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[h3]Fractured, but Still Whole[/h3]

He didn't know how long he'd been down, or when they'd left.  Opening his eyes slowly he felt pain wash over him like he'd been hit by a freight.  Everything hurt as he moved his body to stand.  He felt it, the disconnect.  His arm was dislocated, possibly broken.  He would need to access it later.  That was no ordinary power, that power came from a dark source, a powerful source.  In his current state, he had no hope of defeating someone with that much strength.  Realizing that his staff was not in his hand, he looked around and saw it sticking out of the adjacent wall.  Approaching slowly, his hand reached out, fingers curling around the staff.  Pulling, he freed the staff from the stubborn wall and twirled it a few times.  His senses were returning when he looked around the room.  Merlin.  Where was she?  Arm limp to the side, his eyes landed on Merlin.  She was off in the distance outside of the building.  The staff vanished, returning to the crystal on his necklace.

The carnival crew had long gone and the humans had awakened and remembered nothing of what happened.  They all seemed to think they'd fallen asleep or something in a field across from the building they worked at.  It was the normal response for someone who had their life force sapped.  With one quick push, he popped his arm back into place and groaned loudly as more pain washed over him.  His hand trembled slightly and it was at that moment he noticed the bruising on his hand.  Leaving the scene, he tried to ask questions and get some sort of answer from Scheherazade, but the guide who was like a big brother to them ignored his questions.  He ignored any question from either of them and when it was time to part ways, Yuri had more questions than he wanted to have.

That night he couldn't sleep thinking of the battle and the outcome.  Thinking of Scheherazade and his secrecy.  What was he doing this for?  Saving people and protecting the world and for what?  The people you trust are the ones who keep secrets from you.  It hurt.  He felt as if he'd been betrayed and as he sat in his bed twiddling his thumbs, he closed his eyes and rested his head on his pillow.  That morning, bruised and aching, Yuri got out of bed and felt pain in his arm.  He didn't think it was broken, but his parents rushed him to the doctor where he received treatment. He had a hairline fracture, and he had to wear a sling.  Unsure about everything that he once stood proudly for, Yuri went about the day silent.  Doubt had somehow wedged its way into his mind.  How could he protect anyone when there was a foe out there that was capable of such destruction?  How could he trust someone when they kept secrets?

Most of the day was filled with his classes, but he didn't speak to anyone from the team.  He stayed focused on his classwork until the meeting in the school library.  They were the members of the Library Club, and whenever they met it was to discuss with Scheherazade future missions or important stuff regarding the team.  This time, the meeting was odd.  Yuri wasn't the first one there.  Yuzu was already there and he sat down without saying a word to anyone.  He crossed his legs and touched his injured arm.  He listened to Scheherazade as he addressed them all when everyone had arrived.  Yuri listened but pretended not to, and when Scheherazade had finished, Yuri turned to look at him.  Before he could speak, a knock came at the door and Yuri sighed.  The girl wanted to return a book, but couldn't find the librarian.  She was probably off in the teacher's lounge again drinking copious amounts of coffee.

"[color=7bcdc8]You know there is a return slot at the return desk you could've just slid it in there[/color]," he said taking a step forward, "[color=7bcdc8]but no worries, I can help.  I'm Yuri by the way.  Your name[/color]?"

Although he wanted to yell at Scheherazade and let him have a piece of his mind, this girl showing up helped him take his mind off of everything.