift from the control panel as Musume punched in the same code from the gate. Her actions raised an eyebrow of concern but she didn't care enough to ask the question. Nor did she have to. Camera. With that word alone, she told Musume that she had cased the building at some point.
"Planning on robbing the place?" Genuine surprise radiated outward. "You knew where the camera was." Flicking a finger towards the camera, she made sure it was out of scope.
I studied the blueprints. Then she recalled the reason Musume had asked in the first place. Purely theoretical. This building is an architectural marvel. Leaning at the angle it did with the environment it was situated, the structure would have been rubble long ago were it not for the complex methods of prevention incorporated into it.
Natural light filled the box as it rose from the underground structure and began to rise floor by floor. Staring out the rear window, Phantom seemed entranced by the sight. A twitch of movement called Musume's attention down to her right hand. The ring finger was pounding a rapid tempo against the tip of her thumb.
"Don't be worried." Startled from her reverie, Phantom followed the line of sight to her beating finger. "They're not that bad."
Old habit. She willed the movement to stop as she continued to stare down the cause. I have a... I am not fond of heights.
"Since when were you scared of heights?" Nobody in their right mind would call KaibaCorp short and they had been several stories up the first night they met. It seemed impossible that a simple elevator ride could unnerve her.
When I have no control over them. Looking back out the window, her finger resumed its unconscious rhythm. Even so... it is a splendid view. From their increasing altitude, they could see clear from the mountains to the Duel Stadium to the edge of Satellite Island with half the city spread out below. With the sun starting to rise over the ocean, the air was filled with a rich, warm light.
"If you're into that sort of thing." Of course, it was nothing to seeing the world unravelling out beneath you as wings beat through the air.
They soon reached their destination floor. There was another floor hidden above them but it was only accessible from within the apartment Musume was entering the code for a third time.
"They probably won't be up for," Leaving the door open long enough for her personal shadow to slip in behind, Musume stopped dead by the entrance. "A while."
"Eh?" Standing in the middle of the room with a glass of water in one hand, Leo had risen unexpectedly early. Not that she had been trying to sneak in without them knowing but Musume felt distinctly caught out in the act.
"Heeey." Stretching out the greeting, she tried to think of a way to explain her sudden appearance. It would have been easier if she was not still processing significant amounts of rage.
"Musume? What're you doing here?" Weren't men meant to sleep until the afternoon or something? At what point had she screwed history over so badly that they had become functioning members of society?
Stepping away from the door only presented more difficulties. As her companion stepped out beside her, it was obvious what her first action would be. "Don't," Collapsing to one knee, Phantom fell into a low bow. "Ugh. Idiot One, Idiot Two." Waving a hand between the pair, she used the introduction to distract from her embarrassing discovery.
Idiot One. Still on the floor, the unspoken words rang clearly through the room with undertones of both confusion and amusement. Is it some sort of nickname?
"Shit." Dragging her upright, Musume was starting to realise the sort of problems she had forced upon herself. The sun had barely risen and she was already done with the day. "Have you got anything to drink?" It wouldn't hurt to try and get drunk away the remaining hours. Judging from Leo's confused stare, he didn't understand basic nihilism. "How about coffee?"
"In the cupboard." Understanding the grunt to be the closet he was going to get to an expression of gratitude, his attentions returned to the tantalising new distraction looking about the penthouse with an empty gaze. "Hey, is it true that you managed to beat the entire police department at the same time?" A slight twitch in the helmet might have indicated a momentary discomfort before she smoothed it away again.
They tell me it was about half. Turning her face to look at him directly, she gave a lopsided grin. It was the first time he had seen one of her invisible expressions and it took him by surprise. And they took turns. Would you like a hand? At the sight of her smile, Leo had taken a stumbling step backwards to fall on his rear.
"Thanks." Taking the leather glove in hand, he was pulled back to his feet with ease. "Can you teach me to fight like you can? I wanna be able to cool ninja stuff too!" Phantom would never have called herself a ninja. A sneak thief, maybe. Not a ninja.
