Chapter 44. Position Filled/Surprise Gift

After I was done, there was only a deafening silence left. Jagger was reduced to his knees, staring off into the distance, almost seemingly broken after this humiliation on his own channel. I began making my way towards him, the sounds of my footfalls being the only noise echoing through the room. I stopped once I stood in front of Jagger, his gaze slowly turning up to meet mine.

I silently took out my PDA, replaying some of his own voice while Chazz was Dueling against Jayden. “Chazz isn’t using our cards!” “He’s doing well regardless, however if he fails then we’ll just have to take care of things on our own.” “Just act nicely if he wins. Remember, we’ll have to make him happy for a while before we can take over Dueling ourselves without him.” I had some of my spirits increase the volume using their own powers, allowing everyone in the audience to hear everything. I tilted my head once I saw the terror in his eyes, my eyes and mouth took the shape of crescent moons as I smiled at this man being reduced to his knees in front of me. Both of us knowing that after I released this to everyone, especially his competitors, it would ruin their brand he spent his life's work building. Jagger's eyes shook as he stared at this young teen in front of him. He could see the face of a smiling devil, toying with its prey.

I kneeled down, placing my arm on my one knee that I had raised to lean closer to Jagger’s sweating expression. “I’ll get that list for you… Make one of the cards out to Chazz… A real Duelist that can actually use it… Oh, and I regret to inform you... That you never had a chance to rule the world... The position is already filled...” After I spoke in a floaty attitude, my final words emanating from Zorc, Jagger lowered his gaze without a word. I gave a silent nod with a fake gentle smile he always wore, and patted his shoulder before silently walking off the stage. I gave a wave to the second brother, when I did, he suddenly awoke from his stupor, rushing to Jagger’s side. When I got off the stage, and walked inside the tunnel for contestants, I saw Jayden and Syrus waiting for me.

Syrus almost hid behind Jayden, I could tell he was wary of me, but Jayden seemed to be none the wiser. “That was the strongest monster I ever saw! That was sweet!” He yelled while patting my shoulder in congratulations. I rolled my eyes from how touchy he could be, but let him continue. “Yea, it’s about the strongest beat stick I can make, even if it would last for just one turn before destroying itself.”

I looked down at Syrus, his worried frown still showing. “Anyway, think of what free card you might want for those fuckers to foot the bill for you.” I said, nodding my head towards the two Princeton morons. “One of those cards is for me?” Syrus asked with surprise, tilting his head in surprise at me. Jayden patted Syrus’ back, chuckling with his large grin. “Knew it!!” I shrugged without giving a response beyond that. I had originally planned on having Blair, Alexis, Jayden, and Syrus get cards along with me. But I decided to give Chazz a card to get him something for basically rubbing his brother’s through the dirt. ‘Hope he doesn't hold a grudge over that. But that leaves me with no cards for myself. Damn my short sightedness.’

Just as I was done thinking, I heard a pair of loud footsteps coming down the hallway. I instinctively knew the sound of those heels anywhere, and I could guess who the other pair were. I threw Jayden’s arm off of me, and started to hurriedly walk away. “Rakki!! Don’t you dare try and run!!” I froze only a few steps from Jayden, slowly turning my head around to see Alexis, and Blair walking up to me.

I sighed as they quickly came over and started hitting me. Alexis was definitely rougher, making my arm sting after she was done. Blair was much softer, clearly not wanting to really hurt me, but showcasing her stance on what I just did. “You stupid gamblers! I will never understand what goes through your heads!” Alexis yelled while giving my arm one last smack. Blair was silent, just her trembling lips, and large glistening eyes staring at me. ‘Dammit… Stop looking at me like that.’

Alexis kept going after crossing her arms, and letting out a huff. “I knew you would win, but I still don’t like the stakes you play at.” Blair just nodded at me while gripping onto my jacket, her knuckles shivering from the strength she was grabbing onto me. “You don’t have to be so mad Lex! Rakki wanted to get both of you guys cards too!” Jayden yelled while patting my back, causing me to cough from the strength he put in his arm. I gave him a scowl, pushing him away from me while he chuckled.

