Shinrei really paid no attention to Ethel after she basically recycled the same nonsense duelist said to him in the past. His eyes turned away from her as he turned his back toward her to watch his own sister walking by him accompanied by someone who was from Wind. He pressed his finger up against his lift slightly extended and also lightly curled a bit. He proceeded to cress the exterior of his lip for a moment as he pondered the thought of why his sister was with this person. Judging by the aura around this person they didn't seem to be at all a hazard toward Tsukiko so he decided to just let them pass by. At that time, Ethel had already gotten to 'Hey hey, your girlfriend's fine you know. No need to be so overprotective.' part of her speech that he didn't really care about hearing either. He had made it clear earlier that he had no interest in letting anyone ever get close to him. She was too naive at the time to hear what he said to that annoying girl named Camryn then it certainly wasn't his problem. He said with a voice of disinterest as he noticed she paused for a moment, "Continue on."
Shinrei didn't listen at all to a single word she said. His serious attitude changed to a more disappointing one as he could just glimpse her from one of eye of his until he pulled the skin over his eyeballs closing them as he sighed softly a bit. This girl sure does a lot to say, but none of her words have any definitive meaning behind them. It's just a bunch of mule's bray and fool's talk. That's all it is. I probably shouldn't waste any more time or breath on this. At this point, it's gotten to where my mind is being lead astray just for the simple fact that everything she says is just repetitive garbage I've heard from the past. Though, a little more lightweight than what I've previously experienced. He decided he would at least let Ethel finish what she was saying even though he had ignored her completely without her really noticing it. Seemed like she was caught up in her words on him that she really didn't pay attention that his attitude completely transformed into the 'you're dull as a knife so cease speaking with me' attitude. He did notice the gestures she made which some people would find 'cute' but he was different. He was not a moth that was drawn to her flame and she was certainly barking up the wrong tree, that's for sure.
He did notice a bit earlier she looked to be annoyed by his actions. He didn't really care that much because she wasn't the one who had any authority over what he could and could not say. If it bothered her that much, it just meant that she was frail when it came to composure. He wondered if it was a fragile as glass, but he wasn't about to find out for himself. He had wasted enough time listening to her lecture.
"Want something of me before I leave~?" Ethel asked with her back turned to the duo. Unfortunately for Ethel Shinrei had already walked passed her right when she said that. It seemed he had finally stopped taking any interest in standing where he was and listening to that asinine nonsense she flicked at him like a bully would shoot paperwads at their prey. "Are you finished?" Those were the first three words spoken from his mouth. Changing his tone ever so slightly to show that he was completely disengaged from her completely. His language wasn't really one of irritation because his tone was less vulgar than it was after he caught Hayate and confronted her for doing it. "You really are no different than anyone else. Hierarchies are for foolish believers who succumb to their own fetishes. When it comes to dueling there are two types of people. Those who destroy their competition and those who do not. What you said is no different than the nonsense I've heard in the past from duelists. I've come to realize that words are a useful vocal tool for intimidation. But that's all they are. Is words, power comes from experience. Not some foolish pep talk you try to use to heighten your spirit."
His eyes shifted a bit into a more sinister approach as he felt something inside him change the way he was thinking. He grinned with an evil cold smile on his face and his eyes were full of more hatred letting the darkness inside them consume them warping his mind just a bit. He was about to say something as Ethel was able to catch a glimpse of his darker self until he turned his eyes back at the girl in his hands and he came back to his senses. When he returned to himself from that sinister side that took him over for a moment he had no idea what just happened. It felt like he lost sight of himself for a moment. "I will take my leave now." He concluded as he wanted to tell her not to get involved with him or follow him; however, he rethought those words as it could work in complete opposite. That feeling he just a moment ago left an aching feeling near his heart. When he looked at Hayate exited the arena then made his way toward a place where he could be alone, he thought about that awkward feeling just a moment ago. That felt like the same shadow version of himself that he encountered in his dream accompanied by one that looked like Hayate. My mind is playing tricks on me... I shouldn't think too much of what happened. After all, it was just an illusion from a dream. He decided as he denied what happened just a moment ago and instead of taking Hayate to his room he would make an exception and take her with him.
Ben smiled and nodded at Tsukiko as he motioned for her to follow him, "Alright let's get going shall we? Don't want to miss our next class right? But we can take our time." After hearing that, Tsukiko couldn't help but laugh a bit. Classes were over for the day and she thought it was a bit funny that he'd think that she was going to class. "You're funny, Ben..." She giggled at him as she thought it was just a bit amusing he would say such a thing. But maybe that's what she needed. Was some sense of humor to lift her spirits and pull her from the constant void that tried to swallow her whole everyday. "Thank you, I needed someone to show me the warmth of a pure smile and I felt that from your words." She paused for a moment as she continued to laugh until she saw her brother where that radiant smile was immediately erased off her face in an instant as if it were instantly annihilated.
