Chapter Nineteen
19
The Importance of a Bond...
A/N: This chapter has ENTIRELY NEW INTERACTIONS AND SCENES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE STORY'S PROGRESSION
It is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT than the one in the Original (Before this re-boot)
Please read carefully and enjoy~
-Akarii
" !? Oh dear..." The tall male spirit knelt down next to Connar, tapping his palm to her cheek as she seemed to have passed out.
"A Ghost...it's a ghost." she mumbled softly in her dizzy spell, "Ghosts appeared from the well...the magic well..."
"A Ghost!?" Kaibaman huffed stubbornly, How dare you? I find that offensive."
Chazz was ducked into the plants having a panic attack of his own.
What's going on!?
it doesn't make sense...
None of this makes sense!
He had a camera in hopes of catching his classmates breaking rules-
But Duel spirits and magic wells was way more than he bargained for!
He didn't know wheather to play hero- and rescue the girl who was lost in shock- or get out of the situation all together due to being in his own state of shock.
Meanwhile Dark Magician Girl and Jaden lingered back giggling at the other spirit's protest.
"Well in her defense, you did just kind of pop out of a well." stated Jaden.
"Not to mention visiting her dreams Disguised as-
the Magician, who worked in cahoots with Jaden on the teasing factor- was immediately hushed by a fierce glow of blue eyes on the male spirit's blue eyes white helm.
"Come to think of it..." Connar sighed as she sat up shaking her head. There was no logical explanation as to the the situation at hand so there was really no point even trying to make sense of it. All she could do now was give in, but she did wonder something-
" If That was you in the dream..." she said to him calmly,"...Why did you look like some blue haired boy..."
There was something about THAT particular form that affected her in strange ways...it scared her, yet made her feel safe. It felt familiar...yet she had no idea who that boy was...
"Blue haired boy?" Jaden blinked with just as much confusion in his eyes as Connar's curiosity.
"Do you not remember, ?" Kaibaman asked as he knelt before her, "It was because of him...we met for the first time."
"Uh...because of...him?" Connar blinked and pondered in her confusion, "Huh!?" The girl blinked as suddenly their surroundings changed...
"Woah, what's going on!?" Jaden asked. As they glanced around they seemed to be in an apartment building...or a house. It was early morning, and on the floor before them, there were a couple of paper duel mats set up, and two young duelists playing on them. A Young Connar who looked to be none too far from a toddler. Maybe around 4 years of age...with a boy. She had no idea who he was...but the similarities in their faces were uncanny. He looked to be around 6 or 7...blue hair...and magenta colored irises...but he and Connar? They definitely had the same face.
Who...who is this?
The girl wondered as she watched the scene play out... Whoever this boy was...he seemed to be teaching her how to play the Duel Monsters Card Game.
"It's your move, Connie." the young boy smiled, "What will you do?"
"I don't think there's anything I can do..." The small girl pouted "You are so strong...I'm definitely going to lose in my next turn."
"Don't say that Connar." the boy chuckled, "A Duel isn't over until the last card is played."
"But there are no more moves I can make." She said softly.
"Well then if you're going to pass, it's my turn! HA!" The boy grinned as he slapped down another warrior monster-
"Kaibaman? Why did you play that card?" she asked curiously.
"A good point." said the boy "Kaibaman is a pretty cool card on its own, but if you don't have the right cards to utilize him, he won't be much help to you at all." he sighed, "No way could I ever use Mr. Kaiba's Blue Eyes White Dragon!" he giggled. But this only left the girl with more questions.
"Then, why did you play him?" she asked.
"I played him, because Kaibaman is a hero!" he said," He's a super hero! Win or lose, I know Kaibaman will always protect us!"
"Really?" Connar blinked. She was astonished at thisboy's point of view of the game and the belief of the cards he used, win or lose.
"I surrender, Connie." the boy chuckled.
"No way! he surrendered!?" Jaden was just as shocked to watch this as the young Connar in this flashback was.
Connar didn't really know how else to respond other than shrug.
"Honestly I...I don't even remember this-"
"Don't you, ?" asked Kaibaman, "This is your memory after all..."
"But why!? " The young girl blinked, "You're winning! Why are you quitting all of a sudden!?"
"Because...I want to talk to you a little bit about special cards like my Kaibaman." he stated, but this only left the small child more confused. At this expression the young boy chuckled softly and changed his position holding out the card he had on the field as he spoke, "You see Connie, when a Duelist bonds with a card as strongly as I have bonded with my Kaibaman-even without the Blue Eyes White Dragons that he was made to support- then that card becomes significant." he said softly,"It suddenly posseses a strength like never before."
He smiles as he stands up and shuffles through a toy chest. And Connar's eyes widened at just what the boy pulled out from it, and handed to the small girl.
"I hope someday, you will see this the same way I do." he smiled.
The small child's bright blue eyes widened as he handed her none other than that old Kaibaman Figurine. The very same one that Connar now had in a box stashed away in her dorm room.
