Chapter Forty

40

Duelists, Represent!

Who Will It Be?

Bastion? Or Jaden?

The Duel with North Academy was quickly approaching. And the conversation for it was ever heated.

"Are you out of your mind!?" screetched as the other teachers on the council cowered in their seats,"The School Duel between North Academy and Duel Academy is the biggest match of the year!" he huffed,"We can take no chances, so it's clear that Zane must be our rep!"

Zane blinked as he darted back and forth between Crowler and the Chancellor in their heated conversation.

"Zane is our best student..." Chancellor Sheppard said softly with a heavy sigh,"But he is also a third year student" he explained,"North Academy has decided to use a first year."

"What?" Crowler blinked,"But why would they do that?"

"Who knows?" Sheppard shrugged,"But in the spirit of competition I feel like we should use a first year student as well." he blinked glancing over to the Obelisk male,"You understand, right Zane?"

"Of course, Chancellor."

"Very well then." the chancellor chuckled,"Now the question is who will this first year be?"

"Jaden Yuki." Zane stated without any hesitation, bringing the element of surprise to the council.

"I agree." said Professor Banner,"Jaden is our best new student!"

"Chancellor..." Zane called out,"Jaden will make Duel Academy proud, trust me."

"Well then, that's that." grinned the Chancellor,"Unless someone has a better idea?"

"Wait!" cried out,"How about Bastion Misawa?" he blinked,"He should represent us!"

"From Ra yellow?" Sheppard blinked.

"Of course!" said Crowler,"He's far more qualified! And he tested higher than any other first year, I think that's only fair."

"I see." said Chancellor Sheppard,"Then that settles it. We'll have a duel off!"

XXXXX

"Wait, are you serious!?" Connar gasped as the news was sprung on them in class. She had been doing a lot better since the whole misadventure with Jaden and the deep conversation shared with her old babysitter. She started to become more animated, and interacted with her friends once again.

"Bastion versus Jaden?" she blinked and looked back at the Ra yellow student who sat above them one row up.

"For real?" Jaden blinked.

"That's right." said Professor Banner,"You will duel Bastion and the winner will represent us in the school duel against North Academy."

The two male students blinked and exchanged glances with eachother.

"Man that's intense." said Connar. "I won't know who to root for!"

She had recently started becoming better friends with Bastion Misawa as well. As they shared a similar intelect level. Bastion's was higher of course, but it was still high enough for Connar to understand and hold an intelligent conversation with so often times they studied together on breaks in the reference room.

"Uh, Jaden of course!" Syrus huffed giving the girl a playful knock on the noggin,"Stay loyal to your dorm, Slifer!" he teased.

The two male students didn't seem to care. In fact, both seemed more than excited to take the other on.

"I look forward to an exciting match!" Professor Banner grinned.

xxxxx

"Wow, that's aweome, Jaden!" Connar giggled as she threw her arms around the brunette. They exchanged a look and blushed thinking back to the incident in Zane's dorm room and she quickly removed herself blushing harder as Jaden chuckled with a little pink tone on his cheeks as well.

"Yeah, Jaden! You might actually be in the school duel!" Syrus beamed.

"No Slifer has ever been there..." said Chumley,"You'll make Duel Academy History!"

As Bastion approached the pow wow of friends from above Jaden gave a smile and turned to acknowledge.

"Well Bastion, I guess may the best duelist win." he grinned.

"Best deck, Jaden." the ra yellow chuckled,"And I assure you, that deck will be mine."

They ended the conversation with a sporting fist bump before Bastion returned to his dorm to continue working on the formulas he had been preparing for Jaden since his last duel with Chazz.
"I can't believe Bastion has designed a whole deck...just to duel you with." said Syrus.

"I don't know if you should be really honored...or really scared." Chumley chuckled.