If you wish. Relenting in the face of such overpowering enthusiasm was inevitable. It would have been like trying to kick a puppy. An affectionate puppy. The kind with those soulful little eyes shining with adoration. Show me how you punch.
Alarm flickered in her eyes and Phantom grabbed his forearm, wrapped the reverse of her spare palm against the side of his face and pulled Leo to the floor with a knee in the small of his back. The entire manoeuvrer took about a second and rendered him completely incapable of escape. It also brought unwarranted attention.
"Let go of him." Crouching beside the pair, Musume buried the tip of her sword an inch from the side of the vantablack helmet. "Right now." Taking the command to heart, she instantly released her prisoner and froze into place.
His thumb was curled into his fist and he was off-balance. She was careful not to aggravate Musume any more than was necessary. Even as Leo clambered to his feet, she remained prone. By the time he would have reached me, he would have tripped and broken his thumb.
"Leo, show me how you make a fist." Keeping the blade where it was, she glanced up at the singular twin who was struggling to see what he had done wrong. "Seriously?" She was incredulous that anyone could have made such a simple mistake.
"What? If you put your thumb in the middle of your fingers, it lets you make a tighter fist. And that means your punches work better!" Trying to demonstrate, he stumbled slightly from poor footing and almost fell. "Wait, let me try again." A second attempt fared no better than the first and he instantly lined up for a third.
"Fine." Letting up the pressure in lieu of admitting she was wrong, Musume tucked the sword away again. Taking sword in one hand and satchel in other, she deposited herself onto the plush white couch. "I'll be right here." Not 'if you need me'. More like 'if you hurt him and I have to see if this sword works properly on the second attempt'.
Understanding the inflection perfectly, Phantom turned to Leo. May I? Gesturing to his fist, she carefully readjusted it. Removed the thumb, curled the fingers against the palm and tucked the thumb back alongside the middle section of the fingers. Punch with these two knuckles. Taking a step back, she tapped the palm of one glove.
"Like this?" Taking the new position under advisement, he pounded into her fist. She made sure to draw back slightly so he wouldn't break himself.
Nearly. Bringing up her spare hand, she demonstrated the correct motion. You should try to land on the middle and index, not roll off the middle to the ring. That will break your two smaller knuckles. Try again. One eye flickered as she tried to interpret how he could have possibly managed to be getting increasingly worse. Do not worry. Try again.
On the third try, he managed to land a blow which would have broken both knuckles and his wrist. Maybe try going slower this time? When he managed to trip from moving too slowly, she started to realise how long a lesson she had trapped herself in.
When Luna came down for breakfast, she was surprised to see her twin slowly inching his fist into a waiting palm. "Like that?" Even though his knuckles barely grazed the fabric, he received a supportive thumbs-up. Reclining on the sofa with a thick paper journal in one hand and the other tracing her place was Musume, bringing a reason for the weirdness. "Hey, Luna!" Stopping in his practice, Leo waved up at his sister. "Good morning."
"What's going on?" Turning on the spot, Phantom fell back to one knee. As she twisted around over the back of the couch to glance at her friend, Musume noticed the bundle on the floor and scoffed.
"You don't have to do that for her either." Waving casually as she rolled back, the effort of defusing another unnecessary subjugation exhausted her attempt at a two-way conversation. "We're going to crash here for a while. Hope that's okay."
"Of course it is." Even if Musume acted like she was doing them a favour by staying free of charge with bed and board, she was always welcome. "It's good to see you again." Reaching out a hand to lift her former saviour back upright, Luna used a gentle smile the whole time. Neither had been especially centred the last time they met. She hoped her new guest was doing better than before. "How are you today?" Seeing the gentle smile and offered hand, Phantom carefully rose back to her feet with only the slightest pressure on Luna's fingers.
Much better. Thank you for asking. Sensing the impatience brewing behind her, she resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She wasn't even sure how she would do that. Your brother asked me to... teach him... a few moves.
"She's gonna teach me how to be a ninja!" Bringing the tips of her middle and index fingers together, Phantom carefully rubbed a spot where her forehead had once been. There had been a pressure point there for relaxing her nerves. She was starting to miss it an awful lot.