The very same one that came with her when she arrived at the orphanege...back in its prime.
"But...isn't this your Kaibaman Doll?" the smaller Connar child asked of the boy, "He's your very favorite toy-"
"Yeah...he is." The boy smiled, "And that's exactly why I want you to have him."
The small child was stunned in silence. A small smile on her lips as she looked up at this boy like the stars that shined in the sky- But the image was soon ruined, by the sounds of slamming and screaming. The boy responded quickly, standing to his feet and stomping towards the door, and slamming it shut. This...was how that flash back faded away...
And they were all transported back into reality...with a pinkette curled into a fetal position, trembling, and two spirits holding heavy gazes downward as they hovered over her.
"Connie!?" Jaden panicked a bit, kneeling down beside her, with concern in his eyes, "Connie? Are...you okay? Who was that kid?" he asked, "Do you know?"
The girl sat silently for the moment, her face in her hands as she slowly shook her head.
"I-I'm sorry- I don't-" she said softly speaking in a cracking voice, "I-Wish I did-but I-"
"Hey- it's okay Connie." Jaden said softly, "You don't have to talk about it right now...Okay?" he whispered, warm hand squeezing her shoulder while he used his other to gently pull her into him, and just hold her. Even he couldn't figure out why he was crying with her...
"She is still repressing this part of her, Kaibaman..." Dark Magician Girl said softly, "What should we do?"
"I know it is hard, Ms. Connar." Said the male spirit, "I know you are afraid...but some day...you will have to face this part of yourself-"
"Well- She's not facing anything else tonight!" Jaden hissed, flashing a glare at the warrior and spell caster spirits. Though that look softened and he sighed, "I think...she's gone through enough today..." He stood, lifting the girl in his arms in a princess carry. He was going to walk her back to the dorm, buta trembling hand gripping his collar stopped him from moving any further while she looked up towards Kaibaman.
"But..." She blinked and locked eyes once again with the spirit who showed her this past,"...How do you have this memory?"
"I've been with you for a long time, ..." he said softly, "I have all of these memories, and if you will allow me, , we can work to recover them together."
Connar shifted her gaze, lost in her thoughts.
"You should do it, Connie." Said Jaden as he hooked his hand over her small shoulder, "It's pretty clear to me that this spirit belongs with you."
Connar thought for a while more, shifting her gaze between her encouraging friend, and the hero she idolized as a child...
But...was it really HER ajulation for this Superhero?
Who was the boy with her in that locked away memory...the one who seemed to share the very same love of him as she did...?
"Well...I guess when I think about it...My life would have never been the same, without Kaibaman in it." The young girl caved into a gentle smile.
Whoever that boy was...he seemed to be someone important to me...
He WANTED me to have that love for Kaibaman...
He gave me that old toy a long time ago as proof of that...
Perhaps it's that love then that brought his spirit to me too...
She blinked.
"Well then if that's the case, then my job is done~" The Magician girl teetered in delight with a wave of her staff and faded into light,"The journey from here, I leave to you~" With a farewell wink, Dark Magician Girl was gone, at least until the next time she wanted to come out and play.
And so, there were three.
A Slifer boy, A Slifer Girl, and a Duel Spirit who wanted nothing more than to have back what was lost.
"So ..." he knelt before the girl respectfully holding out his hand, "Shall we move forward together?" he hummed, "Will you let me help you get back what you lost?"
"Sounds good to me...Partner." The two exchanged a smile, and he stood to rise, swinging his hand forward to clasp with hers before fading into a light that surrounded her, and shrunk into her deck. Amongst the stacked cards was a glow, so she fanned them out and pulled her favorite warrior.
"Welcome back...Kaibaman." She grinned, finally feeling fulfilled.
My father was the one who slipped this card into my deck...
I thought that maybe...it was just my him being a dork...
You know, trying to be a "dad"...
But I guess...there's a deeper tie to Kaibaman than even that...hidden away somewhere...
In my distant memories...
"That's a pretty sweet partner you got there, Connie." Jaden grinned as he gave his friend a congratulatory pat on the back,"Now we better head back quick..." he stated getting ready to run before he was stopped by a dainty hand that gripped his jacket sleeve.
"Not yet, Jaden..." Connar said softly as she slid her card back into her deck and shuffled,"Our last duel was inconclusive." she stated and quickly shoved her deck back into its holster, "If you give me the chance...I'd like to duel you, one more time."
Jaden stared at her for a while, before curving his lips into a knowing smile.
"Yeah...I thought you might." he said, as he dropped down the knapsack he had been carrying since they left. Connar wasn't sure what it was for or why he brought it. She thought perhaps it had snacks in it or something. After all they were sneaking out and who knew how long they'd be out for? But she could tell by the thud it made on the ground that it weighed much more than a couple bags of potato chips. Jaden tugged at an item within and suddenly tossed a duel disk to Connar's chest, while he clasped one on his own arm.
"Connie..." Jaden grinned, "Get your game on!"
To Be Continued