“What?” Alexis asked, her tone filled with much less aggression. She stared at me, asking to hear more of what Jayden was talking about. Blair was the same, tugging at my jacket to get me to talk faster. I sighed while scratching my head, thinking of how to phrase things the best. “I… Just tell me what you want, so I can get it for you.” I shook my head, glaring at Jayden’s stifled laughter. “But wait…” Blair spoke with an eyebrow raised in confusion. “You said 5 cards. If that’s all of us, and Chazz… You aren’t getting a card?”

Jayden snapped his head over to Rakki, just realizing the math. He saw Rakki’s scowl, and how his eyes darted away from everyone. “Don’t tell me…” Alexis mumbled, Jayden saw her shake her head with a light smile on her face, placing her hand on her temple. Syrus then whispered in Jayden’s ear, making sure to avoid Rakki’s anger. “Did he only think to get cards for all of us, and forgot about himself?” Jayden glanced between Syrus and Rakki in disbelief. However the way that Rakki remained silent, and almost seemed embarrassed only proved Syrus’ guess to be accurate.

Jayden couldn’t help but laugh at how strange his friend could be sometimes. Rakki seemed to be pessimistic, but always saw the best in people close to him. It was a strange contrast, but one that Jayden found endearing. Jayden after laughing for a bit, let out a sigh, and took out a card from his jacket that had been rotting away in his box of random cards. Rakki’s reddened, anger filled face only made Jayden smile as he presented his card to his scowling friend. “Here… I got this card a while back, and I totally don’t use it anyway. You use some dragon’s right?”

I looked at the card Jayden was showcasing to me, confusion filled my mind. “I do…” I said without thinking as I stared at the monolithic card Jayden was tossing around with little concern. The same card that I just destroyed less than 5 minutes ago. However while staring at this new 5 Headed God Dragon, I felt the power emanating from the spirit connected to it. Jayden smirked while taking my hand, and placing the card in for me. “Then just think of this as payback for the help you’ve given us!”

I looked between Jayden, the card he gave me, and everyone else as they all smiled at me. I felt all of the girls inside my deck flutter in glee while watching everyone smirk and smile at me. My frown deepened while adding this new 5 Headed Dragon inside my deck, wondering if I even had 5 Dragon’s to summon him with. “Not sure if I can use it, but... Thanks or whatever…” I mumbled while messing with Blair’s hat subconsciously.

The principal soon came rushing towards us, out of breath from the running he just did. “Young man! I must ask that you refrain from pulling those stunts! My heart won’t take the stress!” I chuckled a bit while Jayden patted his shoulders to help ease his burden. “Don’t worry about it sir! Everything turned out great!” I shrugged from how this all ended myself, before my PDA chimed. I glanced at it, realizing that Jayden placed some bets under my name that had now paid dividends.

Rakki Ichido, DP 70,180

I blinked a few times, making sure that my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me. I gained a smirk seeing how I could buy a few good cards with this amount. I then yawned, realizing my own fatigue. I spoke while stretching my body, Blair still attached at my hip. “I’ll be sure to lay low for a while so you can rest easy sir… Everyone, send me a message when you figure out what card you want.”

I started to walk off, but paused when I realized everyone minus the principal was following me this time. I looked at them for a bit, confused, but what Alexis had to say next fit the puzzle pieces together. “I have to make sure your definition of ‘laying low’ is actually what it sounds like.” I scoffed at her as she punched my shoulder. “I’m going up to the roof to nap.” Alexis sighed while placing her hand on her temple again. Jayden chuckled while leading the way with Syrus. “I’ve got nothing else to do, so I’ll join ya!”

I glanced down at Blair, she frowned at Jayden a bit, from what I could assume was some of her personal time with me vanishing. I frowned, seeing her unhappy wasn’t right in my mind. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder tugging at her closer to me. Startled, she looked up at me. I rubbed her shoulder a bit, pulling her along with me silently, while making sure to keep her close. Before I knew it, she regained her normal smile, happily joining me to the roof. Both of us, unknowing of the piercing gaze from behind us.

Alexis stared at Blair, and Rakki. She knew that Blair was the closest to Rakki, and pretty shy around anyone else, doubly so if Rakki wasn’t around. He was a lot like Syrus and Jayden, but there was a strange feeling about Blair. Alexis saw how much Blair liked to cling onto Rakki earlier. However she noticed something during Chazz’s match, after she and Blair shared a look. Blair was secretly wrapping his arm around Rakki’s, but the surprising part was how Rakki didn’t seem to mind. Something was definitely strange, and Alexis had a sinking feeling she knew what.