For the last time, There was an unusual quality to Leo. No matter how often he asked the same question, nobody could get angry with him. The most they could hope for was exasperation. Or a stroke. I am not a ninja.
"That's exactly what a ninja would say!" Went the logic of every conspiracy theory in history. If the accused denied it was real, that was simply more proof for the file. "You wear all black, move about really quiet, save people and have a cool ninja sword." On cue, Musume lifted her sword above the couch without missing a single character of her reading. It had become an unconscious response. "How can you do all that without being a ninja?"
Would you like to join us? Ignoring the eighteenth iteration of the same argument – not that she was keeping a count – Phantom had dubious motives for wanting to involve Luna. Mostly because she was holding out hope that the twins kept a mythical balancing force which could dampen Leo's inquisitiveness even the smallest fraction. We are going over a few basic moves.
"That's okay. Misty insists that all her staff have self-defence training." There had been an incident early in Misty's career with a pressuring older designer. Unfortunately (for him) she had channelled her grief over losing her brother into learning how to stop anyone who would try to hurt another innocent child. With the money she got from the resulting lawsuit, she had launched her first solo line.
Musume? Risking another stabbing incident was worth splitting Leo's attention. That is, if Musume could be convinced to join them.
"Hmm?" Leaning up to glance back at the pair, she eyed the choice with scepticism. "Pass." Faux-sparring with either would hardly be a challenge. Besides, she was nearly finished with the report 'Prevalent Aberrations of a Chronometric Nature'. After picking through several physics books, she had figured out what the real title should have been;
'Common Fuck-Ups of Time Travel'
Laid out in paralytically organised fashion, the contents covered every potential pit-fall, the circumstances which brought them about and possible methods to avoid them. As long as she could decode the physics, it would prove to be a rich source of information.
But understanding the physics is easier said than done. With multiple textbooks sprawled about her and a phone perpetually in hand, it took nearly eight hours to finish reading the rest of the same paper with either Luna or Phantom frequently refiling her coffee (unasked and unthanked). At least the last entry was written in plain language.
'Time travel is real. It is unpredictable, it is irrevocable, it is dangerous.' It began with a sombre warning on the last page.
'For I cannot, in good conscience, write nothing. Which is why I leave this warning: travelling through time must only ever be done on the most vital of instances. Occasions when there is no hope, no salvation, no other recourse. Should half the human race be decimated, the other must be left to recover without the temptation of editing history or all would be risked to be lost.'
Whoever had written this was probably aware of the instance that Paradox had attempted to erase the history of Duel Monsters. It hadn't been subtle. The story that Crow had described was "everything turning to black snow and the sky went red".
'The only instance which can condone such risk would be to prevent another seeking to meddle in the affairs of time. The methods for doing so I dare not leave written down. As such, it would be the duty of whoever is required to prevent such actions to discover the way themselves.' Flipping the page back and forth, Musume couldn't see any continuation to the entry. There was only a single line she couldn't fathom the meaning of.
'For one crushed butterfly could bring the sound of endless thunder.'
Dropping the paper, she ground her palms into her eyes. "Fuck me." Trying to decipher the writing equal parts scientific and mystic was making her head whirl. "Who wrote this crap?" There was still no clue to the author. It had taken someone who could rival a god to tell her where they were hidden. That gave them a solid stamp of authenticity and left her only with the issue of trying to understand the contents.
"What is it?" Only a handful of subjects actively interested Leo. If he was interested in something, he could study like a scholar for days. If he wasn't, his brain couldn't get started.
"How much do you know about particle physics?" Looking over without expecting a serious answer, she noticed something missing from the scene. Twisting to the other direction, she failed to find his trainer. "Where'd she go?" Bright orange and invisible black was impossible to miss in any light yet nowhere to be found.
"Phantom?" Being single-minded was often mistaken for being simple-minded. With a solid instruction – to keep practising his punches – Leo had been left alone for a few hours now. "She went upstairs a while ago."
As if she didn't have enough problems already. Phantom left unattended could only lead to trouble. "I'll see what she's up to." Rolling to her feet, she stretched in the warm afternoon air. "What's the time?"