"Guess I'll find out when we throw down!" Jaden grinned.

xxxxx

The usual clique kept together in the halls, chit chatting about this and that. Up ahead Connar noticed some unusual behavior. A Taller male with dark hair was being pushed around by passing students. Not hard to believe since he was wearing a red blazer. But something seemed off about him...

I wonder who that is...?

Connar thought to himself.

He looks older than the other students...yet...oddly familiar...

Something about him made her feel uneasy...

"Hey, I dont remember seeing that guy around here before." said Syrus,"He must be new."

"Hmmm." Jaden let out a curious hum before approaching the man before them.

"Hey, what's up?" he asked the fellow who was startled that someone finally said three words to him, and he let out an awkward chuckle.

"Hmm...you know...you're old!" said Jaden,"Really old! How can you be in Slifer?"

"Jaden!" Connar gasped,"That was rude!"

"Hey, it's cool~!" he laughed,"So it took you a while to get accepted here! Don't be ashamed!" He grinned and started dragging him off by the arm,"Let me show you around old timer!"

"Come on, Jay, wait up!" Syrus huffed and Chumley let out another groan as he was being forced to run once again.

Meanwhile Connar was left alone in the dust with her suspicions.

Something doesn't feel right about that guy...

I better stay close.

She huffed an unsteady breath and followed after them.

They wound up back in the Slifer Dorm mess Hall. It was dinner time so everyone was gathered at the tiny table. Meanwhile the tag-a-long seemed impressed by how much Jaden could eat.

"If you don't hurry up you won't be able to get seconds!" he beamed.

"Uh...seconds...?" The man seemed disturbed at his sad meal of dried sardines on white rice.

"Yeah...they were gonna install a garbage disposal, but Jaden solved that poblem." Syrus chuckled.

"You know I am convinced that the only person who really likes the food in Slifer is Jaden." Connar muttered as she elegantly handled her chopsticks.

"Would you rather have Zane's Chicken Nuggets~?" Syrus teased and suddenly she gulped and started to eat faster. As she was grouping her rice between the sticks she could feel an unfamiliar pair of eyes on her, and she unconsciously looked up and saw that the mystery man seemed to be burning holes into her face.

"Uhm...may I help you?" she asked awkwardly.

"U-Uh sorry...it's just-"

"Just what?" she huffed.

"Uh-oh I hope you're not falling in love with my Connie~!" Syrus stated.

"Your Connie!? Haha." Jaden laughed,"Since when!?"

"Hmph, as you can see, apparently she's Jaden's" Syrus chuckled.

"What!? I'm not Jaden's!" she huffed.

"Well, you kissed him!" Syrus huffed back as he slammed his hands on the table.

"It was a fake out make out!" she stated,"We didn't even use tongue!"

"Gross..." Chumley muttered, "Trying to eat here..."

"She's right Sy." said Jaden,"It was really just a peck on the lips. nothing serious."

"Lip contact still counts!" Syrus claimed.

"If you say so..." said Jaden."But last I checked, Connar doesn't belong to anyone. So if she wants to date the new guy, let her."

"I don't even know the new guy!" she huffed,"AND NO THANK YOU!"

"Wha? Love...?" The man blinked and quickly shook his head,"No no it's nothing like that." he said,"It's just...I feel like I've seen you before." he said.

"O-Oh...really?" She blinked,"Uh...must be coincidence." She said averting her gaze back to her bowl.

"No, I'm certain of it- hey! Isn't your father-"

Her eyes widened and she began to panic. In need of a distraction fast, she thought quickly and slammed her knee under the table hard enough to cause the dishes to clatter and let out a cry and pain.

"Hey, my food!" said Chumley as both he and Syrus's dishes landed clumsily in the guy's lap.

"Woah! Connar!" Jaden called out as he shifted in the seat next to her,"You good?"

"Yeah I...just forgot how low our tables were for sec, hahaha~" she shot a quick icy glance at the man before pulling up her knee and wincing in pain.

So...she's covering...

The man blinked as he thought to himself and let out a smirk.