"You doing alright? If you need someone talk to I'm a good listener. And I don't tell other people's secrets easy makes me feel like trash when I hurt someone. But I'm rambling sorry I tend to do that when I'm with people I don't know." Ben said with a shrug still trying to keep his upbeat smile on his face. Tsukiko managed to catch a glimpse of the evil inside her brother which made her skin crawl. That dangerous deadly look in his eyes and that lack of emotion in his body. It was like his eyes were completely dead betraying the liveliness of his own body. "Ben, did you see that?" Tsukiko said troubled for a moment as she did hear what Ben had spoke toward her, but that feeling she just felt from her brother bothered her a lot. Even if it was just for a moment, to think her brother's darker half was still a part of him. The same part of him that caused people in the past so much harm. She hated it when he was like that, because he enjoyed causing harm to other people. The duelists he put in a coma because of a certain monster he used in the past he didn't care about at all. She tried to shield herself from all that concern and worry that was inside the depths of her past. She too, like her brother, was on the edges of despair clinging to the radiance within the light by just at thread. "I thought that part of him left him after the accident, but I guess I was wrong. But don't worry about it, you don't need to get yourself involved." She said as she was hiding something from Ben that give him an idea of understanding what just happened to her brother a moment ago. Tsukiko didn't want to burden Ben with her past or with the problems her brother had.
"Where we're going huh? I'm not entirely sure where we're going I just thought you could use a hand. But if you're missing a card the best place to look would be the fusion room first. After that if we don't find it we'll look 'round the halls some and if it's not there we can try the stadium or I'll help you look around your room if you like. Might miss a class but if that card is important to you I know the feeling." Ben said as he pulled the rough Sacred Noble Knight King Artorgius from his pocket and handed it to Tsukiko. "That card has been with me through the toughest of times I don't want you to lose something like that no one should." Ben said calmly as he went along with Tsukiko towards the fusion room. Tsukiko nodded at the question 'where we're going huh' even though she was a bit distracted by what just happened with her brother. Luckily, no words were exchanged when he became like that and even if it was for just a moment meant that people saw him in a different way. Some of the students were petrified in fear by that evil pose he displayed a moment ago. He's still battling the darkness, isn't he? But he hasn't lost sight of the light otherwise he wouldn't have broken free of it so easily. Brother, I wish you wouldn't carry this whole burden by yourself. Tsukiko noticed that Ben handed her a card which caused her to query, "What is this?"
She later found out when Ben told her that it was one of his cards. She took the card and turned her eyes toward it glimpsing into it closely. She thought to herself as she examined it more closely. This must be his signature card or what my brother calls an ace monster. I must say, this card is certainly interesting. So, he likes knights in armor? That's a rather interesting thought to say the least. She thought to herself as she handed his card back and it was able to remove the worry she felt a moment ago from their encounter with her brother. She really wished it would have been on better circumstances, but it seemed like that blue haired girl named Ethel crossed the line which is probably what her brother thought. Tsukiko took a glimpse at Ethel she passed by noticing her brother had already left. She managed to catch the girl's eyes. She looked like she wasn't vivid, but the atmosphere around her betrayed that thought. She would have to leave that for another time as she accompanied Ben toward the exit of the arena.
The two finally made it to the Fusion classroom and surely enough, there was a card that had a dark and mysterious dragon on it laying on her desk. "Thank you for showing me it, Ben." She replied politely as she returned Ben's card to him then thanking him for letting her see it. This was actually the first time someone had done anything nice for her in awhile instead of just throw random stares and act all perverted because of her looks. She walked over and picked up the card which was titled Void Dragon. She then proceeded to show it to Ben by handing it to him. That card meant something to her but she wasn't sure what. She just remembered that she had a memory of where a boy who was faceless show her that card. She couldn't remember for the life of her who that was. "It's called Void Dragon. You may find it strange that a girl would use a card like this, but this card brings back so many memories that I cannot put my finger on. Most of them more confusing than the other. I sense a radiance within that card which gives me warmth despite it charms my mind so." She informed Ben as she thought a moment about the memories she was thinking about still with her mind set on that little boy who showed her that card he randomly pulled from his deck. "Unfortunately, I don't really remember a lot about my past." She paused for a moment as she looked a bit sad. She looked sad enough like she was about to cry with a painful expression on her face. Even though it looked like she was about to cry she managed to hold back her emotions and keep them in check.
"My brother always said. The past isn't important. To always strive ahead even if you don't remember everything that happened in your past. It's not that those memories are gone. More like I'm just disconnected from them, I guess." She said not so sure of herself. It was very true that her brother always told her not to worry about forgetting the distant memories that come and go. He didn't want her to exhaust her mind with trying to recall those memories that flashed in her mind. Despite heeding his advice, they still bothered her so much that caused her to lose sight of herself at times. Could I be just like my brother? Is there another side of myself that I haven't seen in the mirror? And if so... would I... She stopped at one of those thoughts shaking her head and shrugging it off. It was obvious something was still bothering her, but she didn't really want to tell Ben why. It was just too difficult for her to explain. "Ben, what would you do if you forgot parts of yourself? Before you get confused, I meant parts of your memories that continue to flash in your mind but you can't find the meaning behind them?"
"Sorry if I bother you with this nonsense that probably bores you." She strangely added for some reason though her reason for apologizing wasn't apparent at the time. It just was clear that something was troubling her greatly and the grim look on her face and her eyes full of sadness despite the fact she tried to act all tough showed even more. The thought of being alone scared her. Scared her more than that evil side of her brother. But the thought of losing her memories almost completely petrified her in fear. They were about the only thing she had left to think about other than her brother, but they were like one giant jigsaw puzzle completely unsolved.