"About three." Watching him throw another few blows, she had to admit the improvement in his form as she mounted the stairs.
Five rooms were situated on the higher level. Two bedrooms at either end of the hallway and a maintenance cupboard discretely blended into the wall midway between them. Despite her predilection for dark places, Phantom wasn't tucked away with the piping and fuse boxes.
"Hey, Leo?" Leaning over the glass divider, she wrinkled her nose at the smell. She had been so deeply embedded in her reading that it hadn't registered. "Where's Luna's room?"
"Right room, left pair." Small sentences directed her to his sister's room.
"Thanks. And take a shower." She muttered as she knocked on the door. Whilst hours of focussed training was impressive, it also stank.
"Musume?" Holding open her door, she was surprised by the visit. Her guest had been engrossed in studies all day.
"What are you up to?" Peering about the room, it was unlikely that anyone had managed to sneak in without Luna noticing. "Is Phantom in here?"
"I was drawing up some designs." A pencil was still tucked behind one ear. "I heard someone go into the room on the left a while ago." Pointing down the other end of the corridor to her room's opposite number, she didn't even seem upset that two strangers were suddenly sharing her house. "Is she okay?"
Musume was genuinely concerned for Luna's endless sympathy. It was going to get her into trouble one day. "Just checking in on her." What she would do depended on what she found.
Walking to the next door, she tried it once before pounding on the locked portal. "Hey!" Banging on the door, she would give it one more try before knocking through the door instead of on it.
A quiet click from inside the room preceded the door opening halfway. Standing in the threshold, there was an intense swirl in the lights of Phantom's eyes. Was there... something you... wanted? Even getting the words out was an effort.
"What have you been doing in there?" Leaning to peek around her, there was little to be seen in the room. Dustsheets on the bed, covers on the chairs and a thin film of dust on everything. Yusei had closed off the rooms after buying the property to save the need for constant cleaning.
I... needed some... time alone. Due to the positioning of the door, it was impossible for the shaking in her right hand to be seen. Every second lessened the pain another fraction. Nearly enough to be controlled. Nearly.
"Leo's getting restless." Giving a last look around the room, Musume gave up looking for clues. Even if there had been some, Phantom was paranoically careful. "Wanted to know when you were getting back."
Of course. Bringing all her attention to bare, she forced the tremble to subside. It would fully clear in the next hour. Any minor twitches until then could be dismissed. I will... join him shortly.
"Why not now?" She countered. Being told to leave meant that something was being hidden.
Cerulean eyes stared back at her evenly. Very well. Both hands were perfectly steady as she stepped from the room. With the room empty, Musume looked for any signs of disturbance. There were none to be found.
Following the boiler suit down the stairs, she watched as it clasped both hands behind the back and began instructing Leo in knee control, foot posture and a dozen minor areas needed to throw a better punch. Relocating to the armchair which faced the penthouse pool, she kept an eye on the inscrutable figure.
In the reflection of the glass door, a glove continued to shake.
With a severe headache from studying advanced physics, Musume tried to relax via mindless flicking through television channels. Her fingers tapped as she searched for something to capture her attention. A weather forecast briefly attracted her attention before she could skip past.
"With reports of a warm front coming in from the mountains, we're predicting heavy storms to the west of New Domino, with sporadic rains throughout the rest of the city overnight. Tomorrow should" She flicked away as her attention wandered again.
Appearing in a blur behind the sofa, Phantom leaned over the back as she strained towards the television. Was that forecast for tonight?
"It's going to rain in the mountains." Having a sword held to her throat didn't appear to be bothering Phantom. At least Leo looked suitably impressed by the speed she had drawn it. "Looks like a storm's coming."
We need to go. Eyes swirling with intensity, she seemed fixated on the idea. We need to go, we need to go!
"Shut up." Sliding her jacket on, she couldn't imagine the world getting any more screwed up that day. "Leo, I'm taking Phantom for a walk before she breaks the building."
E-hehehe. Cackling as she bounced on the balls of her feet, Phantom seemed to have absorbed some of Leo's endless enthusiasm.
"Do I have to bring the sword or are you going to calm down?" She said, buckling the sword to her belt.
