Title: Prelude to What is Stolen
Genre: romance, hurt/comfort
Rating: T for language, mild violence, and suggest themes (might go up)
Pairings: JohanXJudai (spiritshipping)
Summary: Judai couldn't be happier. Johan has proposed to him! But just when Judai thinks that life can't get any better, Giese Hunter returns from God knows where and seeks revenge on the two. Yubel swears to protect Judai and Johan from the man that once worked for her, but will Yubel's strength alone be enough to stop the hunter and his new found powers? Giese decides to get revenge on Johan by stealing Ruby! Judai blames himself and goes to get Ruby back! But is this exactly as Giese planned? What will they do? Can Yubel help?
Me: Okay, guys! I realize I have been posting new stories like crazy, but I just love my stories so much that I do not want to lose the ideas, so I feel the need to post them before I lose the idea!
Lucy: Truth be told, guys, we are a little nervous about writing this story!
Me: This is one of those stories that we were so afraid of writing because we didn't want any bad reviews, and were were kinda worried that this wouldn't be one of our better stories.
Lucy: So, if you would all be so kind as to not flame this one or be cruel!
Me: I was horrified about posting this up, and am shaking while I click the button that posts it, so please be kind and don't flame! If you don't like, don't read!
Lucy: Please enjoy the first chapter, guys!
Chapter One: Will You Marry Me?
It had to have been a dream. There was no way that it was real. Those four simple words, the ones that every person longs to hear from the one that they love the most at some point in their life.
So simple they are, and yet, they hold such a strong meaning.
They consist of five syllables, simple and plain, but those four words in the same sentence are so amazing, so sweet, that it is hard to say no, especially when you are totally in love with the one who speaks them.
"Will you marry me?"
Those four words are able to shake mountains, change the course of history, and change any outcome into a wonderful one if someone accepts the question.
However...
These words can something be the cause of a horrid thing, and only those who truly love one another will stay with each other when something as horrible as what happened to two young lovers happens...
It was a fairly warm summer's day at Duel Academy, and the sun was shining high in the blue sky. No clouds dotted the skies, and the occasional song bird flew overhead and tweeted the next lyrics to its internal tune.
Many of the students who had graduated had long since left the Academy and returned to their homes. Some of them, however, had stayed right where they were and were given the opportunity to live at Duel Academy as long as they wanted. They had long since graduated, and were sometimes called into the classrooms to give lectures and tips to the new generation of duelists.
On this particular sunny day, several of the students who stayed were out on the beaches.
Asuka and Fubuki Tenjoin were two of those who were there; Fubuki was surfing while Asuka was sitting at her lawn chair, leaning back and trying to read her book.
Manjoume was building a sand castle with Shou, and arguing about it the entire time. Jim and Kenzan were having a debate about a certain type of fossil, and Karen was just lazing on a rock in the sun. Ryo and Edo were sitting back in their lawn chairs, both of them reading their books and not paying attention to what was going on around them.
Asuka yawned as Rei came trotting over to her.
Now about two years older, Rei had decided to stay and hang with the gang while she was still getting ready to graduate. She smiled and sat down on the empty chair beside Asuka and put some sun-tan lotion on her arms.
"I haven't seen Johan or Judai-sama for a little while," the ravenette said with a wink. "Think Johan's asked yet?"
Asuka sighed and took off her sunglasses. "I doubt it," she murmured.
"Oh, why not!" Rei said, folding her arms across her chest. "I mean, he came to you and me last night and told us about it, and I think he should definitely ask Judai!"
Asuka nodded. "I know," she said, closing her book and setting it on her towel. "But Johan's nervous. It'd break his heart if Judai rejected him, don't you think?"
"I guess," Rei sniffed angrily.
Asuka reached over and pet her on the head. "Don't worry. He'll do it," she reassured with a familiar grin.
"I hope so," Rei said, turning and looking to the roof of the Duel Academy school, where she knew that Johan and Judai could be found on most days when they weren't in each other's dorm rooms, at the cafeteria, exploring, or giving a lecture (which was mostly done on Johan's part).
Judai drew in a deep breath and laid on the roof with his arms resting behind his head, enjoying the warmth of the sun that shone down on him. It was times like this that he was thankful he hadn't left Duel Academy.
