Okay, a quick intro. I'm revamping this story because there were a few things I found that I wanted to redo and try to improve on. The changes in it are just things I saw upon rereading that I thought needed to be redone. Please feel free to let me know what you think, I always love hearing from the readers.

Chapter 1

Aki woke and sighed. 'My birthday. I wonder if I should say anything.'

"Aki, morning. Happy birthday, my little rose." Her father smiled as he entered her room. "Any plans today?"

"Yeah. I'm gonna get ready and head out now." She lied. "See you later."

Her father nodded and left so she could change clothes. Once she'd gotten ready, Aki left the house. 'I feel kind of bad for lying to him.'

She made her way to a park and walked around. As menacing rain clouds began to gather, the park became empty. Aki was alone, not that she minded. As the clouds foreshadowed, it began to rain. Aki barely noticed when the rain got harder. She was soaked down to the bone, but the cold sufficed to numb her completely.

Suddenly, she became vaguely aware that the rain stopped. Confused, she looked around and saw Yusei behind her with an umbrella. He was staring at her wide eyed. "Aki, what are you doing here?"

She stared back at him and replied, "Nothing. I was just out for a walk."

"A walk in the rain?" Yusei asked skeptically.

"It wasn't raining at first."

Yusei continued to stare at her and noticed that she was soaked. Her dress was clinging to her in an embarrassing way. Then, Yusei saw her shiver.

"You're gonna catch a cold." He said, taking off his jacket.

"What are you doing?" Aki stared at him blankly.

"Put this on." He handed her the jacket.

"But you'll get cold." The stubborn girl protested, vehemently.

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine until we get to the garage."

Aki blushed as she put Yusei's signature jacket on. 'This is weird. I'm wearing the jacket he always wears. It smells just like him.'

Yusei had noticed her silence. "Aki?"

As lightening flashed across the sky, Aki jumped into Yusei's arms with a cry. Upon realizing what she'd done, Aki quickly tried to separate herself from him. In her haste, she fell back. The azure eyed duelist quickly put a steadying hand on her back. As they stared at each other, the magneta haired girl blushed and cursed herself for it. 'Damn, how embarrassing!'

"Aki, … you're afraid of lightening?" Yusei stared at her and found himself wondering something else. 'Why is she blushing?'

"What about it?" She muttered.

"Nothing. I just didn't know. Are you okay?" He inquired.

"I'm fine." After a few moments, Aki decided to ask. "Why isn't your D-Wheel with you?"

"I'm working on some repairs."

Another flash of lightening made Aki shudder. Then, she felt Yusei take her hand. "You can hold on to me if you're scared."

"I … I'm not scared!" Aki retorted hotly.

Aki found herself back in Yusei's arms when another flash of lightening caught her off guard. Yusei put his arm back around her. "It's okay. I've got you."

Aki bit her lip and tried to push him away. "Let me go. I'm not afraid, you got that?"

She buried her face in his chest as the lightening continued. The raven haired boy didn't say anything. He just stood and let her cling to him. "Why must it rain on my birthday?" Aki grumbled.

Yusei was stunned. "It's your birthday? Why were you all alone, then?"

She bit her lip and regretted telling him that. "It's not a big deal. I wanted to be alone."

"Why? Nobody really wants to be alone on their birthday." Yusei told her simply.

"Well, I did. Let me go, Yusei." She pushed him away and ran off.

Yusei dropped the umbrella and raced after her. When she noticed him she sped up. That and not looking where she was going resulted in her tripping and scrapping her knee. She tried to stand and immediately regretted it. Pain shot up from her ankle to her knee.

"Aki, are you all right?" Yusei knelt beside her and stared at her with worry in his azure eyes.

"I'm fine. Leave me alone." She lied and looked away from him.

Yusei ignored her and gathered her into his arms. Aki struggled against him vainly. 'He's stronger than I thought he was.'

"Stop, Yusei. I'm too heavy for you to be carrying."