Leo, keep your form under control. Standing at the doorway to the apartment, she could barely wait for Musume to fasten her boots. And do not wait up. We may be a while.
"Where do you need to go so urgently?" Shrugging on her torn jacket, Musume was curious what could be so important.
For a ride. At least the method of travel was ideal.
Through the city. Up into the mountain pass. Over the pass. Down into the next valley, already cloaked in nocturnal shadow. Down a narrow dirt path which bordered dozens of fields which fed the city over the hill. Stopping near a thickly leafed oak tree. Then they had simply disembarked and waited for a while.
"Okay, I give up." Thunder rumbled high above as Phantom stepped off to stand beside the drainage channel which ran alongside the road. "What's the big surprise?" Night was falling and clouds gathered overhead. She wasn't into the mood to hang around.
Wait a moment. Raising her face to the sky, she was smiling beneath the mask. The air is nearly cold enough.
"For?" Then the first drop hit. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me!" Within seconds, the world was filled with the steady beat of falling rain as the temperature dropped far enough to make her chilly companion practically warm.
"Did you bring me out here to get rained on?!" She had been wrong. The day could and had got worse. Her anger at Yusei had distracted her from focusing on hate she could have for other people.
Take a deep breath. Do you smell anything? Taking a cautious sniff, Musume smelled...
"I smell dirt." She said flatly. "Wet. Dirt." Alongside the damp wind and stench of her own hair, there was the outstandingly plain smell of sodden ground. Almost unbidden, her wings erupted outwards again. If there hadn't already been a hole in her jacket, she would have been even more furious.
There is a word for that scent. Reaching out into the air, she could almost smell the lingering perfume as water pooled in her palm. Petrichor. Some say it is the most wonderful smell in the world. And one of the most calming. Opening her fingers, she let the rain spill out again and stir up a fresh wave of dust.
"This is the sort of thing you like to do?" Curling her tail around her legs, she tried to shelter as much of herself beneath her wings as she could. "Stand in the rain and pretend it takes away all your worries?"
… I like to stand in the rain and listen to it fall. Touch was gone for her. She could hear the rivulets and streams across the armour yet not feel them. Rain muffles all noise. Screaming, crying, shouting. Cars, dogs, planes. Rain makes it all bearable. Everything simply faded away. Even now, with whatever she had become, it turned the universe into gentle static.
"You stand. In the rain." Another gust of wind blew rain through the tiny gap she had left in front of her face. "For fun." Yep. There it was. Peak human rage. She couldn't get any angrier without wings erupting.
For moments of peace. There was never going to be an easy solution to her troubles. But she could pretend they didn't matter in stolen moments. When I can imagine all will be well.
Now that Musume thought about it, an aneurysm may be impossible if she was being constantly healed. Whatever the reason, her rage definitely jumped a notch.
She told herself it wasn't being dragged out to a field that hadn't done it. She pretended that her hand wasn't moving because of being tricked into standing in the rain. A final fragment of humility admitted that the blasé nature of denial was part of the reason she drew the short blade.
Drawing back her fist, she was completely over her previous reasons for hating Phantom. The new reasons were enough. She was dangerous, an unknown, had already hurt people and was getting far too comfortable with the Signers. And yet...
It would be like stabbing Leo in the back. He had about the same amount of situational awareness as Phantom was showing at that moment. She was utterly entranced by the storm. Back literally unguarded. Standing over a ditch. One stab would finish the job. Couldn't even blend into the darkness with that outfit. It was probably the best chance she was going to get. Do it! Just do it!
"Come on." Sheathing the sword, she was done with the day. Tomorrow would be better. "Let's go." There would be other opportunities. Ones were she wouldn't have to ask herself if attacking Phantom had been for little more than the emotional outlet.
One more minute. Speaking soft as the rainfall about them, she knew this chance might never come again. Please.
"Fine." Musume moved to stand under the tree and out of the rain while rain poured down the helmet. It almost looked like she was crying in rivers of phantom tears.
The only action worse than stabbing someone in the back is not leaving a review. Or is it the other way around? Best leave one either way.