Interesting...this might make for a good story as well...!

xxxxx

After collecting an ice pack for her knee the four friends and the stranger all found themselves gathered in Jaden's room as he sorted through his deck in preparation for the big day.

"Woah, your deck is looking good, Jay!" said Syrus,"But I wonder what kind of deck Bastion will have..."

"Don't know." said Chumley,"But it sounds like he put some major time into it."

"Nervous?" Syrus questioned, but Jaden greeted him with a grin.

"No way!" said Jaden,"I'm excited! HaHa." He smiled as he finally put his deck together,"There, all good." he said,"Speaking of which, Connar, are you all good?"

"Yeah, no sweat." she chuckled as she held the ice pack on her knee.

"Jeez, twisting your ankle...slamming your knee...you sure are clumsy, aren't you Connie?" said Syrus, to which Connar gave an awkward laugh.

Man this is irritating!

The stranger thought to himself as he sat up.

How can I get her alone for questioning...if I can never get her alone to question!?

He huffed.

I guess I better stick to plan A for now...

"So you're excited?" Syrus blinked.

"You bet I am!" said Jaden,"For a sweet challenge! My cards are up for it~"

"You never worry." Syrus laughed with Chumley's agreement.

And I'll never get that story either if I keep hanging out with these twerps...

The older male sighed when he noticed a card on the ground.

"You good, old timer?" Jaden asked.

"Will you stop it with that!?" the man huffed,"My name is Gerard!"

Oh no!

he gulped.

I told them my real name!

Gerard!?

Connar gasped as she repeated his name in her head.

He couldn't be that Gerard, could he!?

With the press!? Is he here to research me!? Should I call my father!? What should I do!?

A million questions raced through her head, but thank goodness Jaden made for a good distraction for the guy, if he really was the slander reporter she was thinking of.

"Then Gerard it is!" Jaden beamed,"Say...that's Sky Sraper!" he said,"You like that card too!?"

"As if." Gerard huffed,"You'd have to like dueling first."

"But..." Syrus blinked,"If you don't like dueling...what are you doing here?"

"That's a good question." said Connar as she crossed her arms and held the man down in an icy stare off,"Kind of odd for someone who doesn't like dueling to be hanging around Duel Academy."

Gerard gulped as he met her icy gaze.

Crap...she's trying to psyche me out...!

She could be on to me...Definitely HIS kid...

"Wh-What I mean is..." He quickly tried to think of a way to get him back in the clear,"I say I don't like it, because...I'm not good at it!"

"Same here." said Chumley," I can relate... I mean it's not that I don't like dueling...I'm just not very good at it...but that's changing!"

"It sure is!" said Jaden.

"Yeah, once I started hanging out with these guys, I saw how they dueled, and it changed my life." he chuckled as he gestured to his room mates.

"Aww, Chumley..." Connar smiled,"That's amazing! I'm so glad...I didn't know you felt that way about them."

"And Connar too." said Syrus," I mean she doesn't duel too much these days, since she's kinda shy...but from what I did see when she dueled in our past time together, she's pretty good!" he smiled,"And I feel like as she hangs out more with Jaden, she's becoming more bold too. Just like me."

Connar blushed as her old friend gave her praise and she averted her gaze shyly.

"Hey, that's it!" said Syrus,"Gerard, maybe if you watch Jaden duel, you'll start to like dueling again!" he smiled,"Just like Chumley! You know...the perfect match is coming up..." he stated,"His duel against Bastion!"

"Uh...sure." Gerard blinked,"We'll see." He gave a soft huff and turned his head to the side and Connar watched him closely.

You know...seeing how these kids like to pry...

Gerard thought to himself.

Maybe they can help me with my story.

I might not be able to get the Corporate Heiress...but they could still prove useful to me...

"Say...I was just wondering..." he stated,"Do you know anything about the rumor of kids going missing?"

Connar blinked.

The missing kids...?

Is that what he's here for...?