The brunette didn't really have a place to go back to, since his mother and father were always away on business, and they understood that Judai had his own life to lead.
Judai hadn't heard from them since he came to Duel Academy, and he doubted he would for a while.
"Awww, I love days like this," the brunette murmured to himself.
He nearly drifted to sleep, unaware of the bluenette who was watching from the stairway to the roof. The brunette had no need to be afraid, though, because the bluenette watching him was someone that Judai trusted completely.
His boyfriend, Johan Andersen.
The two of them had been dating for a long time, almost two years. It was love at first sight for both of them, and after all they had been through, they finally confessed their feelings to one another and wound up dating.
Johan and Judai were inseparable.
They never fought about anything, always agreed, and were not the least bit afraid about showing their love for one another out in public. They would kiss and hold each other out in public, and since Duel Academy was open to free relationship choices, no one made any comments when they did this, provided it wasn't in front of a class when they were giving a lecture.
They had become so close over the two years they had been dating that they seemed to have a mental bond with one another. It was almost as if they shared a connection.
Whenever Judai was in danger or needed Johan at any time at all, no matter where he was, Johan knew instantly.
If Johan was hurt or needed Judai, no matter where he was, Judai knew it in an instant.
Some people would have found this creepy, but Johan and Judai knew that it was a sign that their love was strong, and that no one could separate them. No one in the world had a stronger bond than these two lovers, and no one in the world could separate them from each other, no matter what.
Johan frowned slightly from where he stood.
He had talked to Asuka the other day, and she had told him to go for it. He told her that he would, bt now that the time had come, he was more nervous than he had been when he first confessed to Judai.
The bluenette swallowed and wiped away his nervous look.
"Hero(1)?" he called, stepping onto the roof and walking over to his boyfriend.
Judai jostled from his sleeping state and rolled his head over at the call of his nickname. He shook his head slightly to clear the grogginess from his vision, and when he looked, he smiled when he saw Johan walking over to him. He whispered his boyfriend's name and sat up, rubbing his eyes and yawning.
"Hey, Johan," he waved tiredly. "What's up?"
"Not much," Johan responded, taking a seat beside his brown-haired boyfriend. "What are you doing out here, Judai?"
Judai grinned to his boyfriend. "I was sleeping," he answered. "Kuriboh and Ruby kept on tackling each other last night, and while you slept like a lead weight, I couldn't get any sleep with them hissing and yowling at each other."
Johan chuckled and ruffled his boyfriend's hair. "You know they're just playing with each other. Ruby and Kuriboh are as much in love with each other as we are," he said.
"Well, they have one hell of a way of showing it!" Judai sniffed.
Again, Johan chuckled, and laced his arm around the brunette's shoulders. He smiled and laid his head down on his boyfriend's shoulder, and felt Judai rest his head on top of his.
The bluenette's calm expression suddenly portrayed one of solitude. Johan knew that he had to ask. He had to do it before he became too afraid to ask. He knew that it was most likely going to be positive, but there was no way for him to know for sure.
"Judai?" Johan asked.
"Yes?" Judai murmured, having almost fallen asleep.
Johan gulped and cleared his throat. "Y-you love me a lot, right?" he whispered to his boyfriend. He felt Judai shuffle beside him, and turn to look into his eyes.
"Yeah," Judai answered with a nod, and he noticed right off that Johan seemed nervous. "Johan, what is it? What's wrong?"
Johan inhaled. "Judai, are you happy with me?" he asked. He noticed that Judai gave him a confused look, so he explained. "Are you happy being with me? Do I meet your needs? Are you happy with the relationship we are in?"
Judai turned to his boyfriend. "Of course I am!" he said. "What would possess you to think otherwise?"
Johan chuckled softly to himself and looked out to the ocean. "No reason," he murmured, more to himself than to Judai. He chose not to speak for a short while.
Judai frowned at this and laid his head against his boyfriend's shoulder.
Again, they just stayed in silence, just staring out at the oceans as the waves curled and unclenched. Johan didn't say a word for a few minutes, and neither did Judai.
"That wasn't it," Judai murmured suddenly.
"What?" Johan turned and locked eyes with the brunette.
Judai looked a little upset. "That wasn't what you wanted to ask me, Johan," he said, shifting so he was kneeling before his boyfriend. "You wanted to ask something else, but changed your question. Now, what is it you really want to ask me?"
