Clear Skies

Chapter 21: Honesty

The duel disk on my arm strained against the taut wire connecting me to my opponent. The tension in the cuffs and the bulges beneath the man's royal blue jacket said he was ripped. He stood at least three heads taller than me.

I further spread my stance and pinned him with a glare. The signature yellow bandana identifying members of the rival gang covered his hair. The gang member tugged his bandana lower as he observed his hand of cards.

A stray cat watched our duel from behind him. Its green eyes were stark between its all-black fur. We were at the end of an alley opening to my left. Sunlight shone through the Satellite smog above, illuminating the endless concrete sea we stood upon.

Shouts in the distance caught my attention: Jack, Yusei, Crow, and Kalin calling their attacks. I heard an explosion. One of them had won already. Here I was. Waiting. "Hurry up."

"Look, can't you give up or something?" He pointed to his duel disk. The custom model was painted matte forest green. "This disk is special. I can't lose it! I swear if you fold, I'll leave this gang shit behind. I don't even care about it! I was forced into this so they wouldn't steal my food! Please, walk away! Here, look, I pass my turn to you. Now you can end this easy!"

My bronze dragon, Horus LV8, folded his wings and dropped to the ground. His bright, red eyes bore into me. I guessed he could sense my hesitation.

Hands grasped my shoulders. I moved to shake them off but his whisper made me freeze. "Don't tell me you're falling for it."

I tilted my head to observe him with one eye. Kalin's grasp on me was light; he looked down on me from behind. His raised eyebrow betrayed the smirk he wore for appearance's sake. I wondered why he bothered with the lavender headband. His icy-blue locks spilled onto his face with the leaning of his head despite it.

"I can handle this myself," I whispered back.

"There's no doubt about that, but I know you. So. I just thought I'd offer some information." Kalin leaned in so close his breath tickled my ear. My stomach coiled. "The guy you're taking on just so happens to be this gang's creator and top dog."

My leader let go and stepped away. I stared at my feet. If Kalin was right, everything this guy had said was a...

"What're you two whispering about?" my opponent asked. He observed Kalin, who was standing a few feet to my right. Kalin held his stare with his chin held high and one hand on his hip. "You're letting me go, right? I didn't have anything to do with this!"

I stood straighter in an attempt to match my leader's confident stature. "Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8 attacks you directly!"

A beam of ebony fire consumed the man. He shouted, and his duel disk exploded. I withdrew my pair of cuffs and pocketed them. My opponent tore off his busted duel disk and threw it on the concrete. In his fit of rage, he spun around, swung back his leg, and kicked the stray cat against the alley wall.

The cat's pained mew welled tears in my eyes. Two pairs of footsteps pounded on the pavement away from the alley. My focus remained on the unmoving animal. I ran to its side and gathered the furry, black bundle in my arms. Its breathing was shallow. My streaming tears dotted sparkles on its coat.

I stroked the stray's head. One of its ears was ripped, and patches of fur were missing. Gradually, its breathing steadied, and mine with it.

"Hey... you doing okay?" Kalin dropped to a crouch beside me. His hazel eyes carried the tilt of concern. I wanted to wipe away my tears but I wouldn't let go of the cat. It was starting to squirm. The sign of life loosed the knot in my stomach.