𝐘𝐮𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐡! - 𝐍𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡

17. Dissatisfied

Out of nowhere, Neith hits the brakes and stands on her seat to look at Kite. 'I have no desire to win this tournament. All I want is answers and clues. You are doing this for Hart, I am doing this to get my mother back. We both have something on the line, so don't think that your reason is more important than mine.' 

'Might be...' Kite can see the fire in her eyes even with a small distance between them. In a way that he can feel her emotions. It silences him up. 

'You are not the only one being determent and driven to get a loved-one back. We both do it for our family.' Neith sits back down and drives away. 'Everyone is dueling for a reason. I hope that you're doing it for the right reasons. I can end this duel or walk away, it's up to you.' She sees that her Raptor's Intercept Formation is still active. It's a matter of using it to destroy Galaxy-Eyes. 'Just to be clear, Kite, I know your reasons to duel and it is not for the desire to win the World Duel Carnival. It's for your brother Hart, for that you are hunting Number cards.' That she knows due to her research about him. 

Kite follows her but thinks about the things she said.

'Not to mention that you brought the whole Number card up in the conversation. We're not friends nor do we trust each other, so naturally, I won't say anything regarding me owning a Number card. I don't like being accused of something when you did the same thing.' She thinks about it to destroy Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon. Especially, because Kite has barely a thousand life points left. Instinctively, she knows that this is not the place for their duel and switches lanes to drive next to him. 'If we ever duel again, I want no limitations, no alternative motivations or reasons but mostly no lies, no secrets, and with nothing on the line. It will be a duel how it's supposed to be, respectful to each other and our monsters.'

'You don't want to destroy Galaxy-Eyes?' Kite doesn't know what to think. Sure, some things she said, got him thinking. 

'Kite, you're driven and determent to win this tournament, but your main reason is revenge. Revenge on Vetrix and his family but know one thing, if you follow this path, can you still look at yourself in the mirror without regret or shame? For all the things you've done, you did for Hart, however, you will carry that burden with you for the rest of your life. Can you handle that?' Neith takes her Raidraptor Blaze Falcon off the field.

Kite doesn't want her to know that her words hurt. 'You said that emotions shouldn't control you.' 

'I never said that it's easy. So I lost my temper, it makes you human, Kite. I'll see you another time and when you are you again. This is not the man I met a week ago.' With that, Neith takes off and leaving Kite behind. 'Nebula, come in.'

'Yes miss,' respond the robot as fast as she can.

Disabling her duel gazer tattoo and disc, Neith can see that she's close to Heartland Academy. 'Come pick me up, you have my position.' The last she hears is Mr. Heartland, saying that there are only eight finalists left. She made it to be number nine in the tournament. 

'I am on my way.' Nebula checks one more time and leaves the base of operations.

Having disabled her disc and tattoo, she leaves the tracks and goes outside.   

***

Back her hideout, Neith goes back to work. 'Nebula, the tournament is still ongoing. Analyze the duels between Kite, Quinton, Quattro, Reginald, Yuma, and Vetrix. They still have Number cards.' She is catching up with some e-mails regarding work. 'Starting on Monday, I will be at the office. That means that you will be working here on your own.' 

'Of course, miss.' Nebula doesn't mind.

Thinking of something else, she turns to the robot. 'Did Cosmo ordered the groceries?'

'Every Saturday morning, miss.' Nebula answers without taking her eyes off the screen.

A moment Neith thinks about it. 'Some things are going to change, Nebula. We'll be using the office at home more often. As for myself, I have a company to run.' Instead of answering e-mail, she prioritizes the e-mails. 

Nebula looks at her owner. 'I will work from the office at home and help Cosmo if necessary.' 

'Neith.' 

Not expected, she startles and turns a quarter. To see her contact from Barian world.

'Where have you been? Do you have new Number cards?'

She puts her hand on her waist. 'You know what. No, I refuse to do this without getting some answers first. How many of you are there? And why do you need those precious Number cards? They mean the world to you but guess what? It's not my world, my world includes my sister and my mother. Unless you finally give me something that I can work with or I'm done hunting Numbers.' 

'How short-sighted you are. I'm not giving you any answers with that attitude.' 

She remains quiet and crosses her arms. Not willing to give him what he needs. It's time he answers her questions first. Otherwise, it's always his demands or questions that get to be answered first. However, she sees Nebula leaving the room. Probably for her conversation with the man. 

'Humans,' the man mutters. 'You have no news or new Number cards?' He wants to know but it stays quiet. 'The consequences are for you for your radical behavior.'

'What consequences? I always do my best for you and so far I have eleven Number cards. You haven't given me anything, regarding my mother. Nor do I believe the fact that you're stuck there. Do you even know what is going on in my life? Of course not, because you don't care to ask about it.'

'What happened that you're this hostile?' He doesn't care. As long as she would collect Number cards, that's all he wants from her. 

Not that Neigh wants to explain everything, she realizes she has to tell him something. 'My life got more complicated. I can't go hunting Numbers all day anymore. I have a few hours per day for that.' 

'We have a deal!'

***

Before you want to attack Neith for talking to Kite like that, or the Barian, keep in mind that she has a lot to balance in her life. She's a Number hunter, a sister, lost both her parents and to top it all, she's in charge of her father's company. That is a lot for someone who's 18 years old. 

Well, the tournament is finally over. Meaning Neith will put her attention to a few things; finding her mother, the company, and her sister. But first, a funeral. Being a Number hunter is on the bottom of that list.