She narrowed her eyes and gripped her arms as images of the abandoned dorm situation replayed in her mind. She thought back to the blue haired kid she followed into the shadows.

I wonder...

Could that kid also have been one of the missing...?

"You mean the Abandoned Dorm?" Jaden blinked.

"Abandoned Dorm...?"

This seemed to catch Gerard's attention.

"Yeah...we kinda wandered inside it once..." Jaden said as he shifted his gaze over to Connar who averted hers to the floor with a nervous twitch.

"A very strannge place." he said.

"You shouldn't go to the Abandoned Dorm!" said Connar which brought Gerard's attention back to the pink haired girl,"That's all I will say about that."

Of course...Gerard never intended to heed her warning...

XXXXX

Alexis stood a distance away from the looming building. Probably leaving another rose for her brother's peace.

"I hope you're at peace, Brother." she said softly,"Wherever you are."

The sound of rustling from behind caught her attention and Gerard approached the Obelisk girl with a smug curiosity.

"Why...hello there." He said with a sly smile.

"Uhm...Hi?" Alexis blinked,"Do I know you?"

"Uh...yeah...I've seen you around." he said,"So listen, I heard some students have gone missing here...?" he questioned as he gazed upon the run down building,"You wouldn't happen to know anything about any of them, would you?"

"What's it to you!?" she snapped, not at all amused by his poking around.

"I'm just curious is all."

"Well you can stay curious!" she huffed, which took Gerard by surprise.

And here I thought she looked like a rather nice girl...

"Those missing students are not for you amusement! You got that!?" she stated,"You ought to just mind your own business!" with that she stormed off leaving him behind with puzzlement.

"Well...I don't know what her problem is..." he said softly,"But I am not giving up! I'm gonna get this story!" he smirked and pulled out a camera from his jacket and began snapping photos.

"What are you doing!?" a familiar female voice startled him from behind and her turned to face Connar the Slifer Girl.

"Oh, it's you." he said,"How's your knee?" he smirked.

"Better." she huffed,"Now what are you doing!?"

"I suppose there's no use hiding from you." he smirked and turned to face her,"I take it you're on to me."

"Since a grown man has entered school campus wearing the lowest level uniform?" she blinked,"Yeah, I'd say I suspected you from the start."

"And what of you, Corporate Heiress?"

Connar twitched and narrowed her blue eyes as he smirked.

"I knew I recognized you. Daughter of the world famous Corporate head...Kaiba Corporation." he said," So tell me what's Daddy's little girl doing at shcool in a red uniform? Surely that is no way to make the great Seto Kaiba proud."

"What do you want!?" she snapped.

"First...I want to know...do your little friends know about who you are? Connar Rose K.? Or should I say... Connar Rose Kaiba ?"

She twitched and lowered her head.

"No...they don't." she said softly,"And they don't need to know anything!"

"My my...so little trust between friends these days!" he taunted,"How do you suppose they'd feel if they learned their dear frriend Connar Rose has been lying to them all along, I wonder?"

"I suppose you could tell them." she said,"I certainly couldn't stop you...but then...you would be putting yourself at risk, too...would you not, Gerard?"

He twitched.

She was right.

Sabotaging her would also risk blowing his cover...

"True...and I suppose you could call Daddy Dearest and let him know I have arrived." he stated,"But then...that would also be placing a risk on you now wouldn't it?'

"I suppose we are at a stand off then..." she said,"Still...what is it that you want here?"

"What does any journalist want?" he asked," I'm here for a story!"

"The abandoned dorm and the missing students is no story worth chasing." she warned,"I can't stop you from doing as you please..." she sighed,"But you should really think twice before pursuing this story, or mine, any further than this." she blinked,"You've been warned."

"Sure..." he rolled his eyes,"I'll keep that in mind..."

Without another word she left quickly.

Staying any longer would have risked a repeat of the previous situation before. Even as she left the building behind, the beckoning siren call of the beings within echoed like a thousand voices she would never truly escape.

To Be Continued