"You're not heavy. Now would you mind telling me why you were alone today?"

"I," She began until she noticed something. "Yusei, you're soaking wet! You're gonna be sick."

"I dropped the umbrella to chase you." Yusei shrugged.

"Sorry." Aki mumbled.

"Tell me why you were alone before. Please, Aki?"

Aki stared into his pleading, azure eyes and sighed. "Okay. I'll tell you when we get to your garage. Can it wait until then?"

Yusei nodded and continued to walk at an easy pace. Aki stared at him and felt sort of embarrassed. 'He's soaked. Wow, he looks kind of cute like that. Wait, what am I thinking?'

Yusei stared at her and tried to keep his heartbeat steady. 'This is kind of awkward. I should do something for her birthday. But what?'

They arrived at the garage and Aki leaned against the door as Yusei opened the door. When they got inside, Yusei found some towels and handed her two. "Dry off. I'll find you some dry clothes."

"I'll dry off in the bathroom." She replied as she carefully made her way to the stairs. "Ugh!" She grunted as her ankle throbbed.

"Just dry off here. I won't peek." Yusei said simply.

"But anyone could walk in. Let me change somewhere more private." She continued to struggle up the stairs.

Yusei sighed and gathered her into his arms again. He took a stunned Aki up the stairs and into the bathroom. Once there, he took out some wash cloths and bandages. Placing them on the counter, he left and closed the door.

Aki stood perfectly still for a moment before removing her wet clothes and putting a towel on her dripping hair. She used the other towel to dry off and wrapped it around her slender form. She frowned when she noticed how the towel barely covered her. Then she heard a soft knock.

"Aki, I've got the clothes." Yusei stated.

The girl opened the door just enough to reach out and take the clothing. "thanks."

Aki put on a pair of his gray jeans and one of his shirts, after bandaging her knee. She walked out and found Yusei working on his D-Wheel. She blushed scarlet when she saw he didn't have a shirt on.

"Yusei, what are you doing?" She stammered.

"Just working on my runner. Are you ready to tell me why you were alone before?"

"I just didn't think anyone would want to waste their day with me. I thought everyone would have better things to do. And I mmph-!"

Yusei cut her off by pressing his lips to hers. Aki stared at him awestruck for a moment. Then she closed her eyes and began kissing him back. She wrapped her arms around his neck and felt his on her waist.

When Yusei parted from Aki, she gasped. "Yusei, why did you just do that?"

"Because I've been wanting to tell you how I feel and I couldn't listen to you say that stuff anymore. What would make you think that we wouldn't want to spend your birthday with you?" His beautiful eyes reflected the hurt he felt at that moment.

"But, I told you already that it isn't a big deal."

"I think it is. Aki, you're my friend and … … I really care a lot about you."

"Yusei … ." Aki stared at him as tears welled up in her amber eyes.

He sighed and kissed her again. "I love you."

"You love me?"

"Yeah. I do."

"Really?" Aki asked in disbelief.

"Really. I love everything about you. When I look at you, my heart starts to pound. When I see you smile, my heart feels like it may explode."

As Yusei was about to continue, Jack and Carly walked in. The couple stared at them curiously. "Well, well, what are you two doing?" Jack grinned.

Instantly, Yusei released Aki and tried to think. "W, we ….."

Carly giggled. "Oh, what a scoop this is. The duel champion, Yusei has a girlfriend."

Aki blushed and looked down. "You can't write that!"

The journalist frowned, "Aww, why not? It'd make an awesome story."

Yusei looked at Carly, "I doubt it'd be a good story for you to print. Let's just forget about it."

Jack laughed and crossed his arms, "What makes you think we'll do that, Yusei?"

The young man sighed, "Okay, how about this, then. A duel between me and Jack. If he wins, I'll give Carly an interview."

The raven haired journalist's eyes widened. "You mean it?!"

The blond duelist nodded his agreement and the two young men headed out for a duel.