Three-way interlude

Okisato yawned as the plane began it's descent. It had been a long 12 hour flight, but he and the others were finally about to arrive in London. Of course, the question weighing on his mind was what the state of things were. Due to being airborne, he had been unable to use internet or communicate with anyone until the plane landed.

Immediately after getting through customs, he attempted to contact Mimoko, but was unable to get through. Unbeknownst to him, Mimoko and Carol were fast asleep on a train bound for Philadelphia. Next, he tried calling Iori.

"What's up, Oki-kun, finally landed?"

"Iori-chan, the state of things?"

"Oh, we're in America."

Okisato let out an annoyed sigh. "So this was all a ploy to drag me here. Are you all ok?"

"I'm sleep-deprived, but that's about it. Though I got separated from Mimo-chan and Cece. They're on a train though, so they should be fine."

"And you?"

"Clean-up duty. Though I'll stowaway on the next train."

"Alright. I'm gonna head off to China while the others will likely head back to Japan."

"Oh, before ya go, thought I'd mention..."

As Okisato listened, a message suddenly played on the loudspeaker announcing that all planes were grounded until further notice.

"Well, that's an inconvenience, seems like we'll be stuck in London," Okisato grumbled as he hung up.

The others didn't seem too concerned though as they were pretty tire from the long flight.

"Mimoko-sama... You hear from her?" Utami grumbled as she swayed to and from.

Okisato quickly formed the others in as they all exited the airport.

"So they got caught up in some game here, then warped to America? Talk about roundabout," Yuusuke grumbled.

"No, everything was carefully coordinated. Skaberghast is a top Desperado and a smart one at that, so I imagine he colluded with Pewler to make this plan a reality."

"Well, aren't you leveling slanderous accusations," a voice sneered.

Okisato and co glanced up to notice Pewler along with Lakisha, Heather, and the fairy league executives all standing before them.

"So you're Manny Pewler, the mass manipulator."

"And you're Okisato Tanabe, the oni-tiger."

"And the ones behind you?"

"I am Heather, queen of-"

"Simply some business associates," Pewler chuckled as he began walking away with Lakisha.

"And you're not going to challenge me?"

"Why would I? I'm a very busy man. In fact, I must be going back to Washington. Lakisha, could you be so kind as to take care of our travel?"

Lakisha nodded and flagged down an airport employee.

"And with that, I bid you farewell. I'm off to help beautify the city of Philadelphia," Pewler smirked, as Lakisha activated her DESPER.

Before Okisato could react, Pewler, Lakisha, and the airport employee all vanished.

...

In New York, Iori groggily roamed the streets as the sun began to rise.

"When was the last time I went this long without sleep? Ugh, that power nap at the hotel didn't do jack shit."

As she continued walking, she suddenly stopped and looked down at the two DESPER keys she had hiding in her cleavage. She quickly went on guard, and turned to find the rogue cabby from last night staring her down.

"You're gonna pay for all these damn scars," the rogue cabby growled as he pointed at his now scarred face.

...

On the train, Mimoko and Carol woke up as the sun began to rise. The first thing Mimoko did was call Iori, however, she couldn't get through.

"No, I let someone else die. Why... Why am I so stupid!?"

Carol stared in awkward silence as Mimoko began to cry. "Um, I don't know what you mean, but it's definitely not your fault."

"I guess Iori-chan didn't tell you about what happened with my brother."

Mimoko explained to Carol, everything that had transpired during the Michiko incident.

"That's f***** up!"

"Yeah, but I should have listened to Tanabe-kun. He was right; I played too good."

"So your mom is a maestro like the boomer?"

"Yes- Ah! I haven't heard from her! The hell is she doing!?"

Mimoko immediately dialed Daria, but was unable to get through.

"Maybe long distance isn't supported in your phone plan."

"In that case, I'll just challenge- No, I can't do that. Only in a secret puzzle cafe- AH! I'm an idiot! I should have rematched okaa-chan in New York, then things might have gone smoother!"

"What's done is done. We can't take back our moves."

Mimoko went silent before somberly nodding in agreement. "You can be surprisingly intelligent at times."

"Guess it came from being obsessed with politics back in my college days, though I guess even before then I was an average student."

"Before you said you regret what you did, but is that completely true?"

Carol smiled as she leaned back in the seat. "I truly regret all the things I did when under the thumb of the political club. But some of the policies I supported really were things I agreed with and would have supported even if I never got into politics. But do I regret going all in on politics, yes. It wasn't who I truly was. Rather, I was making myself be more political so as not to become an outcast or worse."

"I honestly don't understand how being into politics could effect your school life."

"Things are different in America, especially at that time. You couldn't start a conversation about anything without politics somehow being injected into it no matter how unrelated to politics the conversation was. Since politics were the big thing back in the day, I decided to throw my lot in with it to avoid getting cancelled by society. And what do you know, my fear ended up coming true anyway and as a result, Christian was murdered. There are honestly times I wish I never got into politics or even went to college, but you can never go back, only forward. And you know, despite all my hardships, I've learned and grown from them, so in a masochistic sense, I guess I'm glad all that shit happened to me."

Mimoko nodded as she understood what Carol was trying to convey. She too had often regretted some of her past choices, but it was those very choices that led her to where she was now.

"I hope Iori-chan's smiling down on us. Maybe when we get back to Japan, I'll shave my head again to honor her getting a proper castling checkmate."

"'Looking down'? Girl's probably throwing a tantrum down in hell for all the edgy shit she's done," Carol laughed.

Mimoko began to chuckle. "Yeah, that's the kind of girl she was.

...

"Achoo!"

Iori rubbed her nose as the rogue cabby slowly approached her.

"Ugh, those two are talkin' shit about me again... Anyway, you actually a Desperado, glassface?"

"I got glass in my face thanks to YOU!"

"Because you tried to kidnap us. So, you got a DESPER?" Iori asked as she slid her hand into her breasts.

The rouge cabbie's eyes narrowed. "You tryin' to pull somethin' on ole Mick? Well it ain't working. I'm takin' ya to cab hell," he declared as he pulled out a DESPER.

"Perfect, now I can save a key," Iori thought as Mick activated his DESPER.

The scenery quickly changed to a fiery hellscape with burning taxi cabs surrounding Iori and Mick. Iori pulled out her WWCF card and smirked when she saw Mick's rating.

"The hell you smirking for, you agreed to fight even though you're higher rated, now sit down and move," Mick grumbled as he waddled towards the chessboard.

"Who said I was chicken? I'm down for this. Now if you lose, you die by having your blood turn to glass and impaling you from the inside out."

Mick froze in horror at the proposition. "The hell!? Then that shit happens to you when you lose!"

"Perfect, now as for my prize for winning..."