Johan swallowed the lump in his throat and looked out to the sunset. "Judai, we've... had some great times these past two years, right?" he asked.
Judai turned and stared into Johan's emerald eyes. "Johan..."
"However," the bluenette said, wrapping his arms around his knees and hugging them close. "I feel like I need something more in my life. I want something... more, you know?"
Judai's heart started racing like a jackhammer. S-something more? the brunette wondered. D-does that mean that he's not happy with me? Is he going to break up with me?
Judai was afraid.
He wanted to start crying and telling Johan that whatever he had done, he was sorry and that he could change. He wanted to, and yet, he couldn't bring himself to say or do anything.
Johan turned to Judai and reached for his hand, taking it in his own.
Judai noticed right off how warm Johan felt. It was almost as if the boy's body was on fire. The brunette would have leaned up against him if he wasn't so afraid of what Johan was going to say.
"Judai Yuki," Johan whispered.
He reached out and brushed his hand across Judai's cheek. Judai flinched and closed his eyes. His heart was racing, blood was filling his cheeks and his ears, and he found it hard to hear Johan.
"Will you marry me?"
For Judai, all time seemed to stop.
He could have swore that he felt his heart stop. Judai looked up and saw Johan staring at him, his face probably just as red as Judai's was. Johan looked nervous, afraid, and confused all at the same time.
And yet, he also looked like he was absolutely sure that this was what he wanted.
"I know I don't have a ring or anything yet," Johan said, nervously looking away. "and I'm definately not the best human being in the world. I am a bit flawed I know. But, Judai, I have never been more sure about anything in my life. I love you Judai."
Judai's heart started racing faster. "Johan..."
"I love you, Judai," Johan said, staring deep into Judai's eyes. "And I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Judai felt tears filling the corners of his eyes. He defiately wasn't expecting this. He looked up at Johan and smiled at him. He knew right off what his answer was, long before Johan had probably even thought of asking him this.
"Johan, it doesn't matter if you have a ring to show it or not," Judai said. "I love you, too."
Johan stared at Judai with a slightly hopeful smile. "Does that mean what I think it does?" he asked, his voice quiet. He seemed almost as if he was afraid that he would awaken and find out that this was all a dream.
"Yes," Judai whispered, locking eyes with Johan. "I will marry you, Johan Andersen."
Johan smiled and laced his arms around Judai, bringing him as close as he could. He buried his head into Judai's hair and clenched the boy. "You just made me the happiest man in the world, Judai, I hope you realize that," he whispered.
Judai smiled back and held on to Johan as tightly as he could. The sun was starting to set, and it created the perfect atmosphere for the two young lovers.
Asuka lifted her sunglasses again as the sun started to set and glanced over her shoulder. She looked to the roof, where Johan and Judai liked to meet, and smiled when she saw them embracing.
She smiled and turned towards Rei. "I think he's asked him," she said.
Rei's brown eyes widened, and she started clapping. "Really? What do you think Judai said?" she asked, her voice high and squeaky and giddy from over-excitement.
Asuka chuckled. "Judging by the make-out session going on, I'd say it was a yes," she answered.
Rei turned towards her other friends, who were playing in the light ocean surf, and called to them with a loud whistle. "Guys! We have to start the party now!"
The others smiled and gathered their things from the beach and began to prepare for the engagement party that they had been planning for when Johan asked Judai and if Judai had accepted.
And that time was now.
Me: All right! That is the first chapter to "Prelude to What is Stolen"! (1) This is Judai's nickname that Johan gives him, because he plays with an Elemental Hero deck!
Lucy: As previously stated, we are still very nervous about this fic, so if you would all be so kind as to not flame or be cruel, we would greatly appreciate it!
Me: I also get a lot of comments about Yubel appearing in my stories, so have no fear guys, Yubel does appear in this story! I know how much everyone loves Yubel, and I personally think she's (I know it's technically a hermaphrodite, but I refer to Yubel as a 'she') an awesome character, so I am happy to have her appear!
Lucy: Well, we hope this story will turn out to be good in the overall long-run!
Me: Please review nicely, and do not flame, because we are very nervous about the outcome of this story! We thank all of you who stick with our stories!